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"Seqirus Media Monitoring" 5th Feb 2019

Seqirus mentions
How Holly Springs is preparing for its economic future
The explosive growth of the area over the last decade is a testament to the success that comes along with premeditated and intentional planning, two things that Holly Springs is adamant about. The Holly Springs business park, which houses Seqirus (formerly Novartis), will soon run out of land. It’s a predicament, but one that the town has prepared for. “We are leveraging the assets of our community and building upon the continued investment of partners like Seqirus, while also identifying areas where new companies can come in and be successful,” Irena Krstanovic, the director of Economic Development for Holly Springs, said
Belgium prepares for a global flu pandemic
In Belgium, the health minister has announced that the government will join a European pandemic flu vaccine scheme in order to be prepared for a global flu pandemic. The government will sign an agreement with flu vaccine suppliers to this effect, and has concluded negotiations with Seqirus, and finalising them with GSK.
Industry News
A shot at prevention
In India, there are two categories of vaccines available which can be given to children and adults - essential and optional. In July 2018, Sanofi Pasteur launched FluQuadri®, India's first quadrivalent influenza vaccine for those aged three years or more. "Quadrivalent vaccines were developed to improve prevention of influenza and its risks, covering for some of the unpredictability of influenza type B, and broadening protection against the disease," says Jean-Pierre Baylet, country head, Sanofi Pasteur India & South Asia.
Blue Water seeks $15m injection
Blue Water Vaccines, a US-based influenza shot developer based on University of Oxford research, is seeking $15m in funding from undisclosed investors. Blue Water has entered an option agreement with Oxford to advance the concept of a universal influenza jab pioneered in the Department of Zoology.
New flu anti-viral medication set to hit pharmacies
This week marked the biggest spike in cases reported this year in Texas, but there is some good news, A new anti-viral flu vaccine that's set to hit pharmacies soon. Dr. Jason Bowling, Epidemiologist at University Hospital explains, "This year for the first time there is actually a new flu anti-viral that just came out. It is the first anti flu drug in 20 years and it's called Baloxavir! So now we have a couple of choices, that one is just now getting delivered to pharmacies." The other treatment choice the doctor mentioned is Tamiflu and other than the flu shot it's about all that's been out there to fight off the effects of the flu.
Pharmacies stock up with Tamiflu as peak of flu season approaches
North Carolina health officials reported the largest week-to-week increase in patients reporting flu-like symptoms so far this season, which is a total of 905 people, and that number is rising. Pharmacists like Jesse Pike said they are preparing for more cases. Pike said his business is stocked up on Tamiflu.
Pandemic Influenza News

No News Recorded

Academic studies
ASA: Flu-Like Illness Linked to Increased Risk for Stroke
Influenza-like illness is associated with an increased risk for ischemic stroke and cervical artery dissection according to two studies presented at the American Stroke Association International Stroke Conference. Trevor Alvord, M.P.H., from Columbia University in New York City, and colleagues conducted a case-crossover analysis of the 2012 to 2014 inpatient and outpatient New York Statewide Planning and Research Cooperative System to estimate the odds of hospitalization for ischemic stroke after ILI hospitalization. In a second study, Madeleine D. Hunter, also from Columbia University, and colleagues compared ILI and influenza in sequential, mutually exclusive intervals preceding nontraumatic CeAD and overlapping intervals to ILI and influenza exactly one and two years earlier.
How your history with the flu could shape your body's response to vaccines
A growing body of evidence suggests that sometimes our immune systems simply don’t follow the instructions a vaccine tries to give them — that is, make antibodies to fight a particular H3N2 or H1N1 virus. The reason? We all have flu baggage that shapes the way our immune systems respond to both infections and vaccines. Figuring out what happens with the earliest flu infections could point to ways to make more effective influenza vaccines.
Pediatric influenza news
Two entire East Idaho school districts shut down because of flu
East Idaho is reeling from one of its worst flu seasons in years and it appears the region's children are being hardest hit. The situation's so bad that hundreds of healthy East Idaho school children are being told to stay home by school officials in an attempt to halt the flu's spread in the region. Two East Idaho school districts — Shelley and Fremont — have taken the unprecedented step of closing all of their schools because of the high number of students absent due to flu-like illnesses.
ECEC services urged to help spread the word and keep children from flu risks
Children with chronic lung diseases are at a higher risk of flu hospitalisation, yet uptake of free flu vaccinations is low, prompting researchers from University of NSW to call on early childhood education and care services to share the message with parents of children with chronic illness. Dr Nusrat Homaira, lead author of the study, said that despite the fact that vaccination against influenza is free for children with chronic lung conditions, unpublished data suggests uptake is low and more needs to be done to encourage parents of children with the condition to take advantage of the service
Over 65’s influenza news

No News Recorded

General Influenza News
News Scan for Feb 04, 2019
CDC estimates low flu vaccine protection last season still saved many lives. An end-of-season 2017-18 flu vaccine effectiveness (VE) estimate by a team led by CDC researchers found an overall VE of 38% against medically attended influenza and 22% for the H3N2 strain, but even this fairly low level of protection still saved thousands of lives, according to a Feb 2 study in Clinical Infectious Diseases.
Orthopaedic Hospital nurse is named Health Hero
A ward sister is the first Health Hero Award winner of 2019 at the Orthopaedic Hospital in Gobowen for encouraging staff to have their flu jab. Sarah Kaye found herself in isolation back in March 2018 after contracting Influenza A – and was told she potentially could have died if it wasn’t for her flu jab. As part of the hospital's campaign to encourage staff to have the flu vaccination Sarah agreed to tell her story - to staff but also to the public.
Flu season 2019: Can you have the flu and a cold at the same time?
Whether or not you can be infected by the cold and flu at the same time is a matter of how your immune system tackles infection. Cold and flu viruses will infect the respiratory tract, from your lungs up to your nose. The immune response is the same for both the cold and the flu, so while you can have two viruses inhabiting your body at once, the same mechanisms are involved to get rid of them. This means you could be infected by two viruses, but the symptoms would be exactly the same and you might never know.
WHO Board Sceptical On Changes To Flu Framework, Send Issue To WHA
The World Health Organization Executive Board last week remained uncertain on the way forward on questions of access to influenza viruses as countries are increasingly implementing an international protocol regulating the sharing of genetic resources. The Board requested informal discussions be held in the lead-up to the annual World Health Assembly in May.
Dr Muris Houston: I got the flu jab, and now I have flu
Dr Muiris Houston writes about catching the flu despite having been vaccinated: "A reasonable interpretation of my flu dose is that its severity has been ameliorated by the benefits of the vaccine. However, it is important to nail one of the myths about immunisation – that me coming down with the flu has been caused by the vaccine. Nor does my infection mean the vaccine was a complete waste of time. There is no way I could even attempt to write a column four days into a bout of flu had its severity not been blunted by an already primed immune system."
Miranda Kerr linked to renowned anti-vaxxer
Australian supermodel Miranda Kerr has been linked to American alternative-health guru and anti-vaccination campaigner David “Avocado” Wolfe, who has more than 12 million followers across his social media network. Wolfe claims on his website that pharmaceutical companies are "in bed with federal government officials", and "the flu vaccine is even more dangerous than the illness it claims to prevent".
Vaccines cause infections in scores of people across Kentucky, Ohio and Indiana
Vaccinations are causing infections in three U.S. states, prompting fears a batch was contaminated. 'Multiple people' have developed rashes, pain, redness, swelling and hard lumps in Kentucky, Ohio and Indiana. It transpires all of them received vaccines produced by Kentucky-based provider Location Vaccination since September 2018. Health officials insist there is no issue with the vaccine supply, but they blame 'improper storage and handling of the vaccine' at Location Vaccination
After 14 flu-related deaths in Indiana, health experts make the case that vaccination is effective
The flu season has already turned deadly in Indiana. But it's not too late to get vaccinated. Indiana has already seen 14 flu-related deaths. The worst part? Flu season still has months left to go. U.S. Centers for Disease Control reports that more than half the population hasn't been vaccinated. While the number has increased from last year, it's still not enough.
Should I Get a Second Flu Shot This Year?
Kids who do meet the criteria for a second flu shot should get their first dose as soon as it’s available. The second dose should be administered at least four weeks later, according to the CDC. There is some preliminary evidence that the effectiveness of the flu vaccine may wane over the course of a flu season, but “at this time, this information does not represent a rigorous study of the phenomenon,” says an expert, and the research certainly isn’t strong enough to warrant getting another shot.
Burden of disease
Did you get your shot? Flu surging in NY
Flu cases on Long Island are on the rise, spiking as much as 16 percent over last week, according to New York state Department of Health statistics. Across the state, 7,000 people tested positive for the flu in New York just last week, up 30 percent from the previous week. Doctors say the main culprit is the H1N1 strain, known as "swine flu." They say children can easily be infected.
Murcia (Spain) - Four Deaths Last Week As The Flu Epidemic Eases Off
In Murcia's region, Spain, four people died of complications linked to influenza last week, bringing the total number of deaths associated with the virus to 22 this season. The epidemic appears to be slowing down now though and regional health authorities describe the intensity as 'medium'.
Influenza cases now widespread in 45 states
Flu cases are on the rise around the U.S. The CDC says flu is now widespread in 45 states, including Michigan. That's up from 36 a week ago. Meanwhile, Indiana is experiencing regional flu activity. Two more children died of complications from the flu, bringing the total number of pediatric deaths to 24 this season.
Influenza death toll in Southern Nevada rises to 12
Twelve Southern Nevada residents have died from influenza this winter while 371 have been hospitalized. Six of the deaths have been in the 65 plus age group, 4 from ages 50 to 64, 1 death from age 25 to 49 and 1 below 4 years of age. Of those hospitalized, 59 percent have been from those 50 years or older.
Japan battles influenza epidemic, infection rate highest on record
Japan's Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare said that the nation is contending with a flu epidemic with a record-high number of patients being diagnosed last week. According to the ministry, an average of 57.09 patients were diagnosed with influenza last week at each medical facility conducting tests for the virus, with the figures gathered for the seven days through Sunday being the highest number since data gathering on the virus began in 1999.
Morocco: death toll of H1N1 victims rises to 11
In Morocco, authorities Sunday put the death toll of people affected by H1N1 virus to 11 spread across six cities. Fifty-Eight people have tested positive for the influenza syndrome and 32 among them are still receiving treatment, the ministry told state-run news agency MAP. The government urged populations not to panic, noting that all heath facilities are equipped to face the outbreak.
Swine flu cases in Delhi cross 1,000-mark
As many as 1,011 cases of swine flu (H1N1) were reported from various hospitals in India's national capital up to Sunday, according to a data released by the government on Monday. Although the government data does not report any deaths due to H1N1, some city hospitals claim that 11 persons died last month due to the infection. In entire 2018, only 205 H1N1 cases and two deaths were reported.
CDC Flu Update: Widespread Activity is Increasing
According to this week’s FluView report, seasonal influenza activity rose again over last week, with the number of states reporting widespread activity increasing from 36 to 45. Deaths attributed to pneumonia and influenza (P&I) is at the national threshold this week. P&I has been at or above the epidemic threshold for three consecutive weeks so far this season, however, hospitalization rates remain relatively low compared with last season. CDC also reported another two flu-associated pediatric deaths.
State officials say flu season bad as ever
Nebraska is experiencing its most severe flu season yet according to State Epidemiologist Dr. Tom Safranek. Safranek tells News Talk WJAG the numbers have not peaked yet, and he is encouraging those who haven’t get their flu shot. He says the flu vaccine is the best way to reduce your chance of getting the virus.
‘Flu alert as cases contribute to pressure on Doncaster hospital emergency department
In England, a surge in cases of ‘flu has contributed to a recent rise in visits to the emergency department in Doncaster’ hospital, say bosses. They now say one of the reasons for the spike in attendance this month was ‘flu or suspected ‘flu, with more than 200 confirmed cases seen last month – a big increase over the previous year. The hospital has a ‘flu diagnosis tool so it can react quickly to these cases and ensure infection prevention and control practice is followed.
20 People Have Died From The Flu In Indiana
A total of 20 people have now died from the flu in Indiana during the 2018-2019 season, according to the state's department of health. An influenza report released Friday says 19 of those deaths were people 50 and older. The other person was between the age of 25 and 49. Health officials say flu activity is "high" in the region.
Australia - Summer flu spike
After the horror 2017 flu season that killed more than 1000 Australians, last year's outbreak was a mild one — but it was also unusual. Instead of flu cases dropping off at the end of the year doctors around the country were reporting a huge spike in numbers. The latest figures have been presented to the annual meeting of the nation's top flu scientists who are gathering in Melbourne.
Flu Surveillance in Animals
Japan lodges protest against ban on its poultry
The Japanese government has reportedly protested with the government of Pakistan for not allowing import of its poultry and poultry products, well-informed sources told Business Recorder. The Commerce Division in its Import Policy Order of April 18, 2016 had restricted poultry and poultry products from Japan on account of Avian Influenza H5N1 strain. According to the Japanese embassy in Islamabad, Japan has declared to the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) that it is totally free from HJPAI (highly pathogenic avian influenza) on April 15, 2018.

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