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
