Epidemiologists Explore Dynamics of Mexico's H1N1 Pandemic

Influenza surveillance mechanisms in Mexico were adequate during the fast-spreading H1N1 outbreak in 2009, yet Mexico did not have the infrastructure to quickly identify the emergence of this novel strain, according to an Arizona State University (ASU) epidemiologist. Read the full article.

New seasonal flu vaccine to contain H1N1 strain

GENEVA (Reuters) - This year's seasonal flu vaccine in the northern hemisphere should include protection against three strains, including the pandemic H1N1 virus, the World Health Organization (WHO) recommended on Thursday.
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France wants to sell millions of surplus flu shots
PARIS (Reuters) - France is looking to sell millions of surplus vaccines for the H1N1 flu strain after ordering many more shots than it actually needed, officials said on Sunday. Read the full article.

Pneumococcus infection boosts risk of severe illness in H1N1 patients
Dec 31, 2009 (CIDRAP News) – H1N1 flu patients who were also infected with a common cause of pneumonia were 125 times more likely to develop life-threatening disease, a team of American and Argentinean researchers reported Thursday. The association between severe disease and coinfection with Streptococcus pneumoniae was so strong, especially among those not in high-risk groups, that the researchers do rapid strep tests on flu patients to identify the bacteria's presence in time to ramp up their care. Read the full article.

Rapid Flu Testing Differentiates Strains of Influenza
ScienceDaily (Dec. 30, 2009) — Researchers from the Medical College of Wisconsin, the Children's Research Institute, and the Children's Hospital of Wisconsin have developed a rapid, automated system to differentiate strains of influenza. Read the full article.

Novavax sees Phase III vaccine testing in 2010
BOSTON (MarketWatch) -- Novavax Inc. /quotes/comstock/15*!nvax/quotes/nls/nvax (NVAX 3.01, +0.01, +0.33%) said early Monday that if current Phase II testing for its new seasonal flu vaccine is successful, Phase III testing could start as early as 2010. Novavax said Monday that it has completed enrollment for a Phase II trial of its seasonal flu vaccine candidate. The company is also testing a vaccine for the prevention of the H1N1 virus. Read the full article.

Further Novartis H1N1 vaccine cleared in Switzerland
ZURICH, Nov 13 (Reuters) - Switzerland has approved Swiss drugmaker Novartis AG's (NOVN.VX) Celtura H1N1 swine flu vaccine as it rolls out its national vaccination programme ahead of the winter flu season, regulators said on Friday. Read the full article.

H1N1 vaccine maker Sanofi Pasteur gives tour to journalists
Swiftwater, Pennsylvania (CNN) -- Vaccine manufacturing giant Sanofi Pasteur opened its doors to the media Wednesday, inviting reporters to a first-of-its-kind, up-close look at its H1N1 flu vaccine production facility. Read the full article.

FDA Clears CSL's Seasonal and Swine Flu Vaccines for Pediatric Populations
CSL Biotherapies gained accelerated approval from the FDA for use of its seasonal flu vaccine, Afluria®, in children six months and older. The company’s influenza A (H1N1) 2009 monovalent vaccine was also cleared for active immunization in this younger age group. Read the full article.

H1N1 Surge Triggers Emergency Plan for NYC Hospital
At Maimonides Hospital in Brooklyn's Sunset Park neighborhood, a surge in pediatric patients over the weekend continued into the week, leading the hospital to trigger its emergency preparedness and surge capacity plan for the first time since it was created this summer. Read the full article.

'Rapid influenza tests' often fail to detect H1N1
Although still used in doctors' offices and emergency departments, "rapid influenza diagnostic tests" actually do a fairly poor job of sniffing out H1N1, a growing body of evidence shows. Read the full article.

Shortage of flu vaccines leaves healthcare workers vulnerable
On the front lines of the H1N1 outbreak, tens of thousands of local doctors and nurses are scrambling to get vaccinated. One nurse says it's like 'asking us to fight a war without protection.' Read the full article.

Nurses union reaches deal on H1N1 safety in U.S.
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - After months of talks, the largest U.S. nurses union and California's biggest nonprofit healthcare chain have agreed to safeguards that the nurses believe may serve as a national model for curbing H1N1 swine flu in hospitals. Read the full article.

'60 Minutes': An inside look at H1N1 vaccine production
On Friday, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said the H1N1 virus is widespread in 48 states. Last weekend, the president declared a national emergency. A new vaccine is supposed to save the country from the worst-case scenario. But that vaccine isn't coming as fast as expected and there's lots of skepticism. Should you get it? Can you get it? Is it safe?
Watch the news segment.

Clinical trial: One dose of H1N1 vaccine will protect pregnant women
Washington (CNN) -- Nearly all healthy pregnant women who receive a single dose of the H1N1 flu vaccine will be protected from that flu, according to just-released clinical trial data. Read the full article.

FDA Publishes Guidance on Diagnostic Tests for 2009 H1N1 Influenza Virus
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration today published a guidance document that should help manufacturers develop diagnostic tests for the 2009 H1N1 influenza virus. Although there are not any FDA-approved or cleared tests that diagnose this specific infection, during this pandemic, manufacturers can submit a request to the FDA for an Emergency Use Authorization (EUA). If granted, the EUA will allow the test to be used during the national public health emergency declared by Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius in April. This guidance document outlines what information the FDA recommends that manufacturers include in these EUA requests.
Read the full guidance.

Independent experts to study safety data on H1N1 vaccine
An independent panel of experts will meet Monday to review the safety of the swine flu vaccine as part of the government's efforts to monitor the unprecedented immunization campaign. The National Vaccine Advisory Committee's H1N1 Vaccine Safety Working Group will review the results of data being collected by the government to detect any problems with the vaccine as soon as possible. Read the full article.

Pneumonia vaccine could save money in flu pandemic
CHICAGO (Reuters) - A more protective form of Pfizer's vaccine for pneumococcal disease would be highly effective at preventing deaths from pandemic influenza, independent researchers and the company reported over the weekend. In a severe outbreak like the 1918 Spanish influenza pandemic, they said Prevnar 13 -- a more broadly protective version of Prevnar vaccine -- could prevent an additional 388,000 cases of pneumonia and save an additional $6.2 billion in health care costs. Read the full article.

Dramatic Settlement Sets National Model for H1N1 Hospital Safety Measures
OAKLAND, Calif., Nov. 2 /PRNewswire/ -- In a dramatic settlement seen as a novel pattern for the nation, the nation's largest nurses union and professional association, and one of the country's biggest hospital systems today announced a landmark agreement that sets a national standard on containing the spread of pandemics such as H1N1 "swine flu." Read the full article.

Novavax Reports Positive Data for its Trivalent Seasonal Influenza (VLP) Vaccine Candidate in a Second Phase II Study
ROCKVILLE, Md., Nov. 2 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Novavax, Inc. (Nasdaq: NVAX) a clinical-stage vaccine company, announced today that the Company made a poster presentation on the "Safety and Immunogenicity of a Recombinant Trivalent Seasonal Influenza Virus-like Particle (VLP) Vaccine in Healthy Adults" on Saturday, October 31, 2009 at the 47(th) Annual Meeting of the Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA). Read the full article.

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