MedWorm: Swine Flu

Key Peptides Identified That Could Lead To A Universal Vaccine For Influenza

Health News from Medical News Today — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 08:00:00 +0100

Researchers at the University of Southampton, University of Oxford and Retroscreeen Virology Ltd have discovered a series of peptides, found on the internal structures of influenza viruses that could lead to the development of a universal vaccine for influenza, one that gives people immunity against all strains of the disease, including seasonal, avian, and swine flu. Influenza, an acute viral infection, affects hundreds of thousands of people a year and puts an enormous strain on healthcare providers globally... (Source: Health News from Medical News Today)

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Researchers identify key peptides that could lead to a universal vaccine for influenza

EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 05:00:00 +0100

(University of Southampton) Researchers at the University of Southampton, University of Oxford and Retroscreen Virology Ltd have discovered a series of peptides, found on the internal structures of influenza viruses that could lead to the development of a universal vaccine for influenza, one that gives people immunity against all strains of the disease, including seasonal, avian, and swine flu. (Source: EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science)

A case of novel swine influenza A (H1N1) pneumonia complicated with virus-associated hemophagocytic syndrome

Journal of Infection and Chemotherapy — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 06:32:07 +0100

Abstract Influenza related to complications such as pneumonia and encephalitis have sporadically been reported. However, influenza A (H1N1)-virus-associated hemophagocytic syndrome (VAHS) has rarely been reported. A 39-year old woman complained of high fever and was referred to us. Chest infiltrations in both lungs and a positive polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for novel swine-origin influenza A (H1N1) in bronchial alveolar lavage fluid (BALF) specimen was confirmed and she was diagnosed with influenza A (H1N1) pneumonia. Pancytopenia was found, and hemophagocytic syndrome (HPS) was diagnosed by bone marrow aspiration. Following intravenous administration of antiflu drug and combination therapy of steroid pulse and erythromycin IV, the patient’s respiratory dysfunction a...

Older adults may be vulnerable to new swine flu virus

CTV Health — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 12:50:01 +0100

There may be a lot more vulnerability in the population to a new swine influenza virus than was first thought, new Canadian research suggests. (Source: CTV Health)

Cross-reactive antibody to swine influenza A(H3N2) subtype virus in children and adults before and after immunisation with 2010/11 trivalent inactivated influenza vaccine in Canada, August to November 2010

Eurosurveillance latest news — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 00:00:00 +0100

(Source: Eurosurveillance latest news)

Wisconsin Scientist Says H5N1 Flu Strain He Created Is Less Dangerous

NYT Health — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 19:28:29 +0100

A Wisconsin researcher said his team’s version of the H5N1 bird flu virus is not as lethal as that developed by Dutch researchers. (Source: NYT Health)

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How Young Adults Deal With Influenza

Health News from Medical News Today — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 10:00:00 +0100

Only about one in five young adults in their late 30s received a flu shot during the 2009-2010 swine flu epidemic, according to a University of Michigan report that details the behavior and attitudes of Generation X. But about 65 percent were at least moderately concerned about the flu, and nearly 60 percent said they were following the issue very or moderately closely... (Source: Health News from Medical News Today)

How Generation X Deals with Influenza

Medical Headlines From Ivanhoe.com — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 05:00:00 +0100

(Ivanhoe Newswire) -- A quarterly research report from the Longitudinal Study of American Youth, The Generation X Report, shows one in five adults in their late 30s received a flu shot during the 2009-2010 swine flu epidemic. (Source: Medical Headlines From Ivanhoe.com)

Generation X: How young adults deal with influenza

EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 05:00:00 +0100

(University of Michigan) Only about one in five young adults in their late 30s received a flu shot during the 2009-2010 swine flu epidemic, according to a University of Michigan report that details the behavior and attitudes of Generation X. (Source: EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science)

Safety, immunogenicity, and efficacy of an alphavirus replicon-based swine influenza virus hemagglutinin vaccine.

Vaccine — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 05:00:00 +0100

Authors: Veen RL, Loynachan AT, Mogler MA, Russell BJ, Harris HD, Kamrud KI Abstract A single-cycle, propagation-defective replicon particle (RP) vaccine expressing a swine influenza virus hemagglutinin (HA) gene was constructed and evaluated in several different animal studies. Studies done in both the intended host (pigs) and non-host (mice) species demonstrated that the RP vaccine is not shed or spread by vaccinated animals to comingled cohorts, nor does it revert to virulence following vaccination. In addition, vaccinated pigs develop both specific humoral and IFN-γ immune responses, and young pigs are protected against homologous influenza virus challenge. PMID: 22269873 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: Vaccine)

Complicated secondary pneumonia after Swine-origin influenza a virus infection in an immunocompetent patient.

Herpes — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 03:30:02 +0100

We report an immunocompetent patient with methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and Herpes simplex virus (HSV) pneumonia secondary to S-OIV infection. A 57-year-old man previously without major medical illness was admitted to our hospital with severe pneumonia accompanied by ARDS due to S-OIV. In his clinical course, anti-influenza treatment was not effective. Sputum culture revealed the presence of MRSA, and HSV was isolated in broncho-alveoler lavage (BAL) fluid. Administration of an antiviral agent (acyclovir), an antibacterial agent (linezolid), and a corticosteroid (methylprednisolone) successfully improved the pneumonia and ARDS. HSV pneumonia can scarcely be seen in healthy people. However recently it has been recognized as a ventilator-associated pneumonia. Although co...

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Flu Pandemics May Follow La NiÃ±a

Health News from Medical News Today — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 17:00:00 +0100

US scientists propose that flu pandemics follow La NiÃ±a weather conditions in the equatorial Pacific. The conditions alter bird migration patterns and this promotes new strains of flu (migrating birds are known to be primary pools of human influenza virus). However, since La NiÃ±a occurs more frequently than global flu pandemics, the researchers suggest other factors must also come into it, and their findings are just one piece of the puzzle... (Source: Health News from Medical News Today)

H1N1: overview and perspectives

Jornal Brasileiro de Patologia e Medicina Laboratorial — Sat, 14 Jan 2012 16:50:49 +0100

O vírus influenza de origem suína, A/California/04/2009 (H1N1), foi inicialmente detectado no México e determinou a pandemia de influenza de 2009. Em agosto de 2010, a Organização Mundial da Saúde (OMS) declarou o início da fase pós-pandêmica. As características dessa última pandemia foram marcadamente diferentes das anteriores. O vírus emergiu de rearranjos genéticos originários em hospedeiro mamífero não humano, demonstrou transmissibilidade interespécies e afetou a população humana de forma diferente dos vírus pandêmicos anteriores (1918, 1957 e 1968) com maior morbidade e mortalidade em crianças e adultos jovens. Atualmente, o vírus apresenta padrão sazonal da mesma forma que o influenza A H3N2 e o influenza B, mantendo, até o momento, o mesmo perfil de patogen...

A Time Course for Susceptibility to Staphylococcus aureus Respiratory Infection during Influenza in a Swine Model

Computational Intelligence and Neuroscience — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 11:11:41 +0100

Bacterial superinfections following influenza A virus (IAV) are predominant causes of morbidity in humans. The recent emergence of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and highly virulent IAV strains has reduced treatment options. Development of an appropriate animal model to study secondary S. aureus infections may provide important information regarding disease pathogenesis. Pigs are natural hosts to both IAV and S. aureus and have respiratory physiology and immune response comparable to humans. To establish a time course of susceptibility to S. aureus after IAV infection, nursery pigs infected intranasally with IAV were challenged with MRSA at different time points. Lung pathology scores and MRSA CFU were evaluated in dual-infected animals after IAV infection. Flow cytomet...

Limited Human-to-Human Transmission of Influenza A (H3N2) Limited Human-to-Human Transmission of Influenza A (H3N2)

Medscape Today Headlines — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 04:00:00 +0100

This new report takes a look at a rare recent case of swine-origin influenza A, H3N2, in children in Iowa. Morbidity & Mortality Weekly Report (Source: Medscape Today Headlines)

Transmission of Influenza A Virus in Pigs

Transboundary and Emerging Diseases — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 10:23:55 +0100

SummaryInfluenza A virus infections cause respiratory disease in pigs and are a risk to public health. The pig plays an important role in influenza ecology because of its ability to support replication of influenza viruses from avian, swine and human species. Influenza A virus is widespread in pigs worldwide, and influenza A virus interspecies transmission has been documented in many events. Influenza A virus is mostly transmitted through direct pig‐to‐pig contact and aerosols although other indirect routes of transmission may also exist. Several factors contribute to differences in the transmission dynamics within populations including among others vaccination, pig flow, animal movement and animal introduction which highlights the complexity of influenza A transmission in pigs. In add...

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UPDATED: Key Facts about Human Infections with Variant Viruses (Swine Origin Influenza Viruses in Humans)

CDC Flu updates — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 20:34:00 +0100

(Source: CDC Flu updates)

UPDATED: Variant (Swine Origin) Influenza Viruses in Humans

CDC Flu updates — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 20:33:00 +0100

(Source: CDC Flu updates)

UPDATED: Information on Swine Influenza/Variant Influenza Viruses

CDC Flu updates — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 20:32:00 +0100

(Source: CDC Flu updates)

Suitability and limitations of portion-specific abattoir data as part of an early warning system for emerging diseases of swine in Ontario.

BMC Veterinary Research - Latest articles — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 05:00:00 +0100

Conclusions: This study demonstrated that a number of abattoir-related factors require consideration when using abattoir data for quantitative disease surveillance. Data pertaining to lungs condemned for pneumonia did not provide useful information for predicting disease events, while partial carcass condemnations of nephritis were most consistent with expected trends. Techniques that adjust for non-disease factors should be considered when applying cluster detection methods to abattoir data. (Source: BMC Veterinary Research - Latest articles)

Update: Influenza A (H3N2)v Transmission and Guidelines - Five States, 2011.

MMWR Morb Mortal Wkl... — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 05:00:00 +0100

Authors: Abstract From August 17 to December 23, 2011, CDC received reports of 12 human infections with influenza A (H3N2)v viruses that have the matrix (M) gene from the influenza A (H1N1)pdm09 virus (formerly called swine-origin influenza A [H3N2] and pandemic influenza A [H1N1] 2009 viruses, respectively). The 12 cases occurred in five states (Indiana, Iowa, Maine, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia), and 11 were in children. Six of the 12 patients had no identified recent exposure to swine. Three of the 12 patients were hospitalized, and all have recovered fully. PMID: 22217624 [PubMed - in process] (Source: MMWR Morb Mortal Wkl...)

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Cloned cDNA of A/swine/Iowa/15/1930 internal genes as a candidate backbone for reverse genetics vaccine against influenza A viruses.

Vaccine — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 05:00:00 +0100

In this report, the internal genes from rg1930 were used for construction of reverse genetics viruses carrying a cleavage site-modified hemagglutinin (HA) gene and neuraminidase (NA) gene from a highly pathogenic H5N1 virus. The resulting virus (rg1930H5N1) was low pathogenic in vivo. Inactivated rg1930H5N1 vaccine completely protected chickens from morbidity and mortality after challenge with highly pathogenic H5N1. Protective immunity was obtained when chickens were immunized with an inactivated vaccine consisting of at least 2(9) HA units of the rg1930H5N1 virus. In comparison to the PR8-based reverse genetics viruses carrying the same HA and NA genes from an H5N1 virus, rg1930 based viruses yielded higher viral titers in MDCK and Vero cells. In addition, the reverse genetics derived H3...

Trials for Novel Influenza Vaccine Likely by SpringTrials for Novel Influenza Vaccine Likely by Spring

Medscape Today Headlines — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 20:04:48 +0100

HHS has asked 2 manufacturers to develop investigational lots of vaccine against the novel swine influenza virus that has surfaced in 5 states but has not yet shown signs of widespread transmission. Medscape Medical News (Source: Medscape Today Headlines)

Experiences after Twenty Months with Pandemic Influenza A (H1N1) 2009 Infection in the Naïve Norwegian Pig Population

Clinical and Developmental Immunology — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 14:29:49 +0100

Pandemic (H1N1) 2009 influenza A virus was detected in Norwegian pigs in October 2009. Until then, Norway was regarded free of swine influenza. Intensified screening revealed 91 positive herds within three months. The virus was rapidly transmitted to the susceptible population, including closed breeding herds with high biosecurity. Humans were important for the introduction as well as spread of the virus to pigs. Mild or no clinical signs were observed in infected pigs. Surveillance of SIV in 2010 revealed that 41% of all the Norwegian pig herds had antibodies to pandemic (H1N1) 2009 virus. Furthermore, this surveillance indicated that pigs born in positive herds after the active phase did not seroconvert, suggesting no ongoing infection in the herds. However, results from surveillance in ...

Acute sleep deprivation has no lasting effects on the human antibody titer response following a novel influenza A H1N1 virus vaccination

BMC Immunology — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 05:00:00 +0100

Conclusions: These findings concur with the notion that sleep is a supportive influence in the very early stage of an adaptive immune response to a viral antigen. However, our results do not support the view that acute sleep deprivation has lasting effects on the human antibody titer response to influenza vaccination. (Source: BMC Immunology)

Evaluation of three commercially available influenza A type-specific blocking-ELISA assays for seroepidemiological studies of influenza A virus infection in pigs.

Clinical and Vaccine Immunology — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 05:00:00 +0100

Authors: Tse M, Kim M, Chan CH, Ho PL, Ma SK, Guan Y, Peiris JS Abstract The reverse zoonotic transmission of the pandemic H1N1 2009 virus to swine necessitates enhanced surveillance of swine for influenza virus infection. Using a well characterized panel of naturally infected swine sera we evaluate and optimize the performance of three commercially available competitive ELISA assays, IDEXX® Influenza A Ab test, IDEXX® AI MultiS-Screen Ab Test and IDVet ID Screen® Influenza A Antibody Competition ELISA kit for detecting influenza type A reactive antibodies in swine. ROC analysis suggests that adjustment of the manufacturer recommended cut-off values would optimize sensitivity and specificity of these assays making them applicable for sero-epidemiology studies of swine influenza....

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Transmission of pandemic influenza H1N1 (2009) in Vietnamese swine in 2009–2010

Influenza and Other Respiratory Viruses — Fri, 30 Dec 2011 05:00:00 +0100

Conclusions Our findings suggest extensive reverse‐zoonotic transmission from humans to pigs with subsequent onward transmission within pig herds. (Source: Influenza and Other Respiratory Viruses)

How a New Swine Flu Virus Could Complicate Influenza Season

RWJF News Digest - Public Health — Fri, 30 Dec 2011 05:00:00 +0100

Since the middle of August, the CDC has received 12 reports of human infections with a new flu virus — a swine influenza A strain called H3N2. (Source: RWJF News Digest - Public Health)

Computational model for analyzing the evolutionary patterns of the neuraminidase gene of influenza A/H1N1.

Computational Biology and Chemistry — Fri, 30 Dec 2011 05:00:00 +0100

In this study, we performed computer simulations to evaluate the changes of selection potentials of codons in influenza A/H1N1 from 1999 to 2009. We artificially generated the sequences by using the transition matrices of positively selected codons over time, and their similarities against the database of influenzavirus A genus were determined by BLAST search. This is the first approach to predict the evolutionary direction of influenza A virus (H1N1) by simulating the codon substitutions over time. We observed that the BLAST results showed the high similarities with pandemic influenza A/H1N1 in 2009, suggesting that the classical human-origin influenza A/H1N1 isolated before 2009 might contain some selection potentials of swine-origin viruses. Computer simulations using the time series co...

Novel Swine Flu Virus Now Reported in 5 States, Says CDCNovel Swine Flu Virus Now Reported in 5 States, Says CDC

Medscape Today Headlines — Wed, 28 Dec 2011 23:58:32 +0100

Since July, 12 patients have caught a swine influenza virus that borrows a gene from the 2009 pandemic virus. In 2 states, the virus apparently spread from person to person on a limited basis. Medscape Medical News (Source: Medscape Today Headlines)

New Swine-Origin Flu Cases Reported

MedPage Today Public Health — Tue, 27 Dec 2011 18:16:41 +0100

(MedPage Today) -- Since the middle of August, the CDC has received 12 reports of human infections with a swine-origin influenza A (H3N2) virus, the agency announced. (Source: MedPage Today Public Health)

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Isolation and phylogenetic analysis of avian-origin European H1N1 swine influenza viruses in Jiangsu, China

Virus Genes — Sat, 24 Dec 2011 16:45:39 +0100

Abstract Isolates of the A(H1N1)pdm2009 virus were first identified in asymptomatic swine in Jiangsu province, China in January 2010, indicating that the virus has retro-infected swine after circulating through humans in mainland China. The purpose of this study was to determine whether the avian-origin European H1N1 swine influenza virus (SIV) and the A(H1N1)pdm2009 virus are cocirculating in swine in Jiangsu province of China. From May 2010 to May 2011, 1,030 nasal swab samples were collected from healthy swine in Jiangsu province of China and were tested for influenza A H1N1 using reverse transcription-PCR. Fragments of the complete genomes of viruses from the samples that were positive for influenza A H1N1 were sequenced and analysed. A total of 32 avian-origin Europea...

Monitoring influenza hemagglutinin and glycan interactions using surface plasmon resonance.

Biosensors and Bioelectronics — Sat, 24 Dec 2011 05:00:00 +0100

Authors: Suenaga E, Mizuno H, Penmetcha KK Abstract Hemagglutinin (HA) is a trimeric glycoprotein expressed on the influenza virus membrane. HA of influenza viruses binds to the host's cell surface complex glycans via a terminal sialic acid (Sia), as the first key step in the process of infection, transmission and virulence of influenza viruses. It is important to monitor and evaluate the receptor (glycan) binding preferences of the HAs derived from influenza A viruses, especially those originating from birds and swine, to understand their potential ability for interspecies transmission. From this viewpoint, in the present study, we have developed a protocol for analyzing the glycan-HA interactions efficiently and kinetically, based on surface plasmon resonance (SPR). Our results s...

Emergence of novel reassortant H3N2 swine influenza viruses with the 2009 pandemic H1N1 genes in the United States

Archives of Virology — Fri, 23 Dec 2011 16:55:43 +0100

Abstract Reassortant H1 swine influenza viruses (SIVs) carrying 2009 pandemic H1N1 virus (pH1N1) genes have been isolated from pigs worldwide. Seven novel reassortant H3N2 SIVs were identified from diseased pigs in the USA from winter 2010 to spring 2011. These novel viruses contain three or five internal genes from pH1N1 and continue to circulate in swine herds. The emergence of novel reassortant H3N2 SIVs demonstrates reassortment between pH1N1 and endemic SIVs in pigs and justifies continuous surveillance. Content Type Journal ArticleCategory Brief ReportPages 1-8DOI 10.1007/s00705-011-1203-9Authors Qinfang Liu, Department of Diagnostic Medicine and Pathobiology, Kansas State University, Mosier Hall, K233, Manhattan, KS 66506, USAJingjiao Ma, Department of Diagnosti...

CDC Interim Guidance for Workers who are Employed at Commercial Swine Farms: Preventing the Spread of Influenza A Viruses

CDC Flu updates — Fri, 23 Dec 2011 15:49:00 +0100

(Source: CDC Flu updates)

Rituximab blocks protective serologic response to influenza A (H1N1) 2009 vaccination in lymphoma patients during or within 6 months after treatment

Blood — Thu, 22 Dec 2011 05:00:00 +0100

Cancer patients are often encouraged to receive seasonal influenza vaccination. The monoclonal antibody rituximab is widely used in treatment of non-Hodgkin lymphoma. This results in a prolonged depletion of normal B cells, which might impair humoral responses. The aim of the present study was to investigate whether lymphoma patients undergoing rituximab-containing treatment regimens or having received such regimens within the past 6 months were able to mount protective antibody responses to the influenza A(H1N1) 2009 virus vaccine Pandemrix during the 2009 "swine flu" pandemic. Contrary to the control group, where 82% responded adequately to the vaccine, none of the 67 patients achieved protective antibody titers, suggesting that lymphoma patients receiving rituximab-containing regimens m...

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When it comes to bird flu, nature is the greatest bioterrorist

Guardian Unlimited Science — Wed, 21 Dec 2011 17:48:53 +0100

I hope that fear of terrorism will not lead to the suppression of valuable research about engineering the H5N1 virusA few months ago, Dutch virologist Ron Fouchier made what he hoped would be a low-key announcement at a conference on influenza in Malta. After a series of painstaking experiments, Fouchier announced he had achieved the holy grail of influenza research: engineering the H5N1 bird flu virus so that it could pass easily between mammals. The "airborne" virus had been created, Fouchier explained, not by using sophisticated, lab-based genetic technology but by the relatively low-tech method of passaging H5N1 repeatedly through ferrets.The significance of the discovery was not lost on the assembled delegates. If ferrets could be infected this way, then so could humans. Fouchier had ...

When it comes to bird flu, nature is the greatest bioterrorist | Mark Honigsbaum

Guardian Unlimited Science — Wed, 21 Dec 2011 17:48:53 +0100

Apoptosis, cytokine and chemokine induction by non-structural 1 (NS1) proteins encoded by different influenza subtypes

Virology Journal — Wed, 21 Dec 2011 05:00:00 +0100

Conclusions: In conclusion, the NS1 protein encoded by H5N1 carries a remarkably different property as compared to other avian and human subtypes, and is one of the keys to its high pathogenicity. NCI-H292 cells system proves to be a good in-vitro model to delineate the property of NS1 proteins. (Source: Virology Journal)

Factors Affecting Intention among Students to Be Vaccinated against A/H1N1 Influenza: A Health Belief Model Approach

EURASIP Journal on Bioinformatics and Systems Biology — Tue, 20 Dec 2011 15:07:57 +0100

This study examined the factors affecting the intention to be vaccinated against the swine flu among students in Israel. Questionnaires were distributed in December 2009 among 387 students at higher-education institutions. The research questionnaire included sociodemographic characteristics and Health Belief Model principles. The results show that the factors positively affecting the intention to take the swine flu vaccine were past experience with seasonal flu shot and three HBM categories: higher levels of perceived susceptibility for catching the illness, perceived seriousness of illness, and lower levels of barriers. We conclude that offering the vaccine at workplaces may raise the intention to take the vaccine among young people in Israel. (Source: EURASIP Journal on Bioinformatics an...

Pathological Findings and Distribution of Pandemic Influenza A (H1N1) 2009 Virus in Lungs from Naturally Infected Fattening Pigs in Norway

Journal of Biomedicine and Biotechnology — Tue, 20 Dec 2011 11:04:20 +0100

The Norwegian pig population was considered free from influenza A virus infections until the first case of porcine pandemic influenza A (H1N1) 2009 virus infection in October 2009. Human to pig transmission of virus was suspected. Unusual lung lesions were observed in fattening pigs, with red, lobular, multifocal to coalescing consolidation, most frequently in the cranial, middle, and accessory lobes. The main histopathological findings were epithelial degeneration and necrosis, lymphocyte infiltration in the epithelial lining and lamina propria of small bronchi and bronchioles, and peribronchial and peribronchiolar lymphocyte infiltrations. Infection with pandemic influenza A (H1N1) 2009 virus was confirmed by real-time RT-PCR and immunohistochemical detection of influenza A virus nucleop...

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Successful Treatment of Novel H1N1 Influenza related Fulminant Myocarditis with Extracorporeal Life Support

Journal of Cardiothoracic Surgery — Tue, 20 Dec 2011 05:00:00 +0100

We report a case of fulminant myocarditis associated with this virus treated successfully using extra-corporal membrane oxygenator. (Source: Journal of Cardiothoracic Surgery)

Analysis of cellular proteome alterations in porcine alveolar macrophage cells infected with 2009 (H1N1) and classical swine H1N1 influenza viruses.

Journal of Proteomics — Tue, 20 Dec 2011 05:00:00 +0100

This study provides insights into the biologic characteristics, potential virulence alteration and cross-species transmission mechanisms of the pandemic H1N1/2009. PMID: 22202185 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: Journal of Proteomics)

Mimotopes selected with neutralizing antibodies against Multiple Subtypes of Influenza A

Virology Journal — Thu, 15 Dec 2011 05:00:00 +0100

Conclusions: Phage-displayed mimotopes against multiple subtypes of influenza A were accessible to the mouse immune system and triggered a humoral response to above virus. (Source: Virology Journal)

Statins May Help Fight Influenza

Health News from Medical News Today — Wed, 14 Dec 2011 18:00:00 +0100

Findings published in The Journal of Infectious Diseases show that statins, one of the most widely sold drugs today, that are more commonly used for combating high cholesterol levels, may have a new use in helping fight influenza in critically ill patients. Influenza is usually dealt with, initially by vaccine to prevent infection from occuring in the first place, and once the patient is ill, by prescribing antiviral drugs. For example, Tamiflu from Roche received a lot of media attention during the 2009 Swine Flu pandemic... (Source: Health News from Medical News Today)

Swine influenza virus infection in different age groups of pigs in farrow-to-finish farms in Thailand.

Virology Journal — Wed, 14 Dec 2011 05:00:00 +0100

Conclusions: The present study provided important information on SIV surveillance that will enable better understanding of SIV ecology in farrow-to-finish farms. (Source: Virology Journal)

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A scoring system for predicting results of influenza rapid test in children: A possible model facing overwhelming pandemic infection.

Journal of Microbiology, Immunology, and Infection — Wed, 14 Dec 2011 05:00:00 +0100

CONCLUSION: The emergence of H1N1v infection is not only an important medical issue, but also a socioeconomic problem. Based on easily available clinical information, we develop a scoring system as a preliminary screening tool for the general public and first-line health care providers to evaluate the possibility of influenza virus infection. Although this study was limited by the sensitivity of rapid tests, this type of model may be a surrogate weapon when faced with overwhelming pandemic infection in the future, especially in areas with scarce medical resources. PMID: 22177368 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: Journal of Microbiology, Immunology, and Infection)

Evaluation of the Seroprevalence of Influenza A(H1N1) 2009 on a University Campus: A cross-sectional Study

BMC Public Health - Latest articles — Tue, 13 Dec 2011 05:00:00 +0100

Conclusions: Overall, 52.7% of the total study population tested positive for influenza A(H1N1) 2009. 54.4% of those who tested positive for influenza A(H1N1) 2009 using the >1:40 dilution cut-off on the hemagglutination inhibition assay in this study population did not report experiencing symptoms during the pandemic meeting the May 2010 CDC definition of influenza-like illness. 16% of those who reported receiving the H1N1 vaccine did not test positive by HAI. We also found that vaccination coverage for H1N1 vaccine was poor among Blacks and Latinos, despite the fact that vaccine was readily available at no cost. (Source: BMC Public Health - Latest articles)

Serial evaluation of high-resolution computed tomography findings in patients with pneumonia in novel swine-origin influenza A (H1N1) virus infection.

The British Journal of Radiology — Tue, 13 Dec 2011 05:00:00 +0100

Conclusion: The abnormalities of ground-glass opacities and/or consolidation on initial CT scans tended to resolve to fibrosis, which then resolved completely or displayed substantially reduced residual disease. HRCT may show more changes in disease progression and play an important role in the evaluation of severe S-OIV. PMID: 22167502 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: The British Journal of Radiology)

Promising Results In Mice On Needle-Free Candidate Universal Vaccine Against Various Flu Viruses

Health News from Medical News Today — Sat, 10 Dec 2011 08:00:00 +0100

Scientists from the International Vaccine Institute (IVI) have discovered that an antigen common to most influenza viruses, and commonly referred to as matrix protein 2 (M2), when administered under the tongue could protect mice against experimental infection caused by various influenza viruses, including the highly pathogenic avian H5 virus and the pandemic H1 ("swine flu") virus... (Source: Health News from Medical News Today)

Both Pregnant Women And Newborns Protected By The H1N1 Flu Vaccine

Health News from Medical News Today — Fri, 09 Dec 2011 09:00:00 +0100

The researchers studied the immune response of 107 pregnant women after they were injected with a single dose of non-adjuvant H1N1 vaccine. They concluded that the influenza shot boosted the immune response in pregnant women and at the same time protected neuronatal babies via the antibodies that transferred through the placenta. These results were published in the review Annals of Internal Medicine.* Influenza (the flu) is a contagious, acute respiratory infection caused by the family of viruses Influenzae. There are three types of Influenza virus: A, B and C... (Source: Health News from Medical News Today)

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Novel anti-viral characteristics of nanosized copper(I) iodide particles showing inactivation activity against 2009 pandemic H1N1 influenza virus.

Applied and Environmental Microbiology — Fri, 09 Dec 2011 05:00:00 +0100

Authors: Fujimori Y, Sato T, Hayata T, Nagao T, Nakayama M, Nakayama T, Sugamata R, Suzuki K Abstract We investigated the anti-viral activity of nanosized copper(I) iodide (CuI) particles having an average size of 160 nm. CuI particles showed aqueous stability and generated hydroxyl radicals, which were probably derived from monovalent copper (Cu(+)). We confirmed that CuI particles showed anti-viral activity against an influenza virus A of swine origin (pandemic (H1N1) 2009) on plaque titration assay. Virus titer decreased in a dose-dependent manner upon incubation with CuI particles, with the 50% effective concentration being approximately 17 μg/mL after exposure for 60 min. SDS-PAGE analysis confirmed inactivation of the virus due to degradation of viral proteins such as hemagg...

US Hispanics Were At Greater Risk For H1N1 Flu During 2009 Pandemic

Health News from Medical News Today — Wed, 07 Dec 2011 09:00:00 +0100

Social determinants, including the lack of paid sick leave, contributed to higher risk of exposure to the influenza A (H1N1) virus among Hispanics in the U.S. during the 2009 H1N1 pandemic, according to a study led by Sandra Crouse Quinn, professor of family science and senior associate director of the Maryland Center for Health Equity at the University of Maryland School of Public Health. The findings are published online ahead of print in the American Journal of Public Health,... (Source: Health News from Medical News Today)

More People Getting Influenza Vaccine This YearMore People Getting Influenza Vaccine This Year

Medscape Today Headlines — Tue, 06 Dec 2011 21:41:07 +0100

Influenza vaccinations have been up since the 2009 swine flu pandemic. WebMD Health News (Source: Medscape Today Headlines)

Dec. 4-10 Is National Influenza Vaccination Week!

MedlinePlus Health News — Mon, 05 Dec 2011 10:57:37 +0100

Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Related MedlinePlus Pages: Flu, H1N1 Flu (Swine Flu) (Source: MedlinePlus Health News)

Limited Human-to-Human Transmission of Novel Influenza A (H3N2) Virus - Iowa, November 2011.

MMWR Morb Mortal Wkl... — Fri, 02 Dec 2011 05:00:00 +0100

Authors: Abstract On November 20, 2011, CDC confirmed three cases of swine-origin triple reassortant influenza A (H3N2) (S-OtrH3N2) virus infection in children in two counties in Iowa. None of the children were hospitalized, and each has recovered from a mild episode of febrile respiratory illness. All three were in contact with one another, and none had a known recent exposure to swine. No additional human infections with this virus have been detected in Iowa, and no evidence of sustained human-to-human transmission of this S-OtrH3N2 virus exists; surveillance is ongoing. PMID: 22129996 [PubMed - in process] (Source: MMWR Morb Mortal Wkl...)

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Are remote areas free from swine influenza? A case study in Northern Vietnam.

Acta Tropica — Fri, 02 Dec 2011 05:00:00 +0100

Authors: Trevennec K, Grosbois V, Roger F, Ho TH, Berthouly-Salazar C, Chevalier V Abstract Swine influenza is responsible for one of the most prevalent disease affecting the swine industry worldwide. Epidemiological surveys rarely focus on remote areas, because traditional farming systems characterized by locally consumed production and low pig densities are considered as having little influence on the emergence, re-emergence, persistence or spread of swine influenza viruses. In addition, routine disease investigations in remote areas are often neglected due to logistic and economical constraints. A bank of swine sera collected in 2005 in the ethnic minorities households of Ha Giang province (Northern Vietnam) located adjacent to the Chinese border was analyzed to estimate the ser...

Flu-like symptoms? Inquire about swine exposure

Modern Medicine — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 05:00:00 +0100

With 10 cases this year of swine-origin influenza reported, mostly in children, the CDC is urging pediatricians to screen patients presenting with fever and respiratory symptoms for contact with swine. It also said you shouldn’t rely on commercially available diagnostic tests to tell the difference between swine flu and seasonal influenza A viruses. Here’s why. (Source: Modern Medicine)

Polymicrobial respiratory disease in pigs.

Animal Health Research Reviews — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 05:00:00 +0100

Authors: Opriessnig T, Giménez-Lirola LG, Halbur PG Abstract Respiratory disease in pigs is common in modern pork production worldwide and is often referred to as porcine respiratory disease complex (PRDC). PRDC is polymicrobial in nature, and results from infection with various combinations of primary and secondary respiratory pathogens. As a true multifactorial disease, environmental conditions, population size, management strategies and pig-specific factors such as age and genetics also play critical roles in the outcome of PRDC. While non-infectious factors are important in the initiation and outcome of cases of PRDC, the focus of this review is on infectious factors only. There are a variety of viral and bacterial pathogens commonly associated with PRDC including porcine repr...

Living Conditions, Ability to Seek Medical Treatment, and Awareness of Health Conditions and Healthcare Options among Homeless Persons in Tokyo, Japan.

Acta Med Okayama — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 05:00:00 +0100

In this study, with the aim of contributing to the formulation of future healthcare strategies for the homeless, we conducted a self-administered questionnaire survey and interviews at a park in Shinjuku Ward, Tokyo, to clarify the living conditions of homeless persons and their health conditions and awareness about the availability of medical treatment. Responses from 55 homeless men were recorded (response rate:36.7%). With the exception of one person, none of them possessed a health insurance certificate. Half of the respondents reported having a current income source, although their modal monthly income was 30,000 yen($1 was approximately 90 yen). The number of individuals who responded "yes" to the questions regarding "Consulting a doctor on the basis of someone's recommendation" and ...

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Swine influenza surveillance in East and Southeast Asia: a systematic review.

Animal Health Research Reviews — Tue, 29 Nov 2011 05:00:00 +0100

Authors: Trevennec K, Cowling BJ, Peyre M, Baudon E, Martineau GP, Roger F Abstract East and Southeast Asia are important pig- and poultry-producing areas, where the majority of production takes place on small-scale farms with low biosecurity levels. This systematic review synthesizes data on swine influenza virology, serology and epidemiology in East and Southeast Asia. A total of 77 research articles, literature reviews and conference papers were selected and analyzed from 510 references retrieved from PubMed and ISI Web of KnowledgeSM. The number of published articles increased in the last 3 years, which may be attributed to improvement in monitoring and/or a better promotion of surveillance data. Nevertheless, large inequalities in surveillance and research among countries are ...

New Swine-Origin Flu Sickens Kids in Iowa

MedPage Today Pulmonary — Mon, 28 Nov 2011 20:25:26 +0100

(MedPage Today) -- Three more individuals have been infected with an influenza strain that combines parts of a swine-origin influenza A (H3N2) virus and the pandemic 2009 influenza A (H1N1) virus, the CDC reported. (Source: MedPage Today Pulmonary)

Swine Flu Type Virus Reported In Iowa

Health News from Medical News Today — Sat, 26 Nov 2011 00:00:00 +0100

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has confirmed three mildly ill children with viruses similar to the swine-origin influenza A (H3N2) viruses identified in three other states. These viruses contain the "matrix (M) gene segment" from the 2009 "Swine Flu" pandemic known as H1N1 virus. This combination of genes was first identified in a person in July. There have been several more infections with this virus, bringing the total number of human infections to 10 (Indiana 2, Pennsylvania 3, Maine 2, and Iowa 3)... (Source: Health News from Medical News Today)

A Retrospective Review of the Impact of Influenza A(H1N1)v Swine ‘flu Variant on a District General Hospital: Category: Lesson in Microbiology & Infection Control

Journal of Infection — Fri, 25 Nov 2011 11:05:46 +0100

On 11th June 2009 the World Health Organisation declared a pandemic of Influenza A(H1N1)v, a unique strain of Influenza A, containing genetic components from swine, avian and human sources. Concerns were expressed that this virus would stretch the National Health Service to breaking point and cause significant fatalities. (Source: Journal of Infection)

Influenza like illness in the United States of America

WHO Disease Outbreaks — Thu, 24 Nov 2011 13:58:00 +0100

The United States Government has reported three cases of human infection with swine origin triple reassortant Influenza A H3N2. Between 10 and 13 November 2011, three children (aged 11 months, 2 years and 3 years) experienced onset of febrile respiratory illness. All three children had visited the same health care provider in Iowa State. None of them were hospitalized and all three have recovered. (Source: WHO Disease Outbreaks)

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Detection of highly pathogenic influenza and pandemic influenza virus in formalin fixed tissues by immunohistochemical methods.

Journal of Virological Methods — Fri, 18 Nov 2011 05:00:00 +0100

In this study commercially available monoclonal antibodies to the influenza nucleoprotein (NP) were evaluated in order to determine which antibodies would identify positive cells in tissues fixed in formalin or paraformaldehyde. An assessment of which antigen retrieval process would unmask antigens blocked by formalin fixation was also made. Of six commercially available monoclonal antibodies tested, only one (HB65, European Veterinary Laboratories) was able to identify all formalin fixed avian, swine and human influenza virus infected tissues, and this was after pronase induced epitope retrieval. This monoclonal antibody is recommended for routine diagnostic use for the detection of influenza A infected tissues that have been fixed in formalin or paraformaldehyde. PMID: 22108429 [PubM...

Influenza H1N1 (swine flu) vaccination: a safety surveillance feasibility study using self‐reporting of serious adverse events and pregnancy outcomes

British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology — Wed, 16 Nov 2011 21:40:02 +0100

Conclusions: Overall, no significant safety issues were identified. The methodology and use of modern technologies to collect safety data from large numbers of patients was successful and could be used again in similar safety studies.What is already known about this subject:▪ While the new H1N1 vaccines underwent the usual rigorous safety and efficacy testing, concerns remained that there may be unexpected side effects of the vaccines▪ The strategy for H1N1 vaccine pharmacovigilance in the UK consisted of two patient studies by the two vaccine manufacturers, 14 small scale studies supported by the NIHR, monitoring by specialist neurologists and the MHRA.▪ This pilot study was performed to investigate the feasibility of a large‐scale prospective active surveillance system for near r...

Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome as a presenting manifestation in young patients infected with H1N1 influenza virus.

European Journal of Internal Medicine — Wed, 16 Nov 2011 17:58:36 +0100

CONCLUSIONS: The clinical course of severe cases of influenza A (H1N1) 2009-infection is markedly different from the disease pattern seen during epidemics of seasonal influenza. Most of the patients admitted to our intensive care unit due to influenza A (H1N1) 2009 associated ARDS were previously healthy young people. PMID: 22075296 [PubMed - in process] (Source: European Journal of Internal Medicine)

The 2009 Influenza Pandemic: Promising Lessons for Antiviral Therapy For Future Outbreaks.

Current Medicinal Chemistry — Wed, 16 Nov 2011 05:00:00 +0100

Authors: Bavagnoli L, Maga G Abstract The influenza A virus is the main circulating influenza virus in the human population. It can cause disease also in birds and other mammals and is responsible for annual epidemics and occasional pandemics. The most known and deadly pandemic was the "Spanish flu" (influenza type A/H1N1), which struck the human population between 1918 and 1919, with probably the heaviest toll ever recorded in terms of human lives. The most recent flu pandemic, caused in 2009 by the swine-origin reassortant virus (pH1N1), has raised several critical issues in terms of our preparedness in responding fast to new pandemic influenza strains. Probably, the most instructive lesson that has been learned from the 2009 pandemic, was that the speed of manufacturing and dist...

HPA urges 'At risk' groups to obtain influenza vaccination

NeLM - News — Fri, 11 Nov 2011 05:00:00 +0100

Source: Health Protection Agency (HPA) Area: News The Health Protection Agency (HPA) has issued a reminder that all those in a clinical 'at risk' group, who have been invited for flu vaccination by their GP and who have not yet received it, to take up the offer. Figures from the Agency's Weekly National Influenza Report show that 61% of over 65's, 16% of pregnant women and 37% of those in a clinical risk group aged under 65 years have been vaccinated to date. A spokesperson said "it is not yet known which flu strains will be most common this winter but getting vaccinated now will provide important protection over the coming winter months against the strains that do circulate - including H1N1 'swine' flu. Last winter there were 602 confirmed flu deaths reported to the HPA. Where...

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Low adherence to influenza vaccination campaigns: is the H1N1 virus pandemic to be blamed?

Italian Journal of Pediatrics — Thu, 10 Nov 2011 05:00:00 +0100

DiscussionA 100% increase of the number of P.E.R. visits, particularly for influenza-like illness, was recorded during weeks 42-46 of 2009 (October, 17 to November, 2); the low rate of hospitalization and the mild presentation of the infection gave rise to the conclusion that the pandemic risk was overrated. Mass media communications concerning the new virus created a disproportionate fear in the population that significantly enhanced the burden of cares at the hospital. In the absence of generally implemented measures for etiological diagnosis, the actual incidence of the H1N1 infection could not be estimated. Virus identification, in fact, was limited to children showing severe symptoms after consultancy with an infectious disease specialist. The alarming nature of the communication camp...

Genetic analysis and antigenic characterization of swine origin influenza viruses isolated from humans in the United States, 1990-2010.

Virology — Thu, 10 Nov 2011 05:00:00 +0100

Authors: Shu B, Garten R, Emery S, Balish A, Cooper L, Sessions W, Deyde V, Smith C, Berman L, Klimov A, Lindstrom S, Xu X Abstract Swine influenza viruses (SIV) have been recognized as important pathogens for pigs and occasional human infections with swine origin influenza viruses (SOIV) have been reported. Between1990 and 2010, a total of twenty seven human cases of SOIV infections have been identified in the United States. Six viruses isolated from1990 to 1995 were recognized as classical SOIV (cSOIV) A(H1N1). After 1998, twenty-one SOIV recovered from human cases were characterized as triple reassortant (tr_SOIV) inheriting genes from classical swine, avian and human influenza viruses. Of those twenty-one tr_SOIV, thirteen were of A(H1N1), one of A(H1N2), and seven of A(H3N2) s...

Characterization of avian influenza viruses isolated from domestic ducks in Vietnam in 2009 and 2010

Archives of Virology — Wed, 09 Nov 2011 07:04:19 +0100

Abstract In the surveillance of avian influenza in Vietnam, 26 H9N2, 1 H3N2, 1 H3N8, 7 H4N6, 3 H11N3, and 1 H11N9 viruses were isolated from tracheal and cloacal swab samples of 300 domestic ducks in April 2009, and 1 H9N6 virus from 300 bird samples in March 2010. Out of the 27 H9 virus isolates, the hemagglutinins of 18 strains were genetically classified as belonging to the sublineage G1, and the other nine belonged to the Korean sublineage. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that one of the 27 H9 viruses was a reassortant in which the PB2 gene belonged to the Korean sublineage and the other seven genes belonged to the G1 sublineage. Three representative H9N2 viruses were intranasally inoculated into ducks, chickens, pigs, and mice. On the basis of experimental infection st...

Have You Heard, November 4, 2011: CDC Confirms the 6th and 7th Cases of Swine-Origin Influenza A H3N2 Virus with 2009 H1N1 M Gene

CDC Flu updates — Mon, 07 Nov 2011 16:19:00 +0100

(Source: CDC Flu updates)

Vital Signs: Flu Can Be Fatal in Children With MRSA

NYT Health — Mon, 07 Nov 2011 14:45:09 +0100

Flu can be fatal in those infected with MRSA, an increasingly common staph infection in healthy children. (Source: NYT Health)

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Well Blog: Flu Can Be Fatal in Children With MRSA

NYT Health — Mon, 07 Nov 2011 05:01:49 +0100

Flu can be fatal in those infected with MRSA, an increasingly common staph infection in healthy children. (Source: NYT Health)

'Super-flu' claims unfounded

NHS News Feed — Thu, 03 Nov 2011 17:35:00 +0100

Conclusion These findings present a cluster of five people who developed influenza-like illness in central Cambodia in 2009. The first case was affected with swine flu; two with seasonal flu; and two with both seasonal and swine flu. The researchers say that finding of co-infections has rarely been reported, and that prior study of more than 2,000 clinical samples had found no dual infection. However, they say that other isolated cases of co-infection with swine flu (pH1N1) and seasonal flu A/H3N2 have been reported in individuals from Singapore, China and New Zealand. This new evidence that co-infections are possible is a valuable discovery There is the possibility that when two viruses infect an individual, they might have the ability to combine their genetic material and produce a new m...

Warnings over 'new super-flu' unfounded

NHS News Feed — Thu, 03 Nov 2011 17:35:00 +0100

Sialic acid and sialyl‐lactose glyco‐conjugates: design, synthesis and binding assays to lectins and swine influenza H1N1 virus

Journal of Peptide Science — Wed, 02 Nov 2011 04:00:00 +0100

We report that SOC4‐glyco‐conjugate bearing two copies of the α2,6‐sialyllactose is specifically recognized by the biotinylated Sambucus nigra (elderberry) bark lectin, which binds preferentially to sialic acid in an α2,6‐linkage. SOC4‐glyco‐conjugate bearing two copies of the α2,3‐sialyllactose was not recognized by the biotinylated Maackia amurensis lectin, despite its well‐known α2,3‐sialyl bond specificity. However, preliminary immune blot assays showed that H1N1 virus binds to both the SOC4‐glyco‐conjugates immobilized onto nitrocellulose membrane. It is concluded that Ac‐SOC4[(Ac)2,(3′SL‐Aoa)2]‐NH2 5 and Ac‐SOC4[(Ac)2,(6′SL‐Aoa)2]‐NH2 6 mimic the HA receptors. These findings could be useful for easy screening of binding and inhibition assays ...

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Necrotizing Bronchiolitis in Influenza A of Swine Origin (H1N1).

American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine — Tue, 01 Nov 2011 04:00:00 +0100

Authors: Toyoshima M, Chida K, Suda T, Sato M PMID: 22045749 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine)

[Correspondence] Guillain-Barré syndrome and H1N1 influenza vaccine in UK children

LANCET — Sat, 29 Oct 2011 04:00:00 +0100

In 1976, the US National Influenza Immunization Programme (against swine influenza) was discontinued because of an increased risk of Guillain-Barré syndrome within 6 weeks of vaccination. Guillain-Barré syndrome surveillance was therefore imperative for pandemic H1N1 (swine) influenza vaccines and was fast-tracked for UK children younger than 17 years by use of the British Paediatric Surveillance Unit (BPSU) system. Fisher's syndrome is related to Guillain-Barré syndrome, so both disorders were included. (Source: LANCET)

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NHS News Feed — Wed, 26 Oct 2011 17:08:00 +0100

Conclusion This systematic review screened over 40 years’ worth of published studies. It serves to highlight a relative lack of high quality evidence on the effectiveness of flu vaccine in certain age groups, one of which is the over 65s. The review provides good evidence that the flu vaccine provides moderate protection against infection and illness for the majority of adults, but that it is not 100% effective. One strength of the study is that it only included studies that used accurate methods of assessing flu infection. By doing this, the authors believe they have produced the ‘most accurate estimates of the efficacy and effectiveness of influenza vaccines’. While it is not possible to verify this claim, these results do provide valuable information to inform the current debate o...

Boy In Maine Tests Positive For “Unusual” Flu Strain

Fri, 21 Oct 2011 20:08:43 +0100

PORTLAND, Maine (AP) — Maine health officials are investigating a case of a young boy coming down with what is being described as an unusual strain of influenza. The Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention says the 7- or 8-year-old boy from Cumberland County came down with flu-like symptoms in early October, not long after being exposed to pigs at an agricultural fair. State Epidemiologist Stephen Sears says the H3N2 swine-origin strain of influenza was confirmed by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control as genetically similar to a strain identified in three cases in Pennsylvania and one case in Indiana. Sears said the boy was treated by his family doctor and is back up and playing. He said health experts don’t expect the new strain to pose a widespread threat. (© Copyri...

H1N1 pneumonia: our experience in 50 patients with a severe clinical course of novel swine-origin influenza A (H1N1) virus (S-OIV)

La Radiologia Medica — Fri, 21 Oct 2011 15:59:10 +0100

Conclusions The most common CXR and CT findings in patients with S-OIV infection were unilateral or bilateral ground-glass opacities with or without associated focal or multifocal areas of consolidation. On MDCT, ground-glass opacities and areas of consolidation had a predominant peribronchovascular and subpleural distribution, resembling organising pneumonia; they progressed to bilateral extensive airspace disease in severely ill patients. Content Type Journal ArticleCategory Chest Radiology / Radiologia ToracicaPages 1-20DOI 10.1007/s11547-011-0734-1Authors T. Valente, Department of Diagnostic Radiology, A.O. Monaldi, Via Leonardo Bianchi, 80131 Naples, ItalyF. Lassandro, Department of Diagnostic Radiology, A.O. Monaldi, Via Leonardo Bianchi, 80131 Naples, ItalyM...

Pregnant women advised to get flu jab

NHS News Feed — Thu, 20 Oct 2011 17:00:00 +0100

Conclusion This well conducted study highlights the possible risk to babies of maternal infection with H1N1. The research has some limitations, which mean the results should be interpreted with some caution. The researchers used a historical cohort of pregnant women to act as a comparison, some of whom had given birth during 2005-6. It is possible that pregnancy outcomes have changed between this time and the time the infected women gave birth. The researchers point out that this risk is somewhat mitigated by the fact that the national surveillance of perinatal mortality has not identified any changes that were likely to affect these findings. Although the researchers adjusted their analysis for confounders, it is possible that both measured and unmeasured confounders affected the re...

The first identified case of pandemic H1N1 influenza in pigs in Australia

Australian Veterinary Journal — Thu, 20 Oct 2011 11:54:54 +0100

This report highlights the difficulties in preventing transmission of H1N1/09 influenza virus from infected humans to pigs during a human pandemic. (Source: Australian Veterinary Journal)

Referral to an Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation Center and Mortality Among Patients With Severe 2009 Influenza A(H1N1) [Caring for the Critically Ill Patient]

JAMA — Tue, 18 Oct 2011 04:00:00 +0100

Conclusion For patients with H1N1-related ARDS, referral and transfer to an ECMO center was associated with lower hospital mortality compared with matched non–ECMO-referred patients. (Source: JAMA)

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) in a hospitalized adult with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) mimicking influenza A and Pneumocystis (carinii) jiroveci pneumonia (PCP)

Heart and Lung — Mon, 17 Oct 2011 04:00:00 +0100

Conclusion: We report on an adult patient with HIV with CAP that mimicked influenza and PCP, and was attributable to RSV. (Source: Heart and Lung)

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Multiphasic acute disseminated encephalomyelitis (ADEM) following influenza type A (swine specific H1N1)

Journal of Neurology — Fri, 14 Oct 2011 05:50:16 +0100

Content Type Journal ArticleCategory Letter to the EditorsPages 1-4DOI 10.1007/s00415-011-6258-8Authors Dilan Athauda, Department of Neurology, Guy’s and St. Thomas’ NHS Trust, London, SE1 7EH UKThomasin C. Andrews, Department of Neurology, Guy’s and St. Thomas’ NHS Trust, London, SE1 7EH UKPaul A. Holmes, Department of Neurology, Guy’s and St. Thomas’ NHS Trust, London, SE1 7EH UKRobin S. Howard, Department of Neurology, Guy’s and St. Thomas’ NHS Trust, London, SE1 7EH UK Journal Journal of NeurologyOnline ISSN 1432-1459Print ISSN 0340-5354 (Source: Journal of Neurology)

Genetic Characterization of H1N2 Influenza A Viruses Isolated from sick pigs in Southern China in 2010

Virology Journal — Thu, 13 Oct 2011 04:00:00 +0100

In conclusion, our finding provides further evidence about the interspecies transmission of avian influenza viruses to pigs and emphasizes the importance of reinforcing swine influenza virus (SIV) surveillance, especially before the emergence of highly pathogenic FMDs in pigs in Guangdong. (Source: Virology Journal)

Molecular characterization and pathogenicity of swine influenza H9N2 subtype virus A/swine/HeBei/012/2008/(H9N2).

Acta Virologica — Mon, 10 Oct 2011 17:20:02 +0100

Authors: Rui-Hua Z, Hong-Yu C, Ming-Ju X, Kai L, Hua-Lan C, Cun-Lian W, Dong W, Cun-Xin L, Tong X Abstract The H9N2 subtype influenza virus (IV) is a remarkable member of the influenza A viruses because it can infect not only chickens, ducks and pigs, but also humans. Pigs are susceptible to both human and avian influenza viruses and have been proposed to be intermediate hosts for the generation of pandemic influenza viruses through reassortment or adaptation to the mammalian host. To further understand the genetic characteristics and evolution, we investigated the source and molecular characteristics of the H9N2 subtype swine influenza virus (SIV), and observed its pathogenicity in BALB/c mice. The BALB/c mice were inoculated intranasally with 100 median mouse infectious dose ...

H1N1 Patients With Respiratory Failure That Are Treated With Oxygenating System Have Lower Risk Of Death

Health News from Medical News Today — Wed, 05 Oct 2011 15:00:00 +0100

According to an investigation in JAMA, individuals who developed respiratory failure after being infected with severe 2009 H1N1 influenza, and who received treatment with a system that adds oxygen to their blood, had a lower rate of dying in hospital compared to those who did not receive the treatment. The investigation is being published early online to accompany its presentation at the European Society of Intensive Care Medicine meeting being held in Berlin... (Source: Health News from Medical News Today)

Referral to an Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation Center and Mortality Among Patients With Severe 2009 Influenza A(H1N1) [Caring for the Critically Ill Patient]

JAMA — Wed, 05 Oct 2011 04:00:00 +0100

Conclusion For patients with H1N1-related ARDS, referral and transfer to an ECMO center was associated with lower hospital mortality compared with matched non–ECMO-referred patients. (Source: JAMA)

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Asthma linked to better outcomes in patients hospitalized with swine flu

MedWire News - Respiratory — Mon, 03 Oct 2011 21:16:15 +0100

Results from a UK study show that patients with asthma who are admitted to hospital with pandemic H1N1 influenza are significantly less likely to die or require intensive care than those without asthma. (Source: MedWire News - Respiratory)

A novel strategy for exploring the reassortment origins of newly emerging influenza virus.

Bioinformation — Mon, 03 Oct 2011 12:50:02 +0100

Authors: Tian D, Wang Y, Zheng T Abstract In early 2009, new swine-origin influenza A (H1N1) virus emerged in Mexico and the United States. The emerging influenza virus had made global influenza pandemic for nearly one year. To every emerging pathogen, exploring the origin sources is vital for viral control and clearance. Influenza virus is different from other virus in that it has 8 segments, making the segment reassortment a main drive in virus evolution. In exploring reassortment evolution origins of a newly emerging influenza virus, integrated comparing of the origin sources of all the segments is necessary. If some segments have high homologous with one parental strain, lower homologous with another parental strain, while other segments are reverse, can we proposed that this e...

Seroconversion to Pandemic (H1N1) 2009 Virus and Cross-Reactive Immunity to Other Swine Influenza Viruses.

Emerging Infectious Diseases — Sat, 01 Oct 2011 04:00:00 +0100

Authors: Perera RA, Riley S, Ma SK, Zhu HC, Guan Y, Peiris JS Abstract To assess herd immunity to swine influenza viruses, we determined antibodies in 28 paired serum samples from participants in a prospective serologic cohort study in Hong Kong who had seroconverted to pandemic (H1N1) 2009 virus. Results indicated that infection with pandemic (H1N1) 2009 broadens cross-reactive immunity to other recent subtype H1 swine viruses. PMID: 22000365 [PubMed - in process] (Source: Emerging Infectious Diseases)

Transplantation of solid organs procured from influenza A H1N1 infected donors

Transplant International — Thu, 29 Sep 2011 04:00:00 +0100

We present the largest published series of outcome following transplantation of organs from H1N1 positive donors and demonstrate that these organs can be transplanted safely and with good short‐term outcome. We discuss our local policy for treatment of recipients with Oseltamivir. (Source: Transplant International)

Connection Between Asthma And Less Severe Outcomes From Pandemic Influenza H1N1

Health News from Medical News Today — Tue, 27 Sep 2011 08:00:00 +0100

According to an investigation presented at the European Respiratory Society's Annual Congress in Amsterdam, individuals with asthma who are hospitalized with pandemic influenza H1N1 (swine flu) are half as likely to die or require intensive care compared to individuals without asthma. They discovered that although asthma is one of the most common illnesses observed in individuals admitted to hospital with H1N1, those with asthma didn't have as severe outcomes in comparison to those without the condition... (Source: Health News from Medical News Today)

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Asthma Patients are less likely to die from Swine Flu

Medical Headlines From Ivanhoe.com — Tue, 27 Sep 2011 05:00:00 +0100

(Ivanhoe Newswire) -- People with asthma who are admitted to hospital with pandemic influenza H1N1 (swine flu) are half as likely to die or require intensive care than those without asthma, according to this study. (Source: Medical Headlines From Ivanhoe.com)

People hospitalized with asthma 'less likely to die from swine flu'

EurekAlert! - Medicine and Health — Mon, 26 Sep 2011 04:00:00 +0100

(European Lung Foundation) People with asthma who are admitted to hospital with pandemic influenza H1N1 (swine flu) are half as likely to die or require intensive care than those without asthma, according to new research. (Source: EurekAlert! - Medicine and Health)

How were the High-Fever Consultation Center Perceived by the Officers Who Provided it in Kobe City, During Swine-Origin Influenza A (H1N1) Outbreak? A Qualitative Study Utilizing SCQRM.

Kobe J Med Sci — Sun, 25 Sep 2011 03:28:03 +0100

This study reports the result of a qualitative study, which explored officers who provided the high-fever consultation center during influenza outbreak. Methods: A qualitative study, using semi-structured interviews (n=3), was conducted to the officers of a major city government in Japan, who provided the service. Theory construction was conducted with a use of structure construction qualitative research method. Results: The officers expressed many difficulties during the outbreak. The uncertainty of the disease characteristics, rapidly changing situation, fear of bad outcome of patients due to wrong triage, and miscommunications among health care workers were among the difficulties extracted. While inefficiency was among the problems extracted, lessening anxiety of callers was one of the ...

UCLA scientists find H1N1 flu virus prevalent in animals in Africa

UCLA Newsroom: Health Sciences — Thu, 22 Sep 2011 20:10:00 +0100

UCLA life scientists and their colleagues have discovered the first evidence of the H1N1 virus in animals in Africa. In one village in northern Cameroon, a staggering 89 percent of the pigs studied had been exposed to the H1N1 virus, commonly known as the swine flu. "I was amazed that virtually every pig in this village was exposed," said Thomas B. Smith, director of UCLA's Center for Tropical Research and the senior author of the research. "Africa is ground zero for a new pandemic. Many people are in poor health there, and disease can spread very rapidly without authorities knowing about it." H1N1 triggered a human pandemic in the spring of 2009, infecting people in more than 200 countries. In the U.S., it led to an estimated 60 million illnesses, 270,000 hospitalizations an...

The H1N1 Pandemic Flu Of 2009 More Damaging To Lungs, Opened Opportunities For Bacterial Infection

Health News from Medical News Today — Tue, 20 Sep 2011 10:00:00 +0100

Many of the people who died from the new strain of H1N1 influenza that broke out in 2009 were suffering from another infection as well: pneumonia. A new study published today, September 20 in the online journal mBio® reveals how the two infections, pandemic influenza and pneumonia, interact to make a lethal combination. Back in 2009, autopsies of 34 of the victims of the H1N1 pandemic influenza virus revealed that about half showed signs of bacterial co-infection in their lungs... (Source: Health News from Medical News Today)

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When Flu Infection Turns Fatal

Health News from Medical News Today — Sat, 17 Sep 2011 07:00:00 +0100

Most of the time, being ill with the flu is little more than a nuisance. Other times, it can spark an exaggerated immune response and turn deadly. Researchers reporting in the journal Cell, a Cell Press publication, have now traced the origins of this severe immune response -- called a cytokine storm -- to its source. Cytokines are the chemical signals that drive inflammation, and cytokine storms are thought to be the cause of many of the deaths attributed to the 1918 worldwide influenza pandemic and to the more recent outbreaks of swine and bird flu infection... (Source: Health News from Medical News Today)

A simple method for the parallel deep sequencing of full influenza A genomes.

Journal of Virological Methods — Sat, 17 Sep 2011 04:00:00 +0100

This study reports a comprehensive method that enables deep sequencing of the complete genomes of influenza A subtypes using the Illumina Genome Analyzer IIx (GAIIx). By using this method, the complete genomes of nine viruses were sequenced in parallel, representing the 2009 pandemic H1N1 virus, H5N1 virus from human and H1N1 virus from swine, on a single lane of a GAIIx flow cell to an average depth of 122-fold. This technique can be applied to cultivated and uncultivated virus. PMID: 21946287 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: Journal of Virological Methods)

DNA Vaccination Elicits Protective Immune Responses against Pandemic and Classic Swine Influenza Viruses in Pigs.

Clinical and Vaccine Immunology — Wed, 14 Sep 2011 04:00:00 +0100

In this study we evaluated the potential of monovalent and trivalent DNA vaccine constructs to 1) elicit both humoral and IFN-γ responses, and 2) protect pigs against viral shedding and lung disease after challenge with pandemic H1N1 or classic swine H1N1 influenza virus. We also compared the efficiency of a needle-free vaccine delivery method to conventional needle/syringe injection. We report that DNA vaccination elicits robust serum antibody and cellular responses after three immunizations, and confers significant protection against influenza challenge. Needle-free delivery elicited improved antibody responses with the same efficiency as conventional injection, and should be considered for development as a practical alternative for vaccine administration. PMID: 21918118 [PubMed - a...

Human vs. Animal Outbreaks of the 2009 Swine-Origin H1N1 Influenza A epidemic

EcoHealth — Tue, 13 Sep 2011 05:51:09 +0100

Abstract The majority of emerging infectious diseases are zoonotic in origin, including recently emerging influenza viruses such as the 2009 swine-origin H1N1 influenza A epidemic. The epidemic that year affected both human and animal populations as it spread globally. In fact, before the end of 2009, 14 different countries reported H1N1 infected swine. In order to better understand the zoonotic nature of the epidemic and the relationship between human and animal disease surveillance data streams, we compared 2009 reports of H1N1 infection to define the temporal relationship between reported cases in animals and humans. Generally, human cases preceded animal cases at a country-level, supporting the potential of H1N1 infection to be a “reverse zoonosis”, and the value o...

Swine-Origin Influenza A (H3N2) Virus Infection in Two Children --- Indiana and Pennsylvania, July--August 2011

CDC Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report — Fri, 09 Sep 2011 21:33:03 +0100

(Source: CDC Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report)

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Pregnant Women At High Risk Of Death If They Have Severe Pandemic Flu

Health News from Medical News Today — Fri, 09 Sep 2011 20:00:00 +0100

Out of 347 pregnant women in 2009 with severe pandemic flu, 75 died, and 272 were admitted to an ICU and survived the illness, according to a MMWR report by the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention). The authors stressed that pregnant mothers with influenza have a higher risk of being hospitalized and dying. For the last seven years ACIP (Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices) has recommended that all pregnant women receive the inactivated influenza vaccine, no matter what trimester they are in... (Source: Health News from Medical News Today)

Swine-Origin Influenza A (H3N2) Virus Infection in Two Children --- Indiana and Pennsylvania, July--August 2011.

MMWR Morb Mortal Wkl... — Fri, 09 Sep 2011 04:00:00 +0100

This report describes two cases of febrile respiratory illness caused by swine-origin influenza A (H3N2) viruses identified on August 19 and August 26, 2011, and the current investigations. No epidemiologic link between the two cases has been identified, and although investigations are ongoing, no additional confirmed human infections with this virus have been detected. These viruses are similar to eight other swine-origin influenza A (H3N2) viruses identified from previous human infections over the past 2 years, but are unique in that one of the eight gene segments (matrix [M] gene) is from the 2009 influenza A (H1N1) virus. The acquisition of the M gene in these two swine-origin influenza A (H3N2) viruses indicates that they are "reassortants" because they contain genes of the swine-orig...

Distribution of sialic acid receptors and influenza A virus of avian and swine origin in experimentally infected pigs

Virology Journal — Thu, 08 Sep 2011 04:00:00 +0100

Conclusions: A difference in predilection sites between SIV and AIV virus was found, and this difference was in accordance with the distribution of the SA-alpha-2,6 and SA-alpha-2,3 receptor, respectively. The results indicated that the distribution of influenza A virus receptors in pigs are similar to that of humans and therefore challenge the theory that the pig acts as a mixing vessel between human and avian influenza viruses. Furthermore, it was shown that AIV prefers to infect alveolar type II epithelial cells in pigs. This corresponds with findings in humans emphasising the resemblance between the two species. (Source: Virology Journal)

Alert: Watch out for flu in children with swine exposure

Modern Medicine Contemporary Pediatrics — Thu, 08 Sep 2011 04:00:00 +0100

The CDC is warning pediatricians to be on the lookout for influenza in patients with recent exposure to pigs after 2 separate cases of swine-origin influenza were identified in children late this summer. Clinicians are being asked to speedily obtain an analysis and to consider starting the patient on antiviral treatment to quickly limit potential human transmission if a case is identified. Find out why these cases are different from other cases of animal-transmitted influenza. (Source: Modern Medicine Contemporary Pediatrics)

Development of DIVA (differentiation of infected from vaccinated animals) vaccines utilizing heterologous NA and NS1 protein strategies for the control of triple reassortant H3N2 influenza in turkeys.

Vaccine — Thu, 08 Sep 2011 04:00:00 +0100

In this study, we selected one TR H3N2 strain, A/turkey/OH/313053/04 (H3N2) that showed broad cross reactivity with other recent TR turkey H3N2 isolates, and created NA- and NS-based DIVA vaccines using traditional reassortment as well as reverse genetics methods. Protective efficacy of those vaccines was determined in 2-week-old and 80-week-old breeder turkeys. The reassortant DIVA vaccines significantly reduced the presence of challenge virus in the oviduct of breeder turkeys as well as trachea and cloaca shedding of both young and old breeder turkeys, suggesting that proper vaccination could effectively prevent egg production drop and potential viral contamination of eggs in infected turkeys. Our results demonstrate that the heterologous NA and NS1 DIVA vaccines together with their corr...

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Have You Heard, September 6, 2011: Number of Swine Origin H3 Infections in Pennsylvania Rises to Three

CDC Flu updates — Wed, 07 Sep 2011 20:30:00 +0100

This Have You Heard posting provides information about three cases of human infection with swine origin influenza A (H3) viruses in children in Pennsylvania (Source: CDC Flu updates)

Pa. Department Of Health, CDC Advise Public Of Novel Influenza Case

Health News from Medical News Today — Tue, 06 Sep 2011 08:00:00 +0100

The Pennsylvania Department of Health is advising the public of an investigation into a human case of novel influenza A virus in Pennsylvania and is urging the public to take everyday precautions to prevent the spread of respiratory viruses. The case involves a child who has fully recovered from the illness. No additional human infections with this virus have been identified to date. Influenza viruses are commonly found in humans, swine, birds and other animals... (Source: Health News from Medical News Today)

FAO Warnings Follow Rise In Replikins Count For Both H5N1 And Swine Flu (H1N1); Replikins Synthetic TransFlu™ Vaccine Tested

Health News from Medical News Today — Tue, 06 Sep 2011 08:00:00 +0100

The possible combination of influenza strains H1N1 (high infectivity) and H5N1 (high lethality) is a matter of global concern (1, 2). Bioradar UK Ltd announced (3) first, that the Replikin Counts of the two virus strains have risen simultaneously, not seen previously. Additionally, the rise is to their highest levels in 50 years (H1N1, 16.7; H5N1, 23.3), and that clinical outbreaks of each strain are now occurring... (Source: Health News from Medical News Today)

PrePrint: Reassortment Networks and the Evolution of Pandemic H1N1 Swine-Origin Influenza

IEEE/ACM Transactions on Computational Biology and Bioinformatics — Sun, 04 Sep 2011 04:30:47 +0100

We report their application to the swine-origin pandemic H1N1 virus (S-OIV). A database of all influenza A viruses for which complete genome sequences were available in Genbank by October 2009 was created and dynamic programming was used to compute distances between all corresponding segments. A reassortment network was created to obtain the minimum cost evolutionary paths from all viruses to the exemplar S-OIV A/California/04/2009. This analysis took 35 hours on the Cray Extreme Multithreading (XMT) supercomputer, which has special hardware to permit efficient parallelization. Six specific H1N1/H1N2 bottleneck viruses were identified that almost always lie on minimum cost paths to S-OIV. We conjecture that these viruses are crucial to S-OIV evolution and worthy of careful study from a mol...

Swine-Origin Influenza A (H3N2) Virus Infection in Two Children - Indiana and Pennsylvania, July - August 2011. MMWR 2011;60 (Early Release); 1-4.

CDC Flu updates — Fri, 02 Sep 2011 17:04:06 +0100

(Source: CDC Flu updates)

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EARLY RELEASE: Swine-Origin Influenza A (H3N2) Virus Infection in Two Children --- Indiana and Pennsylvania, July--August 2011

CDC Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report — Fri, 02 Sep 2011 16:14:07 +0100

(Source: CDC Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report)

New Swine Flu Virus Discovered

About.com Pediatrics — Fri, 02 Sep 2011 13:00:32 +0100

The CDC has just released a report, "Swine-Origin Influenza A (H3N2) Virus Infection in Two Children -- Indiana and Pennsylvania, July-August 2011," that discusses two new cases of kids getting sick with swine flu....Read Full Post (Source: About.com Pediatrics)

Lethal pneumonia in cats from H1N1 influenza A virus

Advances in Small Animal Medicine and Surgery — Thu, 01 Sep 2011 04:00:00 +0100

A new swine-origin influenza virus was reported in unrelated human cases in California in 2009 and were subsequently linked to an outbreak in Mexico. The isolated virus was identified as a swine-origin influenza A virus, or pandemic (H1N1) 2009 influenza virus. (Source: Advances in Small Animal Medicine and Surgery)

Neutrophils to lymphocyte ratio as a screening tool for swine influenza.

The Indian Journal of Medical Research — Thu, 01 Sep 2011 04:00:00 +0100

Authors: Indavarapu A, Akinapelli A Abstract Background & objectives: During an outbreak of influenza like illness throat swab culture and virus isolation are done to identify causal virus, and it may cause a significant delay in diagnosis and isolation. There is a need to determine a sensitive laboratory parameter which could play a major role in identifying H1N1 infection among patients presenting with influenza like symptoms. We undertook this study to determine a laboratory parameter to identify swine influenza infection amoung patients presenting with influenza like symptoms while awaiting throat swab culture and virus isolation reports. Methods: This retrospective study was conducted on patients presenting to A.P TB and Chest Hospital, Hyderabad, with swine influenza symp...

Pandemic (H1N1) 2009 Virus in Swine Herds, People's Republic of China.

Emerging Infectious Diseases — Wed, 31 Aug 2011 23:00:00 +0100

In this study, we report transmission of pandemic (H1N1) 2009 virus from humans to pigs in the People's Republic of China. PMID: 21888815 [PubMed - in process] (Source: Emerging Infectious Diseases)

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H1N1 Swine Flu Death Reported In Lake County, Florida

Health News from Medical News Today — Wed, 31 Aug 2011 19:00:00 +0100

Health officials from Lake County Health Department, Florida, have confirmed that an 80-year old woman who lived locally and had visited California died of H1N1 Swine Flu. Since the start of the influenza H1N1 pandemic in 2009, the virus strain that was circulating then has become part of the normal group of strains that typically circulate during the influenza season. Signs and symptoms of flu include a body temperature above 100o F (37.8o C), sore throat, headache, cough, aches throughout the body, chills, malaise and fatigue. Some people may also have vomiting and diarrhea... (Source: Health News from Medical News Today)

Guillain-Barré syndrome and H1N1 (2009) pandemic influenza vaccination using an AS03 adjuvanted vaccine in the United Kingdom: Self-controlled case series.

Vaccine — Sat, 27 Aug 2011 04:00:00 +0100

Authors: Andrews N, Stowe J, Al-Shahi Salman R, Miller E Abstract In 1976 a swine influenza vaccine was associated with an increased risk of Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS). Although subsequent studies did not find an increased risk of GBS following seasonal influenza vaccine, there was concern that the monovalent H1N1 vaccines developed against the swine influenza pandemic of 2009 might increase the risk of GBS. In the UK a split-virion AS03 oil-in-water adjuvanted vaccine (Pandemrix™) was predominantly used. To determine whether the risk of GBS increased after Pandemrix administration, we sought GBS cases during the period of vaccine use from neurologists and a patient support group, and following the vaccination period from hospital episode statistics (HES) in England. We obtai...

Global Update: Flu Is Blamed for a Surge of Narcolepsy Cases in China

NYT Health — Wed, 24 Aug 2011 16:06:27 +0100

Narcolepsy cases were caused by the death of brain cells that were probably killed by autoimmune reactions following winter infections like flu and strep throat, researchers said. (Source: NYT Health)

Global Update: A Surge of Sleepiness in China Appears to Have Been Caused by Flu

NYT Health — Tue, 23 Aug 2011 04:40:07 +0100

Narcolepsy: A Surge of Sleepiness in China Appears to Have Been Caused by Flu

NYT Health — Mon, 22 Aug 2011 23:23:59 +0100

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Hemagglutinin-neuraminidase balance confers respiratory-droplet transmissibility of the pandemic H1N1 influenza virus in ferrets [Microbiology]

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences — Mon, 22 Aug 2011 23:00:00 +0100

A novel reassortant derived from North American triple-reassortant (TRsw) and Eurasian swine (EAsw) influenza viruses acquired sustained human-to-human transmissibility and caused the 2009 influenza pandemic. To identify molecular determinants that allowed efficient transmission of the pandemic H1N1 virus among humans, we evaluated the direct-contact and respiratory-droplet transmissibility in ferrets of representative swine influenza viruses of different lineages obtained through a 13-y surveillance program in southern China. Whereas all viruses studied were transmitted by direct contact with varying efficiency, respiratory-droplet transmissibility (albeit inefficient) was observed only in the TRsw-like A/swine/Hong Kong/915/04 (sw915) (H1N2) virus. The sw915 virus had acquired the M gene...

Rapid typing of influenza viruses using super high-speed quantitative real-time PCR.

Journal of Virological Methods — Mon, 22 Aug 2011 04:00:00 +0100

Authors: Sakurai A, Nomura N, Nanba R, Sinkai T, Iwaki T, Obayashi T, Hashimoto K, Hasegawa M, Sakoda Y, Naito A, Morizane Y, Hosaka M, Tsuboi K, Kida H, Kai A, Shibasaki F Abstract The development of a rapid and sensitive system for detecting influenza viruses is a high priority for controlling future epidemics and pandemics. Quantitative real-time PCR is often used for detecting various kinds of viruses; however, it requires more than 2h per run. Detection assays were performed with super high-speed RT-PCR (SHRT-PCR) developed according to a newly designed heating system. The new method uses a high-speed reaction (18s/cycle; 40 cycles in less than 20min) for typing influenza viruses. The detection limit of SHRT-PCR was 1 copy/reaction and 10(-1) plaque-forming unit/reaction for v...

H1N1 Flu Vaccine Safe In Patients With Kidney Failure Or Transplant

Health News from Medical News Today — Sat, 20 Aug 2011 07:00:00 +0100

When the influenza A (H1N1) virus swept around the world in spring 2009, infection was presumed to be more common in immunosuppressed patients, such as those who have had a kidney transplant. Later that year, the International Societies of Transplantation recommended that transplant recipients receive at least one dose of the H1N1 vaccine, although there was no information on the efficacy of the vaccine in that population... (Source: Health News from Medical News Today)

An evaluation of the UK National Pandemic Flu Service swine flu algorithm in hospitalised children, and comparison with the UK National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence fever guideline

Emergency Medicine Journal — Thu, 18 Aug 2011 23:00:00 +0100

Conclusions The swine flu algorithm is of little use in differentiating unwell children, and advice given does not correlate well with that of the NICE guidance. There is a significant risk of harm with false-positive diagnoses and potential delays in appropriate treatment. The authors were unable to obtain the data and rationale behind the algorithm, and believe that this should be published. Face-to-face consultations may be the only way to ensure patient safety. (Source: Emergency Medicine Journal)

Pandemic Novel 2009 H1N1 Influenza: What Have We Learned?

Seminars in Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine — Thu, 18 Aug 2011 23:00:00 +0100

Semin Respir Crit Care Med 2011; 32: 393-399DOI: 10.1055/s-0031-1283279ABSTRACTIn March 2009, cases of influenza-like illness in Mexico caused by a novel H1N1 virus containing genes from swine, avian, and human influenza strains were reported. Within several weeks, 2009 H1N1 disseminated rapidly and was the predominant influenza strain globally. On June 11, 2009, the World Health Organization declared that criteria for an influenza pandemic had been met. Concern that this pandemic would rival the 1918 pandemic was high. Fortunately, that was not the case. Influenza-related disease activity peaked in late October to November 2009. By August 2010, the H1N1 influenza virus had moved into the postpandemic period. During the 2010–2011 season, influenza A H3N2 has been the predominant sero...

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Can The Spanish Flu Devastate Us Again? Researchers Work To Determine How H1N1 Becomes Pandemic

Health News from Medical News Today — Wed, 17 Aug 2011 07:00:00 +0100

The last century has seen two major pandemics caused by the H1N1 virus - the Spanish Flu in 1918 and 2009's Swine Flu scare, which had thousands travelling with surgical masks and clamoring for vaccination. But scientists did not know what distinguished the Swine Flu from ordinary influenza in pigs or seasonal outbreaks in humans, giving it the power to travel extensively and infect large populations. Until now. Prof. Nir Ben-Tal of Tel Aviv University's Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology and his graduate student Daphna Meroz, in collaboration with Dr... (Source: Health News from Medical News Today)

Use of plethysmography in assessing the efficacy of antivirals in a mouse model of pandemic influenza A virus.

Antiviral Research — Tue, 16 Aug 2011 23:00:00 +0100

Authors: Julander JG, Hagloch J, Latimer S, Motter N, Dagley A, Barnard DL, Smee DF, Morrey JD Abstract The recently emerged swine-origin H1N1 influenza A virus (IAV) caused a pandemic outbreak in 2009 with higher risk of severe disease among children and pregnant women in their third trimester (Van Kerkhove et al., 2011), and is continuing to be important seasonal IAV strain. Mice are commonly used in antiviral studies as models of influenza disease, which utilize morbidity and mortality to assess the efficacy of a test compound. Here, we investigated the utility of unrestrained plethysomography to quantify the lung function of IAV-infected BALB/c mice. Administration of a lethal dose (∼30X LD(50)) of pandemic H1N1 IAV resulted in a rapid decline in breath volume, as determined ...

News From The Annals Of Internal Medicine: Aug. 16, 2011

Health News from Medical News Today — Tue, 16 Aug 2011 09:00:00 +0100

1. Chinese Herb Works as Well as Oseltamivir for Shortening Flu Duration The antiviral, oseltamivir has been used to reduce severity of and mortality from H1N1 influenza. In rural China, where there is limited access to medications such as oseltamivir, traditional Chinese medicine has been used to treat seasonal flu... (Source: Health News from Medical News Today)

Putative amino acid determinants of the emergence of the 2009 influenza A (H1N1) virus in the human population [Biophysics and Computational Biology]

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences — Mon, 15 Aug 2011 23:00:00 +0100

The emergence of the unique H1N1 influenza A virus in 2009 resulted in a pandemic that has spread to over 200 countries. The constellation of molecular factors leading to the emergence of this strain is still unclear. Using a computational approach, we identified molecular determinants that may discriminate the hemagglutinin protein of the 2009 human pandemic H1N1 (pH1N1) strain from that of other H1N1 strains. As expected, positions discriminating the pH1N1 from seasonal human strains were located in or near known H1N1 antigenic sites, thus camouflaging the pH1N1 strain from immune recognition. For example, the alteration S145K (an antigenic position) was found as a characteristic of the pH1N1 strain. We also detected positions in the hemagglutinin protein differentiating classical swine ...

Antiviral activity of the MEK-inhibitor U0126 against pandemic H1N1v and highly pathogenic avian influenza virus in vitro and in vivo.

Antiviral Research — Wed, 10 Aug 2011 23:00:00 +0100

Authors: Droebner K, Pleschka S, Ludwig S, Planz O Abstract The emergence of the 2009 H1N1 pandemic swine influenza A virus is a good example of how this viral infection can impact health systems around the world in a very short time. The continuous zoonotic circulation and reassortment potential of influenza A viruses (IAV) in nature represents an enormous public health threat to humans. Beside vaccination antivirals are needed to efficiently control spreading of the disease. In the present work we investigated whether the MEK inhibitor U0126, targeting the intracellular Raf/MEK/ERK signalling pathway, is able to suppress propagation of the 2009 pandemic IV H1N1v (v=variant) as well as highly pathogenic avian influenza viruses (HPAIV) in cell culture and also in vivo in the mouse ...

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Transcription analysis on response of swine lung to H1N1 swine influenza virus

BMC Genomics - Latest articles — Sun, 07 Aug 2011 23:00:00 +0100

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The United Kingdom 2009 Swine Flu Outbreak As Recorded in Real Time by General Practitioners

Clinical and Developmental Immunology — Sun, 07 Aug 2011 14:14:01 +0100

Conclusions. The UK swine flu outbreak, recorded in real time by a large group of general practitioners, was mild and limited in time. Simultaneous online access seemed feasible and could have provided additional clinical-based evidence at an early planning stage of the outbreak. (Source: Clinical and Developmental Immunology)

Work towards 'universal flu vaccine'

NHS News Feed — Mon, 01 Aug 2011 17:30:00 +0100

Conclusion This laboratory research has identified an antibody which can target group 1 and 2 influenza A viruses. This is reported to be the first time an antibody with this type of coverage has been identified; a property which may help researchers to develop a “universal flu vaccine” that can tackle a wide range of flu viruses. The antibody was then shown to protect mice and ferrets against group 1 and 2 flu viruses. Further testing will be required to test the antibody’s efficacy in humans. While the antibody has been shown to be effective against influenza A strains tested thus far, there are also other, less common types of influenza virus that can infect humans: influenzas B and C. The antibody has not yet been tested against these strains. Therefore, the antibody identified d...

Seroprevalence and Risk Factors for Swine Influenza Zoonotic Transmission in Swine Workers from Northwestern Mexico

Transboundary and Emerging Diseases — Sun, 31 Jul 2011 23:00:00 +0100

Summary A cross‐sectional study was conducted to evaluate the transmission of swine influenza through occupational exposure and to assess some risk factors for zoonotic transmission in workers from commercial farms in Mexico. Seroprevalence to swine influenza subtypes was determined by hemagglutinin inhibition assay and was higher in exposed (E), in comparison with unexposed (UE) participants (P < 0.05). Percentages of seropositivity between UE and E were 28.57% and 19.35% to A/NewCaledonia/20/99 (H1N1), 68.25% and 33.87% to A/Panama/2001/99‐like (H3N2), 1.58% and 12.9% to A/Sw/England/163266/87 (H3N2), respectively. No antibodies were detected against A/Sw/Wisconsin/238/97 (H1N1) in the UE subjects, and only 3.22% were positive in the E group (P < 0.05). A significant as...

H1N1 influenza A outbreak among the Nicobarese, an aboriginal tribe of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, India

Public Health — Sun, 31 Jul 2011 23:00:00 +0100

A recent outbreak of pandemic (novel H1N1) 2009, previously known as ‘swine-origin influenza A’, infected 1056 people in South-East Asia, and resulted in approximately 12,220 deaths worldwide. The first confirmed case of novel H1N1 influenza was reported in Mexico on 23 April 2009, and the first confirmed case in India was reported on 16 May 2009. (Source: Public Health)

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Flu vaccine based on 'super-antibody' could prevent all pandemic strains

Guardian Unlimited Science — Thu, 28 Jul 2011 18:00:00 +0100

Scientists have discovered an antibody that can tackle every strain of influenza A, the virus responsible for flu pandemicsA volunteer in a medical study who had an unusual reaction to the flu virus could hold the key to developing a vaccine that protects against all pandemic strains of the infection, scientists say.Tests on a group of people who had either been infected with or vaccinated against the flu revealed one participant who produced a "super-antibody" that could fight off every strain of influenza A, the virus responsible for mass outbreaks of the illness.The person produced too little of the super-antibody to make them immune to the flu, but scientists believe they can boost its effect, and use it to make vaccines against the virus.In preliminary tests, researchers showed that i...

Molecular basis of antigenic drift in Influenza A/H3N2 strains (1968-2007) in the light of antigenantibody interactions.

Bioinformation — Fri, 22 Jul 2011 03:13:31 +0100

Authors: Shil P, Chavan S, Cherian S The emergence of new strains of Influenza virus have caused several pandemics over the last hundred years with the latest being the H1N1 Swine flu pandemic of 2009. The Hemagglutinin (HA) protein of the Influenza virus is the primary target of human immune system and is responsible for generation of protective antibodies in humans. Mutations in this protein results in change in antigenic regions (antigenic drift) which consequently leads to loss of immunity in hosts even in vaccinated population (herd immunity). This necessitates periodic changes in the Influenza vaccine composition. In this paper, we investigate the molecular basis of the reported loss of herd immunity in vaccinated population (vaccine component: Influenza A/X-31/1968 (H3N2)) which...

Healthcare workers’ duty concerns of working in the isolation ward during the novel H1N1 pandemic

Journal of Clinical Nursing — Wed, 20 Jul 2011 23:00:00 +0100

Conclusions. Further research should seek to provide in‐depth specific concerns in each type of healthcare workers which is very important to keep adequate healthcare workers fighting against the infectious disease pandemic. Interesting results on the negative view towards the swine flu vaccination demonstrate more detailed evidence‐based information about the vaccination is needed.Relevance to clinical practice. It is important for mangers to provide a support to healthcare workers during influenza pandemic by providing a clear guideline/policy for case management and demonstrating appreciation for the frontline healthcare workers to minimise the risk for high staff turnover rates. (Source: Journal of Clinical Nursing)

Characterization of Influenza A Outbreaks in Minnesota Swine Herds and Measures Taken to Reduce the Risk of Zoonotic Transmission

Zoonoses and Public Health — Wed, 20 Jul 2011 18:53:27 +0100

SummaryInfluenza A virus infections commonly cause respiratory disease in swine and can be transmitted between people and pigs, with potentially novel strains introduced into herds and spilling back into the human population. The goals of this study were to characterize influenza infections in Minnesota pigs and assess biosecurity measures used by swine workers. Veterinarians submitting influenza‐positive swine samples to the University of Minnesota Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory between October 2007 and April 2009 were surveyed regarding disease‐related information and biosecurity procedures at each farm. Influenza‐positive samples were submitted year‐round, peaking in spring and fall. H1N1 was the most commonly detected subtype (56%), followed by H3N2 (14%) and H1N2 (12%). Most...