New Issue
U.S. gets 'F' on bioterror response
The delayed response to the H1N1 influenza outbreak demonstrated the United States was "woefully behind" in its ability to produce needed vaccinations and treatments rapidly, the commission said.
"H1N1 came with months of warning," the commission's report said. "But even with time to prepare, the epidemic peaked before most Americans had access to vaccine. A bioattack will come with no such warning."
Source: CNN
Read more: http://www.cnn.com/2010/POLITICS/01/26/security.report.card/?hpt=T2
Research
Expectant women warned over swine flu
Expectant women are being warned to protect themselves against a second wave of swine flu expected in coming months after research confirmed they were more prone to serious illness compared with other healthy people.
The first major review of 112 people admitted to seven Melbourne hospitals with the virus last year found that 13 per cent of the patients were pregnant or had just given birth.
The research published in the Medical Journal of Australia also found that two patients had suffered rare complications of influenza including Guillain-Barre syndrome, a debilitating form of paralysis, and rhabdomyolysis, a muscle-melting condition.
Source: The Age Australia
Read more: http://www.theage.com.au/national/expectant-women-warned-over-swine-flu-20100126-mwdx.html
Comment
While world focused on swine flu, bird flu just kept on trucking in 2009
by Scott McPherson
I just got a news story in my Google Alerts folder. Opening it and clicking on the accompanying link, I was shown something I had not seen in ages and ages -- namely, the WHO statistics for H5N1 bird flu for 2009.
Now, you know how fond I am of saying that influenza plays "King of the Mountain." That image of children trying to topple the reigning King at the top of the dirt pile (growing up in southern Florida, with all its construction and fill dirt, that game was enormously popular) is exactly what I try to convey with regards to flu strains.
Pandemic viruses play that game quite well. In fact, I have not bothered to even get my seasonal flu shot yet, because I believed that there would be no seasonal flu until very late in the season. based on the stats I have been getting from various flu sources, I was right on the money.
So there is virtually no seasonal flu, anywhere in the world, save for some Influenza B that I recently read was either in China or Japan.
But there is one flu strain that keeps on trucking, unabated by events that combine to make seasonal flu virtually nonexistent. And that is H5N1 bird flu.
It can be argued, possibly successfully, that H5N1 isn't seen in people enough for swine flu to even care about it. H1N1v just casts a look over its shoulder at H5N1 and ignores it.
Source: Blog
Read more: http://www.scottmcpherson.net/journal/2010/1/26/while-world-focused-on-swine-flu-bird-flu-just-kept-on-truck.html
Risk Communication
Maybe a major step forward in web research
Just moments ago I discovered the Guardian's new data bank, World Government Data. I haven't had a chance to explore it yet, but it could be a remarkable resource for flu and other health issues. Explore it and let me know what you think.
Source: H5N1 Crofsblog
Read more: http://crofsblogs.typepad.com/h5n1/2010/01/maybe-a-major-step-forward-in-web-research.html
Photo
A woman reacts while receiving a vaccination against the H1N1 virus at a park in Cancun January 19, 2010.
Source: REUTERS/Stringer
Quote
"We feel we should move quickly. Our purpose is to try to provide guidance, to try to reduce harm" Keiji Fukuda, WHO flu expert.
Source: WHO defends its swine flu warning - BBC
Read more: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/8481211.stm
News Flash
WHO denies drugs firms swayed its flu decisions
Although many millions around the world have been infected with H1N1, and many thousands have died, the pandemic proved milder than health experts had ...
Shionogi to release new H1N1 treatment Rapiacta
Shionogi & Co said Tuesday it will market a new drug for treatment of the H1N1 strain of influenza, starting Wednesday. The drug is named Rapiacta (generic ...
67.78 million people receive A/H1N1 flu vaccinations (People’s Daily)
By 12:00 pm January 24, the State Food and Drug Administration have distributed 553 batches of A/H1N1 flu vaccinations sufficient for 102.27 million people. China’s 31 provinces as well as Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps have received vaccinations sufficient for 88.03 million people, and 67.78 million people have received shots against the swine flu, said a report from the the …
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