Wondering how the Swine Flu virus actually works? A study that was released yesterday showed that the Swine flu virus can infect cells deeper in the lungs than seasonal flu, thus helping to increase the severity of the illness.

Influenza viruses penetrate cells by attaching themselves to molecules (called receptors) that are located on the outside of the cell wall. Seasonal virus strains typically attach themselves almost exclusively to cells that are found in the throat, nose and upper airway, thus helping to cause some of influenza’s signature symptoms – scratchy throat, runny nose, a dry cough.

The swine flu virus however sticks to a greater range of receptors than seasonal virus strains, and so it can also breach cells deep in the lungs.

The swine flu study was funded by the European Union, and published in the journal Nature Biotechnology. It basically provides the first laboratory confirmation of reports from front-line doctors that some patients with swine flu (h1n1) virus tend to suffer worse symptoms compared to those with a normal seasonal flu.

According to a recent study that was done in Chicago, Illinois (USA), the Swine flu was four times more likely to send blacks and Hispanics to the hospital than whites. This study is one of the first that looks at how the virus has affected different racial groups. Notably, it corresponds to recent unpublished information from Boston, MA, that found three out of four Bostonians who were hospitalized from swine flu were black or Hispanic.

Health officials have said the reason for the difference is probably not genetic, and that more likely, it is because blacks and Hispanics suffer disproportionately from asthma, diabetes and other health problems that make people more vulnerable to the flu. It is also not clear if a racial or ethnic difference will hold up when more complete national stats become available.

Source of information for the Chicago study – researchers looked at over 1500 lab-confirmed swine flu cases reported to the Chicago Department of Public Health from late April 2009 through late July.

After trading at a 52-week high of US$7.79 on Tuesday (September 1), Novavax Inc.’s shares relapsed yesterday, plunging to to 10.68% by the close of trading. Shares of the vaccine-maker took a hit after Oppenheimer Holdings Inc. cut its rating on Novavax stock to “perform” from “outperform”.

Prior to this unpleasant report, Novavax had been receiving positive attention for the successful mid-stage testing of its seasonal vaccine which uses virus-like particles to induce immune responses against three strains of viruses, including the H1N1 or “Swine Flu” virus.

The United Nations (U.N.) warned yesterday, that the swine flu that was recently detected in turkeys in Chile may spread to other poultry. The U.N. is thus urging greater monitoring worldwide in order to prevent the virus from combining with the deadlier H5N1 strain of bird flu. The U.N. said it would be quite concerned if swine flu were to combine with bird flu – which isn’t as contagious but is far more deadly.

Just last week, Chile announced that the swine flu virus had jumped to turkeys, thus raising new concerns about the ability of the virus to infect other species. It now means that the swine flu virus now has more opportunities to mutate into a more dangerous form. Officials stressed however, that the birds had suffered only mild symptoms, and were being allowed to recover (rather than be culled). It is also being stressed, that  the discovery of swine flu in turkeys does not pose an immediate threat to humans, and that turkey meat can still be sold commercially (following proper inspections).

In addition to Chile, Canada, Argentina and Australia have also reported a spillover of swine flu from farm workers showing flu-like symptoms to animals

There’s no doubt that the Swine Flu Virus (H1N1) epidemic is being taken seriously at all levels – even corporations. Below we’ve featured a memo (Swine Flu Warning / Alert) that was sent recently to all staff at a top Fortune 500 company.

To All XXXXX (Company Name Removed) Employees:

Normally the summer months are flu-free, but with the H1N1 virus, (Swine) globally we continue to see cases of flu. While it may not seem like H1N1 flu is causing as many cases, it is important that you continue to stay vigilant and follow good hygiene practices to prevent the spread of the virus. The CDC discontinued reporting of individual confirmed and probable cases of novel H1N1 infection on July 24, 2009. The CDC is still reporting the total number of hospitalizations and deaths weekly, and continues to use its traditional surveillance systems to track the progress of the novel H1N1 flu outbreak. As of the last report on August 13, there have been 7,511 hospitalized cases and 477 deaths from H1N1 in the United States.

At this time XXXXX-company will remove signage that encouraged everyone to refrain from shaking hands/hugging when greeting visitors and others. We will continue to provide sanitizers for your use and encourage good hygiene practices throughout the year. With the uncertainty of what the upcoming flu season will bring, we will continue to provide information on H1N1 and other flu related issues as important information becomes available. We may also need to implement restrictions on travel, visitors and meetings again depending on the severity of the flu this fall. Attached you will find a helpful brochure from Aetna with tips to avoid infections and stay healthy. The brochure emphasizes the importance of washing your hands and how this can protect you from all types of illnesses.

Traveling for business or pleasure can increase your risk of contracting and spreading any virus including H1N1. Taking some simple precautions while you are away, can help prevent you from getting the flu and other illnesses. Also, being aware of the signs and symptoms of influenza when you return from your trip will help prevent the spread of the virus to coworkers and others. Attached you will find a brochure prepared by xxxxx-company with prevention recommendations for travelers.

There is currently a vaccine in production for H1N1, which will likely be available sometime this fall. This vaccine is not meant to replace the regular flu vaccine (which could be available as early as late August this year) but is a separate vaccination to help prevent H1N1 flu. We encourage all of you to talk to your personal physician and get vaccinated when both vaccines become available.

Thank you,

The number of swine flu deaths in Latin America rose above 600 yesterday, making it the region with the highest fatality count from the disease. Based on a World Health Organization (WHO) tally of 816 given recently, Latin America now accounts for more than two-thirds of the worldwide Swine Flu fatality count.

National governments in the region updated their counts recently, and authorities in Chile recorded the biggest jump, declaring eight more deaths since last week, taking their total Swine flu deaths to 87. The worst affected country in the region seems however to be Argentina, which has at least 165 confirmed Swine flu deaths.

The southern hemisphere winter (which occurs at this time of the year) seems partly to blame for the spread and virulence of the A (H1N1) pandemic in the Latin American region.

The World Health Organization has said that vaccine manufacturers are on track to start delivering the first batches of Swine Flu vaccine some time next month (September). Several drug manufacturers have reportedly started testing their vaccines on humans, and early safety results should be available by next month, thus clearing the way for its use.

Drug regulators in the U.S. and Europe have a fasttrack drug approval process that will make the vaccine available even before extensive safety tests are completed. The World Health Organization does expect to see reports of side effects once vaccine distribution starts, and is recommending that the first vaccine recipients be health-care workers.

Swiss drugmaker Novartis has reportedly begun to test its swine flu vaccine on humans. These are said to be the company’s first swine flu tests on humans, and it will test the vaccine’s safety and whether one or two shots are necessary.

Novartis’ swine flu vaccine is being tested in a yearlong trial of 6,000 people of all age groups and drawn from the following countries – Germany, Britain, and the United States. Novartis has said also that their swine flu vaccine will likely be on the market before the trial finishes. Novartis expects to start shipping their swine flu vaccine in the last quarter of 2009, and will reportedly continue the deliveries next year.

Half of Novartis’ swine flu vaccines that are being tested now were grown in chicken eggs (the traditional way of making flu vaccines), while the other half use a new cell-based technology.

The Novartis swine flu vaccines being tested in Europe have an adjuvant (an ingredient used to boost the body’s immune response), while in the United States, Novartis will be testing vaccines both with and without adjuvants.

Once Novartis receives preliminary data from this swine flu vaccine trial, they will submit this information to drug regulators including the European Medicines Agency. European and U.S. regulators have a fast-track process for approving swine flu vaccine – in order to ensure that it is available before the traditional flu season starts in the fall. The swine flu virus is expected to surge at that time.

The World Health Organization (WHO) said yesterday that the Swine Flu virus has swept the globe at “unprecedented speed,” just as a study warned that the Swine Flu pandemic could tip the world into deflation and delay the economic recovery. It added: “In past pandemics, influenza viruses have needed more than six months to spread as widely as the new H1N1 virus has spread in less than six weeks.”

WHO also announced that it would stop giving figures on the numbers infected by the Influenza A (H1N1) virus, in order to allow countries to channel resources into close monitoring of unexpected developments and patterns in the spread of the disease. The Geneva-based health agency said the counting of all individual cases was no longer essential to assess the risk from swine flu.

“WHO will continue to request that these countries report the first confirmed cases and, as far as feasible, provide weekly aggregated case numbers and descriptive epidemiology of the early cases,” it added.

In the last table released by WHO on July 6, it had recorded 94,512 laboratory-confirmed cases in 136 countries and territories since April, including 429 deaths.

Influenza A (H1N1) is a highly contagious respiratory infection caused by a virus that is easily spread from person-to-person.

HOW DO PEOPLE GET INFLUENZA A (H1N1)?
A person can get influenza A (H1N1) by:

• Breathing in the virus when an infected person coughs or sneezes.
• Contact with objects that have been recently touched by an infected person, such as a door knob or a telephone.

WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS OF INFLUENZA A (HIN1)?

• Fever
• Headache
• Cough
• Sore throat
• Runny and stuffy nose
• Extreme fatigue
• Muscle aches
• Nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea (these symptoms may also occur, but are more common in children).

CAN INFLUENZA A (H1N1) BE PREVENTED?
To prevent the spread of H1N1:

• Wash hands regularly with soap and water.
• Use paper towel (tissue) to cover mouth and nose when sneezing or coughing.
• Dispose of used tissue in the garbage IMMEDIATELY.
• Avoid close contact with persons exhibiting flu-like symptoms, such as handshaking, hugging or kissing.
• If you are sick, stay home until you are well. If you have severe flu-like symptoms, contact your doctor IMMEDIATELY.

If you have traveled to or come into contact with someone from affected countries such as Mexico, Canada, United Kingdom or the United States, and have flu-like symptoms, contact your doctor or nearest health center immediately.