Category Archives: Avian Influenza

H3N2 Brings New Influenza Threat

A ProMED-mail post (August 2, 2009)

Hong Kong’s health authorities announced Wednesday [27 Jul 2009] that a new variant of the H3N2 seasonal influenza virus has been found in the city. The Brisbane strain has been the prevalent circulator of H3N2 in the past year, and the new variant is its direct descendent, said Thomas Tsang, controller of Hong Kong’s Center for Health Protection (CHP). “However, it has some genetic changes distinguishing it from the old Brisbane strain,” he said. He said it is normal for viruses to go through changes, adding that overseas health authorities, including those in Canada, Britain and Australia, had also found the new variant. Continue reading H3N2 Brings New Influenza Threat

Health Inspectors Caught Swine Flu Investigating Alberta Pig Farm Outbreak

A ProMED-mail post (July 23, 2009)

Two Canadian Food Inspection Agency [CFIA] inspectors appear to have contracted swine flu while investigating an outbreak of the new virus in pigs on an Alberta farm in late April [2009], the agency confirmed on 21 July 2009.

The cases appear to be the first report of people catching the new H1N1 virus from pigs. Continue reading Health Inspectors Caught Swine Flu Investigating Alberta Pig Farm Outbreak

Risk Factors for Severe Swine Flu a Wide Umbrella Under which Many Stand

A ProMED-mail post (June 19, 2009)

Whether speaking of a 58-year-old man or a 38-year-old woman, or a little boy of 9, officials announcing swine flu deaths are almost always quick to note “underlying health  conditions” may have contributed to the fatal outcome. Asthma, heart disease, diabetes, maybe even obesity are among the conditions used to help explain why swine flu infection is hospitalizing and killing younger people, people who would be expected to make a full recovery from seasonal flu. Continue reading Risk Factors for Severe Swine Flu a Wide Umbrella Under which Many Stand

INFLUENZA A (H1N1) – SWINE IMMUNITY

A ProMED-mail post (May 28, 2009)

The following is [1] a statement of the research program of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Agricultural Research Service (ARS), and [2] the outcome of a study of the cross-reactivity of serum samples from US pigs against the new swine origin 2009 H1N1 influenza virus (S/O H1N1). The results of this analysis indicate that pre-existing immunity induced by swine influenza viruses circulating in the US may not protect pigs against the new S/O H1N1 influenza virus presently circulating in people.

Continue reading INFLUENZA A (H1N1) – SWINE IMMUNITY

Devilish Dilemmas Surround Pandemic Flu Vaccine

Martin Enserink and Jocelyn Kaiser
Published in SCIENCE:  VOLUME 324:703-705,2009

If and when a pandemic of H1N1 swine flu hits, vaccines might be the world’s best hope for softening the blow. But major uncertainties cloud the prospects for vaccines against the new  strain. No pandemic vaccine yet exists, and it is unclear how much vaccine would have to be available, and by what time, to have any impact. Should manufacturers halt the production of seasonal influenza vaccine to focus on a pandemic version, and if so, when? And is there any way to ensure that people around the world have an equal chance to get the new vaccine? Continue reading Devilish Dilemmas Surround Pandemic Flu Vaccine

Assessing the Severity of an Influenza Pandemic

From the World Health Organization

Assessing the Severity of an Influenza Pandemic

The major determinant of the severity of an influenza pandemic, as measured by the number of cases of severe illness and deaths it causes, is the inherent virulence of the virus. However, many other factors influence the overall severity of a pandemic’s impact. Continue reading Assessing the Severity of an Influenza Pandemic

Pork Production Practices Help Contain H1N1 Influenza

Bob Mikesell, Ph.D.
Senior Instructor
Department of Dairy and Animal Science

Introduction

In light of the H1N1 (formerly known as swine flu) virus outbreak, consumers should have an understanding of the influenza virus from a pork producer perspective, and the steps that US swine producers routinely utilize to keep pigs healthy. Continue reading Pork Production Practices Help Contain H1N1 Influenza

Swine Flu–Revaluating Biosecurity for Swine Farms

Jacob Werner, VMD
Assistant Professor of Veterinary Medicine and Dairy and Animal Science
Attending Veterinarian for Agricultural Animals and Wildlife
Animal Resource Program
Penn State University

With the media reporting increased numbers of swine flu cases daily, it is time for the swine industry to maintain and, perhaps, expand the strict biosecurity procedures already in place. Continue reading Swine Flu–Revaluating Biosecurity for Swine Farms