H1N1: Virus Mutation Increases Death Toll by 1,000 per week

Geneva (AFP) Nov 27, 2009 - The number of swine flu deaths showed a sharp jump compared to a week ago, but the World Health Organisation said Friday that the epidemic may have peaked in parts of the northern hemisphere. The number of deaths reported to the WHO was up 1,000 from a week ago, reaching at least 7,826 worldwide since the A(H1N1) virus was first uncovered in April, fresh data showed.

The number of deaths reported to the UN health agency showed the biggest rise in the Americas, where 5,360 deaths have now been recorded compared to 4,806 a week ago but Europe also posted a substantial increase percentage-wise with at least 650 fatalities now reported, representing a surge of 300 deaths or 85 percent from data posted a week ago.

The WHO said influenza activity appears to have peaked across North America, although in Canada, the number of hospitalisations and deaths is increasing. In European countries including Belgium, Bulgaria, Belarus, Ireland, Luxembourg, Norway, Serbia, Ukraine and Iceland, influenza activity also appears to have reached a peak, added the WHO.

Upsurge in Polio Cases in Nigeria: Vaccine Virus mutates

LONDON (AP) —
Polio, a dreaded paralysing disease stamped out in the industrialised world, is spreading in Nigeria despite efforts to stamp it out. Health officials say in some cases, it's caused by a mutation in the vaccine used to fight it.

In July, the World Health Organisation issued a warning that this vaccine-spread virus might extend beyond Africa. So far, 124 Nigerian children have been paralysed this year — about twice those afflicted in 2008.

Wary Citizens

The polio problem is just the latest challenge to global health authorities trying to convince wary citizens that vaccines can save them from dreaded disease. For years, myths have abounded about vaccines, that they were the Western world's plan to sterilise Africans or give them AIDS.

Contaminated Vaccine

The latest sad reality about polio vaccine, fuels misguided fears and underscores the challenges authorities face using a flawed or contaminated vaccine.

Nigeria and most other poor nations use an oral polio vaccine because it's cheaper, easier to store in hot countries, and protects entire communities but it is made from a live polio virus, albeit a very much weakened version.

Mutation of Live Vaccine

Unfortunately, it still carries a small risk of causing polio for every million or so doses given. In even rarer instances, the virus in the vaccine can mutate into a deadlier version that ignites new outbreaks.