Information on Influenza A (H1N1)

Links:
Influenza Pandemic H1N1 Vietnam Virus Clearance
Influenza Pandemic H1N1 Vietnam Patient Data Update
Influenza Pandemic H1N1 Vietnam Patient Data

NIAID: Immune System of Healthy Adults May Be Better Prepared Than Expected to Fight 2009 H1N1 Influenza Virus

The World Health Organization (WHO) raised the pandemic Alert Level on June 11, 2009 to Phase 6 in response to the Influenza A (H1N1). 

Please see the following web site for further guidance and information: http://www.who.int/csr/disease/avian_influenza/phase/en/index.html
http://www.who.int/csr/resources/publications/swineflu/clinical_management_h1n1.pdf

For further information on the situation in your country please consult your national authorities.

In response to the increasing number of Influenza A (H1N1) cases:

1:  The Laboratory Committee of SEAICRN has discussed diagnostic issues regarding swine flu.  The rapid antigen test (e.g. QuickVue) may be positive for Influenza A, but will not give information on subtype and whether it is swine flu. More importantly, a negative QuickVue test does not rule out the diagnosis of swine flu. The RT-PCR will only be positive for influenza A, but all subtype-specific PCRs will be negative, including H1. Therefore, an untypeable influenza A result is suspect for swine flu. RT-PCR reagents specific for swine flu H1N1 are being designed and these will be distributed to all SEAICRN sites as soon as these are available. Laboratories are asked to order adequate supplies as they may be overwhelmed.

* Note: The test(s) should be performed according to the most currently available guidance on testing. Please see following the links for specific H1N1 tests recommendations: 

• http://www.who.int/csr/disease/swineflu/guidance/health_professionals/en/index.html
• http://www.who.int/csr/disease/swineflu/swineflu_guidance_labs_20090427.pdf
• http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/guidance/
• http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/specimencollection.htm
• http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/guidance/rapid_testing.htm
• http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/tissuesubmission.htm 

2:  Advice from WHO and National Ministries of Health should be followed including use of oseltamivir, face masks and other prophylactic and treatment measures. Useful sites for workplace protection include http://www.cdc.gov/swineflu/guidelines_labworkers.htm for lab staff and http://www.cdc.gov/swineflu/guidelines_infection_control.htm for clinical teams.

3:  Patients with Influenza A  (H1N1) would be eligible for the SEA001 study and enrollment should be encouraged.  Influenza A (H1N1) is currently sensitive to oseltamivir and zanamivir but resistant to M2 inhibitors.

Read More:

• Protocol for Antiviral Susceptibility Testing by Pyrosequencing 
• Sequencing Primers and Protocol
• CDC Protocol of Realtime RTPCR for Swine Influenza A (H1N1)
• Interim Recommendations for Facemask and Respirator