Feb 19, 2010
Colleges see slight dip in flu cases
Reports of flu-like illnesses at college campuses for the week ending Feb 12 dropped by 7%, a decrease that the American College Health Association (ACHA) says doesn't reflect a significant change, consistent with the bigger national pattern. The attack rate at the nation's colleges was 2.7 cases per 10,000 students. No new hospitalizations or deaths were reported. The group said 85% of campuses have pandemic vaccine, but student uptake remains low, at about 8%.
http://www.acha.org/ILI_Project/ILI_Surveillance.cfm/?date=021910
Feb 19 ACHA surveillance report
Influenza B activity up in China, Hong Kong
The World Health Organization (WHO) said today though pandemic activity hasn't changed much, influenza B now accounts for 82% of flu virus detections in China and nearly 35% in Hong Kong. Several countries in West Africa are reporting increasing pandemic flu cases, but the WHO said the uptick doesn't yet appear to reflect widespread transmission. Some countries, such as Thailand and Jamaica, are reporting increases in respiratory diseases, though the WHO said some may be other diseases.
http://www.who.int/csr/don/2010_02_19/en/index.html
Feb 19 WHO update
EU authority approves Sanofi pandemic vaccine
Sanofi today announced that Europe's drug regulatory agency has approved its adjuvanted pandemic H1N1 vaccine. The approval clears the vaccine for use in people age 6 months and older. Sanofi's vaccine contains its AF03 adjuvant. Clinical trials showed a single 3.8-mcg dose of the vaccine was safe and effective in all age-groups. The vaccine is manufactured in Sanofi's Val de Reuil, France, facility and is the fifth novel H1N1 vaccine that European regulators have cleared.
http://www.avpi.org/sanofi-pasteur2/ImageServlet?imageCode=27335&siteCode=PAND_CORPORATE
Feb 19 Sanofi press release
Czech Republic cancels 30% of vaccine order
Because of low demand, the Czech Republic is reducing its H1N1 vaccine order with GlaxoSmithKline from 1 million doses to 700,000, its health minister told the Associated Press (AP) today. Health Minister Dana Juraskova said only about 64,000 citizens have decided to get vaccinated.
http://newsok.com/czechs-cancel-order-for-300000-swine-flu-vaccine/article/feed/134717
Feb 19 AP story
