Predicting hotspots for future flu outbreaks
This year's unusually long and rocky flu season would be nothing compared to the pandemic that could occur if bird flu became highly contagious among humans, which is why UCLA researchers and their colleagues are creating new ways to predict where an outbreak could emerge.
"Using surveillance of influenza cases in humans and birds, we've come up with a technique to predict sites where these viruses could mix and generate a future pandemic," said lead author Trevon Fuller, a UCLA postdoctoral research fellow at the Institute of the Environment and Sustainability's Center for Tropical Research.
The researchers'...
Source: UCLA Newsroom: Health Sciences - March 14, 2013 Category: Universities & Medical Training Source Type: news
CDC: Flu vaccine only provided 9 percent protection for seniors against worst strain
Americans under 64 had up to 50 percent protection against H3N2 influenza A strain, which was behind most serious illness 2012-2013 (Source: Health News: CBSNews.com)
Source: Health News: CBSNews.com - February 21, 2013 Category: Consumer Health News Source Type: news
First US 2013 H3N2 Sequence Has T128A
The commentary discusses the presence of T128A in the first United States 2013 H3N2 sequence. (02/02/13 14:15) (Source: Recombinomics)
Source: Recombinomics - February 2, 2013 Category: Infectious Diseases Source Type: news
All Recent 2012 H3N2 Sequences In England Have T128A
The commentary discusses the detection of T128A in all 10 of the H3N2 sequences from England this season. (01/30/13 15:30) (Source: Recombinomics)
Source: Recombinomics - January 31, 2013 Category: Infectious Diseases Source Type: news
Flu Deaths ‘Unpredictable’
WebMD Medical News
By Daniel J. DeNoon
Reviewed by Laura J. Martin, MD
Aug. 26, 2010 – U.S. deaths from flu range from about 3,000 to about 50,000 per year, the CDC now calculates.
The new numbers come from analysis of the last 31 flu seasons by CDC medical officer David Shay, MD, MPH and colleagues.
For years, the CDC has been estimating the annual flu toll at about 36,000 flu-related deaths per year. But that average came from the years 1990-1999.
The H3N2 type A flu bug dominated eight of those nine flu seasons — and the Shay study finds that H3N2 seasons are nearly three times as deadly as H1N1 type A or t...
Source: WBZ-TV - Breaking News, Weather and Sports for Boston, Worcester and New Hampshire - January 23, 2013 Category: Consumer Health News Authors: mreal197 Tags: WebMD News Source Type: news
FDA approves egg and virus free flu vaccine Flubok
Source: PharmaTimes
Area: News
The FDA has approved Flublok, the first trivalent influenza vaccine made using an insect virus expression system and recombinant DNA technology.
The company 'Protein Sciences' states that unlike current vaccines, Flublok does not use the flu virus or eggs, as its manufacturing technology allows for production of large quantities of the protein hemagglutinin, the active ingredient in all inactivated influenza vaccines that is essential for entry of the virus into cells in the body.
The director of the FDA's Centre for Biologics Evaluation and Research, said that the new...
Source: NeLM - News - January 17, 2013 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Source Type: news
The flu is hitting hard this year
Here at PHA we have seen a LOTof flu cases! If your child has not yet received their influenza vaccination, it is not too late to bring them in for one. According to the Center for Disease Control (CDC), it is too early into the flu season to tell if it has peaked or not. 47 states have reported widespread outbreaks of the flu and there have been 20 children that have succumbed to the illness. This year’s flu is the H3N2 virus which historically has been associated with severe symptoms which is causing area hospitals to be inundated with cases. The H1N1 virus that sent pani...
Source: Pediatric Health Associates - January 15, 2013 Category: Pediatrics Tags: Vaccination Information Healthy Habits Source Type: news
2013 Flu Season: How to Protect Yourself
Based on recent reports from the CDC, the flu has started to peak nearly 5 weeks early this year, with significant activity reported in over 41 states with 18 deaths reported in children thus far. The predominant current flu strain that is being reported with widespread activity, H3N2 (Influenza A), appears to have good match to the flu strains in this year's vaccine. H3N2 appears to be a virulent flu strain, which was also seen in the 2003-2004 season, based on reports from the CDC. Flu season usually begins in November, then begins to peak in late January or early February in a typical year. There is no clear ...
Source: Forbes.com Healthcare News - January 9, 2013 Category: Pharmaceuticals Authors: Robert Glatter, MD Source Type: news
18 H3N2 Deaths In Pennsylvania In Week 1
The commentary discusses the 18 flu (H3N2) deaths in Pennsylvania in week 1. /08/13 17:30) (Source: Recombinomics)
Source: Recombinomics - January 9, 2013 Category: Infectious Diseases Source Type: news
Media Myth On United States H3N2 Vaccine Match
The commentary discusses the media myth on the H3N2 vaccine match for the 2012/2013 flu season (01/08/13 15:00) (Source: Recombinomics)
Source: Recombinomics - January 8, 2013 Category: Infectious Diseases Source Type: news
United States H3N2 T128A Frequency Increases To 40%
The commentary discusses the increase in H3N2 T128A frequencies to 40%. (01/07/13 19:45) (Source: Recombinomics)
Source: Recombinomics - January 7, 2013 Category: Infectious Diseases Source Type: news
CDC Testing New H3N2 Vaccine Target
The commentary discusses the CDC testing of a new H3N2 target. (01/04/13 15:00) (Source: Recombinomics)
Source: Recombinomics - January 4, 2013 Category: Infectious Diseases Source Type: news
England H3N2 Has Abolished HA Glycosylation Site
The commentary discusses the presence of H3N2 in England with an abolished HA glycosylation site. (01/03/13 23:55) (Source: Recombinomics)
Source: Recombinomics - January 4, 2013 Category: Infectious Diseases Source Type: news
CDC Reports More Cases, Hospitalizations and Nation ’s First H3N2v-Associated Death
Today, CDC is reporting 12 additional cases of H3N2 variant virus (H3N2v) infection, as well as the first H3N2v-associated death, which was reported by the state of Ohio. (Source: PandemicFlu.gov RSS Feed for News Releases)
Source: PandemicFlu.gov RSS Feed for News Releases - August 31, 2012 Category: American Health Source Type: news
