Flu Activity Research Articles

Flu activity continues to rage on around the country

Flu activity continues to rage on around the country

Correlation of "Google Flu Trends" with Sentinel Surveillance Data for Influenza in 2009 in Japan

Google Flu Trends (http://www.google.org/flutrends/) (GFT) aggregates Google search data to estimate flu activity in 28 countries. This study explored the correlation of GFT with Japanese national sentinel surveillance data in 2009. We obtained GFT and national sentinel surveillance data for influenza in all 47 Japanese prefectures from 29 June- 31 Dec 2009. Pearson correlation coefficients were calculated between GFT and sentinel surveillance data in each prefecture. Multiple regression analysis was also used to determine associations between them. Correlation coefficients were greater than 0.9 between GFT and the sentinel surveillance data in Tokyo, Kanagawa, Aichi, Osaka, and Hyogo, which have relatively large populations. Peaks for GFT were 2 weeks earlier than sentinel surveillance in these prefectures. Multiple regressions showed that only Tokyo (r = 0.97; P < 0.01) was significantly associated with GFT. People's interest in influenza affects GFT data, which could reflect influenza spread in mega-cities such as Tokyo. Further development of technology to identify prefecture-wide epidemic patterns could offer more accurate information on influenza spread in Japan.

Integrating Silicon Nanowire Field Effect Transistor, Microfluidics and Air Sampling Techniques For Real-Time Monitoring Biological Aerosols

Numerous threats from biological aerosol exposures, such as those from H1N1 influenza, SARS, bird flu, and bioterrorism activities necessitate the development of a real-time bioaerosol sensing system, which however is a long-standing challenge in the field. Here, we developed a real-time monitoring system for airborne influenza H3N2 viruses by integrating electronically addressable silicon nanowire (SiNW) sensor devices, microfluidics and bioaerosol-to-hydrosol air sampling techniques. When airborne influenza H3N2 virus samples were collected and delivered to antibody-modified SiNW devices, discrete nanowire conductance changes were observed within seconds. In contrast, the conductance levels remained relatively unchanged when indoor air or clean air samples were delivered. A 10-fold increase in virus concentration was found to give rise to about 20-30% increase in the sensor response. The selectivity of the sensing device was successfully demonstrated using H1N1 viruses and house dust allergens. From the simulated aerosol release to the detection, we observed a time scale of 1-2 min. Quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) tests revealed that higher virus concentrations in the air samples generally corresponded to higher conductance levels in the SiNW devices. In addition, the display of detection data on remote platforms such as cell phone and computer was also successfully demonstrated with a wireless module. The work here is expected to lead to innovative methods for biological aerosol monitoring, and further improvements in each of the integrated elements could extend the system to real world applications.

The Use of Twitter to Track Levels of Disease Activity and Public Concern in the U.S. during the Influenza A H1N1 Pandemic

Twitter is a free social networking and micro-blogging service that enables its millions of users to send and read each other's “tweets,” or short, 140-character messages. The service has more than 190 million registered users and processes about 55 million tweets per day. Useful information about news and geopolitical events lies embedded in the Twitter stream, which embodies, in the aggregate, Twitter users' perspectives and reactions to current events. By virtue of sheer volume, content embedded in the Twitter stream may be useful for tracking or even forecasting behavior if it can be extracted in an efficient manner. In this study, we examine the use of information embedded in the Twitter stream to (1) track rapidly-evolving public sentiment with respect to H1N1 or swine flu, and (2) track and measure actual disease activity. We also show that Twitter can be used as a measure of public interest or concern about health-related events. Our results show that estimates of influenza-like illness derived from Twitter chatter accurately track reported disease levels.

Caracterización de la pandemia de gripe A H1N1 2009 en Navarra

To describe flu activity during the 2009-2010 pandemic in Navarre and compare it to previous seasons. An analysis was made of all flu cases reported in primary care and all the virological confirmations made in patients in primary care and in hospitals of Navarre between week 21 of 2009 and week 20 of 2010. Influenza A (H1N1) Virus 2009 was detected in Navarre between week 23 of 2009 and week 2 of 2010, a period when 39 medically diagnosed cases of flu syndrome per 1,000 inhabitants were registered. The epidemic threshold was surpassed in two periods, with a peak in July and a greater one in November. The greatest incidence was reached in children aged between 5 and 14 years (121 per thousand), followed by the group of under fives. There were 224 hospitalisations (36 per 100,000 inhabitants) with confirmation of Influenza A (H1N1) Virus 2009, 8% of whom required admission to intensive care units and there were four deaths (0.6 per 100,000 inhabitants). The rate of hospitalisation was greater amongst children under five (163 per 100,000 inhabitants), while the probability of referral to intensive care increased with age. In spite of not having a specific vaccine available until the season was very well advanced, Influenza A (H1N1)Virus 2009 produced a flu wave with similar levels to those of other seasons and its repercussion in hospitalisations and serious cases was moderate.

Gestational immune activation and Tsc2 haploinsufficiency cooperate to disrupt fetal survival and may perturb social behavior in adult mice

Approximately 40-50% of individuals affected by tuberous sclerosis (TSC) develop autism spectrum disorders (ASDs). One possible explanation for this partial penetrance is an interaction between TSC gene mutations and other risk factors such as gestational immune activation. In this study, we report the interactive effects of these two ASD risk factors in a mouse model of TSC. Combined, but not single, exposure had adverse effects on intrauterine survival. Additionally, provisional results suggest that these factors synergize to disrupt social approach behavior in adult mice. Moreover, studies in human populations are consistent with an interaction between high seasonal flu activity in late gestation and TSC mutations in ASD. Taken together, our studies raise the possibility of a gene × environment interaction between heterozygous TSC gene mutations and gestational immune activation in the pathogenesis of TSC-related ASD.

Gamma Regressive Individuals Control Charts for Influenza Activity

ABSTRACT Statistical process control has been considered along with generalized linear models of influenza activity. Different combinations of distribution and link assumptions have been formally compared in order to choose one that would seem theoretically appropriate. Specificity of gamma regression–based individuals control charts for influenza activity has been estimated and compared to begin answering the important question: What are reasonable expectations about errors associated with outbreak detection? Results include performance among gamma regression–based charts for laboratory data that is relatively near what one should expect from traditional process control. It is shown how more theoretically appropriate statistically quality control models of flu activity become increasingly specific and so useful in identifying non-seasonal outbreaks. And it is shared how this research is being applied in practice.

Epidemiologie – alle Jahre wieder?

The seasonal flu strikes every year with many different faces. Beside a common flu, influenza claims every year a high number of victims especially among the elderly. Despite an active surveillance of the flu activity and circulating viruses on a national and international level, the factors which determine the spread of the influenza virus remain unclear. Regarding the thread of a new pandemic, both, basic research and surveillance of influenza has been intensified to get a more detailed view on the activity and transmissibility of the influenza virus. This article describes the influenza surveillance schemes in Austria, Germany and especially Switzerland highlighting the differences between the three countries. In addition, the new mortality surveillance method used in Switzerland is presented.

Impact of flu on hospital admissions during 4 flu seasons in Spain, 2000–2004

BackgroundSeasonal flu epidemics in the European region cause high numbers of cases and deaths. Flu-associated mortality has been estimated but morbidity studies are necessary to understand the burden of disease in the population. Our objective was to estimate the excess hospital admissions in Spain of diseases associated with influenza during four epidemic influenza periods (2000 – 2004).MethodsHospital discharge registers containing pneumonia, chronic bronchitis, heart failure and flu from all public hospitals in Spain were reviewed for the years 2000 to 2004. Epidemic periods were defined by data from the Sentinel Surveillance System. Excess hospitalisations were calculated as the difference between the average number of weekly hospitalisations/100,000 in epidemic and non-epidemic periods. Flu epidemics were defined for seasons 2001/2002, 2002/2003, 2003/2004.ResultsA(H3N2) was the dominant circulating serotype in 2001/2002 and 2003/2004. Negligible excess hospitalisations were observed during the 2002/2003 epidemic where A(H1N1) was circulating. During 2000/2001, flu activity remained below threshold levels and therefore no epidemic period was defined. In two epidemic periods studied a delay between the peak of the influenza epidemic and the peak of hospitalisations was observed. During flu epidemics with A(H3N2), excess hospitalisations were higher in men and in persons <5 and >64 years higher than 10 per 100,000. Pneumonia accounted for 70% of all flu associated hospitalisations followed by chronic bronchitis. No excess flu-specific hospitalisations were recorded during all seasons.ConclusionFlu epidemics have an impact on hospital morbidity in Spain. Further studies that include other variables, such as temperature and humidity, are necessary and will deepen our understanding of the role of each factor during flu epidemics and their relation with morbidity.

Commodities Market Concepts Predict Flu Activity

Commodities Market Concepts Predict Flu Activity

Fighting off 'flu.

All manner of coughs, colds and sneezes are passed off as 'the 'flu' but anyone who has experienced the dreadful spirit-sapping incapacity of the true virus will know that those who proclaim to have it while remaining upright misunderstands its true nature. The aching limbs, the lethargy, the headaches - it's like being crushed by a barn door, while having a nose running like a tap and a cough to wake the dead. If you're young and fitish, you emerge from the experience a few days later weakened and washed out, but essentially alive. If you're an older person, however, or one whose immunity is already compromised, the consequences can be fatal. And the threat is particularly acute in epidemic years: 29,000 died from 'flu in 1989/90, although even in an 'average' year, 12,000 deaths are linked to 'flu activity.

Flu Activity Called the Lowest in 4 Years

Flu Activity Called the Lowest in 4 Years