As epidemiologists in China continue to investigate the country's first death from H1N1 (swine flu), Chinese health experts have called for strengthened measures to control the spread of the virus in remote regions, China Daily reports. "Flu control efforts, particularly standardized treatment for patients and medical staff training, should be enhanced in remote areas like Tibet," where the patient died from H1N1, Zeng Guang, of the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, said.

On Tuesday, the Chinese health ministry shipped 200,000 doses of flu vaccine to Lhasa, the capital of Tibet, and launched a nationwide training program for healthcare workers on how to prevent the spread of the virus (10/8).

"After a relatively unremarkable summer, China saw a spike of 1,600 cases in just three days last week," FOX News reports in an article that examines additional efforts taken by the country to control H1N1. "Sixty percent of China's cases were confirmed only in the last three weeks" (Lewis, 10/7).

Reuters examines the plans across Asia for the H1N1 vaccine as the region prepares for the "second wave [of H1N1] ... expected to occur during the winter months in temperate countries in the northern hemisphere and around the end of the year for tropical countries."

U.S. HHS Secretary Promotes H1N1 Vaccine; 52% of Americans Say They Want H1N1 Vaccine

U.S. HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius on Wednesday appeared on multiple national morning news shows in an effort to convince Americans within high-risk groups to get the H1N1 vaccine, calling the vaccine "safe and secure," HealthDay News/Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports (10/7). According to an Associated Press-GfK poll, 52 percent of Americans said they plan to seek out the H1N1 vaccine, the Associated Press/Washington Post reports (10/7).

Sanofi-Aventis Confirms Effectiveness of Single Dose of H1N1 Vaccine in Adults, Children

The drug maker Sanofi-Aventis on Wednesday reported that a single dose of the company's H1N1 vaccine provided protection against the H1N1 virus in children and adults, Reuters reports. "One dose of Panenza or the adjuvent or booster-type of vaccine Humenza is considered protective in 93 percent or more of adults aged 18 to 59 years and in 83 percent or more of adults 60 years and older. In children, the protective response was 94 percent," the news service writes. Researchers reported that participants in the clinical trial did not experience any serious adverse effects from the vaccine (Jacobs, 10/8).

Back to other news for October 2009