May 21, 2010
Global H1N1 rate stays at low levels
The World Health Organization (WHO) reported today that global pandemic flu activity remains largely unchanged, with the most active areas of transmission in parts of the Caribbean and Southeast Asia. Activity in temperate regions remains low to sporadic. Central Africa has been seen increased transmission of seasonal influenza type B, which is accounting for 85% of all its flu isolates. Type B flu continues at low levels in parts of Asia, Europe, and Central America.
http://www.who.int/csr/don/2010_05_21/en/index.html
May 21 WHO update
Flu-like illness remains quiet in US
Influenza activity in the United States continues to taper, the CDC reported today, with the proportion of deaths attributed to pneumonia and influenza remaining below the epidemic threshold for the week ending May 15. The proportion of outpatient visits for flu-like illness was 0.8%, down from 1.1% the week before. Of the four influenza A viruses subtyped by the CDC, all were novel H1N1. One state had local flu activity, and 19 states and Puerto Rico reported sporadic activity.
http://www.cdc.gov/flu/weekly/?date=052110
May 21 CDC update
H1N1 can spread among air passengers
Sitting near H1N1-infected airline passengers may slightly raise infection risk, according to a new study. Scientists interviewed 97 of 102 passengers who shared the rear section of a Boeing 747-400 with 24 students and teachers during a long international flight from New Zealand. Nine members of the school group were determined to have pandemic flu during the flight, and 2 of the 57 passengers seated within two rows of those 9 became infected after the flight, implying a 3.5% risk of infection.
http://www.bmj.com/cgi/content/short/340/may21_1/c2424
May 21 BMJ study
H1N1 screening, travel limits were common at borders
Surveys of actions taken at borders early in the pandemic showed that entry screening and travel restrictions were common early on, but steps changed as the outbreak evolved, according to a WHO study today. Data were collected from 56 national public health officials (29% of WHO member states), as well as from 32 airports, 25 airlines, and 46 ports. Among the findings: 91% of nations gave travelers H1N1 info, 46% at first limited travel to outbreak areas, and 61% conducted entry screening.
http://www.who.int/wer/2010/wer8521.pdf
May 21 Wkly Epidemiol Rec (see p. 186)
Study finds little antiviral hoarding
Researchers found no evidence of antiviral hoarding in the United States during the H1N1 pandemic, according to a new survey by Prime Therapeutics. Researchers for Prime and one of its Blue Cross Blue Shield clients compared the use of antiviral flu drugs in 11 states during the pandemic with use during past seasonal flu outbreaks. They found regional variations in antiviral use but comparable pandemic-flu and seasonal-flu use overall and little indication of hoarding.
http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/new-prime-therapeutics-study-finds-antiviral-medications-were-not-hoarded-during-h1n1-flu-season-94439629.html
May 20 Prime Therapeutics news release
