Articles tagged with Swine Flu
UQ researchers developed a rapid molecular assay to detect swine flu in under two weeks, diagnosing the first Australian case. The tests have been implemented at several hospitals and used to detect cases in the Northern Territory.
A 22-year-old woman, recently undergoing chemotherapy for Hodgkin's disease, survives severe swine-flu infection after receiving unlicensed intravenous Relenza treatment in combination with corticosteroids. Her condition improved significantly within 48 hours, and she was discharged after 24 days in ICU.
A laboratory study by University of Maryland researchers suggests the H1N1 pandemic variety prevails and out-compets other flu strains in a lab setting, reproducing twice as much on average. The findings support vaccinating against the pandemic flu virus this season due to its high communicability.
Researchers found that levels of the 2009 H1N1 virus rose more quickly than seasonal flu strains, causing more severe disease. The novel virus was also transmitted more easily from infected to uninfected ferrets.
A VBI researcher has received $786,797 to develop high-performance computer models for studying infectious diseases. These simulations can provide important information before an outbreak happens, aiding policymakers in making informed decisions.
The American Academy of Neurology and the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention are monitoring H1N1 vaccine safety for Guillain-Barré syndrome. Neurologists are urged to report any new cases following vaccination, as a precautionary measure due to the association between GBS and previous pandemic vaccines.
A new study by Clemson University mathematician Jan Medlock and colleague Alison Galvani recommends prioritizing vaccinations for schoolchildren and adults aged 30-39 to control the spread of seasonal flu and H1N1. The researchers found that these age groups are crucial in preventing transmission, which can lead to severe symptoms amon...
A national champion is needed to ensure access to vaccines and expertise, while local leaders must collaborate to respond rapidly. The Canadian Medical Association Journal emphasizes the importance of preparedness and clear communication to combat the H1N1 pandemic.
The NIAID analysis of 14 global influenza epidemics reveals no consistent pattern of wave-like surges prior to major outbreaks. Instead, the authors note a great diversity of severity among past pandemics, making predicting the future course of H1N1 virus difficult.
The grant aims to support the development of a vaccine designed to protect pigs from novel H1N1 and other strains of influenza. Researchers at Iowa State University will test the technology against various strains.
Researchers from Texas are creating complex models to simulate the spread of diseases by studying human behavior. The group aims to design effective public health policies that not only utilize resources but also influence individual decision-making to prevent disease transmission.
Countries are urged to prioritize post-marketing surveillance to address H1N1 vaccine safety concerns. The US is advised to support dose-sparing strategies to avoid depletion of the already short vaccine supply.
A recent study found that pregnant women with H1N1 flu are at increased risk of severe disease and complications, highlighting the need for prompt antiviral treatment. The study suggests that vaccination should also be prioritized for pregnant women once available, in line with US guidelines.
Experts warn that UK hospitals will struggle to cope with swine flu patients, with pediatric intensive care facilities and ventilators facing severe shortages. The study predicts demand for critical care beds could outstrip supply by up to 130% and ventilator capacity by up to 20%.
The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) will conduct a series of clinical trials to test two candidate H1N1 flu vaccines. The trials will evaluate the safety and ability to induce protective immune responses in healthy adults and elderly individuals.
Mathematical models help simulate plausible scenarios, develop control strategies, and identify areas for research. The H1N1 virus could become more severe in the fall, with small seasonal variations driving large annual surges in disease transmission.
According to a national poll, six in ten Americans believe there will be widespread cases of Influenza A (H1N1) with people getting very sick this coming fall or winter. Parents are more likely than people without children to believe this will occur.
Researchers say a standard calculation for estimating flu deaths may not accurately reflect true figures due to factors like underreporting and varying disease severity. The study highlights the need for more sophisticated data collection and analysis methods to provide healthcare planners with accurate predictions.
Researchers found A/H1N1 virus infectious to pigs and spreading rapidly in a trial pig population. The virus can pass from humans to pigs but not from pigs to other animals.
The Tel Aviv University team has created a statistical tool that can macro- and micromanage pandemic influenza outbreaks, providing guidance for complex decisions on airport closures, school shutdowns, and travel routes. The model takes into account the new H1N1 swine flu's impact on vulnerable populations.
A RAND Corporation study finds that state and local health departments performed well in posting information about the H1N1 virus outbreak, but struggled to communicate with diverse populations. Performance varied widely among local health departments across states, with some doing better than others in providing timely and accessible ...
The US military's influenza monitoring system has made notable contributions to global control through collaboration with CDC, FDA, and WHO. The Department of Defense Global Emerging Infections Surveillance and Response System (DoD-GEIS) program provides six objectives relevant to influenza, including laboratory-based surveillance and ...
A team from MIT and the CDC discovered that the new H1N1 strain's surface protein binds to human receptors less effectively than other flu viruses. This restricted binding along with a genetic variation in an H1N1 polymerase enzyme explains why the virus has not spread as efficiently as seasonal flu.
The 1918 influenza pandemic created a viral dynasty that persists to this day, with all human-adapted influenza A viruses being descendents of the founding virus. The novel 2009 H1N1 virus is yet another manifestation of this enduring viral family.
A study published in the New England Journal of Medicine reveals an age shift in swine flu cases, with younger populations (5-59 years) being disproportionately affected. The findings suggest a need for revised public health strategies to mitigate the impact of future pandemic waves.
Pitt researchers describe the 90-year evolution of H1N1 swine flu, tracing its genetic roots back to a 1918 respiratory illness in pigs. The current strain shares common ancestry with older flu strains, potentially offering partial immunity to new pandemic viruses.
A scientific system developed by St. Michael's Hospital accurately predicted the international spread of H1N1 by analyzing flight itineraries of over 2.3 million passengers. The system, known as The BIO.DIASPORA Project, quickly integrated information on worldwide air traffic patterns with global infectious disease threats.
A letter to the editor suggests that older individuals may be protected from infection due to previous exposure to similar H1N1 strains. This could potentially impact the severity of current and future pandemics.
Researchers at Medical College of Wisconsin published first paper describing Milwaukee's largest swine origin influenza (H1N1) outbreak in June 2009. The study identified 679 adults and children with S-OIV infection, making up 18.2% of all tested individuals.
A new study in CMAJ reports that oseltamivir and zanamivir are relatively safe for use in pregnant and breast-feeding women during the H1N1 pandemic. Pregnant women, especially those in the third trimester, are at high risk of serious complications from the flu virus.
A new diagnostic test using RT-PCR technology has been developed to detect both seasonal influenza A virus and the emerging H1N1 swine-derived influenza A virus in human clinical samples. The test is fast, sensitive, and cost-effective, allowing for rapid identification of infected individuals and expedited antiviral therapy.
Several companies, including Replikins and Novavax, are working on H1N1 vaccines with varying approaches. The need for a vaccine was prompted by the World Health Organization's Phase 5 pandemic alert.
Researchers at the University of Maryland School of Medicine found that Abatacept reduces severe illness and death in mice exposed to Influenza A virus by tempering the immune response. The treatment approach also improves survival rates for mice infected with a lethal dose of influenza virus.
Researchers at the Bioinformatics Institute in Singapore have created a 3D structural model of the neuraminidase protein, which is critical to the H1N1 influenza A virus. This breakthrough analysis revealed extensive surface mutations compared to closely related strains, making previous flu vaccinations less effective. The study also f...
A mathematical model predicts that face protection measures can significantly reduce the spread of influenza. The use of N95 respirators and surgical masks is effective in preventing the flu due to their filters that keep out 98% of the virus.
A study by Marine Biological Laboratory scientists found that common levels of arsenic exposure can compromise the immune response to influenza A (H1N1) infection. Arsenic exposure, even at low levels, disrupts both the innate and endocrine systems, leading to increased morbidity and mortality.
Researchers at USC have identified a critical molecular mechanism that allows the influenza virus to evade the body's immune response system. The study reveals that the virus targets the ubiquitin ligase TRIM25, inhibiting its ability to activate RIG-I and trigger an alarm signal.
World-renowned virologist Professor Albert Osterhaus emphasizes the importance of preparedness in the face of swine-origin flu. He stresses that there is room for improvement in influenza vaccine production and that adequate stockpiles of antibiotics, antivirals, and vaccines are crucial for effective treatment.
Researchers have developed a new computer simulation model that captures the human immune response to influenza type A, predicting treatment design and pandemic preparedness. The model reveals that drugs and vaccines targeting dendritic cell presentation of antigens have a significant impact on patient outcomes.
Veterinarians are at increased risk of zoonotic infection with various pathogens, including swine influenza and avian influenza viruses. A review of medical literature found that veterinarians often fail to use recommended personal protective equipment due to discomfort or lack of availability.
Researchers developed a mathematical model to predict immune responses to influenza A viruses, including novel strains like H1N1. The model suggests that prolonged infection limits T cell production and antigen presentation, making antiviral therapy most effective within two days after infection.
SRI International will screen a library of well-characterized drugs against the 2009 H1N1 influenza A virus. The project aims to identify new treatments with better efficacy and potency than current antiviral drugs. SRI's expertise in drug screening and development will help expedite the development of new therapies.
The Lancet has partnered with Elsevier to launch a new H1N1 Flu Resource Centre, aggregating infectious disease and public health information from across its content. The centre provides timely and accurate information on the prevention, detection, diagnosis, and treatment of the influenza A H1N1 virus.
Researchers found that the virus is spreading consistently with early stages of a pandemic, fatal in around 4 in 1,000 cases, and likely to cause secondary cases for every infected person. The epidemic is thought to have started in Mexico on February 15, 2009, with 23,000 people infected and 91 deaths by the end of April.
Researchers found that both swine flu subtypes cause respiratory symptoms and lung lesions in weanling pigs. H1N1-infected pigs developed more severe disease, with approximately a third of the lung affected.
The Lancet Editorial highlights the balanced media coverage of the H1N1 outbreak, noting its relative morbidity and mortality. The article also commends health authorities for their measured responses to the crisis, preparing them for a potentially more devastating pandemic.
Researchers from Boston Children's Hospital use online surveillance tools to track emerging infectious diseases, providing up-to-the-minute information. HealthMap.org aggregates real-time data on swine flu outbreaks, highlighting the potential of internet mining for public health support.
Researchers identified 34 genetic markers of influenza infection severity in past outbreaks but found only half of these markers in the current swine-flu strain. The study suggests that the current virus lacks many attributes making previous outbreaks deadly, but more studies are needed for firm conclusions
The Lancet Editorial highlights the lack of evidence for some swine flu interventions, including culling pigs, restricting pork trade, and distributing facemasks. Experts emphasize the need for timely and accurate information dissemination to healthcare professionals, particularly in pandemic preparedness.
The InDevR FluChip has been shown to detect and distinguish swine-origin H1N1 from human influenza viruses with high accuracy. The assay's robust performance is attributed to its targeted M-gene sequence, which codes for the virus' matrix proteins.
Researchers discovered that the influenza virus can paralyze the immune systems of healthy individuals, leading to severe secondary bacterial infections like pneumonia. The study found that this immunological paralysis is long-lived and specific to influenza infection.
Researchers are working on a novel flu vaccine that uses cell culture-based technology to produce immune-boosting signals on the surface of the virus. The goal is to provide better protection against viral pneumonia, especially in elderly populations.
The survey found that nearly half of Americans are concerned about contracting the H1N1 virus, with over half taking precautions such as washing hands or wearing face masks. Beliefs about transmission, prevention, and treatment vary, with some Americans unsure about the effectiveness of medicine or vaccines.
A Kansas State University researcher has found that the 1918 Spanish flu pandemic virus and the current swine influenza virus are closely related, with the former adapting to pigs and resulting in the latter. The study suggests that pigs may have played a role in maintaining and spreading the virus.
Researchers found that after reassortment with a human influenza virus, an avian flu virus requires relatively few mutations to spread rapidly between mammals by respiratory droplets. This process is similar to the formation of the current swine flu outbreak, suggesting a potential link between avian and human influenza viruses.
The FluChip technology has been licensed by InDevR to detect the deadly flu virus. The test can distinguish between human H1N1 viruses and the new swine H1N1 subtype, a crucial gap in current diagnostics. This new tool has the potential to greatly enhance influenza surveillance and track the virus.
A novel H1N1 swine influenza A virus has spread rapidly around the world, infecting over 60 people and causing seven deaths. The WHO has activated its emergency response room to coordinate global efforts to contain the outbreak.
Braunschweig Helmholtz researchers found that host genetic factors significantly impact the progression of influenza A virus infections. The study discovered strong differences in disease outcomes among mice with genetically identical immune systems, suggesting a genetic basis for varying responses to the flu virus.
A Phase III study found that the high-dose influenza vaccine increased immune responses to all three influenza strains compared to the standard vaccine in adults 65 years old and older. The new vaccine also showed increased immune response in those with no measurable protective antibodies before vaccination.
A study found that flu viruses originating in East and Southeast Asia spread globally, with strains emerging in Asia first, followed by Europe and North America. The research aims to improve flu vaccine design by focusing surveillance efforts on these regions.