Action Points  

• Explain that a single dose of an adjuvanted vaccine against the pandemic H1N1 flu was highly effective at preventing hospital admission for children with confirmed infection.
• Point out that the finding suggests that in an emergency in which vaccine is scarce, such as during a pandemic, children can benefit from a less than optimal immunization schedule.

A single dose of an adjuvanted vaccine against the pandemic H1N1 flu was highly effective at preventing hospital admission for children with confirmed infection, researchers reported.

In a case-control study conducted during the second wave of the 2009 pandemic, a single pediatric dose was 85% effective at keeping kids out of hospital, according to Rodica Gilca, MD, PhD, of the Institut National de Santé Publique du Québec in Québec city, and colleagues.

The finding suggests that in an emergency in which vaccine is scarce, such as the pandemic, children can benefit from a less than optimal immunization schedule, Gilca and colleagues argued online in Pediatrics.

“The decision to administer two doses of influenza vaccine to children is context dependent,” they concluded, with factors such as the stage of the epidemic and the availability of vaccine playing a role.

Young children are usually thought to be immunologically naive with respect to the flu, so a two-dose schedule is recommended for the first immunization with a conventional influenza vaccine lacking adjuvant.

That was the situation in the U.S. during the pandemic because American authorities have never approved an adjuvanted flu vaccine. but Canada used a vaccine boosted with an oil in water emulsion that demonstrated substantial immunogenicity in children at a single 0.25-milliliter dose, which contained 1.9 grams of hemagglutinin and half the adult dose of adjuvant.

To see how that adjuvanted vaccine played out, Gilca and colleagues conducted a case-control study starting Nov. 12, 2009 — 10 days after vaccination started in children in the province of Québec — and ended Dec. 19, when the second wave subsided.

Cases were children, ages 6 months to 9 years, with lab-confirmed pandemic flu who were admitted to hospital in the province. Controls, who were identified from health insurance records, were matched by date of birth and place of residence.

All told, the researchers analyzed 221 cases and 663 controls, with each case matched to three controls. the reference date for controls was the day symptoms appeared for the case child.

The primary endpoint was vaccine effectiveness, defined as one minus the odds ratio for hospital admission among vaccinated children, compared with those who were not vaccinated.

Gilca and colleagues found:

• Overall, a single pediatric dose of vaccine, given at least 14 days before onset of symptoms was 85% effective, with a 95% confidence interval from 61 to 94.
• Effectiveness varied with age — 92% in 6- through 23-month-olds, 89% in 2- through 4-year-olds, and 79% in 5- through 9-year-olds. the 95% confidence intervals were wide and overlapping at 51 to 99 for the first group, 34 to 98 for the second group, and -31 to 96 for the third group.
• Overall vaccine effectiveness for immunization no less than 10 days before symptoms appeared was slightly lower at 80%, and the age variation was similar.

The researchers cautioned that the study design meant they could not rule out residual confounding by unmeasured factors. As well, they noted, statistical power was limited because many cases occurred before the vaccine was available.

On the other hand, the study included all children admitted to hospital for the pandemic flu from a large population, and all cases were confirmed using real-time polymerase chain reaction testing.

The study was supported by the Quebec Ministry of Health.

Gilca reported financial links with Pfizer.

Everywhere you turn you see it for the news. Bird flu is for the rise and persons are scared. getting out more about it can help you find out the simplest way to defend you as well as your family.

H5N1: what’s it?

Also often known as Avian Flu, the H5N1 trojan is typically viewed among wild birds and is as common as the person’s cold and is despatched between birds. Domesticated birds also can be at chance to catch Avian Influenza from wild birds.

There is undoubtedly an incubation period of 1-5 days between the time of exposure and the development of indicators and may very effectively be fatal within 2 days. The concern and concern regarding this potential pandemic is that once a trojan starts to mutate, it behaves differently and may very effectively be despatched between species. that is the circumstance with HIV. HIV started out in monkeys and is typically viewed as a trojan between monkeys. following the trojan mutated, it spread to humans and the effects materialize to be tragic. The trojan is already showing evidence of mutation as situations involving cats and pigs materialize to be recently brought to light. The other concern and threat arrives from the issue of Human-to-Human contact. once the Bird Flu mutates into a strand which could be without difficulty communicable between humans, we could see a pandemic of Avian Flu. perfect now, the best technique to avoid a pandemic is via careful prevention and checking the H5N1 trojan closely.

The indicators are very similar for almost any person’s Flu strains that we’re familiar with. Fever, aching throats, coughs, muscle aches and pains, and normal malaise are all evidence of the virus. Other indicators incorporate Pneumonia and difficulty breathing. if indicators are identified earlier enough, it may very effectively be taken care of successfully. However, there’s the threat of passing away if its left on its own.

Protecting yourself from Avian Influenza: Goggles and Gloves

Currently, Bird Flu is being viewed in Asia and Europe. since the critical to preventing the spread or mutation of the trojan is protection, it will very likely be strongly proposed that persons who’re dealing with anything that has been potentially contaminated with the virus, put on goggles, gloves and masks specially specially designed to defend in opposition to the virus. you’ll have to also be certain that you receive an yearly flu shot to defend yourself from having common Influenza during the identical time, will need to you catch Bird Flu. The two viruses together could mutate resulting in the strand that contributes to a pandemic. Always practice great hygiene, hands washing, and stay away from places which could very effectively be contaminated with AvianFlu.

nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/tutorials/avianflu/htm/_no_100_no_0.htm

With this information, you could defend your loved ones in opposition to a potential outbreak of the Avian Flu virus.

Prevention of Spread of Swine Flu

Dr.Kedar Karki

In Mexico in April this year, a never-before heard strain of swine flu emerge, turning ill more than a thousand Mexicans and causing the death of 68. Swine flu has spread to other parts of the world such as the US and new Zealand when affected individuals (Mexicans or tourists to Mexico), traveled to those places. Swine flu has spread so far and wide that the World Health Organization fears it will bring about the next pandemic. a June 10, 2009 update by the U.N.’s World Health Organization (WHO) states that 74 countries have officially reported 27,737 cases of influenza a (H1N1) infection, including 141 deaths. In India till date 23 cases are being confirmed in city like Hyderabad, Bangalore, new Delhi, and Jallandhar in Punjab. Government of India is now thinking about suspension of air flight to U.S.a as most of confirmed cases in India have been detected from the persons who had recently traveled to U.S cities and had returned from there. WHO’s decision to raise the pandemic alert level to Phase 6 is a reflection of the spread of the virus, not the severity of illness caused by the virus.

This is not the first time the world is threatened by swine flu. Swine flu, which is also referred to as pigfluenza, hog flu, pig flu, or swine influenza, typically affects pigs only. In 1918, an H1N1 virus caused flu pandemic in humans. Scientists speculated that H1N1 was created either when human influenza virus crossed specie boundary and affected pigs, or the other way around.

In 1930, a study confirmed that influenza virus caused the illnesses of pigs; the viral strain was identified as H1N1. other past outbreaks in humans include the 1976 US outbreak (number of deaths: 5) and the 1988 Wisconsin outbreak (number of deaths: 1).

2009 Swine Flu Outbreak

The strain that caused the swine outbreak in 2009, on the other hand, is different from other types of swine flu viruses before. it infects humans only. Pigs show no sign of infection. As such, scientists are having a difficult time establishing the origins of this new disease. The 2009 swine flu outbreak is caused by a strain that combines a single strain of human flu virus, a single strain of avian or bird flu virus, and two strains of swine flu virus.

Transmission

Swine flu virus in pig is transmitted when uninfected animals touch the nose or dried mucus of the infected pig.

Transmission of swine flu from pigs to humans occurs when a person touches an infected pig such as during animal transport or cleaning of pig pens. Swine flu is not acquired by eating pork.

Transmission of swine flu from human to human occurs when airborne viruses brought about by sneezing and coughing are inhaled by another person. Touching of contaminated surfaces and bringing one’s hand to one’s nose or mouth.

Symptoms

Symptoms of swine flu in humans are non-specific. They are quite similar to other types of influenza such as common flu and bird flu. People infected with swine flu often the following: Fever, chills, coughing and sneezing, sore throat, muscle pain, discomfort, fatigue, vomiting, and diarrhea.

In pigs, swine influenza virus cause:  fever, lethargy, decrease in appetite, abortion, sneezing, coughing, weight loss, poor growth. Difficulty breathing.

Because swine flu symptoms are non-specific, a laboratory taste of nose or throat swab is needed to confirm viral presence.

How to Prevent Spread of Swine Flu

Among swine: owners should implement facility management and management. Vaccinating the pigs may also help reduce the chances of spreading of the flu.

To prevent transmission of swine flu from pigs to humans, farmers, veterinarians, and other people who come in close contact with live pigs should wear masks and gloves when working with infected pigs.

Here are several steps to prevent the spread of the swine flu virus:

If you have flu symptoms, stay home from work or school to avoid spreading the disease. Do not return until two days after your symptoms are gone.

Cover your nose and mouth when you cough or sneeze, and wash your hands frequently.

Go to the hospital if you have severe symptoms such as difficulty breathing. if your symptoms are mild, stay home to avoid spreading the virus to others at the hospital.

Masks may be recommended for health care workers, family members and others who come in close contact with swine flu patients, but there is no need for the general public to wear masks.

It is safe to eat properly handled pork. Cook it to an internal temperature of at least 160 degrees.

At the moment, only Tamiflu and Relenza seem to work against swine flu. many countries have a supply of these vaccines, though not enough to curb a pandemic if the current swine flu reaches that level.

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Tagged with: Prevention • Spread • Swine

Filed under: Swine Flu

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8th March, 2011

KUALA LUMPUR: Health Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai confirmed yesterday the influenza outbreak at the Kuala Lumpur Police Training College (Pulapol) is not H1N1.

He said a team of medical experts had been despatched to the training college on Sunday to carry out an investigation after 39 of its trainees reported to suffer from influenza-like illness (ILI).

“The situation there is under control,” he said.

The first batch of 22 police trainees were down with influenza-like symptoms on Saturday, and 17 more on Sunday, with four being were warded in the intensive care unit, he told reporters after attending the opening of the first meeting of the fourth term of the 12th Parliament by Yang di-Pertuan Agong Tuanku Mizan Zainal Abidin at the Parliament House, here yesterday.

Liow said none of the cases were confirmed to be either H1N1 or leptospirosis.

“We suspected it could be viral infection. All the patients showed influenza-like illnesses such as flu and fever. We will continue to monitor the situation,” he said.

Liow said although H1N1 pandemic was over last year, the people should continue to stay vigilant and take care of their health.

He said those who suffer from ILI should also limit contact with others and maintain high level of hygiene.

SPRINGFIELD – Inmates at two Illinois prisons are being keptlocked in their cells because of an outbreak of the flu.

The Illinois Department of Corrections placed Graham CorrectionalCenter in Hillsboro on lockdown Monday because several inmates werecomplaining of flu symptoms. Danville Correctional Center has beenlocked down since last week after some prisoners came down withchills, fevers and respiratory ailments.

Corrections spokeswoman Sharyn Elman said officials are treatingthe ill inmates at the two medium-security lockups and trying tokeep the flu from spreading by keeping prisoners in their cells.the department temporarily has stopped allowing visitors at the twoprisons.

“We’ve been following all of the pandemic protocols,” Elmansaid.

Graham, which has 1,900 inmates, has several special programs,including one for inmates undergoing kidney dialysis. Elman said itis important to keep the flu contained until it runs itscourse.

“You just don’t want it to spread,” Elman said.

Although the lockdown at Graham is in its early stages, Elman saidthe agency thinks inmates at Danville are on their way torecovery.