H1N1 NEWS SCAN: Cases still occurring in tropics, results of flu phone polls

H1N1 2009 Pandemic Influenza

Jul 23, 2010

Tropics remain most active areas for H1N1
Pockets of West Africa, Central America, the Caribbean, and South and Southeast Asia continue to have the most active pandemic flu activity, while overall global flu activity remains low, the World Health Organization (WHO) said in its weekly update today. Australia and New Zealand have seen recent increases in respiratory disease, mostly pandemic flu. Influenza B and H3N2 are dominating South Africa's flu season. The areas with highest H1N1 activity in Asia are India, Cambodia, and Singapore.
http://www.who.int/csr/don/2010_07_23a/en/index.html
Jul 23 WHO update

Surveys provided quick assessment of H1N1 in NYC
Two telephone surveys in May and June 2009 enabled New York City health officials to quickly assess the prevalence and severity of pandemic flu, according to a study published in PLoS One. The polls indicated that the prevalence of flu-like illness in a 50-day period was 15.8%, and estimated case-fatality rates for H1N1 ranged from 0.054 to 0.086 per 1,000. The surveys indicated that the risk of severe illness was similar to that with seasonal flu, which influenced the city's pandemic response.
http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0011677
Jul 21 PLoS One report

This week's top reads

  1. Studies detail high rates of long COVID among healthcare, dental workers

    The most common symptom reported by healthcare workers was fatigue.

    Stephanie Soucheray
    health worker in mask

  2. Top virologists urge world leaders to act on rising avian flu threat

    Global Virus Network scientists highlight the need for robust surveillance, enhanced biosecurity, and readiness for potential human-to-human viral transmission.

    Mary Van Beusekom

  3. CIDRAP launches Vaccine Integrity Project to help safeguard US vaccine use

    The steering committee will make recommendations on how non-governmental groups can help ensure that vaccine use is evidence-based.

    Mary Van Beusekom
    MMR vaccine vial on table

  4. US measles cases climb higher, approach 900

    Thirty states have cases, and 83% of infections are part of outbreaks, the largest centered  in West Texas.

    Lisa Schnirring
    young boy with measles

  5. Tick-borne meat allergy may be related to urbanization in mid-Atlantic US

    The study identified open-space development and low population density as risk factors for Alpha-gal syndrome. 

    Mary Van Beusekom
    Lone star tick

  6. USDA withdraws proposal to reduce Salmonella in poultry

    The Biden-era rule would have prevented the sale of raw chicken or turkey with certain levels or strains of Salmonella.

    Chris Dall
    Raw poultry in processing plant

  7. Long COVID has unique symptoms, persistence not seen in flu, pneumonia, research suggests

    With increasing time since diagnosis, only the severe infections continued to cause symptoms. 

    Mary Van Beusekom
    Older man wiping brow

  8. New agreement geared toward universal avian flu vaccine

    The mRNA vaccine targets all major clades of the H5 avian flu subtype.

    Stephanie Soucheray

  9. Measles cases in Europe, the Americas skyrocket

    Almost 90% of the European cases were reported in Romania.

    Stephanie Soucheray
    measles vax

  10. Quick takes: Mpox outbreak in Malawi, more H5N1 in Idaho and California dairy cows

    The cases in Malawi bring the number of African countries affected by mpox to 23.

    Lisa Schnirring

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