High cytokine levels found in patients with severe flu infections
Scottish researchers report that they found increased levels of cytokines—chemical messengers that typically promote inflammation—in patients with influenza and rhinovirus infections.
The findings appear to support the view that a "cytokine storm" contributes to severe illness in flu patients.
The researchers, who reported their results in the Journal of Clinical Virology, studied the levels of 32 cytokines in patients who had 2009 H1N1 flu infections, others with rhinovirus infections, and healthy controls. They found that most of the cytokine levels were higher in the infected persons than in the controls.
In addition, patients who had severe flu infections had significantly higher levels of eight cytokines than did those with mild flu or rhinovirus.
One cytokine, called EGF, was significantly lower in those with severe flu.
Overall, the findings support other published studies that suggest cytokines play a role in flu-induced lung pathology, the authors say. They also comment that EGF has a role in cell proliferation and tissue repair and therefore may help protect the lungs from damage during respiratory infections.
Jun 19 J Clin Virol report
Study estimates flu vaccine impact on US infections, hospitalizations
An analysis designed to gauge the impact of flu vaccines from 2005 to 2011 suggests that they prevented 13 million infections and 110,000 hospitalizations in that period, researchers from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported yesterday in PLoS One.
They estimated the number of flu cases that would have occurred without vaccination based on several factors, including flu season illness and hospital rates, vaccination coverage, and vaccine effectiveness.
The largest number of prevented cases occurred during the 2010-11 season, when the vaccine may have averted 5 million infections, 2.1 million doctor's visits, and 40,400 hospitalizations. Researchers said that this high point likely reflects expanded vaccination coverage after the 2009 H1N1 pandemic.
The lowest number of illnesses prevented was during the 2006-07 season, when 1.1 million infections were averted. Patterns varied by age-group and time period.
The group suggested that more cases could be prevented by expanding coverage, especially in nonelderly adults.
Joseph Bresee, MD, senior author of the study and medical epidemiologist in the CDC's Influenza Division, said in a EurekAlert press release, "These results confirm the value of influenza vaccination, but highlight the need for more people to get vaccinated and the imperative for vaccines with greater efficacy, especially in the elderly."
Jun 19 PLoS One study
Jun 19 Public Library of Science press release
Officials warn of foodborne disease risk at Yellowstone Park
Federal officials say the risk of gastrointestinal disease is higher than usual at Yellowstone National Park and neighboring areas, following an outbreak of norovirus infections among visitors and park employees, according to a CNN report today.
Members of a tour group that visited Yellowstone's Mammoth Hot Springs got sick on Jun 7, and park employees who had contact with the group also fell ill in the ensuing 2 days. Tests indicated they had a norovirus.
More than 100 suspected norovirus cases have occurred among Yellowstone employees and another 50 cases among workers at nearby Grand Teton National Park, the story said, citing a National Park Service (NPS) press release (not available online at this writing).
Officials said visitors to Yellowstone and Grand Teton should make extra efforts to wash their hands. The NPS and local businesses are taking precautions to prevent the spread of disease, one of which is that park workers who get sick must be well for 72 hours before they can return to work.
Jun 20 CNN story
Oregon tightens childhood vaccine exemptions
Oregon lawmakers yesterday passed a bill that would make it harder for parents to claim nonmedical exemptions to childhood vaccines required for school, the Associated Press (AP) reported.
The bill passed easily, 45-15 in the House but faced more intense debate in earlier Senate deliberations.
Oregon's governor, John Kitzhaber, has signaled that he will sign the bill.
Oregon has the highest rate of kindergarteners with nonmedical exemptions in the country, at 6.4%, compared with the national average of 1.2%, according to the AP.
Washington state legislators passed a similar measure in 2011, which dropped the level of religious immunization exemptions by 25%.
Jun 19 AP story
