CIDRAP >> Study Supports Infection Potential of Airborne Flu Viruses

Aerosolized flu viruses, the type that can remain airborne for hours, circulate in places such as doctor's offices, daycare centers, and airplanes in doses large enough to cause infection, researchers from Virginia Tech reported yesterday.
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Get Ready: What People with Disabilities Should Know About the Flu

Get Ready: What people with disabilities should know about th...: "The flu is never fun for anyone. Most people who get sick will have only a mild illness. Some people, however, are at greater risk and are m..."

CDC - Seasonal Influenza (Flu) - Final Season Vaccination Estimates: United States, 2009-10 Influenza Season

Image via WikipediaBecause the novel influenza A (H1N1) virus [2009 influenza A (H1N1)] was identified in April 2009, two separate influenza vaccines were distributed in the United States in 2009–2010: a seasonal vaccine and an influenza A (H1N1) 2009 monovalent vaccine (2009 H1N1 vaccine) [1, 2].

The final estimates in this report include vaccinations reported through May 2010 based on interviews through June 2010.

Key Finding:

Nationally, seasonal influenza vaccination coverage was highest among adults aged ≥65 years [69.6% (95% CI 69.0–70.2%)]. Among adults aged 50–64 years, national seasonal influenza vaccination coverage was 45.0% (95% CI 44.4–45.6%).

Seasonal Influenza Vaccination Coverage

• National 2009–10 seasonal influenza vaccination coverage among all persons aged ≥6 months in the United States was 41.2% (95% confidence interval [CI] 40.8–41.6%).(Table 1)
• Among children aged 6 months –17 years, national seasonal influenza vaccination coverage [43.7% (95% CI 42.8–44.6)] was higher than coverage for adults ≥18 years [40.4% (95% CI 40.0–40.8%)].
• For adults aged 18–49 years, national seasonal influenza vaccination coverage was higher for persons with high–risk conditions [38.2% (95% CI 36.9–39.5%)] compared to those without high–risk conditions [28.4% (95% CI 27.8–29.0%)].
• Nationally, seasonal influenza vaccination coverage was highest among adults aged ≥65 years [69.6% (95% CI 69.0–70.2%)]. Among adults aged 50–64 years, national seasonal influenza vaccination coverage was 45.0% (95% CI 44.4–45.6%).
• For children aged 6 months –17 years, healthy adults aged 18–49 years, adults aged 18–49 years with high–risk conditions and adults aged ≥65 years, 2009–10 final estimates were higher than estimates for the same groups in the 2008–09 season [2008–09 estimates: 30.2% (95% CI 28.4–32.0%), 19.5% (95% CI 18.2–20.8%), 33.0% (95% CI 29.8–36.5%) and 65.6% (95% CI 63.3–67.8%) respectively; CDC, unpublished data, 2009 National Health Interview Survey (NHIS)].
• One or more seasonal influenza vaccine doses were administered to 31.6 million (95% CI 30.9–32.3 million) children and 91.6 million (95% CI 90.7–92.5 million) adults, for an estimated 123.3 million (95% CI 122.1–124.5 million) seasonal influenza vaccinees during August 2009 through May 2010.

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Shifting Vaccine for Flu to Elderly - NYTimes.com

By DONALD G. McNEIL Jr.

Federal health officials are trying to shift supplies of the seasonal flu vaccine away from chain pharmacies and supermarkets to nursing homes, hoping to counter a shortage that threatens to cause a wave of deaths this winter among the nation’s most vulnerable population.

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DO YOU OR DOES YOUR ORGANIZATION WORK WITH SENIORS? KNOW WHAT TO DO ABOUT THE FLU

Join U.S. Assistant Secretary for Aging Kathy Greenlee, Sandy Markwood, CEO, National Association of Area Agencies on Aging (n4a), Jim Firman, President and CEO, National Council on Aging (NCOA) and the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) for a special FLU.GOV WEBCAST FOR ORGANIZATIONS AND INDIVIDUALS WHO WORK WITH SENIORS.

DETAILS: Join us WEDNESDAY September 30th, from 1-2 PM (EDT) to learn more about how to prevent or reduce the spread of the flu with experts from the U.S. Administration on Aging, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the National Council on Aging, and the National Association of Area Agencies on Aging. Hosted by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the discussion will be webcast live on flu.gov.

WHAT: H1N1 Preparedness Webcast for the Aging Network

WHEN: Wednesday September 30, 1-2 PM (EDT)

WHERE: Live on www.flu.gov/live No advance registration necessary

WHERE CAN I FIND MORE INFORMATION ABOUT WHAT THOSE WHO WORK WITH SENIORS SHOULD DO ABOUT THE FLU?

Flu.gov is your one-stop website for all the latest information about the flu and the new H1N1 flu virus from the CDC and other top scientists and doctors across the federal government. Use our www.flu.gov marketing tools to spread the word about flu.gov to your seniors, friends and families and help them get the facts too.

Vaccination and Health Brief

Childhood immunisation is a standard and recognised critical element of preventive care around the world. Despite strong evidence for the efficacy of immunization against influenza, pneumococcal disease and other vaccine preventable diseases (VPD), there is a gap between recommendations for vaccination among older persons and actual vaccination rates in Europe. Older Europeans are not well vaccinated and therefore not well protected against these VPD. Identifying and developing strategies for overcoming barriers to vaccination is therefore an important health policy goal for Europe.

This brief, summarizes the evidence about policies and practices that promote the use of vaccination from all over the world and identify actions that policy makers should take to improve rates of vaccination and promote healthy ageing.articulate four broad policy goals are articulated and specific actions required to realize them are identified. The four policy goals are:
• Promote life course vaccination to promote healthy ageing by limiting the burden of illness linked to vaccine-preventable infectious disease;
• Improve the vaccination rate among health care professionals (HCP) and empower their critical role as vaccination providers;
• Expand opportunities for patients to receive vaccination;
• Develop patient knowledge and improve attitudes and beliefs;
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Prevention and Control of Seasonal Influenza with Vaccines

Recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), 2009 Summary This report updates the 2008 recommendations by CDC's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) regarding the use of influenza vaccine for the prevention and control of seasonal influenza (CDC. Prevention and control of influenza: recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices [ACIP]. MMWR 2008;57[No. RR-7]). Information on vaccination issues related to the recently identified novel influenza A H1N1 virus will be published later in 2009. The 2009 seasonal influenza recommendations include new and updated information. Highlights of the 2009 recommendations include 1) a recommendation that annual vaccination be administered to all children aged 6 months--18 years for the 2009--10 influenza season; 2) a recommendation that vaccines containing the 2009--10 trivalent vaccine virus strains A/Brisbane/59/2007 (H1N1)-like, A/Brisbane/10/2007 (H3N2)-like, and B/Brisbane/60/2008-like antigens be used; and 3) a notice that recommendations for influenza diagnosis and antiviral use will be published before the start of the 2009--10 influenza season. Vaccination efforts should begin as soon as vaccine is available and continue through the influenza season. Approximately 83% of the United States population is specifically recommended for annual vaccination against seasonal influenza; however, <40% of the U.S. population received the 2008--09 influenza vaccine. These recommendations also include a summary of safety data for U.S. licensed influenza vaccines. These recommendations and other information are available at CDC's influenza website (http://www.cdc.gov/flu); any updates or supplements that might be required during the 2009--10 influenza season also can be found at this website. Vaccination and health-care providers should be alert to announcements of recommendation updates and should check the CDC influenza website periodically for additional information. Read More

Prevention and Treatment of Seasonal Influenza

New England Journal of Medicine Volume 359:2579-2585 December 11, 2008 Number 24 W. Paul Glezen, M.D This Journal feature begins with a case vignette highlighting a common clinical problem. Evidence supporting various strategies is then presented, followed by a review of formal guidelines, when they exist. The article ends with the author's clinical recommendations. Link to Full Text

National Influenza Vaccination Week---December 8--14, 2008

To help raise awareness regarding the seriousness of influenza and the importance of annual vaccination throughout the influenza season (i.e., including into December, January, and beyond), the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, National Influenza Vaccine Summit, CDC, and other partners are conducting activities during the third annual National Influenza Vaccination Week, December 8--14, 2008. Throughout this week, CDC will highlight the importance of preventing influenza by vaccination of persons at high risk, their close contacts, and all those who want to be protected from influenza. CDC, Families Fighting Flu, and other partners also have designated Tuesday, December 9, as Children's Flu Vaccination Day to put a special focus on the importance of influenza vaccination to prevent influenza and its complications in children. Thursday, December 11, is Senior Vaccination Day, emphasizing the importance of vaccinating older persons, and Friday, December 12, is designated as Health-Care Worker Vaccination Day, promoting influenza vaccination of health-care workers. Annual influenza vaccination is recommended for the following persons: children aged 6 months--18 years; pregnant women; persons aged >50 years; persons with certain chronic medical conditions; household contacts and caregivers of children aged <5 href="http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/rr5606a1.htm". Posters and educational materials for National Influenza Vaccination Week are available at http://www.cdc.gov/flu/professionals/flugallery. Additional influenza information for health-care professionals and patients is available at http://www.cdc.gov/flu.

FDA Clears New CDC Test to Detect Human Influenza

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) today cleared a new test developed by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)to diagnose human influenza infections and the highly pathogenic influenza A (H5N1) viruses. The device, called the Human Influenza Virus Real-Time RT-PCR Detection and Characterization Panel (rRT-PCR Flu Panel), uses a molecular biology technique to detect flu virus and differentiate between seasonal and novel influenza. The device is used to isolate and amplify viral genetic material present in secretions taken from a patient's nose or throat. The viral genetic material is labeled with fluorescent molecules, which are then detected and analyzed by a diagnostic instrument called the Applied Biosystems7500 Fast Dx, also cleared today by the FDA for diagnostic use simultaneously with the CDC's rRT-PCR Flu Panel. The test panel and diagnostic system can detect and identify commonly circulating human influenza viruses as well as influenza A (H5N1)viruses. Results can be available within four hours and the system can test multiple samples at once. "The application of the test to detect an emergent influenza virus would be especially important in the early stages of a pandemic," Secretary Leavitt added. "This breakthrough allows for a more timely detection of a pandemic virus, which helps in determining when to begin broad control strategies as well as life-saving mitigation measures, such as closing schools, cancelling social gatherings and informing businesses to begin work-at-home policies."

GAO Report: Influenza Pandemic

HHS Needs to Continue Its Actions and Finalize Guidance for Pharmaceutical Interventions GAO recommends that HHS expeditiously finalize guidance to assist state and local jurisdictions to determine how to effectively use limited supplies of antivirals and pre-pandemic vaccine in a pandemic, including prioritizing target groups for pre-pandemic vaccine. In comments on a draft of this report, HHS described additional actions it has taken and plans to take relating to GAO’s recommendation, including releasing for public comment in the near future proposed guidance on pre-pandemic vaccine allocation. Full Report

CDC Releases 1918 Pandemic Flu Storybook

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has released an online storybook containing narratives from survivors, families, and friends about one of the largest scourges ever on human kind – the 1918 influenza pandemic that killed millions of people around the world. The storybook provides valuable insight for public health officials preparing for the possibility of another pandemic sometime in our future. “Complacency is enemy number one when it comes to preparing for another influenza pandemic,” said CDC Director Dr. Julie Gerberding. “These stories, told so eloquently by survivors, family members, and friends from past pandemics, serve as a sobering reminder of the devastating impact that influenza can have and reading them is a must for anyone involved in public health preparedness.” “It′s an excellent resource, not only for public health professionals, but for people of all ages,” said Sharon KD Hoskins, a public affairs officer who coordinated the project for CDC. “It’s probably the closest to experiencing the real thing that many of us can imagine.” The storybook can be found at http://www.pandemicflu.gov/storybook/index.html.

Bacterial Pneumonia Caused Most Deaths in 1918 Influenza Pandemic

Implications for Future Pandemic Planning The majority of deaths during the influenza pandemic of 1918-1919 were not caused by the influenza virus acting alone, report researchers from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), part of the National Institutes of Health. Instead, most victims succumbed to bacterial pneumonia following influenza virus infection. The pneumonia was caused when bacteria that normally inhabit the nose and throat invaded the lungs along a pathway created when the virus destroyed the cells that line the bronchial tubes and lungs. A future influenza pandemic may unfold in a similar manner, say the NIAID authors, whose paper in the Oct. 1 issue of The Journal of Infectious Diseases is now available online. Therefore, the authors conclude, comprehensive pandemic preparations should include not only efforts to produce new or improved influenza vaccines and antiviral drugs but also provisions to stockpile antibiotics and bacterial vaccines as well. Related Editorial Comment: Planning for an Influenza Pandemic: Thinking beyond the Virus

Home Health Care During an Influenza Pandemic: Issues and Resources

This report serves as a discussion piece for home health care agencies and others to consider; this is not a Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) guidance. The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ), with funding by the HHS Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response (ASPR) and in collaboration with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), convened an expert panel meeting on July 12-13, 2007, in Washington, DC. The meeting brought together governmental and nongovernmental experts in the fields of home health care and emergency and disaster planning. During the meeting, the expert panel reviewed the work currently being done in home health care planning and preparedness and explored the key issues and challenges of providing home health care services during an influenza pandemic. This report had its genesis in the rich discussion among these experts. It is hoped that the information and resources here will be of value not only to home health care agencies, but also to State and local pandemic influenza planners.

Effective, Robust Design of Community Mitigation for Pandemic Influenza: A Systematic Examination of Proposed US Guidance

Davey VJ, Glass RJ, Min HJ, Beyeler WE, Glass LM (2008) Effective, Robust Design of Community Mitigation for Pandemic Influenza: A Systematic Examination of Proposed US Guidance. PLoS ONE 3(7): e2606 doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0002606 The US government proposes pandemic influenza mitigation guidance that includes isolation and antiviral treatment of ill persons, voluntary household member quarantine and antiviral prophylaxis, social distancing of individuals, school closure, reduction of contacts at work, and prioritized vaccination. Is this the best strategy combination? Is choice of this strategy robust to pandemic uncertainties? What are critical enablers of community resilience? The full research article with findings and conclusions.