H1N1...Pandemic

My fellow friends, please take time to read.

Influenza H1N1 Update: 3 August 2009

NEWS ROUND UP
World Health Organization says pregnant women are at increased risk. In the WHO pandemic (H1N1) 2009 briefing notes,the emphasis was squarely placed on the increased risk of severe (or fatal) illness in pregnant women infected with pandemic H1N1 flu. It also refers to several evidence-based studies outlining the risk of fetal death and spontaneous abortions (particularly for women infected during their second and third trimesters of pregnancy). The WHO recommends, "in areas where infection with the H1N1 virus is widespread, pregnant women, and the clinicians treating them, be alert to symptoms of influenza-like illness". The briefing note also outlines the WHO recommendations for treatment. They recommend treatment with oseltamivir (Tamiflu) as soon as possible, or within the first 48 hours after onset of symptoms, where the benefits of the treatment will maximized.


Outbreak among pigs in Australia. A pig farm in the state of New South Wales has been quarantined after determining that more than 100 of its pigs have been infected with an influenza virus. It is believed that the pigs became infected when infected farm workers handled them. The outbreak was first reported on July 24, and authorities are conducting further tests to determine what type of flu virus is involved.
In a formal report to the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE), Australian authorities have initially identified the virus as "Influenza A subtype H1 (New Unknown Disease)". Scientific experts fear that outbreaks among pigs may increase the opportunities for the virus to mutate, and thus increases the risk for it to become more severe.


Children and preventative Tamiflu® use - side effects, compliance issues. Both side effects and compliance issues were observed in a study of schoolchildren in England who were prescribed oseltamivir (Tamiflu) for prophylaxis after possible exposure to an infected person. The study examined two groups of children, one at the primary school level and another at the secondary school level. The authors found only around 75% of the children in the secondary school group took their complete course of medication. The figure dropped to under 50% in the primary school group. The report found that over half of all students in the study reported at least one side effect. The most common was upset gastrointestinal tract/nausea. One in five reported neuropsychiatric symptoms including sleeping difficulties, nightmares and poor concentration.


United States recommends priority groups for pandemic H1N1 vaccine. The CDC's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) held a meeting on July 29 to evaluate the current pandemic strain, and to identify the priority groups for vaccination. Although pandemic H1N1 vaccine may be ready by the US autumn season, it is not a replacement for seasonal flu vaccine. Rather, it is intended to be used alongside the seasonal flu vaccine. The priority groups identified ACIP include:

1)Pregnant women
2)Household contacts and caregivers for children younger than 6 months of age
3)Healthcare and emergency medical services personnel
4)All people from 6 months through 24 years of age
5)Persons aged 25 through 64 years who have health conditions associated with higher risk of medical complications from influenza.