Schweinegrippe (Influenza A / H1N1)

[Alexander]

Ägypten fürchtet H1N1-Virus

Im Gesundheitsministerium herrscht Alarmstimmung. In diesem Jahr gibt es Reisebeschränkungen, um die Verbreitung der Grippe einzudämmern. mehr...

Grüsse
Alexander

[LudwigH]

Warum hat dann Ägypten ca. 250.000 Schweine getötet?

[Alexander]

Warum hat dann Ägypten ca. 250.000 Schweine getötet?

Aus diesem Grund?

Man sollte dabei einen Aspekt, der im Artikel nicht wuenschenswert deutlich angesprochen wird, unterstreichen: Schweinezuechter sind dort die Kopten (Christen), deren Religionsausuebung einigen Eiferern zunehmend ein Dorn im Auge ist - um es nicht noch klarer auszudruecken!
Zur wirtschaftlichen Grundlage dieser kleinen Gruppe gehoert die Schweinezucht. Wird ihnen diese Basis entzogen, dann stehen sie vor erheblichen Problemen. Das "Keulen" ist also keine sanitaere Massnahme, denn die ist sinnlos - wie auch im Artikel zu lesen -, sondern eine politische Aktion mit Signalcharakter fuer die extreme Ecke!

Grüsse
Alexander

[Birgitt]

Pandemic influenza vaccines: current status
Pandemic (H1N1) 2009 briefing note 11
24.09.2009 - WHO

GENEVA - Regulatory authorities have licensed pandemic vaccines in Australia, China, Hungary and the United States of America, soon to be followed by Japan and several countries in Europe. The length of the approval process depends on factors such as each country's regulatory pathway, the type of vaccine being licensed, and the stage of manufacturers' readiness to submit appropriate information to regulatory authorities ... mehr

Gruß
Birgitt

[Birgitt]

Antiviral use and the risk of drug resistance
Pandemic (H1N1) 2009 briefing note 12
25.09.2009 - WHO

GENEVA - Growing international experience in the treatment of pandemic H1N1 virus infections underscores the importance of early treatment with the antiviral drugs, oseltamivir or zanamivir. Early treatment is especially important for patients who are at increased risk of developing complications, those who present with severe illness or those with worsening signs and symptoms ... mehr

Gruß
Birgitt

[Birgitt]

Pandemic (H1N1) 2009 - update 67
Weekly update
25.09.2009 - WHO

As of 20 September 2009, there have been more than 300,000 laboratory confirmed cases of pandemic influenza H1N1, 3917 deaths, in 191 countries and territories reported to WHO. As more and more countries have stopped counting individual cases, particularly of milder illness, the case count is significantly lower than the actually number of cases that have occurred. While the case counts no longer reflect actual disease activity, WHO is actively monitoring the progress of the pandemic through frequent consultations with the WHO Regional Offices and member states and through monitoring of multiple sources of data ... mehr

Gruß
Birgitt

[Birgitt]

Pandemic (H1N1) 2009 - update 68
Weekly update
02.10.2009 - WHO

As of 27 September 2009, worldwide there have been more than 340,000 laboratory confirmed cases of pandemic influenza H1N1 2009 and over 4100 deaths reported to WHO.

As many countries have stopped counting individual cases, particularly of milder illness, the case count is significantly lower than the actually number of cases that have occurred. WHO is actively monitoring the progress of the pandemic through frequent consultations with the WHO Regional Offices and member states and through monitoring of multiple sources of data ... mehr

Gruß
Birgitt

[Birgitt]

Pandemic (H1N1) 2009 - update 69
Weekly update
09.10.2009 - WHO

As of 4 October 2009, worldwide there have been more than 375,000 laboratory confirmed cases of pandemic influenza H1N1 2009 and over 4500 deaths reported to WHO.

As many countries have stopped counting individual cases, particularly of milder illness, the case count is significantly lower than the actually number of cases that have occurred. WHO is actively monitoring the progress of the pandemic through frequent consultations with the WHO Regional Offices and member states and through monitoring of multiple sources of data ... mehr

Gruß
Birgitt

[Birgitt]

Mediziner warnen vor Risiko durch Zusatzstoffe
Neue Kritik an Schweinegrippe-Impfung
12.10.2009 - tagesschau

An der geplanten Massenimpfung gegen die Schweinegrippe gibt es weiterhin Kritik von Medizinern. Der Präsident der Ärztekammer Westfalen-Lippe, Theodor Windhorst, lehnt nach Angaben des Bielefelder "Westfalen-Blatts" eine solche Impfung ab, da der in Deutschland zugelassene Impfstoff Pandemrix aufgrund seiner Zusatzstoffe mit erheblichen Risiken behaftet sei ... mehr

Gruß
Birgitt

[Birgitt]

Influenza A H1N1 ("Schweinegrippe", neue Grippe)
12.10.2009 - crm

Die Pandemie hat inzwischen über 160 Länder erreicht. Bis zum 04. Oktober wurden weltweit mehr als 378.223 Erkrankungen gemeldet, darunter 4.525 Todesfälle. Die Zahl der tatsächlich Infizierten dürfte deutlich höher sein.

Impfstoffe gegen die Schweinegrippe werden in Deutschland voraussichtlich ab dem 26. Oktober 2009 verfügbar sein. Als erste sollen Risikogruppen geimpft werden, darunter medizinisches Personal, Menschen mit Vorerkrankungen und Schwangere (ab dem zweiten Schwangerschaftsdrittel). Die gesetzlichen Krankenkassen übernehmen die Kosten für alle Versicherten, die sich impfen lassen möchten. Dabei sollen die gesetzlichen Krankenkassen zunächst die Kosten für 50 % der Versicherten übernehmen. Für weitere Impfkosten soll der Staat eintreten.

[Birgitt]

Pandemic (H1N1) 2009 - update 70
Weekly update
16.10.2009 - WHO

As of 11 October 2009, worldwide there have been more than 399232 laboratory confirmed cases of pandemic influenza H1N1 2009 and over 4735 deaths reported to WHO.

As many countries have stopped counting individual cases, particularly of milder illness, the case count is significantly lower than the actually number of cases that have occurred. WHO is actively monitoring the progress of the pandemic through frequent consultations with the WHO Regional Offices and member states and through monitoring of multiple sources of data ... mehr

[Birgitt]

Clinical features of severe cases of pandemic influenza
Pandemic (H1N1) 2009 briefing note 13
16.10.2009 - WHO

GENEVA - To gather information about the clinical features and management of pandemic influenza, WHO hosted a three-day meeting at the headquarters of the Pan American Health Organization in Washington, DC on 14–16 October. Findings and experiences were presented by around 100 clinicians, scientists, and public health professionals from the Americas, Europe, Asia, Africa, the Middle East and Oceania.

The meeting confirmed that the overwhelming majority of persons worldwide infected with the new H1N1 virus continue to experience uncomplicated influenza-like illness, with full recovery within a week, even without medical treatment.

Need for intensive care

However, concern is now focused on the clinical course and management of small subsets of patients who rapidly develop very severe progressive pneumonia. In these patients, severe pneumonia is often associated with failure of other organs, or marked worsening of underlying asthma or chronic obstructive airway disease.

Treatment of these patients is difficult and demanding, strongly suggesting that emergency rooms and intensive care units will experience the heaviest burden of patient care during the pandemic.

Primary viral pneumonia is the most common finding in severe cases and a frequent cause of death. Secondary bacterial infections have been found in approximately 30% of fatal cases. Respiratory failure and refractory shock have been the most common causes of death.

Presentations during the meeting explored the pathology of severe disease in detail, with findings supported by work in experimental animals. These findings confirm the ability of the new H1N1 virus to directly cause severe pneumonia.

Clinical picture different from seasonal influenza

Participants who have managed such cases agreed that the clinical picture in severe cases is strikingly different from the disease pattern seen during epidemics of seasonal influenza. While people with certain underlying medical conditions, including pregnancy, are known to be at increased risk, many severe cases occur in previously healthy young people. In these patients, predisposing factors that increase the risk of severe illness are not presently understood, though research is under way.

In severe cases, patients generally begin to deteriorate around 3 to 5 days after symptom onset. Deterioration is rapid, with many patients progressing to respiratory failure within 24 hours, requiring immediate admission to an intensive care unit. Upon admission, most patients need immediate respiratory support with mechanical ventilation. However, some patients do not respond well to conventional ventilatory support, further complicating the treatment.

On the positive side, findings presented during the meeting add to a growing body of evidence that prompt treatment with the antiviral drugs, oseltamivir or zanamivir, reduces the severity of illness and improves the chances of survival. These findings strengthen previous WHO recommendations for early treatment with these drugs for patients who meet treatment criteria, even in the absence of a positive confirmatory test.

In addition to pneumonia directly caused by replication of the virus, evidence shows that pneumonia caused by co-infection with bacteria can also contribute to a severe, rapidly progressive illness. Bacteria frequently reported include Streptococcus pneumoniae and Staphylococcus aureus, including methicillin-resistant strains in some cases. As these bacterial co-infections are more frequent than initially recognized, clinicians stressed the need to consider empiric antimicrobial therapy for community acquired pneumonia as an early treatment.

Groups at greatest risk

Participants agreed that the risk of severe or fatal illness is highest in three groups: pregnant women, especially during the third trimester of pregnancy, children younger than 2 years of age, and people with chronic lung disease, including asthma. Neurological disorders can increase the risk of severe disease in children.

Evidence presented during the meeting further shows that disadvantaged populations, such as minority groups and indigenous populations, are disproportionately affected by severe disease. Although the reasons for this heightened risk are not yet fully understood, theories being explored include the greater frequency of co-morbidities, such as diabetes and asthma, often seen in these groups, and lack of access to care.

Although the exact role of obesity is poorly understood at present, obesity and especially morbid obesity have been present in a large portion of severe and fatal cases. Obesity has not been recognized as a risk factor in either past pandemics or seasonal influenza.

WHO and its partners are providing technical guidance and practical support to help developing countries better detect and treat illness caused by the pandemic virus. Patient care advice that can be applied in resource-limited settings is being rapidly compiled.

[Birgitt]

Immun gegen die Impfung
19.10.2009 - Spiegel

Kinderärzte rebellieren, Frauenärzte warnen: Die Impfkampagne gegen die Schweinegrippe gerät in Verruf. Sind die Deutschen Versuchskaninchen in einem gigantischen Pharmaexperiment? [...] Ludwig ist nicht irgendwer im deutschen Gesundheitssystem. Als Vorsitzender der Arzneimittelkommission der deutschen Ärzteschaft ist er eine Autorität in der Bewertung von Medikamenten. Und dieses Mal fällt sein Urteil vernichtend aus: "Wir sind unglücklich über diese Impfkampagne." Sie werfe zahlreiche Probleme auf, und ihr Nutzen sei ungewiss, zürnt Ludwig: "Die Gesundheitsbehörden sind auf eine Kampagne der Pharmakonzerne hereingefallen, die mit einer vermeintlichen Bedrohung schlichtweg Geld verdienen wollten." ... mehr
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Diskussion über Impfstoff
Nebenwirkungen fürs Volk?
19.10.2009 - tagesschau

"Celvapan", "Pandemrix" und "Focetria" heißen die Impfstoffe gegen die Schweinegrippe. Doch wer bekommt welches Präparat? Sonderbehandlung für die Minister? Nebenwirkungen fürs Volk? Etwa ein Fall von Zwei-Klassen-Medizin? Darüber streiten Politik und Wissenschaft seit Tagen ... mehr
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Kommentar zum Impf-Streit
Die Aufregung ist überflüssig, Angst-Schüren gefährlich
19.10.2009 - tagesschau

Was für eine Schweinerei! Die sogenannte Schweinegrippe geht um und das arme deutsche Volk wird nur zweiter Klasse geimpft. Denn der Spezial-Impfstoff ist für einige wenige reserviert: für die Bundespolizei, Krisenstabs-Angehörige und das Militär. Ein Aufschrei der Empörung wäre also angebracht - wenn es sich nicht ein bisschen differenzierter verhielte ... mehr


Gruß
Birgitt

[Birgitt]

Pandemic (H1N1) 2009 - update 71
Weekly update
23.10.2009 - WHO

As of 17 October 2009, worldwide there have been more than 414,000 laboratory confirmed cases of pandemic influenza H1N1 2009 and nearly 5000 deaths reported to WHO.

As many countries have stopped counting individual cases, particularly of milder illness, the case count is significantly lower than the actually number of cases that have occurred. WHO is actively monitoring the progress of the pandemic through frequent consultations with the WHO Regional Offices and member states and through monitoring of multiple sources of data.

New Activity:

Mongolia, Rwanda, and Sao Tome and Principe have reported pandemic influenza cases for the first time this week.

Iceland, Sudan, and Trinidad and Tobago reported their first fatal cases.

Situation update:

In general, influenza activity in the northern hemisphere is much the same as in the last week, though respiratory disease activity continues to spread and increase in intensity. In North America, the U.S.A. is still reporting nationwide rates of Influenza-Like Illness (ILI) well above baseline rates with high rates of pandemic H1N1 2009 virus detections in clinical laboratory specimens (29% of all specimens tested are positive for influenza A and all of those subtyped are pandemic H1N1 2009 virus. Canada reports increases in ILI rates for the fourth straight week but the highest level of activity is in the western province of British Columbia. Mexico still reports active transmission in some areas of the country. Although influenza activity is low in most countries in Europe, in Belgium, Israel, the Netherlands, Norway, and parts of the United Kingdom consultation ILI/ARI rates are above baseline levels. Similarly the number of influenza virus detections relatively high, which may indicate the early start of an influenza season. Rates of respiratory illness in Eastern Europe and Northern Asia are increasing but are not yet at levels normally seen in an influenza season (baseline levels are not defined in many countries of the area). Of note, the proportion of cases in Asia that are related to seasonal influenza A(H3N2) continue to decline globally as the proportion related to pandemic H1N1 2009 virus increases. Currently, only East Asia is reporting any significant numbers of influenza A(H3N2) isolates ... mehr

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Birgitt

[Birgitt]

Impfaktion zur Schweinegrippe beginnt
Die WHO rät zur Impfung
25.10.2009 - tagesschau

In der kommenden Woche soll in Deutschland die Impfaktion gegen die Schweinegrippe beginnen. Viele Deutsche sind skeptisch, die WHO rät aber klar, sich impfen zu lassen. Mit dem Höhepunkt der Grippewelle rechnet die Weltgesundheitsorganisation zwischen Januar und März ... mehr

Gruß
Birgitt