H1N1 NEWS SCAN: Vaccine updates, side effects with mass Tamiflu administration

H1N1 2009 Pandemic Influenza

India approves pandemic vaccine
The pharmaceutical company Zydus Cadila announced today it has gained approval from the drug controller general of India to become the first India-based firm to market a pandemic H1N1 vaccine in the country. The vaccine, VaxiFlu-S, will be marketed by Vaxxicare, part of a division of the company that focuses on preventives.
http://businesstoday.intoday.in/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&issueid=60&id=15039&Itemid=1&sectionid=4
May 13 Business Today report

Study finds side effects with mass antiviral 'blanket'
Last June when pandemic H1N1 struck 17% of students and staff at a UK elementary school, 92% of students and 91% of staff received the antiviral drug oseltamivir (Tamiflu) for treatment and prevention. Of those, 41% (113/273) of students and 47% (25/53) of staff reported adverse effects. Overall, 14% of students and 20% of staff did not complete the course of oseltamivir, primarily due to adverse effects. The authors say potential benefits of mass treatment must outweigh possible side effects.
http://tinyurl.com/eurosurv051310h1n1
May 13 Eurosurveillance study

Netherlands cancels third of its GSK vaccine order
GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) has agreed to cut 33% of its order of H1N1 vaccine from the Netherlands, saving the country 21 million euros, Reuters reported. The Dutch government said in March it wanted to sell 21 million unused vaccine doses back to drug firms. The original Dutch order was 34 million doses, 11 million of which were administered and 257,000 sold to other countries. GSK cut its Dutch order from 9 million to 6 million doses. A second supplier, Novartis, has not reduced its order.
http://lta.reuters.com/article/marketsNews/idLTALDE64B25M20100512
May 12 Reuters article

Virus-like-particle vaccine shows promise
A recombinant pandemic H1N1 virus-like-particle flu vaccine made by Rockville, Md.-based Novavax protected ferrets against the disease in a study published in Vaccine. The vaccine induced a good antibody response in the animals and inhibited viral replication in the upper and lower respiratory tract. A single 15-microgram dose resulted in complete clearance of the virus from the lungs. Ferrets are known to be good animal models for flu in humans.
http://tinyurl.com/vaccine051210vlp-vax
May 12 Vaccine abstract

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. 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

  3. 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

  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. 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

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

    There are currently 59 herds quarantined in 4 Idaho counties.

    Lisa Schnirring

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