Influenza A (H1N1) Cases and Deaths*
*Cases reported by The World Health Organization (WHO) are as of February 28, 2010
International News
Focus of H1N1 infection may shift in the coming months
A recent epidemiological and statistical analysis of influenza pandemics has suggested that the demographic of people at risk of infection by H1N1 will soon change. According to the study, school-aged children are subjects of the highest infection rates early in the pandemic, but historically the focus of the disease shifts to adults in subsequent waves. As stated by one of the study’s researchers, “These results have significant implications for the allocation of public health resources for H1N1/09 and future influenza pandemics.” PLoS One Science Journal
College flu activity stays steady
The American College Health Association (ACHA) has reported that colleges in the United States saw a very slight decrease in flu-like illnesses last week, but the attack rate stayed about the same as the previous 2 weeks, about 3 to 4 cases per 10,000 students. So far the patterns don't signal a third pandemic flu wave, even on a regional level. Two more hospitalizations were reported, and the vaccination level stayed the same, at about 8%. ACHA
ECDC sees another pandemic wave as unlikely
The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) has announced that European countries won't likely experience another wave of pandemic H1N1 influenza cases this spring and summer, though the virus will probably continue to circulate and be the region's dominant strain for the next flu season. The agency made the predictions in an 18-page risk-assessment report designed to help countries adjust their vaccine and flu-response strategies over the coming months. However, the ECDC warned that the outlook could change if there are “significant unrecognized uninfected populations” or if the pandemic virus changes to become more transmissible. CIDRAP
Vaccine News
University of Hamilton finds a potential bottleneck for H1N1 proliferation
A study released in the Journal of the American Medical Association has found that the best way to protect a population from infectious diseases is to immunize the group’s healthy children first. Scientists found that the resulting “herd immunity” offered a substantial amount of protection. “If you look at the people who would be at high risk, the level of protection in them was almost the same as if they had gotten a vaccine directly themselves.” said Dr. Mark Loeb, who led the research team. Healthy children over five years of age are generally among last on the priority list for vaccinations because when they do get sick they don’t usually get seriously ill. CanWest News Service
Researchers investigate lingering benefits of previous pandemic vaccines
According to a study in Influenza and Other Respiratory Viruses, infection with a 1976 strain of H1N1 virus completely protected against the current pandemic virus suggesting modern day benefits for those who received the 1976 swine flu vaccine. Mice infected with either 2009 or 1940 seasonal H1N1 viruses showed partial protection. This may explain why older people seem to have been more resistant to the 2009 H1N1 virus. Wiley InterScience
India set to launch vaccine campaign
India's health ministry has said that the country will begin vaccinating its priority groups against the pandemic H1N1 virus next week. Doctors and paramedics will be among the first to receive the vaccine. India has purchased 1.5 million doses from Sanofi and had asked the company to conduct a pandemic vaccine trial in India, which it has completed and sent to the ministry. Indian companies are also working on pandemic H1N1 vaccines. Deccan Herald
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