News Reports for June 19, 2012

China: Warning as flu deaths hit 178 (Hong Kong)

The longer-than-usual flu season has resulted in 178 deaths so far this year. And it's not yet over, with Centre for Health Protection (Snip) warning it may last until the middle of next month.

"We expect the flu virus to remain vigorous and the number of infections to remain high, particularly in schools, until the summer break," Tsang said.

Those who died were among 273 patients admitted in serious condition since January (Snip) Of those admitted, almost 90 percent were elderly.

Last year the peak flu season lasted only three months, from January to March, when 34 of 123 patients admitted died.

Tsang said the longer season and the higher death rate seen this year is probably caused by slight genetic changes in the common influenza viruses. (Snip) the peak period for infections was seen in the first week of this month, when patient numbers topped 900. The number dropped to around 600 in the second week.

"Though the number of infections has dropped, it is still at a serious level as normally there are only 100 to 200 cases each week." Continued: http://www.thestandard.com.hk/...

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 @ Tue Jun 19, 2012 at 06:26:48 AM UTC

Australia: Flu season arrives early (Northern Territory)

The Health Department says the flu season has arrived in central Australia and residents are being warned to get vaccinated. Dr Vicki Krause from the Centre for Disease Control says 42 people have been treated with the flu since April.
(Snip)
"It is early for the flu to appear or for us to say the flu season is underway," she said. "Early June is a bit early, it's usually more of mid-July into August (Snip)

"Since the beginning of April there have been about 42, this would be lab-confirmed cases, from Alice Springs and [the] Barkly region.

(Snip) most (Snip) of these lab-notified have been hospitalised and some have been in [the] ICU [intensive care unit]. http://www.abc.net.au/news/201...

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 @ Tue Jun 19, 2012 at 06:36:56 AM UTC

Australia: Busy flu season ahead for doctors (South Australia)

Adelaide general practitioner Dr Peter Ford has reported a doubling in patients presenting with symptoms of the flu in the past fortnight. Usually spiking towards the end of July and August, Dr Ford said it was not uncommon for colds and flus to start spreading this time of year.

(Snip)

Dr Ford said in the past fortnight he had observed a significant spike in respiratory illness at this practice, with the majority being the common cold, but cases of the flu had also begun to appear. People with severe cases of winter colds or flus, or those with other medical ailments that may complicate treatments or recovery should advise their local GP of any conditions when booking for consultation to ensure priority can be given. http://www.abc.net.au/local/st...  

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 @ Tue Jun 19, 2012 at 06:43:16 AM UTC

Flu epidemic sweeping Suriname

PARAMARIBO, Suriname, Monday June 18, 2012 - Health surveillance agencies in Suriname are reporting a "remarkable" increase in influenza (flu) cases in the country over the past few weeks.

Reports are that the number of flu cases with airway infections keeps increasing, with the Medical Mission (MZ) registering more than 800 cases in the hinterland alone in four weeks' time, (Snip) "We've seen a strong increase in all regions in the hinterland. We're alert and have already informed the Bureau of Public Health (BOG) of this increase."

The physician reportedly added that no case required hospitalization, but she described the increase as "remarkable" and said the exact cause of the epidemic was yet to be determined.

One possible cause suggested was the large-scale migration to the hinterland of people from French Guiana, which has also has been hit by an epidemic. (Snip) http://www.caribbean360.com/in...

Map & images of Suriname, South America: http://www.google.com/search?q...

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 @ Tue Jun 19, 2012 at 06:52:01 AM UTC

Grant for Vaccine Center Gives A&M Billion-Dollar Boost

http://www.chron.com/news/hous...
June 19, 2012
The Texas A&M University System has won an immense federal contract to become a national hub of vaccine production and bioterror preparedness.  The federal contract to create a Center for Innovation in Advanced Development and Manufacturing in College Station is likely worth at least $1.5 to $2 billion over the next 25 years.

"It's the biggest federal grant to come to Texas since NASA, quite frankly," Texas A&M University System Chancellor John Sharp said.
(snip)

The announcement also has implications for the Texas A&M system itself, which began as an institution devoted to agriculture and engineering, and had been searching for a way to expand its life sciences portfolio in an era that emphasizes human biology over all other research.
Other state institutions, primarily affiliated with the University of Texas system, excel at basic medical research and clinical trials. In between, however, there is a scarcity of resources and space for taking lab breakthroughs, conducting animal tests and making large, quality-controlled batches of new medicines for clinical trials.  A&M's veterinary school and engineering expertise will help ease and speed this "translational" phase of medicine development, Giroir said.
That's precisely what the federal government sought in awarding three large contracts, one to Texas A&M and the others to bids led by private contractors, Emergent BioSolutions and Novartis.

"Establishing these centers represents a dramatic step forward in ensuring that the United States can produce lifesaving countermeasures quickly and nimbly," Sebelius said Monday.

It took about eight months to make the H1N1 vaccine after the initial swine flu outbreak in 2009, by which time tens of millions of Americans already had been infected and experienced mild symptoms. That outbreak and concerns about the potential for bioterrorism prompted the federal government to create three new centers that would be capable of making 50 million doses of influenza vaccine within four months.
(more)

"I am opposed to any form of tyranny over the mind of man."  Thomas Jefferson

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by: History Lover @ Tue Jun 19, 2012 at 13:35:18 PM UTC

WHO: Updated H5N1 timeline of major events

is here

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by: AlohaOR @ Tue Jun 19, 2012 at 16:49:25 PM UTC

US: HHS Investing 400m to Speed Pandemic Vaccine Production

http://www.in-pharmatechnologi...

(Note: This article is copyright protected so that's why I only posted the title and link.)

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 @ Tue Jun 19, 2012 at 18:43:16 PM UTC

HHS site has details on how the $400 million is budgeted.

HHS creates new centers to develop, manufacture medical countermeasures

Centers are first major U.S. domestic infrastructure to address biodefense threats and pandemic influenza

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services today established three new centers to develop and manufacture medical countermeasures, such as vaccines and medicines used to protect health in emergencies, and can transition quickly and cost effectively between products. The centers will aid in bringing new medical countermeasures to the market faster and would help to train the biopharmaceutical workforce needed in the future.

"Establishing these centers represents a dramatic step forward in ensuring that the United States can produce life-saving countermeasures quickly and nimbly," said HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius. "They will improve our ability to protect Americans' health in an emergency and help fill gaps in preparedness so that our nation can respond to known or unknown threats."...

From the end of the article:

The private partners will provide approximately 35 percent of the total cost of the initial building phase. HHS will support the cost of operation and maintenance of the centers in subsequent years.

As the facilities become operational in 2014 and 2015, the center leads will begin assisting small biotech companies with technology, regulatory affairs, quality systems, and manufacturing expertise to reach the goal of a licensed and readily available product for public and private use. Also at that time, center academic partners will offer advanced training for the next generation of biotechnology workers.

Emergent Manufacturing Operations Baltimore LLC, with facilities in Baltimore and Gaithersburg, Md., will lead one center, working with a network of partners; Michigan State University, Kettering University of Flint, Mich., and the University of Maryland, Baltimore. This contract is for approximately $163 million over the first eight years.

Novartis will head a second center, leveraging existing public-private investments by HHS in state-of-the-art facilities in Holly Springs, N.C., and working with North Carolina State University and Duke University. The Novartis contract is valued at approximately $60 million over the first four years.

The Texas A&M University System will lead a third Center collaborating with GlaxoSmithKline Vaccines of Marietta, Pa.; Lonza of Houston, Texas, and Kalon Biotherapeutics of College Station, Texas. This contract is valued at approximately $176 million over the first five years.

http://www.hhs.gov/news/press/...

"The truth does not change according to our ability to stomach it."  Flannery O'Connor

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by: Jane @ Tue Jun 19, 2012 at 20:16:48 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Australia: Flu bites in WA

Western Australia: GP surgeries and hospitals are seeing the first surge of winter flu, with the highest number of cases so far in the season since the swine flu pandemic in 2009.

While the strain responsible for the pandemic, H1N1, has largely disappeared, it has been replaced with a new influenza A strain from the northern hemisphere, H3N2, which is making up half of all laboratory-tested cases in WA. The Health Department said flu cases had picked up in the past few weeks after higher than normal activity over summer and autumn.
(Snip)
"Both laboratory detections of influenza virus and reports from general practice of influenza-like illness have increased over the past few weeks and current levels are higher than what was experienced at the same time in the past two years," a spokeswoman said. "Other winter viruses, such as respiratory syncytial virus, are also increasing and contributing to the burden of flu-like illnesses in the community."

(Snip)

AMA WA past president and emergency doctor Dave Mountain said hospitals were only seeing the start of the winter flu season but were already struggling to cope. Health Department figures show a surge in attendances at metropolitan emergency departments in the past few days, with about 1700 patients last Sunday and 1600 on Monday.

Dr Mountain said there was little spare capacity and he did not know how hospitals would cope, particularly with flu season picking up early. (Snip)  http://au.news.yahoo.com/thewe...

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 @ Tue Jun 19, 2012 at 19:11:24 PM UTC

China: Update on clusters of Influenza A cases at Castle Peak Hospital (Hong Kong)

(Snip) Regarding the announcement yesterday on clusters of patients in two female forensic wards confirmed with Influenza A, the spokesperson for Castle Peak Hospital made the following update today (June 19):

One more patient aged 67 and two staff members in one of the wards have presented with flu symptoms. (Snip)the test results are pending. The patient is being treated under isolation and is in stable condition. The staff members concerned are now on sick leave.

Admission to the ward has been suspended and restricted visiting has been imposed. (Snip) All other patients in the ward concerned are under close surveillance. (Snip) http://7thspace.com/headlines/...

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 @ Tue Jun 19, 2012 at 19:16:58 PM UTC

US: New Influenza Prevention Initiative to Focus on Older Adults this Upcoming Flu Season

WASHINGTON, June 19, 2012 Older Adults Most Vulnerable to Influenza and Related Complications; Vaccination Options for Adults 65 and Older Available this Season

The National Council on Aging (NCOA) is leading the charge to educate older adults about the threat of influenza and the importance of immunization through a new awareness initiative called Flu + You.

Each year in the United States about nine out of 10 flu-related deaths and more than six out of 10 flu-related hospital stays occur in people over the age of 65.

With the first baby boomers turning 65 and the population aging in general, it is more critical than ever to understand how aging affects the body's ability to fight infection and the simple steps that can be taken to help protect against influenza - one of the most deadly and costly diseases for older adults.

The National Council on Aging announced today it is spearheading a new initiative to help protect older adults from influenza this upcoming flu season. The educational program, Flu + You, in collaboration with Sanofi Pasteur, aims to educate older adults and their caregivers about the seriousness of influenza, the importance of annual influenza immunization, and available vaccine options. Continued: http://www.marketwatch.com/sto...  

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 @ Tue Jun 19, 2012 at 19:49:49 PM UTC

Please post new news stories to...

News Reports for June 20, 2012

Thank you!

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by: AlohaOR @ Wed Jun 20, 2012 at 05:26:54 AM UTC