H1N1 FLU BREAKING NEWS: Better-yielding seed strain, deaths in Argentina, Hajj pilgrims, nurses protesting equipment lack, insurance for vaccine

H1N1 2009 Pandemic Influenza

Aug 6, 2009

British lab finds better-yielding seed strain of H1N1
Britain's National Institute for Biological Standards and Control (NIBSC) has produced a seed strain of novel H1N1 virus that grows much better than strains currently used, the Canadian Press reported yesterday. John Wood of the NIBSC said the strain grows about as well as typical seasonal flu seed strains, but the results must be confirmed by manufacturers. Vaccine makers welcomed the news. Yields from the seed strains now in use have been 50% below those with seasonal flu vaccines or worse.

Argentina flu deaths double in latest count
The number of novel H1N1 flu deaths in Argentina has risen to 337, according to the health ministry's latest report, suggesting that Argentina could soon pass United States as the country with the most fatalities, The Guardian, a British newspaper, reported yesterday. The number was more than double the deaths reported in the ministry's last report 2 weeks ago. Though Argentina has more fatalities than any South American country, officials believe novel flu cases have peaked.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/aug/05/argentina-swine-flu-deaths-double
Aug 5 Guardian story

Iran bars pilgrims from attending the Hajj
To slow the spread of the pandemic H1N1 virus, Iran's health ministry has banned the country's citizens from attending the annual Hajj pilgrimage in December in Saudi Arabia, the Associated Press (AP) reported today. The health minister said through state media that the event draws 3 million pilgrims from all over the world, presenting a heightened risk of flu transmission. Iran has confirmed 145 cases so far, but no fatalities.
http://www.khaleejtimes.com/displayarticle.asp?xfile=data/middleeast/2009/August/middleeast_August142.xml&section=middleeast&col=
Aug 6 AP story

California nurses protest inadequate safety equipment
California nurses protested outside the University of California–San Francisco (UCSF) medical center yesterday to demand better equipment to protect them against the pandemic virus, according to an Aug 4 press release from the California Nurses Association. An ABC News report yesterday showed the nurses protesting in scrubs and masks. Nurses also protested the alleged firing of a UCSF nurse for complaining about inadequate safety gear. The California Hospital Association has denied the claims.

Baxter finishes first batches of cell-based pandemic H1N1 vaccine
Baxter International Inc. yesterday announced completion of the first commercial batches of its cell-based pandemic H1N1 vaccine, called Celvapan A/H1N1. The company said the vaccine was developed and produced within 12 weeks of receiving the H1N1 virus strain. In making the vaccine, Baxter applied the same processes used in gaining earlier European licensure of a mock-up pandemic vaccine, officials said. Clinical trials are scheduled to start this month.
http://www.baxter.com/press_room/press_releases/2009/08_05_09-A-H1N1.html
Aug 5 Baxter news release

CDC reports low sensitivity for rapid flu tests
The CDC reported today that it assessed several rapid influenza diagnostic tests and found they had low sensitivity, ranging from 40% to 69%. Sensitivity declined substantially when the clinical samples had lower levels of virus, the agency said in Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report. Thus a positive result can guide treatment, but a negative result does not exclude a novel H1N1 infection. The agency evaluated the tests using 65 samples known to contain novel H1N1 or seasonal viruses.
http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm5830a2.htm
Aug 7 MMWR article

Large insurer to cover novel H1N1 vaccine
WellPoint, the nation's largest health insurance company in terms of membership, says it will cover administration of the novel H1N1 vaccine as it becomes publicly available, according to a story today from IFAwebnews. WellPoint operates as Anthem Blue Cross in Virginia and as Empire Blue Cross in New York. Members whose plans already provide coverage for vaccines will qualify for the added coverage.
http://ifawebnews.com/2009/08/06/nations-largest-health-insurer-to-cover-h1n1-vaccine/
Aug 6 IFAwebnews article

This week's top reads

  1. US measles total climbs to 800 cases, 10 outbreaks

    As more states report outbreaks, the country is well on track to reach the most cases since measles was eliminated in 2000.

    Lisa Schnirring
    young boy measles fever

  2. Vietnam reports H5N1 avian flu case with encephalitis

    Tests on respiratory samples were negative, but results were positive for the cerebrospinal fluid sample.

    Lisa Schnirring
    ICU monitors

  3. Five people, 27 animals tested positive for tularemia in Minnesota last year

    Two of the infected people reported recently mowing over animal carcasses.

    Mary Van Beusekom
    Tick

  4. Studies across 14 nations show 25% to 30% rate of long COVID

    Among the 25% of participants in 1 study who said they experienced long-COVID symptoms, 13% reported sleep disorders.

    Stephanie Soucheray

  5. CDC advisers update recommendations for meningococcal, RSV, chikungunya vaccines

    The group recommended RSV vaccination for more at-risk adults and took into account a safety consideration for seniors for the first-approved chikungunya vaccine.

    Lisa Schnirring
    man vaccinated

  6. Novavax says its COVID vaccine produces fewer, milder reactions than Pfizer version

    On average, workers who received Novavax had 1.7 systemic symptoms, compared with 2.8 in Pfizer recipients. 

    Mary Van Beusekom

  7. Mexico's fatal H5N1 case involved D1.1 genotype, which has been tied to serious illness

    No poultry outbreaks were reported in the patient's state, but there were detections in wild birds.

    Lisa Schnirring
    H5N1 gold blue

  8. Public ignorance, apathy toward avian flu could threaten containment, researchers say

    Only about a quarter of survey respondents knew H5N1 can spread to people, and over half were unaware that pasteurized milk is safer than raw milk.

    Mary Van Beusekom
    Two chickens at food trough

  9. Quick takes: Mpox outbreak in Malawi, more H5N1 in Idaho and California dairy cows

    The cases in Malawi bring the number of African countries affected by mpox to 23.

    Lisa Schnirring

  10. Studies detail high rates of long COVID among healthcare, dental workers

    The most common symptom reported by healthcare workers was fatigue.

    Stephanie Soucheray
    health worker in mask

Our underwriters