Swine influenza (Swine flu) refers to influenza cases that are caused by Orthomyxoviruses endemic to populations of pigs. The viruses are referred to as Swine influenza viruses (SIV). SIV strains isolated to date have been classified either as Influenzavirus C or one of the various subtypes of the genus Influenzavirus A.
State Public Health Director Announces Expansion of H1N1 Flu Vaccine Availability to all Illinoisans — High-risk individuals encouraged to be vaccinated before expansion next week. – Illinois Department of Public Health Director Dr. Damon T. Arnold announced that beginning Tuesday, December_15, 2009, all Illinoisans will be eligible to receive an H1N1 flu vaccination.
177 new cases of H1N1 flu in New Delhi and 4 schools are shut in Delhi till next week. – H1N1 flu or swine flu cases are continued to rise in New Delhi, capital of India. 177 people were tested positive for the H1N1 virus.
Novartis inaugurates large-scale US based cell-culture influenza vaccine manufacturing facility – Novartis inaugurated the US’s first ever large-scale flu cell culture vaccine and adjuvant manufacturing facility in Holly Springs, North Carolina.
Monitoring of human swine influenza virus in connection with a recent Norway report – The Hong Kong’s Public Health Laboratory Service Branch (PHLSB) had detected one human swine influenza (HSI) virus which had the same mutation as the one detected in Norway recently.
Safety of pandemic vaccines — Pandemic (H1N1) 2009 briefing note 16. – WHO estimates that around 80 million doses of pandemic vaccine have been distributed and around 65 million people have been vaccinated. National immunization campaigns began in Australia and the People’s Republic of China in late September.
La Jolla Institute finds previous seasonal flu infections may provide some level of H1N1 immunity – Previous influenza infections may provide at least some level of immunity to the H1N1 “swine” flu, revealed by researchers at the La Jolla Institute for Allergy & Immunology, US.
The number of estimated new swine flu cases has fallen significantly in UK. – The number of estimated new swine flu cases has fallen significantly in the past week, the Health Protection Agency has announced. The consultation rate for flu-like illness in England from the Royal College of General Practitioners (RCGP) scheme decreased to 36.0 per 100,000 in week 45 compared to 37.7 in week 44.
FDA Expands Approved Use of H1N1 Vaccines to Include Infants and Children – US FDA has approved the use of the CSL Limited’s 2009 H1N1 influenza vaccine to include children ages 6 months and older. This vaccine was previously approved only for use in adults, ages 18 years and older.
Many parents, high-priority adults who tried to get H1N1 vaccine unable to get it — Most who tried and didn’t get it say they will try again. – In US, majority of adults who tried to get the H1N1 vaccine for themselves or their children have been unable to do so, revealed in a poll from Harvard School of Public Health (HSPH).
Report on H1N1 cases in California shows hospitalization can occur at all ages, with many severe – In contrast with some common perceptions regarding 2009 influenza A(H1N1) infections, an examination of cases in California indicates that hospitalization and death can occur at all ages. About 30 percent of hospitalized cases have been severe enough to require treatment in an intensive care unit.
