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(CIDRAP News) – The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) today confirmed the pandemic H1N1 flu virus in a sample from a Minnesota pig, marking the first detection of the virus in pigs in the United States.

(CIDRAP News) – Production delays are cutting into federal pandemic vaccine–supply projections at a time when virus activity is widespread in 41 states and children's deaths are spiraling, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said today.

Since August, federal officials have predicted that 45 million pandemic vaccine doses would be available by mid October, but today the CDC said the total so far is 11.4 million.

Oct 16

(CIDRAP News) – The susceptibility of some young, healthy people to severe illness with pandemic H1N1 influenza marks a striking difference from the pattern of disease seen in seasonal flu epidemics, the World Health Organization (WHO) said today.

(CIDRAP News) – In response to questions from citizens at a meeting yesterday, a Food and Drug Administration (FDA) official said the agency would make a decision "fairly soon" about permitting emergency use of the experimental antiviral drug peramivir to help patients severely ill with pandemic H1N1 influenza.

Flu up slightly on US campuses
The American College Health Association (ACHA) reports that the incidence of flu-like illnesses on member campuses last week was 19.2 per 10,000 students, an increase of about 2% from the 18.9 per 10,000 the week before. The report listed 5,959 new cases at 238 schools. By region, the most new cases were reported in the middle Atlantic states and the Southeast.

(CIDRAP News) – Top state health officials said today they have been kept busy battling rumors and myths about the pandemic H1N1 vaccine, on top of the demanding work of coordinating the vaccination program just getting under way.

(CIDRAP News) – The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) today issued eagerly awaited recommendations on pandemic H1N1 infection control in healthcare settings, which affirms its earlier guidance on N-95 respirators but spells out other options for when the respirators are in short supply.

Oct 14, 2009

NIAID launches vaccine trials in HIV-infected groups

(CIDRAP News) – About half of the pandemic H1N1 vaccine coming from manufacturers is now injectable doses, and shipments are on their way to states to use this week alongside the nasal-spray version that is already available, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said today.

Oct 12, 2009

(CIDRAP News) – A collection of new studies is demonstrating once again the ability of the pandemic H1N1 virus to make some people desperately sick and is raising questions about the potential strain on critical-care resources this fall and winter.

(CIDRAP News) – Seventy-six children and teenagers have died of H1N1 flu since the novel strain emerged in April, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said today, representing both an increase of 19 in a week and a total that rivals the child deaths for entire past flu seasons.

Oct 9, 2009

(CIDRAP News) – Two reports published by the New England Journal of Medicine today filled in more details about severe cases of H1N1 influenza, generally confirming previous findings that most of them occur in non-elderly people who have chronic health conditions but that previously healthy people are also affected.

Oct 8, 2009

(CIDRAP News) – Businesses that take steps to protect workers during a pandemic have worried about staying in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), and federal officials have responded by issuing new guidance that addresses many of the issues.

(CIDRAP News) – States will begin receiving their first injectable doses of the pandemic H1N1 vaccine next week and can look forward to plentiful and steady supplies over the next 2 weeks, federal officials said today.

This information may help firm up mass vaccination schedules and clear up the public's confusion about when they can get the shot, the officials added.