It's easy to get lost in all the news about swine flu A (H1N1). Updates seem to pop up everywhere you look, several times a day. To make sure you're caught up on developments, so that you can take the right steps to protect your family, check back here regularly.
Swine Flu Case Counts
Review the latest swine flu A (H1N1) case counts in the United States and around the world from the CDC and World Health Organization:
- February 5 - The CDC reports that there have been about 39,794 hospitalizations and 1,905 deaths (212 in children) since August 30 from swine flu and that 'influenza activity decreased slightly' in the U.S., with no states now reporting widespread flu activity.
- February 5 - The WHO states they have received reports of at least 15,174 deaths associated with laboratory confirmed cases of pandemic influenza H1N1 in 209 countries and territories, with the majority of cases and deaths coming from the WHO Regional Office for the Americas (7,261 deaths), where flu has 'declined substantially since peaking during late October.'
Swine Flu News
Review the latest news and updates on the swine flu A (H1N1) outbreaks:
- January 10 - This week is National Influenza Vaccination Week, 'a national observance to highlight the importance of continuing influenza vaccination beyond the holiday season.'
- December 15 - About 800,000 doses of the 2009 H1N1 vaccine have been recalled in a non-safety related recall because of problems with the potency of the vaccine.
- December 10 - Updated estimates from the CDC now show that between April through November 14, about 47 million people have been infected with 2009 H1N1, 213,000 have been hospitalized, and there have been about 9,820 deaths.
- December 2 - Two clusters of patients infected with Tamiflu resistant H1N1 virus strains were recently discovered in immunocompromised patients. Although there have been almost 100 cases of Tamiflu resistant H1N1 so far this flu season, it does not seem to be a wide spread problem.
- November 12 - The CDC has updated their estimates of H1N1 cases and now states that there have been about 22 million cases of 2009 H1N1 since April 2009, about 98,000 H1N1-related hospitalizations, and about 3,900 2009 H1N1-related deaths (including about 540 deaths in children).
- November 6 - although still well behind schedule, there are now 38 million doses of the 2009 H1N1 swine flu vaccine available for ordering by each state.
- November 6 - both the CDC and WHO report that we have likely not seen the peak in swine flu cases in the United States yet. There is also some concern that there may be another wave of cases in the new year.
- November 5 - swine flu has been detected in some ferrets and a domestic cat, all pets that likely got sick from their infected owners.
- October 30 - the World Heath Organization's Strategic Advisory Group of Experts (SAGE) on Immunization reports that 'experts reviewed early results from the monitoring of people who have received pandemic vaccines and found no indication of unusual adverse reactions' and that reported side effects are 'well within the range of those seen with seasonal vaccines, which have an excellent safety profile.'
- October 28 - about 23 million doses of the 2009 H1N1 swine flu vaccine has now been allocated and ready for doctors and clinics to order.
- October 23 - the FDA has issued an emergency use authorization (EUA) for the investigational use of peramivir, an antiviral drug that can be used to treat certain hospitalized children and adults with swine flu.
- October 20 - the CDC reports that more than half of hospitalizations and a quarter of the deaths from swine flu are in young people under the age of 25.
- October 16 - the CDC reports that almost 6 million doses of the 2009 H1N1 swine flu vaccine have been shipped to doctors and clinics, which is well behind schedule.
- October 16 - the WHO continues to report that the groups at highest risk for severe swine flu infections are pregnant women, children younger than 2 years of age, and people with chronic lung disease, such as asthma.
- October 9 - the CDC reports that 66 children have already died from 2009 H1N1 swine flu virus infections, including 29 deaths since August 30, 2009.
- October 6 - the first doses of the 2009 H1N1 swine flu vaccine are arriving at doctor's offices and clinics, although they will be in a very limited supply at first.
- October 2 - the CDC advises that people with asthma get an updated asthma action plan from their doctor, since they can be at risk for complications if they get sick with the flu.
- September 22 - the CDC reports that there is a limited supply of the suspension form of Tamiflu but that pharmacists can follow the FDA-approved instructions for the emergency compounding of an oral suspension from Tamiflu 75mg capsules to meet supply or that Tamiflu capsules may simply be opened and mixed with sweetened liquids.
- September 21 - young children who are nine years old or younger will likely need two doses of the 2009 H1N1 swine flu vaccine at least twenty-one days apart to get the best protection against the swine flu.
- September 15 - the FDA has approved the 2009 H1N1 swine flu vaccine and it is on track for delivery in October. It will be available as an injection with and without the preservative thimerosal, and as a nasal spray.
- September 4 - the CDC has provided guidance for daycare centers about H1N1 swine flu, including that they do daily health checks, separate ill children until they can go home, encourage kids to stay home until they are free of fever for at least 24 hours, encourage proper hand-washing, and teach kids to properly cover their coughs and sneezes to help everyone avoid the flu
- September 2 - pediatricians who are interested in providing the H1N1 swine flu vaccine to their patients should begin to preregister with their state/jurisdiction contact. They will be shipped in mid-October via a centralized distribution program from private suppliers. Doctors will not be able to order them directly from the vaccine manufacturers.
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