Three major health associations issue joint flu shot recommendation
Yesterday three of the nation's biggest health organizations—the American Lung Association, the American Diabetes Association, and the American Heart Association—recommended that Americans living with chronic health conditions get this year's seasonal influenza vaccine.
"Getting the flu can lead to complications with very serious consequences for people with cardiovascular disease, including hospitalization, increased risk for other major health events like heart attacks or strokes, and death," said the American Heart Association Chief Medical Officer for Prevention Eduardo Sanchez, MD, in an American Lung Association press release. "Flu vaccination is a good idea for all and has actually been associated with lower rates of some cardiac events."
This is the first time the three groups have made a joint statement on the flu vaccine. They said the 117 million Americans currently living with chronic diseases are at increased risk of complications from the flu. Last flu season, 93% of adults hospitalized for flu reported at least one underlying medical condition, the groups said.
According to the news release, getting an annual flu shot reduces the chance of hospitalization by 37% and the risk of admission to the intensive care unit by 82% for patients with chronic health conditions.
Oct 15 American Lung Association press release
Avian flu outbreaks strike poultry in Vietnam, Dominican Republic
Vietnam's agriculture ministry recently reported another highly pathogenic H5N6 avian flu outbreak in poultry, according to a notification today from the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE), and the Dominican Republic detailed outbreaks involving a low-pathogenic strain.
The event began on Oct 15 in village birds in Kon Tum province in the central part of the country. The virus infected all 980 susceptible birds, which were then euthanized to contain the outbreak. Vietnam's last H5N6 outbreak occurred in August, affecting village birds in Ben Tre province in the south.
H5N6 has been implicated in poultry outbreaks in China and a few other Asian countries, but China is the only one to report human cases, which are often severe or fatal.
Oct 16 OIE report on H5N6 in Vietnam
The Dominican Republic reported 11 more outbreaks involving low-pathogenic H5N2 in poultry, according to a separate OIE report. The outbreak start dates range from Nov 2, 2018, to Jun 2, 2019.
The virus struck birds in seven different provinces: Puerto Plata, Espaillat, Distrito Nacional, Salcedo, La Vega, San Jose De Ocoa, and Santiago. Two outbreaks involved backyard birds and the others occurred at farms. Poultry types included layers, fighting hens, broilers, and Israeli-bred hens.
In total, the virus killed 5,573 of 500,456 susceptible birds, and the surviving ones were culled. The country's last outbreaks involving H5N2 occurred in April in Espaillat province.
Oct 16 OIE report on low-path H5N2 in the Dominican Republic
Samoa declares measles epidemic with 7 cases, 1 fatality
Government officials in Samoa have declared a measles epidemic after two adults and five children have tested positive for the virus. Measles is also highly suspected in the death of a 1-year-old last week, officials said, Radio New Zealand (RNZ) reported.
None of the seven confirmed case-patients were vaccinated.
Helen Petousis-Harris, PhD, a vaccinologist with Auckland University in New Zealand, said measles vaccination coverage in Samoa is low, around 31%. A coverage rate of 95% is needed to confer herd immunity, because measles is a highly contagious disease.
New Zealand has also recently reported a measles outbreak, and travel between Samoa and New Zealand is likely implicated in Samoa's epidemic.
Oct 16 RNZ report
