H1N1 NEWS SCAN: Who got first shots?, flu on rise in Hong Kong, transmission in blood, excess vaccine in Texas, new way to analyze flu

H1N1 2009 Pandemic Influenza

March 18, 2010

Many lower-risk people got first H1N1 shots
An investigation by the Associated Press using government documents tendered under the Freedom of Information Act reveals that, though the first wave of H1N1 shots were designated for high-risk groups, many were diverted to lower-risk healthy adults in firms, refineries, jails, and other sites. There is no complete record of where or to whom the vaccine was administered, the wire service said.

Hong Kong records seasonal, H1N1 flu rise
Hong Kong's Centre for Health Protection is detecting rising numbers of flu cases during its traditional flu-season peak, with half the isolates turning out to be H1N1 pandemic flu. The remainder of isolates are influenza B, not other seasonal influenza A strains. The centre said Thursday that it recorded 268 new flu cases last week, compared with 177 the week before, and added that visits to doctors for flu-like illnesses are rising.

Japanese researchers: Blood may transmit H1N1
In a letter to the journal Emerging Infectious Diseases, the blood service of the Japanese Red Cross Society has expressed concern that blood transfusion may transmit pandemic H1N1 flu. Forty out of 96 people who gave blood last fall were diagnosed with H1N1 within 2 days of donation. Testing of retained segments did not reveal H1N1 nucleic acids; the researchers say flu viremia may be too brief to be detectable.
http://tinyurl.com/eid-031710-blood
Mar 17 EID letter

Texas: Thousands of flu shots may be thrown out
The Tarrant County, Texas, heath department, which serves Fort Worth, is rushing to administer its remaining 20,000 H1N1 flu vaccine doses before they expire. KSDK-TV reported that the department was administering 300 shots per day during the winter but that demand has dropped by 80%.
http://www.ksdk.com/news/health/story.aspx?storyid=198158&catid=9
Mar 17 KSDK-TV report

Scientists call for "one health" flu analysis
Two specialists in zoonotic diseases, one of them a founder of the Global Initiative on Sharing Avian Influenza Data (GISAID), have called for a new approach to flu surveillance and analysis that would pay equal attention to nonhuman species. Ilaria Capua and Giovanni Cattoli say in a letter to Emerging Infectious Diseases that analyzing the flu gene pool as one cross-species entity will improve early detection of new strains such as pandemic H1N1 flu.
http://tinyurl.com/eid-031710-oneflu
Mar 17 EID letter

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. 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

  4. 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

  5. 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

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

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

    Stephanie Soucheray

  7. 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

  8. FDA vaccine advisers recommend sticking with JN.1 strain for next COVID vaccines

    The group weighed considerations about newer variants and raised concerns that a strain recommendation might interface with the FDA's new proposed COVID vaccine framework.

    Lisa Schnirring
    woman vaccinated

  9. 'A national scandal': US excess deaths rose even after pandemic, far outpacing peer countries

    The United States has been in a "protracted health crisis" for decades, the researchers say.

    Mary Van Beusekom
    Grave markers with flowers

  10. Viewpoint: Making key COVID vaccine decisions without input, transparency is a public disservice

    Newly announced rules that limit the use of COVID vaccines suggest that federal officials are opposed to open discussion and transparency.

    Vaccine Integrity Project Staff and Advisers
    COVID vaccine vial and syringe

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