Monthly Archives: January 2010

World Notes: Avian Influenza (H5N1) in Egypt – Situation Critical 2

Cases of highly pathogenic avian influenza (H5N1) are surging in Egypt. Last year Egypt recorded 39 human cases of H5N1, a vast jump over eight cases in 2008. Four new cases were reported this month, bringing the country’s case count to 94. Of these, 27 have been fatal. These numbers position Egypt just behind Indonesia […]

Op-Ed: Internet Mashups and H1N1 Experience – Google Analytics Potential to Augment Traditional Influenza Surveillance 2

In the comparatively short lifespans of Influenza Monitor and counterpart blog Market@Flu-Monitor, one of the more striking outcomes as revealed through Google Analytics has been relatively high visitation rankings from countries as diverse as Ukraine, Egypt and India. All of these countries have experienced public health pressures coping with either H1N1 or H5N1. Google researchers […]

Medical Research: German Scientists Identify Human Host Factors Crucial for H1N1/H5N1 Influenza Virus Replication 1

Despite substantial development efforts that go into antiviral drugs and vaccines for influenza, viruses are able to develop resistance due to their high mutation rates. In a recent issue of Nature, a team of German moleclar biologists make the case that by targeting host rather than viral factors, it may be possible to develop flu […]

Medical Research: Serologic Surveys Reveal H1N1 Infection Much Higher Than Estimated in Young Populations 1

CIDRAP reports that British researchers published one of the first large serologic studies of pandemic H1N1 infection. Serology typically involves a blood test to detect the presence of antibodies against an infecting microorganism. According to experts, serologic studies provides a sharper picture of the burden of disease than is available from flu-surveillance, and this helps […]

H1N1 Vaccine Safety: FDA Letter to Health Care Professionals 2

Commissioner’s Letter to Health Care Professionals Letter from the Commissioner to Nation’s Health Care Professionals on H1N1 Vaccine Safety U.S Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Jan 14, 2010 KEY points and excerpts: FDA and CDC are assessing H1N1 vaccine safety on a continuing basis and have published a detailed report describing the safety profile of […]

H1N1 Vaccine Safety: Guillain-Barré Syndrome – Less Mysterious, More Manageable and Very Rare 1

Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS) is a very rare disorder in which the body’s immune system attacks part of the peripheral nervous system. Specifically, “GBS damages the nerves’ protective covering (myelin sheath) and this interferes with the signaling process, causing weakness, numbness or paralysis.”  There is no cure for GBS but it is treatable.  Most recover and […]

2010 January 12 21:53:09 UTC – Misery in Haiti Comments Off on 2010 January 12 21:53:09 UTC – Misery in Haiti

Background on Haiti Earthquake USGS National Eathquake Information Center: Magnitude 7.0 – HAITI REGION DOS: Travel Alert – HAITI WHO: Public health risk assessment and interventions: Haiti Earthquake January 2010 (PDF) USAID: Response to Haiti Earthquake DOD: OPERATION UNIFIED RESPONSE How You Can Help American Red Cross International Committee of the Red Cross

Video Digest: H1N1 Vaccination Push – Sketches from Maine and California; Memories of Flu Resurgence in Winter 1958 Comments Off on Video Digest: H1N1 Vaccination Push – Sketches from Maine and California; Memories of Flu Resurgence in Winter 1958

 

World Notes: Dispatches from Asia. Pyongyang on H1N1 “Alert”; Ludhiana (India) on H1N1 “War Footing” Comments Off on World Notes: Dispatches from Asia. Pyongyang on H1N1 “Alert”; Ludhiana (India) on H1N1 “War Footing”

PYONGYANG: The H1N1 flu situation remains unclear in North Korea. Indications, though somewhat tenuous, suggest the situation is serious. The Wall Street Journal reported the country issued a nationwide alert on H1N1 in late December. Earlier that month North Korea’s official news agency (KCNA) reported that nine people had contracted the H1N1 virus in the […]

World Notes: “Grim” Winter Flu Outlook for China Comments Off on World Notes: “Grim” Winter Flu Outlook for China

  BEIJING: Agence France Presse reported that all but six of China’s 659 deaths from H1N1 were recorded in the last two months of 2009, suggesting the flu is on the upswing. While H1N1 is declining in major cities, China’s Health Ministry reports H1N1 is spreading into the countryside. Ministry officials described the winter flu […]