Mar 12, 2010
US pandemic flu levels still remain low
For the seventh straight week, US pandemic flu activity held steady at low levels, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported today. All 174 specimens that tested positive for flu were of the pandemic strain, and the proportion of outpatient visits for influenza-like illness (ILI) was below the national baseline. Three of 10 regions reported ILI at or above baseline. No states reported widespread influenza activity, but five states reported regional activity.
http://www.cdc.gov/flu/weekly/?date=031210
Mar 12 CDC weekly flu update
Canadians express opinions on pandemic planning
A survey of 500 Canadians on ethical issues in pandemic planning found that a majority saw (1) saving lives as the primary goal, (2) an obligation for healthcare workers to work during a pandemic and for government to provide disability and death benefits for them, and (3) stockpiling adequate antivirals and vaccinations for all Canadians as a government responsibility. Also, over 70% thought their country should assist poorer countries in a pandemic, even if it reduced domestic resources.
http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-2458/10/125/abstract?rss
Mar 11 BMC Public Health study abstract
Students main H1N1 disseminators in Hong Kong
A study of the first 3 months of pandemic H1N1 flu's spread in Hong Kong using routinely collected surveillance data showed that the disease diffused relatively slowly from six initial foci, suggesting close person-to-person rather than airborne spread, and that students were the major disseminators of infection. All cases from May through July 2009 were included in the study. Cases were georeferenced and the data analyzed by SatScan to characterize space-time clustering.
http://knol.google.com/k/shui-shan-lee/characterizing-the-initial-diffusion/3cf0o6sqtq33/2?collectionId=28qm4w0q65e4w.1&position=1#
PloS Currents article
