Jul 15, 2010
School closure caused missed work in 22% of households
A study that looked at a week-long closing of a Pennsylvania elementary school because of H1N1 last May found that in 22% of households at least one parent had to miss work, often for multiple days. The overall economic impact, however, was not major. But of those who missed work, about 40% missed 5 days of work. Although home was the primary location that students spent their time off, more than two thirds reported visiting other locations like stores or restaurants.
http://www.businessweek.com/lifestyle/content/healthday/641122.html
Jul 14 HealthDay News report
Study finds seasonal vaccine did not give H1N1 protection
Australian researchers found that the seasonal flu vaccine did not protect against pandemic H1N1 flu. Their study found that 15% of both seasonal flu–vaccinated people and their unvaccinated counterparts developed H1N1 flu in the week after a household member did. The authors list some caveats, including that the outcome sought was clinical flu-like illness and not lab-confirmed novel H1N1 (though a high percentage of those tested had pandemic flu) and that vaccination history was not verified.
http://www.eurosurveillance.org/ViewArticle.aspx?ArticleId=19616
Jul 15 Euro Surveill study
Study: Kids shed H1N1 virus longer
Children under age 13 shed pandemic H1N1 viruses longer than do adolescents and adults, found a Taiwan study. The researchers, who studied 602 confirmed cases, found that the median duration of viral shedding for all ages was 9 days, longer than in other studies. But it was 11 days for children younger than 13, and 7 for the rest of the population. They also found that patients with pneumonia had significantly higher viral loads than those with upper respiratory tract infections or bronchitis.
http://www.medpagetoday.com/InfectiousDisease/SwineFlu/21153
Jul 14 MedPage Today article
Report faults France's vaccine distribution
A parliamentary review has concluded that France's H1N1 vaccination efforts were a "failure," with millions of doses discarded or cancelled, according to a Connexion story. Less than 8.5% of the population was vaccinated. The parliament's report found that excluding local general practitioners from distribution efforts contributed to the low uptake, and that a number of doctors who helped with vaccinations have yet to be paid. It did not fault officials for taking the virus seriously.
http://www.connexionfrance.com/swine-flu-vaccination-campaign-failure-france-parliamentary-report-view-article.html
Jul 15 Connexion story
Saudi pilgrims won't need H1N1 vaccination
Saudi Arabia this year has waived the requirement that Hajj and Umrah pilgrims traveling to the country be vaccinated against pandemic H1N1 flu, according to the Press Trust of India (PTI) today. Last year the country's health ministry had recommended the vaccine for all pilgrims. The Hajj pilgrimage takes place in November, while Muslims can make an Umrah pilgrimage any time of year.
http://www.hindustantimes.com/No-swine-flu-vaccine-needed-for-visits-to-Saudi-Arabia/Article1-572625.aspx
Jul 15 PTI story
