Aug 28, 2009
Poll suggests rising flu concern in US public
A new USA Today/Gallup poll suggests Americans are becoming more concerned about getting sick with the pandemic flu virus, USA Today reported yesterday. Of 1,007 adults who were polled, 1 in 3 believe they or a family member will get sick with the virus, up from 1 in 5 in May. Compared with the earlier poll, slightly more accept the government's risk assessment, and 55%, up from 46%, now say they will get the vaccine. The poll's margin of error is 4 percentage points.
http://www.usatoday.com/news/health/2009-08-27-swineflu_N.htm
Aug 27 USA Today story
Expert warns about next year's pandemic flu wave
The fall wave of pandemic H1N1 flu in the northern hemisphere will likely resemble the spring spread of the virus, but a more deadly outbreak could strike next year because of natural selection pressure, virologist John Oxford told Agence France-Presse (AFP) yesterday. Once the virus infects a third of the population, it will find fewer susceptible individuals, which may give mutant viruses a selective advantage, he said. He urged governments not to let down their guard after the next wave.
Manitoba finds novel flu virus on pig farms
Manitoba's chief veterinary officer recently announced that the novel H1N1 virus has been detected on various pig farms in the province, according to a post today on ProMED-mail, the Internet-based reporting system of the International Society for Infectious Diseases. No deaths were reported, but the animals showed mild flu-like symptoms. Movement of the pigs was limited to curb transmission, and veterinarians have been asked to help identify and report further outbreaks.
http://www.promedmail.org/pls/otn/f?p=2400:1001:3074652114656689::NO::F2400_P1001_BACK_PAGE,F2400_P1001_PUB_MAIL_ID:1000,78977
Aug 28 ProMED-mail post
Britain, France get first H1N1 vaccine shipments
Britain and France have received their first novel flu vaccine shipments, but they await regulatory approval and likely won't be administered to patients until October, AFP reported today. British officials said they received 100,000 doses of a vaccine made by US-based Baxter, but French officials didn't specify the number of doses they received or the manufacturer.
http://www.smh.com.au/world/britain-france-get-first-batches-of-swine-flu-vaccine-20090828-f1i2.html
Aug 28 AFP story
Several factors tipped US decision for 2 separate flu vaccines
In response to reader questions about why US officials didn't combine the novel flu vaccine with the seasonal flu vaccine, Columbia University virologist Vincent Rancaniello, who authors a virology blog, posed the question to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The agency responded that factors weighing against inclusion were lack of clinical trials for tetravalent vaccines, different high-risk populations for seasonal and pandemic flu, production timing, and ease of safety tracking.
http://www.virology.ws/2009/08/26/no-tetravalent-influenza-vaccine/
Aug 26 Virology Blog post
