influenza

Too long time for a new vaccine in case of an emerging infectious threat

November 9, 2016

In 2009 A(H1N1) pandemic, vaccines were ready and could be supplied only when the peak of the pandemic was already decreasing in most European countries, discouraging people from getting vaccinated. Since the disease was not as severe as it was feared in the beginning, the consequences of this delay were not that serious, even if some lives could have been saved if the vaccines were available in advance. Ebola vaccine also arrived to West Africa when the epidemic was over, while a zika vaccine is still very far away. According to Thomas Breuer, however, GSK Chief Medical Officer, in case of another flu pandemic, a better cooperation among stakeholders and new technologies could accelerate the production and supply of new vaccines.

Target: 
Government and Public Health, Healthcare Professionals, Industry & Commerce
Topic: 
Stakeholders, Vaccination
Tags: 
Video, H1N1, pandemic, flu, influenza, swine flu, Ebola, zika, Vaccine

Should we vaccinate healthy children against flu?

October 24, 2016

While USA recommend universal flu vaccination for 6 months age, some European countries have different strategies, targeting only children with chronic diseases. Susanna Esposito, professor of Paediatrics at the University of Milan, Italy and president of WAIDID (World Association for Infectious Diseases) advocates for a wider coverage against influenza in healthy children as well.

Target: 
Citizens, Decision Makers, Government and Public Health, Healthcare Professionals
Tags: 
Video, Vaccine, flu, influenza

Stopping H7N9 bird flu by vaccines

September 21, 2016

While the number of human cases of H7N9 bird flu is rising in China, and H5N1 is a persistent threat, different strategies of prevention are being considered. In a “one health” approach, vaccination of poultry is one of the possibilities, according to Ivan Hung, Clinical Associate Professor and Honorary Consultant in the Department of Medicine at the Queen Mary Hospital of the University of Hong Kong.

Topic: 
Vaccination
Tags: 
Video, H7N9, flu, influenza, Vaccine

Paper series 1 - Science for and with Society aiming to the public health emergencies response and preparedness

Tuesday, August 30, 2016 - 14:56

Athena Linos, European Institute of Women’s Health, Alberto d’Onofrio

Target: 
Citizens, Decision Makers, Government and Public Health, Healthcare Professionals
Topic: 
Epidemiology, Gender, Vaccination
Tags: 
science-in-society, gender issues, Vaccine, flu, influenza, behaviour, mathematics
PDF icon paper_series_1_-_science_for_and_with_society_aiming_to_the_public_health_emergencies_response_and_preparedness.pdf

Determinants of adherence to seasonal influenza vaccination among healthcare workers from an Italian region: results from a cross-sectional study

Monday, August 22, 2016 - 15:55

Durando P, Alicino C, Dini G, Barberis I, Bagnasco AM, Iudici R, et al. BMJ Open. 2016 May 17.

Objectives: Notwithstanding decades of efforts to increase the uptake of seasonal influenza (flu) vaccination among European healthcare workers (HCWs), the immunisation rates are still unsatisfactory. In order to understand the reasons for the low adherence to flu vaccination, a study was carried out among HCWs of two healthcare organisations in Liguria, a region in northwest Italy.

Source: 
Scientific literature
Target: 
Healthcare Professionals
Topic: 
Microbiology
Tags: 
Vaccine, influenza
PDF icon hcw_liguria_vacc.pdf

Airborne Transmission of Influenza A/H5N1 Virus Between Ferrets

Monday, August 22, 2016 - 15:43

Herfst S, Schrauwen EJ, Linster M, Chutinimitkul S, de Wit E, Munster VJ, et al. Science. 2012 Jun 22.

Source: 
Scientific literature
Target: 
Healthcare Professionals
Topic: 
Microbiology
Tags: 
influenza

Fifth ESWI Science Policy Flu Summit

Wednesday, September 28, 2016 - 09:00

The fifth edition of the Science Policy Flu Summit will be held on 28 September 2016 at the International Press Centre in the heart of European Quarter in Brussels. Building on ESWI’s rich history of working with partner organizations, this year’s Summit will showcase successful collaborations in different fields such as travel medicine, the protection of diabetes patients and asthma patients, and the role of healthcare professionals in flu prevention.

Read more
Type: 
General event
Tags: 
Event, influenza

Using the web to track flu and other infectious diseases

Wednesday, February 17, 2016 - 15:29

Flutrackers is an online platform that gather information about infectious diseases from journals, news sources and citizens around the world. It was started in 2006 by a diverse group of volunteers, initially interested in investigating seasonal influenza, novel influenza, and chikungunya. In later years, we expanded our range by including other health threats such as the Ebola and Zika viruses, and drug resistant bacteria.

Target: 
Decision Makers, Government and Public Health
Topic: 
Citizens' Mobilization, Epidemiology, Human Rights, Microbiology, Prevention
Tags: 
flu, influenza, Surveillance

Pandemic influenza preparedness: sharing of influenza viruses and access to vaccines and other benefits

Tuesday, January 19, 2016 - 11:11

WHO. 2015 Dec 18. Pandemic influenza preparedness: sharing of influenza viruses and access to vaccines and other benefits - Report of the Special Session of the Pandemic Influenza. Preparedness Framework Advisory Group

 

Source: 
Health authorities
Target: 
Decision Makers, Government and Public Health, Healthcare Professionals
Topic: 
Prevention
Tags: 
WHO, influenza, Preparedness
PDF icon pandemicprep.pdf

Intensive Care Units are a canary in a coal mine

Wednesday, January 13, 2016 - 17:54
H1N1 Influenza Virus Particles

During the 2009 A(H1N1) pandemic, the issue of how many deaths were associated to the emerging virus was one of the main causes of misunderstanding between authorities and the general public, which ended in a worrying lack of trust. The pandemic, initially presented as a potential serious threat, in the end was no more severe than a common seasonal flu. Unfortunately, even nowadays, it is difficult to ascertain if and how much H1N1 pandemic was different from any other seasonal flu, based on official data.

Target: 
Decision Makers, Government and Public Health
Topic: 
Epidemiology, Microbiology, Prevention
Tags: 
H1N1, flu, influenza, Surveillance

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MMLAP and other EU Projects

AsiaFluCap
Health system analysis to support capacity development in response to the threat of pandemic influenza in Asia
BEWATER
Making society an active participant in water adaptation to global change
CASI
Public Participation in Developing a Common Framework for Assessment and Management of Sustainable Innovation
CIMULACT
Engaging all of Europe in shaping a desirable and sustainable future
DARWIN
Expect the unexpected and know how to respond
DRIVER
Driving innovation in crisis management for European resilience
ECOM
Effective communication in outbreak management: development of an evidence-based tool for Europe
EDEN
Solutions to improve CBRNe resilience
EPISOUTH
Network for Communicable Disease Control in Southern Europe and Mediterranean Countries
EPIWORK
Developing the framework for an epidemic forecast infrastructure
EUPHARE
Strengthening of the national surveillance system for communicable diseases
EUROHEP
Surveillance of vaccine preventable hepatitis
EuroMOMO
European monitoring of excess mortality for public health action
EURONHID
European network for highly infectious disease
EUVAC.NET
Dedicated surveillance network for surveillance and control of vaccine preventable diseases in the EU
FLUMODCONT
Modelling the spread of pandemic influenza and strategies for its containment and mitigation
FLURESP
Cost-effectiveness assessment of european influenza human pandemic alert and response strategies
GAP2
Bridging the gap between science, stakeholders and policy makers
HProImmune
Promotion of immunization for health professionals in Europe
INPROFOOD
Towards inclusive research programming for sustainable food innovations
JA-CHRODIS
Addressing chronic diseases and healthy ageing across the life cycle
M-Eco
Medical ecosystem – personalized event-based surveillance
MAPPING
Studying the many and varied economic, social, legal and ethical aspects of the recent developments on the Internet, and their consequences for the individual and society at large
MARINA
Get involved in the responsible marine research and innovation
PACITA
Knowledge-based policy-making on issues involving science, technology and innovation, mainly based upon the practices in Parliamentary Technology Assessment
PANDEM
Assessment of the current pandemic preparedness and response tools, systems and practice at national, EU and global level in priority areas
PE2020
Analysis of innovative public engagement tools and instruments for dynamic governance in the field of Science in Society
PERARES
Public Engagement with Research And Research Engagement with Society
PHEME
Computing Veracity – the Fourth Challenge of Big Data
PREPARE
Providing infrastructure, co-ordination and integration of existing clinical research networks on epidemics and pandemics
PROMOVAX
Promote vaccinations among migrant population in Europe
R&DIALOGUE
Creating mechanisms for effectively tackling the scientific and technology related challenges faced by society
RESPIRE
Improve the quality of indoor air, keeping it free from radon
SATORI
Improving respect of ethics principles and laws in research and innovation, in line with the evolution of technologies and societal concerns
SECURING CITIES AGAINST GLOBAL PANDEMICS
Investigating how cities in the West securitise against global pandemics
SEiSMiC
Creating a structured dialogue and mutual learning with citizens and urban actors by setting up National Networks in 10 countries across Europe
SIS CATALYST
Identifying how children can be change agents in the Science and Society relationship
SYN-ENERGENE
Establishing an open dialogue between stakeholders concerning synthetic biology’s potential benefits and risks
TELLME
Transparent communication in Epidemics: Learning Lessons from experience, delivering effective Messages, providing Evidence