Archive for Week of January 4, 2010Note: All links accessed and active on day of Biosecurity News in Brief publication. January 4 | January 5 | January 6 | January 7 | January 8
January 8, 2010
The Official Word to All, Get a Swine Flu Vaccination Now (New York Times) Citing mistakes made in the 1957 flu pandemic, federal officials on Thursday urged hesitant Americans to get vaccinated now against swine flu to prevent any possibility of another wave of illness and deaths.
Pandemic (H1N1) 2009 - Update 82 (WHO) As of 3 January 2009, worldwide more than 208 countries and overseas territories or communities have reported laboratory confirmed cases of pandemic influenza H1N1 2009, including at least 12799 deaths.
No U.S. Decision on H1N1 Vaccine Orders - Official (Reuters) The United States has made no decision on whether to cancel or sell any of its orders for the H1N1 vaccine, unlike some European countries with a vast oversupply of shots, a federal health official said on Thursday.
Talks to Offload Swine Flu Vaccine Under Way (BBC) The government is making plans to offload millions of doses of swine flu vaccine amid predictions a "third wave" of the pandemic is unlikely to happen.
Multistate Outbreak of E. coli O157:H7 Infections Associated with Beef from National Steak and Poultry (CDC) CDC is collaborating with public health officials in several states and the United States Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service to investigate a multistate outbreak of human infections due to Escherichia coli O157:H7.
Obama Orders Steps to Boost Intelligence, Screening (Bloomberg/Yahoo! News) President Barack Obama directed U.S. intelligence agencies to set clearer lines of responsibility for following up leads on terrorist threats and streamline the criteria for adding names to watch lists.
Japan Bans Texas Poultry on Avian Influenza Concerns (Bloomberg) Japan has banned imports of poultry and eggs from Texas after tests showed possible avian influenza in a flock of ducks in the state, U.S. federal and state officials said.
Texas Foundation Wins Contract to Assist in Fight Against Bioterrorism (Homeland Security Newswire) Southwest Foundation for Biomedical Research receives first installment of $456,216 of a $2.2 million contract to do research on Ebola and Marburg viruses, which could be used as potential bioterror weapons.
The Next Health Care Revolution, from Dr. Google (Science) The New Yorker author, surgeon, Harvard University faculty member, and health policy adviser Atul Gawande told the President's Council of Advisors on Science and Technology (PCAST) today that checklists could help improve the quality of health care and lower costs.
January 7, 2010
WHO-Led H1N1 Vaccine Redistribution May Be Scaled Back as Countries Reassess Need (Canadian Press) Softening demand for H1N1 vaccine may be spreading to a World Health Organization-led effort to provide developing countries with some pandemic vaccine, a WHO official said Tuesday.
Canada to Bridge Mexico’s H1N1 Flu Vaccine Requirements (Public Health Agency of Canada News Release) The Honourable Leona Aglukkaq, Minister of Health, on behalf of the Government of Canada, has announced it will be providing five million doses of H1N1 flu vaccine to Mexico to help bridge that country’s immediate pandemic vaccine requirements. This is not a donation. Mexico will replenish Canada’s H1N1 vaccine supply by March 31, 2010.
Inquiry Call for Swine Flu Vaccine Rollout (The Australian) The opposition has called for a review of the federal government's handling of the swine flu vaccination program after it emerged taxpayers may have to foot the bill for the vaccine, despite only a quarter of it so far being shipped to doctors.
Statewide School-located Influenza Vaccination Program for Children 5‑13 Years of Age, Hawaii, USA (Emerging Infectious Diseases) New guidance recommends annual influenza vaccination for all children 5–18 years of age in the United States. During 2007–2008, Hawaii offered inactivated and live attenuated influenza vaccine at school-located clinics for grades kindergarten through eight.
NIH Grants to Aid Study of Smallpox and other Bioterror-Related Diseases (Homeland Security Newswire) NIH gives the La Jolla Institute $18.8 million to do immunological research into diseases which could be used in bioterrorist attacks; the institute will study vaccines and treatments for smallpox, dengue, malaria, and tuberculosis.
Foodborne Disease Threat to Global Health Security – WHO (FOODproductiondaily.com) Foodborne diseases are a risk to global health security and any solutions to bolster food safety must be international ones, a World Health Organisation (WHO) report has said.
Medical Breakthrough: VA, Kaiser to Share Records (San Diego Union-Tribune) Kaiser Permanente and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs today will launch an electronic medical-data exchange program in San Diego that could become the seed for the much touted but equally elusive national health records system.
Disinfectants 'Train' Superbugs to Resist Antibiotics (BBC) Scientists know bacteria can become inured to disinfectant, but research increasingly shows the same process may make them resistant to certain drugs.
HHS Delivers the Nation’s First Health Security Strategy (HHS) HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius today released The National Health Security Strategy, the nation’s first comprehensive strategy focused on protecting people’s health during a large-scale emergency. The strategy sets priorities for government and non-government activities over the next four years.
January 6, 2010
The Domestic and International Impacts of the 2009-H1N1 Influenza A Pandemic (IOM) In March and early April 2009, a new, swine-origin 2009-H1N1 influenza A virus emerged in Mexico and the United States.
Fact Sheet: Safety of Thimerosal in Vaccines Against 2009 H1N1 Flu (CDC) The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is aware that pregnant women, parents of young children, and others may have questions about the safety of thimerosal in vaccines against 2009 H1N1 flu. Here is some information to help you in making decisions.
Former Senator Talent Critical of Lack of Preparation for Biological Event (Missourinet) Former U.S. Senator Jim Talent (R-MO) is sounding the alarm about America’s response to the H1N1 virus and how it proves the country needs better medical emergency plans to deal with any biological event, natural or manmade.
Indonesia Reports 15 New Bird Flu Deaths in 2009 (AP/New York Times) Indonesia on Wednesday reported 15 more bird flu fatalities in 2009, taking the human death toll in the country worst hit by the illness to 134.
Elusys Receives Contract for Up To $143 Million from the U.S. Federal Government to Fund Advanced Development of Anthim®, a New Treatment for Anthrax (Elusys) Elusys Therapeutics, Inc. (Elusys), a privately-held biopharmaceutical company, announced today that it has signed a contract potentially totaling up to $143 million to complete the final development, commercial manufacturing and licensure of Anthim, the company’s late stage anthrax therapeutic.
FDA Drug Approvals Mostly Flat in 2009 (AP/Yahoo! News) New drugs cleared by the Food and Drug Administration last year kept pace with 2008, suggesting a much-touted push for drug safety has not slowed down approvals.
Cambodia Records More Cases of Malaria and Dengue Fever in 2009 (Xinhua) Cambodia has seen a rise in reported cases of dengue fever and malaria in 2009, local media reported on Tuesday, citing health officials here.
Pakistani Cabinet Backs Bioweapons Ban (Global Security Newswire) Pakistan's federal Cabinet today gave its tentative support to a draft bill that would ban biological weapons activities in the country, the Associated Press of Pakistan reported today.
January 5, 2010
France Defends Flu Vaccine Surplus (AFP/The Age) The French government fought off criticism that it had poorly planned its swine flu vaccine program after it bought more doses than needed and announced plans to sell surplus stock.
Large Trials Confirm Immunogenicity of H1N1 Vaccines (Lancet) Since the recognition of a novel influenza A H1N1 virus, in March, 2009, the virus has spread throughout the world to cause the first influenza pandemic of this century, resulting in a cumulative incidence of death of 5—14 per million in populous southern hemisphere countries.
Cepheid Receives FDA Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) for First 2009 H1N1 Influenza Assay for CLIA 'Moderate Complexity' Laboratories (Cepheid) Cepheid (Nasdaq: CPHD) today announced it has been granted Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for its Xpert(R) Flu A Panel test.
Insect Cells Provide the Key to Alternative Swine Flu Vaccination (e! Science News) Scientists in Vienna have developed a new technique for producing vaccines for H1N1, 'swine flu', based on insect cells.
Flu Pandemics May Be Worsened by Short-Term School Closures, Pitt Study Finds (Medical News TODAY) Closing schools for less than two weeks during a flu pandemic may increase infection rates and prolong an epidemic, say University of Pittsburgh researchers in a study published ahead-of-print and online in the Journal of Public Health Management and Practice.
Will Technology Change How Doctors Treat You in 2010? (PC World) With the federal government aggressively pushing for electronic health records (EHR), 2010 could be the year telehealth technology finally allows doctors to monitor their patients' health wirelessly in real time -- no matter where the patient is.
Clinton: U.S. Discussing Iran Sanctions with Allies (VOANews.com) Secretary of State Hillary Clinton expresses disappointment that Iran has ignored US appeals to accept a UN-backed nuclear fuel deal aimed at easing Western concerns that Tehran is developing nuclear weapons.
January 4, 2010
H1N1 Response Shows Need for Better Medical Emergency Plans (Washington Post) For generations, the United States has neglected to nurture the technologies and systems needed to respond to emergencies related to disease. Nowhere has this been more evident than in the response to H1N1.
Pandemic (H1N1) 2009 - Update 81 (WHO) As of 27 December 2009, worldwide more than 208 countries and overseas territories or communities have reported laboratory confirmed cases of pandemic influenza H1N1 2009, including at least 12220 deaths.
U.S. Reaction to Swine Flu: Apt and Lucky (New York Times) Although it is too early to write the obituary for swine flu, medical experts, already assessing how the first pandemic in 40 years has been handled, have found that while luck played a part, a series of rapid but conservative decisions by federal officials worked out better than many had dared hope.
Outbreak of 2009 Pandemic Influenza A (H1N1) at a New York City School (NEJM) In April 2009, an outbreak of novel swine-origin influenza A (2009 H1N1 influenza) occurred at a high school in Queens, New York. We describe the outbreak and characterize the clinical and epidemiologic aspects of this novel virus.
Household Transmission of 2009 Pandemic Influenza A (H1N1) Virus in the United States (NEJM) As of June 11, 2009, a total of 17,855 probable or confirmed cases of 2009 pandemic influenza A (H1N1) had been reported in the United States. Risk factors for transmission remain largely uncharacterized. We characterize the risk factors and describe the transmission of the virus within households.
Streptococcus pneumoniae Coinfection Is Correlated with the Severity of H1N1 Pandemic Influenza (PloS One) Initial reports in May 2009 of the novel influenza strain H1N1pdm estimated a case fatality rate (CFR) of 0.6%, similar to that of seasonal influenza.
Delay Pregnancy to Avoid Flu Risk: Ministry (Global Times/Xinhua) Women were advised to delay getting pregnant until after the A(H1N1) flu risk drops, the Ministry of Health said on its website.
CDC Confirms Strain of Anthrax that Sickened U.S. Woman Matches Contaminated Drums, Outlet (Canadian Press/Google News) Medical investigators have confirmed that the strain of anthrax that sickened a New Hampshire woman is the same strain found on an electrical outlet and two drums used at a gathering she attended earlier this month.
U.S. Lifts HIV/Aids Immigration Ban (BBC) The US has lifted a 22-year immigration ban which has stopped anyone with HIV/Aids from entering the country. President Obama said the ban was not compatible with US plans to be a leader in the fight against the disease.
Deadly Animal Diseases Poised to Infect Humans (Independent UK) The world is facing a growing threat from new diseases that are jumping the human-animal species barrier as a result of environmental disruption, global warming and the progressive urbanisation of the planet, scientists have warned.
Executive Order -- Medical Countermeasures Following a Biological Attack (The White House) Establishing federal capability for the timely provision of medical countermeasures following a biological attack.
DHS Heads-Up Initiative to Develop Revolutionary Homeland Security Technologies (Military & Aerospace Electronics) The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) in Washington is asking industry for revolutionary technologies improve homeland security missions and operations.
The New Katrina Flood: Hospital Liability (New York Times) Three years before Hurricane Katrina inundated New Orleans, a senior executive at Pendleton Memorial Methodist Hospital assessed its vulnerability to the sort of flooding that had been long feared there.
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