The Influenza Specialist Group (ISG) is aware of reports of young children experiencing adverse reactions after receiving the seasonal influenza vaccine, including fever and in some cases febrile convulsions (e.g. a fit or a seizure).

The World Health Organisation (WHO) addresses Council of Europe.

A public parliamentary hearing concerning H1N1 pandemic was held on the fringe of the plenary session of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) in Strasbourg.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) has announced the recommended viruses for the northern hemisphere 2010-2011 influenza season.

Links to useful 'Swine Flu' information sites

1. Current situation worldwide (World Health Organization)

Influenza A(H1N1) - Update 39 Updated 26 May 2009

2. Current situation in Australia (Aust Govt Dept of Health and Ageing)

H1N1 Influenza 09 (Human Swine Influenza) Outbreaks

Swine flu warning on second wave (ABC News, 8 December 2009)

Australia has the opportunity to prevent a ``second wave'' of swine flu early next year but it is being largely ignored. Professor Robert Booy, the head of clinical research at the National Centre for Immunisation Research and Surveillance, says a second wave of the potentially deadly virus has already hit much of the northern hemisphere.  Read full story here

Better vaccines for the next pandemic (The Washington Times, USA, 7 December 2009)

New technologies are emerging that could help create better vaccines for the next pandemic, including a process using recombinant DNA, or "gene-splicing," technology to create a vaccine that induces the body to make its own antigen, and then to produce antibodies to that antigen. Read full story here

iCough technology to help diagnose colds and flu (The Courier Mail, 13 November 2009)

Over the phone flu diagnoses could become a reality thanks to revolutionary "iCough"-style medical technology being developed in Queensland. Australian and US researchers are developing hi-tech software that would diagnose pneumonia, flu and other respiratory diseases by analysing the sound of a cough.  Read full story here

Spread of swine flu intense according to study (The Irish Times, 7 November 2009)

There are particularly intense levels of swine flu activity in Ireland, according to a study of European countries released yesterday. The weekly Influenza Surveillance Report from the Swedish-based European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) found only Iceland had experienced a similar level of intensity in Europe. Read full story here

Swine flu becomes most common strain (The Age, 6 November 2009)

The World Health Organisation's flu chief said the swine flu virus has now become the predominant flu strain worldwide. In some countries, swine flu accounts for up to 70 per cent of the flu viruses being sampled, Dr Keiji Fukuda said. Read full story here

Flu death alarm in China as winter nears (The Australian, 3 November 2009)

China's first swine flu death has triggered fears that 100million people could be infected after the early arrival of winter at the weekend.  Premier Wen Jiabao urged tighter prevention measures as temperatures plunged below zero in Beijing for the first time this year. The capital received 15cm of snow on Sunday. Read full story here

Discussion paper

Media release

Experts call for mandatory signed declaration for all staff refusing influenza vaccination

A new discussion paper developed by the Influenza Specialist Group "Influenza vaccination among healthcare workers", identifies three critical steps for healthcare facilities to help improve vaccination rates among their direct care staff.

Updated: 20 July 2010 (11.00am AEDT time)

Reports from laboratories suggests that influenza activity is increasing. Of the 1,247 confirmed cases of influenza diagnosed during 2010 up to 9 July, 157 have been sub-typed as pandemic (H1N1) 2009¹. 

The Dept of Health & Aging announces free flu vaccination program for over 65s 

The Australian Government has officially launched its annual free flu vaccination program for people over 65 - with record supplies of vaccinations being distributed to prepare for this year's flu season. Currently, there are some 2.8 million Australians - about 13 per cent of the population - aged 65 and over. This number is expected to triple in 40 years.

More young Australian children are hospitalised with influenza each year than any other vaccine-preventable disease

24 March 2009: Australian influenza experts today joined with some of the nation's leading paediatricians to highlight the potential severity of influenza, which can cause serious illness and even lead to hospitalisation in young children.

Experts consider 4-strain influenza vaccine to fight B viruses

Selecting influenza strains to put in the flu vaccine each year is always difficult, given the ability of influenza viruses to change, but choosing the influenza B strain has become particularly vexing in recent years.  For a number of years, two distinct lineages of influenza B-Victoria and Yamagata-have been circulating and experts have found it almost impossible to predict which one would dominate in any winter.