Mar 4, 2010
Study: One H1N1 clade pushed out others
A genetic study of pandemic H1N1 viruses by Italian researchers today suggests that several H1N1 clades circulated early in the epidemic but that one clade (clade 7) replaced the others and has predominated through most of the pandemic. The authors concluded, however, that it's not clear whether the shift to a single-clade pattern had a clinical impact or gave the virus a transmissibility advantage. The report appears in Public Library of Science (PLoS) Currents.
http://knol.google.com/k/maria-beatrice-valli/evolutionary-pattern-of-pandemic/ql0y91xwcxnj/1?collectionId=28qm4w0q65e4w.1&position=1#
Mar 4 PLoS Currents study
Hong Kong reports flu uptick
The Hong Kong Centre for Health Protection (CHP) today reported a slight increase in cases of influenza-like illness (ILI). ILI cases increased from 42.8 to 55.1 per 1,000 office visits over the preceding week. The CHP also reported 23 institutional outbreaks, compared with 3 in each of the previous 2 weeks. And the number of respiratory samples that tested positive for flu rose to 85 from 44 the week before. About a fourth of the isolates were pandemic H1N1, and more than 60% were influenza B.
http://www.chp.gov.hk/files/pdf/cdw_v7_05_686799.pdf
Mar 4 CHP report
UK eyes H1N1 vaccine for southbound travelers
British vaccine advisors are considering advising those traveling to the Southern Hemisphere during its upcoming flu season to receive the pandemic H1N1 vaccine in addition to the seasonal version, Healthcare Republic, a UK-based publication, reported today. The Southern Hemisphere's flu season typically runs from May through October. The Department of Health said it is exploring ways to implement the flu vaccine advice.
http://www.healthcarerepublic.com/news/rss/987637/DoH-considers-swine-flu-vaccine-travellers
Mar 4 Healthcare Republic story
VA study reports effective flu biosurveillance
In a study today, the Department of Veterans Affairs reported that it effectively used an electronic biosurveillance system for tracking and monitoring influenza trends. The system, called Electronic Surveillance System for the Early Notification of Community-based Epidemics (ESSENCE), effectively tracked trends for seasonal flu as well as the rise in cases at the start of the H1N1 pandemic. The authors said it could serve as an important alerting tool.
http://www.plosone.org/article/info%3Adoi%2F10.1371%2Fjournal.pone.0009533
Mar 4 PLoS One report
