H1N1 NEWS SCAN: Low campus activity, Web-based surveillance

H1N1 2009 Pandemic Influenza

Activity on US campuses falls further
H1N1 activity at colleges continues to drop, the American College Health Association (ACHA) said today. A total of 162 new cases of flu-like illness (but no hospitalizations or deaths) were reported for the week ending Apr 30, down from 192 the week before. The H1N1 attack rate was 0.8 cases per 10,000 students, down from 0.9 the week before. It has been below 5 cases per 10,000 students for almost 5 months. Among 170 campuses monitored, 28% reported cases, down from 34%.
http://www.acha.org/ILI_Project/ILI_Surveillance.cfm/date=050510
May 5 ACHA report

Web surveillance allowed early H1N1 tracking
Web-based syndromic surveillance of the 2009 H1N1 pandemic allowed earlier detection of regional outbreaks and permitted tracking of disease spread around the world, according to a report today. The HealthMap system, which collected data primarily from Internet news sources, showed confirmed or suspected outbreaks in 32 countries by Apr 28, 2009, with early spread being fastest in the Americas and Europe. The data also showed that wealthier nations had shorter delays in confirming cases.
http://content.nejm.org/cgi/content/full/362/18/1731
May 6 N Engl J Med report

This week's top reads

  1. 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

  2. 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

  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. 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

  6. 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

  7. Measles cases in Europe, the Americas skyrocket

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

    Stephanie Soucheray
    measles vax

  8. 'On the precipice of disaster': Measles may be endemic in 25 years if vaccine uptake stays low, model predicts

    A 10% decline in vaccine uptake could lead to 11.1 million cases of the highly contagious illness in that timeframe.

    Mary Van Beusekom
    Measles virus

  9. H5N1 avian flu surges in Idaho's dairy cattle

    There are currently 59 herds quarantined in 4 Idaho counties.

    Lisa Schnirring

  10. HHS, NIH announce universal vaccine platform, promote placebo trials for new vaccines

    The Wall Street Journal reports the Trump administration is investing $500 million in the universal vaccine project.

    Stephanie Soucheray
    flu vax

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