Feb 16, 2010
College flu data show uptick
Data collected by the American College Health Association (ACHA) between Jan 30 and Feb 5 show an uptick in new cases of influenza-like illness. Out of 182 colleges and universities sampled by the association, 58% reported new cases, compared with 55% the previous week, for a national attack rate of 2.9 cases per 10,000 students, 12% higher than a week earlier. There have been more than 90,000 cases among more than 2 million students, the association said. About 11% of students were immunized.
http://www.acha.org/ILI_Project/ILI_Surveillance.cfm
Feb 16 ACHA surveillance summary
Hospitals reporting little seasonal flu
Although pandemic H1N1 flu is now mainly quiet, seasonal flu has not taken off, either, according to a story today in the San Francisco Chronicle. Seasonal flu typically peaks about this time of year, but doctors and healthcare centers are reporting levels of flu well below normal, possibly because of widespread novel H1N1 earlier. One doctor who commented on this unusual flu season said, "It certainly isn't out of the question that seasonal flu could still show up."
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2010/02/15/MNU01C0SG5.DTL
Feb 16 Chronicle article
Mobile, social media help track H1N1 flu
More than 100 iPhone applications related to H1N1 flu have been launched since the pandemic began, the Associated Press (AP) reported. The apps encourage two-way communication among civilians and between health authorities and the public and may permanently have changed methods of communication in crises. Outbreaks Near Me, an app linked to the Web-based disease alert service HealthMap, has been downloaded more than 100,000 times.
http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5g1caPbB6TVbmtI11xMat4M-VXOhgD9DSNG980
Feb 15 AP story
South Dakota reports good vaccine coverage
Almost half of South Dakotans have either received the H1N1 flu vaccine or had pandemic flu, which might be enough to prevent further spread, state officials told the AP yesterday. State epidemiologist Lon Kightlinger says the virus has "flat-lined" in the state, though he warned it could yet return. The officials continue to urge people to get vaccinated.
http://www.keloland.com/News/NewsDetail6371.cfm?Id=96565
Feb 15 AP story
South Korea shares hand sanitizer with North
South Korea will donate 200,000 liters of hand sanitizer, worth $866,000, to North Korea in an unusual cross-border humanitarian mission, the Korea Herald reported today. The action comes two months after South Korea donated $15 million worth of flu antivirals to North Korea, the first time in two years the closed northern nation allowed such a humanitarian exchange.
http://www.koreaherald.co.kr/NEWKHSITE/data/html_dir/2010/02/16/201002160062.asp
Feb 16 Korea Herald story
