Feb 10, 2010
CDC releases pandemic guide for primary care
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released a planning template for primary care medical practices that may have to cope with increased numbers of patient visits and calls during an influenza pandemic. The template's guidelines for maintaining communication, planning for surges of patients, and keeping offices functioning were based on recommendations from healthcare and public health workers brought together by the CDC in August.
http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/guidance/pdf/abb_pandemic_influenza_plan.pdf
Feb 10 CDC document
Queensland schedules high school vaccinations
The government of Queensland will administer free H1N1 flu vaccinations in high schools throughout the Australian state, offering the shot to students and also to their families, the Australian Broadcasting Corp. (ABC) reported Wednesday. The clinics are in anticipation of Australia's winter flu season and in acknowledgement of "disappointingly low" vaccine acceptance by 13% of the state's population.
http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2010/02/10/2815655.htm
Feb 10 ABC News report
Study shows low flu complications in pregnant women
Pregnant women treated at a major hospital center in Singapore experienced a low rate of serious illness from H1N1 flu, with 9 of 211 developing pregnancy complications and 2 developing pneumonia. None died. The authors of a medical journal article say the group is the largest cohort of pregnant women with H1N1 yet studied. The authors say early diagnosis and treatment was essential: The women's median time between developing symptoms and seeking help and being put on antivirals was 2 days.
http://www.rcog.org.uk/news/bjog-release-swine-flu-pregnancy-–-what-look-out
Feb 10 BJOG press release
Qatar latest state to cancel vaccine order
The government of Qatar intends to turn back 40% of the 1.5 million doses of H1N1 vaccine it ordered because it considers the shots no longer needed, the online publication TradeArabia reported. It quoted representatives of the Supreme Council of Health saying that 1.5 million doses were ordered and 500,000 delivered, but only 40,000 people have been vaccinated, including 21,000 children. The council hopes to cancel orders for 620,000 of the remaining 1 million doses.
http://www.tradearabia.com/news/newsdetails.asp?Sn=HEAL&artid=174675
Feb 10 TradeArabia.com report
