H1N1 NEWS SCAN: Risk factors, vaccine cross-protection, testing for serious illness

H1N1 2009 Pandemic Influenza

Underlying risk factors common in UK deaths
A study published today found that 77% of Brits who died of pandemic flu last year had underlying risk factors such as low immunity or respiratory disease. The study, which assessed data on 440 deaths, found fatalities were most common in young adults (median age 53, and 85% were under 65). The case-fatality rate was 0.9% in those 65 and older and 0.04% for those under 64. The authors state that the results point to the need for early, targeted intervention for pandemic flu.
http://tinyurl.com/eurosurv052010h1n1
May 20 Eurosurveillance study

Study: Seasonal flu vaccine offers some H1N1 protection
In a study of 1,205 military personnel who contracted pandemic H1N1 in 2009, researchers found that those who had received seasonal flu vaccine the year before had a 45% level of vaccine effectiveness (VE) against the novel virus. Those who had been vaccinated against seasonal flu as early as 2004 had 41% VE. The study also showed VE of 62% against severe disease, compared with 41% against milder outcomes. Shots appeared to grant a higher VE (44%) compared with the nasal-spray vaccine (24%).
http://dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0010722
May 19 PLoS One study

Severe H1N1 may warrant serum testing
Australian researchers determined that up to a third of severe cases of pandemic H1N1 may not be properly detected without serologic testing. The authors collected acute and convalescent blood specimens from 33 patients with severe H1N1 admitted to intensive care units. With hemagglutination inhibition of novel H1N1, 29 paired serum samples showed significant increases in specific antibody titers. Of these 29, only 18 had pandemic H1N1 RNA detected by routine nucleic acid testing.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1086/653610
May 19 Clin Infect Dis abstract

Cambodia announces second vaccine round
Cambodia's ministry of health announced plans to administer 1.5 million doses of pandemic H1N1 vaccine by the end of this month, according to the Phnom Penh Post. The new vaccine arrived recently from the World Health Organization. In March the country received 300,000 doses, which have been administered to high-risk groups.

This week's top reads

  1. 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

  2. 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

  3. CIDRAP launches Vaccine Integrity Project to help safeguard US vaccine use

    The steering committee will make recommendations on how non-governmental groups can help ensure that vaccine use is evidence-based.

    Mary Van Beusekom
    MMR vaccine vial on table

  4. Tick-borne meat allergy may be related to urbanization in mid-Atlantic US

    The study identified open-space development and low population density as risk factors for Alpha-gal syndrome. 

    Mary Van Beusekom
    Lone star tick

  5. 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

  6. New agreement geared toward universal avian flu vaccine

    The mRNA vaccine targets all major clades of the H5 avian flu subtype.

    Stephanie Soucheray

  7. US measles cases climb higher, approach 900

    Thirty states have cases, and 83% of infections are part of outbreaks, the largest centered  in West Texas.

    Lisa Schnirring
    young boy with measles

  8. 'On the precipice of disaster': Measles may be endemic in 25 years if vaccine uptake stays low, model predicts

    A 10% decline in vaccine uptake could lead to 11.1 million cases of the highly contagious illness in that timeframe.

    Mary Van Beusekom
    Measles virus

  9. Poll finds false measles claims gaining attention amid US outbreaks

    Though confidence in the vaccine remains high, KFF found that misinformation is sowing more doubts.

    Lisa Schnirring
    woman scrolling on phone

  10. USDA withdraws proposal to reduce Salmonella in poultry

    The Biden-era rule would have prevented the sale of raw chicken or turkey with certain levels or strains of Salmonella.

    Chris Dall
    Raw poultry in processing plant

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