National Flu Alert and School Closings in Japan

Recombinomics Commentary January 30, 2009
The rapidly increasing number of patients, and Japan is still calling for wearing masks. the number of flu patients has doubled in the last week
Diseases Control Division, said County, this winter, took measures to close down schools and school classes let out by a group of influenza infection (primary and [...]

H1N1 Tamiflu Resistance Reporting Delays in North America

Recombinomics Commentary
Based on the level of oseltamivir resistance observed in only one influenza subtype, H1N1, and the persisting high levels of resistance to the adamantanes in H3N2 viruses, CDC continues to recommend the use of oseltamivir and zanamivir for the treatment or prevention of influenza in the United States. Use of amantadine or rimantadine [...]

100% H1N1 Tamiflu Resistance in United Kingdom

Recombinomics Commentary October 31, 2008
3/3 A (H1) received and tested were resistant to oseltamivir but sensitive to zanamivir and amantadine.
(Snip) oseltamivir (Tamiflu) resistance in H1N1 in England extends the observations on the first H1N1 isolate of the season.  The finding of resistance in the first 3 isolates tested provides further support for Tamiflu resistance increases [...]

Summary of events so far

So far this outbreak followed the classic outlines:
- unexplained deaths from “fever/breathlessness” (no follow-up)
- birds die in locality
- severe illness in a couple of people – they are hospitalized (late) in poor condition
- people make the connection between the illness/bird deaths
- discovery of more people with similar but lower-level symptoms – they go for treatment
- [...]