Indonesia: And, 8, Dies

February 28, 2009
And (8), a child from the Sukamantri Village, Desa Sukaraya, Subdistrict Karangbahagia, County Bekasi, died in RS Persahabatan, Jakarta Timur, on Saturday morning (28/2). And was treated in this hospital with the status of the bird flu suspect patient.
“And was buried on Saturday in the early afternoon,” said the Information (Public Relations?) Head [...]

CDC Weekly Seasonal Influenza Data

CDC Weekly Seasonal Influenza Data
Week 7, ending Feb. 21, 2009

Malaysia–Bird Flu Vaccine

Malaysia is the first country outside Europe to approve a pre-pandemic avian influenza vaccine called Prepandrix.
(Snip)
Prepandrix is a pre-pandemic drug to vaccinate populations prior to a H5N1 avian influenza pandemic. It is designed to provide cross-protection against a range of avian influenza caused by H5N1 strains.
GSK clinical research and development and medical affairs public health [...]

Baxter bird flu botch

In a post the other day on some kind of flu vaccine mishap in Austria we called it a colossal screw-up. It turns out we may have understated the case. Maybe. Because while more details are leaking out, the company responsible for it, Baxter International, isn’t saying exactly what happened on the grounds that it [...]

Flu spread by unvaccinated NHS frontline staff

UK – Health workers have been blamed for putting vulnerable patients at risk and worsening the winter’s flu outbreak by refusing to have flu jabs. Fewer than one in seven frontline NHS staff had a flu jab last year, The Times has learnt, despite a recommendation that they do so. The Royal College of General [...]

Baxter: Product contained live bird flu virus

By Helen Branswell, THE CANADIAN PRESS
Last Updated: 27th February 2009, 3:26pm
The company that released contaminated flu virus material from a plant in Austria confirmed Friday that the experimental product contained live H5N1 avian flu viruses.
And an official of the World Health Organization’s European operation said the body is closely monitoring the investigation into the events [...]

Egypt: 2 suspect bird flu

Provinces
44,643 the year 133 – Issue 2009 Feb 27 2 Spring 1430 e First Friday
Detention of suspected cases of
Avian influenza Menoufia
Office of Shebin Al-Ahram:
Detained Shebin hospital admitted two new suspected bird flu getting one for a student, Ahmed Saeed Anwar (14 years) grade III and lower the second case of the housewife Zahara Abdul Aziz [...]

OSHA updates pandemic flu guidance

February 27, 2009-The US Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has updated its online information to help businesses prepare for the possibility of pandemic flu.
Safety and Health Topics: Pandemic Influenza explains what a pandemic is and the impact one could have on business and the global economy.
The site offers publications and other resources to help [...]

Outbreak of H7 bird flu discovered in Aichi

NAGOYA — Quails in Aichi Prefecture have tested positive for the highly pathogenic H7 avian flu strain, (Snip)
The surrounding area has been cordoned off, and the prefectural government will hold an emergency meeting to discuss measures against a possible outbreak later the same day. (Snip) This is the first time that quails have tested positive [...]

Darjeeling: 24 human cases?

(from croftsblog)
Thousands of birds culled in India after 24 cases of bird flu reported.
(Snip) I’m skeptical. First, the source of the report is the animal-husbandry department, not the health department. Second, 24 human H5N1 cases would set India’s media on fire, complete with scathing reports on government incompetence and terrified villagers. But I don’t find [...]