Influenza Virus Mashup

I’ve posted an item on The Hook, British Columbians among least likely to get H1N1 shot: StatsCan. The Statistics Canada study has some interesting data on who got the shot and who didn’t.

Via CBC News: H1N1 shots skipped by 60% of Canadians. Excerpt:

About four in 10 Canadians rolled up their sleeves for the H1N1 shot last flu season, Statistics Canada says. 

Based on self-reported data, nearly six out of 10 Canadians, or 16.5 million people aged 12 and over, did not get vaccinated against the H1N1 virus, the agency said Thursday. 

The new influenza strain emerged in April 2009 and most people had no natural immunity to it. Vaccination clinics across Canada started offering the vaccine in the fall of 2009. 

Of those who did not get the shot, the most common reason, given by 74 per cent, was that they “did not think it was necessary.” 

The second most common reason, reported by 13 per cent, was that they “had not gotten around to it yet.” The third most common reason, reported by seven per cent, was fear, but the nature of the fear was not given. 

Priority groups 

Rates of vaccination were higher for specific risk populations, especially among groups given priority for early immunization. 

For example, 66 per cent of health-care workers said they had an H1N1 shot, compared with 35 per cent of the rest of the population. 

Similarly, 55 per cent of Canadians with chronic conditions, which placed them at increased risk for complications, received the vaccine. The chronic conditions included in the report were heart disease, diabetes, asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, Alzheimer’s disease or dementia, and obesity. 

In comparison, 38 per cent of those without chronic conditions were vaccinated. 

Newfoundland and Labrador had the highest vaccination rate at 69 per cent and Ontario had the lowest at 32 per cent. The territories were excluded. 

The percentage of Canadians vaccinated for H1N1 exceeded the percentage who typically get a seasonal flu shot: 32 per cent.

Buried in the “Archipelago” section of The Jakarta Post, a September 29 report: Bird flu outbreak revives in South Sulawesi, 4 hospitalized. Excerpt:

Dr. Wahidin Sudirohusodo Hospital in the South Sulawesi capital of Makassar is treating four people from Pinrang and Soppeng regencies for displaying symptoms of avian flu virus infection. 

The patients, three of them are children, were admitted to the hospital on Tuesday night after complaining about high fever, suffocation and coughs. They were immediately taken to the infection center in accordance with the standard operating procedure for avian flu treatment, the hospital’s director, Kalsum Patonangi, said Wednesday. 

“We are waiting for the laboratory examination to confirm the status of the patients,” Kalsum said. 

Head of the Pinrang health agency for disease control, Dyah Puspita Dewi, said the agency had monitored 30 people who suffered from fever. She added three of them were admitted to the hospital as their health condition worsened. 

“We suspect the three people were infected with the bird flu virus as their fever reaches 38 degree Celsius and complain of suffocation, sore throats and coughs, which are symptoms of the disease,” she said. 

She added the three patients caught a fever after dozens of chickens nearby their homes suddenly died.

Via Ida at Bird Flu Information Corner, a report translated from Media Indonesia: West Sulawesi ::: Bird flu uprises in 2010. Excerpt:

Avian influenza or bird flu H5N1 prevalence in West Sulawesi province is uprising in September 2010. 

Bird flu first emerged in West Sulawesi 2005 and had been spreading during 2006 to 2007, said the Head of Agriculture and Livestock Service (Distanak) of West Sulawesi province. For control purpose, West Sulawesi has been assisted by 39 members of Participatory Disease and Surveillance (PSDR), a collaboration work between Indonesia Ministry of Agriculture with FAO Australia. 

Even though the number of personnel is inadequate, but generally they have been able to control bird disease spreading in 2008 to 2009. 

However, the disease spreading has been increasing in September 2010. From 2009 until now, according to PDSR data, there have been 43 cases reported in Polman.

(Thu, 30 Sep 2010 13:02:00 +0000)

# 4950

After a rainy drive across the state I arrived at St. Augustine late yesterday afternoon.  T.S. Nicole died over Cuba, and the weather has cleared remarkably.

Since this is a bit of a working holiday for me, I’ll keep these entries brief until I return.  This morning, some links to stories and events around Flublogia.

Ida at BFIC has 3 reports overnight on the continued spread of H5N1 in poultry in South Sulawesi and new outbreaks in West Sulawesi.

West Sulawesi ::: Bird flu uprises in 2010

Posted by Ida on September 30, 2010

Mamuju – Avian influenza or bird flu H5N1 prevalence in West Sulawesi province is uprising in September 2010.

Balikpapan, East Kalimantan ::: Chickens death confirmed bird flu

Posted by Ida on September 30, 2010

Balikpapan – The cause of chickens’ death in Kelurahan Manggar, Balikpapan Timur, East Kalimantan province is identified of bird flu H5N1 virus. Diagnosis was done through rapid test by of Agriculture, Marine and Fishery Service. Samples have been sent to Banjar Baru, South Kalimantan for confirmation.

Polman, West Sulawesi ::: Bird flu has spread to Kabupaten Polman

Posted by Ida on September 30, 2010

Polewali Mandar – After hitting three municipals (kabupaten) in South Sulawesi province – Pinrang, Sidrap and Luwu -  bird flu H5N1 is now attacking thousands of chicken in Kecamatan Limboro and Binuang, Kabupaten Polewali Mandar (Polman), West Sulawesi.

 

Arkanoid Legent has the latest Australian & New Zealand influenza surveillance data, along with reports on Dengue in Pakistan and the Philippines.

 

Australian Influenza Surveillance 2010 - Latest report

The latest report from the Department of Health and Ageing in Australia, excerpt :
Report No. 37
Reporting period 11 to 17 September 2010

• Levels of influenza-like illness (ILI) in the community have continued to increase through most surveillance systems this reporting period. Local, regional and widespread activity was reported within jurisdictions. However, the number of laboratory confirmed notifications continued to decline.

New Zealand : Pandemic Influenza H1N1 2009 (swine flu) - Update 210

The latest H1N1 update from New Zealand’s MOH :
” Overall influenza H1N1 activity continues to decrease below baseline levels. While some cases and clusters of influenza are likely to continue, this is much less frequent now and at a national level we are nearing the end of the second wave of pandemic influenza H1N1 in New Zealand. The Ministry’s weekly updates will end next week.

Crof has reports on  Underreported Dengue in Pakistan, the unintended consequences of mosquito control in Sri Lanka: Killing our enemy’s enemy, and a somewhat breathless report out of Sydney Australia: A world without antibiotics.

The `big story’ this week continues to be the hospitalization and isolation of several residents of Pinrang, Indonesia who are experiencing flu-like symptoms after exposure to dead or dying chickens.

]

Thus far, we have no announced laboratory results, and so it is unknown whether any of these people are infected with the bird flu virus. 

The numbers appear to shift a bit depending upon the news source, but it appears that 26+ people are being monitored in their homes, and 4 or 5 are hospitalized.  

FluTrackers is maintaining a forum thread with updated reports that you can check here.

The most recent report comes from Treyfish, and is a translation of a  Para Pos article called  5 Warga Suspect Flu Burung, excerpts of which appear below.

 

Thursday, September 30, 2010
3 Referred to Makassar, 2 Isolated

5 Residents Suspect Bird Flu
THURSDAY, 30 SEPTEMBER 2010

PINRANG - Five residents in District Lanrisang Pinrang otherwise suspect (suspect) bird flu. Three out of five residents, each Nawir (42), Andrews (5) citizens Suppang Saddang Hamlet, and Novi (18) Same Ulue Village on Tuesday night, was referred to the Provincial General Hospital Dr M Wahidin Sudirohusodo.

 

<SNIP>

 

Not less than 26 residents who currently monitoring the Health Department. “These data may increase, but we hope diminished,” she said. Rusman explained, which distinguishes the common cold sick with bird flu is body temperature. However, if positive for bird flu, 80 percent of patients will experience death.

Authorities say it will take roughly 10 days before test results will be known due to the repeat testing that they require to confirm or rule out the disease.

FluTrackers also has reports on msny of other disease outbreaks around the world, medical studies recently published, and other humanitarian crises.

 

You could spend a year there, and not read it all.

I’ll check back later in the day to survey the scene, but as you can see, these newshounds and bloggers have everything in Flublogia well covered.

Via Ida at Bird Flu Information Corner, a report from TV news source Liputan6: Polman, South Sulawesi ::: Bird flu has spread to Kabupaten Polman. Excerpt:

After hitting three municipals (kabupaten), Pinrang, Sidrap and Luwu, bird flu H5N1 is now attacking thousands of chicken in Kecamatan Limboro and Binuang, Kabupaten Polewali Mandar (Polman), South Sulawesi. 

About 200 chickens kept in an abattoir suddenly died within 5 days. Dead chickens showed signs such as darkening of wattle, comb and skin. 

Bird flu virus also attacked several farms in Kelurahan Ammassengeng Kecamatan Binuang. Farmers lost about 30-50 chickens with similar signs daily. 

Livestock Service confirmed bird flu infection on those area. Samples have been collected for further analysis in Maros (Veterinary Disease Investigating Center). 

Control measure was taken by depopulation of suspected birds, evacuation of healthy birds and disinfection around the affected areas.

Via CIDRAP, a report by Lisa Schnirring: WHO pandemic review group concludes third session. Excerpt:

The external committee tasked with reviewing the World Health Organization’s (WHO’s) response to the H1N1 pandemic wrapped up its third round of live meetings in Geneva today, hearing from an array of country and organization health representatives, as well as WHO Director-General Margaret Chan, who strongly defended the organization’s response. 

Chan, who spoke to the group yesterday during a public plenary session on the second day of its meeting, also said the WHO learned some important lessons that will position it to, for example, ease the flow of pandemic vaccine to developing countries. 

Her address to the group appeared yesterday on the WHO’s Web site. The pandemic review committee is simultaneously reviewing how the International Health Regulations (IHRs) functioned during their first use in an international health emergency. 

Dr Harvey Fineberg, the group’s chairman, briefed reporters today at the conclusion of the group’s 3-day meeting. He said the committee is still in an information-gathering mode and that the agenda consisted of public plenary sessions and deliberation meetings during which members met by themselves. He is president of the Institute of Medicine of the US National Academy of Sciences. The review committee’s last meeting in Geneva was in early July, and Fineberg told reporters the committee will meet again in November for deliberation sessions. 

He projected that the group would have a draft of a report for its own members to review by early January in time for its final plenary meeting. The members will submit a final report that includes a response from Chan in advance of the World Health Assembly next May. 

Fineberg said the group heard testimony from a wide range of health and industry experts and confirmed, based on a journalist’s question, that Michael T. Osterholm, PhD, MPH, addressed the group during the plenary sessions. Osterholm is director of the University of Minnesota’s Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy, publisher of CIDRAP News. 

One of the largest blocks of testimony came from key people who led the WHO’s response and were involved in administering the IHRs, including Chan, Fineberg said. At the committee’s last meeting in July they heard from some of sharpest critics of the WHO’s response, including a Council of Europe representative and the editor of the British Medical Journal. 

“One of the things that was not surprising, but very revealing, was that the principals at the WHO secretariat were very eager to tell their story,” he said. “They are as eager to tell their story as the critics are to tell theirs.” 

Chan spoke candidly about the challenges and successes she observed during the WHO’s pandemic response and said the group welcomes the review and is mindful of the praise and criticisms it has received. 

She said the WHO is grateful for the moderate impact the pandemic had, and she said in retrospect some response measure may look excessive. 

“Had the virus turned more lethal, we would be under scrutiny for having failed to protect large numbers of people,” Chan said. “Vaccine supplies would have been too little, too late, with large parts of the developing world left almost entirely unprotected.”

CIDRAP has published its daily NEWS SCAN: Resistant H1N1, Tamiflu’s pandemic benefits, Canada’s flu vaccine sources, dengue predictions. The flu reports are important, but this story on the dengue futures market is intriguing:

In a follow-up of its pandemic flu prediction markets, Iowa Electronic Health Markets, based at the University of Iowa, recently launched a dengue forecast project. 

The group’s prediction markets average participant predictions to produce a consensus forecast on a range of topics, from political races to flu activity, according to a posting yesterday from Philip Polgreen, MD, MPH, a faculty member with the program, on ProMed-mail, the Internet-based reporting system of the International Society for Infectious Diseases. 

The markets are designed to synthesize experts’ experience from the field and observations from past outbreaks. Participants use virtual money to make trades. 

In the electronic market’s latest project, participants are asked to predict the total number of US dengue cases in 2010, the percentage increase in clinical cases in the Americas this year, and the number of US states that will report locally acquired dengue cases in 2010.

Click through to CIDRAP to reach the link to the Iowa Health Markets website.

Emerging Infectious Diseases is not recommended for hypochondriacs, but it provides excellent and up-to-date reports. From the October issue: Influenza A (H5N1) Viruses from Pigs, Indonesia. The abstract: 

Pigs have long been considered potential intermediate hosts in which avian influenza viruses can adapt to humans. To determine whether this potential exists for pigs in Indonesia, we conducted surveillance during 2005–2009. 

We found that 52 pigs in 4 provinces were infected during 2005–2007 but not 2008–2009. Phylogenetic analysis showed that the viruses had been introduced into the pig population in Indonesia on at least 3 occasions. One isolate had acquired the ability to recognize a human-type receptor. 

No infected pig had influenza-like symptoms, indicating that influenza A (H5N1) viruses can replicate undetected for prolonged periods, facilitating avian virus adaptation to mammalian hosts. 

Our data suggest that pigs are at risk for infection during outbreaks of influenza virus A (H5N1) and can serve as intermediate hosts in which this avian virus can adapt to mammals.

We haven’t heard much from Ukraine since the H1N1 hysteria last year. But here’s a report from GlobalPost.com: Ukraine: Where HIV runs rampant. Excerpt:

An estimated 1.3 percent of Ukraine’s adult population is believed to suffer from HIV/AIDS. Officially, just over 100,000 people are infected, but government officials concede that the number is probably much higher. Some 19,000 have died since 1987. 

According to the United Nations’ organization UNICEF, eastern Europe and central Asia are the world regions where the HIV virus is spreading fastest. 

The Ukrainian government’s response — though focusing on the right areas with the correct methods — has been insufficient. “Ukraine has all the set-up, but it needs to do much more,” said Anna Shakarishvili, the director of the United Nations’ HIV/AIDS program in Ukraine. 

According to Shakarishvili, less than half of those infected with HIV/AIDS receive treatment, while only one-third of drug users have access to preventive measures, like clean needles. 

Compounding the problem is the fact that Ukraine is overwhelmingly dependent on international donors for providing the funds and means to deal with the problem — while the world economic crisis means that many of these resources are being curtailed. 

Ukrainian health officials agree that the government’s reaction has fallen short, but they say that they can only do so much with the money that the central government budgets them. Svitlana Cherenko, head of the health ministry’s HIV/AIDS unit, said that they need five times the $40 million that is now allotted to combat the disease adequately. Of this sum, however, the ministry only received about $24 million. 

There is one bright spot however, said Cherenko: The rate of infections has slowed considerably. 

“If we were looking at a 40 percent increase year-on-year in the beginning of the decade, now it’s dropped down to around 5 to 7 percent,” she said.