Influenza Virus Mashup

(Thu, 28 Aug 2008 12:45:00 +0000) Events have conspired to the contrary.

(Wed, 27 Aug 2008 23:04:28 GMT) This diary is to discuss the situation in India and Bangladesh. Post your stories and discussions here.

Previous diary can be found here.

Maps of India and Bangladesh can be found here.

(Wed, 27 Aug 2008 13:53:00 +0000) Revere has this blog post that is the most important news of the day. Are St. Jude’s, the CDC and NIH seeking an international patent for a vaccine based on Indonesian vaccine. Isn’t that what we have been critical of Indonesia for doing?

Novavax has a new, novel vaccine that has some encouraging reports, making the company a bunch of headlines this morning.

A new type of bird flu vaccine that uses a mock version of the virus appears to protect people against infection and is safe enough to continue testing, Novavax Inc. said on Tuesday.

One thing I have always worried about in a pandemic is the spectre of mandatory vaccination. See here for people who are wary of even garden variety vaccines.

Sharp has a new air purifier.

Geese shot during hunting season will be testing for bird flu in New York.

(Tue, 26 Aug 2008 12:50:00 +0000) People following the flu virus know about NS1, the influenza protein that is believed to play a key role in infection. Researchers from the University of Texas and Rutgers have done some apparently important work on identifying the structure of NS1.

The researchers have determined the three-dimensional structure of a site on an influenza A virus protein that binds to one of the human protein targets, thereby suppressing a person’s natural defenses to the infection and paving the way for the virus to replicate efficiently. This so-called NS1 virus protein is shared by all influenza A viruses isolated from humans, including avian influenza, or bird flu, and the 1918 pandemic influenza virus.

A seminar is being held in Chicago for businesses looking to prepare for a potential pandemic.

Fear of bird flu is causing the Philippines to curtail a regional “bird trapping” activity.

Strains of flu in Indonesia and Bangladesh are similar.

The military needs to be “ready” for disasters…..check this opinion piece out, as follows:

The message was simple. “It’s about being prepared for the first 72 hours after an emergency-situation occurs. We want people to consider how they’ll notify their families and where they’ll meet,” she said.

An alert reader shipped this along….did you know that deadly toxins are shipped via Fed Ex? Military leaders are reviewing safety rules and suspending lab activities in the meantime.

Mike the Mad Scientist at Scienceblogs writes about the bacterial aspect of influenza, which was recently published.

Bird flu fight gets publicity in Sierra Leone.

Cameroon is also re-launching its poultry industry after a bird flu scare.

(Mon, 25 Aug 2008 12:27:00 +0000) Employing the oldest PR trick in the books, Indonesia is combining free food with bird flu education.

Some birds died in Hawaii, but apparently it was botulism.

Thailand is looking to expand its seasonal vaccine program, with benefits to its avian flu program.

(Sun, 24 Aug 2008 13:34:00 +0000) The United Arab Emirates is prepping against the bird flu.

(Sat, 23 Aug 2008 13:26:00 +0000) Questions are raised in New Zealand about the potential for a Tamiflu resistant flu.

A trial is now testing a universal flu vaccine.

CIDRAP with the story about bacterial infections during the 1918 pandemic.

A pilot program is underway to test insurance for farmers against livestock diseases.

Listen, its hard enough to get people to vote now, I don’t recommend following this plan of giving flu shots at polling places.

Here’s a review of a new book just out….A social history of influenza. Sounds interesting. The social aspects of influenza are the ones that fascinate me.

(Fri, 22 Aug 2008 12:50:00 +0000) A human vaccine from Vietnam is said to be effective.

The CDC is collecting pandemic survival stories from the Spanish Flu.

“Complacency is enemy No. 1 when it comes to preparing for another influenza pandemic,” Dr. Julie Gerberding, director of the CDC, said in a statement. “These stories, told so eloquently by survivors, family members and friends from past pandemics, serve as a sobering reminder of the devastating impact that influenza can have and reading them is a must for anyone involved in public health preparedness.”

Birds in North Dakota remain clear on surveillance.

From New Jersey….its not if but when.

Youth in Arkansas learn about nature, including testing wild birds for bird flu.

Alabama community worries about where to store bodies during mass fatalities.

Was bird flu a “spurious scare” for which no one has been held accountable….

Maybe Lab meat is the answer….

Here, a conspiracy theorist says the governments and pharma are going to release bird flu and start a pandemic.

(Thu, 21 Aug 2008 17:42:00 +0000) Liberal opposition in Canada says government cuts to budget threaten bird flu programs, among others.

Is a world food crisis coming and could bird flu play a role.

(Wed, 20 Aug 2008 12:59:00 +0000) The NIH has more on pneumonia causing most deaths in the 1918 pandemic. This is research by Jeffrey Taubenberger, who is a big star in the 1918 research space. Does this mean 1918 could not have happened in an anti-biotic era?

Preparations for diagnosing, treating and preventing bacterial pneumonia should be among highest priorities in influenza pandemic planning, they write. “We are encouraged by the fact that pandemic planners are already considering and implementing some of these actions,” says Dr. Fauci.

CIDRAP on the long-living immunity from the 1918 pandemic.

In Singapore, the financial sectors will test themselves against a pandemic.

Indonesia is enlisting scouts in the fight against bird flu.

Bird flu is involved in a war of words between Brazil and Indonesia.

How do you look for bird flu in North Dakota….read on.

San Bernadino County (CA) is getting a big grant for preparedness, including pan flu.

Canada is holding a national disaster response meeting to discuss whether the nation is vulnerable to a crisis like a severe storm or pandemic.

Adjuvant tested for bird flu will be tested against HIV.

Blogpost on the “hype” related to bird flu pandemic.