Mar 17, 2010
Flu activity on US campuses drops
Influenza-like illness (ILI) at US colleges dropped by more than half from the previous week, to an attack rate of 1.3 cases/10,000 students, in today's surveillance report from the American College Health Association (ACHA). Nationally, the reported disease incidence has remained below 5 cases/10,000 students for 3 months. "At this point we continue to see no definitive evidence of a third wave of ILI disease, even on a regional basis," said Dr. James C. Turner, president of the ACHA.
http://www.cdc.gov/flu/weekly/?date=031710
Mar 17 ACHA surveillance report
Review: Better studies needed on nondrug measures
A review of 11 studies on the effectiveness of nonpharmaceutical interventions (NPIs) in containing flu determined that "the data provide some evidence that face masks, hand hygiene, cough etiquette, reduced crowding, and school closures are effective in reducing the spread of influenza." The studies, however, had several limitations, including insufficient statistical power due to small sample size. The authors call for rigorous laboratory- and community-based studies to improve data collection.
http://www.ajicjournal.org/article/S0196-6553(10)00039-8/abstract
Mar 15 Am J Infect Control abstract
H1N1 vaccine could go unused in Australia
Australians are opting for newly available, broader seasonal flu vaccine rather than the monovalent H1N1 flu vaccine offered free of charge by the government. About 21 million doses of the latter were purchased; about 7 million have been distributed, and 2.1 million have been committed to developing countries. The vaccine has a shelf life of 12 months, raising concern that many doses will go to waste. H1N1 flu has hospitalized close to 5,000 Australians, with at least 190 deaths so far.
http://www.theage.com.au/national/swine-flu-jabs-may-be-wasted-20100316-qcle.html
May 17 The Age article
Study: Fatal H1N1 involves diffuse lung damage
Pathology findings in two patients who died after novel H1N1 infection showed diffuse alveolar damage, results the study's authors called similar to findings for seasonal flu. The first patient, a 36-year-old man, died 15 days after symptom onset and had alveolar damage with extensive alveolar bleeding. The second patient, a 46-year-old woman with alcoholism, was found unresponsive and died 4 days after admission. She had acute bronchopneumonia and diffuse alveolar damage.
http://ajcp.ascpjournals.org/content/133/3/380.abstract
Mar Am J Clin Pathol study abstract
Rwanda reports H1N1 contained
Most cases of flu now being reported in Rwanda are of the seasonal variety, including type B, which is common in the rainy season, according to health officials there. The number of H1N1 cases is decreasing significantly, and samples are no longer being sent routinely for laboratory diagnosis. Preventive measures, such as hand washing and covering coughs, continue to be encouraged. Rwanda saw its first case of H1N1 last October, and total cases number nearly 400, with no reported deaths.
http://allafrica.com/stories/201003170041.html
Mar 16 The New Times article
