Avian Influenza (Bird Flu)

EV-D68 count reaches 160 cases in 22 states, CDC says

The national count of confirmed enterovirus D68 (EV-D68) cases reached 160 in 22 states on Sep 19, which is seven more cases and three more states than reported a day earlier, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

HHS awards contract to develop portable, low-cost ventilator

A new federal contract awarded to a Pennsylvania company calls for the development of a "portable, low-cost, user-friendly" ventilator designed for use in public health emergencies, the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced today.

USDA says H3N1 viruses with human flu genes found in swine

The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) has found rare H3N1 influenza viruses in swine in two states in recent months, and two of the isolates carry genes from human seasonal flu viruses. The developments are grounds for serious concern about the potential spread of disease at fairs this fall, according to one animal health expert.

Chinese researchers report new H7N2 avian flu virus

An H7N2 avian flu virus isolated from the farm of a Chinese man who had contracted H7N9 avian flu is a novel reassortant of H7N9 and H9N2 viruses, Chinese researchers reported yesterday in Emerging Infectious Diseases.

GSK projects 2-million-dose flu vaccine shortfall for Canada

GSK, Canada's largest flu vaccine supplier, said today it won't be able to fill about 30% of its Canadian order for the upcoming flu season because of problems at its Ste. Foy, Que., plant, the Canadian Press reported today.

It's unclear how the deficit will affect GSK doses in the United States, a GSK spokesman told CIDRAP News.

China confirms H7N9 death in far northwest region

China has confirmed a fatal H7N9 avian flu case in a 66-year-old woman, Hong Kong's Centre for Health Protection (CHP) said today.

The woman is from Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region in the country's far northwest. The only other reported H7N9 case in the region, in a 53-year-old man, was confirmed last week. All other mainland H7N9 cases have been in eastern provinces, hundreds of miles away.

Second variant H3N2 case confirmed in Ohio

Ohio health officials have reported another variant H3N2 (H3N2v) infection, the nation's second such case this year, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said today.

Study: 4 reassortant H7N9 strains circulating in Chinese province

Sequence analysis of human and environmental samples demonstrated that four strains of reassorted H7N9 avian flu viruses have been circulating in Guangdong province—one of the country's hardest hit—and that an increase of human cases last year coincided with an increase in H7 isolates in environmental samples, according to a study today in Emerging Infectious Diseases.

Florida confirms 2 more locally acquired chikungunya cases

Two Palm Beach County, Fla., residents have acquired chikungunya locally, bringing the nation's total number of locally acquired cases to six, the Palm Beach Post reported yesterday.

State and county health officials said that a 43-year-old man and 35-year-old woman contracted the painful mosquito-borne disease without traveling to outbreak areas.

FDA approves first flu vaccine for jet-injector use

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced on Aug 15 that it had approved the administration of bioCSL's Afluria inactivated influenza vaccine for use with ajet-injector device, the PharmaJet Stratis. The approval applies to intramuscular injection only in adults ages 18 through 64 years, the FDA said in its statement.