August 14, 2009
CDC reports 41 more US flu deaths
The number of novel H1N1 deaths in the United States has risen to 477, up from 436 last week, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said today in its weekly update. Hospitalizations rose to 7,511, up from 6,506. Dan Jernigan, MD, MPH, with the CDC's Influenza Division, said during a teleconference today that flu continues to decline, with widespread activity reported in four states. Officials are looking into reports of increased flu activity in Florida and North Carolina.
http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/update.htm
Aug 14 CDC novel flu situation update
Hong Kong reports second Tamiflu-resistant case
Health officials in Hong Kong today announced the detection of a second case of flu resistant to oseltamivir (Tamiflu). They found the virus in a 40-year-old woman who is a resident of a home for disabled people. She was prescribed the drug prophylactically after other residents of the home became ill. She developed flu-like symptoms about a week later. The Tamiflu-resistant strain wasn't found in any other of the 20 novel flu cases at the home.
Researchers suggest osteoporosis drugs may have antiviral benefits
Researchers from Hong Kong have found that two osteoporosis drugs, pamidronate and zoledronate, might have potential as treatment for influenza, including the novel H1N1 and the H5N1 viruses, Reuters reported today. They found that the two drugs triggered yd-T cells that killed flu-infected human cells. The next steps are to test the drugs in animals and conduct clinical trials in humans. The findings were released by the University of Hong Kong, Xinhua reported today.
http://www.reuters.com/article/asiaCrisis/idUSHKG233114
Aug 14 Reuters story
Massachusetts deputizes more healthcare workers to give vaccine
The Massachusetts Public Health Council on Aug 12 voted to enable such healthcare professionals as dentists, pharmacists, and paramedics to administer the novel flu vaccine in this fall's vaccination campaigns, the Boston Globe reported yesterday. The move would open the possibility of volunteering to about 12,000 additional workers. The regulators also directed hospitals and clinics to provide vaccine to all their workers, although the workers will not be forced to receive the vaccine.
http://www.boston.com/news/health/articles/2009/08/13/state_asks_volunteers_to_aid_flu_vaccinations/?s_campaign=8315
Aug 13 Boston Globe story
UK releases vaccine priority plan
Government officials in the United Kingdom released details of the country's pandemic H1N1 vaccination priority plan today, which places pregnant women, healthcare workers, and people aged 6 months to 65 years with underlying chronic medical conditions first in line to get the vaccine, reported the Guardian, a British newspaper. The plan also prioritizes people who live in households that include individuals with certain underlying conditions, such as cancer or immune system compromise.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/aug/13/uk-swine-flu-cases-fall
Aug 14 Guardian story
