Influenza Update

Posted on | April 4, 2008 | Comments Off on Influenza Update

Bird Flu is still a concern

Flu season this year hasn’t exactly played by the rules. Its second wind nationwide may be beginning to wind down. Experts say some of this is related to the effectiveness of this year’s vaccine. HHS and all of its various divisions expend a huge amount of time, effort and resources in this arena. Just take a look at this recently posted HHS Timeline on related activities:

2004 – H5N1 vaccine reference created by reverse genetics from H5N1 virus isolated in Vietnam

April 2005 – RFP for cell-based vaccine contract issued
November 2005 – President Bush announces the National Strategy for Pandemic Influenza
Summer 2005 – Preliminary results form H5N1 vaccine clinical trials indicate immune response predictive of protection against H5N1
September 2005 – International Partnership on Avian and Pandemic Influenza launched
November 2005 – HHS launches Pandemic Influenza Plan
December 2005 – Passage of the Public Readiness and Emergency Preparedness Act (PREP Act)
December 2005 – First state summit in MN
January 2006 – RFI issued on increasing egg-based vaccine capacity
January 2006 – 6 State summits in AZ, VT, WV, RI, GA, KY
January 2006 – RFI issued on advanced development of promising antivirals
January 2006 – Release of individuals and families, faith-based and community organizations, and school districts (K-12) checklists
February 2006 – State summits in CT, IA,A, FL, OH, NV, DE, AL, MO, NE, MD
February 2006 – Laboratory assay for diagnostic testing of avian influenza A/H5 approved
March 2006 – Releases of medical offices and clinics, home health care, child care and preschool, and colleges and universities checklists
March 2006 – Pandemic flu supplemental guidance sent to States
March 2006 – 19 state summits in SC, SD, ND, WY, WI, PA, IL, NC, VA, IN, PR, CO, UT, ID, TX, NM, OR, CA, and the Virgin Islands
March 2006 – RFP issued for advanced development of antigen-sparing technologies
March 2006 – FDA approves Relenza for the prevention of Influenza A and B in adults and children
March 2006 – States receive initial grant funding for pandemic preparedness
March 2006 – Order of 16.2 million courses of Tamiflu and 3.9 million courses of Relenza
April 2006 – State summits in TN, AK, WA, HI, LA, MI and the District of Columbia
April 2006 – FDA issues guidance for industry on diagnostic devices to detect influenza A viruses
May 2006 – Homeland Security Council releases National Strategy for Pandemic Influenza: Implementation Plan
May 2006 – HHS awards contracts totaling more than $1 billion to develop cell-based influenza vaccine
May 2006 – Department of State establishes Avian Influenza Action Group to coordinate U.S. international effort
May 2006 – Release of long-term care and other residential checklist
May 2006 – 7 State summits in MS, OK, NJ, KS, NH, MT and tribal leaders
June 2006 – CDC issues updated interim guidance for laboratory testing of persons with suspected infection with avian influenza A (H5N1) virus in the United States
June 2006 – Congress passes $2.3 billion funding for pandemic preparedness
July 2006 – Summits in AK and New York City
July 2006 – HHS allocates $170 million to subsidize State purchase of antiviral drugs
August 2006 – State summit in NY
September 2006 – FDA issues guidance to industry for development of cell-based viral vaccines
October 2006 – Guidance on use of surgical masks and respirators in health care settings released
November 2006 – HHS awards $199 million to manufacturers for 5.3 million doses of H5N1 vaccine
December 2006 – NIH begins human clinical trials of DNA-based H5N1 vaccine
January 2007 – HHS awards $132.5 million to develop H5N1 adjuvanted influenza vaccines
January 2007 – HHS awards $102.6 million for advanced development of new influenza antiviral drug, peramivir
January 2007 – U.S. businesses with overseas operations checklist released
February 2007 – HHS launches pandemic flu public service announcements
February 2007 – CDC releases community mitigation guidance
February 2007 – 2,250 human and avian influenza virus genomes completed and publicly accessible
March 2007 – Health insurers planning checklist released
April 2007 – FDA approves first U.S. H5N1 human influenza vaccine
April 2007 – 12 million doses of human H5N1 vaccine added to Strategic National Stockpile
April 2007 – Travel industry planning checklist released
April 2007 – NIH awards $161 million to expand surveillance and bolster research
May 2007 – HHS issues interim guidance on community (nonwork) use of facemasks
May 2007 – FDA clears first respirators for public health emergencies
May 2007 – New online training course released for State and local public health responders
June 2007 – Two contracts awarded to expand domestic vaccine manufacturing capacity
June 2007 – Pandemic Flu Leadership Forum
July 2007 – HHS announces $896.7 million in funding to states for public health preparedness and emergency response
July 2007 – Homeland Security issues one-year summary on the National Strategy Implementation Plan
August 2007 – North American plan for avian and pandemic influenza released
August 2007 – $75 million released to states to strengthen pandemic response capacity
September 2007 – Planning checklists released for law enforcement and correctional facilities
December 2007 – 8 suspected human cases of H5N1 in Pakistan
December 2007 – Myanmar confirms first human H5N1 infection
December 2007 – 3-day web dialogue on vaccine allocation
December 2007 – first human case confirmed in Pakistan
December 2007 – HHS launches “The Great Pandemic” historical overview of 1918 pandemic
December 2007 – HHS launches “Take the Lead: Working Together to Prepare Now” campaign
February 2008 – EU FDA-counterpart gives preliminary approval to pre-pandemic vaccine
March 2008 – HHS holds first of 3 state pandemic planning webinars

HHS Secretary Michael O. Leavitt’s report on Influenza on March 17, 2008 stressed the need for global cooperation. His words: "The Federal government cannot mount an effective response to the threats that we face as a nation without partners at every level of government and througout society." He also reminded us that bird flu is still around with this comment: "The media buzz has died down, but the ‘bird flu’ virus has not. Avian influenza is still highly pathogenic, inflicting a heavy toll on domestic and wild bird populations in Asia, Europe, and Africa and, from time to time, infecting humans. To date, some 370 people have contracted the disease, largely through exposure to sick or dead birds; 235 of them have died. We don’t know if the H5N1 virus will spark the next pandemic, but we know that it’s just a matter of time before something does."

For a full reading of the Pandemic Planning Update, go to: http://www.pandemicflu.gov/plan/panflureport5.html.