College indicators show no sustained flu wave
Flu-like illness activity at US colleges decreased slightly last week, and although disease incidence was higher than it was between mid December and mid February, the American College Health Association (ACHA) sees no evidence of a third pandemic wave. The attack rate for the week ending Feb 26 was 3.3 cases per 10,000 students, down 20% from the previous week. Southeast and Gulf Coast schools showed slight increases in disease activity, with levels still lower than November's.
http://www.acha.org/ILI_Project/ILI_LatestWeek.cfm/?date=030310
Mar 3 ACHA surveillance report
South Carolina campus sees uptick in cases
The University of South Carolina in Aiken saw an increase in suspected H1N1 flu cases in February, according to The State newspaper in Columbia, S.C. After seeing few flu-like illnesses in January, the campus had 27 cases in February, said Cindy Gelinas, director of the student health center. Four sick students were tested in late February, and all had the virus. State epidemiologist Dr. Jerry Gibson said another wave of cases is likely if the pandemic follows historical precedents.
http://www.thestate.com/2010/03/03/1183160/swine-flus-still-out-there-and.html
Mar 3 State report
Pandemic waning in China
China's health ministry said the country's H1N1 pandemic has passed its peak, according to Xinhua. The proportion of H1N1 among all flu cases dropped from 36.6% in January to 11.1% in February. The ministry reported that 793 Chinese have died of the illness, including 18 in February. Officials estimated that 30% of the population has immunity to the virus and said a major new wave of cases is unlikely in the near term, but added that localized outbreaks in crowded settings remain possible.
http://www.shanghaidaily.com/article/?id=430040
Mar 3 Xinhua report
India signs deal for pandemic vaccine
India's government has signed an agreement with Panacea Biotec, a pharmaceutical company based in New Delhi, to produce pandemic H1N1 vaccine, the company reported today. Panacea has a manufacturing facility in Punjab that can produce 45 million doses a year. Panacea projects that its vaccine, a split-virus, egg-based product, will be available by April for emergency use. India has also signed vaccine agreements with two other companies.
http://www.panacea-biotec.com/press_releases/PR03032010.pdf
Mar 3 Panacea Biotec press release
