Below the case of H1N1 in Austin.
Concerns over H1N1 haven't been talked about in the news lately.
But at Seton they are still seeing cases come in and in some instances it's so severe it's life threatening.
"I was sick - I was so sick," said Cynthia Short.
When Cynthia Short was 35 weeks pregnant she became very sick.
"I was tried and drained and I couldn't get out of bed it was awful," said Short.
She knew this sickness wasn't baby related.
Her doctor said it was allergies but when she went into the emergency room she was admitted immediately.
"We were terrified," said Bill Short, Cynthia's husband.
Cynthia's heart rate was elevated and doctors couldn't figure out why she couldn't breathe.
After an emergency c-section her condition didn't improve so she was transferred to Seton.
Doctors gave a grim outlook.
"She is really in critical condition and there is only one other alternative to what we tried thus far," said Bill Short.
That was a new machine called ECMO.
"We enabled her lungs to rest and get through the disease process," said Dennis Biggan, Perusionist at Seton.
For 17 days Cynthia was mostly unconscious as the machine took her blood out of her body before it reached her heart, pumped it with oxygen, and put it back in so she was able to survive.
"Her lungs were so sick they couldn't transfer that oxygen into the blood or take that carbon dioxide out of the blood," said Biggan.
That sickness turned out to be H1N1.
"H1N1 is still a problem so we know we've heard of a rise of it in the past and it's still present today," said Erin August, Adult ECMO Coordinator.
This year alone three adults between the ages of 29 and 49 have spent weeks on ECMO in order to live.
"It's not the population we would think would be most at risk," said August.
Turns out Cynthia never got her flu shot.
Showing posts with label h1n1 cases. Show all posts
Showing posts with label h1n1 cases. Show all posts
Tuesday, March 29, 2011
Monday, March 21, 2011
H1N1 Influenza Reappears in Venezuela
Below another case of virus H1N1.
Venezuelan government reported on Friday the death of a patient with H1N1.
State health director Gustavo Miranda Villasmil confirm the death of a patient who came from the town of Cua, adding that four others of the same family were infected.
Eight other people were infected in the country.
Venezuelan Health Minister Maria Eugenia Sader said that the official media on Friday that the government is preparing to fight against a new outbreak of this disease.
Venezuelan government reported on Friday the death of a patient with H1N1.
State health director Gustavo Miranda Villasmil confirm the death of a patient who came from the town of Cua, adding that four others of the same family were infected.
Eight other people were infected in the country.
Venezuelan Health Minister Maria Eugenia Sader said that the official media on Friday that the government is preparing to fight against a new outbreak of this disease.
Thursday, March 17, 2011
30 provinces report A/H1N1 flu patients
Today about H1N1 cases.
The medical watchdog warns that schools, residential areas and crowded places are the most vulnerable to the epidemic’s outbreak.
Tao Van San, Director of the Health Centre of Muong Nhe district, Dien Bien province, said that 91 cases of the disease were detected in the district’s boarding school from February 14-22. The provincial health sector took preventive measures to successfully contain the disease and pupils have resumed studies at school.
At a junior high school in Quy Nhon city, Binh Dinh province, five pupils tested positive for the epidemic. Previously, 28 pupils from the school showed A/H1N1 symptoms such as fever, sneezing and having runny nose.
In the face of an A/H1N1 outbreak, the Health Ministry warns that cold, humid weather is favourable for the development and contagion of A/H1N1 virus. Offices, schools and factories are recommended to closely monitor the health of workers and students to proactively curb the spread of the disease.
The medical watchdog warns that schools, residential areas and crowded places are the most vulnerable to the epidemic’s outbreak.
Tao Van San, Director of the Health Centre of Muong Nhe district, Dien Bien province, said that 91 cases of the disease were detected in the district’s boarding school from February 14-22. The provincial health sector took preventive measures to successfully contain the disease and pupils have resumed studies at school.
At a junior high school in Quy Nhon city, Binh Dinh province, five pupils tested positive for the epidemic. Previously, 28 pupils from the school showed A/H1N1 symptoms such as fever, sneezing and having runny nose.
In the face of an A/H1N1 outbreak, the Health Ministry warns that cold, humid weather is favourable for the development and contagion of A/H1N1 virus. Offices, schools and factories are recommended to closely monitor the health of workers and students to proactively curb the spread of the disease.
Wednesday, March 16, 2011
Definition of Infected (H1N1)
Below about definition of H1N1.
Suspect Case
Defined as an individual with an acute febrile respiratory illness (fever >38°C) with onset of symptoms:
* Within 7 days of travel to affected areas; or
* Within 7 days of close contact with a confirmed or probable case of Influenza A (H1N1)
Probable Case
Defined as an individual with an acute febrile respiratory illness (fever >38°C) with an influenza test that is positive for Influenza A but is un-subtypeable by reagents used to detect seasonal influenza virus infection, OR;
An individual with a clinically compatible illness or who died of an unexplained acute respiratory illness who is considered to be epidemiologically linked to a probable or a confirmed case.
Confirmed Case
Defined as an individual with laboratory confirmed Influenza A (H1N1) virus infection by one or more of the following tests:
* Real-time RT-PCR;
* Viral culture;
* Four-fold rise in Influenza A (H1N1) virus specific neutralising antibodies.
Suspect Case
Defined as an individual with an acute febrile respiratory illness (fever >38°C) with onset of symptoms:
* Within 7 days of travel to affected areas; or
* Within 7 days of close contact with a confirmed or probable case of Influenza A (H1N1)
Probable Case
Defined as an individual with an acute febrile respiratory illness (fever >38°C) with an influenza test that is positive for Influenza A but is un-subtypeable by reagents used to detect seasonal influenza virus infection, OR;
An individual with a clinically compatible illness or who died of an unexplained acute respiratory illness who is considered to be epidemiologically linked to a probable or a confirmed case.
Confirmed Case
Defined as an individual with laboratory confirmed Influenza A (H1N1) virus infection by one or more of the following tests:
* Real-time RT-PCR;
* Viral culture;
* Four-fold rise in Influenza A (H1N1) virus specific neutralising antibodies.
Monday, March 14, 2011
One More H1N1 Victim Reported in Vietnam
Today's article about H1N1 cases.
The Center for Preventive Medicine in the central province of Quang Nam has confirmed the death of 47 Do Van Tuong Tam Ky Town deadly H1N1 virus. This is the first death in the Central Province.
Tuong was admitted to the General Hospital on Feb. 22 with symptoms of fever and respiratory failure. When his condition worsened, he was transferred for further processing in a large hospital in Da Nang. However, all efforts by doctors have not been successful because his condition worsened. He died four days later.
The doctors at the Center for Preventive Medicine has helped her parents in the conduct of funeral procedures in accordance with the rules. They also took blood samples from relatives and all doctors who have had contact with him in the general hospital. Test results showed that the wife and daughter were H1N1 positive cases. They were immediately quarantined.
The Center for Preventive Medicine in the central province of Quang Nam has confirmed the death of 47 Do Van Tuong Tam Ky Town deadly H1N1 virus. This is the first death in the Central Province.
Tuong was admitted to the General Hospital on Feb. 22 with symptoms of fever and respiratory failure. When his condition worsened, he was transferred for further processing in a large hospital in Da Nang. However, all efforts by doctors have not been successful because his condition worsened. He died four days later.
The doctors at the Center for Preventive Medicine has helped her parents in the conduct of funeral procedures in accordance with the rules. They also took blood samples from relatives and all doctors who have had contact with him in the general hospital. Test results showed that the wife and daughter were H1N1 positive cases. They were immediately quarantined.
Sunday, March 13, 2011
H1N1 Influenza Virus has Spread to 30 Provinces and Cities
These about H1N1 influenza virus has spread.
Dr Nguyen Van Binh, head of the Preventive Medicine Department announced on Friday that most of the deaths were of people already being treated for diabetes, high blood pressure and lung congestion.
Health workers have just conducted tests for the A/H1N1 virus in some localities. As a result, there is no substantial number of people infected with the disease.
According to Dr Binh, people must wear mufflers when they have symptoms like cold, cough or a running nose and immediately go to health clinics for a check up, to deter the timely effects of the A/H1N1 virus.
Organizations, companies and schools should monitor their staff and students’ health to prevent the influenza from spreading.
According to the World Health Organization, the swine flu has come into the post-epidemic phase. Over the last several months, the A/H1N1 virus has been uncovered in 64 countries around the world.
Dr Nguyen Van Binh, head of the Preventive Medicine Department announced on Friday that most of the deaths were of people already being treated for diabetes, high blood pressure and lung congestion.
Health workers have just conducted tests for the A/H1N1 virus in some localities. As a result, there is no substantial number of people infected with the disease.
According to Dr Binh, people must wear mufflers when they have symptoms like cold, cough or a running nose and immediately go to health clinics for a check up, to deter the timely effects of the A/H1N1 virus.
Organizations, companies and schools should monitor their staff and students’ health to prevent the influenza from spreading.
According to the World Health Organization, the swine flu has come into the post-epidemic phase. Over the last several months, the A/H1N1 virus has been uncovered in 64 countries around the world.
Friday, March 11, 2011
Officials wary of H1N1will come
Below abot H1N1.
H1N1 is a major problem in 2009, and health officials warn that people should not assume that it is the story.
"Historically, there are at least two or three waves of flu," Brown County Health Department Director Judy Friederichs said Tuesday. "We've had two: one in the spring and one in the fall. There's still that potential that we could have the third wave, so we're trying to stay ahead of it."
Friederichs and public health officials made vaccination clinic Tuesday at the Lambeau Field Atrium, where several hundred local residents turned out. Who should not have been vaccinated, he said.
"I certainly think there are still quite a few people who need to be immunized," Friederichs said. Her department will sponsor two more clinics next week, with the times and sites announced later this week.
"We certainly don't want to repeat the fall," she said.
The Wisconsin Department of Health Services is asking public health departments to increase efforts to reach minority communities. State data showed that a higher ratio of minorities were hospitalized with H1N1 during the fall outbreak than nonminorities.
State officials said there were several possible reasons for the disparity, including reduced access to health care for minorities.
Friederichs said reaching minority and diverse populations has been a priority.
"We've tried to focus outreach on those weeks when we've had clinics," Friederichs said, saying 400 to 500 fliers were distributed in targeted areas. The fliers had both English and Spanish translations, urging people to be immunized.
H1N1 is a major problem in 2009, and health officials warn that people should not assume that it is the story.
"Historically, there are at least two or three waves of flu," Brown County Health Department Director Judy Friederichs said Tuesday. "We've had two: one in the spring and one in the fall. There's still that potential that we could have the third wave, so we're trying to stay ahead of it."
Friederichs and public health officials made vaccination clinic Tuesday at the Lambeau Field Atrium, where several hundred local residents turned out. Who should not have been vaccinated, he said.
"I certainly think there are still quite a few people who need to be immunized," Friederichs said. Her department will sponsor two more clinics next week, with the times and sites announced later this week.
"We certainly don't want to repeat the fall," she said.
The Wisconsin Department of Health Services is asking public health departments to increase efforts to reach minority communities. State data showed that a higher ratio of minorities were hospitalized with H1N1 during the fall outbreak than nonminorities.
State officials said there were several possible reasons for the disparity, including reduced access to health care for minorities.
Friederichs said reaching minority and diverse populations has been a priority.
"We've tried to focus outreach on those weeks when we've had clinics," Friederichs said, saying 400 to 500 fliers were distributed in targeted areas. The fliers had both English and Spanish translations, urging people to be immunized.
Thursday, March 10, 2011
Cautious With H1N1 Virus
Today's about being cautious with virus H1N1.
In the fall of 1917, a new strain of influenza in circles around the world. At first, the typical flu-like wabak: Sebahagian great force of death among the elderly, while young people recover quickly. However, in the summer of 1918, the version of the deadly virus that has broken out, with disastrous consequences. In total, the pandemic has killed at least 50 million people - about 3 peratus than the world population at that time.
Such unlicensed two waves is typical of the pandemic influenza virus, which is why many scientists are reluctant influenza virus H1N1 in 2009 without a license (the "pig") can be transformed into a deadly form.
H1N1 has been reported on a Mac 2009 in Mexico, contain the right mix of human and pig genes of avian influenza, which encourages doubt that free can be deadlier than a typical flu season. However, the death toll is much lower than dikhuatiri, virus turned into a great Keran sebahagian cekap relatively spread from person to person.
In a new MIT study, the researchers mengenalpasti single genetic mutation of the H1N1 virus that allow you to be much more easily contagious among humans. The discovery, reported in the second edition of the journal Mac Public Library of Science (PLoS) One, it must provide Pertubuhan Kesihatan World, which traces the evolution of influenza, something to watch, "says Ram Sasisekharan, senior author of the paper.
“There is a constant need to monitor the evolution of these viruses,” says Sasisekharan, the Edward Hood Taplin Professor and director of the Harvard-MIT Division of Health Sciences and Technology. Some new H1N1 strains have already emerged, and the key question, Sasisekharan adds, is whether those strains will have greater ability to infect humans.
WHO labs around the world are collecting samples of human and avian flu strains, whose DNA is sequenced and analyzed for potential significant mutations. However, it’s difficult, with current technology, to predict how a particular DNA sequence change will alter the structure of influenza proteins, including hemagglutinin (HA), which binds to receptors displayed by cells in the human respiratory tract. Now that this specific HA mutation has been identified as a potentially dangerous one, the WHO should be able to immediately flag any viruses with that mutation, if they appear.
Identifying this mutation is an important step because it is usually very difficult to identify which of the many possible mutations of the HA protein will have any impact on human health, says Qinghua Wang, assistant professor of biochemistry at Baylor College of Medicine. “These are exactly the types of mutations that we need to watch out for in order to safeguard humans from future disastrous flu pandemics,” he says.
Any ideas or comment just leave it below.
In the fall of 1917, a new strain of influenza in circles around the world. At first, the typical flu-like wabak: Sebahagian great force of death among the elderly, while young people recover quickly. However, in the summer of 1918, the version of the deadly virus that has broken out, with disastrous consequences. In total, the pandemic has killed at least 50 million people - about 3 peratus than the world population at that time.
Such unlicensed two waves is typical of the pandemic influenza virus, which is why many scientists are reluctant influenza virus H1N1 in 2009 without a license (the "pig") can be transformed into a deadly form.
H1N1 has been reported on a Mac 2009 in Mexico, contain the right mix of human and pig genes of avian influenza, which encourages doubt that free can be deadlier than a typical flu season. However, the death toll is much lower than dikhuatiri, virus turned into a great Keran sebahagian cekap relatively spread from person to person.
In a new MIT study, the researchers mengenalpasti single genetic mutation of the H1N1 virus that allow you to be much more easily contagious among humans. The discovery, reported in the second edition of the journal Mac Public Library of Science (PLoS) One, it must provide Pertubuhan Kesihatan World, which traces the evolution of influenza, something to watch, "says Ram Sasisekharan, senior author of the paper.
“There is a constant need to monitor the evolution of these viruses,” says Sasisekharan, the Edward Hood Taplin Professor and director of the Harvard-MIT Division of Health Sciences and Technology. Some new H1N1 strains have already emerged, and the key question, Sasisekharan adds, is whether those strains will have greater ability to infect humans.
WHO labs around the world are collecting samples of human and avian flu strains, whose DNA is sequenced and analyzed for potential significant mutations. However, it’s difficult, with current technology, to predict how a particular DNA sequence change will alter the structure of influenza proteins, including hemagglutinin (HA), which binds to receptors displayed by cells in the human respiratory tract. Now that this specific HA mutation has been identified as a potentially dangerous one, the WHO should be able to immediately flag any viruses with that mutation, if they appear.
Identifying this mutation is an important step because it is usually very difficult to identify which of the many possible mutations of the HA protein will have any impact on human health, says Qinghua Wang, assistant professor of biochemistry at Baylor College of Medicine. “These are exactly the types of mutations that we need to watch out for in order to safeguard humans from future disastrous flu pandemics,” he says.
Any ideas or comment just leave it below.
Wednesday, March 9, 2011
H1N1 : HCMC Resident Dies
These about H1N1 cases.
The 52 year old man was under treatment for fever and cough for the last few days but his condition was not showing any signs of improving. He was moved to the Tropical Diseases Hospital on February 28, as his condition deteriorated with pneumonia and respiratory problems.
Tests proved that he was positive for H1N1 virus. Medical workers tried to save him by giving antibiotics and Tamiflu, but their efforts proved futile and his condition worsened. He died after a day of treatment.
Medics have warned residents not to neglect any case of simple fever or cough as the epidemic conditions for H1N1 virus were prevalent in the city. People must immediately visit nearby medical clinics when they experienced fever and cough.
Source
Please leaves your comment if you have any ideas.
The 52 year old man was under treatment for fever and cough for the last few days but his condition was not showing any signs of improving. He was moved to the Tropical Diseases Hospital on February 28, as his condition deteriorated with pneumonia and respiratory problems.
Tests proved that he was positive for H1N1 virus. Medical workers tried to save him by giving antibiotics and Tamiflu, but their efforts proved futile and his condition worsened. He died after a day of treatment.
Medics have warned residents not to neglect any case of simple fever or cough as the epidemic conditions for H1N1 virus were prevalent in the city. People must immediately visit nearby medical clinics when they experienced fever and cough.
Source
Please leaves your comment if you have any ideas.
Tuesday, March 8, 2011
Companies Plan for Mass Flu Absences
Below about H1N1.
The spread of the H1N1 virus has larger employers adapting business plans to keep things running when employees are ill, while doing what they can to prevent the spread of the illness.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is clear about what people should do if they have swine flu symptoms.
"If you get sick with flu-like symptoms this flu season, you should stay home and avoid contact with other people except to get medical care," according to the agency's Web site.
Integrys Energy Group is among the companies that have considered how to deal with a pandemic for a number of years, namely in the wake of an avian flu outbreak earlier this decade.
Part of that plan calls for cross-training employees to fill in for critical functions — such as payroll or safety, health and wellness — should employees fall ill, said Michele Anderson, manager of workers compensation and wellness with Integrys in Green Bay.
"While the first plan was specific to avian flu, now our plan is more generic in the event we have any pandemic," she said. "These are living, breathing documents, and they're going to change depending on what's out in the medical community."
Integrys is following guidelines set forth by the CDC and local health departments.If employees exceed their sick days or time allotted for personal matters, they can request short-term disability or time off through the Family Medical Leave Act, she said.
"Each case is being addressed individually," Anderson said. "There's no steadfast protocol in place that says if you only have five days you have to come back even if you're sick. We encourage people that have flu-like symptoms … to stay home to protect not only themselves but also other employees that may be around them."
Absenteeism hasn't yet been a problem, she said.
She echoes other area businesses in pointing out that the energy business doesn't have the luxury of shutting down if employees call in sick for a prolonged amount of time.
Source.
The spread of the H1N1 virus has larger employers adapting business plans to keep things running when employees are ill, while doing what they can to prevent the spread of the illness.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is clear about what people should do if they have swine flu symptoms.
"If you get sick with flu-like symptoms this flu season, you should stay home and avoid contact with other people except to get medical care," according to the agency's Web site.
Integrys Energy Group is among the companies that have considered how to deal with a pandemic for a number of years, namely in the wake of an avian flu outbreak earlier this decade.
Part of that plan calls for cross-training employees to fill in for critical functions — such as payroll or safety, health and wellness — should employees fall ill, said Michele Anderson, manager of workers compensation and wellness with Integrys in Green Bay.
"While the first plan was specific to avian flu, now our plan is more generic in the event we have any pandemic," she said. "These are living, breathing documents, and they're going to change depending on what's out in the medical community."
Integrys is following guidelines set forth by the CDC and local health departments.If employees exceed their sick days or time allotted for personal matters, they can request short-term disability or time off through the Family Medical Leave Act, she said.
"Each case is being addressed individually," Anderson said. "There's no steadfast protocol in place that says if you only have five days you have to come back even if you're sick. We encourage people that have flu-like symptoms … to stay home to protect not only themselves but also other employees that may be around them."
Absenteeism hasn't yet been a problem, she said.
She echoes other area businesses in pointing out that the energy business doesn't have the luxury of shutting down if employees call in sick for a prolonged amount of time.
Source.
Monday, March 7, 2011
34 Dies; May Have Had Swine Flu
It's about swine flu cases.
A 34-year-old Bell City Council candidate who died Friday at County-USC Medical Center may have had the swine flu, also known as the H1N1 virus, it was reported today.
A brother, Jorge, told the Bell Gardens Sun that Miguel Alejandro Sanchez had been sick for about a week when he went to the hospital Friday morning and may have had the H1N1 virus.
Sanchez, a part-time teacher's aide for the Los Angeles Unified School District and a part-time Bell Parks and Recreation Department employee, had hoped to replace former City Councilman Luis Artiga, who resigned last fall amid corruption allegations, is a special election set for Tuesday.
Sanchez was part of a "Justice for Bell' slate, along with council candidates Mario Rivas and Nestor Valencia.
His cause of death has not been made public.
His brother Jorge said Sanchez was diabetic and that could have complicated his flu-like symptoms.
Source
A 34-year-old Bell City Council candidate who died Friday at County-USC Medical Center may have had the swine flu, also known as the H1N1 virus, it was reported today.
A brother, Jorge, told the Bell Gardens Sun that Miguel Alejandro Sanchez had been sick for about a week when he went to the hospital Friday morning and may have had the H1N1 virus.
Sanchez, a part-time teacher's aide for the Los Angeles Unified School District and a part-time Bell Parks and Recreation Department employee, had hoped to replace former City Councilman Luis Artiga, who resigned last fall amid corruption allegations, is a special election set for Tuesday.
Sanchez was part of a "Justice for Bell' slate, along with council candidates Mario Rivas and Nestor Valencia.
His cause of death has not been made public.
His brother Jorge said Sanchez was diabetic and that could have complicated his flu-like symptoms.
Source
Saturday, March 5, 2011
Combats More Severe Flu Season With New Antibodies
Today's article about HK combats more severe flu season with new antibodies.
HONG KONG (Reuters) - Doctors hope to treat this year's severe flu epidemic in Hong Kong by harvesting antibodies from patients who have recovered, medical experts said on Tuesday.
The experts said they hoped to treat more than 70 severely ill flu patients with certain antibodies taken from patients who have recovered earlier from the H1N1 swine flu virus, now the most prevalent seasonal flu strain in Hong Kong.
Kelvin To, clinical assistant professor at the University of Hong Kong's microbiology department, told reporters that this winter had proved colder, dryer and longer than previous years and "that increases the survival of this virus and its transmission."
To and colleagues observed that patients who fell severely ill this winter developed the "cytokine effect," when the immune system goes into overdrive, killing not only the virus, but also healthy tissues.
"This chaos in the immune system led to a decrease in an important kind of antibody in the blood of these patients ... called immunoglobulin G2, which is important in our defense against many bacteria that cause secondary infection in patients with severe influenza," they wrote in a statement.
The doctors said they planned to harvest these antibodies from the blood plasma of recovered patients and use them to treat severely ill patients in the coming weeks.
"We are aiming for over 70 patients. The epidemic is ongoing, we constantly have patients enrolling into this study," To said. "We believe the concentrated antibodies will be much more effective than ordinary convalescent plasma."
This clinical trial goes a step further from an earlier Hong Kong study which found that severely ill flu patients responded well when treated with convalescent plasma.
In his comments to reporters, To said flu patients this year had a two- to fourfold decrease in antibody counts.
H1N1 has killed 10 people in Hong Kong and 51 people have undergone intensive care in public hospitals since January 24, according to a government spokeswoman -- with the median age in intensive care 51.5, lower than previous years.
The H1N1 swine flu virus makes up 90 percent of all diagnosed flu cases against 40 percent last winter.
Seasonal flu kills between 250,000 to 500,000 people each year globally and H1N1 swine flu may be slightly more deadly, but statistics will take years to gather. It affects younger adults and children more severely compared to other strains.
Source...
HONG KONG (Reuters) - Doctors hope to treat this year's severe flu epidemic in Hong Kong by harvesting antibodies from patients who have recovered, medical experts said on Tuesday.
The experts said they hoped to treat more than 70 severely ill flu patients with certain antibodies taken from patients who have recovered earlier from the H1N1 swine flu virus, now the most prevalent seasonal flu strain in Hong Kong.
Kelvin To, clinical assistant professor at the University of Hong Kong's microbiology department, told reporters that this winter had proved colder, dryer and longer than previous years and "that increases the survival of this virus and its transmission."
To and colleagues observed that patients who fell severely ill this winter developed the "cytokine effect," when the immune system goes into overdrive, killing not only the virus, but also healthy tissues.
"This chaos in the immune system led to a decrease in an important kind of antibody in the blood of these patients ... called immunoglobulin G2, which is important in our defense against many bacteria that cause secondary infection in patients with severe influenza," they wrote in a statement.
The doctors said they planned to harvest these antibodies from the blood plasma of recovered patients and use them to treat severely ill patients in the coming weeks.
"We are aiming for over 70 patients. The epidemic is ongoing, we constantly have patients enrolling into this study," To said. "We believe the concentrated antibodies will be much more effective than ordinary convalescent plasma."
This clinical trial goes a step further from an earlier Hong Kong study which found that severely ill flu patients responded well when treated with convalescent plasma.
In his comments to reporters, To said flu patients this year had a two- to fourfold decrease in antibody counts.
H1N1 has killed 10 people in Hong Kong and 51 people have undergone intensive care in public hospitals since January 24, according to a government spokeswoman -- with the median age in intensive care 51.5, lower than previous years.
The H1N1 swine flu virus makes up 90 percent of all diagnosed flu cases against 40 percent last winter.
Seasonal flu kills between 250,000 to 500,000 people each year globally and H1N1 swine flu may be slightly more deadly, but statistics will take years to gather. It affects younger adults and children more severely compared to other strains.
Source...
Friday, March 4, 2011
H1N1 Claims 3 Lives in Malaysia
Article about H1N1 claim 3 lives in Malaysia.
The A/H1N1 flu has claimed three lives this year in Malaysia, while 679 others have been tested positive for the fatal disease.
Malaysian Health Minister Liow Tiong Lai announced the figures in a statement on Thursday.
Liow warned that although it was not the peak of the flu season now, members of the public should be caution as A/H1N1 could be spread easily, particularly at schools.
A school in Malaysia was temporary closed on Wednesday after 166 students showed signs of cough and sore throat.
Liow reminded all schools to abide by the guidelines set by the ministry to prevent the disease from spreading.
The minister also urged school staff and students to seek medical treatment once they did not feel well, and stay at home until they have fully recovered.
The A/H1N1 flu has claimed three lives this year in Malaysia, while 679 others have been tested positive for the fatal disease.
Malaysian Health Minister Liow Tiong Lai announced the figures in a statement on Thursday.
Liow warned that although it was not the peak of the flu season now, members of the public should be caution as A/H1N1 could be spread easily, particularly at schools.
A school in Malaysia was temporary closed on Wednesday after 166 students showed signs of cough and sore throat.
Liow reminded all schools to abide by the guidelines set by the ministry to prevent the disease from spreading.
The minister also urged school staff and students to seek medical treatment once they did not feel well, and stay at home until they have fully recovered.
Thursday, March 3, 2011
H1N1 and H9N2 Offspring Can Be More Lethal
Today's talks about H1N1 and H9N2 offspring can be more lethal.
Mar 2, 2011 (CIDRAP News) – Chinese researchers who tested reassortants that combined the 2009 H1N1 virus with H9N2, a subtype that commonly circulates in birds, found that several were more pathogenic then the parent viruses, which they said could pose a pandemic threat.
Their experiments also found that of 127 reassortants between the two viruses, as many as 57.5% had a high ability to replicate, similar to the two parent viruses, which suggests that the two viruses have a high genetic compatibility. The findings appeared in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. The report was edited by Dr Peter Palese, a well-known virologist at Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York City.
Though H9N2 is a low-pathogenic virus, it has also been found in pigs, which infectious disease experts have said could be a "mixing vessel" for animal and human flu viruses, producing novel flu viruses with pandemic potential.
Human infections with H9N2 have been reported, and the World Health Organization (WHO) includes the virus alongside H5N1 in its annual recommendations for pandemic flu vaccine candidate viruses.
Unpacking virulence differences
Using reverse genetics, the study group attempted to make all possible 127 reassortants from an avian H9N2 influenza virus and the 2009 H1N1 virus. Then they categorized each into one of four groups based on replication ability.
A total of 73 reassortants showed a high ability to replicate, and the group evaluated the pathogenicity of all of them in mice. Based on those findings, they sorted the viruses into three groups that varied by how sick the mice got. Eight of the reassortants caused more severe disease, based on clinical observation such as ruffled coat, lethargy, and dyspnea, and microscopic signs in lung tissue, which included interstitial pneumonia and bronchopneumonia, edema, hemorrhage, epithelial cell dropout, and infiltration of inflammatory cells.
All eight of the most pathogenic reassortants had the polymerase acid (PA) gene segment from the 2009 H1N1 virus, which the authors suggest is required for the emergence of the most virulent reassortants they tested. Further analysis showed that the basic polymerase 1 (PB1) gene of the 2009 H1N1 virus usually attenuated the pathogenicity of the reassortants, and the neuraminidase of that parent virus typically increased their virulence.
Projecting illness impacts
Though the more virulent reassortants were a major concern, the less pathogenic ones that emerged are also worth noting, the authors state, because they could circulate undetected in mammals, and mutation or further reassortment could also pose a pandemic threat.
Not all of the reassortants that had the PA gene segment from the 2009 H1N1 virus were more virulent that their parent viruses, which the investigators said suggests that other gene segments play a role in pathogenicity.
They said their examination of the sickest mice showed no evidence of systemic spread, but all viruses replicated efficiently in the lungs and showed high polymerase activity. "These results suggested that a high virus load and high polymerase activity were important factors for the virulence of the reassortants in mice," they wrote.
The group concluded that reassortants between H9N2 and pandemic H1N1 could pose a public health threat and that the PA gene segment findings in the most virulent ones could serve as a marker for identifying H9 reassortants that present the greatest risks.
Source...
Mar 2, 2011 (CIDRAP News) – Chinese researchers who tested reassortants that combined the 2009 H1N1 virus with H9N2, a subtype that commonly circulates in birds, found that several were more pathogenic then the parent viruses, which they said could pose a pandemic threat.
Their experiments also found that of 127 reassortants between the two viruses, as many as 57.5% had a high ability to replicate, similar to the two parent viruses, which suggests that the two viruses have a high genetic compatibility. The findings appeared in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. The report was edited by Dr Peter Palese, a well-known virologist at Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York City.
Though H9N2 is a low-pathogenic virus, it has also been found in pigs, which infectious disease experts have said could be a "mixing vessel" for animal and human flu viruses, producing novel flu viruses with pandemic potential.
Human infections with H9N2 have been reported, and the World Health Organization (WHO) includes the virus alongside H5N1 in its annual recommendations for pandemic flu vaccine candidate viruses.
Unpacking virulence differences
Using reverse genetics, the study group attempted to make all possible 127 reassortants from an avian H9N2 influenza virus and the 2009 H1N1 virus. Then they categorized each into one of four groups based on replication ability.
A total of 73 reassortants showed a high ability to replicate, and the group evaluated the pathogenicity of all of them in mice. Based on those findings, they sorted the viruses into three groups that varied by how sick the mice got. Eight of the reassortants caused more severe disease, based on clinical observation such as ruffled coat, lethargy, and dyspnea, and microscopic signs in lung tissue, which included interstitial pneumonia and bronchopneumonia, edema, hemorrhage, epithelial cell dropout, and infiltration of inflammatory cells.
All eight of the most pathogenic reassortants had the polymerase acid (PA) gene segment from the 2009 H1N1 virus, which the authors suggest is required for the emergence of the most virulent reassortants they tested. Further analysis showed that the basic polymerase 1 (PB1) gene of the 2009 H1N1 virus usually attenuated the pathogenicity of the reassortants, and the neuraminidase of that parent virus typically increased their virulence.
Projecting illness impacts
Though the more virulent reassortants were a major concern, the less pathogenic ones that emerged are also worth noting, the authors state, because they could circulate undetected in mammals, and mutation or further reassortment could also pose a pandemic threat.
Not all of the reassortants that had the PA gene segment from the 2009 H1N1 virus were more virulent that their parent viruses, which the investigators said suggests that other gene segments play a role in pathogenicity.
They said their examination of the sickest mice showed no evidence of systemic spread, but all viruses replicated efficiently in the lungs and showed high polymerase activity. "These results suggested that a high virus load and high polymerase activity were important factors for the virulence of the reassortants in mice," they wrote.
The group concluded that reassortants between H9N2 and pandemic H1N1 could pose a public health threat and that the PA gene segment findings in the most virulent ones could serve as a marker for identifying H9 reassortants that present the greatest risks.
Source...
Monday, November 1, 2010
H1N1 Killed 70 Children in 9 Months
About UK study show H1N1 killed 70 children in 9 months.
Scientists studying swine flu have found that 70 children died from it in England in a 9 month period during the H1N1 pandemic and death rates were worst among ethnic minority children and those with other health problems.
In a study in the Lancet medical journal, Liam Donaldson, the former Chief Medical Officer for England, said children from the country's Bangladeshi and Pakistani communities had much higher mortality than white British children, as did children with serious pre-existing illnesses -- especially chronic neurological diseases such as cerebral palsy.
These high-risk groups should be a priority for H1N1 vaccination, Donaldson and his research team said.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), which declared the pandemic over in August, some 18,450 people worldwide are confirmed to have died from H1N1, including many pregnant women and young people. But the WHO says it will take at least a year after the pandemic ends to determine the true death toll, which is likely to be much higher.
Experts say H1N1 swine flu virus has now taken over as the main seasonal flu strain and health authorities that run annual flu campaigns have included it in regular seasonal flu vaccines.
Donaldson's team said their findings of high death rates among ethnic minorities were consistent with reports from the United States of minorities suffering more severe illness during the H1N1 pandemic.
"This finding might be attributable to clustering of pandemic influenza A H1N1 cases in areas of England with high ethnic minority populations -- such as London and the West Midlands," they wrote in their study.
The findings in England also showed that from 26 June 2009 to 22 March 2010:
* The overall childhood death rate for H1N1 was 6 per million population.
* The rate was highest for children aged under 1 year, at 14 deaths per million population.
* Death rates were higher for Bangladeshi children (47 deaths per million population) and Pakistani children (36) than for white British children (4).
* Of the 70 children who died of H1N1, 21 percent were previously healthy and 64 percent had severe pre-existing disorders.
* Overall, 45 of the children had received the antiviral flu drug oseltamivir, sold under the brand name Tamiflu, but only seven had had it within 48 hours of the onset of their symptoms and only three had it before they were admitted to hospital.
* Only two of the children who died had received an H1N1 vaccine -- too late for it to be effective.
Saturday, October 30, 2010
Influenza A H1N1
Talks about Influenza A H1N1.
A year has passed since the first cases of Influenza A H1N1 in Mexico, we had over 18000 deaths confirmed by lab diagnosis and reported to WHO. Surely an underestimate of the total number of cases.
The average mortality was of 0.5% of the confirmed cases, close to the seasonal flu. The mortality values varied a lot from country to country, and inside a country they varied according to different studies, which show the evident necessity of more available tests and a mutual opinion on the measure to be adopted.
Different from the seasonal flu, over 90% of deaths are concentrated in people younger than 65 yeas old, consequence of the previous immunity older people have. Pregnant ladies were also the most affected, although they represent only 1 to 2% of the general population, they were 6 to 10% of the deaths caused by the flu. Other groups also have their immune systems altered like the obese and the immunocompromised and are also among the most susceptible ones.
Treatment
Although bearing the already reported drug resistance to adamantanes drug family, the Influenza of swine origin can be treated with sialidase inhibitors, the drugs Oseltamivir and Zanamivir. Oseltamivir, available to be taken orally is cheaper, is still a very effective treatment, reducing the symptom’s severity and the time of hospitalization.
Some resistance cases were found, the majority isolated cases and in patients with treatment flaw mainly of them with prolonged therapy. Rarely patients without history of contact with the drugs were found with resistant viruses; the transmission of this kind of virus was also confirmed.
Conclusions
It is still very hard to diagnose the Influenza virus as a whole. The main method, the RT-PCR technique (virus genetic material amplification) still depends on recent technology and restricted access to poorer areas. We also depend on samples collected during the period of infection. We still need cheaper and more accessible ways of detecting the virus, as well as different and cheaper ways of treatment.
Influenza A H1N1 seems to become a seasonal virus with symptoms and cases like the common flu, however the virus evolutive course is unpredictable. The prevention and survey set for the Avian Influenza and the “normal” virulence of this virus contributed for the Swine Flu not have caused bigger damage. But we are still far from being protected from more pathogenic strains, in case some of them are transmitted more easily.
Wednesday, October 13, 2010
Most People Immune to H1N1 Flu
Here’s article about H1N1.
Swine flu no longer represents a major threat in the United States because so many people are immune to the virus that caused last season's pandemic, health officials said.
Of the 310 million people in the United States, 59 percent are believed to be immune to pandemic H1N1 flu, the researchers said. About 62 million people were vaccinated against the virus, 61 million people were infected by it and another 60 million people 57 or older carry protective antibodies to similar viruses that circulated years ago.
"It's very unlikely that the virus will explode in the fall," said Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, or NIAID, an author of the analysis. "We now have evidence of that."
The evidence comes from a flurry of studies of the 2009-10 pandemic carried out by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the researchers said. If this virus follows the pattern set by earlier flu bugs, it will die out completely or circulate among people who still are susceptible a year and a half after the virus emerged, the authors report in the journal mBio.
There still are many people who are vulnerable to swine flu, said David Morens, a virologist and historian at NIAID who co-wrote the report with Fauci and colleague Jeffery Taubenberger. "Even with the majority of people in the U.S. immune to the virus, that leaves many tens of millions of people still susceptible," Morens said. "We know the age groups that are most susceptible - people younger than 55 and those with chronic conditions."
The CDC estimates the 2009 H1N1 flu killed about 12,500 and sent 274,000 people to the hospital with respiratory diseases and other complications, a toll that mirrors the latest averages for people who suffer from seasonal flu. The death rate was relatively low compared with other pandemics, especially the 1918 flu, which killed 675,000 people in the United States, Morens said.
So far, he said, the virus hasn't developed "some terrible new mutation" that would make it more lethal, though that still could occur.
For the first time, federal health officials recommend that all people older than 6 months get vaccinated against flu, unless they have an allergy to eggs.
Monday, October 11, 2010
Get The Flu Shot
Article about H1N1. Read, click and try product from the bottom of this blog under sponsor links. ^_^
Last year at this time, a monster called H1N1 was preparing to make life miserable for more than 25,000 Canadians.
By the time the swine flu pandemic had passed, it was responsible for 427 deaths.
This year? Nothing quite as scary on the horizon, but that doesn't mean you can skip the flu shot. If anything, last year proved why everyone should get vaccinated every year, say Niagara's health professionals.
"I have five grandchildren, and they all get immunized ... because I've seen the results of not being immunized," says Donna Kalailieff, manager of the vaccine preventable disease program with Niagara Region Public Health.
She calls last year an "anomaly" because H1N1 surfaced after the regular flu vaccine was already prepared. This led to many people getting two flu shots, and in the case of the H1N1 vaccine, a long wait.
This year's regular flu shot will include the vaccine for H1N1 and two other strains.
The first shipment of vaccines arrived Wednesday, and doctors can start giving shots immediately.
Public Health's flu clinic opens at the MacBain Community Centre Nov. 3, and at the Leisureplex in Fort Erie Nov. 17.
But if you don't want to wait that long, Urgent Care Niagara's flu clinic at 6150 Valley Way opened Friday. In addition, employers can arrange for a free onsite clinic so workers don't have to leave work to get a shot.
Tim Windsor, clinical services director, says there are about 12,000 people in Urgent Care Niagara's database awaiting word on the opening of this year's flu clinics.
As always, part of flu season is educating people what, exactly, the flu shot is.
Saturday, October 9, 2010
Protecting Vulnerable Against Influenza
Above thought about influenza.
Many minorities go unvaccinated against influenza, and a huge gap exists between the vaccination of minority and majority populations. In at least 12 states last influenza season, fatalities from H1N1 were four times greater among American Indians and Alaska Natives than for the general population. One study showed that among patients hospitalized by H1N1 in 13 metropolitan areas of 10 states, about 35% were black, whereas 16% were non-Hispanic white.
Influenza resulted in 23,607 deaths per year in the United States during the previous 3 decades. A total of 344 laboratory-confirmed deaths from H1N1 occurred in the pediatric population during the 2009–10 season, compared with 88 in 2007–08 and 69 in 2008–09, with data from specific communities showing that black and Hispanic children were more likely to die from H1N1.
The message is clear: influenza is deadly, costly to society because of lost productivity, and personal—protecting yourself through vaccination is the best way to protect others, particularly those who are susceptible to serious harm from the virus. These and other vital topics were discussed during a webinar titled Reaching Minority and Vulnerable Populations: Getting Ahead of the Curve to Prevent Seasonal Flu, held on October and presented by the Society for Public Health Education.
Urged to Get Flu Shots
Above about health-care workers again urged to get flu shots.
In years past, about six in 10 health-care workers nationwide would skip the annual flu shot, even as public-health experts preached its importance.
Last year, because of the H1N1 flu scare, those numbers were reversed - 60 percent of health-care workers nationwide were vaccinated, according to preliminary data.
National health leaders want to build on that interest by telling health-care workers that they have an ethical obligation to lower the risk that they'll get sick.
"Every health-care worker has a responsibility to protect their patients and that includes vaccination," said Dr. Thomas Frieden, director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
That message appears to be getting through in Columbus, where a majority of hospital employees were vaccinated last season and hospital leaders continue to push for higher rates.
The National Foundation for Infectious Diseases shared survey results yesterday showing that 95 percent of 400 primary-care physicians said they have been or plan to be vaccinated against flu this year.
Dr. William Schaffner, president of the group, said that news was encouraging, especially considering the historically low rates of vaccination among all health-care workers.
Although H1N1 was the motivation last year, 60 percent of health-care workers got the seasonal vaccine that was available earlier. Since the H1N1 vaccine became available later in the year, less than 40 percent of have gotten that vaccine.
Health officials now say that everyone 6 months and older should be vaccinated.
Columbus hospitals last season drove their vaccination numbers much higher than the national average of about 40 percent among all health-care workers.
Nationwide Children's Hospital is continuing last year's policy of withholding raises for those employees who refuse the vaccine. Last year, that policy (which exempts those who have a medical or religious reason) helped them get about 97 percent of employees vaccinated with the H1N1 and seasonal vaccines, said Dr. Dennis Cunningham, physician director for epidemiology and infection control.
"You have to have some teeth in the policy," he said.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
