News Reports for April 30, 2012

Ireland: State solely responsible for vaccine, says maker

The makers of the swine flu vaccine associated with an increase in sleeping disorders among children in Ireland has said the State is the sole bearer of responsibility for any compensation claims. Drug maker GSK manufactured the Pandemrix vaccine, which is associated with a thirteenfold rise in narcolepsy among children and adolescents in Ireland.

At least 24 young people who received the vaccine went on to develop narcolepsy, a life-long disorder associated with excessive sleepiness and hallucinations. Support groups say they are aware of other potential cases which have yet to be officially confirmed.

In a statement, GSK said it took the safety of individuals very seriously and was committed to the highest standards of patient safety. "We would never allow any medicine or vaccine that did not meet the stringent internal criteria as well as regulatory standards to be made available for use," it said. "Throughout the development of our pandemic vaccines there were no data that suggested a potential for an increased risk of narcolepsy among those vaccinated with our H1N1 pandemic vaccine, Pandemrix."

The company said it was reviewing a report published by the Department of Health last week which found an association between the vaccine and the sleeping disorder, but believed that "further questions need to be explored before definitive conclusions on the association".

While details of the deal between health authorities and GSK over supply of the vaccine have not been released, it is understood the State paid €5-€15 million for more than 900,000 doses.

The use of Pandemrix is no longer recommended in Ireland and GPs have been advised to return any remaining stocks. This year's seasonal flu vaccine does not contain Pandemrix.

As part of the deal, the State signed an indemnity agreement in which it took sole responsibility for any potential compensation claims. Continued: http://www.irishtimes.com/news...

Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away. --Unknown

     

---

by: Carol@SC @ Mon Apr 30, 2012 at 06:28:58 AM UTC

India: Karnataka Swine Flu (H1N1) Update: Total number of cases 173

After Maharashtra, Karnataka has the highest number of swine flu (H1N1) cases since Jan 2012. The state health ministry and experts however contend that there is no reason to panic. There have been 173 positive cases in the state. Maharashtra with 463 cases has the highest number of cases.
(Snip)
"During the pandemic, the H1N1 virus crowded out other influenza viruses to become the dominant virus. This is no longer the case. In addition to surveillance, vaccination, and clinical management during the post-pandemic period, a continuous study in this regard for a period of 8-10 months is necessary" he further added.

(Snip) joint director (communicable diseases), Karnataka Health and Family Welfare Department  seconds the opinion that there is no reason to panic. "The State Health Department is well equipped. Recently we had a meeting with the representatives from private nursing homes in order to sensitise the doctors and create awareness about early detection of the H1N1 cases."

"We have enough stock of anti-viral drugs and testing kits. In addition, apart from NIMHANS, testing units are in place at three other hospitals: Manipal Hospital, Narayana Hrudayalaya and Command Hospital. Hence we are equipped to handle any load of cases." he added. http://health.india.com/news/k...

(Note: "During the pandemic, the H1N1 virus crowded out other influenza viruses to become the dominant virus. This is no longer the case." They only count laboratory confirmed cases and they have not mentioned finding any strain except H1N1 swine flu.)

Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away. --Unknown

     

---

by: Carol@SC @ Mon Apr 30, 2012 at 06:46:04 AM UTC

Nepal: Parliamentary fund to help promote Kalikot locals' income Compensation for losses incurred by poultry farmers due to bird flu

The Bird Flu Disease Control District Technical Committee has decided to compensate the losses incurred by poultry farmers in the culling of poultry and related products carried out in order to check the spread of the disease. The meeting on Sunday of the Committee decided to award compensation to the losses incurred due to the damage in eggs, poultry feed and other goods including poultry faeces, RSS reports.
(Snip)
The poultry farmers can now avail of the new ambit of compensation from the Department of District Livestock Services, according to the Committee. Continued: http://www.nepalnews.com/home/...

Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away. --Unknown

     

---

by: Carol@SC @ Mon Apr 30, 2012 at 06:52:35 AM UTC

The correct headline for the above article is:

"Compensation for losses incurred by poultry farmers due to bird flu"  

Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away. --Unknown

     

---

by: Carol@SC @ Mon Apr 30, 2012 at 07:22:25 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

Bird Flu Outbreak in Bali

Officials Cull Hundreds of Bird and Close Markets After Death of Bali Child Initially Linked to H5N1 Virus Outbreak

4/29/2012)
Bali Animal Health Officials have again recorded a new outbreak of Bird Flu among Bali's poultry populations. Officials warn that Bali, as area endemic to the H5N1 Virus, can expect the disease to sporadically present itself at any location around the island from time to time.

Quoted by Beritabali.com, the head of the Livestock and Animal Health Department for Bali, Putu Sumantra, blamed the appearance of Bird Flu in Bali over the past year on low levels of bio-security, particularly at bird and traditional markets where traders place little importance on following guidelines to eliminate the disease.

"The implementation of bio-security measures, by both traders and consumers, is little considered. Because of this, the disease is sporadically appearing, with 12 cases identified to date," explained Sumantra.

Another factor making Bali vulnerable to the disease is the widespread tendency to allow poultry to roam freely in areas of human populations.

As many as 230 fighting cocks were rounded up and destroyed by officials at the Satria Bird Market in downtown Denpasar on Thursday, April 26, 2012. The slaughter followed the death of an 8-year-old child from Kintamani identified by preliminary laboratory tests as a victim of the H5N1 Virus and the sudden death of a chicken purchased from the Satria Bird market.

Dr (veterinarian) Wayan Sukandi of the laboratory of the Livestock and Animal Health Department said, "the destruction of hundred of chickens was done to interrupt the cycle of contamination for the H5N1 Virus."
The mass culling of birds took place after a "rapid test" confirmed the virus was present in the market's bird population.

The birds, originating from Probolinggo and Jember in East Java, were euthanized through fatal injections before having their remains burned.

In 2012 Bali has recorded two deaths linked to the H5N1 virus. In February a resident of Tabanan died from Bird Flu. The latest death of a child from Bangli, Kintanani on April 24 was tied to the virus, but subsequent confirmatory tests carried out in Jakarta reportedly proved negative for the H5N1 Virus.

http://www.balidiscovery.com/m...

United we stand: Divided we fall
www.flunewsnetwork.com

---

by: cottontop @ Mon Apr 30, 2012 at 13:47:18 PM UTC

Extended H5N1 Moratorium?

Despite positive recommendations by the National Science Advisory Board for Biosecurity (NSABB) and the US Department of Health and Human Services to publish in full the results of two H5N1 studies that managed to make the virus transmissible between ferrets, the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) Anthony Fauci and others recommended that researchers respect "an extension on the moratorium" on such dual use research, ScienceInsider reported.

(Snip)

The original 60-day voluntary moratorium on H5N1 transmissibility research was initiated by a letter signed by 39 influenza researchers on January 20, and was then extended by a World Health Organization (WHO) expert panel in February after it recommended the researchers publish the results in full. The WHO extension was intended to allow experts around the world to address the biosecurity concerns about the research, as well as to convey to the public the nature and importance of the studies before publication.

Indeed, much discussion has ensued during the now 4-month long moratorium. The US government instituted a new policy regard the review of dual use research, the National Science Advisory Board for Biosecurity and the US Department of Health and Human Services have recommended that the results of two H5N1 studies be published in full, and, just last Friday (April 27), the Dutch government announced that it will grant virologist Ron Fouchier of Erasmus MC an export license for his H5N1 transmissibility study, allowing him to submit a revised manuscript of his Science paper and finalize its publication without facing the threat of 6 years in prison or a $102,000 fine. But Fauci and others feel that there is more to be done before allowing such research to continue in full swing. Continued: http://the-scientist.com/2012/...

Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away. --Unknown

     

---

by: Carol@SC @ Mon Apr 30, 2012 at 19:08:41 PM UTC

UK: 10 hit by home flu outbreak

A WATERSIDE care home was forced to discourage family visits at the weekend after a flu outbreak affecting at least ten residents. (Snip) "The Trust can confirm that a number of residents at Seymour Gardens Care Home, Londonderry are currently being treated for flu-like illness. The Trust has informed the families of the residents and is discouraging all visiting at this stage.
(Snip)
"Ten residents in total are receiving antibiotic treatment and there is no immediate concern for any particular resident. (Snip) http://www.londonderrysentinel...

(Note: Antibiotic treatment? Either the reporter got that wrong, or they are receiving antibiotics to prevent a secondary bacterial infection or the facility needs to start them immediately on Tamiflu too! JMO)

Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away. --Unknown

     

---

by: Carol@SC @ Mon Apr 30, 2012 at 19:19:23 PM UTC

It could be me but there seems to be a lot of pneumonia this year

Both my parents have just had it for the first time. Mum's just out of hospital!

Mild winter and low flu levels have created an opportunity for other infections. H3N2 will bite this year with a vengence :-(

Now April/May is cold and winter infections are starting out of season. Madness.

---

by: UK - Bird @ Mon Apr 30, 2012 at 21:14:02 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Hi UK - Bird

I'm sorry to hear your parents have been sick. There seems to be a lot of flu in the adult care centers in the UK this year and it had to have been carried in by others with the flu. I think you folks are in for a bad flu season this year and we probably will be too come fall and winter. I don't think we will be lucky enough to have 2 mild ones in a row.

The weather here in the southern part of the US has been nuts too. We went from winter to summer and pretty much skipped spring altogether.  

Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away. --Unknown

     

---

by: Carol@SC @ Mon Apr 30, 2012 at 23:20:43 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Hi Carol! :-)

Thanks, Mum and Dad are much better. One of the reasons I look after them is I know care homes are bad for shared illnesses. I do get them vaccinated as early as possible but it isn't a guarantee that flu won't strike. I think flu would have been more devastating than the pneumonia.

---

by: UK - Bird @ Fri May 04, 2012 at 07:27:24 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

US: Senate Panel Approves Bill on Health Care Worker Flu Vaccination

California: Late Thursday, the Senate Labor and Industrial Relations Committee approved a bill (SB 1318), by Sen. Lois Wolk (D-Davis), that would require all California health care workers to either receive an influenza vaccination or wear a mask while in patient areas during the flu season, the Woodland Daily Democrat reports. The legislation now goes to the Senate Appropriations Committee.

  Bill Details

The bill aims to help prevent the spread of influenza among patients at high risk of developing serious flu complications. (Snip) "According to CDC, vaccination is especially important for health care personnel who regularly come in contact with these vulnerable individuals, who are at higher risk of flu complications and death." She added that the bill "is an essential step toward preventing the outbreak of influenza in California's health care facilities."

Sponsors of the legislation include the Health Officers Association of California, the California Medical Association and the California Association of Nurse Practitioners (Woodland Daily Democrat, 4/28).

  Assembly Panel Considers Immunization Exemption Bill

Meanwhile, the Assembly Committee on Appropriations soon will consider a bill (AB 2109), by Assembly member Richard Pan (D-Natomas), that would require parents seeking a personal belief exemption from a state requirement that children be immunized to submit a signed document from a health care worker, noting that the parent has been informed of the risks associated with forgoing immunizations. Continued: http://www.californiahealthlin...

Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away. --Unknown

     

---

by: Carol@SC @ Mon Apr 30, 2012 at 19:29:37 PM UTC

India: Ready to tackle H1N1 - Palike chief (Karnataka)

The BBMP Commissioner Shankarlinge Gowda has allayed fears about the spread of H1N1 in the City.
(Snip)
It has so far claimed five lives in the City. (Snip) the five people who had died of H1N1 were not from the City, but were brought from neighbouring towns. He informed the Council that there was enough stock of anti-viral drugs in the Palike hospitals. Congress corporator M K Gunashekar sought to know the measures taken to check H1N1. He also wanted to know whether BBMP hospitals were prepared to treat H1N1 cases.

"It is not an epidemic. So, there is no need to panic. Getting unnerved by H1N1 will stop people from coming to Bangalore. This way, the City will lose business," (Snip) http://www.deccanherald.com/co...

Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away. --Unknown

     

---

by: Carol@SC @ Mon Apr 30, 2012 at 20:06:47 PM UTC

India: 2 more swine flu cases (Maharashtra)

MUMBAI: Civic officials reported two more cases of swine flu in the city on Monday, after a week-long lull. One of the patients is a 34-year-old man from Mankhurd undergoing treatment at the (Snip) Kasturba Hospital (Snip) while the other is a 35-year-old woman from Malad. "Both are stable. The Malad patient is under treatment from a private practitioner at home," (Snip) http://timesofindia.indiatimes...

Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away. --Unknown

     

---

by: Carol@SC @ Mon Apr 30, 2012 at 23:36:46 PM UTC

Please post new news stories to...

News Reports for May 1, 2012

Thank you!

---

by: AlohaOR @ Tue May 01, 2012 at 04:39:27 AM UTC