H1N1 FLU BREAKING NEWS: Panic over H1N1 death in India, Novartis vaccine trials, protecting pigs at the fair, 80 summer camps affected

H1N1 2009 Pandemic Influenza

India flu death spurs crowds, tussles at hospital
India's announcement of its first novel flu death 2 days ago sparked panic at a hospital in the town where the 14-year-old girl died, the Associated Press (AP) reported today. Hundreds of people gathered outside a hospital in Pune hoping to be tested for the virus. Several fights broke out while people were waiting in long lines. Local authorities are testing all students who attended the girl's school, the Press Trust of India reported.
Aug 5 AP story

Novartis novel flu vaccine trials under way
Novartis has launched human trials of its novel H1N1 vaccine, according to a company spokesman quoted in an AP story today. The company, like other vaccine makers, is seeing antigen yields that are only 30% to 50% of seasonal flu vaccine, but is still working with the original seed strains. The spokesman said Novartis is testing an unadjuvanted vaccine for the US market and an adjuvanted version for use in Europe and expects to begin shipping in the last quarter of 2009.
Aug 5 AP story

North Carolina strives to protect pigs at fairs
North Carolina's agriculture department yesterday said fairgoers will be asked to wash their hands at hand washing stations to protect pigs from the novel H1N1 flu virus. The department is advising people to avoid fairs or at least avoid animal exhibits if they have flulike symptoms. Veterinary officials have recommended that fair managers add 6-foot-high barriers around swine exhibits to separate animals from people.
http://www.agr.state.nc.us/paffairs/release/2009/8-09handwashing.htm
Aug 4 North Carolina Department of Agriculture press release

Flu strikes summer camps in 40 states
The pandemic H1N1 virus has been detected at 80 summer camps in 40 states so far this summer, according to Anne Schuchat, MD, an official from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). She made the comment yesterday during a webcast during which federal officials shared updates on novel flu and the status of planning efforts. Health officials have said they expect flu activity to rise when school starts again, and students in some parts of the country are already returning.
http://www.hhs.gov/news/press/2009pres/08/20090804a.html
Readout of Aug 4 federal flu webcast

This week's top reads

  1. FDA significantly limits COVID-19 vaccine recommendations

    Critics said today’s announcement is more evidence of the current administration’s willingness to undermine public trust in vaccines.

    Stephanie Soucheray
    FDA building

  2. Woman dies of Creutzfeldt-Jakob almost 50 years after taking prion-contaminated growth hormone

    The patient, who presented with gait imbalance and tremors, wasn't diagnosed until she was in a coma, shortly before she died.

    Mary Van Beusekom
    Woman in hospital bed

  3. Meta-analysis: Zika-infected pregnant moms 4 times more likely to have babies with microcephaly

    Five of 22 studies noted that over 50% of newborns had microcephaly, and the same number of studies observed that over 5% had congenital Zika syndrome. 

    Mary Van Beusekom

  4. HHS expected to discontinue COVID vaccine recommendations for some groups

    When CDC advisers widened their recommendation in 2023, most members were swayed by data, including those for long COVID, showing that no group is at low risk for the virus.

    Lisa Schnirring

  5. WHO advisers say current strains OK for COVID vaccine production

    Current vaccine strains show high neutralization against the latest variants, but the LP.8.1 antigen may provide similar or moderately higher cross-reactive antibody response.

    Lisa Schnirring
    senior vaccination

  6. US measles outbreak grows to 1,024 cases

    Texas remains the country's hot spot, with 718 cases. 

    Chris Dall
    Doctor treating child with measles

  7. Texas announces more measles cases, including first in Dallas area

    Two cases near the Dallas area are now included in the large outbreak, which now totals 717 cases.

    Lisa Schnirring

  8. Moderna pulls licensing submission for combo flu-COVID vaccine

    Moderna's combination vaccine was intended for adults 50 and older. 

    Stephanie Soucheray

  9. Saudi Arabia confirms 9 MERS cases, including hospital cluster

    Since 2023, the country has ramped up MERS-CoV testing as part of sentinel surveillance.

    Lisa Schnirring
    hospital isolation

  10. Mpox activity escalates in Sierra Leone

    Responding to the surge is a major focus, partly to prevent the spread to other West African countries. 

    Lisa Schnirring
    mpox virus

Our underwriters