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"Seqirus Media Monitoring" 22nd Aug 2017

News Highlights
OIE officials to meet Piñol, industry stakeholders on avian flu outbreak OIE and FAO officials flew to the Philippines to meet with Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel Piñol and industry stakeholders about the avian flu outbreak; rumour is that some of the officials are unhappy about the government’s late submission of samples of the infected birds to Australian Animal Health Laboratory
ICMR partners with IVI, invests Rs 3.20 crore for vaccine development in India The Indian Council of Medical Research has entered into an agreement to collaborate on vaccine research and development with International Vaccine Institute; influenza is a potential area of interest for vaccine development
Do repeated vaccinations impact flu vaccine effectiveness? Some previous scientific studies have suggested that repeated vaccination can lower vaccine effectiveness. Authors of a new review on this subject provide reassurance that this is not generally the case
An interview with Robert Kennedy Jr. on vaccines A Q&A session with Robert Kennedy Jr. on the safety of vaccines, in which he states that “since 2004, so that would be, I guess, 13 years, most flu shots were loaded with mega doses of mercury”
More than half national 88,000 flu cases recorded in NSW Nearly half of the 88,357 cases of flu in Australia so far this year have been recorded in NSW; data from the weekly NSW Health Influenza Surveillance Report shows that apart from the over 85s, children under 10 are the worst affected
Seqirus

No News Recorded

Pandemic Influenza News
OIE officials to meet Piñol, industry stakeholders on avian flu outbreak
OIE and FAO officials flew to the Philippines to meet with Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel Piñol and industry stakeholders about the avian flu outbreak; rumour is that some of the officials are unhappy about the government’s late submission of samples of the infected birds to Australian Animal Health Laboratory
Philippines deploys troops to a second province to fight bird flu
The Philippines has deployed more troops to cull thousands of chickens a day after the farm ministry confirmed the spread of the virus to a second province north of Manila
Bird flu-hit Ecija towns under state of calamity
In the Philippines, Nueva Ecija Gov. Cherry Umali has declared a state of calamity after poultry farms in the towns of Jaen and San Isidro tested positive for the avian flu virus
Departure of Agriculture dismisses reports of bird flu in Caraga
In the Philippines, the Department of Agriculture in the Caraga Region has dismissed rumours that the Avian influenza has reached the region
‘Limit ban on PHL poultry to areas hit by bird flu’
The government is appealing to Japan and South Korea to reconsider the total ban it has imposed on Philippine poultry products, after Manila confirmed to the World Organisation for Animal Health the outbreak of bird flu in Pampanga
Zokwana meets poultry industry over H5N8 bird flu
In South Africa, the Minister of Agriculture‚ Forestry and Fisheries is expected to meet with CEOs in the poultry industry to discuss mitigation strategies to the H5N8 bird flu outbreak
Industry News
Oseltamivir syrup in short supply
Children in the 0-5 years age group fall in the high-risk category for swine flu, but many paediatricians and chemists across Gujarat say there is not enough fluvir (oseltamivir drug) syrup
ICMR partners with IVI, invests Rs 3.20 crore for vaccine development in India
The Indian Council of Medical Research has entered into an agreement to collaborate on vaccine research and development with International Vaccine Institute; influenza is a potential area of interest for vaccine development
Custom-Made Molecules
Synthetic Genomics’ new digital-to-biological converter (DBC) can, upon receipt of a DNA sequence, prepare appropriate oligos, carry out DNA synthesis, and then convert that DNA into a vaccine, or any RNA molecule or protein; so far, the DBC has been programmed to make fluorescent proteins, antibody polypeptides, an RNA virus (H1N1 influenza), and an influenza vaccine
Academic studies
Mineral layer around avian flu may be cause of human infections
Avian influenza viruses can be transmitted from birds to humans, but transmission among humans is limited. The reason may be an eggshell-like mineral layer that the virus acquires due to the high calcium concentration in the intestines of birds
Do repeated vaccinations impact flu vaccine effectiveness?
Some previous scientific studies have suggested that repeated vaccination can lower vaccine effectiveness. Authors of a new review on this subject provide reassurance that this is not generally the case
Pediatric influenza news
Infants Aged 6-59 Months to Receive Free Flu Shot Beginning September
The Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said on Monday that all infants aged between six months and 59 months will be able to receive free flu vaccinations beginning next month
Over 65’s influenza news

No News Recorded

General Influenza News
CVS Health Releases Encouraging Flu Shot Survey Data
CVS released data showing that about 61% of the American population is either taking or planning to take a flu vaccination every year, and a 2% rise in the flu vaccination taking population compared to the previous year’s survey results
An interview with Robert Kennedy Jr. on vaccines
A Q&A session with Robert Kennedy Jr. on the safety of vaccines, in which he states that “since 2004, so that would be, I guess, 13 years, most flu shots were loaded with mega doses of mercury”
Free flu jabs extended to end of the year
New Zealanders have been hit hard by the flu this year, with more than 180 people needing hospital treatment each week. Health Minister Jonathan Coleman is urging people to get protected against influenza
Santo Domingo strategy on vaccination in Latin America led by PAHO
Dominican Republic Public Health Ministry launched an international workshop on the global vaccines market, with themes that resonate for the country and its neighbours
Walking Pneumonia Versus Common Cold
The primary defence against the common cold is to ensure that you get a seasonal flu vaccine shot which will boost the body’s immune system
Flu season: Why it's been a particularly bad year for influenza
This year, the number of laboratory-confirmed flu virus infections began rising earlier than usual and hit historic highs in some Australian states
'Get a flu shot before it's too late': Wagga doctor
In Australia, a local doctor encourages people to get a flu shot and explains why it is safe and that all children over the age of 6 months needs to be immunised
Burden of disease
80 fresh swine flu cases in Lucknow: Not enough vaccines for medical staff?
In Lucknow, healthcare staff are having trouble getting vaccinated against the flu as there is not enough stock for both patients and medical staff, as the virus keeps spreading
More than half national 88,000 flu cases recorded in NSW
Nearly half of the 88,357 cases of flu in Australia so far this year have been recorded in NSW; data from the weekly NSW Health Influenza Surveillance Report shows that apart from the over 85s, children under 10 are the worst affected
Deadly swine flu virus on a killing spree in India
Swine flu, which snuffed out the lives of 3,000 Indians just two years ago is back with a vengeance, having killed 1,000 people so far this year, 700 of them in the past six weeks alone