| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| S.ravi |
Posted - 04/27/2009 : 19:05:35
'Swine flu more dangerous than bird flu'
Melbourne (PTI): Swine flu, which has killed more than 100 people in Mexico is more dangerous than bird flu as it "rapidly spreads", an expert has said even as Australia took series of steps including 'flight screening' for passengers coming from America to protect itself from the outbreak.
Swine flu is more worrying to humans than bird flu because it has the potential to spread to more people, Paul Kelly from Australian National University said.
Mr. Kelly said while swine flu had claimed many lives in Mexico, there had been no deaths elsewhere.
Those killed have been generally young and otherwise healthy. "It's not the typical people that are at greatest risk during a normal flu season," he was quoted as saying by media reports.
Meanwhile, Australian experts said that existing vaccines are unlikely to be effective against an outbreak of swine flu, but anti-viral drugs can help to combat it.
Health officials have given advice about the outbreak to GPs and hospital emergency departments and want any suspected cases to be reported to authorities.
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| 15 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| S.ravi |
Posted - 11/18/2009 : 01:52:00
New wave of H1N1 cases hits Mumbai
TNN 18 November 2009, 07:33am ISTText H1N1 cases
MUMBAI: A 54-year-old woman is in a critical condition in Nair Hospital’s special swine flu ICU. Besides this, 12 persons tested positive for swine
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/mumbai/New-wave-of-H1N1-cases-hits-Mumbai/articleshow/5241834.cms
flu on Tuesday while five other are suspected to have the disease.
Experts have predicted a second wave of swine flu in winter, and countries such as the US are already in the grip of it. However, additional municipal commissioner Manisha Mhaiskar said that one patient on the ventilator could not be construed as a spike in swine flu cases. The last swine flu death in Mumbai was in the last week of September.
The BMC wants to ensure that the potential second wave is better managed. “We have trained doctors, our lab is close to completion, an ICU unit is in place and anganwadi workers have been trained to pick up cases,’’ Mhaiskar said |
| S.ravi |
Posted - 11/17/2009 : 11:13:10
FACTBOX-Measures to fight H1N1 swine flu in Europe
Tue Nov 17, 2009 8:55am EST
http://www.reuters.com/article/marketsNews/idUSLH70641120091117
Nov 17 (Reuters) - Here are some details about measures
taken to fight the H1N1 swine flu, a mixture of swine, bird and
human viruses and which has killed more than 7,000 people
globally, according to the latest European Centre for Disease
prevention and Control (ECDC) tallies.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) declared an H1N1
pandemic on June 11, indicating the first influenza pandemic
since 1968 was underway.
The H1N1 pandemic flu virus could kill up to 40,000 people
across Europe and be followed by seasonal flu waves that could
kill the same number, European health experts have said.
The WHO has advised governments to prepare for a long-term
battle against the virus. Here are some details about some new
measures taken around Europe.
* LATEST MEASURES BY GOVERNMENTS:
CROATIA - A vaccination programme for seasonal flu started
on Nov. 5 and the health authorities have urged all citizens to
take part. The health ministry has said vaccines against the
H1N1 flu virus, ordered from the Swiss company Novartis, are
expected to arrive to Croatia in early December.
CYPRUS: Immunisation of around 50 percent of the population
will start on Nov. 23 with high risk groups taking priority.
nearly all schools in the Turkish-held areas have shut down over
the past few weeks until Nov. 23.
-- About 5,000 vaccinations from Turkey have been shipped
over and given to the elderly and infirm and another 250,000
doses are available which just about covers the whole population
in the north.
FINLAND - Finland's National Institute for Health and
Welfare has said the country has received close to one million
doses of H1N1 vaccine. Currently those considered at high risk
(e.g. small children, the elderly and pregnant women) are being
vaccinated, with a roll-out to broader groups planned in the
coming weeks.
GREECE - Greece started vaccinating doctors, health workers,
the elderly and the sick against swine flu on Nov. 16. Greece,
which receives about 15 million tourists every year, has said it
will vaccinate its entire population of 12 million against the
H1N1 virus.
-- Greece has already placed orders with Novartis NONV.VX,
Glaxo (GSK.L) and Sanofi (SASY.PA) for 8 million vaccine doses,
to be gradually received by January.
SLOVAKIA - Slovaks still missing a contract on H1N1
vaccines, but the health care ministry has said it will sign a
deal by the end of the year. Some schools have been closed - but
this was more related to the spreading seasonal flu.
-- The Slovaks have closed all but one check point, for cars
and trucks, with Ukraine to limit a possible outbreak due to the
influenza epidemic in Ukraine.
SPAIN - Spain started vaccinating on Nov. 16. The aim is for
up to 10 million doses to be applied to risk groups and
essential workers including sufferers of chronic illnesses,
health workers, the military and pregnant women. The vaccine
will be available in public health centres.
TURKEY - So far some 250,000 people have been vaccinated in
a programme starting with health sector workers and Muslim
pilgrims travelling to Mecca. There was no threat to life in any
of the vaccinations so far.
-- From Oct. 16, health authorities have begun a programme
to vaccinate children between the ages of six months and five
years old and people of all ages who have chronic illness. |
| S.ravi |
Posted - 11/14/2009 : 06:42:42
Swine-flu vaccine clinics set around Pa.
http://www.philly.com/philly/news/pennsylvania/20091114_Swine-flu_vaccine_clinics_set_around_Pa_.html
HARRISBURG - Clinics around the state will offer swine flu vaccine starting next week to people who are in an at-risk group. The state Department of Health said yesterday that it would hold the clinics from Friday through Nov. 22.
Appointments must be made in advance. More information is available at www.h1n1inpa.com or 1-877-724-3258. The clinics will be in 18 locations. More clinics are expected as more vaccine arrives.
The department asks that only individuals in these groups attend the clinics: individuals between 6 months and 24 years; caregivers for children younger than 6 months; pregnant women; health care providers and emergency medical services personnel; and people younger than 65 who have an underlying health condition, such as asthma, diabetes, or heart disease. - AP
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| S.ravi |
Posted - 11/07/2009 : 04:04:52
Britain's swine flu program identifies, invites highest-risk patients to get vaccines first
http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/news/world/stories/DN-flu_07int.ART.State.Edition1.4b66c30.html
12:00 AM CST on Saturday, November 7, 2009
The Associated Press
LONDON – In Britain, there are no long lines of people seeking swine flu vaccine. Doctor's offices aren't swamped with desperate calls. And there are no cries of injustice that the vaccine is going to wealthy corporations or healthy people.
Here – and across most of Europe, where countries have socialized medicine – vaccine to protect against the pandemic flu is mostly given by invitation only to those at highest risk for flu complications.
"That is one of the great advantages of the British health system," said Steve Field, president of the Royal College of General Physicians. "We have a list of all the names of patients who qualify to be vaccinated."
When Britain unrolled its pandemic vaccination program last month, it designed its campaign to ensure that priority groups – including pregnant women, health workers and those with chronic health problems – get the shots first.
Field said Britain's socialized health care system allows the country to target people who need to be vaccinated quickly: "It's not like the U.S., where it's the survival of the fittest and the richest."
This week, Americans learned that Wall Street giants Goldman Sachs and Citigroup got swine flu vaccine, even as many doctors' offices and community clinics still had none. The vaccine was targeted to employees who met criteria for vaccination, but the perception of unfairness set off an outcry.
In the United Kingdom, the general population will be offered the shots after priority groups have been taken care of, probably in about two months. |
| S.ravi |
Posted - 11/06/2009 : 09:08:15
Narendra Modi diagnosed with swine flu
ttp://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/ahmedabad/Narendra-Modi-diagnosed-with-swine-flu/articleshow/5179163.cms
AHMEDABAD: Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi, who returned from a trip to Russia two days ago, has tested positive for swine flu. The
confirmation of the test carried out on Thursday was announced by the state government on Friday morning, sending a wave of panic among a group of top industrialists who accompanied him on a recent visit to Moscow. ( Watch Video )
The whole Gujarat cabinet is also now being tested for the disease as the ministers were with the chief minister in a three-hour cabinet meeting on Thursday after his blood samples were taken.
One minister said: "He should not have taken the meeting if he was being suspected of having swine flu. He could have waited for the results of the test."
Reports about Modi having swine flu had started trickling in on Thursday evening. However, the government had refused to confirm it. Once the first test gave a positive result, another confirmatory test was carried out late on Thursday.
Modi’s samples were taken after he showed symptoms of cough, cold and fever, Atul Patel, one of the four doctors in the team looking after the chief minister, said, PTI reported.
The government has earlier tried to hide his identity and the sample was labelled with a different name- "Ramesh".
Modi, who returned on Wednesday, will be kept in isolation for seven days at his residence, where a team of doctors are attending on him.
All his public functions have been cancelled. |
| S.ravi |
Posted - 11/06/2009 : 09:06:39
Sask says more swine flu vaccine coming, expanding groups who can get it
(CP) – 3 hours ago
REGINA — Saskatchewan is adding more high-risk groups to get the swine flu shot because it expects a new shipment of vaccine to bump its supply up to 60,000.
The shipment is set to arrive Wednesday. Chief medical health officer Dr. Maura McKinnon said once kids up to Grade 6 get the shot, the next group will be people with conditions that cause weakened immune systems.
She said the people most at risk are those that have severe immuno-suppression issues, such as those on high-dose steroids, chemotherapy, or who have a transplant.
Those under 35 with underlying health problems such as diabetes or asthma will also be included in that next phase.
A more stringent list of those that are eligible is expected to be released in the coming days.
http://www.google.com/hostednews/canadianpress/article/ALeqM5jcuLIeFSnUX9DBLskKZasobxkMeg
The vaccine will be given at the community clinics as well as in cancer treatment or dialysis centres.
So far nearly 195,000 shots have been distributed to health regions throughout Saskatchewan.
McKinnon said once the next batch is sent out and administered, 28 per cent of the population will be immunized against H1N1 flu.
It's expected the general public will get access to the vaccine in mid-December, after everyone with underlying health concerns of all ages are vaccinated. |
| S.ravi |
Posted - 11/03/2009 : 01:29:25
Swine Flu Vaccine Protects Pregnant Women
1 Dose of H1N1 Vaccine Works for Pregnant Women; Kids Still Need 2 Doses
By Daniel J. DeNoon
WebMD Health News
Reviewed by Louise Chang, MD
http://www.webmd.com/cold-and-flu/news/20091102/h1n1-swine-flu-vaccine-protects-pregnant-women
Nov. 2, 2009 - Pregnant women safely get "robust" protection from one dose of the H1N1 swine flu vaccine; but children under age 10 really need two doses, NIH studies show.
The findings are straight-from-the-clinic data from ongoing studies funded and coordinated by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) at clinical centers across the country.
"This should be reassuring news to those women who already have received the H1N1 vaccine, and it is vital information for those pregnant women who have not been vaccinated," NIAID Director Anthony Fauci, MD, said at a news conference. "Importantly, the pregnant women participating in the trial have tolerated the vaccine well and no safety concerns have arisen."
As the current wave of the H1N1 swine flu pandemic sweeps the nation, it's becoming clear that pregnant women -- especially those in their second and third trimesters -- bear a special risk. They are about six times more likely than other healthy adults to develop severe complications soon after infection with H1N1 swine flu.
Alarmingly, a recent CDC survey found that about half of pregnant women and other adults with risk conditions do not seek medical attention when they come down with H1N1 swine flu symptoms.
It's also becoming increasingly clear that H1N1 swine flu is mainly a disease of young people. Children, teens, and young adults bear the brunt of infections -- and of hospitalizations and deaths.
The NIAID clinical trials have shown that children, teens, and young adults over age 10 need just one dose of the H1N1 swine flu vaccine for protection.
Early results from these studies suggested younger children might need two doses. That's true, new study results show.
Even three weeks after getting their first dose of H1N1 swine flu vaccine, only 25% of kids ages 6 to 35 months and only 55% of kids ages 3 to 9 years are protected. Even giving these kids a one-time double dose did not improve immune responses.
The good news: Just eight to 10 days after getting their second dose of the vaccine -- four weeks after the first dose -- virtually every kid in these age groups has a protective immune response.
"These data support guidelines that recommend two vaccine doses for younger children," Fauci said.
H1N1 Swine Flu Vaccine Safety
Bruce Gellin, MD, head of the government's National Vaccine Program Office, said at the news conference that a group of medical experts will this week begin regular meetings to analyze safety data on the H1N1 swine flu vaccine.
The group is part of a larger panel, the National Vaccine Advisory Committee, that advises Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius on vaccination issues. It was this group that previously advised the government to release H1N1 vaccine as soon as it became available.
Gellin also announced the release of a detailed plan to monitor the safety of the 2009 H1N1 swine flu vaccine. The plan has 11 elements:
1. Analysis of background rates of rare adverse events that occur without vaccination, to make it easier to determine whether vaccination increases the rate at which any of these events occurs.
2. Use of the CDC's Vaccine Safety Datalink system, which links data from eight managed-care organizations with data on 9 million Americans -- 3% of the U.S. population.
3. Use of the Medicare/Medicaid database.
4. The Post-Licensure Rapid Immunization Safety Monitoring (PRISM) system, which links data from large insurance plans covering about 10% of the U.S. population.
5. Use of the Department of Defense medical databases.
6. Use of the Veterans Affairs databases.
7. A surveillance program to look specifically for cases of Guillain-Barre syndrome (GBS), a rare neurological condition.
8. A collaboration between Johns Hopkins University and the CDC in which people who received the H1N1 swine flu vaccine report their experiences via the Internet.
9. Use of electronic records that will be introduced by the Indian Health Service.
10. The Clinical Immunization Safety Assessment (CISA), a collaboration between six academic centers that will collect and store clinical samples from people who may be at risk for serious adverse events linked to vaccination or influenza.
11. The Vaccines and Medications in Pregnancy Surveillance System (VAMPSS), a collaboration between an association of birth-defect specialists, the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology, and Boston University, which will conduct studies of H1N1 swine flu vaccine, H1N1 swine flu antiviral treatment, and H1N1 swine flu disease.
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| S.ravi |
Posted - 10/27/2009 : 06:59:58
Don’t be misled by swine flu skeptics
By PAUL SCHNEIDEREIT
Tue. Oct 27 - 4:46 AM
SO, what do we know about swine flu?
I mean, what does the science show? What are the statistics? Is the virus’s danger being overblown? What about the vaccine — is it safe? And why are so many people, including many health care workers, planning to skip getting vaccinated?
As you’re trying to figure it all out, here are some points to ponder:
• Unlike seasonal flu, which hits the elderly the hardest, swine flu is instead affecting young adults and children, many otherwise healthy, in alarming numbers.
A Canadian study, under the leadership of Dr. Anand Kumar of the Health Sciences Centre and St. Boniface Hospital in Winnipeg, found the average age of those hospitalized with swine flu was about 32, and almost two-thirds were women.
The New England Journal of Medicine reported this month that pregnant women suffering from swine flu were admitted into intensive care units in Australia and New Zealand during their just completed winter at a rate nine times that normally expected based on their population.
The bottom line is young people are getting severely ill, and in some cases dying, from swine flu in numbers much, much higher than those normally stricken by seasonal flu.
• A recent study in the Journal of the American Medical Association found swine flu kills people by depriving their blood of oxygen, which, in the most severe cases, leads to organ failure and death.
The virus attacks the lungs, in many cases in young adults, which can lead to respiratory failure. The good news is that antiviral drugs and mechanical ventilators are often effective in saving lives. But not always.
• While it’s true that seasonal flu kills far more people than have so far died from swine flu worldwide, two things should be remembered.
First, this hemisphere is just entering its flu season.
Second, children and young adults are already dying in numbers greater than you’d expect from seasonal flu.
• Fears about the vaccine range from the understandable to the paranoid.
Fact: The H1N1 vaccine is not some new, never-before-tried approach to immunizing people.
Countless medical experts have made these points: The H1N1 virus is influenza. We’ve been making influenza vaccines for decades. Those vaccines already change from year to year, depending on what strains are out there. The swine flu vaccine is just another flu shot, in this case extremely well matched to the strain of virus being targeted — which means it’ll likely have a high success rate — and certainly not unsafe.
• Some people dispute flu shots work at all.
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control acknowledges studies have shown that the effectiveness of seasonal flu shots is lower in the elderly, meaning people over age 70.
That’s no surprise. People’s immune systems are not as robust as they age.
But the CDC correctly points out that flu shots are still a good idea for the elderly, as some protection is better than none.
In the case of swine flu, young people — whose immune systems benefit the most from flu shots — have been shown to be at greater risk.
Some critics, even doctors, say no proper random clinical trials have ever shown even regular flu shots work.
That appears to be dead wrong. The CDC lists quite a few studies conducted over the years that show flu shots do work, in fact from 70 to 90 per cent of the time.
• Some skeptics say swine flu vaccines are just making drug companies rich.
OK, who else do you want making vaccines?
Companies exist to make money. That doesn’t mean we don’t ever need what they’re selling. I’m not discounting that there’s marketing and hype in pharmaceuticals, like many other industries. But I’m not going to forswear all medicines because Big Pharma is making a profit. If they weren’t making a profit, they wouldn’t be making the stuff.
In other words, if there’s proof swine flu’s a hoax and those people who died were misdiagnosed, let’s talk about a conspiracy. Otherwise, it’s a dangerous argument to make when people’s health could be protected with a swine flu shot.
Flu shots work best when everybody gets one. It’s called herd immunity. Not getting one increases everyone’s risk.
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| S.ravi |
Posted - 10/26/2009 : 19:54:01
Swine flu death toll mounts to 444
New Delhi: One more person died of swine flu on Monday even as 49 fresh cases were reported from across the country. The death was reported from Maharashtra. The total number of deaths nationwide have risen to 444, officials said. — PTI |
| S.ravi |
Posted - 10/25/2009 : 19:17:54
n 24th October 2009, 41775 passengers have been screened at 22 Airports with 83 counters manned by 225 doctors and 172 paramedics. Total passengers screened till date is 7628324.
2. Till date, samples from 70650 persons have been tested for Influenza A H1N1 in Government Laboratories and a few private Laboratories across the country and 13370 (18.9%) of them have been found positive.
3. Of the 49 cases reported during the day, all are indigenous.
4. One death has been reported during the day,( Maharashtra).
**** |
| S.ravi |
Posted - 10/24/2009 : 14:16:35
Obama declares swine flu a national emergency
AP 24 October 2009, 09:19pm IST
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WASHINGTON: The White House on Saturday said Obama signed a proclamation that would allow medical officials to bypass certain federal requirements. Officials described the move as similar to a declaration ahead of a hurricane making landfall.
Swine flu is more widespread now than it's ever been and has resulted in more than 1,000 US deaths so far.
Health authorities say almost 100 children have died from the flu, known as H1N1, and 46 states now have widespread flu activity.
The White House said Obama signed the declaration on Friday evening.
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| S.ravi |
Posted - 10/24/2009 : 10:12:19
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/c/a/2009/10/24/MNG51AA1FI.DTL |
| S.ravi |
Posted - 10/14/2009 : 10:36:43
U.S. could potentially use controversial adjuvants in swine flu vaccine
BY LJ ANDERSON
The World Health Organization estimates that a worldwide production capacity of 3 billion doses of pandemic H1N1 vaccines will be used to prevent the outbreak and spread of the 2009 H1N1 flu, or "swine flu," as it is better known. This ambitious plan for widespread vaccine use, albeit inadequate for a total population of 6.8 billion people, has drawn criticism regarding the vaccine's safety, and the use and potential use of vaccine adjuvants.
In the alternative health community, chiropractor Ginger Mills, DC, of Redwood City, is concerned that adjuvants, especially squalene, will be added to vaccines used in the U.S., should the number of cases rise. "Squalene is an oil that is found in olives and in certain other foods, and is perfectly healthy when you ingest it — but when injected into the bloodstream, it can have adverse effects."
Adjuvants enhance or "supercharge" the immune response, reduce the number of vaccines needed, and allow supplies to last longer. Currently, aluminum salts are the only approved vaccine adjuvants for use in the United States. The use of adjuvants has been suspected, but not confirmed, in the development of illnesses in Gulf War veterans who may have received squalene-containing anthrax vaccines.
However, the current stock of U.S. swine flu vaccines does not contain adjuvants, according to Anne Schuchat, MD, in an informational video produced by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
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Schuchat does acknowledge that there is an emergency provision to use them — should the pandemic accelerate.
Adjuvants are being used in swine flu vaccines in countries outside of the United States, including Canada, Europe and Australia. However, even though Canada is using an adjuvanted vaccine, it has also ordered 1.8 million doses of the unadjuvanted vaccine for use in pregnant women and children under the age of 3.
Maine physician Meryl Nass, MD, has written widely on the use of vaccines. "If novel adjuvants do get added (in the U.S.) — only if conditions change — it would preclude the quick licensure process that took place for the licensed H1N1 vaccines. Recipients would need to sign an informed consent for an experimental product," said Nass. "I do not believe they would be 'secretly' added."
The World Health Organization has tried to allay concerns about the vaccine and states that clinical trials suggest this vaccine is as safe as the seasonal influenza vaccines, and that most countries have vaccine monitoring systems in place. Without specifically addressing the use of adjuvants, WHO states that any vaccine side effects are expected to be of short-term duration, such as injection site soreness, swelling and redness, and possibly, headache, fever and muscle aches. However, WHO also has a disclaimer that "even very large clinical trials will not be able to identify possible rare events that can occur when pandemic vaccines are administered to many millions of people."
With a pivotal and profitable role played by the pharmaceutical industry in vaccine production, Nass suggests that there is a lack of "unconflicted data" available about adjuvants. "Nearly all of the MF59 (adjuvant) data were derived from the manufacturer of MF59, for example," said Nass. "It is more the lack of reliable data, and gives the impression that something is being hidden. Those of us who are familiar with the subject are concerned that if these adjuvants were used en masse, we would face some bad outcomes. The FDA has been sitting on them for 10 years, and usually, that means that the FDA is aware of significant problems."
Nass testified before Congress in 2001 that the FDA needed to make a decision on the safety of adjuvants, so manufacturers could know whether they could include them in vaccines or not. "It seems that the FDA and the manufacturers have been waiting for a pandemic to solve the problem for them," said Nass. "It was going to be avian flu — an adjuvanted vaccine for H5N1 avian flu was approved in many countries, but the disease never spread person to person. Then swine flu came along, and Glaxo and Novartis got another bite at the cherry. You see, once these adjuvants get into licensed products in the U.S., they will become part of all sorts of novel vaccines for cancer and non-infectious diseases, whose antigens are waiting in the wings."
The adjuvant question may not be answered in this pandemic go-round either. In the latest CDC FluView assessment of influenza activity in the United States, there is swine flu activity in 26 states — but many of the cases are mild and are not included in the count. The U.S. government has ordered 195 million vaccines that will be distributed through coordination with states and distribution centers.
While the official influenza season began Oct. 4, cases of swine flu appeared earlier — even in a number of pandemic experts themselves. And when it becomes personal, the use of a vaccine may seem like a good idea.
Author of "The Coming Plague," Laurie Garrett wrote in Newsweek about her September bout with swine flu, and described its symptoms as "days of semi-delirium, muscle aches, fatigue, nausea, and stomach twisting."
Another pandemic expert and Google executive, Larry Brilliant, led the WHO team that was responsible for smallpox eradication in Southeast Asia and India. Brilliant, a physician and epidemiologist, is now president of the Skoll Urgent Threats Fund, and recently became one of the expected 100 million Americans to develop the swine flu.
"But while I was never sick enough to consider going to see my doctor or going to an ER, I would not wish this disease on anyone and I certainly would have preferred a vaccination to this teeth-rattling bug," wrote Brilliant on Huffington Post.
"Most poignantly, even though I tried to stay isolated, I infected one of my children who also spent a lousy sweat-soaked, teeth-chattering week dancing with the swine. No loving parent would ever want to spread this disease to his or her kids. If the sole reason to get vaccinated were to prevent my spreading this disease to my family and community, that alone would make getting vaccinated an easy choice for me." |
| S.ravi |
Posted - 10/14/2009 : 10:35:08
1. On 13th October 2009, 42604 passengers have been screened at 22 Airports with 83 counters manned by 225 doctors and 172 paramedics. Total passengers screened till date is 7140680.
2. 2. Till date, samples from 65803 persons have been tested for Influenza A H1N1 in Government Laboratories and a few private Laboratories across the country and 12334 (18.74%) of them have been found positive.
3. 3. Of the 147 cases reported during the day, 4 cases have foreign travel history and the rest are indigenous cases.
4. 4. One death has been reported during the day from Maharashtra. Laboratory confirmation of 2 deaths from Maharashtra has been received and is reflected in the cumulative total.
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| S.ravi |
Posted - 10/09/2009 : 09:27:29
Government to introduce swine flu vaccines in India by mid-December
PTI 7 October 2009, 10:53pm IST
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NEW DELHI: The government plans to introduce swine flu (influenza A HINI) vaccines by mid December this year, Drug Controller General of India
Surinder Singh said on Wednesday.
However, the government has not placed any order for the shots till now.
"We are planning to bring swine flu vaccines in India by mid December as December and January are the two months when the flu-related cases are traditionally been reported mostly in the country," Singh said on the sidelines of a CII event.
Health experts have warned that there could be a surge in swine flu cases during the winter season in the country.
Asked whether the government has placed any orders for the vaccines, he said that the government has not placed any order till now and soon "we would be meeting with ministry officials to take final decision on the import of vaccines."
Earlier, the government has written to the four multi-national drug companies to include India in the process of global clinical trials conducted by them for the development of clinical trials.
According to the DCGI, none of the foreign companies have shown interest in conducting trials in India which might delay the introduction of vaccines in India.
"Before introducing vaccines in India, the companies would first have to complete safety protocol study in the country," Singh said.
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