Sep 11, 2009
H1N1 activity rises in parts of Asia, Europe, US
Novel flu activity is declining in the Southern Hemisphere and in parts of Central America and the Caribbean but increasing in tropical areas of Asia and the Americas and in some parts of the United States and Eastern Europe, the World Health Organization reported today. Oseltamivir-resistant strains have been identified in 21 patients, 12 linked to postexposure prophylaxis and 4 linked to treatment. At least 3,205 deaths have been reported. The WHO also issued school closure guidance today.
http://www.who.int/csr/don/2009_09_11/en/index.html
WHO pandemic H1N1 update 65
Baxter behind on UK pandemic vaccine order
British officials recently said one of the companies it ordered pandemic H1N1 vaccine from, US-based Baxter, is behind on delivering doses, the Financial Times reported. The government placed about one-third of its order with Baxter for its cell-based product. Baxter had promised 400,000 doses by the end of August, but has delivered only about half that amount. Britain ordered the rest of its vaccine supply from GlaxoSmithKline, which is reportedly on schedule.
http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/f6eabde8-9d63-11de-9f4a-00144feabdc0.html
Sep 9 Financial Times story
Inhaled H1N1 vaccine may ship within days
An official from MedImmune, which is making an inhaled vaccine against pandemic H1N1 influenza, said the company would begin shipping orders to the US government by the end of September, Reuters reported yesterday. The company official, Raburn Mallory, said MedImmune said there are no "red flags" in the safety data submitted to the Food and Drug Administration and that 5 million doses will likely be delivered by the end of the month, about 2 weeks ahead of other pandemic vaccine makers.
http://www.reuters.com/article/GCA-SwineFlu/idUSTRE5895K820090910
Sep 10 Reuters story
Egypt delays school start to curb flu
A state-run paper in Egypt carried an announcement from the country's prime minister today that the start of school and universities will be delayed to slow the spread of the pandemic H1N1 virus, the Canadian Press (CP) reported. The school year will begin Oct 3, a week later than planned, to allow those returning from Mecca Ramadan pilgrimages to show illness signs.
Poll: Pandemic vaccine interest highest in seniors
A new Associated Press-Gallup poll shows seniors are the group most interested in getting the pandemic H1N1 vaccine, and more people in the 18- to 29-year-old age- group are now saying they'll get the shot, the AP reported today. Younger people are bearing the greatest pandemic flu burden, so they are at the front of the line to receive the vaccine. During a normal flu season, seniors are at the front of the line for vaccine because they are among the hardest hit groups.
Efforts to extend shelf life of oseltamivir urged
British scientists writing in Emerging Infectious Diseases call for a systematic effort to extend the shelf life of oseltamivir (Tamiflu), as it is one of just two drugs active against the H1N1 virus and is scarce globally. Oseltamivir's chemical profile suggests it should be feasible to extend its shelf life to more than 20 years, the writers say. In May, they note, European authorities said new batches of the drug would have a shelf life of 7 years instead of the previous 5 years.
http://www.cdc.gov/eid/content/15/10/pdfs/09-0844.pdf
EID article posted Sep 10
Study shows little cross-protection from seasonal flu vaccines
A New England Journal of Medicine study of children and adults published yesterday showed that receiving recent seasonal flu vaccines produced little or no immune response to this year's novel H1N1 in any age-group. However, 34% of adults older than 60 had cross-reactive antibodies to novel H1N1. Also, vaccination with the 1976 swine flu vaccine substantially boosted cross-reactive antibodies to novel H1N1 in adults.
http://content.nejm.org/cgi/reprint/NEJMoa0906453.pdf
NEJM study posted Sep 10
Study: Novel H1N1 can infect deep-lung cells
Pandemic H1N1 flu can infect cells deeper in the lungs than seasonal flu can, according to a study in Nature Biotechnology. Influenza viruses infect cells by attaching to molecules on the outside of the cell, called receptors. Seasonal flu viruses attach to receptors found on cells in the nose, throat, and upper airway tract, but this study shows that pandemic H1N1 flu can also attach to a receptor found on cells deep inside the lungs, which can cause a more severe infection.
