News Reports for August 24, 2012

Influenza virus can change microRNA expression to control immune responses in human lung cells

When you are hit with the flu, you know it immediately -- fever, chills, sore throat, aching muscles, fatigue. This is your body mounting an immune response to the invading virus. But less is known about what is happening on the molecular level.

Now Northwestern University scientists have discovered one of the ways the influenza virus disarms our natural defense system. The virus decreases the production of key immune system-regulating proteins in human cells that help fight the invader. The virus does this by turning on the microRNAs -- little snippets of RNA -- that regulate these proteins.

The researchers, led by molecular biologist Curt M. Horvath, are among the first to show the influenza virus can change the expression of microRNA to control immune responses in human lung cells.

The findings reveal a new aspect of the interaction between the influenza virus and its host. Knowing how viruses disable the immune system to wreak havoc in the body will help researchers design therapeutics to preserve the immune response and keep people healthy. The knowledge also may be valuable for future diagnostics. The study is published by the Journal of Biological Chemistry. The paper will appear in its final form in September.

"It's a battle of supremacy between virus and host," said Horvath, the senior author of the paper. "Our goal is to understand how the flu replicates in the host. Now we've discovered a new pathway in which the flu controls the immune response, by shutting down vital protein production. With better understanding of this mechanism, one day we may be able to customize therapeutics to target individual flu strains." Continued: http://www.news-medical.net/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 @ Fri Aug 24, 2012 at 06:02:42 AM UTC

India: 4 new cases of swine flu near SGPGI

LUCKNOW: Four new confirmed cases of swine flu were reported (Snip) on Thursday. Samples of 16 suspect patients were sent to the microbiology department of Sanjay Gandhi Post Graduate Institute of Medical Sciences, four of them were found to be positive. With this, the total number of swine flu cases in the city has gone up to nine.

On Wednesday, two cases were reported from the SGPGI itself and two others from the nearby areas. The four new positive cases, too, have been found in the vicinity of the institute. (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

     

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by: Carol@SC @ Fri Aug 24, 2012 at 06:11:52 AM UTC

H3N2v Ohio Cases Increase to 98 in 23 Counties

Recombinomics Commentary

Ashland (1), Athens (8), Butler (17), Champaign (15), Clark (3), Fairfield (1), Franklin (4), Gallia (11), Greene (6), Hamilton (3), Henry (5), Huron (3), Jackson (1), Licking (2), Medina (1), Monroe (2), Montgomery (2), Morrow (1), Preble (1), Richland (2), Ross (7), Union (1), Warren (1).

The above list represents the August 23 tally of H3N2v cases confirmed in Ohio by the Ohio Department of Health (ODH).  The number of cases increased from 95 to 98, while the number of counties remained at 23. These short term increases signal increased testing, but also strongly suggests that many of the totals will represent serious undercounts.

Huron county increased by 2 to 3, while Licking increased by 1 to 2. The three counties in double digits Butler (17), Champaign (15), Gallia (11) did not change, although media reports indicate the 3 cases in Mason County, West Virginia attended the Gallia Junior County Fair and the WVDH has warned of more cases.

The 6 "seasonal" H3N2 cases in Ashland, Kentucky did not attend fairs in Ohio or West Virginia, but the tri-state cluster remains curious. Continued: 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 @ Fri Aug 24, 2012 at 06:21:14 AM UTC

Malaysia: D-G: Woman's death in Seremban not caused by H1N1

KUALA LUMPUR: The Health Ministry yesterday said the death of a 27-year-old woman in Seremban recently was not due to the Influenza A H1N1 as was suspected before.
Director-general of Health Datuk Seri Dr Hasan Abdul Rahman said the woman had been suffering from cough, fever, sore throat, chest pain and breathing difficulties for four days, before she sought treatment at Tuanku Jaafar Hospital.

"She was given treatment with antibiotics and was diagnosed with pneumonia before being screened for H1N1." Dr Hasan said a throat swab taken from the deceased tested positive for the Influenza A (H1N1) and she was given antiviral care at the intensive care unit of the hospital. "Her condition still did not improve and she succumbed to her illness at 3.40pm," (Snip)

He said that a mortality review carried out by medical experts under the ministry attributed her death to pneumonia and severe bacterial infections. "The H1N1 which she had contracted was not at all the cause of her death."

Dr Hasan reiterated that the patient's obesity problem was also a co-factor which possibly worsened her bacterial infections. Continued: http://www.nst.com.my/nation/g...

(Note: He certainly put a spin on this one!! Many H1N1 swine flu and seasonal flu patients develop pneumonia. Some die. The swine flu infection is what leads to the pneumonia, therefore H1N1 swine flu was a major factor in the death of this woman. JMO)

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 @ Fri Aug 24, 2012 at 06:33:58 AM UTC

Curious H3N2 Cluster In Tri-State (KY/WV/OH) Area

Recombinomics Commentary

"We've had six confirmed cases." says Kristy Bolen. "Usually flu isn't something we even think about until September or October.

Flu has been making news in recent weeks, but it's the swine flu, that's being picked up at county fairs around the region, and not seasonal flu.
The health department says that may be the foundation for why doctors are testing early.

"I think that's why clinicians, when children and adults are coming in with flu like symptoms, are testing them. They're concerned it could be pig exposure, but it wasn't; it was a seasonal flu.

The above comments describe the first six H3 cases in Ashland/Boyd County in Kentucky.  The cases were about 40 miles from the Gallia Junior County Fair, where more than 200 attendees had flu symptoms.  69 were influenza A positive by rapid test and 11 have been H3N2v confirmed by the Ohio Department of Health and the CDC (and none were reported as seasonal H3N2).  This large outbreak precipitated the local testing in Kentucky of symptomatic children under the age of five who had no swine exposure but were influenza A positive, and the H3 seasonal diagnosis was made using the CDC RT-PCR test.

However, since many of prior H3N2v initially tested as seasonal H3, confirmation of the seasonal H3N2 diagnosis required sequencing by the CDC.  Recombinomics has sent multiple e-mails and made many phone calls to the Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services as well as the Influenza division of the CDC in the past week and has failed to get an answer on CDC testing of these samples.

In addition to the H3N2v confirmations in Gallia County, Ohio, West Virginia has also reported three H3N2v confirmed cases in Mason County, which is adjacent to Gallia County.  West Virginia has also detected "seasonal H3" using the CDC RT-PCR kit and these "seasonal" samples have not been forwarded to the CDC, in spite of the CDC statement that they would suggest testing of ILI patients with no swine contact.

The failure of the CDC to test the West Virginia samples or respond to repeated inquiries regarding the Kentucky samples raises serious pandemic concerns. Continued: 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 @ Fri Aug 24, 2012 at 07:01:59 AM UTC

India: Madhya Pradesh on alert to nail spread of swine flu

Bhopal: Detection of two swine flu positive cases in Jabalpur and one in Bhopal has put the Madhya Pradesh health department on alert.  

There is also one suspected swine flu patient admitted in Bhopal and another in Jabalpur. Their swab sample reports are still awaited. Continued: http://daily.bhaskar.com/artic...

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 @ Fri Aug 24, 2012 at 07:22:13 AM UTC

H3N2v Pennsylvania Cases Increase to 31 in 3 Counties

Recombinomics Commentary

Huntingdon (24), Lancaster (1), Mifflin (1), Unknown (5)

This new virus is different from previous H3N2 human infections because it also contains part of the 2009 H1N1 virus. It is the same virus we saw in three ill people who had all attended the Washington County Fair last year in Pennsylvania.

The above comments are from the Pennsylvania Department of Health website on H3N2v cases, which cites 6 confirmed and 25 probable cases linked to the Huntingdon County Fair. (Snip) The H3N2v cases are distributed in at least 3 different counties.  

Although the site claims that the 2012 cases are the same as the 2011 cases at the Washington County Fair, this similarities is likely limited to the presence of an H1N1pm09 M gene.  All released sequences to date have matched the sub-clade first reported in West Virginia, which was distinct from the first 10 cases in 2011 Continued: 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 @ Fri Aug 24, 2012 at 12:59:27 PM UTC

US: New Flu Strain Shows up at County Fair in PA (Pennsylvania)

UNIVERSITY PARK. - Influenza outbreaks associated with swine at fairs are making headlines in the Midwest and in Pennsylvania. And these flu cases present a new twist to an old problem, according to an expert in Penn State's College of Agricultural Sciences.

Reports in recent weeks indicated that youths working with swine at fairs in the states of Indiana and Ohio came down with a strain of the flu that had not been seen previously - a new virus. Those pigs were said to be coughing and had nasal congestion and runny noses.

The Pennsylvania cases of flu occurred among youth participants in the Huntingdon County Fair, Aug. 5-11. The youths apparently caught mild cases of flu - they had been in contact with swine - and the youths were sent home to recuperate. There were no reported hospitalizations, and there is no evidence that the new flu strain spread from person to person.

After an investigation, the Pennsylvania Department of Health reported four confirmed and six probable human cases of influenza due to a new strain of the flu, known as H3N2v. The "v" stands for variant, or new strain. This is the same virus that recently caused illness in Indiana and Ohio, mostly among children who were exhibitors at or attended agricultural fairs.

In light of these outbreaks, people visiting or exhibiting at a county fair in the coming weeks should use common sense and take steps to protect their health, especially if they are at high risk for illness, said David Wolfgang, extension veterinarian and field studies director in veterinary and biomedical sciences.

"The novel part of this is that kids at fairs have gotten the flu," he said. "The real question is whether the kids are getting it from the pigs, or are they already sick and are sharing it with the pigs? And no one has been able to say how this variant strain of the flu got from Ohio and Indiana to central Pennsylvania so fast.

"I find this curious - and it is troubling how fast it is spreading." Continued: http://gantdaily.com/2012/08/2...  

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 @ Fri Aug 24, 2012 at 13:05:02 PM UTC

US: State fair to be vigilant, but pig barn stays open (Minnesota)

Although a prominent public health expert said Tuesday he'd like to see pigs banned from the State Fair and other public gatherings over concerns about swine flu, fair and health officials say the pig barn will be open when the fair opens Thursday. Veterinarians will keep a watchful eye out for sick pigs, and exhibitors have been told to speak up immediately if they or their animal is ill, said deputy state epidemiologist Richard Danila.

Health experts also said children under 5, people over 65, pregnant women and those with compromised immune systems should stay away from the pigs. Visitors may also be asked not to touch pigs. At this point, Minnesota has reported one confirmed case of the swine flu and another suspected case.

Former state epidemiologist Michael Osterholm told MPR News Tuesday he worries the swine flu could grow more virulent -- and even deadly -- if it passes too often between pigs and people. "What we're very concerned about here is that with repeated transmissions that occur from pigs to people . . . that is a perfect setup for creating a much, much more severe virus, Osterholm, head of the Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy at the University of Minnesota, said. He said the safest thing to do would be to simply ban pigs from fairs while this strain of flu is circulating.

"In 80 years of culturing this virus, no one has seen anything even close to this situation that we're seeing now with this H3N2 variant virus in North America," Osterholm said. "What's happened in fairs around the country in the last month is just absolutely unprecedented."

But pig producers and some health officials say that concern may be overblown. They point out that pigs and people interact closely away from the fair all around the world. Danila said the low number of cases in Minnesota is a good sign.

So there are likely to be about 900 pigs at the fair, between 4H kids starting to arrive Wednesday and FFA exhibitors next weekend.

"You know there probably have been 50 million, 80 million visitors at county and state fairs this last few months, with many countless human-pig interactions," Danila said. "Yet, to date, there have only been 230 human cases of this new virus. And most of those have been mild illness, most of them have been children, and most of them have been in people with prolonged swine contact."

The bottom line, he said: there's no need to close the swine barn or ban pigs from the fair, and the danger of viral mutation is only theoretical at this point. Continued: http://www.postbulletin.com/ne...

(Note: Apparently, deputy state epidemiologist Richard Danila thinks that because there have only been 230 confirmed cases, that it is just a "Ho-Hum" flu strain. He needs to look at the "potential" instead of the "numbers". We really don't know how many cases there have been in the US so far because so many of them go unreported. If Michael Osterholm is correct, as I believe he is, Mr. Danila is going to end up looking quite foolish and if the H3N2v becomes more virulent and goes pandemic then it will be the world's population that suffers. JMO)

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 @ Fri Aug 24, 2012 at 13:52:28 PM UTC

US: Canine Influenza in Lancaster County; Cases Expected in York County

Pennsylvania - An examination room at Donegal Animal Hospital in Lancaster County was shut down Thursday after a dog suspected of having canine influenza was treated.  The dog had recently been in contact with another dog with the virus.  The exam room was closed and cleaned thoroughly and reopened Friday.  During the past few weeks canine influenza was confirmed in a few dogs while a few others visited the hospital with flu-like symptoms.

While there have been no confirmed cases reported in York County a York veterinarian tells FOX43 it's only a matter of time.  The Community Animal Hospital veterinarian has already seen a few dogs with symptoms and has warned dog owners of the possible threat.  Signs to look out for include a cough that lasts 10 to 21 days, a mild fever, and green and yellow discharge coming from the nose.  In more severe cases pneumonia is developed, along with fatigue, and loss of appetite. Continued: http://www.fox43.com/news/wpmt...

(Note: There are cases of (H3N2v) swine flu variant in Pennsylvania and now (H3N8) cannine influenza. I sure hope there is no way they can swap genes! Cannine flu has never been found in humans to date. However, pigs are an influenza "incubator". The H8N3 virus jumped species from horses to dogs and has now adapted to cause illness in dogs and spread efficiently among them.)

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 @ Fri Aug 24, 2012 at 20:18:41 PM UTC

Bronco Bill, it's Friday joke time!

Your giggles are here: http://www.newfluwiki2.com/dia...

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 @ Fri Aug 24, 2012 at 21:00:53 PM UTC

Please post new news stories to...

News Reports for August 25, 2012

Thank you!

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by: AlohaOR @ Sat Aug 25, 2012 at 04:01:18 AM UTC