Influenza A (H1N1) Cases and Deaths
*Cases reported by The World Health Organization (WHO) are as of December 27th, 2009
National News
The Public Health Agency of Canada has reported that low levels of influenza activity are being noted across Canada and all key influenza indicators have declined for at least five consecutive weeks. The influenza-like illness (ILI) consultation rate is below the expected range for this time of the year and only 3.7% of tested specimens were positive for influenza. However, the pandemic H1N1 strain still accounts for nearly 100% of the positive influenza A sub-typed specimens. The number of hospitalized cases, ICU admissions, and deaths reported this week are about half of those reported last week, and approximately one quarter of those reported two weeks ago. FluWatch
International News
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported last week that only four US states had widespread flu activity, down from seven the week before. However, outpatient medical visits for flu-like illness, which was at the national baseline the previous week, edged back above that level, reaching 3.2%. Also, deaths due to pneumonia and flu climbed back above the epidemic threshold. There were four flu-related deaths in children, down from nine the previous week. CDC
An autopsy study in Brazil suggests that people who die of H1N1 contract a "rapidly fatal" form of the disease and tend to die of lung injury, although it strikes different people in different ways. In the first study of its kind, researchers in Brazil examined 21 patients aged one to 68 who died in Sao Paulo with confirmed H1N1 infections in July and August. The study reported that all 21 patients "presented a progressive and rapidly fatal form of the disease," the results of which will be published in the January issue of the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine. AFP
The H1N1 strain of flu is rapidly spreading into China's vast countryside and there could be a spike in cases around the Lunar New Year period when millions head back to their home towns. The world's most populous nation has reported 648 deaths to date and has launched a massive vaccination campaign. The government has been especially worried as the country heads into the depths of winter and ahead of the Lunar New Year holiday in February, when millions of people travel back to their home towns, potentially taking flu with them. Times of India
Vaccine News
Last month U.S. government officials delayed National Influenza Vaccination Week to coincide with more plentiful pandemic vaccine, and they recently announced themes for each day of the week, which starts Jan 10. On Jan 11, efforts will focus on the general public and health care workers. The following 2 days will target those at high risk for flu complications, followed by children, pregnant women, and infant caregivers. Jan 14 messages will aim for young adults, and the next day will feature seniors. FLU.gov
The German Ministry of Health has said that Germany aims to accept only half the Pandemrix H1N1 flu vaccine doses it ordered from GlaxoSmithKline because the disease has proven less severe than expected. Deputy Health Minister Hartmut Schubert stated that the order of 50 million doses was based on the expectation that two shots per person would be required, which proved excessive given the progression of the disease. Twenty-five million doses have been deemed sufficient to protect Germany’s population of more than 80 million people. Bloomberg
Vaccine and Bio-Technology Products is the first company in Vietnam to produce commercial batches of H1N1 vaccine ready for testing. Dr. Nguyen Thu Van, director of the vaccine manufacturer, announced the news saying they had used Vero cell technology to develop the vaccine. If the samples pass testing by National Institute for Control of Vaccine and Biologicals the company will start production of 2 million vaccinations a year. Saigon Daily
The Japanese health ministry will conduct an epidemiologic investigation into whether H1N1 influenza vaccinations can increase the death risk for people with serious chronic diseases. The Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare plans to begin the study next spring amid an increasing number of reports of deaths and serious side effects among the people who have received shots of domestically produced vaccines against the virus. The ministry said post-vaccination deaths have totaled 104; roughly 80 percent of who are people aged 70 or older who had chronic diseases or disorders, while nearly 1,900 cases of side effects had been reported from medical institutions. The Japan Times
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