KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WVLT) - The University of Tennessee Medical Center is part of a big government effort to have a H1N1 vaccine ready for the world by the end of the year. We have details about a clinical trial the hospital is doing that you can participate in.
With more than 400 H1N1 deaths worldwide, companies are working around the clock to create a vaccine. UT Medical Center is one of a dozen sites which are part of the phase two study of the vaccine. The hospital is working with Sanofi Pasteur to test three different doses.
"It's a step in the development of the vaccine," says Dr. Bill Smith the Director of the Volunteer Research Group at UT Medical Center.
A high dose, intermediate dose, a low dose and a placebo will be given to volunteers. There is no difference in the amount of the injection, just a difference in concentration.
"The reason this important is if the low dose works and we get the antibody response we're looking for than they can use a much lower dose in the subsequent studies which will allow the amount of vaccine they can make to cover a lot more individuals than if we have to use a higher dose," says Dr. Smith.
In early August, 200 volunteers like Barbara Munsey will receive one of the doses. "I feel like if I'm going to have my son get it, or if it might become required, I'd like to say that I did it first."
Barbara works in the clinical trials cancer division at UT and says she knows how important it is to get information for studies. "We know that we can never get these studies done then we can't get our medications to the public if we don't have people participating in clinical trials."
Dr. Smith says side effects of the vaccine should be the same as the seasonal flu. "This is a way that someone could receive potentially the vaccine earlier, before it's commercially available."
If you want to participate in the clinical trial of the H1N1 vaccination, call UT Medical Center at 305-9356. You will be paid $100 to volunteer. Researchers are asking older people especially to participate because they are in a high risk group.
Sunday, July 26, 2009
Canada reports first case of Tamiflu-resistant A/H1N1 flu
OTTAWA, July 22 (Xinhua) -- Canada on Wednesday reported its first case of Tamiflu-resistant A/H1N1 flu virus, in a man who had been given the drug to prevent infection.
A 60-year-old man from Quebec province was given the flu antiviral after his son fell ill with the pandemic virus. But he came down with the flu anyway. It was believed the resistance arose in his body.
But he recovered quickly and did not require hospital treatment. There is no evidence he transmitted the resistant virus to anyone else.
This is the world's fourth such case since the new A/H1N1 virus was discovered in April. Japan has since reported its second case, the world's fifth such case.
Jirina Vlk, spokesperson for the Public Health Agency of Canada, said on Wednesday the Quebec man's case appears to be an isolated one of Tamiflu resistance, adding her agency continues to be vigilant for similar cases.
Tamiflu is sometimes given to prevent infection but has been seen, on occasion, giving rise to resistant viruses, said Dr. Allison McGeer, an influenza expert at Toronto's Mount Sinai University.
She said given the amount of Tamiflu being used in the world right now, such cases are bound to arise. She said either the cases would continue to arise sporadically or there will be widespread Tamiflu resistance, and there is not much middle ground.
Source : news.xinhuanet.com
A 60-year-old man from Quebec province was given the flu antiviral after his son fell ill with the pandemic virus. But he came down with the flu anyway. It was believed the resistance arose in his body.
But he recovered quickly and did not require hospital treatment. There is no evidence he transmitted the resistant virus to anyone else.
This is the world's fourth such case since the new A/H1N1 virus was discovered in April. Japan has since reported its second case, the world's fifth such case.
Jirina Vlk, spokesperson for the Public Health Agency of Canada, said on Wednesday the Quebec man's case appears to be an isolated one of Tamiflu resistance, adding her agency continues to be vigilant for similar cases.
Tamiflu is sometimes given to prevent infection but has been seen, on occasion, giving rise to resistant viruses, said Dr. Allison McGeer, an influenza expert at Toronto's Mount Sinai University.
She said given the amount of Tamiflu being used in the world right now, such cases are bound to arise. She said either the cases would continue to arise sporadically or there will be widespread Tamiflu resistance, and there is not much middle ground.
Source : news.xinhuanet.com
H1N1 (Swine) Flu confirmed in four students
SARASOTA, FL. - The Sarasota County Health Department has received notification of H1N1 (Swine) Flu in four students who attended a summer camp program at the Ringling College of Art and Design in Sarasota.
A fifth student was also tested for the virus, and as of now, test results are pending. All of these individuals reside outside of Sarasota County. Health Department officials have worked closely with the staff at the College to contain the outbreak. Since influenza illness in Sarasota County is now approaching the same level as seen during the peak of regular flu season, we urge everyone to take precautions to avoid the flu," said William Heymann, M.D., F.A.C.E.P., medical executive director for the Sarasota County Health Department.
7 students were found to have the Influenza-A virus, although not all samples were sent out for testing by the health department according to Ringling officials. All of them however, were treated as if they had the H1N1 virus. Four of the five samples sent out by the health department did come back as positive for H1n1 virus.
As a reminder, people experiencing cough, fever of 100 degrees Fahrenheit or higher and sore throat, possibly along with diarrhea and vomiting, should contact their healthcare provider to discuss whether they need to be seen in their office, emergency department or stay home.
Those with respiratory illness should stay home, and away from work, day care or summer programs to avoid spreading infections, including influenza. Postpone travel plans if you or family members become ill. Health officials advise that you stay home for a week after symptoms begin or 24 hours after you are symptom-free whichever is longer. Everyone is reminded to take these additional actions daily:
Avoid close contact with people who are coughing or otherwise appear ill.
Wash hands often with soap and water or use alcohol-based hand cleaners to reduce the spread of respiratory illness.
Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth.
Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze or use the inside of your elbow. Throw the tissue in the trash after you use it, and then wash hands.
For more information, visit www.sarasotahealth.org
Officials at the Ringling College of Art and Design confirm that Sudents who attended a summer program that came down with Influenza A did in fact have the H1N1 Flu.
They say six of the seven cases of the students' results tested positive. They are awaiting the results of one last test.
As ABC 7 reported last week, none of the students were from the Suncoast. They were all a part of a pre-college perspectives summer program, which was cut short due to the illnesses.
Ringling officials say the campus has since been cleaned and no students are there now.
Classes start August 25th.
Source : www.mysuncoast.com
A fifth student was also tested for the virus, and as of now, test results are pending. All of these individuals reside outside of Sarasota County. Health Department officials have worked closely with the staff at the College to contain the outbreak. Since influenza illness in Sarasota County is now approaching the same level as seen during the peak of regular flu season, we urge everyone to take precautions to avoid the flu," said William Heymann, M.D., F.A.C.E.P., medical executive director for the Sarasota County Health Department.
7 students were found to have the Influenza-A virus, although not all samples were sent out for testing by the health department according to Ringling officials. All of them however, were treated as if they had the H1N1 virus. Four of the five samples sent out by the health department did come back as positive for H1n1 virus.
As a reminder, people experiencing cough, fever of 100 degrees Fahrenheit or higher and sore throat, possibly along with diarrhea and vomiting, should contact their healthcare provider to discuss whether they need to be seen in their office, emergency department or stay home.
Those with respiratory illness should stay home, and away from work, day care or summer programs to avoid spreading infections, including influenza. Postpone travel plans if you or family members become ill. Health officials advise that you stay home for a week after symptoms begin or 24 hours after you are symptom-free whichever is longer. Everyone is reminded to take these additional actions daily:
Avoid close contact with people who are coughing or otherwise appear ill.
Wash hands often with soap and water or use alcohol-based hand cleaners to reduce the spread of respiratory illness.
Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth.
Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze or use the inside of your elbow. Throw the tissue in the trash after you use it, and then wash hands.
For more information, visit www.sarasotahealth.org
Officials at the Ringling College of Art and Design confirm that Sudents who attended a summer program that came down with Influenza A did in fact have the H1N1 Flu.
They say six of the seven cases of the students' results tested positive. They are awaiting the results of one last test.
As ABC 7 reported last week, none of the students were from the Suncoast. They were all a part of a pre-college perspectives summer program, which was cut short due to the illnesses.
Ringling officials say the campus has since been cleaned and no students are there now.
Classes start August 25th.
Source : www.mysuncoast.com
Russian A/H1N1 flu cases rise to 12
MOSCOW, July 22 (Xinhua) -- The number of Russian A/H1N1 flu cases has risen to 12, said Russia's chief sanitary official on Wednesday.
Gennady Onishchenko was quoted by the RIA Novosti as saying that a pregnant woman returning from holiday in Bulgaria, as well as her young daughter and another Moscow citizen have contracted the virus.
There were four more suspected cases that have yet to be officially confirmed, he added.
The top health official said all cases registered in Russia were found in those who returned to Russia from holiday or business trips abroad.
He also said those diagnosed with the virus had been hospitalized, but none of them were in a serious condition.
The A/H1N1 flu death toll has exceeded 700 worldwide since the outbreak of the disease in April, the World Health Organization (WHO) said Tuesday.
Source : news.xinhuanet.com
Gennady Onishchenko was quoted by the RIA Novosti as saying that a pregnant woman returning from holiday in Bulgaria, as well as her young daughter and another Moscow citizen have contracted the virus.
There were four more suspected cases that have yet to be officially confirmed, he added.
The top health official said all cases registered in Russia were found in those who returned to Russia from holiday or business trips abroad.
He also said those diagnosed with the virus had been hospitalized, but none of them were in a serious condition.
The A/H1N1 flu death toll has exceeded 700 worldwide since the outbreak of the disease in April, the World Health Organization (WHO) said Tuesday.
Source : news.xinhuanet.com
Hungary reports first death from H1N1 flu
BUDAPEST, July 22 (Reuters) - A Hungarian man has died from H1N1 flu, the government said on Wednesday, the first death in the country from the new virus which has killed more than 700 people worldwide since it emerged in April.
The 41-year-old man had heart and lung disease which combined with the virus infection led to his death, surgeon general Ferenc Falus told a news conference.
"From the sample taken during the autopsy for the first time we could identify the new type AH1N1V virus," he said.
So far Hungary has had 37 cases of the new flu. Two patients are currently in hospital with mild symptoms.
The World Health Organisation (WHO), which declared an H1N1 influenza pandemic on June 11, said last week the new flu was the fastest-moving pandemic ever.
Some 125,000 laboratory-confirmed cases have been reported worldwide as of Tuesday, it said. (Reporting by Krisztina Than and Gergely Szakacs, Editing by Elizabeth Fullerton)
Source : www.reuters.com
The 41-year-old man had heart and lung disease which combined with the virus infection led to his death, surgeon general Ferenc Falus told a news conference.
"From the sample taken during the autopsy for the first time we could identify the new type AH1N1V virus," he said.
So far Hungary has had 37 cases of the new flu. Two patients are currently in hospital with mild symptoms.
The World Health Organisation (WHO), which declared an H1N1 influenza pandemic on June 11, said last week the new flu was the fastest-moving pandemic ever.
Some 125,000 laboratory-confirmed cases have been reported worldwide as of Tuesday, it said. (Reporting by Krisztina Than and Gergely Szakacs, Editing by Elizabeth Fullerton)
Source : www.reuters.com
Wednesday, July 22, 2009
China begins clinical tests for A/H1N1 flu vaccines
BEIJING, July 22 (Xinhua) -- Two Chinese pharmaceutical firms kicked off two-month clinical tests on the country's A/H1N1 influenza vaccines Wednesday.
More than 2,000 volunteers recruited in Taizhou in eastern Jiangsu Province took part in the trials carried out by Hualan Biological Engineering Inc., said Fan Bei, deputy general manager of the company.
The tests came exactly one month after the vaccines were produced by the Henan-based company, and submitted for laboratory test in June.
Hualan was among the first in China to receive the seed virus of the A/H1N1 flu on June 3, and produced the country's first batch of A/H1N1 vaccines, 90,000 doses in all, on June 22.
The clinical trials, supervised by the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, were aimed at specifying the dosage and the immunity procedures of the vaccines, said Fan.
The volunteers, divided into five age groups, would receive the vaccines in turns on Wednesday, Friday and Saturday. A second round of inoculation is due 21 days after the initial vaccination.
During the two-month clinical test, the volunteers would have antibody tests for four times, Fan said. Follow-up tests would continue till six months after their initial vaccination.
Previous reports said the vaccines were expected to hit the market in September should they pass both laboratory and clinical tests, and the Hualan Biological Engineering Inc. would be able to make 600,000 doses a day.
In the meantime, the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention and its Beijing bureau also on Wednesday began clinical tests on the vaccines produced by the Sinovac Biotech Ltd., or the Beijing Kexing Bioproducts, in Beijing.
A total of 1,600 participants took part in the test, and would all receive the vaccines this week, according to Yin Weidong, general manager of Kexing.
Participants aged between 3 and 60 would receive another round of vaccination 21 days after their initial vaccination, same as the participants in the Hualan test. But participants aged over 60would only receive first one round of inoculation, Yin said.
The clinical test would be completed by mid September, he said.
As of 6 p.m. of July 22, China had reported 1,772 cases of the A/H1N1 influenza on the mainland, of whom 1,454 had recovered and been discharged from hospital, the Health Ministry said Wednesday.
No deaths or critical cases of the virus have been reported on the Chinese mainland, but a patient in Hangzhou of eastern Zhejiang Province was reportedly electrocuted in a hospital bathroom on July 1.
Across the world, more than 700 people have died from the influenza since April, the World Health Organization (WHO) said on Tuesday.
Countries are racing for a A/H1N1 vaccine, as Marie-Paule Kieny, director of WHO's Initiative for Vaccine Research, said at a WHO expert group last week that the influenza was "unstoppable," and that "all countries need to have access to vaccines."
Australian pharmaceutical company CSL also began a clinical test on its A/H1N1 flu vaccine on Wednesday, saying that it could have an H1N1 vaccine ready by September if its clinical trials go well.
Source : news.xinhuanet.com
Thailand's death toll from A/H1N1 flu rises to 44
BANGKOK, July 22 (Xinhua) -- Thailand's Public Health Ministry Deputy Permanent Secretary said Wednesday that the country has 20 more influenza A/H1N1 death related cases, bringing the country's death toll to 44.
Dr. Paijit Warachit said that 44 died from the epidemic and 6776 infected, among whom 6697 have recovered and 35 remained in hospital, seven are in serious condition.
Paijit said that the ministry is planning to take three tough measures to curb the outbreak of the influenza A/H1N1, providing the patients with oseltamivir immediately and calling on the infectious cases to stop working and studying.
He believed that the ministry will see better situation within some one month after taking those measures.
Meanwhile, Public Health Minister Witthaya Kaewparadai called on the public not to be panic over the epidemic
He denied the reports that Thailand has become the fourth largest number of death toll from the virus, saying that many countries have halted their reports of death toll.
However, he admitted that he worried about football fans who will go to watch the game between Thai national team and Liverpoolin Bangkok on Wednesday evening.
He suggests the flu patients not to join the event.
Thailand had its first two confirmed patients on May 12.
Source : news.xinhuanet.com
Dr. Paijit Warachit said that 44 died from the epidemic and 6776 infected, among whom 6697 have recovered and 35 remained in hospital, seven are in serious condition.
Paijit said that the ministry is planning to take three tough measures to curb the outbreak of the influenza A/H1N1, providing the patients with oseltamivir immediately and calling on the infectious cases to stop working and studying.
He believed that the ministry will see better situation within some one month after taking those measures.
Meanwhile, Public Health Minister Witthaya Kaewparadai called on the public not to be panic over the epidemic
He denied the reports that Thailand has become the fourth largest number of death toll from the virus, saying that many countries have halted their reports of death toll.
However, he admitted that he worried about football fans who will go to watch the game between Thai national team and Liverpoolin Bangkok on Wednesday evening.
He suggests the flu patients not to join the event.
Thailand had its first two confirmed patients on May 12.
Source : news.xinhuanet.com
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