Aug 10, 2009
Canada promotes 'flu buddy' preparedness
Health officials in Canada are urging citizens to find "flu buddies" to help care for them during the novel H1N1 pandemic, Canwest News Service reported on Aug 7. The Public Health Agency of Canada is urging people to check in on people who live alone or are vulnerable and help care for them or seek medical care if they are sick. The measure may help take some pressure off the health system and is among the general preparedness tactics that the agency will promote in the fall.
http://www.nationalpost.com/m/story.html?id=1870330&s=Home
Aug 7 Canwest News Service story
Review finds little benefit from antiviral use in children
An analysis of studies of the effects of oseltamivir and zanamivir for seasonal flu treatment and prophylaxis in children aged 12 and younger showed a small benefit, according to a study in today's issue of the British Medical Journal. The authors, who looked at seven studies, found that the drugs provided a small benefit by shortening illness duration and reducing household transmission, but they had little effect on asthma or antibiotic use. Vomiting was reported in children who took oseltamivir.
http://www.bmj.com/cgi/content/abstract/339/aug10_1/b3172
Aug 10 BMJ abstract
Pakistan confirms first novel flu case
Pakistan's health ministry today reported the country's first novel H1N1 case, according to Xinhua, China's state news agency. The patient is 1 of 25 people with suspected cases undergoing treatment. No other details were available. The health minister revealed the case in a speech to Pakistan's parliament.
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2009-08/10/content_11858801.htm
Aug 10 Xinhua story
Iraq sees flu threat from US troops
As the US military reported yesterday that 51 American soldiers in Iraq have novel H1N1 flu and 71 others may have the illness, Iraqi health officials expressed concern that the US troops could spread the disease, the New York Times reported yesterday. Members of the Iraqi parliament said Iraqi soldiers serving alongside US troops could spread the virus into Iraq. A health official claimed US soldiers aren't screened for the virus and that their 2-week visits home pose disease risks.
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/08/10/world/middleeast/10iraq.html?_r=1
Aug 9 New York Times story
Trials of long-acting antiviral show promise
The Australian drug company Biota today reported positive phase 3 study results from Asian countries of its new antiviral medication laninamivir, a long-acting neuraminidase inhibitor. In adults, a single inhaled dose of the new drug was as effective as oseltamivir taken twice a day for 5 days. Similar trials in children showed the drug was safe and effective. Preclinical studies suggested that the new antiviral is effective against seasonal H5N1 and pandemic H1N1 viruses.
http://www.biota.com.au/uploaded/154/1021542_25laniphaseiiiclinicaltri.pdf
Aug 10 Biota press release
