H1N1 NEWS SCAN: Activity up in Latin America, nondrug steps against flu, US pork now OK in China

H1N1 2009 Pandemic Influenza

Mar 26, 2010

WHO: Flu activity up in Central, South America
Pandemic activity may be increasing across Central America and in some parts of South America, the World Health Organization (WHO) said today. Guatemala, Nicaragua, El Salvador, Panama, and parts of Brazil have reported increasing pandemic flu detections. Mexico is seeing more respiratory illnesses, though it's not clear if flu is the cause. Flu activity hasn't peaked in West Africa, though it is subsiding in Thailand. European countries are increasingly reporting influenza B.
http://www.who.int/csr/don/2010_03_26/en/index.html
Mar 26 WHO weekly update

Review calls nondrug steps effective against flu
After assessing 11 CDC-funded studies on the effect of non-pharmaceutical interventions (NPIs) on pandemic flu, a committee has determined that "evidence exists of the effectiveness of NPIs, including face masks, hand hygiene, cough etiquette, reduced crowding, and school closures, in reducing the spread of influenza." The group, however, identified 16 research gaps, including the role of transmission modalities, implication of viral load, clinical definitions, and barriers to implementing NPIs.
http://www.cdc.gov/eid/content/16/4/e2.htm?rss
Mar 26 Emerg Infect Dis report

China eases flu ban on US pork
China lifted its flu-related ban on US pork, a move welcomed by American pork producers, the Associated Press (AP) reported today. Several countries restricted US pork imports last spring when the pandemic H1N1 virus emerged in Mexico and the United States, but China was the last country to end its ban. Industry experts said shipments to China could resume within 2 weeks.
http://www.orlandosentinel.com/business/nationworld/sns-ap-us-food-and-farm-pork-exports,0,7831409.story
Mar 26 AP story

Japan cancels part of vaccine order
Japan's Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare announced today that it has reached agreement with GlaxoSmithKline to cancel a third of its H1N1 vaccine order, or 24 million surplus doses. It is also working to cancel part of a 25-million-dose vaccine order from Novartis, according to Kyodo News. Of the 99 million doses Japan had ordered from the two companies, about 50 million have been shipped.
http://www.japantoday.com/category/national/view/japan-cancels-part-of-flu-vaccine-deal-with-glaxosmithkline
Mar 26 Kyodo News article

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. 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

  4. 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

  5. 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

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

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

    Stephanie Soucheray

  7. 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

  8. FDA vaccine advisers recommend sticking with JN.1 strain for next COVID vaccines

    The group weighed considerations about newer variants and raised concerns that a strain recommendation might interface with the FDA's new proposed COVID vaccine framework.

    Lisa Schnirring
    woman vaccinated

  9. Viewpoint: Making key COVID vaccine decisions without input, transparency is a public disservice

    Newly announced rules that limit the use of COVID vaccines suggest that federal officials are opposed to open discussion and transparency.

    Vaccine Integrity Project Staff and Advisers
    COVID vaccine vial and syringe

  10. Family likely infected with histoplasmosis in bat-colonized cave

    They reported seeing bats and coming into contact with bat droppings while crawling through tight spaces during the 2-hour tour.

    Mary Van Beusekom
    Bats in cave

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