The WHO Pandemic Alert level remains at Phase 6
Influenza A (H1N1) Cases and Deaths
*Cases reported by The World Health Organization (WHO) are as of November 22nd, 2009
National News
The World Health Organization is sending a representative to monitor for potential disease outbreaks at the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver, but Games officials and health experts say the threat from H1N1 has likely passed. Most athletes, officials, and spectators are expected to be vaccinated against H1N1 by the time the Winter Olympics begin in February. Associated Press
The Public Health Agency of Canada has said that the current wave of H1N1 activity may have peaked in all provinces and territories. But Dr. Frederick Hayden at the University of Virginia is forecasting increased flu activity after Christmas, because so many people remain susceptible to the virus. Regardless of where the experts come down on the question of a third wave, they say the H1N1 virus will return, which should convince more Canadians of the value of getting vaccinated at this point. Canadian Press
Canada’s top doctor in her first major speech as head of the Canadian Medical Association, Dr. Anne Doig told the Economic Club of Canada in Toronto that both doctors and patients are frustrated that politicians waged a war of words alleging mismanagement of the nation’s response to H1N1. She also bluntly decried the “nasty” politicking that has erupted around the country’s H1N1 response and challenged federal politicians to hold an open, honest discussion about how to fund future health care. Toronto Sun
International News
In temperate regions of the northern hemisphere, the early arriving winter influenza season continues to be intense across parts of North America and much of Europe. Very high activity is being seen in Sweden, Norway, Moldova, and Italy. Impact on health care services is severe in Albania and Moldova. In East Asia, influenza transmission remains active. Influenza activity in India and Nepal and Sri Lanka has increased. In the tropical areas of Central and South America, most countries continue to report declining influenza activity, with the exception of Ecuador and Venezuela. WHO
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has reported H1N1 flu infections dropping, but that the number of children who died from the illness has risen. Widespread infections were reported in 32 states as of November 21st, down from 43 states the week before. The CDC also said there were 27 new lab-confirmed H1N1 deaths in children under 18. That's the largest one-week increase since the new virus was identified in April. About 200 pediatric U.S. H1N1 deaths have been reported to CDC so far. Associated Press
Despite fears about the new waves of the H1N1 flu virus spreading by pilgrims travelling to and from Mecca following Hajj, Saudi Health Minister Abdullah Al-Rabeeah said the virus had claimed the lives of only five pilgrims. The Governor of the Mecca region, Prince Khaled Al-Faisal, also confirmed that 73 cases including 5 deaths have tested positive for the virus during this year's Hajj. Only 10 percent of some 2.5 million pilgrims attending this year's Hajj had been vaccinated against the virus. Press TV
China's Ministry of Agriculture has called for intensified monitoring and investigation of H1N1 flu in animals after two samples from sick dogs tested positive for the virus. The China Agricultural University reported two out of 52 samples from sick dogs tested positive for the H1N1 flu virus. The news comes 10 days after four pigs in China's Heilongjiang province were diagnosed with the virus. Countries including the U.S., Canada, and Chile have already reported cases of animals testing positive for the virus. Red Orbit
Vaccine News
The push to get Ontario residents inoculated against H1N1 is turning next to workplaces and college and university students as Ontario hopes to head off a third wave of H1N1. Ontario has launched a $650,000 "Join the Resistance" ad campaign to encourage college and university students to roll up their sleeves for the H1N1 flu shot. Associated Press
The federal government will make a decision in the next couple of weeks about what to do with tens of millions of unused doses of H1N1 vaccine. The admission came after Health Minister Leona Aglukkaq revealed the Public Health Agency of Canada will provide 5.7 million doses of pandemic vaccine to the provinces next week - a shipment which could fulfill the country's H1N1 vaccine needs. Associated Press
Japanese regulators have arrived in Canada to begin investigating reports that GSK’s H1N1 vaccine has been linked to a number of allergic reactions. The Ministry of Health Labour and Welfare, which arrived in the country on November 30th, will examine Health Canada’s response to the problem. The Japanese government has ordered 37 million doses of GlaxoSmithKline’s vaccine as part of its response to the ongoing H1N1 pandemic, with delivery expected to take place next month. In-Pharma
The World Health Organization, which has been stressing the safety and importance of H1N1 shots, had its own staff vaccinated against the pandemic virus. Employees wanting the H1N1 flu jabs were taken from the WHO's Geneva headquarters to a Swiss army barracks as part of Switzerland's national vaccination plan against H1N1. The WHO has repeatedly said the vaccines are safe and should be given first to medical workers and those at highest risk of severe infection, especially children and pregnant women. Reuters
Thousands of B.C. residents now have the option of receiving H1N1 and seasonal flu vaccinations from pharmacists authorized to give injections. More than 300 pharmacists have received official authorization to administer injections from the College of Pharmacists of BC. With about 2,800 community pharmacists practicing in more than 1,000 B.C. community pharmacies, and many pharmacies open evenings and weekends long after physicians' offices and public health units have closed, pharmacists are a logical, additional resource for injections administration. CNW Group
Weekly Feature
Recently, Novartis opened a plant in North Carolina, U.S. which uses the latest cell culture technology to manufacture vaccines. Find out the progress of an international move by pharmaceutical companies away from the egg-based vaccine manufacturing technique to more efficient techniques, which may result in a universal influenza vaccine, in this article in the Wall Street Journal. Wall Street Journal
Posts
