Rhiza Labs FluTracker Forum

Media in Mexico is beginning to mention genetic changes

"Well I think that the outbreak of epidemic type we had in 2009 left us much (...), the principal is not to be complacent, because this is a condition of acquiring epidemiological impact levels may have a rapid evolution. "

http://dk1250.com/local/30272-increment ... exico.html

Hiigh frequency of severe and fatal cases:

The official reported that 17 of these cases have tested positive for H1N1 influenza virus, 9 of which have occurred in Ciudad Juárez and 8 more in the city of Chihuahua, while 21 cases tested negative.

As a result cases are 17 pending cases that are being analyzed while in 25 cases it has not taken the sample must be sent to the laboratory.

Of the 80 total cases these belong to 38 women and 42 men, 4 are in people 15 to 24 years of age, 8 of 25 to 44 years and 5 cases of people aged 45 to 64 years of age.

http://translate.google.com/translate?h ... rmd%3Divns

Clustering of severe and fatal cases at traffic station:

Corners, head of the Sanitary District, announced that it raised the rate of people with human influenza virus H1N1 positive nine people, including also became known unofficially as 3 elements of the Municipal Traffic Division are hospitalized due to be infected the virus, while it was mentioned that one of them is in intensive care fighting for his life.

It should be noted that the information unofficially, he explained that the three elements, besides the two who lost their lives, are assigned to East Station.

http://www.oem.com.mx/elmexicano/notas/n2024991.htm

I've been pouring over the isolates data from State websites since the beginning of the year. I have noticed that in some states, mostly on the east coast, a certain percentage of samples have been identified as pH1N1 and that it has been co-circulating with Flu B and H3N2 since early in the season. In these states, severe cases and deaths have been low. Even in North Carolina, where they had a number of deaths (an unusually high number of pediatric deaths), many of those deaths were attributed to Flu B and H3N2. Some deaths were attributed to pH1N1 and, based on the isolates data, it was the dominant strain; however, they have experienced the classic peak and flu season appears to be over there, just like in Mexico. I suspect that the strain circulating in NC is closer to A/California/7/2009.

Also, although Ontario had a bad flu season (with over 175 fatalities), when you look at the age range of fatalities, it has a seasonal flu signature - high on the ends and low in the middle. Then, if you look at the isolates data, Ontario has had very little pH1N1.

There have been some anomalies, though. We've been discussing the outbreak in the Pittsburg area (and Pennsylvania still hasn't posted Week 12 results). There have also been 20 fatalities each in LA and San Diego Counties. Furthermore, Texas has reported the highest number of pediatric deaths this season (13), which is nearly one-third the total they experienced in the 2009-10 season (47). From April 2009 through August 2010 they had, by far, the largest number of pediatric deaths per capita (54 deaths, or 2.1 deaths per million); only second behind California (57) in the actual number of pediatric deaths. So, based solely on the number of pediatric deaths and the fact that most (9 deaths) occurred recently (in Weeks 7 through 10), we should suspect that something is up in Texas.

Spread to El Salvador:

The Deputy Minister for Health Policy, Eduardo Espinoza, today confirmed a third case of H1N1 flu.
"Indeed, it was reported the third case. Antiguo Cuscatlan and is consulted at the Department of Health Barrios is a female person, 36 years, "explained Evans.
The first reported case this year was a minor (3 years), treated at the Hospital Bloom, while in the second, reported last week, it was a woman of 43 years.

http://www.laprensagrafica.com/el-salva ... -pais.html

Rumor has it that the new sub-clade frequently is influenza A positive but negative for H1 and H3 (as was seen in 2009) because the H1 has evolved away from the H1 probe.

where have you seen/heard this?