H1N1 Update

H1N1 UPDATES

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Weekly update from the CDC

During the week of November 15-21, 2009, certain key flu indicators declined while others rose as reported in FluView. The number of states reporting widespread flu activity decreased from 43 to 32 and nationally visits to doctors for influenza-like illness declined. Flu-related hospitalizations and deaths have declined slightly over last week, but are still very high nation-wide compared to what is expected for this time of year. The proportion of deaths attributed to pneumonia and influenza (P&I;) was above the epidemic threshold for the eighth consecutive week.

Visits to doctors for influenza-like illness (ILI) nationally decreased sharply this week over last week with all regions showing declines in ILI. This is the fourth consecutive week of national decreases in ILI after four consecutive weeks of sharp increases While ILI has declined, visits to doctors for influenza-like illness remain high.
Influenza hospitalization rates remain higher than expected for this time of year. Hospitalization rates continue to be highest in younger populations with the highest hospitalization rate reported in children 0-4 years old.
The proportion of deaths attributed to pneumonia and influenza (P&I;) based on the 122 Cities Report continues to be higher than expected for this time of year.
Thirty-two states are reporting widespread influenza activity at this time; a decline of 11 states from last week. They are: Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, California, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Tennessee, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, and West Virginia).
Almost all of the influenza viruses identified so far continue to be 2009 H1N1 influenza A viruses. These viruses remain similar to the virus chosen for the 2009 H1N1 vaccine, and remain susceptible to the antiviral drugs oseltamivir and zanamivir with rare exception.

CDC: Swine flu less widespread, down to 32 states

ATLANTA (AP) — A new government report says swine flu infections seem to be dropping, but the number of children who died with the illness rose by about 30.

Widespread infections were reported in 32 states as of Nov. 21, down from 43 states the week before.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention also said on Nov. 30 there were 27 new lab-confirmed swine flu deaths in children under 18. That's the largest one-week increase since the new virus was identified in April.

The count represents cases reported in the week ending Nov. 21. About 200 pediatric U.S. swine flu deaths have been reported to CDC so far, and officials believe there are probably a few hundred more.

EU approves single dose swine flu vaccine

BRUSSELS (AP) — On Nov. 30, the European Union's executive commission says it has approved single doses of two swine flu vaccines that could speed up winter vaccinations.

The European Commission's Monday authorization of single shots of Novartis AG' Focetria and GlaxoSmithKline's Pandemrix replaces the use of two doses of the vaccine against the H1N1 virus for adults and older children.

Older people over the age of 60 must be vaccinated with two doses of Focetria but can be treated with one dose of Pandemrix.

EU spokesman Tom van Lierop said regulators were still assessing the safety of a single shot of a third vaccine, Celvapan, made by Baxter.

Some 5 million people in Europe have already been vaccinated against the flu this winter.

Swine flu scams lurk on the Internet, FDA warns

Federal officials have warned promoters of more than 140 products sold over the Internet about fraudulent claims that they can prevent, treat or diagnose swine flu.

Bogus products include devices and sprays that claim to sterilize the air or surfaces, and dietary supplements claiming to boost the immune system. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration says it even has found fake Tamiflu being sold online without a prescription.

Officials say the problem has grown in recent weeks as vaccine is delayed and real Tamiflu continues to be reserved for only the sickest flu patients.

Fraudulent products emerged shortly after swine flu did last spring — about 10 a day, said Alyson Saben, head of a swine flu consumer fraud team the U.S. Food and Drug Administration formed. That slowed over the summer as the flu abated, but lately "we are seeing new sites pop up," she said.

Most worrisome: sites claiming to sell Tamiflu directly to consumers. The FDA bought and tested five such products. One contained powdered talc and generic Tylenol — no Tamiflu. Several others contained some Tamiflu but were not approved for sale in the U.S.

"We have no idea of the conditions under which they were manufactured. They could contain contaminated, counterfeit, impure or subpotent or superpotent ingredients," Saben said.

Tamiflu and Relenza are the only drugs recommended for treating swine flu.

2009 H1N1 Influenza Vaccine Supply Status

2009 H1N1 Vaccine Doses Allocated, Ordered, and Shipped by Project Area
Posted November 27, 2009, 4:30 PM ET

Project Areas*	Total Doses Allocated** as of 11/25/09	Total Doses Ordered as of 11/25/09	Total Doses Shipped*** as of 11/25/09
Connecticut	682000	682000	658100
Maine	259200	258700	250,800
Massachusetts	1262300	1262300	1,169,600
New Hampshire	259500	232400	231,800
Rhode Island	208700	188,800	188,600
Vermont	131400	131400	118,100
* Project areas reflect CDC Public Health Emergency Response (PHER) Grantees Doses allocated to project areas for ordering are those that are at the distribution depots and ready for project areas to order. Vaccine is allocated to each project area in proportion to its population (pro rata). *There is a lag time between allocation, ordering, and shipment of doses as project areas place orders and those orders are processed and shipped.

Links to stories relating to the outbreak of swine flu

Local weekly update: Methuen, Lawrence holding H1N1 clinic this week

Doctors' offices continue to report influenza like illnesses, with roughly 9 percent of office visits being flu related, when they would normally see only 1 percent with flu like illnesses at this time of year.

Schools continue to report flu-related absences, with no schools reporting a need to close due to a large outbreak among the staff. Lawrence Public Schools report that absentee rates seem to have fallen over the past two weeks.Click here to read more.

Pelham teachers donate to child's family

Pelham teachers have raised $2,000 to give to the May family, whose 8-year-old child died recently. Superintendent Frank Bass said Pelham Elementary School led the collection effort, but teachers from all the district's schools contributed. Click here to read more.

Challenges remain for North Andover girl who survived swine flu

Cassandra Dupont wore her first black eye like a badge of honor.

A stray elbow in karate class was nothing compared to challenges the 13-year-old had already overcome, medical hurdles lined up one after another since the day she was born.

Cassie's mother calls her a miracle. Her doctors call her a princess. But above all, everyone who knows Cassie calls her a fighter.

Her last fight nearly killed her. It came in the form of the H1N1 virus. Click here to read more.

NH releases swine flu vaccination plan

CONCORD, N.H. (AP) — Pregnant women, young children with medical conditions and health care providers who have direct contact with patients will be the first people vaccinated against swine flu in New Hampshire.

Gov. John Lynch and the state's public health director said Thursday that they expect New Hampshire to receive 190,000 doses of vaccine in early October, followed by another 80,000 a few weeks later. Public Health Director Jose Montero says that will be enough to cover all those most at risk within four to six weeks, and after that, the vaccine will be available to the next level of those at risk: healthy people under age 24, all other health care workers and parents of young children.

The vaccine for the regular seasonal flu already is available.

Prevention, isolation, vaccination are keys to combating an outbreak

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention expects the highly contagious H1N1 virus, known as swine flu, to bear down on New England within weeks, and health officials are scrambling to prepare for the worst while hoping for the best. However, the vaccine for the H1N1 virus ... Click here to read more

What is 2009 H1N1 Influenza?

Is 2009 H1N1 virus contagious?

CDC has determined that 2009 H1N1 virus is contagious and is spreading from human to human.

How does 2009 H1N1 virus spread?

Spread of 2009 H1N1 virus is thought to occur in the same way that seasonal flu spreads. Flu viruses are spread mainly from person to person through coughing or sneezing by people with influenza. Sometimes people may become infected by touching something — such as a surface or object — with flu

What are the signs and symptoms of this virus in people?

The symptoms of 2009 H1N1 flu virus in people include fever, cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, body aches, headache, chills and fatigue. A significant number of people who have been infected with this virus also have reported diarrhea and vomiting. Severe illnesses and death has occurred as a result of illness associated with this virus.

How severe is illness associated with 2009 H1N1 flu virus?

Illness with the new H1N1 virus has ranged from mild to severe. While most people who have been sick have recovered without needing medical treatment, hospitalizations and deaths from infection with this virus have occurred.

How does 2009 H1N1 flu compare to seasonal flu in terms of its severity and infection rates?

With seasonal flu, we know that seasons vary in terms of timing, duration and severity. Seasonal influenza can cause mild to severe illness, and at times can lead to death. Each year, in the United States, on average 36,000 people die from flu-related complications and more than 200,000 people are hospitalized from flu-related causes. Of those hospitalized, 20,000 are children younger than 5 years old. Over 90% of deaths and about 60 percent of hospitalization occur in people older than 65.

When the 2009 H1N1 outbreak was first detected in mid-April 2009, CDC began working with states to collect, compile and analyze information regarding the 2009 H1N1 flu outbreak, including the numbers of confirmed and probable cases and the ages of these people. The information analyzed by CDC supports the conclusion that 2009 H1N1 flu has caused greater disease burden in people younger than 25 years of age than older people. At this time, there are few cases and few deaths reported in people older than 64 years old, which is unusual when compared with seasonal flu. However, pregnancy and other previously recognized high risk medical conditions from seasonal influenza appear to be associated with increased risk of complications from this 2009 H1N1. These underlying conditions include asthma, diabetes, suppressed immune systems, heart disease, kidney disease, neurocognitive and neuromuscular disorders and pregnancy.

How long can an infected person spread this virus to others?

People infected with seasonal and 2009 H1N1 flu shed virus and may be able to infect others from 1 day before getting sick to 5 to 7 days after. This can be longer in some people, especially children and people with weakened immune systems and in people infected with the new H1N1 virus.

Source: http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/qa.htm

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