Tag Archives: pandemic flu

Research sheds new perspective on much-maligned 1976 swine flu (H1N1) vaccination campaign 1

A study published by scientists from the National Institutes of Health provides additional evidence that persons who received the 1976 vaccine may have immunity from pandeminc H1N1 (pH1N1). Researchers evaulated immune responses in mice after exposing them to several H1N1 viruses (1918, 1940, 1976 and 2009) and found that prior infection with a 1976 H1N1 […]

H1N1 in Transition: La persistance de dénouements Comments Off on H1N1 in Transition: La persistance de dénouements

As the traditional winter flu season peaks, pandemic H1N1 (pH1N1) activity in the USA remains at low ebb. Overall flu activity has remained below baseline for the last six weeks. Currently, pH1N1 is circulating at elevated (above baseline) levels in pockets of the southeastern and western regions of the country. Recent CDC estimates indicate that […]

Ferreting out pandemic H1N1 pathogenicity; Building a better mousetrap and H5N1 virus. 1

Thus far, H1N1 has exhibited moderate pathogenicity while proving efficient at transmission and replication. H5N1 by contrast is highly pathogenic, but has not evidenced capacity for sustained human-to-human transmission. This has been the human experience. It stands to reason, we would expect to see similar results when H1N1 is tested (in vivo) in other mammals. […]

Emergency departments see rise in Influenza-like Illnesses (ILI) 2

Recent article in CIDRAP reports that emergency room clinicians are noting an increase in influenza-like illnesses (ILI). Key excerpts are provided below. Emergency departments see rise in flu-like illness Feb 24, 2010 (CIDRAP News), Lisa Schnirring Staff Writer Some of the nation’s emergency departments are noting increases in flu-like illness cases that appear to be […]

Seroprevalence study suggests substantial H1N1 immunity in the USA; Factors influencing future H1N1 waves include social clustering, atmospheric conditions and virus competition Comments Off on Seroprevalence study suggests substantial H1N1 immunity in the USA; Factors influencing future H1N1 waves include social clustering, atmospheric conditions and virus competition

University of Pittsburgh researchers estimate that 21% of the U.S. population (63 million persons) have been infected with H1N1, and has developed immunity. The research used 846 anonymous, leftover blood samples drawn on hospital and clinic patients from the Pittsburgh area in the mid-November and early December 2009 timeframe. Stored serum samples from 100 healthy, […]

Breaking News: WHO Emergency Committee Signals No Post-Peak Phase for H1N1 Pandemic Comments Off on Breaking News: WHO Emergency Committee Signals No Post-Peak Phase for H1N1 Pandemic

The Associated Press relays the following report from London that concerns World Health Organization (WHO) deliberations on transitioning from the peak phase of the H1N1 pandemic (i.e. Level 6), which has lasted nine months. According to the AP report, WHO’s “emergency committee met Tuesday and suggested it was “premature” to recommend downgrading the global flu […]

H1N1 Transitions: FDA Selects Pandemic H1N1 for Inclusion in 2010-11 Seasonal Flu Vaccine Comments Off on H1N1 Transitions: FDA Selects Pandemic H1N1 for Inclusion in 2010-11 Seasonal Flu Vaccine

A US Food and Drug Administration vaccines panel voted to follow World Health Organization (WHO) recommendations to include pandemic H1N1 in the seasonal flu vaccine for 2010-2011. A/California/7/2009 (the pandemic strain) will replace A/Brisbane/59/2007 for the H1N1 component of the trivalent (three-strain) influenza vaccine.  FDA’s Vaccines and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee also voted to […]

H1N1 in Transition: WHO to Decide Post-Peak Phase in H1N1 Pandemic; 2009 H1N1 Replaces Seasonal A H1N1 in Next Trivalent Influenza Vaccine 2

This week, the World Health Organization (WHO) Emergency Committee will advise on transition to a “post-peak” phase for the H1N1 pandemic. The current pandemic alert level is at Level 6. The committee ruled out a “post-pandemic” phase because, in its view, H1N1 is not yet behaving like normal seasonal infuenza, and that future waves of […]

Video Digest: H1N1 Vaccine Demand Slowing in the USA – Vignettes from Coast to Coast (Jan/Feb) Comments Off on Video Digest: H1N1 Vaccine Demand Slowing in the USA – Vignettes from Coast to Coast (Jan/Feb)

 

Of Mice and Men: H1N1 Immunity in the USA; Effects of H1N1 Vaccines Past and Present 1

A recent study published in PLoS Pathogens found that vaccines developed from “classical H1N1 viruses (Sw/30 or NJ/76), 1918 virus-like particles, and a human H1N1 virus isolated in 1943 (Wei/43) protected against death from 2009 pandemic H1N1…” when tested in vivo in mice. Another study finding was that the “H1N1 virus underwent little antigenic drift […]