Cuba to launch pandemic vaccination
Cuba will launch the first phase of its pandemic flu vaccine campaign on Apr 1, targeting priority groups such as pregnant women, healthcare workers, teachers, and people who have contact with foreign travelers, the Associated Press (AP) reported, citing Cuba's communist newspaper. The country previously signaled it was hesitant because of cost and efficacy issues, but Cuba has now received vaccine from the World Health Organization. Officials hope to protect 1.1 million people.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/36058817/ns/health-cold_and_flu/
Mar 26 AP story
Possible spread of resistant H1N1 reported
Oseltamivir-resistant H1N1 flu probably spread between two children living in adjacent rooms in an institution for disabled children, Israeli physicians reported in Emerging Infectious Diseases. A 13-year-old boy became ill in late July and was found to have the resistant strain. His neighbor, a 10-year-old girl, got sick about 2 weeks later and had the resistant strain from early in her illness. The resistant virus did not appear to spread to any other children in the facility.
http://tinyurl.com/eid032610-h1n1oselt
Emerg Infect Dis report
China drought threatens key Tamiflu ingredient
A severe drought in four of China's southwestern provinces is threatening production of star anise, a major source of shikimic acid, a key ingredient of oseltamivir (Tamiflu), Xinhua reported. A forestry expert said Roche, the maker of Tamiflu, gets two thirds of its star anise from China. A Roche official said it's not clear if the drought will affect Tamiflu production and that the company could substitute another ingredient for star anise.
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english2010/china/2010-03/26/c_13226274.htm
Mar 26 Xinhua story
Jordan reallocates flu-vaccine money
With no new cases of pandemic flu in Jordan since December, part of the money that Jordan had planned to spend on flu vaccine will be used to buy drugs for other conditions, the Jordan Times reported today. The health ministry had planned to buy 2.25 million doses of vaccine from Novartis for 9 million Jordanian dinar. Now, 4 million dinar of that sum will be used to buy Novartis drugs for various conditions. Jordan has had 3,049 confirmed H1N1 cases and 16 deaths.
http://www.menafn.com/qn_news_story_s.asp?StoryId=1093317699
Mar 29 Jordan Times story
