Word: viruses
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...vaccine, called Gardasil and manufactured by Merck, is one of the first immunizations to protect against a cancer - in this case, cervical cancer, which is most commonly caused by infection with HPV. Because the virus is sexually transmitted, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommended in 2006 that girls get the vaccine at ages 11 and 12, before they become sexually active, so they have the best chance of avoiding the cancer and genital warts caused by HPV. States joined in, attempting to mandate HPV vaccination for school entry, but parents balked, in part because of concerns about...
...shots spaced four weeks apart. What's more, because the serum won't be ready until at least mid-October, full immunity may not kick in until early December - after the second doses are administered and an additional couple of weeks pass, a time lag that could allow the virus to take off. The target groups for the first round of vaccines will likely include pregnant women, people with children, adults with chronic illnesses like diabetes and asthma and, if more stocks are available, children. "In all likelihood, this flu will hit before vaccine is available for people," explains...
...virus doesn't mutate into something more deadly, health officials in the northern hemisphere face another decision: whether to keep schools open. Young students are known by influenza epidemiologists as "super spreaders" because they shed more flu virus when ill, are unlikely to practice good hand hygiene, and are in close contact with parents and peers. Writing in the August edition of British medical journal the Lancet Infectious Diseases, researchers from Imperial College in London predicted that early and prolonged school closures could ease the burden on hospitals by reducing the number of cases at the peak of the pandemic...
...decision on whether to close schools will rest with local officials. In China, no plans to close schools have been announced, but the authorities have urged educators to limit all unnecessary travel and gatherings. But plans may change suddenly in countries that see infection rates soar, or if the virus mutates...
...global experience this fall mirrors what happened at Camp Modin, the virus may go down in history as a case study in preparedness. But with a once-in-a-generation bug on the loose and schools opening in the coming weeks, the drama known as H1N1 may just be starting. With reporting by Elizabeth Dias and Sophia Yan / Washington, and Austin Ramzy / Beijing...