ILI rate The Department of Health & Children and the HSE advised yesterday (18th February, 2010) that the rate of influenza-like illness (ILI) for the week ending Sunday 14th February 2010 (week 6, 2010), was 6.2 per 100,000 population. This is a slight decrease from the 6.8 per 100,000 population reported during week 5, 2010…
The WHO is recommending the H1N1 (swine flu) virus be added to the regular flu vaccine for the Northern Hemisphere’s 2010-2011 regular flu season, the Associated Press reports (2/18). The recommendations, announced Thursday, came after a “closed-door four-day meeting” of WHO influenza experts, Reuters reports…
The European Medicines Agency’s Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) has recommended the granting of a conditional marketing authorisation for Humenza from Sanofi Pasteur SA…
Genetic interactions between avian H5N1 influenza and human seasonal influenza viruses have the potential to create hybrid strains combining the virulence of bird flu with the pandemic ability of H1N1, according to a new study. In laboratory experiments in mice, a single gene segment from a human seasonal flu virus, H3N2, was able to convert the avian H5N1 virus into a highly pathogenic form…
An international team of scientists has created a highly pathogenic laboratory hybrid of the H5N1 bird flu and human seasonal flu viruses by swapping just one gene, and propose that a similar genetic interaction could happen in nature between the current pandemic H1N1 swine flu and H5N1 avian flu strains, highlighting the importance of continued surveillance…
PositiveID Corporation (”PositiveID” or the “Company”) (NASDAQ:PSID), in conjunction with its development partner RECEPTORS LLC (”Receptors”), announced today that it has successfully completed Phase I development of its rapid virus detection system, a non-invasive, point-of-care test to test patient samples and identify various forms of influenza within minutes…
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on Monday recommended that the H1N1 (swine flu) strain be added to next year’s seasonal flu vaccine, “putting an end to separate shots deployed against the pandemic,” Bloomberg reports. The FDA committee voted unanimously to make the H1N1 strain one of the three strains included in the shot, according to the news service…
Diagnostic Hybrids, a Quidel Company (NASDAQ: QDEL) has received emergency use authorization from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for its D3 Ultra 2009 H1N1 Influenza A Virus ID Kit, a monoclonal antibody fluorescent staining kit for the specific identification of 2009 H1N1 influenza A in direct patient specimens or incubated tissue cultures…
The seasonal increase of influenza has long baffled scientists, but a new study published this week in PLoS Biology has found that seasonal changes of absolute humidity are the apparent underlying cause of these wintertime peaks. The study also found that the onset of outbreaks might be encouraged by anomalously dry weather conditions, at least in temperate regions…
Leaders of the Texas Plant-Expressed Vaccine Consortium have announced a biotherapeutic manufacturing initiative designed to show proof of concept for a landmark new technology that could dramatically increase the nation’s capability to produce vaccines for infectious diseases, including influenza…
A panel of experts that advises the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on vaccine issues, voted this week to recommend that all persons aged 6 months and over receive annual influenza vaccinations…
Dynavax Technologies Corporation (NASDAQ: DVAX) announced that it has selected a clinical vaccine candidate for its novel Universal Flu program, completed key preclinical studies, and is reviewing clinical plans with the FDA in anticipation of initiating a Phase I study by mid-year…
Normally, this is the peak period for the flu in the United States. But that just doesn’t seem to be the case this year. The number of states reporting widespread cases of the flu mysteriously plunged from 49 at the end of October to zero at the beginning of the January, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention…
Winter statistically represents a time when older people are more susceptible to slips, trips and falls. However, Balance Master’s Peter Hope argues that fall prevention is better than cure…
Sanquin Blood Supply Foundation, the Netherlands Cancer Institute, and the Netherlands Vaccine Institute announce the launch of their joint AmpVacs project aiming at the development of a broadly protective synthetic influenza A vaccine component that in combination with classical antibody-stimulating vaccines will induce protection against future influenza A threats…
A new study carried out in Hutterite communities in Canada revealed that giving kids and teenagers flu shots led to lower rates of flu in communities that followed such a strategy compared to similar communities that did not, suggesting that vaccinating children may prevent the virus from spreading and protects members of the community who are not vaccinated, produc…
The first phase of a swine flu vaccination program trial conducted in Tasmania by the Pharmaceutical Society of Australia and the Department of Health and Human Services has proved popular with the community. Phase II of the pandemic vaccination program will now be rolled out to allow pharmacy-based clinics to support other elements of the swine flu vaccination program…
Immunizing children and adolescents with inactivated influenza vaccine resulted in reduced rates of influenza in their community compared to a similar community in which children did not receive the vaccine, suggesting that vaccinating children may help prevent transmission of the virus and offer protection for unimmunized community residents, according to a study in the March 10 issue of JAMA…
The European Vaccine Manufacturers group (EVM) welcomed the opportunity to address today’s Council of Europe Health Committee hearing on ‘The handling of the H1N1 pandemic: more transparency needed?’ EVM was pleased to provide information on industry’s role in helping combat pandemic influenza, and sought to address many of the misunderstandings that exist regarding the pandemic planning process…
ILI rate: The Department of Health & Children and the HSE advised yesterday that the rate of influenza-like illness (ILI) for the week ending Sunday 24th January 2010 (week 3, 2010), was 12.2 per 100,000 population. This is a decrease from the 16.6 per 100,000 population reported during week 2, 2010. Age-specific ILI rates: During week 3, 2010, sentinel GPs reported an ILI rate of 6…
WHO spokesman, Gregory Hartl, said in a new briefing that the H1N1 flu pandemic (swine flu) continues to spread in parts of eastern and southeastern Europe, parts of Asia, and North Africa. However, he added that globally it is generally declining. The H1N1 pandemic virus continues to be the main influenza virus circulating globally…
Published reports on the usefulness of CT scans for complicated H1N1 cases have spurred use of these procedures in U.S. hospitals. According to healthcare market research publisher Kalorama Information, this opens up a pathway of diagnostics for physicians and overall is a positive sign not only for the technology but also for companies making chemical agents for procedures…
A mandatory influenza vaccination policy improves immunization rates among health care workers, according to a recent study of a large health care organization. The finding comes from a study, now available online, published in the February 15 issue of Clinical Infectious Diseases…
