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Roundup Of H1N1 Studies From Eurosurveillance

 

 

# 4153

 

Eurosurveillance is a European scientific journal `devoted to the epidemiology, surveillance, prevention and control of communicable diseases.’

 

This week’s issue Volume 14, Issue 49, 10 December 2009 features several rapid communications pieces relating to the 2009 H1N1 pandemic virus, and the public and HCWs (Health Care Worker’s) response to it from various places in Europe.  

 

Since we appear to be blessed with a relatively quiet Sunday Morning news cycle, I’ve posted the links and brief summaries of these dispatches below.

 

From a pure science standpoint, the first articles listed on the prolonged shedding of the H1N1 virus (14 and 28 days) in patients without immunosuppression, even with the administration of oseltamivir, is of perhaps the most interest.

 

Although the `conventional wisdom’ states that individuals with the flu shed the virus only for 5 to 7 days, we’ve seen a number of studies over the past few months that refute that contention. 

 

A couple of blogs on the subject include:

 

Swine Flu: The Gift That Keeps On Giving
They Walk Among Us

 

It should be noted that being able to detect – with highly sensitive PCR testing – the shedding of virus particles doesn’t necessarily mean that these people were still contagious.

 

Still, this is a fascinating finding.  The virus was tested and did not exhibit the H275Y Tamiflu resistant mutation, and yet the virus remained detectable in one patient for 14 days and in another for 28 days.

 


 

Prolonged shedding of influenza A(H1N1)v virus: two case reports from France 2009

by H Fleury, S Burrel, C Balick Weber, R Hadrien, P Blanco, C Cazanave, M Dupon

We observed a prolonged shedding of virus 14 and 28 days after symptom onset in two patients with pandemic H1N1 influenza, who did not have immunodepression and were treated with neuraminidase inhibitor.

 

This prolonged shedding was not associated with the emergence of resistance mutation H275Y in the viral neuraminidase gene.

 

 

Public perceptions in relation to intention to receive pandemic influenza vaccination in a random population sample: evidence from a cross-sectional telephone survey

 

by V Sypsa, T Livanios, M Psichogiou, M Malliori, S Tsiodras, I Nikolakopoulos, A Hatzakis

A cross-sectional telephone survey on a nationally representative sample of 1,000 Greek households was performed to assess the acceptability of the pandemic influenza A(H1N1)v vaccine, factors associated with intention to decline and stated reasons for declining vaccination.

 

The survey was initiated the last week of August 2009 (week 35) and is still ongoing (analysis up to week 44). The percentage of participants answering they would “probably not/definitely not” accept the vaccine increased from 47.1% in week 35 to 63.1% in week 44 (test for trend: p<0.001).

 

More than half of the people which chronic illnesses (53.3%) indicated “probably not/definitely not”. Factors associated with intention to decline vaccination were female sex, age between 30-64 years, perception of low likelihood of getting infected or of low risk associated with influenza, and absence of household members suffering from chronic illnesses.

 

For the majority of the respondents (59.8%), the main reason for intending to decline vaccination was the belief that the vaccine might not be safe. Promotion of vaccination programmes should be designed taking into account the attitudinal barriers to the pandemic vaccine.

 

 

Behaviours regarding preventive measures against pandemic H1N1 influenza among Italian healthcare workers, October 2009

by G La Torre, D Di Thiene, C Cadeddu, W Ricciardi, A Boccia

A survey on attitudes and behaviours towards preventive measures against pandemic H1N1 influenza 2009 was carried out during the month of October 2009 in Italy through an online questionnaire adapted to the Italian situation from a similar survey of the Harvard School of Public Health in the United States (US).

 

Results show that the intention to get vaccinated against pandemic H1N1 influenza 2009 is generally low and that there are differences in attitudes and behaviours towards preventive measures against pandemic H1N1 influenza 2009 between physicians and nurses, especially concerning vaccination. Differences relate also to sex, region of residence and marital status.

 

 

 

Behaviour of the pandemic H1N1 influenza virus in Andalusia, Spain, at the onset of the 2009-10 season

 

by JM Mayoral Cortés, L Puell Gómez, E Pérez Morilla, V Gallardo García, E Duran Pla, JC Fernandez Merino, J Guillén Enriquez, JC Carmona, G Andérica, I Mateos, JM Navarro Marí, M Pérez Ruiz, A Daponte

 

In Andalusia, Spain, the pandemic influenza A(H1N1)v virus has spread throughout the community, being the dominant influenza strain in the season so far. The current objective of the Andalusia Health Service is focussed on the mitigation of the health and social impact by appropriate care of the patients at home or in health centres.

 

The 2009-10 seasonal influenza epidemic started early compared with to previous seasons. This article analyses the influenza A(H1N1)v situation in Andalusia until the week 39/2009.

 

 

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