H1N1 FLU BREAKING NEWS: Kids' deaths, vaccine updates, infected Serbian pigs

Two Memphis-area kids die of H1N1
Two Memphis, Tenn.–area children died in the past week of H1N1 flu, according to local officials. The Memphis and Shelby County Health Department (MSCHD) today confirmed that a 12-year-old child died from H1N1 infection, and last week a teen from nearby DeSoto County, Mississippi, died of the disease, according to a news release today. The 12-year-old's death is the seventh confirmed H1N1 death in Shelby County. Officials are reminding people to get vaccinated.

South Africa aims to vaccinate 3 million
South Africa hopes to vaccinate 3 million people against pandemic flu by winter, the South African Press Association (SAPA) reported today. The country's health minister said South Africa has 1.3 million doses and is seeking funding for more. Priority groups will include pregnant women, healthcare workers, some people at border stations, and young people who are at high risk for complications.

Serbia, Japan look to cut vaccine orders
Serbia's health ministry said it is cancelling further orders of pandemic vaccine from Novartis, Balkan Insight news reported today. The country had originally ordered 3 million doses and has administered 160,000 doses of the 857,500 it had already received. Serbia said it needs 300,000 doses in reserve in case of another flu wave. Meanwhile, Japan signaled that it may cancel some of the 99 million doses of vaccine it ordered from Glaxo and Novartis, Kyodo News reported.

Southeast Asian officials confer on vaccine, antivirals
Health officials from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) plus three countries gathered today in Singapore to open a 3-day meeting on antiviral drugs and pandemic flu vaccines. The conference, supported by the Australian Agency for International Development, will update members on drug and vaccine supplies, provide a forum for discussing issues such as access and technology transfer, and discuss how the nations can share resources, according to an ASEAN statement.
http://www.aseanplus3-eid.info/newsread.php?nid=1415&gid=8
Jan 27 ASEAN statement

Czech president opposes mandatory military vaccination
The president of the Czech Republic, Vaclav Klaus, said he opposes mandatory H1N1 flu vaccinations for the country's military forces, the Associated Press reported today. Klaus said he considers the order from the Czech chief of general staff to "highly controversial, if not unacceptable" because of possible risks of vaccination. In a statement, Defense Minister Martin Bartak said the number of soldiers in the program would be reduced but gave no details.
http://newsok.com/czech-president-opposes-swine-flu-vaccination/article/feed/127749
Jan 27 AP story

Serbian pigs test positive for H1N1
Pandemic H1N1 flu has been detected on a swine farm near Varvarin, Serbia, according to a report today filed with the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE). Twenty of more than 10,000 pigs on a commercial breeding farm tested positive during routine inspection. Affected animals showed respiratory symptoms, but none have died. The source of the infection is unknown.
http://www.oie.int/wahis/reports/en_imm_0000008882_20100127_145103.pdf
Jan 27 OIE report

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