Replies

Central Valley board, teachers at odds over sick day plan

Friday, December 18, 2009
By Brian David, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Central Valley School District teachers are ready to give up sick days to help a coworker fighting for her life against the H1N1 virus.

But they were less than thrilled with the district’s proposal that calls for them to give up two days for every one granted — at half pay — to their colleague, fifth-grade teacher Robin Sampson.

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After meeting privately on the issue for close to an hour, the board approved a 30-day one-to-one sick day bank, long enough to keep Ms. Sampson at full pay and benefits until after the next board meeting.

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Ms. Sampson taught in Monaca for seven years, despite long-standing kidney problems that have led to three transplants. She moved to Todd Lane Elementary School in Center when Monaca merged with Center Area to form Central Valley School District.

According to her sister, Mary Klaas, Ms. Sampson became ill Oct. 15 and was hospitalized the next day. She was diagnosed with the H1N1 virus and pneumonia, then suffered a pulmonary embolism and kidney failure.

Ms. Sampson’s sick days ran out Dec. 11, and her health care benefits are set to expire at the end of the year.

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http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/09352/1021970-100.stm

Commentary

US Spike in H1N1Tamiflu Resistance Signals Fixing Start

Recombinomics Commentary 23:55
December 18, 2009

A total of 44 cases of oseltamivir resistant 2009 influenza A (H1N1) viruses have been identified in the United States since April 2009, including 15 newly identified cases since last week.

Of the 44 total cases identified, 27 patients had documented exposure to oseltamivir through either treatment or chemoprophylaxis, 15 patients are under investigation to determine exposure to oseltamivir, and two patients had no documented oseltamivir exposure. Occasional development of oseltamivir resistance during treatment or prophylaxis is not unexpected.

The above comments are from today’s (week 49) CDC weekly update. The jump of 15 cases is more than double than the 7 reported in week 45, which was more than double any prior week. The 15 equals the total for the past four weeks combined and doubles the total for the past 5 weeks. The recent numbers signal the crossing of a tipping point and highlight the more efficient transmission and detection of H274Y. This change was also supported by sequences released by NIID in Japan. 68 full sequences were deposited at GISAID, and 8 had H274Y. These eight were among the most recent collections, further signaling a change.

The H274Y positive sequences from Japan included an isolate that had D225E plus additional marlkers which matched two H274Y isolates form the US, suggesting that other isolates in this sub-clade also had H274Y circulating as an undetected sub-population. Recently deposited sequences by the US CDC and NIID in Japan, demonstrated that the sub-clade was large and widespread in both countries. Thus, the dramatic jumps in cases will continue if recent cases are tested.

Flu levels are declining in the US and Japan. However, the decrease in cases allows for the rapid emergence of virus. The level of seasonal flu is close to zero in both countries, suggesting that the next wave will draw from swine H1N1, and the emerging strain will likely have high levels of H274Y, leading to a fixing of H274Y in pandemic H1N1 as happened in seasonal H1N1.