News Reports for May 16, 2012

Clonal Expansion of 2012 H1N1 H274Y In Texas and Mexico

Recombinomics Commentary

Resistance to neuraminidase inhibitors has been low or undetectable throughout most of the season; however, a slight increase in levels of resistance to oseltamivir has been reported in influenza A(H1N1)pdm09 isolates in the USA. Most (11/16) of these oseltamivir resistant cases have been from the state of Texas, where influenza A(H1N1)pdm09 has been the most common virus circulating.

The above comments from the May 10, 2012 WHO influenza update on influenza cites H274Y (Tamiflu resistance), which was also noted in the Week 17 update from the WHO Pan American Health Organization.

(Snip) H274Y was also seen in recently released (by CDC at GISAID) Texas H1N1pdm09 NA sequences, where all cases since late January (Snip) had H274Y.  

Similarly, all H1N1pdm09 sequences from Mexico since mid-January, 2012 (Snip), also had H274Y, and were from the same sub-clade circulating in Texas.  

These sequence matches signal clonal expansion of oseltamivir resistant H1N1pdm09 in Texas and Mexico on the most dominant sub-clade circulating in the United States and Mexico.

The fixing of this change in this large region raises pandemic concerns. http://www.recombinomics.com/N...

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

     

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by: Carol@SC @ Wed May 16, 2012 at 05:20:04 AM UTC

Australia: Mums hardest hit as nasty flu on way

THE flu season is near and experts predict it will hit Victoria early next month.

And a Newspoll survey has found women are hit hardest by colds and flu, with overworked mums staying at home to care for their sick children.

Health authorities have so far detected swine flu, as well as another strain mostly affecting young children, and a deadly one affecting the elderly and unwell.

The survey of 1200 Australians found three in five mums had cancelled plans in order to stay at home and mind their sick children, compared to fewer than half of men, and just as many women allowed their sick child to sleep in their bed to comfort them.

Naturopath Emma Sutherland said the findings highlighted the need for women to be healthy before winter hits, with stress increasing susceptibility to colds or flu. "Mums are usually the primary caretaker in the household and very often have to juggle the various pressures of everyday life," Ms Sutherland said. "Between keeping their productivity and energy levels up at work, managing the household chores and taking care of sick children, winter can be a very intense period for women."

Influenza Specialist Group chair Dr Alan Hampson said the H3 influenza strain had been identified in Australia, and a major outbreak would cause a surge in hospital admissions and deaths.

But the other prevalent type B influenza, which tended to affect young children, did not normally kill, while only low levels of swine flu had been detected, Dr Hampson said. "We'll start to see increasing numbers of cases during June ... and they will peak between July and September," he said.

Victoria's Chief Health Officer, Dr Rosemary Lester, said there had been 325 laboratory-confirmed influenza cases so far, compared to 458 at the same time last year. Continued: http://www.heraldsun.com.au/ne...

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

     

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by: Carol@SC @ Wed May 16, 2012 at 05:40:18 AM UTC

Taiwan: HPAI in Yun-Lin; LPAI in T'ai-Chung

TAIWAN - The Taiwanese veterinary authorities have reported one outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza in Yun Lin and one outbreak of low pathogenic avian influenza in T'ai-Chung.

The World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) received Follow-up Report No. 4 and Follow-up Report No. 7 on 14 May reporting HPAI in native chickens and LPAI in ducks respectively. Out of 15461 chickens, 6500 cases were identified and 3850 deaths were reported. 11611 chickens were destroyed.

Clinical cases were notified by the veterinarian and abnormal mortality rate was noticed. The local disease control center (LDCC) conducted movement restrictions, clinical inspection, epidemiological investigation and sampling on the farm.

The results of RT-PCR test and HA0 cleavage site sequencing are considered as H5N2 HPAI. Clinical and epidemiological investigation of surrounding poultry farms was conducted. No other case or evidence of infection was detected. Continued: http://www.thepoultrysite.com/...

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

     

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by: Carol@SC @ Wed May 16, 2012 at 05:46:27 AM UTC

CIDRAP: Cell phone emergency alert system set to debut (United States)

 nationwide program to deliver weather and national emergency warnings to cell phones is slated to go live this month, according to media reports. The Commercial Mobile Alert System (CMAS), also known as the Personalized Local Alerting Network (PLAN), was proposed by the Federal Communications Commission based on the Warning Alert and Response Network (WARN) Act passed by Congress in 2006 along with $106 million in funding. The move was designed to modernize the nation's emergency alert system, according to CTIA wireless emergency alerts consumer information (CTIA is an industry organization for wireless companies).

The system is voluntary for cell phone companies, and so far at least seven companies are participating, including some of the nation's largest carriers. The free messages include local weather alerts, Amber alerts, and presidential alerts. Consumers can opt out of all but the presidential alerts. The alerts, which carriers offer for free, look like text messages but are distinguished by their own tone and vibration. The messages are geographically targeted and sent using a one-way system that isn't able to track consumers' cell phones, according to background information from federal agencies and CTIA. Continued: http://www.cidrap.umn.edu/cidr...

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

     

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by: Carol@SC @ Wed May 16, 2012 at 05:54:20 AM UTC

Please post new news stories to...

News Reports for May 17, 2012

Thank you!

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

     

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by: Carol@SC @ Thu May 17, 2012 at 05:27:46 AM UTC