H1N1 NEWS SCAN: Review of WHO response, cross-protective immunity

H1N1 2009 Pandemic Influenza

Jun 29, 2010

WHO meeting on H1N1 response convenes tomorrow
The special committee assigned to review the World Health Organization's pandemic response will convene its second face-to-face meeting tomorrow. Plenary sessions tomorrow and the morning of Jul 1 will include updates from the review committee, input from states' representatives, and interviews with stakeholders. The committee will also hold private sessions and may develop recommendations. A wrap-up plenary session Jul 2 will focus on discussing and adopting the meeting report.
http://www.who.int/ihr/review_committee_note_20100621/en/index.html
Most recent committee update

Study shows cross-protective immunity between 2009, 1918 viruses
A study shows that immune-inducing compounds (peptides) derived from the current pandemic H1N1 influenza virus are more representative of 1918 pandemic flu than more recent seasonal flu strains. Researchers studied 12 peptide variants that emerged since 1918 and found no pre-existing immunity at the cellular level to the 2009 virus. However, infection with pandemic 2009 flu elicited a response specific to the 2009 and 1918 variants. They said the findings hold potential in vaccine development.
http://www.pnas.org/content/early/2010/06/21/1007270107.short?rss
Jun 28 Proc Natl Acad Sci abstract

This week's top reads

  1. FDA significantly limits COVID-19 vaccine recommendations

    Critics said today’s announcement is more evidence of the current administration’s willingness to undermine public trust in vaccines.

    Stephanie Soucheray
    FDA building

  2. Woman dies of Creutzfeldt-Jakob almost 50 years after taking prion-contaminated growth hormone

    The patient, who presented with gait imbalance and tremors, wasn't diagnosed until she was in a coma, shortly before she died.

    Mary Van Beusekom
    Woman in hospital bed

  3. Meta-analysis: Zika-infected pregnant moms 4 times more likely to have babies with microcephaly

    Five of 22 studies noted that over 50% of newborns had microcephaly, and the same number of studies observed that over 5% had congenital Zika syndrome. 

    Mary Van Beusekom

  4. HHS expected to discontinue COVID vaccine recommendations for some groups

    When CDC advisers widened their recommendation in 2023, most members were swayed by data, including those for long COVID, showing that no group is at low risk for the virus.

    Lisa Schnirring

  5. WHO advisers say current strains OK for COVID vaccine production

    Current vaccine strains show high neutralization against the latest variants, but the LP.8.1 antigen may provide similar or moderately higher cross-reactive antibody response.

    Lisa Schnirring
    senior vaccination

  6. US measles outbreak grows to 1,024 cases

    Texas remains the country's hot spot, with 718 cases. 

    Chris Dall
    Doctor treating child with measles

  7. Texas announces more measles cases, including first in Dallas area

    Two cases near the Dallas area are now included in the large outbreak, which now totals 717 cases.

    Lisa Schnirring

  8. Moderna pulls licensing submission for combo flu-COVID vaccine

    Moderna's combination vaccine was intended for adults 50 and older. 

    Stephanie Soucheray

  9. Saudi Arabia confirms 9 MERS cases, including hospital cluster

    Since 2023, the country has ramped up MERS-CoV testing as part of sentinel surveillance.

    Lisa Schnirring
    hospital isolation

  10. Mpox activity escalates in Sierra Leone

    Responding to the surge is a major focus, partly to prevent the spread to other West African countries. 

    Lisa Schnirring
    mpox virus

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