INFOFLU

Newsletter 18 Februari 2010

New Issue
H1N1 flu has hit kids with neuromuscular disorders especially hard

Derek Collette, 13, who has cerebral palsy, winces with pain as his mother Christina Collette helps lift him out of bed in the morning. Derek has been largely confined to a wheelchair and unable to go to school since he had the flu in May 2009. [...]
Source: USA TODAY
Read more: http://tinyurl.com/yj8zmje

Research
Flu-induced stress response is critical for resistance to secondary infection
A new study reveals how infection with the influenza virus impacts the way that the immune system responds to subsequent infections. The research, published by Cell Press in the February 18th issue of the journal Cell Host and Microbe, provides a new understanding of the physiological and pathological consequences of the flu.
Much of what is known about how the immune system protects against infection comes from studies examining exposure to a single pathogen. However, in the natural environment, organisms are commonly exposed to multiple infectious agents at the same time, so it is important to determine how the host's response to one pathogen alters its response to another. This is particularly relevant for infection with influenza because it is often accompanied by secondary bacterial infections that are more lethal that the initial viral infection.
"Several studies have demonstrated that infection with influenza virus can result in a suppression of the immune system," explains senior study author, Dr. Ruslan Medzhitov from the Department of Immunology at the Yale University School of Medicine. "However, these studies focused primarily on the local effects of influenza at the site of infection. The effect of influenza virus infection on the systemic immune response is less well understood."[...]
Source: Eurekalert
Read more: http://tinyurl.com/ydl9v6k

Comment
When swine flu pandemic hits home
By Steve Sternberg, USA TODAY
Joan Bishop's thoughts trend toward disaster. Earthquakes, hurricanes, "dirty bombs," weapons of mass destruction, killer pandemics — she has studied them all.
But Bishop, 46, of Fairfax, Va., says her expertise did little to stop the H1N1 pandemic from landing on her doorstep. Despite taking all the recommended precautions, two of her three daughters, Beri, 10, and Bailey, 13, contracted swine flu. Each posed a different challenge because their unique risks — Beri's autism and epilepsy and Bailey's asthma — made them more difficult to treat.
What's more, Bishop says, her expertise intensified her concerns about her children.
"I know too much," she says. [...]
Source: USA Today
Read more: http://tinyurl.com/ykmwz44

Risk Communication
Health officials: Don't forget 2nd dose of H1N1 vaccine
If your child had a first dose of the H1N1 vaccine, but didn't get the second dose, you'll be getting a phone call if you live in Salt Lake County.
Officials at the Salt Lake Valley Health Department say more than 16,600 local children are overdue for the second vaccine dose required to protect them from the H1N1 virus, so they began making "reminder calls" this week. [...]
Source: deseretnews.com
Read more: http://tinyurl.com/ybcazc5

Photo

A student from Pelambayan Religious School reciting the 'Ratib Al-Attas' and other prayers to seek protection against Influenza A (H1N1) in a religious ceremony organised by the Islamic Studies Department held at the school. Picture: BT/Yusri Adanan
Source: The Brunei Times
Read more: http://tinyurl.com/yhlhymm

Quote
“It's mind-blowing to me. This is a very serious disease. People are still getting sick, still being hospitalized and we are still having the occasional death." Dr. Bob England, PHOENIX - Health officials.
Source: azfamily.com - "So many H1N1 shots available they are being thrown away"
Read more: http://tinyurl.com/yconzf8

News Flash
HK reports 70th fatal case of influenza A/H1N1
Xinhua
He attended Princess Margaret Hospital on Dec. 30 last year due to flu symptoms. Positive result for influenza A/H1N1 was confirmed on the same day. ...
Read more: http://goo.gl/gGQh
Flu jab for the elderly may be a waste of time: review of evidence
Telegraph.co.uk
All people aged over 65 are offered the seasonal flu vaccine and around three quarters have it, the latest Government figures show and is thought to cost ...
Read more: http://tinyurl.com/ygcejkj
By 2012, no more bird flu in S Kalimantan
Antara
Banjarbaru, S Kalimantan (ANTARA News) - The Indonesian province of South Kalimantan remained prone to the attacks of bird flu but it would be free from the deadly virus by 2012.
Read more: http://tinyurl.com/yz988ur
500000 people vaccinated against A/H1N1 flu in Mexican capital
Xinhua
17 (Xinhua) -- At least 500000 residents of Mexico City have got vaccinated against the A/H1N1 flu, the city's health official told media on Wednesday. ...
Read more: http://tinyurl.com/ycoj9dn

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

Newsletter 17 Februari 2010

New Issue
Study links pandemic spread to gaps in paid sick leave
Employees without paid sick days were more likely to work when they were sick during the peak of the fall pandemic wave and may have extended the outbreak by infecting their coworkers, according to a research group.
Using data from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the US Department of Labor, the investigators estimate that almost 26 million employed Americans age 18 and older may have been infected with the pandemic H1N1 virus from September through November. They projected that nearly 18 million took at least a part of a week off due to illness and that 8 million apparently worked while they were sick. [...]
Source: CIDRAP
Read more: http://www.cidrap.umn.edu/cidrap/content/influenza/biz-plan/news/feb1610sickleave-jw.html

Research
Gastrointestinal absorption of Tamiflu in critically ill patients with H1N1
An increased dosage of Tamiflu (oseltamivir) for patients with critical illness is unlikely to be required in the treatment of pandemic (H1N1) influenza, contrary to current international guidelines, found a new study http://www.cmaj.ca/cgi/doi/10.1503/cmaj.092127 in CMAJ (Canadian Medical Association Journal) www.cmaj.ca.
World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines recommend that all critically ill patients should be treated with Tamiflu and if the patient was unresponsive to standard doses or critically ill, a higher dose should be considered.
The CMAJ study looked at the gastrointestinal absorption of Tamiflu in 44 patients, 18 years of age or older, with suspected or confirmed pandemic (H1N1) influenza who were admitted to nine ICUs in two cities in Canada (Winnipeg and Ottawa) and Tarragona, Spain because of respiratory failure. As critically ill patients may have gastrointestinal absorption issues, guidelines suggest higher doses of Tamiflu.[...]
Source: eurekalert.org
Read more: http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2010-02/cmaj-gao021610.php

H1N1 learnings: Risk factors for severe outcomes among patients admitted to hospital with H1N1
A new study in CMAJ (Canadian Medical Association Journal) http://www.cmaj.ca/cgi/doi/10.1503/cmaj.091823 of all patients in Canada admitted to hospital for H1N1 in the first five months of the outbreak summarizes the risk factors for a severe outcome (www.cmaj.ca). The H1N1 pandemic presents important learnings for clinicians and researchers and data on severe outcomes can help inform future treatment and prevention guidelines.
The risk of a severe outcome among patients admitted to hospital with H1N1 was elevated among those who had an underlying medical condition and patients 20 years of age and older. Patients aged 65 years and older were at the greatest risk for death.[...]
Source: eurekalert.org
Read more: http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2010-02/cmaj-hlr021610.php

Fulminant Myocarditis Associated With Pandemic H1N1 Influenza A Virus in Children
Acute myocarditis is a well-recognized, albeit rare, manifestation of numerous viral infections (1) with a broad spectrum of symptoms and clinical features (2). Fulminant myocarditis may present with fatal arrhythmias, atrioventricular block, and/or varying degrees of cardiogenic shock (3).
The prevalence of myocardial involvement in influenza infection ranges from 0 to 11% depending on the diagnostic criteria used to define myocarditis (4).
Fulminant myocarditis is an uncommon complication, typically diagnosed in association with circulatory collapse or at autopsy in patients with influenza-associated fatal outcomes (5). A few case reports and series (6–8) represent the incidental diagnoses of influenza-associated acute fulminant myocarditis, but the true prevalence remains unknown.
Here we present the first known report of acute myocarditis in pediatric population associated with the present pandemic H1N1 influenza A virus infection. Four cases occurred within a 30-day period, and 3 of them were diagnosed as fulminant myocarditis with fatal or near-fatal outcomes. [...]
Source: Journal of the American College of Cardiology
Read more: http://content.onlinejacc.org/cgi/content/full/j.jacc.2010.01.004v1

Comment
Stolen: WHO statement on the H1N1 Pandemic

Dr. Joanne Stolen
I would like to summarize a statement put out by the World Health Organization (WHO) in regard to the H1N1 Pandemic and the various accusations swirling around. The statement I am summarizing was given by Dr. Keiji Fukuda on behalf of the WHO at the Council of Europe hearing on pandemic (H1N1) 2009. He is a special adviser on pandemic influenza. Before coming to WHO, Dr. Fukuda was chief of the epidemiology unit in the influenza branch at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in the United States. The WHO is a specialized agency of the United Nations with 193 member states. The WHO implements the global health policies decided upon by these countries and provides technical support to the countries that helps all countries to protect and improve the health of their populations. The response to the H1N1 pandemic is just one example.
Basically the statement points out that this current influenza pandemic is a scientifically well-documented event in which the emergence and spread of a new influenza virus has caused an unusual epidemiological pattern of disease throughout the world. The labeling of the pandemic as “fake” is to ignore recent history and science and to trivialize the deaths of more than 14,000 people and the many additional serious illnesses experienced by others. The H1N1 influenza pandemic has created immensely complicated challenges for countries as well as the global community, and there is much to learn about how the world can improve its handling of such events and a need to separate fact from rhetoric. Recently, accusations have been made that policies and recommendations of the WHO were influenced by the pharmaceutical industry. The WHO guards against the influence of any improper interests. The influenza pandemic policies and responses recommended and taken by the WHO were not improperly influenced by the pharmaceutical industry. [...]
Source: summitdaily.com
Read more: http://www.summitdaily.com/article/20100215/NEWS/100219870/0/FRONTPAGE

Risk Communication
Righttime Medical Care Provides Free H1N1 Vaccine to Community
Righttime Medical Care is doing its part to help the community in these troubled economic times by giving free H1N1 flu shots to its patients. "We’re celebrating 20 years of service this year, and feel this is a good way to give back to the communities we serve,” said Robert G. [...]
Source: PRWeb via Yahoo! News
Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/prweb/20100216/bs_prweb/prweb3611294_2

Photo

India’s H1N1 death count touches 1309

Source: The Med Guru
Read more: http://www.themedguru.com/20100216/newsfeature/india-s-h1n1-death-count-touches-1309-86132362.html

Quote
"We are going to be vaccinating...starting with pregnant women, people at entry points, people who are involved in sports administration," said Motsoaledi. South Africa Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi.
Source: Goal.com - World Cup 2010: Swine Flu Threat In Mind
Read more: http://www.rs.goal.com/en/news/1863/world-cup-2010/2010/02/16/1793220/world-cup-2010-swine-flu-threat-in-mind

News Flash
Questions and Answers: Flu-Related Hospitalizations and Deaths in the United States from April 2009 - January 30, 2010.
CDC Swine Flu Updates
This Q&A provides updated information about flu-related hospitalizations and deaths in the United States reported to CDC from April 2009 - January 30, 2010.
Read more: http://www2c.cdc.gov/podcasts/download.asp?af=h&f=769690

Seoul to Deliver Hand Sanitizers to Pyongyang
Korea Times
South Korea plans to deliver 1 billion won worth of hand sanitizers to help North Koreans fight the H1N1 flu virus, the Ministry of ...
Read more: http://news.google.com/news/url?fd=R&sa=T&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.koreatimes.co.kr%2Fwww%2Fnews%2Fnation%2F2010%2F02%2F116_60926.html&usg=AFQjCNH9NBUVV6ZtPzlodLI9lAdLHQLbyw

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

Newsletter 16 Februari 2010

New Issue

Corrected - Swine Flu Outbreak Threatens At World Cup

South Africa faces a possible health crisis if a swine flu outbreak strikes during the soccer World Cup this year, Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi told parliament on Monday.

"One of our biggest nightmares is the fact that 2010 is going to be held in June when there is a possibility of another bout of H1N1," Motsoaledi said.

The month-long tournament, hosted in Africa for the first time, is expected to attract 450,000 tourists during the South African winter.

Motsoaledi said the department of health had managed to acquire 1.3 million doses of the H1N1 vaccine and another 3.5 million doses from the World Health Organisation (WHO). [...]

Source: NY Times - Reuters