Fri, 06 Nov 2009 12:10:00 EDT Welcome to the PandemicFlu.gov RSS news feed provided by the Department of Health and Human Services. http://www.flu.gov News en-us As of 1 November 2009, worldwide more than 199 countries and overseas territories/communities have reported laboratory confirmed cases of pandemic influenza H1N1 2009, including over 6000 deaths. http://www.who.int/csr/don/2009_11_06/en/index.html http://www.who.int/csr/don/2009_11_06/en/index.html Fri, 06 Nov 2009 12:10:00 EDT The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) today announced contract awards for up to 120,000 treatment courses of intravenous (IV) antiviral drugs to help treat hospitalized 2009 H1N1 influenza patients. http://www.hhs.gov/news/press/2009pres/11/20091105a.html http://www.hhs.gov/news/press/2009pres/11/20091105a.html Thu, 05 Nov 2009 21:30:00 EDT To date, extensive testing by laboratories in the WHO influenza surveillance network has detected no signs that the H1N1 pandemic virus has mutated to a more virulent form. Currently licensed pandemic vaccines closely match circulating viruses and are expected to confer good protection. http://www.who.int/csr/disease/swineflu/notes/briefing_20091105/en/index.html http://www.who.int/csr/disease/swineflu/notes/briefing_20091105/en/index.html Thu, 05 Nov 2009 18:30:00 EDT The OIE is closely monitoring the world animal health situation including with regard to infections of all susceptible animals with the pandemic H1N1 2009 virus. Recent identification of the virus in different animal species is no additional cause for alarm. http://www.oie.int/eng/press/en_091104.htm http://www.oie.int/eng/press/en_091104.htm Wed, 04 Nov 2009 18:30:00 EDT HHS and CDC have released a new brochure for download and printing which provides information and details about H1N1 flu, prevention, symptoms, and what to do if you get sick. http://www.cdc.gov/flu/freeresources/2009-10/pdf/h1n1andyou.pdf http://www.cdc.gov/flu/freeresources/2009-10/pdf/h1n1andyou.pdf Tue, 03 Nov 2009 18:30:00 EDT Commercially manufactured Tamiflu for Oral Suspension (12 mg/mL) is the preferred product for pediatric and adult patients who have difficulty swallowing capsules. However, preparation of an oral suspension from the 75 mg Tamiflu Capsules, as described in the FDA-approved labeling resulting in a concentration of 15 mg/ml, may be necessary when the commercial suspension, Tamiflu for Oral Suspension (12 mg/ml), is not readily available in a timely manner because of an actual shortage of the product. http://www.fda.gov/Drugs/DrugSafety/InformationbyDrugClass/ucm188629.htm http://www.fda.gov/Drugs/DrugSafety/InformationbyDrugClass/ucm188629.htm Mon, 02 Nov 2009 21:30:00 EDT The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), part of the National Institutes of Health, today announced interim results that show that children nine years of age and younger have a significantly improved immune response when given a second 15-microgram dose of 2009 H1N1 influenza vaccine. http://www3.niaid.nih.gov/news/newsreleases/2009/interimpedsdata.htm http://www3.niaid.nih.gov/news/newsreleases/2009/interimpedsdata.htm Mon, 02 Nov 2009 14:20:00 EDT Healthy pregnant women mount a robust immune response following just one dose of 2009 H1N1 influenza vaccine, according to initial results from an ongoing clinical trial sponsored by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) of the National Institutes of Health. http://www3.niaid.nih.gov/news/newsreleases/2009/H1N1pregnantresults.htm http://www3.niaid.nih.gov/news/newsreleases/2009/H1N1pregnantresults.htm Mon, 02 Nov 2009 14:20:00 EDT Ensuring that vaccines are as safe as possible is a public health priority and national expectations for vaccine safety are high. A robust plan for monitoring adverse events following immunization (AEFI) during mass vaccination for 2009 H1N1 influenza is an important component to ensure the safety of this novel vaccine. At the federal level, within the United States Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Food and Drug Administration (FDA), National Institutes of Health (NIH), Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), and Indian Health Service (IHS) are involved in vaccine safety research, surveillance, or programmatic activities as well as Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), and the Department of Defense (DoD). The HHS National Vaccine Program Office (NVPO) is responsible for coordinating federal vaccine activities, including vaccine safety. http://www.flu.gov/professional/federal/monitor_immunization_safety.html http://www.flu.gov/professional/federal/monitor_immunization_safety.html Mon, 02 Nov 2009 14:20:00 EDT As of 25 October 2009, worldwide there have been more than 440,000 laboratory confirmed cases of pandemic influenza H1N1 2009 and over 5700 deaths reported to WHO. http://www.who.int/csr/don/2009_10_30/en/index.html http://www.who.int/csr/don/2009_10_30/en/index.html Fri, 30 Oct 2009 14:40:00 EDT The announcement was made at the conclusion of meetings with Chinese officials at the US-China Joint Commission on Commerce and Trade (JCCT). http://www.usda.gov/wps/portal/!ut/p/_s.7_0_A/7_0_1OB?contentidonly=true&contentid=2009/10/0533.xml http://www.usda.gov/wps/portal/!ut/p/_s.7_0_A/7_0_1OB?contentidonly=true&contentid=2009/10/0533.xml Thu, 29 Oct 2009 20:00:00 EDT Influenza viruses evade infection-fighting antibodies by constantly changing the shape of their major surface protein. http://www.nih.gov/news/health/oct2009/niaid-29.htm http://www.nih.gov/news/health/oct2009/niaid-29.htm Thu, 29 Oct 2009 20:00:00 EDT Through July 2009, a total of 43,677 laboratory-confirmed cases of 2009 H1N1 were reported in the United States, which is likely a substantial underestimate of the true number. http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/eid_qa.htm http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/eid_qa.htm Thu, 29 Oct 2009 10:00:00 EDT Waiver or Modification of Requirements under Section 1135 of the Social Security Act http://www.flu.gov/professional/federal/h1n1_1135waiver_10272009.html http://www.flu.gov/professional/federal/h1n1_1135waiver_10272009.html Wed, 28 Oct 2009 11:10:00 EDT Why do the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and its Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) recommend that pregnant women receive seasonal and influenza A (H1N1) 2009 Monovalent vaccines? http://www.fda.gov/BiologicsBloodVaccines/Vaccines/QuestionsaboutVaccines/ucm188099.htm http://www.fda.gov/BiologicsBloodVaccines/Vaccines/QuestionsaboutVaccines/ucm188099.htm Wed, 28 Oct 2009 11:00:00 EDT CMS Free Care Rule for 2009 H1N1 Influenza Vaccination (PDF - 55 KB) http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/vaccination/statelocal/pdf/H1N1_CMS_Free_Care_Rule_for_2009_H1N1_Flu_Vac.pdf http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/vaccination/statelocal/pdf/H1N1_CMS_Free_Care_Rule_for_2009_H1N1_Flu_Vac.pdf Tue, 27 Oct 2009 23:30:00 EDT Currently there is no intravenous formulation of antiviral product approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of hospitalized patients with influenza. http://emergency.cdc.gov/h1n1antivirals/ http://emergency.cdc.gov/h1n1antivirals/ Tue, 27 Oct 2009 08:30:00 EDT For questions relating to this Emergency Use Authorization, contact: EUA.OCET@fda.hhs.gov http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/eua/peramivir.htm http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/eua/peramivir.htm Tue, 27 Oct 2009 08:30:00 EDT