The World Health Organization (WHO) yesterday recommended a specific H7N9 influenza strain for vaccine development, saying it "elicits antibodies that react well with all viruses tested."
In a statement, the WHO said it has selected an A/Anhui/1/2013-like virus for the development of H7N9 vaccines for pandemic preparedness. It notes that A/Shanghai/2/2013 is an A/Anhui/1/2013-like virus.
Clinical trials will test a candidate vaccine for H7N9 flu in varying doses, some with immune boosters.
The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) today announced two emergency regional projects aimed at detecting and containing H7N9 avian flu in Southeast Asia, the agency said in a press release.
The CDC today announced $75 million in grants to help states and cities respond to infectious disease threats.
Influenza activity increased in several areas of the Southern Hemisphere and was dominated by the 2009 pandemic H1N1 strain over the 2-week period from Jul 7 through Jul 20, according to World Health Organization (WHO) updates.
To help prepare for protecting outpatients from infection during disasters such as pandemics, bioterror attacks, or outbreaks of a novel disease, the Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology (APIC) today released a new guide, "Infection Prevention for Ambulatory Care Centers During Disasters."
Experts say some properties of H7 viruses may lend themselves to human adaptation.
HHS awarded $916 million in emergency preparedness grants, down $55 million from last year.
Intensive federal deliberations are under way on whether to stockpile a vaccine against the H7N9 flu virus that emerged this spring in China.
The WHO today proposed a new pandemic alert system designed to focus more on disease risk than geographic spread.
