Geneva / London --
Experts feared it - the swine flu pathogen changed. A mutant form of the virus in Norway has called for two dead. Another patient was seriously ill with the modified H1N1 virus, said the World Health Organization (WHO) in Geneva.
Similar mutations of the virus were, however, already selectively since April in Brazil, China, Japan, Mexico, Ukraine and the United States have been identified. In addition, the modified virus respond to conventional drugs. Experts had warned in recent months, warning that the so far mostly mild course of the disease in Germany could get worse by mutations.
Facts on Influenza Vaccine
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ZielgruppenJeder, who was shot down once before by a normal flu, knows that this is no joke. Vaccination is recommended - but not (yet) for everybody. The Permanent Vaccination Commission (STIKO) recommends it for medical staff and the chronically ill. Only when the swine flu spreads should also others (get the next step: Over-60-year-olds) the syringe.
RisikenDie effect amplifier (so-called adjuvants) ensure that each individual dose requires only a smaller amount of antigen. But they also trigger adverse reactions. Swelling, limb pain and headache, fever is even possible.
"This is a large-scale trial of the German population," said Wolfgang Becker, publisher of the "drug-telegram. The Cologne-general Walter Dresch provides vaccination critical. "I will not do in my practice." The State Paul-Ehrlich-Institute holds, however: "The clinical trials are completed, the side effects are not serious," said Susanne Stöcker. "What a headache for a disease which is one weeks out of action?"
Special case: SchwangereDa the side effects for pregnant women could be dangerous for them to be extra doses of vaccine produced without an amplifier. "Probably they are available in late November," says Stocker.
The ImpfstoffeDrei approved for Germany. "Celvapan" is a so-called whole virus vaccine containing killed virus völlständigen. Bundeswehr soldiers will get it. He is not well tolerated by children. In the preparations "Pandemrix" and "Focetria" is so-called gap vaccines. All effects contain amplifiers.
VerfügbarkeitAb Monday that the federal vaccine Pandemrix can "pick up the manufacturer, it will be distributed to health boards. One third of the population can be vaccinated with the ordered quantities.
AusgabestellenMedizinisches staff will be vaccinated by the company doctor, all others get their injections either at the health department or to doctors who participate in the vaccination campaigns. For those under 60 years is likely to recent findings, a dose sufficient to over-60s need a second.
KostenFür bear 50 percent of the population, the health insurance costs to pay for the rest of the state must. The first 40 million vaccinations cost 1 billion euros. Who can be vaccinated, it must not pay the practice fee.
HaltbarkeitDie doses need to be stored at two to eight degrees, holding 18 months. If fewer people can be vaccinated, when doses have been ordered (at least) 50 million, they would be made available to other nations.
Additional ImpfungGegen seasonal flu will not protect the new vaccines. For that it needs extras Pritze. Two weeks should be between pig and normal flu vaccination.
These are the symptoms of swine flu
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Fever
Limb pain
Headache
Sore throat
Chills
Cough
strong feeling of illness
According to the WHO influenza agents with the same mutation was found in both deaths as well as milder disease. For many people died from the new flu virus had exhibited no mutation. In addition, the mutation did not seem to spread, told the WHO. According to current knowledge there is no evidence that the altered virus an unusual increase in the number of H1N1 infections or deaths are caused thereby have the effect.
Bad news also from the UK: For the first time other people have been infected with a swine flu strain, against which the drug Tamiflu can not do anything. The affected five patients in a hospital in Wales is based on findings from public health authorities around the world's first cases of transmission of such resistant virus from person to person. At least three of the patients had been infected directly from the station of the University Hospital in Cardiff, where they had been treated for other serious diseases.
The authority does not, however, assumed that this strain is widely spread. The pathogen is declared as a non-aggressive than other flu viruses and can also be treated with the product Relenza. Two patients had recovered already.
Although the World Health Organization have so far been reported about 50 cases of flu strains that are resistant to Tamiflu. According to information provided by national health authorities but there has been no confirmed cases of transmission from person to person. Several suspected cases, including from a U.S. hospital were not yet confirmed worden.Ein spokesman for the British Ministry of Health declared the case with the previous illness of the patients. "Examples of Tamiflu resistance are rare. But if something occurs, especially in debilitated people. Because their immune system is attacked, it is more likely to develop in these resistant viruses. "
