“Injuries cost Americans far too much money, suffering, and preventable death,” CDC Director Tom Frieden said in a written statement. “The doubling of deaths by drug poisoning, including prescription drug overdose and heroin, is particularly alarming.”
The investigators used data from the National Vital Statistics System and the Web-Based Injury Statistics Query and Reporting System (WISQARS) for injury-related deaths and the National Electronic Injury Surveillance System–All Injury Program and WISQARS for nonfatal injuries.
Peramivir Effective Against Most Flu Viruses Circulating Globally
By Doug Brunk
AT ICAAC 2015
Vitals Key clinical point: Peramivir is potently effective against seasonal influenza viruses circulating globally. Major finding: During the 2013-2014 and 2014-2015 influenza seasons, about 99% of influenza type A and B viruses were inhibited by peramivir. Data source: An analysis of 8,426 influenza viruses that were tested during the 2013-2014 and 2014-2015 influenza seasons as part of the World Health Organization Global Influenza Surveillance and Response System.1 Disclosures: The researchers reporting having no financial disclosures. |
SAN DIEGO – The neuraminidase inhibitor peramivir inhibited about 99% of seasonal influenza A and B viruses circulating globally during the 2013 to 2014 and 2014 to 2015 influenza seasons, a large analysis demonstrated.
“The frequency of H1N1pdm09 viruses carrying neuraminidase (NA) H275Y remained low during both seasons; this mutation confers resistance to oseltamivir and peramivir,” said Margaret Okomo-Adhiambo, PhD, at the annual Interscience Conference on Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy (ICAAC/ICC 2015). In addition, “a small proportion of viruses contained other neuraminidase changes that affect binding of peramivir to viral enzymes and may decrease virus susceptibility. These changes need to be closely monitored.”
Approved by the FDA in December of 2014, peramivir (Rapivab) is the only antiviral agent for influenza treatment to come to market in nearly 20 years. Approved for intravenous administration as a single dose, it is indicated for adults with acute uncomplicated influenza who may have trouble taking orally administered or inhaled neuraminidase (NA) inhibitors. Other NA inhibitors approved by the FDA for influenza infection include oseltamivir, which is orally administered, and zanamivir, which is inhaled.
For the current analysis, Dr Okomo-Adhiambo of the influenza division at the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Atlanta, and her associates tested influenza virus susceptibility to peramivir during the 2013-2014 and 2014-2015 influenza seasons as part of the World Health Organization Global Influenza Surveillance and Response System. A total of 8,426 viruses were tested, 75% of which were circulating in the United States.1
Dr Okomo-Adhiambo reported that during the 2013-2014 and 2014-2015 influenza seasons, about 99% of influenza type A and B viruses were inhibited by peramivir, except for a few viruses belonging to subtype A(H1N1)pdm09 (1.5%), subtype A(H3N2) (0.2%), and type B (0.4%). In addition, NA activity of type A viruses was five to six times more sensitive to inhibition by peramivir, compared with type B NA.
Parasitic Infection Emerging in the Southwestern United States
By Doug Brunk
At IDWEEK 2015
Vitals Key clinical point: Lesions containing a zoonotic parasite known as Onchocerca lupi are appearing in humans who reside in the Southwestern United States. Major finding: In three of six human cases, nodules containing Onchocerca lupi were located in the cervical spinal canal. Data source: A case report of the first six people in the United States to be infected with Onchocerca lupi. Disclosures: The researchers reported having no financial disclosures. |
SAN DIEGO – Onchocerca lupi, a zoonotic parasite previously described as causing eye disease in cats and dogs, as well as in humans from Europe, Asia, and the Middle East, is emerging in the Southwestern United States.
“The life cycle of this organism is not yet clearly defined, but likely includes a canine and/or feline animal reservoir, as well as an insect vector,” Dr Christiana Smith said in an interview at an annual scientific meeting on infectious diseases.1 “No specific risk factors for developing this disease have been identified, other than residing in or traveling through the Southwestern US.”
To date, six cases of humans infected by Onchocerca lupi have come to the attention of health officials, including those at the CDC, due to symptoms from a nodule containing the parasite, according to Dr Smith, a pediatrician with the University of Colorado School of Medicine and Children’s Hospital Colorado, Aurora. The affected patients range in age from 22 months to 50 years of age; three of the six reside in Arizona, two in New Mexico, and one in Texas.
In three of the six cases, the nodule was located in the cervical spinal canal. In the remaining three cases, nodules were located on the scalp, the forearm, and the superior rectus muscle of the orbit. Two of the patients reported insect bites at the nodule site years prior to presentation, while another patient owned a dog with eye lesions.