Johns Hopkins finds resistant strain in 2 patients
Officials at Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore said two cancer patients recently had oseltamivir-resistant pandemic flu, the Baltimore Sun reported. One was hospitalized after a fever and the other hospitalized but did not improve after treatment. Officials said the cases were isolated and had not spread. The Washington Post reported that two Virginia residents are being treated for the resistant strain. Experts have said such cases in immunocompromised patients are expected.
http://www.baltimoresun.com/health/swine-flu/bal-md.hs.flu03dec03,0,2277805.story
Dec 3 Baltimore Sun story
Flu outbreak detected in North Korea
An aid group working in North Korea said the country has detected a pandemic flu outbreak in Sinuiju, a northern city on the Chinese border, Agence France-Presse (AFP) reported today. Cases in children are increasing, and North Korean authorities have taken emergency countermeasures, the group said. The antiviral drug oseltamivir (Tamiflu) is scarce in the country. The government has not officially acknowledged any flu cases.
http://www.asiaone.com/News/Latest%2BNews/Asia/Story/A1Story20091203-183792.html
Dec 3 AFP story
EU releases vaccine safety report
The European Union's drug regulatory agency today issued its first report on the safety of novel H1N1 vaccines. The data come from a system that collects and evaluates suspected adverse reactions. So far the agency has detected no unexpected serious safety issues. It is assessing new clinical data showing a greater incidence of fever in children age 6 to 35 months who have received their second Pandemrix dose. It said reports are increasing as more vaccine doses are administered.
Pandemic virus found in British pig herd
England's Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) reported that a pig herd in Norfolk is infected with the pandemic H1N1 virus, the sixth such finding in British pigs. The virus was found during routine surveillance. Genetic sequencing found that the virus is nearly identical to the strain circulating in humans.
http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20100401103043/http://www.defra.gov.uk/news/2009/091202a.htm
Dec 2 DEFRA press release
Shanghai seeks blood for serum treatment
In an effort to add a serum treatment option for patients with pandemic H1N1 infections, Shanghai authorities are asking people who have been vaccinated to donate blood, Shanghai Daily reported today. The first donations are expected to come from 34 healthcare workers who have already been inoculated. Serum treatment is in the health ministry's recommendations for managing pandemic flu patients.
Societies issue organ transplant flu guidance
American and Canadian organ transplant societies issued guidance for surgeons and other healthcare professionals on managing pandemic H1N1 issues in recipients and donors. The guidance, which appears in the American Journal of Transplantation, addresses each stage of the transplant process. For example, it suggests donors and recipients receive at least one vaccine dose and that donors with flu receive antiviral treatment for 5 to 10 days.
http://www3.interscience.wiley.com/cgi-bin/fulltext/123198716/HTMLSTART
Dec 2 Am J Transplant report
