Swine Flu News

[maroo]

Yes. There is a mutation. They actually found this out about a week ago (or course, the CDC and WHO learned of it way before that). This mutation is on the same part of the virus as the mutation that was present in 1918.

But...they don't know the significance of the mutation yet. And the vaccine still works.

I, for one, am going to make sure - as soon as it is available - that I get it. I was sort of wavering...since I have access to Tamiflu readily and thought I had H1N1 earlier this year. We had several reports here of teenagers getting H1N1 symptoms and testing + for the flu - twice. Which is disconcerting.

So...if you are on the fence about getting the vaccine...I hope the mutation will convince a few that it is a good idea. You would avoid catching the mutated form.

From what I understand the mutation allows the flu to bind in cells in the lower part of the lungs (most flu attacks the upper respiratory system and does not go deep in the lungs). But a link has not been established to a higher fatality. The four cases in the Ukraine with the mutation, though, those people all died and many in the Ukraine had the type of flu where the lungs are destroyed.

It sounded a lot like what happened to Kyree earlier (the young child that died - we had a thread about this child and prayed for him for days)...There were "holes" in his lungs, which sounds a lot like what this virus is looking like with the mutation.

 

[NikitaZee]

I too will be getting the vaccine as soon as it's available. I had confirmed H1N1 earlier this month, but my doctor advised me to still go ahead and get the vaccine, and I will. My kids had the virus as well - a little over a week after they got their first dose of vaccine. Their cases were mild, including my 8 year old who has asthma. My case had complications - secondary bronchitis - and I have asthma as well. We all took tamiflu, and for me personally it made a world of difference in how I felt. I hope this virus doesn't get any more virulent than it already is.

 

[Tinijocaro]

The situation in the Ukraine has been on the internet for over a month, but only recently hit mainstream tv news. There have been 400 deaths in the Ukraine in one month. It is being called a hemorragic (sp) pneumonia even though it isn't really a pneumonia. As a pp said, lungs become spongy, and heavy and filled with blood-all but destroyed. Same thing is rumored to be happening in Iowa, although I haven't seen it on mainstream news yet.

My opinion: This thing is heating up.

 

[Wonderlandmom]

My kids had the virus as well - a little over a week after they got their first dose of vaccine. We all took tamiflu, and for me personally it made a world of difference in how I felt.

If any of your kids had the nasal spray vaccine and took tamiflu within 2 weeks following, it may void the vaccine.
http://www.tamiflu.com/hcp/dosing/default.aspx

The concurrent use of TAMIFLU and live attenuated influenza vaccine (LAIV) intranasal has not been evaluated. However, due to the possibility for interference between these products, LAIV should not be given within 2 weeks before or 48 hours after taking TAMIFLU, unless it is deemed appropriate by your doctor. Trivalent inactivated influenza vaccine can be administered at any time relative to use of TAMIFLU.

I wonder when we will hear more about the mutation? Glad the shot is still working for it though.

 

[Bluestars]

Hearing about the mutation just confirms to me that our family made the right choice by getting the vaccine. We had no negative reactions to the vaccine and if it helps us at all when we are exposed to the virus, then it was worth it.

 

[CJMickeyMouse]

Same thing is rumored to be happening in Iowa, although I haven't seen it on mainstream news yet.

Really? Iowa? Hmmm.... I have not heard anything on that here in Iowa. Confirmed H1N1 went through our community before the vaccines were available.

 

[AlexWyattMommy]

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), same mutation had been found in other countries including Brazil, Japan, Mexico, Ukraine and the United States.
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2009-11/26/content_12539917.htm

http://www.wkyc.com/news/news_article.aspx?storyid=125928
CLEVELAND [OH] -- Could there be a new strain of H1N1? That's what health officials are investigating after a few cases seem to be resistant to the treatment drug, Tamiflu.

It was discovered that a few patients at Duke University Medical Centers...

http://jama.ama-assn.org/cgi/content/extract/302/20/2197
Oseltamivir-Resistant 2009 Pandemic Influenza A (H1N1) Virus Infection in Two Summer Campers Receiving Prophylaxis—North Carolina, 2009

http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/h...f-swine-flu-at-welsh-hospital-91466-25260880/
The rise in the death toll - there have been 24 swine flu-related deaths in Wales - follows an announcement that a sixth person being treated at the University Hospital of Wales, in Cardiff, has tested positive for Tamiflu-resistant swine flu.

 

[maroo]

We are talking about 2 separate mutations.

One is resistance to Tamiflu - which is a problem, if we can't treat with Tamiflu, then we have one less drug to use to fight it.

The other is D225G - which is a whole different mutation. I don't think that one has been found in Iowa, as far as I know. The D225G mutation is the one that causes the virus to be able to adhere to the bottom of the lungs and it causes lung deterioration.

D225G was also a contributing mutation in the second wave of the 1918 flu, which became much more severe.

 

[NikitaZee]

If any of your kids had the nasal spray vaccine and took tamiflu within 2 weeks following, it may void the vaccine.
http://www.tamiflu.com/hcp/dosing/default.aspx



I wonder when we will hear more about the mutation? Glad the shot is still working for it though.

They started their Tamiflu 16 days after the vaccine. They can get their 2nd dosed after Nov 30th - because they also had to wait 2 weeks after finishing tamiflu for the 2nd dose.

 

[Wonderlandmom]

They started their Tamiflu 16 days after the vaccine. They can get their 2nd dosed after Nov 30th - because they also had to wait 2 weeks after finishing tamiflu for the 2nd dose.

You only have to wait 2 days (48 hours) after finishing Tamiflu according to what I quoted from the Tamiflu site. I think the CDC has the same info.

 

[luvwinnie]

The mutation sounds worrisome. I finally located an H1N1 vaccine clinic on this coming Tues. Hope the lines aren't too bad.

 

[Pennykay]

Unfortunately, it looks like the vaccine may not protect against the mutated virus.

H1N1 virus mutation means no protection - swine flu vaccine ineffective against Ukraine flu outbreak
November 27, 8:35 AMLA Health Technology Examiner Victoria Nic

H1N1 vaccine may not help if swine flu mutation spreads

One sample of the Ukraine flu virus has been classed as a low reactor to the H1N1 vaccine. If this mutation spreads, it could result in infection for people who have been vaccinated against the swine flu. Other mutations that have been identified include Tamiflu resistance and complete destruction of the lungs.

Virus mutation and reaction to flu vaccines

Vaccines are created to respond to each different type of virus, and must be adapted if the virus changes too much from the original. Influenza viruses are highly susceptible to mutation, which explains the requirement for a new seasonal flu vaccine each year. When a vaccine provides a strong immune response to a virus, that virus is considered to be a high reactor to the vaccine. In the event that the virus mutates to the point where the vaccine provides a limited or nonexistent level of protection, it is considered a low reactor.


H1N1 mutation and the swine flu vaccine


The samples of the Ukraine flu virus that were analyzed by the World Health Organization provide a great deal of information about the mutations found in this strain of the swine flu. For example, each of the samples from fatalities contained a change in the receptor binding domain for the virus to D225G, which affects the lungs. In addition, one sample has been classed as a low reactor, which means that if that strain of virus were to spread, individuals who have been vaccinated would not be protected.

 

[NikitaZee]

You only have to wait 2 days (48 hours) after finishing Tamiflu according to what I quoted from the Tamiflu site. I think the CDC has the same info.

Yes you are right - I just looked at the insert inside the Tamiflu box and it says exactly that.

 

[kidshop]

Unfortunately, it looks like the vaccine may not protect against the mutated virus.

H1N1 virus mutation means no protection - swine flu vaccine ineffective against Ukraine flu outbreak
November 27, 8:35 AMLA Health Technology Examiner Victoria Nic

H1N1 vaccine may not help if swine flu mutation spreads

One sample of the Ukraine flu virus has been classed as a low reactor to the H1N1 vaccine. If this mutation spreads, it could result in infection for people who have been vaccinated against the swine flu. Other mutations that have been identified include Tamiflu resistance and complete destruction of the lungs.

Virus mutation and reaction to flu vaccines

Vaccines are created to respond to each different type of virus, and must be adapted if the virus changes too much from the original. Influenza viruses are highly susceptible to mutation, which explains the requirement for a new seasonal flu vaccine each year. When a vaccine provides a strong immune response to a virus, that virus is considered to be a high reactor to the vaccine. In the event that the virus mutates to the point where the vaccine provides a limited or nonexistent level of protection, it is considered a low reactor.


H1N1 mutation and the swine flu vaccine


The samples of the Ukraine flu virus that were analyzed by the World Health Organization provide a great deal of information about the mutations found in this strain of the swine flu. For example, each of the samples from fatalities contained a change in the receptor binding domain for the virus to D225G, which affects the lungs. In addition, one sample has been classed as a low reactor, which means that if that strain of virus were to spread, individuals who have been vaccinated would not be protected.

If the mutation has the ability to spread easily, they'll have to develop a new vaccine. What else is there to do? Well, we're all going to die of something....just keep washing your hands and stay home when sick and we'll hope for the best.

 

[LuvOrlando]

Unfortunately, it looks like the vaccine may not protect against the mutated virus.

H1N1 virus mutation means no protection - swine flu vaccine ineffective against Ukraine flu outbreak
November 27, 8:35 AMLA Health Technology Examiner Victoria Nic

H1N1 vaccine may not help if swine flu mutation spreads

One sample of the Ukraine flu virus has been classed as a low reactor to the H1N1 vaccine. If this mutation spreads, it could result in infection for people who have been vaccinated against the swine flu. Other mutations that have been identified include Tamiflu resistance and complete destruction of the lungs.

Virus mutation and reaction to flu vaccines

Vaccines are created to respond to each different type of virus, and must be adapted if the virus changes too much from the original. Influenza viruses are highly susceptible to mutation, which explains the requirement for a new seasonal flu vaccine each year. When a vaccine provides a strong immune response to a virus, that virus is considered to be a high reactor to the vaccine. In the event that the virus mutates to the point where the vaccine provides a limited or nonexistent level of protection, it is considered a low reactor.


H1N1 mutation and the swine flu vaccine


The samples of the Ukraine flu virus that were analyzed by the World Health Organization provide a great deal of information about the mutations found in this strain of the swine flu. For example, each of the samples from fatalities contained a change in the receptor binding domain for the virus to D225G, which affects the lungs. In addition, one sample has been classed as a low reactor, which means that if that strain of virus were to spread, individuals who have been vaccinated would not be protected.

Oh No! My DD10 just came home Monday from a week long stay in the hospital that started with H1N1 diagnosis on the 13th. My heart can't handle a repeat with her or my DS11... she was so weak and so very lucky.

Most of the population isn't even inoculated against the variants floating around now. We already know these new Flu's don't slow down with the heat so we can't count on a spring/summer breather to catch up with new vaccine formulations and even if we had the time to catch up, aren't all the vaccine facilities already busy with the original Novel H1N1? This is so not good

 

[EMom]

I have asthma and would be more than happy to get a second shot if only they would let us know if it's needed. But I think they will keep mum. Why? Well, if many people can't even get their hands on the FIRST shot, can you imagine the outrage and panic if they announced asthmatics needed two shots instead of the one shot most of them can't even locate?

 

[Pennykay]

Looks like vaccines containing adjuvents will be approved for use in the US soon.


Press Release:

Novartis inaugurates large-scale US based cell-culture influenza vaccine manufacturing facility

Posted by marin2008
Saturday, 28 November 2009
http://pr-canada.net/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=147233&Itemid=61

* Total investment of nearly USD 1 billion through a partnership between Novartis and the US Department of Health and Human Services

* Inauguration marks important milestone in using modern biotechnologies for flu vaccine production to replace the 50 year-old egg-based process

* Facility designed to supply 150 million doses of pandemic vaccine within 6 months of influenza pandemic declaration; facility ready to respond to a pandemic as early as 2011 if licensed in an emergency

Basel - Today, Novartis officially inaugurated the US’s first ever large-scale flu cell culture vaccine and adjuvant manufacturing facility in Holly Springs, North Carolina. The facility is a result of a partnership between Novartis and the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). It is the first of its kind in the United States and highlights an important milestone in efforts to improve influenza vaccine manufacturing technology in the US and enhance domestic pandemic preparedness.

"We are proud to be one of the first companies to bring influenza cell culture as well as adjuvant technology to the United States" said Daniel Vasella, CEO and Chairman of Novartis. "We have seen a great need to invest into new technologies for flu vaccines that will allow for quicker and more reliable production capacity. We are pleased to be working closely with the US government to build a world-class, state of the art manufacturing facility in the US that will change the way we manufacture influenza vaccines in the future"

The total investment in the facility is nearly USD 1 billion, through a partnership between Novartis and HHS to support the design, construction, validation and licensing of the manufacturing facility in Holly Springs.

The operations at this facility will use modern, cell culture-based manufacturing technology. Cell culture-based production operations are cleaner, can be scaled up more quickly to respond to a pandemic and do not rely on eggs for rapid response to a pandemic. Cell culture technology for influenza vaccines is not yet approved in the US, however part of the HHS contract support for Holly Springs includes funding for the development of a flu cell culture vaccine. If licensed in an emergency, the facility will be ready to respond to a pandemic as early as 2011. The plant is planned to be running at full scale commercial production in 2013.

Novartis already operates a cell culture-based manufacturing plant in Marburg, Germany. It is licensed to produce a seasonal cell culture-based influenza vaccine, Optaflu®, which is approved in all 27 member states of the European Union as well as in Iceland and Norway. It currently produces Celtura®, a H1N1 pandemic vaccine licensed in Germany and Switzerland.

The Novartis Holly Springs facility can also start producing MF59®, the Novartis proprietary adjuvant, as early as December 2009. Although not yet approved in the US, studies with adjuvants are currently underway in the US. Results of the most recent clinical trials conducted with the Novartis MF59 adjuvanted cell culture-based vaccine have shown that it is possible to induce protective antibody levels against A(H1N1) infection within two weeks of administration of a single low-dose adjuvanted vaccine. MF59 has also been shown to provide cross-protection across similar strains of a H5N1 virus, which is an additional important element for a pre-pandemic vaccine given that mutations are a common feature of emerging influenza strains.

As part of its partnership with HHS, Novartis is responsible for, among other things, pre-construction document development, land use and zoning, construction, commissioning, validation and licensing of the facilities with the goals of regulatory licensure, manufacture and release of seasonal and pre-pandemic vaccine, as well as provision for pandemic vaccine supply in the event of a pandemic or other vaccines or biologicals in the event of an emergency for an emerging infectious disease. The partnership also requires Novartis to provide two commercial-scale annual lots of pre-pandemic vaccine for a minimum of three years. In addition, HHS has the right to exercise options to purchase additional influenza vaccine over 17 years.

About MF59®

Novartis proprietary MF59 adjuvant has an established safety profile, supported by more than 12 years of clinical safety data and more than 45 million doses of commercial use in Europe. The adjuvant has been studied in clinical trials involving more than 33,000 people, including children, and has been licensed for use in people 65 years of age and over in the seasonal influenza vaccine Fluad® since 1997 in the European Union. Novartis also produces two A(H1N1) vaccines, Focetria® and Celtura, which contain MF59 and are available outside the US. Currently, there are no approved vaccines in the United States that contain MF59.

 

[LuvOrlando]

Yes. There is a mutation. They actually found this out about a week ago (or course, the CDC and WHO learned of it way before that). This mutation is on the same part of the virus as the mutation that was present in 1918.

But...they don't know the significance of the mutation yet. And the vaccine still works.

------------

From what I understand the mutation allows the flu to bind in cells in the lower part of the lungs (most flu attacks the upper respiratory system and does not go deep in the lungs). But a link has not been established to a higher fatality. The four cases in the Ukraine with the mutation, though, those people all died and many in the Ukraine had the type of flu where the lungs are destroyed.

It sounded a lot like what happened to Kyree earlier (the young child that died - we had a thread about this child and prayed for him for days)...There were "holes" in his lungs, which sounds a lot like what this virus is looking like with the mutation.

This line of news has me worried for my DD's continued recovery, what if she had the mutated form? The lung infection she had and gunk in there still is sitting at the base of her lungs. I saw it with my own 2 eyes when they explained the lung x-ray to me. Her lungs were clear 4:00 Friday. By Monday the right was moderate with about 1/3-1/3 filled and the left was about 1/4 filled with part fluid, part ? Also, we live in the Lehigh Valley which is only an hour via highway from where little Kyree and his family are. Her antibiotics stop tomorrow... I hope there isn't permanent damage. I'm going to fight for a follow up x-ray soon... they never did a Ct scan so no-one knows what her lungs really look like.

Why on earth isn't the medical community digging deeper to type out these infections? But come to think of it, she was at a teaching hospital and I signed a release for testing. Could it be that testing is being done and parents aren't being informed?

 

[ClareH37]

Just thought I'd post another 'take' on this so called mutation:

"Tests on swine flu samples from the Ukraine have shown no significant mutation of the virus, according to The World Health Organization (WHO).

The global body sent an expert team to the country last week after reports of an unusual flu outbreak.

It has now said that preliminary genetic sequencing at laboratories in Britain and the US showed that the virus in Ukraine was similar to that used for production of the pandemic flu vaccine.

The Ukrainian Health Ministry has registered some 1.4 million cases of flu and respiratory illness since the start of the swine flu outbreak.

WHO says most cases are likely swine flu and that the infection rate is in line with neighbouring countries such as Russia and Poland."

 

[Tinijocaro]

Just thought I'd post another 'take' on this so called mutation:

"Tests on swine flu samples from the Ukraine have shown no significant mutation of the virus, according to The World Health Organization (WHO).

The global body sent an expert team to the country last week after reports of an unusual flu outbreak.

It has now said that preliminary genetic sequencing at laboratories in Britain and the US showed that the virus in Ukraine was similar to that used for production of the pandemic flu vaccine.

The Ukrainian Health Ministry has registered some 1.4 million cases of flu and respiratory illness since the start of the swine flu outbreak.

WHO says most cases are likely swine flu and that the infection rate is in line with neighbouring countries such as Russia and Poland."

Thanks for the take-you must read it very carefully though. It doesn't take a significant mutation for it to change significantly. When they put out these press releases, they choose their words VERY carefully. The fact that the virus in the Ukraine is only similar to Britain and US's virus is telling. The same would mean no mutation, similar means there is some mutation. They aren't the same and it doesn't take a significant change to really mess up a virus.