Short-term school closures may worsen flu pandemics
Washington: Closing schools for less than a fortnight during a flu pandemic may actually increase infection rates and prolong an epidemic.
These findings by University of Pittsburgh researchers, based on a series of computer simulations, indicate that schools may need to be closed for at least eight weeks in order to cut down the spread of infection. [...]
Source: http://www.samachaar.in
Research
Household Transmission of 2009 Pandemic Influenza A (H1N1) Virus in the United States
Simon Cauchemez, Ph.D., etc
Background As of June 11, 2009, a total of 17,855 probable or confirmed cases of 2009 pandemic influenza A (H1N1) had been reported in the United States. Risk factors for transmission remain largely uncharacterized. We characterize the risk factors and describe the transmission of the virus within households. [...]
Conclusions The transmissibility of the 2009 H1N1 influenza virus in households is lower than that seen in past pandemics. Most transmissions occur soon before or after the onset of symptoms in a case patient. [...]
Source: The New England Journal of Medicine
Comment
Swine flu 2009: what went right and tip of the hat
New York Times correspondent Don McNeil is an excellent medical reporter. He always asks intelligent questions at the CDC pressers and he writes good articles. And he's written one for The Times yesterday that I agree with, although his support for it seems to me less than objective. In essence he asked the country's flu establishment how well the US handled swine flu. None of his sources are CDC employees but all of them are deeply involved in flu and flu policy in one way or another. And they gave themselves a big pat on the back. I hope they didn't wrench their shoulders. That might be a bit snarky, because in fact I agree with everything they say. I just find it amusing they are being used as authorities:
The decision to order vaccine made with a 50-year-old egg technology, rather than experimental methods, was controversial.
The outbreak highlighted many national weaknesses: old, slow vaccine technology; too much reliance on foreign vaccine factories; some major hospitals pushed to their limits by a relatively mild epidemic.[...]
Source: Science Blogs
Risk Communication
Information Management and Communications in Emergencies and Disasters
This new manual helps improve how information and communications are handled: how to obtain good quality information, how to make sure it is available quickly and how to communicate the content to individuals and organizations that need it. [...]
Download the manual
Source: PAHO
Photo
The US is in the midst of a vaccination campaign against H1N1, which is relatively mild but has proven unusually dangerous to children.
Source: Usable with attribution and link to: www.Futureatlas.com
Quote
"My impression is that most families of children with egg allergies are under the impression that they can't receive any influenza vaccine ... Many of these children can safely receive H1N1 or influenza vaccine, although it does need to be done in a very controlled manner."
SOURCE: The Star-Press | Muncie, IN
News Flash
Pandemic (H1N1) 2009 - update 81
30 December 2009 -- As of 27 December 2009, worldwide more than 208 countries and overseas territories or communities have reported laboratory confirmed cases of pandemic influenza H1N1 2009, including at least 12220 deaths. [...]
Source: WHO
Successes and challenges of 2009
WHO
The headline that dominated the year was easily the H1N1 pandemic. On 11 June, 2009, WHO declared the start of the first influenza pandemic since 1968. In this episode we listen to WHO's Director-General Dr Margaret Chan, discuss the successes and challenges of 2009.
Will Higher Global Temperatures Make It Easier for Viruses to Jump Species?
Science daily
An interdisciplinary team of researchers at the University of Idaho soon will begin investigating whether viruses that have adapted to higher temperatures -- similar to increases due to global warming -- can jump species more easily. Bacteria May Cause H1N1 Death Rate Increase (CME/CE)
MedPage Today Infectious Disease
A bacterial coinfection with the H1N1 pandemic flu may explain the unusually high case fatality seen in Argentina earlier this year, researchers said.
China releases A/H1N1 flu prevention guide for women at risk
Xinhua
China's Health Ministry on Wednesday issued a guide to help prevent pregnant women and women with young children from getting the A/H1N1 flu. ...
Most swine flu cases without severe symptoms: study
AFP
Infection rates for the pandemic H1N1 virus in France, where the study was done, may be far higher than previously thought if these so-called "asymptomatic" ...
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
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