tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3492197469143963742.post2629819625986318940..comments2023-06-13T04:45:22.434-04:00Comments on Infection Landscapes: InfluenzaMichael Walshhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05038031388622939797noreply@blogger.comBlogger41125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3492197469143963742.post-32564542741765039852016-04-22T18:59:48.188-04:002016-04-22T18:59:48.188-04:00The point that healthcare workers must receive the...The point that healthcare workers must receive the flu vaccine is a good point, Liz. Since the virus succumbs to both antigenic drift and shift (with the former being an important factor in the annual outbreaks), it is necessary that these workers receive the vaccine when around a vulnerable population (i.e. those in the hospital). Jamie Blackhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00489504049388888566noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3492197469143963742.post-66947213980715178792016-03-04T16:38:42.721-05:002016-03-04T16:38:42.721-05:00Thank you for that point about cardiac events, Kat...Thank you for that point about cardiac events, Kataryna. Every year I inevitably end up "discussing" with my aunt the importance of the flu vaccine is, yet she always refers to that "one time she got the shot and got sick from it." Even though I try explaining to her that she most likely already "sick" with another type of pathogen, she is still very hesitant to receive the vaccine. <br /><br />Now I can prevent her with the fact that vaccination was associated with lower rates of some cardiac events among people with heart disease, especially among those who had had a cardiac event in the past year -- since she herself has heart problems.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13872756155519670878noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3492197469143963742.post-18560552884070619602016-03-04T15:54:52.259-05:002016-03-04T15:54:52.259-05:00Great proposal Jessica! Fortunately, there are rec...Great proposal Jessica! Fortunately, there are recent programs out there that primarily focus on specific patterns of influenza strains around the world on a genetic level. One worth highlighting is The World Health Organization Global Influenza Surveillance Network, which has collected information on the migratory patterns and specific location of the different strains, developed an "antigenic map" to visually depict the dynamics between all the virus strains. <br /><br />http://www.sciencemag.org/cgi/content/full/320/5874/340; https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/05/080519165939.htmAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16157810367833073275noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3492197469143963742.post-64293780257338843042016-03-03T22:23:21.142-05:002016-03-03T22:23:21.142-05:00I found the CDC weekly reports very interesting - ...I found the CDC weekly reports very interesting - I did not realize how much information was collected and available for the public! <br />I was unable to find data about associations to poverty census tract for this week. Nevertheless, I found Edith's thoughts on the causes of disparity to be wise. Also, I did find that nearly 92% of adult hospitalizations for flu were in patients with at least one underlying medical condition. (http://www.cdc.gov/flu/weekly/index.htm#S6) <br />In addition, I looked at the FluView map on the website (http://gis.cdc.gov/grasp/fluview/main.html). The states with the highest ILI and flu activity were predominantly in the southeastern US, which makes me even more curious about the question I asked in class: do regional differences in humidity affect a population's susceptibility to respiratory infections?Jessica Vancehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08724796819166292189noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3492197469143963742.post-47297447534270037962016-02-26T16:23:01.232-05:002016-02-26T16:23:01.232-05:00I always knew that influenza strains changed from ...I always knew that influenza strains changed from year to year, and the vaccine had to be adjusted accordingly, and ahead of time. However, now that I have a better understanding of antigenic drift and antigenic shift, I can see how difficult this process could be. It was mentioned that the 2009 H1N1 epidemic was not as deathly as expected, perhaps due to improved outcomes for people over 65. I wonder if the atypical pattern could have been due to improved or better-than-expected vaccine development and strain prediction, as well as improved vaccine coverage in that population.<br />Also, I wonder if there have been any recent programs to track patterns in influenza strains using modern technology in genetics. Given the significance of this disease around the world, it could be a worthy cause. Jessica Vancehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08724796819166292189noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3492197469143963742.post-31757129742881976012016-02-12T13:17:12.898-05:002016-02-12T13:17:12.898-05:00It seems like a good outcome for the CDC to produc...It seems like a good outcome for the CDC to produce more timely data but for Google not to publish data that could be misleading and a course for panic. This week the CDC has published data showing that the hospitalization rate for flu is twice as high in high poverty census tracts than inflow poverty census tracts. They only suggest reasons for this but likely some combination of low access to vaccination, overcrowded housing and poorer overall health which is exacerbated by flu infections. It is a good reminder about how viruses cause infections in humans but how the disease plays out can be determined by human factors.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07792996651771706535noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3492197469143963742.post-45162134323974474452016-02-05T10:05:25.830-05:002016-02-05T10:05:25.830-05:00"Pandemic influenza does not occur in a regul..."Pandemic influenza does not occur in a regular predictable pattern each year, but rather occurs only periodically over the course of decades and can be much more severe because all or a large proportion of the population is immunologically naive and clinically susceptible to the new emerging virus. "<br /><br />A not on this: The CDC currently publishes weekly influenza reports to track the disease and note for any outbreaks. However, going back a few years, they didn’t publish a report until they had collected data from across the country and were certain of an outbreak. This took several weeks to a month to happen and by that time the "flu season" was already well underway. Interestingly enough, Google created something called Google flu trends. Utilizing the questions people were searching they graphed out the increase in search for flu like symptoms. This helped predict the flue epidemic while it was happening. Many epidemiologists refuted Google’s Flu Trends because it was not based off actual influenza infections being reported. Google has since stopped this program and the CDC now issues weekly reports on the flu epidemic.<br /><br />Link to Google Flu Trends: https://www.google.org/flutrends/about/<br />Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16674259297324970989noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3492197469143963742.post-60450728345831114782015-12-03T23:01:35.759-05:002015-12-03T23:01:35.759-05:00Influenza is a viral disease that humans have had ...Influenza is a viral disease that humans have had to battle over the years because of its unique genetic makeup and the way that the viruses can mutate and become (re)infectious. Because of the potential harms the virus can cause, the government is keen on taking precautionary steps to prevent its spread before anything disastrous happens. One thing the government does right is the community level outreach for influenza vaccine vaccination every year. Over the years, access to these vaccines have also improved. In addition, as a response to outbreaks from earlier years, states have required health workers to receive influenza vaccines (or wear a mask) during contact with patients.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00094818324874815633noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3492197469143963742.post-83110584913423675102015-11-19T23:06:17.597-05:002015-11-19T23:06:17.597-05:00It's equally important to note that you'r...It's equally important to note that you're at higher risk when you're on the subway! Dirty poles and seats, coughing and sneezing everywhere. I've seen in other countries where hand sanitizers have been placed throughout public transportation facilities to combat the spread. Additionally subway advertising should include the myth buster that the flu shot makes you ill. This is critical to getting more people vaccinated.Roger Deohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03646437175858809536noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3492197469143963742.post-55320274979090718902015-10-23T15:58:22.084-04:002015-10-23T15:58:22.084-04:00As Stacy expressed, there are many interesting fac...As Stacy expressed, there are many interesting facts about the ecology of the influenza virus. It is amazing that it is the combination of hosts that keeps the antigenic shift alive, which was well depicted in the graphic on this blog. An annual epidemic known to contribute to 40,000 US deaths annually definitely puts the virus into a perspective that I have never appreciated before. For me, the missing link in the ecology is the period of time after the epidemic has resolved; after the human host has fought off the flu, via vaccine or with their own immune system; where does the event of the mutation of the virus occur if the host is no longer immunologically naive. Does the annual re-emergence of the human flu necessitate interaction with other hosts? Where is the epicenter of the replicating influenza virus? If this is knowable, could it lead to lead to ecological prevention efforts? <br />Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06851929241182903843noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3492197469143963742.post-9590127476985975532015-10-23T14:33:44.815-04:002015-10-23T14:33:44.815-04:00I know exactly what you mean about the misinformat...I know exactly what you mean about the misinformation often portrayed in the media, Stacy. It was informative to read that the bird subtype of flu that is "capable of infecting and causing severe disease in some humans, is not currently capable of causing a pandemic because it cannot be transmitted efficiently from person to person.'NBhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07062917683379409807noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3492197469143963742.post-80476749959624707072015-10-22T23:05:45.548-04:002015-10-22T23:05:45.548-04:00http://www.nytimes.com/2009/05/25/world/middleeast...http://www.nytimes.com/2009/05/25/world/middleeast/25oink.html?<br /><br />On May 2 2009 Egypt slaughtered 300,000 pig as a proactive measure in the swine flu scare. It was the only country in the world to order a mass pig slaughter in response to the disease despite no swine flu cases reported in the country! The move mirrored Egypt's battle with bird flu, in which the government killed 25 million birds within weeks in 2006....<br /><br />I don't know how to describe this other than how a weak government worrying that public fear over the disease may lead to it's fall. Not that this helped as it was toppled anyway by the 2011 revolution. <br /><br />The lesson thou is how politics greatly influence public health; in this case, a knee jerk reaction that has no effect on stopping an epidemic (that thankfully never materialized), causing the loss of livelihood of thousands of poor people and the loss of a food source in a country that can't afford either....<br />Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01959289654941672974noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3492197469143963742.post-37821486120760971852015-10-22T12:40:01.645-04:002015-10-22T12:40:01.645-04:00I assume that you mean the annual epidemics of inf...I assume that you mean the annual epidemics of influenza are due to antigenic drift? It's interesting that you bring up the connection between the common cold and influenza. Having a case of the flu can also make one susceptible to contracting a cold virus. This may add to the confusion between the common and cold and the flu since a person can have both viruses at the same time. It would be interesting to consider how antigenic drift of influenza may influence antigenic drift of the common cold. Because the flu may make one more susceptible to cold viruses (e.g. immunogenic response to common cold may be compromised due to the immune system still trying to deal with the flu), does the flu aid in the antigenic drift of cold viruses?Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01217677113061116551noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3492197469143963742.post-71004553210400188382015-10-02T11:02:52.503-04:002015-10-02T11:02:52.503-04:00This entry states that compared to other respirato...This entry states that compared to other respiratory infections the most common symptom for influenza is myalgia and headache. It is also mentioned that gastrointestinal symptoms are not common in adults but common in infants. I am interested in knowing the anatomy and specific details behind why myalgia and headache are common symptoms and why children get gastrointestinal symptoms but adults do not. I am also interested in the knowing more about the statement that the movement of the sun and the stars, depending on the season, was believed to have influenced influenza. Lastly, I learned that many RNA viruses exhibiting low fidelity and a high rate of mutation virus assembly and the genome of RNA virus being segmented contributes to the high rate of genetic change. This was helpful to understand the molecular biology of the virus.CassandraDhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11409445804775833571noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3492197469143963742.post-62346218818183093572015-07-23T22:29:41.010-04:002015-07-23T22:29:41.010-04:00I also found it interesting during this flu season...I also found it interesting during this flu season how MTA buses use announcements telling passengers how to prevent the spread of flu by proper covering techniques or just staying home. Its definitely a good idea to put these announcements in public transportation since that is where a lot of transmitting can occur. I also think it would be beneficial to include advertisements with images showing the ways to cover oneself if coughing or sneezing ( since a majority of people do not take advantage of using their elbow) or other ways to protect yourself such as proper hand washing techniques as well. It would be useful for visual learners as well as elderly, foreigners, or children who may not be able to hear or understand the announcements very well.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01059519769784241932noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3492197469143963742.post-47048056138934873112015-07-21T06:51:40.529-04:002015-07-21T06:51:40.529-04:00S.Wallace--There is no doubt that the influenza va...S.Wallace--There is no doubt that the influenza vaccine is a good prevention method. However, it does bug me that the chemistry of the vaccine every year is pretty much based on prediction. A prediction that failed last influenza season where there was a lot of talk of the 2014-2015 flu vaccine being widely ineffective. Of course, there is hope in the field one day for a universal flu vaccine that would address all strains and I think that would be the most effective form of prevention. However, it seems like a hefty task to pursue which I hope can be accomplished one day. Although the burden of disease is not as great in the U.S. or similar to other diseases, I was still quite shocked with regard to how many people are hospitalized and die in the United States in this day and age. Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09001868693815415856noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3492197469143963742.post-51407352457674056892015-07-15T13:06:24.004-04:002015-07-15T13:06:24.004-04:00One of the things that the blog speaks about indir...One of the things that the blog speaks about indirectly, is the huge miss conception most people have which is the notion that the common cold (which is mainly cause by the influenza virus) can be "caught" by prolonged exposure to cold weather such as rain or winter conditions. But base on the information provided we realize that the viruses that cause the common colds regardless of the time of year, geography, or climate, epidemic influenza occurs because of antigenic drift, the slow incremental changes that accrue in the viral genome by way of mutation.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3492197469143963742.post-78935068201967207932015-07-14T21:00:35.652-04:002015-07-14T21:00:35.652-04:00I find it interesting that it was initially believ...I find it interesting that it was initially believed that the movement of the sun and stars made influenza occur. I also found it interesting that it is said that in between 10 and 30 years, most will have the antibodies involved with influenza A. When the "bird flu" was discussed, I did not know that the was rare that this strain can cause illness in humans and that it would never be able to cause a pandemic. I remember when the bird flu was all over the media. The misinformation being portrayed to the public made it seem as though this strain of the flu was capable of pandemic proportions. I also love the chart at the bottom depicting whether or not to get a flu shot. Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14690280907178466896noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3492197469143963742.post-29036714625415258452015-07-14T19:40:31.625-04:002015-07-14T19:40:31.625-04:00I have found influenza information very interestin...I have found influenza information very interesting and informative. Before reading information about influenza I could not believe that influenza viruses are able to mutate and because of their genetic mutations there are different influenza vaccines each year. I found two interesting facts about seasonal influenza vaccinations. The first interesting fact is that vaccinating pregnant women reduces their infants hospitalization by 92 percent and it is also proven to protect their babies up to six months after their birth. The second interesting fact is that seasonal influenza vaccination reduces cardiac events among people who have heart problems. Katarzyna Sulimahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07636683058715747638noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3492197469143963742.post-79807613088291610742015-07-10T11:04:13.401-04:002015-07-10T11:04:13.401-04:00Hi David,
I agree with you about picture #7: what ...Hi David,<br />I agree with you about picture #7: what a great image to help understand the transmission of this virus with which we have all had some sort of experience. I also really liked the video posted here, which Dr. Walsh showed in class (I watched it again here because it really helped me understand what was going on with actual infection with influenza.<br />Regarding HA and NA mutations as they relate to transmission between humans and animals, you may like the CDC's page about influenza transmission: http://www.cdc.gov/flu/about/viruses/transmission.htm#subtypes. The diagram at the bottom of the page is a pretty good reference, if you're interested.<br />BenAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14276267209239357477noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3492197469143963742.post-70108731488827142362014-10-31T16:36:08.706-04:002014-10-31T16:36:08.706-04:00During my undergraduate years in college I worked ...During my undergraduate years in college I worked in the infection control department of a community hospital in New Orleans organizing data on patients who contracted H1N1. Something important that was notated in the database was whether or not the patient had illnesses associated with the respiratory system, cardiac system, diabetes, obesity and overall all who were immuno-compromised. Stephen, I know you discuss how children and the eldery are more likely to develop H1N1 and I also think it is very important to look at those populations who are already experiencing other illnesses as high risk groups. Joanne Casarellanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3492197469143963742.post-28309947631084720442014-10-31T16:33:38.120-04:002014-10-31T16:33:38.120-04:00I was intrigued to find out recently that the New ...I was intrigued to find out recently that the New York City's MTA has started making announcements about covering ones mouth and nose when sneezing or to stay home if one has an elevated fever. I think such public health announcements are important and noteworthy especially in times when other flu like symptoms are on rise.tsechoedhenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16124123721555561941noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3492197469143963742.post-39617782642162177422014-10-18T03:26:57.344-04:002014-10-18T03:26:57.344-04:00Hi Hari,
I think it was good to explain the availa...Hi Hari,<br />I think it was good to explain the available vaccines for influenza and how they work ad for whom they should be given. Also it would be great to inform the public that vaccination does not cause influenza in-itself, and if someone took the vaccine and then got flu-like symptoms and signs that does not mean they had the flu or that the vaccine caused the symptoms/signs they had. since we are in the season for flu and flu-like infections, I wonder how it would be possible to differentiate between them and the Ebola symptoms and signs especially when there is a potential outbreak.Usama Wissanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3492197469143963742.post-43473963722921420122014-10-16T19:37:12.478-04:002014-10-16T19:37:12.478-04:00From the New H1N1 strain it seems children were hi...From the New H1N1 strain it seems children were higher at risk since H1N1 was a major cause of death in 1918, and thus people who were born before the mid 1950s were most likely exposed to this form of the flu. Which in turn serves as the elderly population in 2009. Secondly children are relatively inept with hygiene thus making them biological Peachtree dishes. The effective contact rate for children is usually much higher in most infectious diseases and thus the disease is spread easier, with that being said it is not that uncanny children were the main targets of the 2009 H1N1 epidemic. Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17588176884796223112noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3492197469143963742.post-10499402018084336432014-10-15T16:37:10.804-04:002014-10-15T16:37:10.804-04:00I received my inactivated influenza vaccination to...I received my inactivated influenza vaccination today. Vaccination is extremely important for particular subgroups in the population. Infants, children and the elderly are highly vulnerable to influenza virus and suffer from greater severity of symptoms. There are two FDA approved injectable forms of the influenza vaccine; inactivated influenza vaccine and the recombinant influenza vaccine known as Flublok. Inactivated influenza vaccine contains egg products. Individuals with egg-allergy, who are administered the egg-containing influenza vaccine often suffer a severe anaphylaxis reaction and death. Flublok contains hemagglutnin protein from three strains of the influenza virus. The recombinant form does not contain any Avidin or egg product (therefore can be administered in individuals with Avidin allergy) and is not a live vaccine (can be administed to immunocompromised patient). Hariprasad Raohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12186696543612891924noreply@blogger.com