Trials underway amidst warnings the flu-weakened immune systems may increase meningitis cases

So according to the BBC, the trials are now underway... (Despite Sky quoting a Health Chief, a few days ago, as saying 5000-6000 trials having already been conducted.)

Human flu jab trials 'under way'

Several manufacturers are looking to produce a flu vaccine
Human trials of a vaccine to protect against the H1N1 swine flu virus have begun in Australia.

Vaxine and CSL have both started injecting volunteers this week, but it will be at least six weeks before the initial results are known.

Meanwhile, in the UK Gordon Brown has sought to reassure the public by saying the plans in place were "robust".

It comes as another death has been announced in the West Midlands, bringing the UK total to at least 31.

No more details are being released about the latest person to die with swine flu.

And the overall figure is likely to climb on Thursday when the Department of Health gives its weekly update. Worldwide, more than 700 people have died.

Adelaide-based Vaxine began trials Monday with 300 subjects, and Melbourne's CSL has 240 people in its trial, which started Wednesday.

Neither firm has a contract with the UK government, which expects the first vaccine batches by the end of August.

But Vaxine research director Nikolai Petrovsky said: "There is no guarantee any of these vaccines will work. Swine flu is a very peculiar beast, its a very different virus that we're dealing with. But we are hopeful."

Meanwhile, drugs giant GlaxoSmithKline says it expects to triple capacity of its flu treatment Relenza to 190 million treatments per year.

Mr Brown admitted swine flu was putting the health service in the UK under strain.

But the prime minister said some of the pressure would be relieved by the National Flu Service, which is being launched in England later this week.

The phone and internet service will allow people with swine flu to get access to anti-flu drugs without needing to consult a doctor.

Mr Brown said: "I want the public to be reassured that we have been preparing for the possibility of a pandemic for a number of years.

"The NHS is continuing to cope well, but as swine flu cases have started to increase we have needed to be able to give anti-virals more quickly.

"From the end of this week the National Flu Service will be up and running. This will free up GP and NHS time."

GPs have started to raise concerns about the number of calls they are getting about flu with every region of England apart from Yorkshire and the Humber seeing "exceptional" levels of demand.

Under contingency plans, non-emergency operations can be cancelled and doctors moved around the health service to help tackle hotspots.

It has not reached that stage yet, but ministers have been forced to set up the flu service.

Challenge

Mr Brown was speaking the day after Chief Medical Officer Sir Liam Donaldson admitted the flu pandemic was presenting the NHS with its "biggest challenge in a generation".

In the worst-case scenario, up to a third of the population could become infected this winter with as many as 65,000 deaths.

Sir Liam said coping with such huge demands would be a real test for everyone working in the health service.

• The Meningitis Research Foundation has warned the focus on swine flu risks masking other serious illnesses.

A 17-year-old from Derbyshire was admitted to hospital last week after originally being diagnosed with swine flu.

The foundation warned people to be aware of the disease as the early symptoms of meningitis and septicaemia were "very similar" to flu.

The group also said the levels of flu circulating in the UK meant that immune systems were compromised and could lead to a rise in meningitis cases.

BBC News

[edit on 22-7-2009 by JennyJen]

[edit on 22-7-2009 by JennyJen]

The last statement is what concerns me the most. From what I can see, there are a few reasons why this statement has been made...

1. It's as simple as it appears, the meningitis research facility are putting through a genuine warning in the face of a natural flu pandemic.

2. The flu was created to weaken our immune systems whilst either purposely releasing, or relying on Mother Nature to do its worst with more lethal diseases.

3. The flu was created to push forward a mandatory vaccination which again, is contaminated with meningits.

4. As others have said, the vaccination is to weaken our bodies for the 'real' threat which will then be released, and create mass death.

5. The meningitis warning is just another scare tactic to encourage the population to willingly accept the flu vaccine, for whatever purpose that may be.

Or.... ???

It just seems abit too convenient that this warning is now arrising in preparation for the release of the vaccine.
It sounds like they are trying to prepare us for something, so that when it does happen the mass population don't get suspecious.

[edit on 22-7-2009 by JennyJen]

[edit on 22-7-2009 by JennyJen]