Swine Flu RemediesSwine Flu Remedies and Information

For Providers: Prevention of Pneumococcal Infections Secondary to Seasonal and 2009 H1N1 Influenza Viruses Infection

This update provides information about pneumococcal disease as a complication of influenza, including ACIP recommendations for pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine. (Source: CDC Swine Flu Updates)

How Does Swine Flu Virus Spread?

One virus can make millions of new viruses inside a human cell. Watch NPR's Robert Krulwich explain how that happens.» E-Mail This     » Add to Del.icio.us (Source: NPR Health and Science)

FDA Taps Prescription Data To Track Treatment Of H1N1 And Other Flu Viruses

Wolters Kluwer Pharma Solutions, Inc., a leading provider of market data and competitive intelligence to the pharmaceutical and biotech industries, announced that the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is using its prescription data to track the treatment of H1N1 and other influenza viruses. These weekly updates provide the FDA with visibility to clusters of patients across the U.S. (Source: Health News from Medical News Today)

Prior infection with an H1N1 swine influenza virus partially protects pigs against a low pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza virus.

Authors: Van Reeth K, Braeckmans D, Cox E, Van Borm S, van den Berg T, Goddeeris B, De Vleeschauwer A Most humans lack virus neutralizing (VN) and haemagglutination inhibition (HI) antibodies to H5N1 avian influenza viruses (AIVs), but cross-reactive neuraminidase inhibition (NI) antibodies and cell-mediated immune (CMI) responses are common. These immune responses result largely from infections with seasonal human H1N1 influenza viruses, but the protective effect of H1N1 infection-immunity against H5N1 infection has never been examined. To this purpose, we have used the pig model of influenza and a low pathogenic (LP) H5N1 AIV. Pigs were inoculated intranasally with sw/Belgium/1/98 (H1N1) 4 weeks before challenge with duck/Minnesota/1525/81 (H5N1). While the viruses failed to cross-re...

USDA Conducting Confirmatory Testing on Possible Detection of 2009 Pandemic H1N1 Influenza in U.S. Swine

WASHINGTON, Oct. 16, 2009 - Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) National Veterinary Services Laboratories will be conducting confirmatory testing on swine samples collected at the 2009 Minnesota State Fair between August 26 and September 1. The pigs sampled at the time showed no signs of illness and were apparently healthy. The samples collected were part of a University of Iowa and University of Minnesota cooperative agreement research project funded by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) which documents influenza viruses where humans and pigs interact at such as fairs. (Source: PandemicFlu.gov RSS Feed for News Releases)

What is a Pandemic?

A pandemic is a global outbreak of disease that occurs when a new virus appears or “emerges” in the human population, causes serious illness, and then spreads easily from person to person worldwide. Pandemics are different from seasonal outbreaks or “epidemics” of influenza. Seasonal outbreaks are caused by subtypes of influenza viruses that already circulate among people, whereas pandemic outbreaks are caused by new subtypes, by subtypes that have never circulated among people, or by subtypes that have not circulated among people for a long time. Past pandemics have led to high levels of illness, death, social disruption, and economic loss.

Guidelines for the Submission of Tissue Specimens for the Pathologic Evaluation of Influenza Virus Infections

Viral antigens and nucleic acids may be focal and sparsely distributed in patients with influenza. Larger airways (particularly primary and segmental bronchi) have the highest yield for detection of influenza viruses by IHC staining. In comparison, viral RNA is more commonly detected in lower airways. Collection of the appropriate tissues ensures the best chance of detecting the virus by immunohistochemical stains and PCR tests.

MMWR: Swine-Origin Influenza A (H1N1) Virus Infections in a School — New York City, April 2009

On April 24, 2009, CDC reported eight confirmed cases of swine-origin influenza A (H1N1) virus (S-OIV) infection in Texas and California. The strain identified in U.S. patients was confirmed by CDC as genetically similar to viruses subsequently isolated from patients in Mexico.

Antiviral Drugs and Swine Influenza

CDC recommends the use of oseltamivir or zanamivir for the treatment or prevention of infection with swine influenza viruses. These medications must be prescribed by a health care professional.

Key Facts about Swine Influenza (Swine Flu)

What is Swine Influenza? How many swine flu viruses are there? Can humans catch swine flu?...