Up-to-date Swine Flu News From The Best Government, Medical, and Scientific Sources

Swine Flu News

• Pandemic (H1N1) 2009 - update 111 - As of 25 July 2010, worldwide more than 214 countries and overseas territories or communities have reported laboratory confirmed cases of pandemic influenza H1N1 2009, including over 18398 deaths. (Source: WHO Swine Flu)

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• Study Finds Respiratory Symptoms More Reliable Indicator Of H1N1, Not Fever Alone - New research shows that individuals with mild H1N1 infection may go undetected using standard diagnostic criteria, according to a study in the August issue of the American Journal of Infection Control, the official publication of the Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology, (APIC). The study concludes that coughing or other respiratory symptoms are more accurate in determining influenza infection than presence of a fever. Currently, public health officials rely on body temperature (detecting fever) to screen individuals for potential infection with H1N1... (Source: Health News from Medical News Today)
• MMWR: Regional Influenza A (H1N1) 2009 Monovalent Vaccination Campaign -- Skokie, Illinois, October 16--December 31, 2009 - Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR)July 30, 2010 / 59(29);909-913 (Source: CDC Swine Flu Updates)
• Swine Flu Pandemic Hit Children the Hardest - The H1N1 flu strain that sparked the first influenza pandemic in four decades has caused the majority of flu cases so far in the 2009-2010 season, the CDC says. (Source: WebMD Health)
• Rapid Detection of Reassortment of Pandemic H1N1/2009 Influenza Virus [Brief Communications] - CONCLUSIONS: Our results demonstrated that these assays can detect reintroductions of pandemic H1N1/2009 virus in pigs. These assays might be useful screening tools for identifying viral reassortants derived from pandemic H1N1/2009 or its precursors. (Source: Clinical Chemistry)

US Government Feed

• Prevention and Control of Influenza with Vaccines: Recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), 2010 - This report updates the 2009 recommendations by CDC's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) regarding the use of influenza vaccine for the prevention and control of influenza.
• NIAID Grantees Use New Skin Patches to Deliver Flu Vaccine in Mice - For many years, researchers have been working to find a way to deliver flu vaccine – whose components are much larger than those of nicotine and hormones – using a transdermal (across the skin) patch.
• NIH Scientists Advance Universal Flu Vaccine - A universal influenza vaccine - so-called because it could potentially provide protection from all flu strains for decades - may become a reality because of research led by scientists from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), part of the National Institutes of Health.
• H1N1 Influenza Public Health Emergency Determination to Expire on June 23 - H1N1 Influenza Public Health Emergency Determination to Expire on June 23
• Advance Notice for Termination of the Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) of Medical Products and Devices - Per the FDA-issued advance notice letters listed below, the declaration of Public Health Emergency determination for 2009 H1N1 Influenza expires on June 23, 2010.

UN Feed

• Pandemic (H1N1) 2009 - update 111 - As of 25 July 2010, worldwide more than 214 countries and overseas territories or communities have reported laboratory confirmed cases of pandemic influenza H1N1 2009, including over 18398 deaths.
• Pandemic (H1N1) 2009 - update 110 - As of 18 July 2010, worldwide more than 214 countries and overseas territories or communities have reported laboratory confirmed cases of pandemic influenza H1N1 2009, including over 18366 deaths.
• Monitoring patterns and levels of worldwide activity - As part of regular monitoring of H1N1 pandemic influenza, the WHO is in close dialogue with public health experts in countries worldwide, specifically to determine whether H1N1 activity has returned to levels and patterns normally seen for seasonal flu.
• Pandemic (H1N1) 2009 - update 109 - As of 12 July, worldwide more than 214 countries and overseas territories or communities have reported laboratory confirmed cases of pandemic influenza H1N1 2009, including over 18337deaths.
• Pandemic (H1N1) 2009 - update 108 - As of 4 July, worldwide more than 214 countries and overseas territories or communities have reported laboratory confirmed cases of pandemic influenza H1N1 2009, including over 18311 deaths.

Medical News

• Pandemic Strain Dominated Most Recent Flu Season - Pandemic H1NI influenza was almost the only type of flu virus circulating in the U.S. during the 2009-2010 flu season -- and it disproportionately affected younger age groups, according to the CDC.
• Prospects Improve for Universal Flu Vaccine - A novel DNA-based influenza vaccine strategy successfully immunized mice and ferrets against infection with multiple flu strains, suggesting that future flu vaccines may not have to be reformulated every year.
• FDA Warns Consumers About Fake Tamiflu Online - WASHINGTON -- The FDA warned consumers Thursday to be alert for websites selling a fake "generic" version of the flu drug oseltamivir (Tamiflu), which may be dangerous to patients allergic to penicillin.
• CDC: SCID is Contraindication for Rotavirus Vaccine - ATLANTA -- Rotavirus vaccine should not be given to infants with severe combined immunodeficiency, according to new CDC guidance.
• Pandemic H1N1 Flu Similar to Seasonal Influenza - The pandemic H1N1 influenza virus is similar to seasonal influenza A viruses in terms of viral shedding, symptoms, and household transmission, researchers in Hong Kong found.