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This page shows you the latest news and research items in this category.

Well: Aging: Fewer Elderly Deaths in Flu Pandemics
Age has its privileges, and a new study suggests that one of them may be immunity to some flu pandemics. (Source: NYT Health)
Source: NYT Health - May 22, 2013 Category: Consumer Health News Authors: By NICHOLAS BAKALAR Tags: Epidemics Elderly Influenza Deaths (Fatalities) Body Swine Influenza Featured swine flu Aging Source Type: news

Discovery Of H1N1 In Marine Mammals
Scientists at the University of California, Davis, detected the H1N1 (2009) virus in free-ranging northern elephant seals off the central California coast a year after the human pandemic began, according to a study published in the journal PLOS ONE. It is the first report of that flu strain in any marine mammal. "We thought we might find influenza viruses, which have been found before in marine mammals, but we did not expect to find pandemic H1N1," said lead author Tracey Goldstein, an associate professor with the UC Davis One Health Institute and Wildlife Health Center... (Source: Health News from Medical News Today)
Source: Health News from Medical News Today - May 17, 2013 Category: Consumer Health News Tags: Swine Flu Source Type: news

New bird flu strain requires vigilance researchers warn
Conclusion This is important research tracking the origins of the new H7N9 bird flu virus, which gives some clues about how it might behave in the future. Scientists are particularly concerned that a future mutation could mean it is transmitted between humans, which increases the risk of a pandemic (an epidemic of infection across countries or continents). For travellers to China and other countries affected by bird flu, it's important to observe the following precautions: avoid visiting live animal markets and poultry farms avoid contact with surfaces that are contaminated with animal faeces don't eat or handle u...
Source: NHS News Feed - May 2, 2013 Category: Consumer Health News Tags: Genetics/stem cells Medical practice Source Type: news

A statistical strategy to identify recombinant viral ribonucleoprotein of avian, human, and swine influenza A viruses with elevated polymerase activity
ConclusionsStatistical approach and fractional factorial design are useful to identify the major single subunit or interaction factors that can modulate viral polymerase activity. (Source: Influenza and Other Respiratory Viruses)
Source: Influenza and Other Respiratory Viruses - May 2, 2013 Category: Infectious Diseases Authors: Alex W. H. Chin, Benjamin D. Greenbaum, Olive T. W. Li, Richard J. Webby, Leo L. M. Poon Tags: Original Article Source Type: research

Scientists concerned at H7N9 bird flu outbreak that has killed 24 people
• Virus killing a fifth of those infected in China• World Health Organisation considers it a serious threatScientists are seriously concerned about a new bird flu virus that is causing severe disease in China, killing a fifth of all those it infects.So far, the virus, known as H7N9, is being transmitted only to humans from chickens, but there are worries that it could mutate into a form that could be passed from one person to another. Five mutations are known to be necessary for that to happen – H7N9 already has two of them. If that occurred, it could spread worldwide with lethal effect.According to the World Health ...
Source: Guardian Unlimited Science - May 1, 2013 Category: Science Authors: Sarah Boseley Tags: Bird flu Asia Pacific World news Infectious diseases Health guardian.co.uk Medical research Microbiology China Editorial Science Source Type: news

[Newsdesk] Implications of narcolepsy link with swine-influenza vaccine
Initial links between Pandemrix and narcolepsy seemed limited to Nordic countries, Kelly Morris takes a look at growing evidence for a further reaching effect. (Source: The Lancet Infectious Diseases)
Source: The Lancet Infectious Diseases - April 27, 2013 Category: Infectious Diseases Authors: Kelly Morris Tags: Newsdesk Source Type: research

[Comment] Influenza vaccine and Guillain-Barré syndrome: making informed decisions
Fears about development of Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) after influenza vaccination have hampered individual and population-level vaccine coverage rates. Uncertainties began with the 1976 H1N1 swine influenza vaccine programme, which saw an estimated relative risk of GBS of 7–8 after vaccination, although the attributable risk was probably lower. Regardless, the Institute of Medicine stated in 2004 that evidence favours a causal relation between the 1976 H1N1 influenza vaccine and GBS but in 2011 concluded the evidence was inadequate for seasonal vaccines. (Source: LANCET)
Source: LANCET - April 27, 2013 Category: Journals (General) Authors: Gregory A Poland, Caroline M Poland, Charles L Howe Tags: Comment Source Type: research

Scientists confirm transmission of influenza A H7N9 from birds to people
Virus showing signs of mammal adaptation, raising possibility of person to person infectionRelated items from OnMedicaExperts issue warning over bird flu resurgence Coronavirus can spread between peopleControversial avian flu studies can be publishedUK population took fewest steps to prevent spread of swine fluClimate change may increase flu severity (Source: OnMedica Latest News)
Source: OnMedica Latest News - April 26, 2013 Category: UK Health Source Type: news

Sewage Study Reveals Half Of Tamiflu Prescriptions Went Unused During 2009 H1N1 Swine Flu Pandemic
A new study concludes that approximately half of the prescriptions of Tamiflu during the 2009-10 influenza pandemic went unused in England. The unused medication represents approximately 600,000 courses of Tamiflu at a cost of around 7.8 million pounds to the UK taxpayer. The novel scientific method used in the study could help measure and improve the effectiveness of future pandemic flu strategies... (Source: Health News from Medical News Today)
Source: Health News from Medical News Today - April 20, 2013 Category: Consumer Health News Tags: Flu / Cold / SARS Source Type: news

Strategies to Reduce Obesity in the U.S. and Latin America: Lessons That Cross International Borders
Diseases know no borders, a truism that largely has been applied to infectious diseases. The re-emergence of tuberculosis, the spread of dengue and malaria, and recent outbreaks of swine and avian influenza remind officials in neighboring countries, as well as throughout shared hemispheres and the world at large, that public health efforts must be concentrated and coordinated. The obesity epidemic, like the cigarette smoking epidemic before it, is a chronic disease–related condition that also knows no boundaries. Although risk factor–reduction models can be applied to individuals, coordinated international efforts to c...
Source: American Journal of Preventive Medicine - April 19, 2013 Category: Global & Universal Authors: John P. Elder, Elva M. Arredondo Tags: Guest Editors: John P. Elder, Elva Arredondo, and Christina K. Holub Source Type: research

Half of Tamiflu prescriptions went unused during 2009 H1N1 swine flu pandemic, UK sewage study
(Centre for Ecology & Hydrology) A new study concludes that approximately half of the prescriptions of Tamiflu during the 2009-10 influenza pandemic went unused in England. The unused medication represents approximately 600,000 courses of Tamiflu at a cost of around £7.8 million to the UK taxpayer. The finding, published online in the open access scientific journal PLOS ONE, comes from the first study of its kind to use sewage water to estimate drug compliance rates. (Source: EurekAlert! - Medicine and Health)
Source: EurekAlert! - Medicine and Health - April 17, 2013 Category: Global & Universal Source Type: news

Improved adjuvanting of seasonal influenza vaccines: Pre‐clinical studies of MVA‐NP+M1 co‐administration with inactivated influenza vaccine
We examined the co‐administration of hemagglutinin (HA) protein formulations and candidate MVA‐NP+M1 influenza vaccines in murine, avian, and swine models. Antibody responses post‐immunization were measured by ELISA and pseudotype neutralization assays. Here we demonstrate that MVA‐NP+M1 can act as an adjuvant enhancing antibody (Ab) responses to HA while simultaneously inducing potent T‐cell responses to conserved internal antigens. We show that this regimen leads to the induction of cytophilic Ab isotypes that are capable of inhibiting hemagglutination and in the context of H5 exhibit cross‐clade neutralizati...
Source: European Journal of Immunology - April 16, 2013 Category: Allergy & Immunology Authors: Caitlin E. Mullarkey, Amy Boyd, Arjan Laarhoven, Eric A. Lefevre, B. Veronica Carr, Massimiliano Baratelli, Eleonora Molesti, Nigel J. Temperton, Colin Butter, Bryan Charleston, Teresa Lambe, Sarah C. Gilbert Tags: Regular Article Source Type: research

Review of Influenza A Virus in Swine Worldwide: A Call for Increased Surveillance and Research
Summary Pigs and humans have shared influenza A viruses (IAV) since at least 1918, and many interspecies transmission events have been documented since that time. However, despite this interplay, relatively little is known regarding IAV circulating in swine around the world compared with the avian and human knowledge base. This gap in knowledge impedes our understanding of how viruses adapted to swine or man impacts the ecology and evolution of IAV as a whole and the true impact of swine IAV on human health. The pandemic H1N1 that emerged in 2009 underscored the need for greater surveillance and sharing of data on IAV in s...
Source: Zoonoses and Public Health - April 13, 2013 Category: Infectious Diseases Authors: A. Vincent, L. Awada, I. Brown, H. Chen, F. Claes, G. Dauphin, R. Donis, M. Culhane, K. Hamilton, N. Lewis, E. Mumford, T. Nguyen, S. Parchariyanon, J. Pasick, G. Pavade, A. Pereda, M. Peiris, T. Saito, S. Swenson, K. Reeth, R. Webby, F. Wong, J. Ciacci� Tags: Review Article Source Type: research

During Swine Flu Pandemic, Co-Infections Not Associated With Worse Outcomes
A study at Rhode Island Hospital has found that despite complications, patients co-infected with the pandemic 2009-2010 influenza A H1N1 (pH1N1) and a second respiratory virus were not associated with worse outcomes or admission to the hospital's intensive care unit. The study is published online in the journal PLOS ONE. "There is scant data in the literature regarding the incidence and impact of simultaneous infection by two respiratory viruses, particularly in adults," said senior investigator Leonard Mermel, D.O... (Source: Health News from Medical News Today)
Source: Health News from Medical News Today - April 12, 2013 Category: Consumer Health News Tags: Swine Flu Source Type: news

Research in an influenza pandemic
The 2009 H1N1 (swine) influenza pandemic was preceded by alarming predictions of high numbers of emergency department attendances.1 In the event, the pandemic was mild and the official view is that the emergency care system coped with the modest increase in demand.2 The next pandemic may be much more severe, if modelling predictions are borne out, and so we should guard against complacency. Patient management during a pandemic needs to be guided by high quality evidence.2 Although data can be extrapolated from other conditions and settings, there is no satisfactory substitute for data generated during a pandemic. However, ...
Source: Emergency Medicine Journal - April 12, 2013 Category: Emergency Medicine Authors: Goodacre, S., Walter, D. Tags: Commentary Source Type: research

Amphipathicity Dictates Neuraminidase Transmembrane Domain Interactions [Microbiology]
Interactions that facilitate transmembrane domain (TMD) dimerization have been identified mainly using synthetic TMDs. Here, we investigated how inherent properties within natural TMDs modulate their interaction strength by exploiting the sequence variation in the nine neuraminidase subtypes (N1–N9) and the prior knowledge that a N1 TMD oligomerizes. Initially, consensus TMDs were created from the influenza A virus database, and their interaction strengths were measured in a biological membrane system. The TMD interactions increased with respect to decreasing hydrophobicity across the subtypes (N1–N9) and within the hu...
Source: Journal of Biological Chemistry - April 12, 2013 Category: Chemistry Authors: Nordholm, J., da Silva, D. V., Damjanovic, J., Dou, D., Daniels, R. Tags: Membrane Biology Source Type: research

Genetic diversity among pandemic 2009 influenza viruses isolated from a transmission chain
Conclusions: Oseltamivir-resistance was only detected after prophylaxis with oseltamivir, suggesting that the mutation was selected for as a result of antiviral intervention. The persisting oseltamivir-sensitive virus population in the case carrying resistant viruses suggests either that a small proportion survive the treatment, or that the oseltamivir-sensitive virus rapidly re-establishes itself in the virus population after the bottleneck. Moreover, the increased intra-host variation in the oseltamivir-resistant case is consistent with the hypothesis that the population diversity of a RNA virus can increase rapidly foll...
Source: Virology Journal - April 12, 2013 Category: Virology Authors: Sarah FordyceKaroline BragstadSvend PedersenThøger JensenBente Gahrn-HansenRod DanielsAlan HayMarie-Louise KampmannChristian BruhnJ Moreno-MayarMaría Ávila-ArcosM GilbertLars Nielsen Source Type: research

Anti-Vaccination Sentiments Spread More Easily Than Pro-Vaccination Sentiments On Twitter
On Twitter, a popular microblogging and social-networking service, statements about vaccines may have unexpected effects -- positive messages may backfire, according to a team of Penn State University researchers led by Marcel SalathÃ©, an assistant professor of biology. The team tracked the pro-vaccine and anti-vaccine messages to which Twitter users were exposed and then observed how those users expressed their own sentiments about a new vaccine for combating influenza H1N1 - a virus strain responsible for swine flu... (Source: Health News from Medical News Today)
Source: Health News from Medical News Today - April 6, 2013 Category: Consumer Health News Tags: Immune System / Vaccines Source Type: news

Pandemic Efforts Helped Curb Swine Flu Spread (CME/CE)
(MedPage Today) -- Surveillance and notification programs implemented at the request of the World Health Organization permitted the prompt identification of a novel pandemic H1N1 influenza virus in 2009, a retrospective analysis showed. (Source: MedPage Today Pediatrics)
Source: MedPage Today Pediatrics - April 5, 2013 Category: Pediatrics Source Type: news

Disease Surveillance And Notification Systems Assessment After A Pandemic
Significant investments over the past decade into disease surveillance and notification systems appear to have "paid off" and the systems "work remarkably well," says a Georgetown University Medical Center researcher who examined the public health response systems during the 2009 H1N1 influenza pandemic. The findings are published online today in PLOS ONE. After the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks in the U.S. and the potential threat of bioterrorism, many new advanced systems for disease surveillance and notification have been developed and implemented throughout the world... (Source: Health News from Medical News Today)
Source: Health News from Medical News Today - April 5, 2013 Category: Consumer Health News Tags: Swine Flu Source Type: news

Prior infection of pigs with a recent human H3N2 influenza virus confers minimal cross‐protection against a European swine H3N2 virus
ConclusionsInfection immunity to a recent human H3N2 virus confers minimal cross‐protection against a European swine H3N2 virus. We discuss our findings with regard to the recent zoonotic infections of humans in the United States with a swine‐origin H3N2 variant virus. (Source: Influenza and Other Respiratory Viruses)
Source: Influenza and Other Respiratory Viruses - March 28, 2013 Category: Infectious Diseases Authors: Yu Qiu, Karen Meulen, Kristien Reeth Tags: Original Article Source Type: research

Predicting hotspots for future flu outbreaks
This year's unusually long and rocky flu season would be nothing compared to the pandemic that could occur if bird flu became highly contagious among humans, which is why UCLA researchers and their colleagues are creating new ways to predict where an outbreak could emerge. "Using surveillance of influenza cases in humans and birds, we've come up with a technique to predict sites where these viruses could mix and generate a future pandemic," said lead author Trevon Fuller, a UCLA postdoctoral research fellow at the Institute of the Environment and Sustainability's Center for Tropical Research. The researchers'...
Source: UCLA Newsroom: Health Sciences - March 13, 2013 Category: Universities & Medical Training Source Type: news

Using Routine Surveillance Data to Estimate the Epidemic Potential of Emerging Zoonoses: Application to the Emergence of US Swine Origin Influenza A H3N2v Virus
Conclusions We have developed a simple approach with limited data requirements that enables robust assessment of the risks posed by emerging zoonoses. We illustrate this by deriving transmissibility estimates for the H3N2v-M virus, an important step in evaluating the possible pandemic threat posed by this virus. Please see later in the article for the Editors' Summary (Source: PLoS Medicine)
Source: PLoS Medicine - March 5, 2013 Category: Internal Medicine Authors: Simon Cauchemez et al. Source Type: research

Influenza vaccine linked to narcolepsy in children in England
Researchers have found an increased risk for narcolepsy in children who received the swine flu vaccination in England. (Source: MedWire News - Infectious Diseases)
Source: MedWire News - Infectious Diseases - March 1, 2013 Category: Infectious Diseases Source Type: news

Composition of Hemagglutinin and Neuraminidase Affects the Antigen Yield of Influenza A(H1N1)pdm09 Candidate Vaccine Viruses.
In this study, we showed that the balance between HA and NA in the influenza A(H1N1)pdm09 virus affects its protein and antigen yield. PMID: 23429089 [PubMed - in process] (Source: Japanese Journal of Infectious Diseases)
Source: Japanese Journal of Infectious Diseases - March 1, 2013 Category: Infectious Diseases Authors: Shirakura M, Kawaguchi A, Tashiro M, Nobusawa E Tags: Jpn J Infect Dis Source Type: research

Swine flu jab narcolepsy risk is very small
Conclusion This study confirms that the Pandemrix vaccine against swine flu is associated with a very small risk of narcolepsy in children and young people. As the authors point out, this risk may have been overestimated if children with narcolepsy who had been vaccinated were more rapidly referred than others because of increased awareness of the link. The methods used were practical for a rapid assessment of risk, but as this was essentially a case series analysis they are limited by a number of factors: The rates calculated are dependent on the accurate diagnosis and identification of the cases of narcolepsy. By usin...
Source: NHS News Feed - February 27, 2013 Category: Consumer Health News Tags: Medication Medical practice Swine flu Source Type: news

Increased Risk Of Sleep Disorder In Children Who Received Swine Flu Vaccine
Results consistent with findings from Finland and Sweden, but may still be overestimated A study published on bmj.com today finds an increased risk of narcolepsy in children and adolescents who received the A/H1N1 2009 influenza vaccine (Pandemrix) during the pandemic in England. The results are consistent with previous studies from Finland and Sweden and indicate that the association is not confined to Scandinavian populations... (Source: Health News from Medical News Today)
Source: Health News from Medical News Today - February 26, 2013 Category: Consumer Health News Tags: Pediatrics / Children's Health Source Type: news

Pregnant Women Vaccinated During 2009 H1N1 Pandemic Flu Outbreak Had Reduced Risk Of Preterm Birth
Pregnant women who received the H1N1 influenza vaccine during the 2009 pandemic were less likely to have premature babies, and their babies weighed more on average. Influenza infection during pregnancy is associated with adverse infant outcomes such as preterm birth. Emory researchers from the Rollins School of Public Health, in a joint study with Kaiser Permanente of Georgia and the Mid-Atlantic States, evaluated the effectiveness of the H1N1 influenza vaccine in pregnant women against adverse infant outcomes during the 2009 pandemic... (Source: Health News from Medical News Today)
Source: Health News from Medical News Today - February 21, 2013 Category: Consumer Health News Tags: Swine Flu Source Type: news

Alterations in Inflammatory, Antiviral and Regulatory Cytokine Responses in Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells from Pregnant Women with Asthma
ConclusionsA reduction in anti‐viral and regulatory immunity with increased inflammation during pregnancy occurs in peripheral blood mononuclear cells from pregnant women with asthma. This novel information may relate to the increased susceptibility and disease severity to respiratory virus infections observed during pregnancy. (Source: Respirology)
Source: Respirology - February 20, 2013 Category: Respiratory Medicine Authors: Rebecca L. Vanders, Peter G. Gibson, Peter A.B. Wark, Vanessa E. Murphy Tags: Original Article Source Type: research

Potency of a vaccine prepared from A/swine/Hokkaido/2/1981 (H1N1) against A/Narita/1/2009 (H1N1) pandemic influenza virus strain
A swine influenza virus that grows to high titres and exhibits cross-reactivity was identified and used as an inactivated vaccine to protect mice from the 2009 H1N1 pandemic strain. (Source: Virology Journal)
Source: Virology Journal - February 6, 2013 Category: Virology Authors: Masatoshi OkamatsuYoshihiro SakodaTakahiro HionoNaoki YamamotoHiroshi Kida Source Type: research

Antibody repertoire development in fetal and neonatal piglets. XVI. Influenza stimulates adaptive immunity, class switch and diversification of the IgG repertoire encoded by downstream Cγ genes.
Abstract Infection of germ-free isolator piglets with swine influenza (S-FLU) that generates dsRNA during replication causes elevation of immunoglobulins in serum and bronchoalveolar lavage, a very weak response to trinitrophenyl conjugates but an immune response to S-FLU. The increased immunoglobulin levels result mainly from the polyclonal activation of B cells during the infection, but model antigen exposure may contribute. The 10-fold increase in local and serum IgG accompanies a 10-fold decrease in the transcription of IgG3 in the tracheal-bronchial lymph nodes and in the ileal Peyer's patches. Infection resul...
Source: Immunology - January 30, 2013 Category: Allergy & Immunology Authors: Butler JE, Sun X, Wertz N, Vincent AL, Zanella EL, Lager KM Tags: Immunology Source Type: research

Gene responsible for increased severity of influenza in Chinese populations
Researchers have found a genetic variant which explains why Chinese populations may be more vulnerable to Swine Flu. (Source: Medical Research Council Research News)
Source: Medical Research Council Research News - January 30, 2013 Category: Research Source Type: news

2009 Swine Flu Pandemic Infected 1 In Every 5 People
Data gathered from 19 different countries reveals that the global swine flu pandemic which began in 2009 infected close to 20% of the population and almost 50% of all schoolchildren. The virus which originated in Mexico is thought to have killed close to 200,000. Swine flu is a respiratory disease commonly found in pigs - around 1 to 4 percent of pigs that develop the disease die from it. It is caused by a highly contagious strain of Influenza A virus and it's spread by direct and indirect contact with pigs... (Source: Health News from Medical News Today)
Source: Health News from Medical News Today - January 25, 2013 Category: Consumer Health News Tags: Swine Flu Source Type: news

Study Of Norwegian Women Confirms Safety Of H1N1 Flu Shots During Pregnancy
Norwegian pregnant women who received a vaccine against the 2009 H1N1 influenza virus showed no increased risk of pregnancy loss, while pregnant women who experienced influenza during pregnancy had an increased risk of miscarriages and still births, a study has found. The study suggests that influenza infection may increase the risk of fetal loss. Scientists at the U.S. National Institutes of Health and the Norwegian Institute of Public Health (NIPH) published their findings online Jan. 17 in the New England Journal of Medicine... (Source: Health News from Medical News Today)
Source: Health News from Medical News Today - January 18, 2013 Category: Consumer Health News Tags: Swine Flu Source Type: news

C-reactive protein, haptoglobin, serum amyloid A and pig major acute phase protein response in pigs simultaneously infected with H1N1 swine influenza virus and Pasteurella multocida
Conclusions: The results of current study confirmed that monitoring of APP may revealed ongoing infection, and in this way may be useful in selecting clinically healthy pigs (i.e. before integration into an uninfected herd). Present results corroborated our previous findings that SAA could be a potentially useful indicator in experimental infection studies (e.g. vaccine efficiency investigations) or as a marker for disease severity, because of correlation observed between its concentration in serum and disease severity (lung scores, clinical scores). (Source: BMC Veterinary Research - Latest articles)
Source: BMC Veterinary Research - Latest articles - January 18, 2013 Category: Veterinary Research Authors: Malgorzata Pomorska-MólIwona Markowska-DanielKrzysztof KwitKatarzyna StepniewskaZygmunt Pejsak Source Type: research

Recombinant equine herpes virus 1 (EHV-1) vaccine protects pigs against challenge with influenza A(H1N1)pmd09.
Abstract Swine influenza virus (SIV) is not only an important respiratory pathogen in pigs but also a threat to human health. The pandemic influenza A(H1N1)pdm09 virus likely originated in swine through reassortment between a North American triple reassortant and Eurasian avian-like SIV. The North American triple reassortant virus has genes from avian, human and swine influenza viruses. An effective vaccine may protect the pork industry from economic losses and curb the development of new virus variants that may threaten public health. In the present study, we evaluated the efficacy of a recombinant equine herpesvi...
Source: Virus Research - January 17, 2013 Category: Virology Authors: Said A, Lange E, Beer M, Damiani A, Osterrieder N Tags: Virus Res Source Type: research

Clinical utility of the full blood count in identifying patients with pandemic influenza A (H1N1)
It might be important to identify patients with swine flu (H1N1) before the results of the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) are available in order to institute earlier treatment and prevention precautions. Previous studies have concluded that the complete blood count (CBC) parameters having clinical utility in the early diagnosis of H1N1 disease, include a low relative or absolute lymphocyte count, total white blood cell counts, a low lymphocyte/monocyte ratios, a low neutrophil/lymphocyte ratios, or platelet counts less than the lower limit of the reference interval. (Source: Journal of Infection)
Source: Journal of Infection - January 14, 2013 Category: Infectious Diseases Authors: Zvi Shimoni, Joseph Glick, Paul Froom Tags: Letters to the Editor Source Type: research

Evaluation of clinical features scoring system as screening tool for influenza A (H1N1) in epidemic situations
Conclusion: The clinical features scoring system (CFSS) can be used as a valid and cost-effective tool for screening swine flu (influenza A (H1N1)) cases from large number of influenza-like illness suspects. (Source: Journal of Postgraduate Medicine)
Source: Journal of Postgraduate Medicine - January 4, 2013 Category: Internal Medicine Authors: P RanjanA KumariR DasL GuptaSK SinghM Yadav Source Type: research

Retraction: Triple Reassortant Swine Influenza A (H3N2) Virus in Waterfowl.
Abstract TO THE EDITOR: We would like to retract the letter entitled "Triple Reassortant Swine Influenza A (H3N2) Virus in Waterfowl," which was published the April 2010 issue of Emerging Infectious Diseases (1). The nucleoprotein gene sequences from the viruses reported in that letter are very closely related to those from the earliest detected triple reassortant swine influenza viruses [CY095676 A/sw/Texas/4199-2/1998(H3N2)]. Although these viruses could have acquired a swine-origin segment, the branch lengths are quite short for 9 years of evolution. Therefore, we have withdrawn these 4 isolates from GenBank and...
Source: Emerging Infectious Diseases - January 1, 2013 Category: Infectious Diseases Authors: Goyal SM Tags: Emerg Infect Dis Source Type: research

Genetic characterization of influenza virus circulating in Brazilian pigs during 2009 and 2010 reveals a high prevalence of the pandemic H1N1 subtype
ConclusionOur results show that pH1N1 was disseminated and the predominant subtype in Brazilian pigs in 2009–2010. (Source: Influenza and Other Respiratory Viruses)
Source: Influenza and Other Respiratory Viruses - December 28, 2012 Category: Infectious Diseases Authors: Daniela S. Rajão, Adrienny T. R. Costa, Bruno S. A. F. Brasil, Helen L. Del Puerto, Fernanda G. Oliveira, Fabiana Alves, Gissandra F. Braz, Jenner K. P. Reis, Roberto M. C. Guedes, Zélia I. P. Lobato, Rômulo C. Leite Tags: Original Article Source Type: research

A simple Pichia pastoris fermentation and downstream processing strategy for making recombinant pandemic Swine Origin Influenza A virus Hemagglutinin protein.
Abstract The present Influenza vaccine manufacturing process has posed a clear impediment to initiation of rapid mass vaccination against spreading pandemic influenza. New vaccine strategies are therefore needed that can accelerate the vaccine production. Pichia offers several advantages for rapid and economical bulk production of recombinant proteins and, hence, can be attractive alternative for producing an effective influenza HA based subunit vaccine. The recombinant Pichia harboring the transgene was subjected to fed-batch fermentation at 10 L scale. A simple fermentation and downstream processing strategy is ...
Source: Journal of Industrial Microbiology and Biotechnology - December 18, 2012 Category: Microbiology Authors: Athmaram TN, Singh AK, Saraswat S, Srivastava S, Misra P, Kameswara Rao M, Gopalan N, Rao PV Tags: J Ind Microbiol Biotechnol Source Type: research

The trend odds model for ordinal data
Ordinal data appear in a wide variety of scientific fields. These data are often analyzed using ordinal logistic regression models that assume proportional odds. When this assumption is not met, it may be possible to capture the lack of proportionality using a constrained structural relationship between the odds and the cut‐points of the ordinal values. We consider a trend odds version of this constrained model, wherein the odds parameter increases or decreases in a monotonic manner across the cut‐points. We demonstrate algebraically and graphically how this model is related to latent logistic, normal, and exponential ...
Source: Statistics in Medicine - December 6, 2012 Category: Statistics Authors: Ana W. Capuano, Jeffrey D. Dawson Tags: Research Article Source Type: research

Not touching face may help cut flu risk
Conclusion This brief report suggests that when people are in public spaces, there are frequent opportunities for their hands to be contaminated with flu and to spread this and other respiratory viruses. Contamination can occur through contact with surfaces touched by infected people, and then transferred to their mouth or nose. The authors’ study was only reported briefly in the journal, and it is not clear whether the people being observed knew they were being observed and the purpose of the study, which could have changed their behaviour. The authors also did not test whether people’s hands had come into contact...
Source: NHS News Feed - December 3, 2012 Category: Consumer Health News Tags: Medical practice Swine flu Source Type: news

Herd‐Level Risk Factors for the Seropositivity to Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae and the Occurrence of Enzootic Pneumonia Among Fattening Pigs in Areas of Endemic Infection and High Pig Density
Summary The aim of the present study was to identify potential risk factors for the occurrence of enzootic pneumonia (EP) in herds situated in a region of high pig density, where a majority of herds is endemically infected with Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae. Between 2006 and 2010, overall 100 herds were enrolled in a case–control study. Data were collected through personal interview with the farmers, clinical examination of pigs and their environments, and serological testing for M. hyopneumoniae, swine influenza virus and porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus. There were 40 case herds (coughing index high, ser...
Source: Transboundary and Emerging Diseases - December 2, 2012 Category: Veterinary Research Authors: H. Nathues, Y. M. Chang, B. Wieland, G. Rechter, J. Spergser, R. Rosengarten, L. Kreienbrock, E. grosse Beilage Tags: Original Article Source Type: research

Infection Dynamics of Pandemic 2009 H1N1 Influenza Virus in a Two‐Site Swine Herd
The objectives of this serial cross‐sectional study were to describe the infection dynamics of influenza virus in a two‐site swine system by estimating the prevalence of influenza virus in animal subpopulations at the swine breeding herd and describing the temporal pattern of infection in a selected cohort of growing pigs weaned from the breeding herd. Nasal swab and blood samples were collected at approximately 30‐day intervals from the swine breeding herd (Site 1) known to be infected with pandemic 2009 H1N1 influenza virus. Sows, gilts and neonatal pigs were sampled at each sampling event, and samples were tested ...
Source: Transboundary and Emerging Diseases - December 1, 2012 Category: Veterinary Research Authors: M. W. Allerson, P. R. Davies, M. R. Gramer, M. Torremorell Tags: Original Article Source Type: research

Vaccine development for protecting swine against influenza virus.
Abstract Influenza virus infects a wide variety of species including humans, pigs, horses, sea mammals and birds. Weight loss caused by influenza infection and/or co-infection with other infectious agents results in significant financial loss in swine herds. The emergence of pandemic H1N1 (A/CA/04/2009/H1N1) and H3N2 variant (H3N2v) viruses, which cause disease in both humans and livestock constitutes a concerning public health threat. Influenza virus contains eight single-stranded, negative-sense RNA genome segments. This genetic structure allows the virus to evolve rapidly by antigenic drift and shift. Antigen-sp...
Source: Animal Health Research Reviews - December 1, 2012 Category: Veterinary Research Authors: Chen Q, Madson D, Miller CL, Harris DL Tags: Anim Health Res Rev Source Type: research

Subclinical influenza virus a infections in pigs exhibited at agricultural fairs, ohio, USA, 2009-2011.
We examined pigs exhibited at agricultural fairs in Ohio during 2009-2011 for signs of influenza-like illness and collected nasal swab specimens from a representative subset of these animals. Influenza virus A was recovered from pigs at 12/53 (22.6%) fairs during the 3-year sampling period. Pigs at 10/12 (83.3%) fairs from which influenza virus A was recovered did not show signs of influenza-like illness. Hemagglutinin, neuraminidase, and matrix gene combinations of the isolates were consistent with influenza virus A concurrently circulating among swine herds in the United States. Subclinical influenza virus A infections i...
Source: Emerging Infectious Diseases - November 28, 2012 Category: Infectious Diseases Authors: Bowman AS, Nolting JM, Nelson SW, Slemons RD Tags: Emerg Infect Dis Source Type: research

Outbreak of Influenza A (H3N2) Variant Virus Infection among Attendees of an Agricultural Fair, Pennsylvania, USA, 2011.
elli L, Jhung MA Abstract During August 2011, influenza A (H3N2) variant [A(H3N2)v] virus infection developed in a child who attended an agricultural fair in Pennsylvania, USA; the virus resulted from reassortment of a swine influenza virus with influenza A(H1N1)pdm09. We interviewed fair attendees and conducted a retrospective cohort study among members of an agricultural club who attended the fair. Probable and confirmed cases of A(H3N2)v virus infection were defined by serology and genomic sequencing results, respectively. We identified 82 suspected, 4 probable, and 3 confirmed case-patients who attended the fai...
Source: Emerging Infectious Diseases - November 28, 2012 Category: Infectious Diseases Authors: Wong KK, Greenbaum A, Moll ME, Lando J, Moore EL, Ganatra R, Biggerstaff M, Lam E, Smith EE, Storms AD, Miller JR, Dato V, Nalluswami K, Nambiar A, Silvestri SA, Lute JR, Ostroff S, Hancock K, Branch A, Trock SC, Klimov A, Shu B, Brammer L, Epperson S, Fi Tags: Emerg Infect Dis Source Type: research

Phylogenetic diversity and genotypic complexity of H1N1 subtype swine influenza viruses isolated in Mainland China
Conclusions: Phylogenetic diversity and complexity existed in H1N1 SIVs isolated in mainland China. These H1N1 SIV strains were closely related to other subtype influenza viruses, especially to human influenza viruses. Moreover, it was shown that, novel lineages and genotypes of H1N1 SIVs emerged recently in mainland China. These findings provided new and essential information for further understanding of the genetic and evolutionary characteristics and monitoring the H1N1 SIVs in mainland China. (Source: Virology Journal)
Source: Virology Journal - November 26, 2012 Category: Virology Authors: Yizhi LiuJing WangJun JiShuang ChangChunyi XueJingyun MaYingzuo BiQingmei Xie Source Type: research

The impact of maternally derived immunity on influenza A virus transmission in neonatal pig populations.
This study provides estimates for IAV transmission in pigs with differing types of maternal immunity which may describe the influence of maternal immunity on IAV prevalence and infection dynamics in pig populations. PMID: 23174202 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: Vaccine)
Source: Vaccine - November 19, 2012 Category: Allergy & Immunology Authors: Allerson M, Deen J, Detmer S, Gramer M, Joo HS, Romagosa A, Torremorell M Tags: Vaccine Source Type: research