H1N1 FLU BREAKING NEWS: Monsoon and flu, atypical cases, school nurse shortage, IOM meeting on protective equipment

Influenza, General
Pandemic Influenza
H1N1 2009 Pandemic Influenza

Aug 11, 2009

Flu picks up in Asia with monsoon season
Novel H1N1 influenza is spreading in India, Thailand, and Vietnam with the onset of Asia's monsoon season, the World Health Organization (WHO) said today, according to Reuters. The regular flu season has started in those countries, and both H1N1 and seasonal flu are being detected, said WHO spokeswoman Aphaluck Bhatiasevi. But the spread of pandemic H1N1 appears to have peaked in parts of the southern hemisphere, including Argentina, Chile, Australia, and New Zealand.
http://in.reuters.com/article/worldNews/idINIndia-41686620090811
Aug 11 Reuters article

 

Disease expert notes fever-free flu cases
In his clinical observation of novel flu cases in the United States and South America, Richard P. Wenzel, MD, former president of the Infectious Diseases Society of America, has noted that some patients are afebrile, even some with serious infections, and lack of fever might underestimate case totals, the New York Times reported yesterday. He said diarrhea seen in a portion of patients suggests a need for stool testing to assess transmission and the role of better hand hygiene.
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/08/11/health/11docs.html
Aug 10 New York Times article

 

School nurse shortage could slow ID of sick kids
School nurses are expected to be at the frontlines of detecting and fighting novel flu when schools resume this fall, but the ratio of nurses to students in many states falls well below the levels suggested by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), USA Today reported yesterday. The CDC recommends a workload of 1 nurse per 750 students, but the newspaper's analysis of census data puts the national average at 1 per 971 students.
http://www.usatoday.com/news/health/2009-08-10-school-nurses_N.htm
Aug 10 USA Today story

 

IOM holds meeting on protective equipment for novel flu
The Institutes of Medicine's (IOM's) Board on Health Sciences Policy is convening a meeting today through Aug 13 on pandemic influenza and personal protective equipment (PPE) for healthcare workers. Today's agenda includes a call to the committee, with panel discussions starting tomorrow. Topics include the science and clinical experience with novel H1N1, infection control guidelines, risk assessment in health workers, and data on the effectiveness of PPE.
http://nationalacademies.org/hmd/activities/workforce/respproth1n1/2009-aug-11.aspx
IOM meeting home page

This week's top reads

  1. Study: COVID can trigger changes to the immune system that may underlie persistent symptoms

    Over 90% of COVID-19 survivors had no neutralizing antibody activity at 10 months, implying that they had lost protection from reinfection.

    Mary Van Beusekom
    SARS-CoV-2

  2. Risk of long COVID has ebbed during pandemic, mostly thanks to vaccines, new data reveal

    The highest risk of developing long COVID was seen among patients infected with the original strain of the virus, when no vaccines were available. 

    Stephanie Soucheray
    long COVID

  3. Avian flu infects two more Colorado poultry cullers, one at second farm

    Early results from blood sampling found no evidence of earlier undetected infection in Michigan dairy farm workers exposed to sick cows.

    Lisa Schnirring
    layer farm birds

  4. H5N1 strikes another large layer farm in Colorado, dairy herd in Minnesota

    Colorado's latest layer farm outbreak occurred not far from where culling workers were infected in a similar event.

    Lisa Schnirring

  5. US COVID-19 activity continues to rise steadily

    Two wastewater systems show high levels across most of the country.

    Lisa Schnirring

  6. Multistate Listeria outbreak tied to meats sliced at delis sickens 28, kills 2

    Sixteen of 18 people sickened (89%) reported eating meats sliced at deli counters (not packaged meats). 

    Mary Van Beusekom

  7. India reports fatal Nipah virus infection

    State officials said the boy had eaten plum fruit from the neighborhood before his symptoms began.

    Lisa Schnirring

  8. Study suggests earlier US-licensed H5N1 vaccines prompt antibodies to current strain

    Scientists said until the newer more closely matched vaccine is approved, earlier licensed vaccines might be a useful bridge, if needed.

    Lisa Schnirring
    vials and syringe

  9. Colorado orders weekly bulk tank avian flu testing for dairy farms

    The state has now reported 49 outbreaks in dairy cows, nearly half of its licensed dairy farms.

    Lisa Schnirring
    bulk milk tank

  10. Shortage of BD blood culture tubes forcing some hospitals to make tough decisions

    A BD exec said supplier manufacturing problems are behind the disruption and that more supplies should become available in September.

    Mary Van Beusekom
    Blood draw