Apr 28, 2010
Flu activity at colleges tails off further
The American College Health Association (ACHA) said today that influenza-like illness (ILI) at colleges is down from the already low levels reported the week before. A total of 192 new ILI cases were reported for the week ending Apr 23, which is 3% of the number reported during the pandemic's peak. There were no hospitalizations or deaths. The nationwide attack rate was just 0.9 cases per 10,000 students, down from 1.1 the week before. Among 182 campuses, 34% reported cases, down from 38%.
http://www.acha.org/ILI_Project/ILI_Surveillance.cfm/date=042810
Apr 28 ACHA surveillance report
Australia widens probe into flu-vaccine events
Australia's Therapeutic Goods Administration has widened its probe into CSL's seasonal flu vaccine, which includes the pandemic strain, after children receiving the shot had fevers and convulsions, according to Bloomberg News. The agency asked all states and territories to examine all reports of fever in children under 5 for evidence of any pattern. Also, New Zealand reported today that five children experienced convulsions after flu vaccinations, according to news reports in that country.
http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601081&sid=alsBcFP5Armk
Apr 28 Bloomberg article
Standard case definition might not fit mild H1N1
Researchers found that the commonly used CDC case definition may not work for detecting mild pandemic H1N1 flu. They reviewed medical records of 44 patients with lab-confirmed H1N1 who were hospitalized in early summer 2009 and found that many of them had no fever. They found cough to be a more sensitive H1N1 indicator. The authors conclude that "the standard case definition for 2009 H1N1 influenza has low sensitivity for mild influenza infection."
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ajic.2010.02.006
Apr 26 Am J Infect Control abstract
