Photo
Spring break revelers dance at the beach in the resort city of Cancun, Mexico Monday March 1, 2010. Cancun, Mexico's spring break king, is rebounding quickly from last year's triple blow to its tourism industry caused by the country's swine flu epidemic, drug violence and a global economic crisis. (AP Photo/Israel Leal)
Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/nphotos/H1N1-Virus/ss/events/hl/042409swineflu/im:/100302/2681/919abf5233ba448d950305dcec997703
New Issue
Social Stress May Enhance The Immune Response To Influenza Virus
(PhysOrg.com) -- A new study using mice suggests that a repeated stressful situation that triggers the animals' natural “fight-or-flight” response may actually enhance their ability to fight disease when re-exposed to the same pathogen.
The study showed that the stressed mice had a 10-fold increase in their resistance to an influenza infection, and that this protection lasted at least up to three months after the stressful episodes.
While appearing to clash with years of findings that showed stressful situations can lower an individual’s immune response, the new work actually does not. Instead, it offers new insight into the fine balance the immune system maintains to protect against disease.
The report, carried in the current issue of the Journal of Immunology, describes new work emerging from Ohio State University’s Institute for Behavioral Medicine Research.
“Not all stress suppresses the immune system,” explained John Sheridan, professor of oral biology and associate director of the IBMR. “Some stressors actually give rise to enhanced immune responses.” […]
Read more: http://www.physorg.com/news186695836.html
Research
Administration Of Influenza Vaccine To The Egg Allergic Child Under 36 Months
RATIONALE: To determine which population of egg allergic children (EAC) can safely receive the influenza vaccine (INF), and how to optimize testing and administration.
METHODS: A retrospective chart review from 10/2004 to 1/2009 of EAC ages 6-36 months seen in Allergy Clinic during influenza immunizationseason (10/1-2/28). EAC were identified with positive skin (ST) or RAST test to egg. EAC who did or did not receive INF or INF testing were evaluated.
Adverse events after INF were compared to a non-EAC control group of our patients given INF. We reviewed likelihood of receiving full testing (prick and intradermal (ID)), graded vaccine, or full vaccine to determine the best protocol.
RESULTS: 140 EAC were tested for INF and 53 EAC were not tested. Morbidities of asthma and anaphylaxis were no different in the 2 groups (p>.3). Likelihood of receiving ID prior to INF decreased over time from 100%-2% (p<.0001). Likelihood of receiving full INF vs graded INF increased with repeat dosing, 65%-87.5% (p<.0024).
5/140 tested EAC did not receive INF after positive STor ID to INF (3 with anaphylaxis), but 14/17 EAC with anaphylaxis received INF (2 with positive ST to flu, 9 negative, 3 not-performed). 135/140 received INF without significant complications (equivalent to non-EAC). 28/135 EAC were safely given INF without prior ST.
CONCLUSIONS: 96% of skin tested EAC safely received INF (76% ST negative, 23% ST positive); and 21% who received INF had no prior ST. 70% of all EAC received INF. EAC can safely receive INF. […]
Read more: http://www.jacionline.org/webfiles/images/journals/ymai/Abstracts_Saturday_1-64.pdf
Comment
Everyone in U.S. should get flu vaccine: experts
By Maggie Fox, Health and Science Editor
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Everyone in the United States over the age of six months should get seasonal influenza vaccines every year, federal vaccine advisers said on Wednesday.
The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices made the long-awaited vote to recommend virtually universal flu vaccination -- something public health experts have long recommended.
"The new recommendation seeks to remove barriers to influenza immunization and signals the importance of preventing influenza across the entire population," the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said in a statement.
Read more: http://uk.reuters.com/article/idUKN2419902520100225
Quote
"If they want to base it on good evidence, they should wash their hands. I would also encourage them to write to their Congressman or Senator, asking them to put pressure on the U.S. government to run a proper trial and get an answer to whether these vaccines actually work." Tom Jefferson, epidemiologist, Cochrane Collaboration.
Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/time/20100301/hl_time/08599196730600
News Flash
Malaysia confirms first swine flu death this year
KUALA LUMPUR — Malaysia's government has confirmed the country's first death linked to swine flu in nearly half a year.Health Minister Liow Tiong Lai says the 22-year-old woman died of respiratory...
Read more: http://www.dowell-netherlands.com/2010/03/malaysia-confirms-first-swine-flu-death.html
Mum dies of swine flu after birth of son
A young mum died from swine flu just weeks after giving birth to her son. Allison McCaffery, 26, developed flu symptoms during pregnancy which worsened following the birth of baby boy Jacob by...
Read more: http://www.dowell-netherlands.com/2010/03/mum-dies-of-swine-flu-after-birth-of.html
New inhaled drug protects from flu in single dose
Reuters
The now-waning pandemic of H1N1 influenza sparked new interest in the development of better drugs to fight flu, which kills 250000 to 500000 people globally ...
Read more: http://news.google.com/news/url?fd=R&sa=T&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.reuters.com%2Farticle%2FidUSN2523296420100226%3Ftype%3DmarketsNews&usg=AFQjCNEyc0sOOEqGZa9ExKGiM4DUThvHQw
A/H1N1 passes peak in flu season: Health Ministry
Xinhua
The A/H1N1 influenza outbreak, which has killed nearly 800 people on the Chinese mainland, has passed its peak in the autumn-winter flu season, the Ministry of Health said Tuesday.
Read more: http://english.people.com.cn/90001/90776/90882/6906801.html?
Disclaimer: Newsletter ini hanya merupakan kumpulan dari artikel/liputan/tulisan yang diambil dari berbagai sumber mengenai situasi terkini pandemi influenza di seluruh dunia termasuk Indonesia. Namun demikian isi/ilustrasi/foto tidak mewakili kepentingan atau kebijakan KOMNAS FBPI secara langsung
Severe pandemic 2009 influenza A virus (H1N1) infection is associated with risk factors that include pregnancy, obesity, and immunosuppression. After identification of immunoglobulin G2 (IgG2) deficiency in 1 severe case, we assessed IgG subclass levels in a cohort of patients with H1N1 infection.
), anemia (
), and low levels of total IgG (
), IgG1 (
), and IgG2 (15 of 19 vs 5 of 20; 
; mean value ± standard deviation [SD], 
g/L vs 
g/L; 
) were all statistically significantly associated with severe H1N1 infection, but only hypoalbuminemia (
) and low mean IgG2 levels (
) remained significant after multivariate analysis. Follow‐up of 15 (79%) surviving IgG2‐deficient patients at a mean (±SD) of 
days (R, 38–126) after the initial acute specimen was obtained found that hypoalbuminemia had resolved in most cases, but 11 (73%) of 15 patients remained IgG2 deficient. Among 17 healthy pregnant control subjects, mildly low IgG1 and/or IgG2 levels were noted in 10, but pregnant patients with H1N1 infection had significantly lower levels of IgG2 (
).
