Influenza Update 3rd August 2008

Inefective Seasonal Influenza Vaccine?ScienceBlogs - USAA new article in the British scientific journal, The Lancet, suggests that seasonal influenza vaccines may not be effective in preventing community acquired influenza.

Flu Shot Fails to Stem Pneumonia in Older Patients, Study Says Sanofi- Aventis SA, the world's largest maker of influenza shots, is creating a 100-million-euro ($156 million) plan in France

Study: Flu vaccine isn't as helpful for elderly as thought A study adds important information to the understanding of influenza vaccine in seniors but shouldn't stop anyone from getting a flu vaccine every year.

Biota Completes Phase II Study of Influenza Drug Dallas,TX,USA Biota Holdings announce that its second generation, influenza treatment, CS-8958, has successfully completed initial Phase II clinical evaluation.

Effect Measure : Do flu vaccines really work in the elderly? Article in the British scientific journal, The Lancet, suggests that seasonal influenza vaccines may not be effective in preventing community acquired pneumonia in people 65 years old and older.

Video: Protecting the Healthcare Workforce in Pandemic Influenza Protecting the Healthcare Workforce in Pandemic Influenza; “Just in Case Curriculum California Department of Public Health Emergency Preparedness and The center for Infectious Disease Preparedness US Berkley School of Public Health

Modeling influenza incidence for the purpose of on-line monitoringBy Andersson, E., Bock, D., Frisen, M. We describe and discuss statistical models of Swedish influenza data, with special focus on aspects which are important in on-line monitoring. Earlier suggested statistical models are reviewed.

Sanofi Pasteur Shipping First Doses of Influenza Vaccine for the ... Sanofi Pasteur, the vaccines division of sanofi-aventis Group, begins shipping influenza vaccine (Fluzone(R), Influenza Virus Vaccine) in the United States for the 2008-2009 season.

Influenza Update 1st August 2008

Round up of todays items on Influenza related items;

Benefits of flu vaccinations overestimated UKInfluenza vaccinations for older people may not provide as much protection against pneumonia as previously thought, according to a new study.

Influenza vaccination coverage rates in five European countries ... The objectives of this survey were to identify the level of influenza vaccination coverage in five European countries between 2001 and 2007.

New horse quarantine arrangements start Australia. New quarantine arrangements for international horse transfers through Sydney Airport are now in place following last year's equine influenza.

Flu shot's help against pneumonia overrated

The role of neutrophils in the the upper and lower respiratory ... Neutrophils play a role in host defence against highly virulent and mouse-adapted strains of influenza virus.

Myanmar cooperates with UN organization in avian influenza prevention China (Xinhua) -- Myanmar is cooperating with the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (UNFAO) in prevention against highly pathogenic avian influenza

Feature: LGU role vital to combat entry of bird flu in Basilan

Bird Flu Deaths and developments Indonesia

Tangerang Regent Ismet Iskandar has ordered officials in Tangerang, Indonesia to open a crisis center to better coordinate the fight against the spread of avian influenza in the regency. Since 2005, 16 local people have been infected in the regency, resulting in 14 deaths.

Officials have also been ordered to develop regulations on poultry trade and industry.

Following the deaths of Iwan Siswara, an official at the Supreme Audit Agency (BPK), and his two young daughters in July 2005 the central Indonesian government declared Tangerang a "red zone" for bird flu.

The red zone status had the effect that poultry breeders and chicken meat traders have since experienced a slump in trade.

The recent deaths of two Tangerang residents at Sulianto Saroso Hospital in North Jakarta and Persahabatan Hospital in East Jakarta last month have lead to a rising concern about the spread of avian flu in the Tangerang area.

Acknowledging the need for co-ordinated action, Head of the regency health agency Hani Heriyanto said that, "It seems the health and husbandry agency is the only one that worries about the virus transmission here, while other agency officials remain undisturbed even though many have died of the virus."

Fast Respiratory Virus detection test appproved

A new test developed at McMaster University and just approved by U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) provides fast diagnosis and detection of the most common respiratory viruses, including flu and the common cold. The test was developed by McMaster virologist Dr. James Mahony, together with Luminex Molecular Diagnostics (formerly known as TM Biosciences).

The xTAG™ Respiratory Viral Panel detects most of the common respiratory viruses in just a few hours. Previous methods required multiple diagnostic tests and could take several days for a thorough diagnosis. Because xTAG™ RVP is fast and reliable physicians will be able to provide speedy and appropriate treatment. This should help to prevent inappropriate antibiotic use which has helped in the creation of "superbugs."

FDA approval means that U.S. laboratories can use the test to detect 12 viruses and viral subtypes. These are responsible for over 85% of respiratory viral infections. The list includes rhinovirus, influenza A, influenza A-H1, influenza A-H3, influenza B, Adenovirus, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) A and B, metapneumovirus, and parainfluenza 1, 2, and 3.

The test is also certified to detect 20 viruses and viral subtypes in Europe,including SARS and influenza A H5 (the subtype associated with avian influenza). Luminex aim to get the test certified for use in Canada.

Bird Flu protection advice book

A new book by Dr Lawrence Keith offers advice on how to protect your family from Bird Flu. The book offers a range of vital information on how to protect yourself from Bird Flu including;

How You Are at Risk,
How You Can Get Infected,
How the AI Virus is Different From a Typical Virus,
Why the H5N1 Virus is so Serious,
Symptoms of Infection,
How to Tell When the Pandemic Begins,
The 6 Stages of a Pandemic,
What to Do if You Have Symptoms of AI,
When to Seek Medical Help, and
Medication Options.

WHO states West Bengal Bird Flu Serious

The World Health Organisation (WHO) has now described the Bird flu H5N1 situation in West Bengal as "serious". The H5N1 virus causes a type of influenza in birds that is highly contagious. It does not at present usually infect people unless they come in close contact with infected birds or contaminated surfaces but there are fears that the virus may evolve into a form more infectious to humans leading to a severe outbreak of deadly infections.

The deadly H5N1 virus has now spread to two more districts in West Bengal and this was confirmed only an hour after the the bird flu situation was declared "under control" by the state government.

13 of the 19 West Bengal districts are now in the grip of avian influenza.

West Bengal Animal Husbandry Minister Anisur Rahman reported that;

"We have two more districts, South 24 Parganas adjoining Kolkata and West Midnapore, in the grip of bird flu. The affected area in South 24 Parganas is in Budge Budge (Kashipore and Alampur panchayat areas) and in West Midnapore it is Chawkbecha village under Lowada panchayat area. We were hoping to complete culling operations by Monday, but now more time will be needed," he said.

Rahman confirmed that the bird flu had also spread to new places in districts that were already affected like Cooch Behar (Mathabhanga) and Murshidabad (Samshergunge) .

A press conference an hour earlier with Health Minister Surya Kanta Mishra and Finance Minister Asim Dasgupta had declared the bird flu situation under control.

Over 1.5 million birds had been culled up to Sunday morning and West Bengal had planned to slaughter about 2.2 million birds by Monday.

"About 1,000 Rapid Response Teams (RRTs) are engaged in the work. The culling target of 2.2 million is likely to be completed by Monday. But the completion of the process will be delayed by new infections," Rahman said.

Finance Minister Dasgupta said the rehabilitation package would include compensation for at least half a million families.

The total loss from the West Begal Bird Flu outbreak is estimated at around Rs.1.5 billion.

Senior health official R.S. Shukla confirmed that police and civic authorities were keeping a watch at Calcutta's entry and exit points to prevent bird flu contamination in the metropolitan area of around 5 million people. The population of greater Calcutta is around 10 million.

Human samples sent for laboratory tests to date have proved negative but the state government equipping hospitals with ventilators and Tamiflu tablets.

On Friday, it was revealed that the Bird Flu outbreak had reached Sankrail in Howrah, barely 10 km from Calcutta.

The 13 avian flu affected districts to date are Birbhum, South Dinajpur, Murshidabad, Nadia, Burdwan, Bankura, Malda, Hooghly, Cooch Behar, Purulia, Howrah, South 24 Parganas and West Midnapore. The virus was first confirmed in Birbhum and South Dinajpu.