*Cases reported by The World Health Organization (WHO) are as of March 14th, 2010
International News
China censors vaccine handling story
The International Federation of Journalists has learned that the investigative report we mentioned in Tuesday’s post has been removed by the Chinese authorities even though health officials have pledged to investigate the vaccine issue. The Chinese State Council Information Office ordered the story deleted from the China Economic Times, and the Central Propaganda Department ordered all media outlets to use only information provided by the state-owned Xinhua News Agency. Two weeks earlier, Chinese Premier Wen Jiaobo had committed to improving his country’s press freedom status and recognized of the role of independent media as government transparency watchdogs. International Federation of Journalists
Louisiana opens new H1N1 clinics
Texas, Arkansas, Louisiana, and a number of other southern states in the US have reported an increase in reported influenza-like illnesses. In response, the Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals is opening free, walk-in H1N1 vaccination clinics. The State Health Officer warned that another pandemic wave could come and urged residents to get immunized. Since the outbreak, the pandemic has hospitalized 697 Louisianians, and there have been 52 confirmed H1N1‑related deaths. Louisiana Dept. of Health and Hospitals’ Press Release
The LA Times offers a look back at H1N1 and lessons learned
We don’t usually link to opinion pieces here at the blog, but The Clevelend Plain Dealer reprinted an article that appeared in the LA Times, and it seemed particularly even-handed and sharp-eyed both in its tone and insights. Among other things, it discusses the new light in which we ought to view the term pandemic, and the grain of salt we ought to take when confronted with shrill cries about dangerous vaccines and conspiracy theories. The LA Times
New research could keep 2009 H1N1 out of the seasonal flu cycle
The American Department of Health and Human Services has discovered a similarity between 2009 H1N1 and the pandemic strain from 1918 that explains why the virus is so successful at infecting younger populations instead of old. According to their study, the key lies in a sugar cap, or rather the lack of one, on the virus’ protein shell. Every H1N1 strain since the 1940’s has had such a cap, but it was and is absent from the 1918 and 2009 pandemic strains, which allowed them to side-step the body’s immune system. Researchers zeroed in on their conclusion when they found that mice vaccinated against the 2009 strain were immune when exposed to 1918 one. The discovery could help scientists anticipate virus mutations and update vaccines more effectively. US Dept. of Health and Human Services
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