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 Just H1N1 News And Latest Buzz 
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GT Truther

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Post Re: Just H1N1 News And Latest Buzz
As far out as this may sound..

I'm seriously starting to think that the H1N1 vaccinee is designed stop human accent ion into higher vibrational state of being! The Jab might in fact be some inhibiting agent!


Tue Nov 03, 2009 11:13 am
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Post Re: Just H1N1 News And Latest Buzz
Keep in mind reading this that IBM also believe it or not had a contract with Nazi Germany their "International Business Machines" for runners of the IBM Punch Card Computers. Were used in the early days to keep track of the Jews in the camps! That is why the Jews were tattooed with numbers!! Historical Fact! - Shady


Quote:
http://www.thepeoplesvoice.org/TPV3/News.php/2009/11/03/ibm-knew-about-pandemic-in-2006

IBM Knew About Pandemic in 2006
November 3rd, 2009 5:40 AM
Categories: News, Health

Link: http://www.infowars.com/ibm-knew-about- ... c-in-2006/

A document has surfaced revealing IBM was aware of the current H1N1 “pandemic” in 2006. Excerpts from “Services & Global Procurement pan IOT Europe, Pandemic Plan Overview,” an official inter-departmental document distributed to upper-level management of IBM in France during 2006 are posted on the Prevent Disease website. The document predicts a 100% chance of a “planned” pandemic occurring within five years. The document also describes "quarantines"and operational procedures to be taken upon the official announcements of the "pandemic" by the World Health Organization. The foreknowledge of such an event could not exist, unless the pandemic was a planned event. Certainly, this document is the “smoking gun" which demonstrates the current bird/swine flu "pandemic"is an orchestrated event leading to mass vaccinations sponsored by the WHO and UN.

http://www.thepeoplesvoice.org/TPV3/New ... ic-in-2006


Tue Nov 03, 2009 12:03 pm
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Post Re: Just H1N1 News And Latest Buzz
Hong Kong Finds H1N1 In Pork Samples





# 3957





We can add Hong Kong to the growing list of countries where the novel H1N1 virus has been detected in pigs. This time, however, the virus was found in pork samples taken at a slaughterhouse – not in a living pig.



The press release below, from the Hong Kong government, stresses the safety of consuming fully cooked pork products – a point that the pork industry would like to see emphasized.



And while that would appear to be true, that isn’t our primary concern when it comes to infected pigs. But more on that in a minute.



First, the press release (hat tip Ironorehopper on FluTrackers).





Quote:
Pig samples test positive for human swine influenza virus



Thursday, November 5, 2009
Issued at HKT 16:13




The University of Hong Kong (HKU) had found in its regular influenza virus surveillance programme that two pig samples taken at the Sheung Shui Slaughterhouse on October 22 tested positive for human swine influenza (pandemic influenza A H1N1) virus, a spokesman for the Food and Health Bureau said today (November 5).


This surveillance programme has been ongoing since 1999 and this is the first time that the human swine flu virus has been detected in pigs in this surveillance. No gene reassortment has occurred and the virus remains genetically similar to the human swine flu viruses regularly being found in humans.



Experts in charge of the surveillance programme considered that these findings indicate that the human swine flu virus detected in pigs is recently transmitted from humans to pigs. The risk of humans contracting human swine influenza virus has not increased.


"The findings echo similar reports in other countries," the spokesman said.

"There is no cause for the public to be overly concerned. Human swine flu virus is killed under a temperature of 70 degree Celsius or above. It is safe for the public to eat pork and pork products that are handled properly and cooked thoroughly."



He pointed out that the World Health Organisation, World Organisation for Animal Health, Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations and World Trade Organisation had already stated that pork and pork products which were handled properly and thoroughly cooked were not a source of human swine influenza infection.

(Continue . . . )



Despite the constant bland assurances over the safety of consuming pork, the real concern is that pigs are excellent mixing vessels for influenza viruses, and that a new `reassorted’ virus could emerge and become a human health threat.



Image

Of course, that’s a pretty rare event. After all, nothing like that has happened since . . . last spring.



The list of countries detecting the novel H1N1 virus among swine continues to increase with Canada, the US, Japan, Ireland, Norway, Australia, Argentina, Iceland, and now China reporting infections.



Many countries either aren’t testing, or do so in a limited fashion, and so this list is likely incomplete.



A couple of weeks ago, David Brown of the Washington Post had an excellent report on the rising concerns over infections among swine herds.



Back where virus started, new scrutiny of pig farming

By David Brown

Washington Post Staff Writer
Sunday, October 25, 2009



And you’ll find a few of my recent blogs on the subject below.



Swine Flu: Don’t Test, Don’t Tell
Japan Testing Swine For Suspected H1N1
Referral: Effect Measure On Human Swine Flu In Pigs
Norway: Swine Flu Infects 14 Farms


http://afludiary.blogspot.com/2009/11/h ... mples.html

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Sat Nov 07, 2009 12:06 am
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Post Re: Just H1N1 News And Latest Buzz
Quote:
According to Challenger, workplace preparations to fend off swine flu should include measures to decrease presenteeism and require employees to wear face masks in the workplace.

The best solution, however, may be switching to a predominantly telecommuting workforce. Any employee who can do his or her work from home with a computer and phone should be doing so prior to an outbreak. This will help prevent a flu virus from spreading among co-workers,” said Challenger.


Why this won't work, from an expert on telecommunications:

Why telecommuting will probably fail in a pandemic, Vol. 6: the GAO weighs in
by Scott McPherson

(brief excerpt from long article, worth the read if you are interested in this topic.)

Quote:
* ...the federal Government Accountability Office(HA! What an oxymoron!) has produced a document which pretty much parrots everything I have been saying for the past three years.

* Increased demand during a severe pandemic could exceed the capacities of Internet providers’ access networks for residential users and interfere with teleworkers in the securities market and other sectors, according to a DHS study and providers

* Increased use of the Internet by students, teleworkers, and others during a severe pandemic is expected to create congestion in Internet access networks that serve metropolitan and other residential neighborhoods.

* During a pandemic, congestion is most likely to occur in the traffic to or from the aggregation devices that serve residential neighborhoods, interfering with teleworkers’ and others’ ability to use the Internet.


Entire article can be read here: http://www.scottmcpherson.net/journal/2 ... 6-the.html

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Sat Nov 07, 2009 12:45 am
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Post Re: Just H1N1 News And Latest Buzz
More swine flu in pigs

Summary

INFLUENZA PANDEMIC (H1N1) 2009, ANIMAL (23): TAIWAN, OIE
********************************************************
A ProMED-mail post
<http://www.promedmail.org>

Date: Thu 5 Nov 2009
Source: OIE's WAHID Weekly Disease Information 2009; 22(45) [edited]
<http://www.oie.int/wahis/public.php?page=single_report&pop=1&reportid=8616>

Epidemiology
Source of the outbreak(s) or origin of infection: unknown or inconclusive

Epidemiological comments: A/H1N1 influenza virus surveillance programme
began since January 2009 in the country. Clinical signs such as coughing
and diarrhoea were observed in a pig farm located in T'ai-Tung County on 19
Oct 2009. The owner reported it to the prefecture animal disease control
competent authority. Official veterinarian inspected this farm right away.
Samples were collected and sent to the Animal Health Research Institute.

Disinfection and cleaning of the index farm has been conducted and
completed. Movement control has been also implemented. The positive results
of virus isolation, real-time RT-PCR and gene sequencing demonstrated that
this outbreak was caused by H1N1 influenza A virus.

The sick pigs in the index farm have recovered. One pig farm within 1 km
radius of the index farm has been under vigilant monitoring and no clinical
or epidemiological evidence of infection has been found. 7 pig farms within
3 km radius of the index farm have also been under intensive monitoring.

Evolution of pandemic H1N1 2009 in animals
------------------------------------------
The OIE is closely monitoring the world animal health situation including
with regard to infections of all susceptible animals with the pandemic H1N1
2009 virus.

Regular reports of countries notifying the presence of the pandemic H1N1
2009 influenza virus in animals to the OIE show disease surveillance in
animals and reporting mechanisms function well and, that the very vast
majority of OIE Member Countries act in full transparency with the
international community.

"Pandemic H1N1 2009 virus infections in pigs and other susceptible animals
were assessed as probable from the very 1st days after the virus was
detected in humans. So, it does not come as a surprise that notifications
of infection in new animals species are received; on the contrary it
demonstrates animal disease surveillance is efficient and functioning to
the benefit of all," Dr Bernard Vallat, OIE director general commented.

So far, no evidence has suggested that animals play any particular role in
the epidemiology or the spread of the pandemic H1N1 2009 virus among
humans. Instead, investigations led by competent national authorities point
to possible human-to-animal transmission in most cases. For this reason,
the OIE considers that it is sufficient to certify the healthy state of
animals for international trade during the relevant period before their
exportation and maintains its position that no specific measures, including
laboratory tests, are required for international trade in live pigs and
other susceptible animal species and/or their products.


Laboratories in the OFFLU network (OIE-FAO joint network of expertise on
animal influenza) across the world have been sharing biological material
and information, and have been working to assess transmission and
pathogenesis of the pandemic H1N1 2009 virus in different species of
animals. The experiments demonstrated among other things at an early stage
that pigs are susceptible to the pandemic H1N1 2009 virus but that infected
pigs only showed mild signs of disease.

Nevertheless, the OIE continues to encourage the surveillance and reporting
of the presence of all epidemiologic events of significance in animals due
to influenza viruses, as well as any other emerging pathogen.

http://promedmail.oracle.com/pls/otn/pm ... 91106.3840

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Sat Nov 07, 2009 11:19 am
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Post Re: Just H1N1 News And Latest Buzz
Quote:
CTV Montreal - Quebec woman dies after contracting H1N1 virus - CTV News, Shows and Sports -- Canadian Television


Updated: Wed Nov. 04 2009 5:17:04 PM
ctvmontreal.ca

http://montreal.ctv.ca/servlet/an/local ... /20091103/

A 42-year-old Quebec woman has died from complications resulting from the H1N1 virus.

It is the third death in the province since September.

The woman, who worked at the Monteregie Health and Social Services Centre, died Tuesday night.

Public health officials said the woman was not a nurse or front line worker who was in contact with patients.

She had also received the H1N1 vaccination on Oct. 29, two days before coming down with symptoms of the flu.

Montreal public health agency alters vaccination plan

Montreal's public health agency says young children will get the H1N1 shot sooner than originally planned, as CTV Montreal's Cindy Sherwin first reported Tuesday.

The official announcement was made on Wednesday morning for ten mass vaccination centres that will be opened from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Montreal vaccinations scheduled for Friday Nov. 6 for families with babies under 6 months, along with people with weak immune systems, will instead take place one day early, on Thursday, Nov. 5.

Additionally, children under the age of 5 -- originally scheduled for vaccinations beginning Monday, Nov. 9 -- will be added to that priority group.

The health agency says the decision is the result of many children coming down with the flu.

"Everyone will get their turn"

Montreal public health officials even those who are in good health should be vaccinated - but they will have to wait their turn.

Here is the schedule, from the Montreal Health and Social Services Centre:

As of November 5

* Children 6 months to 5 years of age
* Parents, brothers and sisters of infants less than 6 months of age
* Women more than 20 weeks pregnant (vaccine with adjuvant**)
* Pregnant women with a chronic medical condition (vaccine with adjuvant**)

**As recommended by medical and public health authorities

As of November 9

* Women who are less than 20 weeks pregnant

As of November 16

* Individuals less than 18 years of age suffering from a chronic medical condition ((people with diabetes, asthma, bronchitis, heart failure, etc.)

As of November 23

* Individuals between 18 and 65 years of age suffering from a chronic medical condition (people with diabetes, asthma, bronchitis, heart failure, etc.)

As of December 7

* Youth 5 to 18 years of age
* Adults 19 to 65 years of age
* Individuals above 65 years of age

To get vaccinated, you must go to a Centre de vaccination contre la grippe A(H1N1), which is open 7 days a week, from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Starting November 5

Ancien Hôpital général de Lachine - 3320 Notre-Dame Street

Centre des loisirs de Saint-Laurent - 1375 Grenet Street

Clinique médicale Physergo du Sud-Ouest - 5260 Verdun Street

Collège Reine-Marie - 9300 Saint-Michel Boulevard

Frédérick-Banting Elementary School - 11135 Alfred Avenue

Mail Cavendish - 5800 Cavendish Boulevard

Place Alexis Nihon - 1500 Atwater Avenue

Théâtre du quartier - 3990 Notre-Dame Street West

CLSC du Plateau-Mont-Royal - 4625 De Lorimier Avenue (Open from November 5 to 15 only)

CLSC de Hochelaga-Maisonneuve - 4201 Ontario Street (Open November 5, 6, 7 and 8 only)

Starting November 6

ADDED VACCINATION CENTRES:

Carrefour Angrignon - 7077 Newman Boulevard

Centre communautaire Patro Le Prévost - 7355 Christophe-Colomb Avenue

Allancroft Elementary School - 265 Allancroft Road

Hôpital Rivière-des-Prairies - 7070 Perras Boulevard

Starting November 9

ADDED VACCINATION CENTRES:

Olympic Stadium - 4545 Pierre-de-Coubertin Avenue (Closed on November 22 and 23)

Starting November 16

ADDED VACCINATION CENTRES:

Centre Récréatif Édouard-Rivet - 11111 Notre-Dame Street East

Spring Garden Elementary School - 175 Sonata Avenue

Palais des congrès - 1001 Jean-Paul-Riopelle Street

Starting November 21

ADDED VACCINATION CENTRES:

Collège Mont-Saint-Louis - 1700 Henri-Bourassa Boulevard East (Opened Saturdays and Sundays only)

Don't forget!

* To receive your vaccine, you need to have I.D. (medicare card)
* If you are a parent or family member of a child less than 6 months of age, bring the child's birth certificate
* To make the vaccination process easier, wear clothing with sleeves that can be easily rolled up

Before going to a vaccination centre, always consult:

www.pandemiequebec.gouv.qc.ca

www.santemontreal.qc.ca

Services Québec at: 514-644-4545

Please Add Comments(17)

Esther
This should of been better organized and offered to Doctors' at their private clinics to be better able to handle the population, instead of having long line-ups and people frustrated with reason.

Bob
Waiting for the next change to come.

Shannon
It's great that they have moved up the innoculation dates by two days. However, they have managed to inconvenience famillies and parents even further by ensuring that the whole family will not get vaccinated together over the next two days.
Am I to understand that Parentsor older siblings must come at a later date for a second visit.
We get to spend our time waiting with our children to get them vaccinated and then we get the pleasure of gracing the vaccination centers with a second visit for ourselves as early as Monday (assuming they don't make a change there).
Talk about innefficient.

EDWIN GIBSON
I FEEL THAT THE GOVERNMENT HAS MISMANAGED THE HANDLING OF ITS TREATMENT OF THE SWINE FLU VACCINE. I REMEMBER RECEIVING VACCINATIONS AT SCHOOL WHEN I WAS A CHILD. WHY DIDN'T THE GORNMENT TAKE THIS AVENUE WITH THIS VACCINE. CLEARLY THEY (MEANING THE CHILDREN) ARE THE ONES AT RISK. IT WOULD BE AN IDEAL SOLUTION FOR ALL CONCERNED.
SINCERELY,
EDWIN GIBSON

Jennifer
As a parent of four young children, the youngest being 5 months, i cannot even begin to express my anger, frustration and anxiety over how this whole vaccination program has been handled. Just as we have rearranged our schedules and arranged care for the baby so we can get immunized on Friday, the dates change??????
Shame on the federal and provincial governments for the chaos they have wreaked on all of us.
For a civilized society, this is completely uncivilized.
We should have had access to this vaccine from our pediatricians and GPs and CLSCs like every year.
Now we have to take our children to wait in line for hours in public crowded places so they can catch the flu we are all trying to prevent!
Where is the logic?????

M
I love this province. What a bunch of ...

Elle
I am surprised that people did not expect total mayhem when such a large program is organized by the government. Everything the government does is complicated and confusing. I'm upset with this situation as most people are but understand that priorities must be set. The public must also READ and FOLLOW the rules. This round is for PRE-SCHOOL children UNDER the AGE OF 5. If everyone observed the rules maybe, just maybe, this situation would not be so unacceptable. I, for one, try to avoid crowds, wash my hands very often, have stopped shaking hands and wear gloves as much as possible.

tony
All you guys are crazy !!! I use to think canadians are more smart then americans but now i see its not true...
In europe this vacine is been given to only people with chronical problems or other medical problems ... thats it thats all people be smart about it and dont belive what does media saying 24/7
the woman who actualy die today after she recive vacine !!!!

Justice
Another alternative is to commit a crime, go to prison and then get vaccinated...why not, they get preferential treatment, read the article....

Concerned
Hello.......did anyone read this article, a women died and she took the vaccine 2 days before getting the flu, does this mean the vaccine is useless did she get sick because of the vaccine?

Samantha
I think is a bad idea put all that people together like that..I saw in the news lines of people with babies , pregnant womens under rain and cold for hrs waiting for the vacine they should send them to the pediatrician and family doctors that will be the ideal

Ema
I'm still skeptical about the new vaccine.
It's not as if its long term effects have been studied. In the end, the only thing that will happen is that the companies which make the vaccines will have become multimillionaires. hooray!

GL
Can any medical experts explain why the woman died 2 days after the shot? This is rather concerning. Does it mean
1. The vaccine is not as effective as it should be?
2. It takes X (more than 2) days for the body to develop antibody?
What's going on with this vaccine. Need explanation ASAP!!!

Tara
How safe is this vaccine??? people who are getting the vaccine have died.. Everyone is confused.. What do we do ?? Is this virus really all that bad ?

Marlene
I disagree with you Esther imagine everyone trying to get an appointment with their doctor plus the cost would end up much higher.The way that it is being done is ok we just have to stay calm and go when it is our turn...

Kathy
The system is totally unbelievable. Inmates and hockey players being vaccinated before our children, who spend all day together in a class, a real breeding ground for the flu. What are they waiting for to get the vaccines into the schools. I am at the point that I will keep my son home. I heard through the grapevine that a girl in his class was confirmed to have H1N1 last Monday but here we are Thursday and the school has not yet notified us. By the time everyone gets their vaccine, the worst of the pandemic will be over. It takes two weeks to take effect (unfortunately for this poor woman who just died) so it will be the end of december before we are protected. I am deeply disappointed in the way this is being handled. How strange that the entire country can handle the whole population showing up to vote in one day but they are unable to organize a more efficient vaccination program.

Tom T
Why doesn't the headline read "Woman dies after receiving swine flu vaccine"??
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Sat Nov 07, 2009 12:49 pm
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Post Re: Just H1N1 News And Latest Buzz
Quote:
Shocking H1N1 Swine Flu Vaccine Miscarriage Stories From Pregnant Women

U.S. health authorities have made pregnant women one of the highest priority groups for getting the H1N1 swine flu vaccine, but is it actually safe for pregnant women and their babies? Well, the truth is that miscarriage reports from pregnant women who have taken the H1N1 swine flu vaccine are starting to pour in from all over the nation. Vaccines and pregnancy simply do not mix safely. In fact, the package inserts for the swine flu vaccines actually say that the safety of these vaccines for pregnant women has not been established.

What you are about to read below should shock and anger you. If they are telling us that the swine flu vaccine is not safe for children under 6 months of age, then why in the world would it be safe for pregnant women and their babies? That doesn't make an ounce of sense, does it?

EBWashington:

I am so upset. I was so excited to be pregnant after trying for a year. As soon as I found out I was pregnant, I joined this birth club and I was due June 25th. We have two healthy boys with no history of miscarriage. Everything was going great. Last Monday, I got the H1N1 vaccine thimerosal reduced (mercury reduced for pregnant women). On Tuesday morning, I started cramping and on Wednesday I started bleeding heavily. My hcg was 50 on Wednesday and I was almost 6 weeks along so it was low. They still thought that I might be pregnant but on Friday my hcg was down to 22. I am an emotional wreck. I feel like I had a healthy baby and I caused this by getting the H1N1 vaccine. My doctors pushed it. I researched online and there have been many miscarriages after the H1N1 vaccine but they haven't been reported since it is hard to say what caused the miscarriages. I hope that I did not cause this. I wish everyone the best.

Tayla08

I don't have an answer for you, but a friend of a friend just had a miscarriage 2-3 days after getting the shot. She was 7weeks. She had no previous history of m/c... No one can answer if they're related...it hasn't been out long enough and there haven't been any studies done on pregnant women. I will tell you, that it has made up my mind on getting it...I won't and I'm not going to get it for my DD either. My daughter and I both had H1N1 last week, and although it truly sucks...I think I'll take my chances. One doctor will tell you to get it and the next will tell you not too...you have to do what's in your heart.

90707

my heart goes out to you as i recently miscarried as well and was due in june. i had a healthy heart beat at 6wks. then at 7.5 wks my son got the h1n1 mist vaccine which has live vaccine in it. the nurse said to be careful b/c it could technically spread if he rubbed his nose and touched a surface etc. the next night i miscarried and 5 days later was diagnosed with h1n1. i work from home, kids are home, hadnt been anywhere during that time. so the chances that it is all related are very high. the flu mist vaccine warns for immunocompromised patients (which includes prego) to stay away from recipients of the flu mist for 21 days.

sue:

I had the H1N1 vaccination and 24 hours later had a miscarriage.

Linda Hill:

My daughter in law was 10 weeks pregnant and had the H1N1 vaccine on Friday that night she miscarried.

SoSorry:

I was so ready to get the H1N1 vaccine last week and they were only giving them to pregnant women. I was 6 weeks along and got it and the next day I started cramping and miscarried. I already had two healthy pregnancies and never miscarried or had any problems. My doctors think I am crazy to think it was the H1N1 but if no one looks into this than other women will not know. I am so sorry that I got it.

Connie:

I also received the H1N1 vaccination on October 22nd, 2009 and went into labor on October 25th, at 16 weeks pregnant and we just heard the heartbeat and everything was fine with my pregnancy on October 16th, 2009, then on October 28th my water broke then on October 29th, I delivered a stillborn baby boy, and no one can tell me why…Everyone wants to say it did not come from the shot but I believe it did. My baby was growing at the correct pace and everyone wants to brush off the vaccination. I say if you have the vaccination and suffer a miscarriage if they are able to perform an autopsy have it done.

I also agree something needs to be done and looked more into with this vaccination because most women are being advised it’s just something that happens, but I also had two healthy children normal pregnancies and when I received this vaccination with my third pregnancy, my baby is gone.

Source:
organicheltadviser.com


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Mon Nov 09, 2009 2:15 am
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Experts say radical measures won't stop swine flu

By MARIA CHENG (AP) – 2 hours ago

LONDON — Health experts say extraordinary measures against swine flu — most notably quarantines imposed by China, where entire planeloads of passengers were isolated if one traveler had symptoms — have failed to contain the disease.

Despite initially declaring success, Beijing now acknowledges its swine flu outbreak is much larger than official numbers show.

China's official count of nearly 70,000 reported illnesses with 53 deaths is dwarfed by estimates of millions of cases with nearly 4,000 deaths in the United States, a nation with about a third of China's population.

Dr. Michael O'Leary, WHO's top representative in China, says there has been a dramatic spike in Chinese swine flu cases recently and those reported by the government are only "minimum numbers."

"We have new cases occurring all the time," he told The Associated Press last week. "There's always more deaths than we could possibly know about."

He said there is little data to prove interventions like mass quarantines and school closures slow down disease transmission. "To draw a causal link ... is not always possible," O'Leary said, adding that WHO expected a disease as contagious as swine flu to spread regardless of what measures countries impose.

China's Health Minister Chen Zhu defended his country's aggressive quarantine policy, telling the AP on Wednesday that the measures helped slow the spread of the virus long enough for China to develop a vaccine, which authorities are now scrambling to administer.

"With initial efforts of containment, actually we not only reduced the impact of the first wave to China, but we also won time for us to prepare the vaccine," Chen said in an interview on the sidelines of a meeting of the Global Forum for Health Research in Havana.

He said China was vaccinating 1.5 million people a day against swine flu as part of a massive effort to try to reach as many as 90 million people — about 7 percent of the country's population — by the end of the year.

"We know this is not enough for a population of 1.3 billion, but at least for the vulnerable people, for the students, people with underlying basic diseases and ... for pregnant women, we have vaccines," Chen said.

On Thursday, Dr. Zhong Nanshan, director of Guangzhou's Institute of Respiratory Diseases, said in a local newspaper he believed government officials were covering up swine flu deaths to appear as though their handling of the epidemic had been successful.

"I totally don't believe the current number of swine flu deaths that have been reported in the country," Zhong said in Guangzhou Daily. He was one of the doctors who openly challenged China's 2003 cover-up of its outbreak of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome.

China has acknowledged swine flu is now widespread despite its aggressive attempts at containment.

Earlier this month, Feng Zijian, head of China's Center for Disease Control and Prevention, said the country's reported figures are only "a very small portion" of the total number of cases.

He said China is now focusing on confirming severe cases and no longer tests every person with a fever for swine flu. He said the official figures were based on cases confirmed in outbreaks or at monitoring sites like hospitals.

Other nations that have carried out draconian swine flu policies indicate they have little effect in containing the disease.

Ukraine, which reported more than 250,000 suspected cases last week, closed all schools and universities, and advised people not to travel and to stay away from public places. In Mongolia, all bus travel has been suspended and gatherings of more than 40 people have been banned. Still, both countries are now facing major swine flu outbreaks.

Argentina, Singapore, Malaysia and Egypt have also enacted radical swine flu prevention measures — and all have been gripped by widespread outbreaks.

When WHO declared swine flu to be a pandemic in June, it described the virus as "unstoppable." It advised countries not to close their borders or impose mass quarantines, warning such measures would be useless since people often spread flu viruses before developing any symptoms.

China is no exception, scientists say.

"China did not keep the virus out. They failed," said Dr. Michael Osterholm, director of the Center for Infectious Diseases Research and Policy at the University of Minnesota.

He said he believes the actual number of swine flu cases is "far in excess of what China is reporting," based on the center's own network of official and unofficial sources in the country.

Some experts say the relatively small size of China's reported outbreak is suspicious given that neighboring regions are battling huge epidemics. Last week, WHO said Mongolia, which borders China, was reporting its health system was being crushed by swine flu cases.

In Hong Kong, a city of 7 million on China's southern coastline, authorities have reported 40 swine flu deaths, compared to the 53 reported in China.

"The issue in China has to do with surveillance," said Sandra Mounier-Jack, a flu expert at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine. Because swine flu symptoms are so vague, many cases are being missed in China, as they are everywhere, she said.

WHO and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention gave up counting swine flu cases months ago when the virus became widespread.

Past disease outbreaks also give experts reason to question China's numbers. In 2003, China covered up an epidemic of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome, which ultimately killed about 800 people when it spread worldwide.

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/art ... wD9C2KVC00

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Post Re: Just H1N1 News And Latest Buzz
Mutation of A/H1N1 flu found on Chinese mainland
Via China Daily, a Xinhua report: Mutation of A/H1N1 flu found on Chinese mainland. The entire report:

Genetic mutation had been detectedin eight A/H1N1 flu cases on the Chinese mainland, an official with the Chinese National Influenza Center said here Wednesday.

Shu Yuelong, director of the center, said in an interview that the mutated virus was not resistant to drugs and could be prevented by vaccines.

http://crofsblogs.typepad.com/h5n1/2009 ... nland.html

What has mutated? where in the virus? what epidemiological changes does it create? :headbang

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Wed Nov 25, 2009 11:06 am
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Detected H1N1 mutations 'not dangerous'
By Shan Juan (China Daily)
Updated: 2009-11-25 08:13

Chinese health authorities detected mutations of the H1N1 virus on the Chinese mainland in June and July, but so far, the mutations are not creating any danger in terms of the number and severity of cases, health experts said.

Detected H1N1 mutations 'not dangerous'


Health officials did not make an announcement to the public earlier because the mutations carried too little public health significance.

China is among seven countries, including Brazil, Japan and Mexico, that have reported isolated cases involving this mutation, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).

Experts say the mutated virus is not circulating widely and has not been resistant to antiviral treatments like Tamiflu.

"The mutated viruses in the nation do not seem to be more virulent or infectious than the regular H1N1 one, and have caused no deaths here," said Feng Zijian, director of the emergency response department of the Chinese Centers for Disease Prevention and Control.

He declined to reveal more.

Vivian Tan, press officer of the WHO Beijing Office, said the organization had been informed by the Chinese government of the mutations earlier and that there were three such cases. (in the following post 8 cases are cited. ??

WHO's public health recommendations remain unchanged for now, as no evidence so far suggests these mutations are leading to an unusual increase in the number of H1N1 flu infections or a greater number of severe or fatal cases, the press officer said.

She urged Chinese authorities to maintain a high level of surveillance of flu-like illnesses, particularly any unusual changes in the severity or fatality of cases, to further expand the vaccination program, and to strengthen public health education among the people.

Meanwhile, Hong Kong's Department of Health announced on Monday that it had found a mutation in an H1N1 flu virus sample.

Department officials said that they had carried out an examination of the the genetic sequence of the H1N1 flu viruses in their monitoring systems.

Out of the 123 sequences studied, one sample showed a mutation.

The virus was taken from a 1-year-old boy who developed flu-like symptoms July 22.

The patient was admitted to Prince of Wales Hospital July 25 and discharged three days later. He has fully recovered.

Mutations are frequently encountered in influenza viruses, according to WHO.

http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/world/2009 ... 041315.htm

edited by ruts to underline statements

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Wed Nov 25, 2009 11:10 am
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Now I am more confused than ever (not unusual state for me lol Compare the underlined sections in this post with those above and maybe somebody can explain this to me. TIA

D225G Ukraine Norway Link and China Spread
Recombinomics Commentary 14:15
November 25, 2009

Quote:
The same mutation has been found in both fatal and mild cases elsewhere, including in Brazil, Japan, Mexico, Ukraine, and the United States, said the WHO.

WHO's spokeswoman in Beijing, Vivian Tan, said the agency is aware of three such cases in China that occurred in June and July that were similar to the cases being investigated in Norway. Tan said WHO had no information on the cases mentioned in the Xinhua report Wednesday.
There is no evidence the mutated swine flu virus is circulating widely in the world, Tan said, but since it has been linked to deaths in Norway and elsewhere, investigators are focusing on whether this mutation could be a marker for more severe disease.


The above comments are associated with a report of eight D225G isolates with in China. Genbank has three of the sequences, as noted earlier. The increase in examples to eight is not surprising since D225G was in four of four fatal cases in Ukraine and reports from Norway cited detection in three isolates, 2 fatal and 1 severe case who had recovered.

However, 25 HA sequences deposited at Genbank had an HA sequence that contained D225G, A/Norway/2924/2009, but also had the wild type sequence, raising concerns that D225G was circulating as a mixture that was most easily detected in lung samples, because the D225G was more than a "marker". It is a polymorphisms that was found in 1918 and 1919 samples which were well characterized for receptor binding properties, which indicated the change conferred increased binding to gal 2,3 receptors which are present in lung.

Concerns that this receptor binding domain change was widely circulating were increased because an HA marker on the Norway isolate with D225G was found on additional isolates in Norway, and worldwide (see list here). This marker was also in the HA sequences from the fatal cases in Ukraine. Full sequences from one of the Norway isolates, A/Norway/3364-2/2009, were deposited, and a marker on the NA sequence matched isolates with the HA marker, linking this broader set of isolate from Norway with the Ukraine sequences, which also had the NA marker, as did multiple other isolates (see list here).

These associations link Ukraine to Norway, but the D225G polymorphism has jumped onto multiple genetic backgrounds, which are widespread, increasing concerns the D225G is circulating undetected because it is concentrated in lung tissues and is poorly represented in nasopharyngeal swabs.

Release of full sequences from China, as well as Norway, would be useful.

http://www.recombinomics.com/News/11250 ... China.html

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Wed Nov 25, 2009 11:19 am
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Post Re: Just H1N1 News And Latest Buzz
UK: H1N1 found in Norfolk pigs
Via The PigSite.com: Pandemic H1N1 Flu Virus Found in Pigs in Norfolk. Excerpt:

A sixth case of pandemic H1N1 2009 influenza virus in pigs has today been confirmed in the UK.

Pigs on a farm in Norfolk have been confirmed as having a strain of influenza commonly known as ‘swine flu’ in people. This follows earlier cases in Northern Ireland.

Routine scanning surveillance has confirmed that the strain of the virus found is virtually identical to strains currently circulating in humans. It is not uncommon for pigs to be affected by influenza. Influenza in pigs is not a notifiable disease.

Swine flu in swine is spreading pretty rapidly. I've also seen reports of such outbreaks in Italy and other countries. It may be some consolation to the pigs that H1N1 seems far less fatal to them than to us. The lasting legacy of H1N1 may be just another damn problem for pigs and pig farmers.

http://crofsblogs.typepad.com/h5n1/2009 ... -pigs.html

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Post Re: Just H1N1 News And Latest Buzz
USDA Listing Of Animals With H1N1





# 4121





Over the past couple of months we’ve heard of a number of instances here in the United States, and around the world, of animals infected with the H1N1 2009 pandemic virus.



Today we get a list from the USDA of animals in the US that have tested positive for the virus. Aside from humans and swine (16), the USDA lists ferrets (5), cats(3), turkeys (5), and a Cheetah (1) as having contracted the virus.



A hat tip to Farmer on FluTrackers for posting this link. (See original post - it is too small on here to read.)




The infection of swine with an H1N1 swine-like virus isn’t unexpected, nor is the susceptibility of ferrets a big surprise. Ferrets are often used in influenza research because they are susceptible to the virus.



The jumping to cats is a bit more surprising, given that the only other flu virus known to affect cats is the H5N1 bird flu.



The susceptibility of turkeys, given that research over the summer stated that they were not likely to acquire the virus, is perhaps the biggest surprise (see US: Turkey Farm Reports H1N1).



The promiscuous nature of this novel H1N1 continues to raise concerns, something that the Reveres at Effect Measure discussed last week (see Dogs, cats and swine flu's promiscuity).



Not included (yet) in the above list is the report today of 2 cats, from different households in Colorado, that have tested positive for the virus.





CSU treats two cats suffering from swine flu



Two cats from different households in Colorado have tested positive for the H1N1 virus, or “swine flu,” according to Colorado State University's Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory.



The cats are expected to recover but their cases serve as a reminder to pet owners to seek treatment for animals that appear to be ill. Veterinarians believe that both cats became ill after a person in their household contracted the virus.



The feline cases come after H1N1 has been identified in ferrets, birds and other cats in the United States.

(Continue . . .)

http://afludiary.blogspot.com/2009/12/u ... -h1n1.html

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Post Re: Just H1N1 News And Latest Buzz
Hat tip to FLA_MEDIC

# 4015



Over the past few days allegations of impropriety and conflict of interest have arisen regarding the WHO (World Health Organization) and their use of advisors, some reportedly being paid by pharmaceutical companies.


An example of some of the coverage can be found in the PharmaTimes.





Swine flu labelled a conspiracy


02 December 2009


The swine flu pandemic has been named as the “most ambitious scam and corruption of our time” after pharma has been found to be in bed with the World Health Organisation.



Journalists from Denmark have reported links between the World Health Organisation and pharmaceutical companies where firms have been covertly paying top WHO scientists. In the meantime, pharma profits from flu drugs have soared.



The journalists from the newspaper Information claim the public and political hysteria to swine flu is a result of an efficient public relations campaign, spearheaded by the WHO experts that have been prejudiced by pharma’s ready cash.

(Continue . . . )



The WHO has responded today with a lengthy briefing note outlining the steps they’ve taken to prevent conflicts of interest. Admittedly, this statement may do little to dissuade the critics of the WHO and big Pharmaceutical interests.




WHO use of advisory bodies in responding to the influenza pandemic

Pandemic (H1N1) 2009 briefing note 19



3 DECEMBER 2009 | GENEVA -- WHO is aware of some concerns, expressed in the media, that ties with the pharmaceutical industry among experts on the Organization’s advisory bodies may influence policy decisions, especially those relating to the influenza pandemic.



WHO has historically collaborated with the pharmaceutical industry for legitimate reasons. Efforts to improve health depend on better access to high-quality and affordable medicines, vaccines, and diagnostics. Medical interventions, including antiviral drugs, vaccines, and diagnostic tests, have long been recognized for their role in mitigating the health impact of an influenza pandemic. Pharmaceutical companies play an essential role in this regard and WHO has engaged with them to pursue its public health objectives.


Conflicts of interest: safeguards in place

Potential conflicts of interest are inherent in any relationship between a normative and health development agency, like WHO, and a profit-driven industry. Similar considerations apply when experts advising the Organization have professional links with pharmaceutical companies. Numerous safeguards are in place to manage possible conflicts of interest or their perception.



External experts who advise WHO are required to provide a declaration of interests that details professional or financial interests that could compromise the impartiality of their advice. Procedures are in place for identifying, investigating and assessing potential conflicts of interest, disclosing them, and taking appropriate action such as excluding an expert from participating in a meeting.
International Health Regulations

The influenza pandemic is providing the first major test of the revised International Health Regulations, which were approved by WHO Member States in 2005 and came into legal force in 2007. The Regulations provide an orderly, rules-based mechanism for coordinating the response to public health emergencies of international concern, such as that caused by the H1N1 pandemic virus.



Apart from protecting public health against the international spread of disease, the Regulations contain provisions for avoiding unnecessary interference with international travel and trade.



Under the provisions of the revised Regulations, an Emergency Committee advises the WHO Director-General on matters such as declaring a public health emergency of international concern, the need to raise the level of pandemic alert following spread of the H1N1 virus, and the need to introduce temporary measures, such as restrictions on travel or trade. Final decisions are made by the Director-General, as guided by the Committee’s advice.



All members of the Emergency Committee sign a confidentiality agreement, provide a declaration of interests, and agree to give their consultative time freely, without compensation. Members of the Committee are drawn from a roster of about 160 experts covering a range of public health areas. The framework for membership is set out in the International Health Regulations. Each State Party to the Regulations is entitled to nominate one member of the roster and additional experts are appointed by the Director-General. Recommendations of the Emergency Committee are immediately made public on the WHO web site together with the relevant decisions of the Director-General.



Strategic Advisory Group of Experts on Immunization



In responding to the pandemic, WHO has also drawn on advice from a standing body of experts, the Strategic Advisory Group of Experts on Immunization (SAGE), which advises WHO on vaccine use. Members of SAGE are likewise required to declare all professional and financial interests, including funding received from pharmaceutical companies or consultancies or other forms of professional engagement with pharmaceutical companies. The names and affiliations of members of SAGE and of SAGE working groups are published on the WHO web site, together with meeting reports and declarations of interest submitted by the experts.



Allegations of undeclared conflicts of interest are taken very seriously by WHO, and are immediately investigated.





Criticisms: understandable but unfounded



Public perceptions about the current H1N1 influenza pandemic, as well as national preparedness plans, were strongly influenced by a five-year close watch over the highly lethal H5N1 avian influenza virus, which was widely regarded as the virus most likely to ignite the next influenza pandemic. A pandemic caused by a virus that kills more than 60% of the people it infects is strikingly, and fortunately, very different from the reality of the current pandemic.



Adjusting public perceptions to suit a far less lethal virus has been problematic. Given the discrepancy between what was expected and what has happened, a search for ulterior motives on the part of WHO and its scientific advisers is understandable, though without justification.



WHO has consistently assessed the impact of the current influenza pandemic as moderate. WHO has consistently reminded the medical community, public, and media that the overwhelming majority of patients experience mild influenza-like illness and recover fully within a week, even without any form of medical treatment. WHO has consistently advised against any restrictions on travel or trade. Although influenza viruses are notoriously unpredictable, it is hoped that this moderate impact will continue throughout the duration of the pandemic.




http://www.who.int/csr/disease/swineflu ... index.html

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Post Re: Just H1N1 News And Latest Buzz
Shanghai: Serum Treatment For H1N1





# 4112




Shanghai health authorities are asking those who have been vaccinated against the H1N1 virus to donate blood so they can create a serum to treat seriously ill patients.



If all of this sounds vaguely familiar to you, it may be because we’ve discussed this process in the past. Two years ago, in fact, in a blog entitled Human Serum For Bird Flu?



Since that time, we’ve heard of several attempts in China to treat seriously ill bird flu patients with convalescent serum. While some successes have been reported, not all have had positive outcomes.



First today’s article from the Shanghai Daily, then we’ll revisit the subject.




City calls for blood in swine-flu war

By Cai Wenjun | 2009-12-3 |

SHANGHAI health authorities yesterday launched their latest drive in the fight against swine flu, calling on people who have been vaccinated against the virus to donate blood for emergency-treatment storage.



First in the queue will be 34 inoculated medical staff at the Shanghai Public Health Clinical Center, who are expected to donate blood today.



City blood-collection authorities said that general donations were also welcome as supplies were low, particularly of types A and O.



According to experts, a person starts to produce antibodies three weeks after catching swine flu or two weeks after vaccination.



Blood from these people can then be used to treat patients seriously affected by the H1N1 virus.



"Using serum from vaccinated staff to treat serious cases is mentioned in a treatment guide issued by the Ministry of Health," said Dr Lu Hongzhou, a member of city's expert panel on swine-flu treatment - and one of the 34 expected donors.



"The technology is safe and we have used it on our patients with good results," Lu said.

(Continue . . . )





Harvesting serum antibodies from someone who has been vaccinated, or who has contracted a disease and recovered, is not a new idea. In fact the first controlled clinical trial, Fibiger’s trial of serum treatment of Diptheria, dates back to 1898.



During the great pandemic of 1918, serum treatments were tried, but the results were often disappointing.



In recent years Chinese scientists have suggested infecting horses with an attenuated (weakened) H5N1 and producing a serum.



The process is relatively simple. Once someone (or an animal) is able to produce antibodies, a quantity of blood can be removed and through a process called plasmapheresis, the blood cells are removed from the blood plasma.



This is done by passing the blood through a special filter, or by using a centrifuge. The blood plasma will contain antibodies that could then be injected into people.



A serum could, theoretically, be used as either a treatment for someone already infected, or as a prophylactic, to prevent infection.



There are problems involved, however.



It takes a large amount of blood product to produce a small amount of serum. Human donors would have to be screened for AIDS and Hepatitis, among other blood borne diseases.



Horse serum is still used today, although sparingly, because of `serum sickness’, a reaction to the serum that can be fatal.



And lastly, a serum is not a vaccine. It confers a temporary immunity, not a permanent one.



A PLoS One study from August of 2008 followed the treatment, and course of illness, of 26 Chinese H5N1 patients. Convalescent plasma – or serum – was tried with success on a couple of them.

http://afludiary.blogspot.com/2009/12/s ... -h1n1.html

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Post Re: Just H1N1 News And Latest Buzz
Didn't they use this method with smallpox? using the milkmaids who caught cowpox?

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Sat Dec 12, 2009 7:46 pm
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Post Re: Just H1N1 News And Latest Buzz
Yes, Siam, that is where the vaccination for smallpox started. There were also some doctors who used this method in 1918. I believe I read that they were the only ones who had any real success in saving very ill patients, but I have to check that; it was successful though. That I know.

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Sun Dec 13, 2009 2:40 pm
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Post Re: Just H1N1 News And Latest Buzz
1918 Spanish flu treatment may also be effective for current avian influenza patients
4. September 2006 07:35

Quote:
USU faculty have discovered that a treatment for the Spanish Influenza pandemic may also be effective for current Avian Influenza patients.

The four researchers analyzed medical literature reported during the Spanish Flu pandemic of 1918 to 1920. They found that transfusions with blood products from Spanish Flu survivors may have reduced the risk of death in seriously ill Spanish Flu patients.

The meta-analysis of these data show that treatment of patients in 1918 with convalescent whole blood, plasma or serum obtained from humans who had recovered from Spanish Influenza resulted in a reduced mortality of seriously ill patients by 50 percent.

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Post Re: Just H1N1 News And Latest Buzz
INFLUENZA PANDEMIC (H1N1) 2009 (129): INDIGENOUS PEOPLES
***********************************************
A ProMED-mail post
<http://www.promedmail.org>
ProMED-mail is a program of the
International Society for Infectious Diseases
<http://www.isid.org>

Date: Fri 11 Dec 2009
Source: MMWR Weekly 58(48);1341-1344, 2009 [edited]
<http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm5848a1.htm>


Indigenous populations from Australia, Canada, and New Zealand have
been found to have a 3 to 8 times higher rate of hospitalization and
death associated with infection with the 2009 pandemic influenza A
(H1N1) virus (1). In October 2009, 2 U.S. states (Arizona and New
Mexico) observed a disproportionate number of deaths related to H1N1
among American Indian/Alaska Natives (AI/ANs). These observations,
plus incomplete reporting of race/ethnicity at the national level,
led to formation of a multidisciplinary workgroup composed of
representatives from 12 state health departments, the Council of
State and Territorial Epidemiologists, tribal epidemiology centers,
the Indian Health Service, and CDC. The workgroup assessed the burden
of H1N1 influenza deaths in the AI/AN population by compiling
surveillance data from the states and comparing death rates. The
results indicated that, during 15 Apr to 13 Nov 2009, AI/ANs in the
12 participating states had a [pandemic] H1N1 mortality rate 4 times
higher than persons in all other racial/ethnic populations combined.
Reasons for this disparity in death rates are unknown and need
further investigation; however, they might include a high prevalence
of chronic health conditions (e.g., diabetes and asthma) among AI/ANs
that predisposes them to influenza complications, poverty (e.g., poor
living conditions), and delayed access to care. Efforts are needed to
increase awareness among AI/ANs and their health-care providers of
the potential severity of influenza and current recommendations
regarding the timely use of antiviral medications. Efforts to promote
the use of 2009 H1N1 influenza monovalent vaccine in AI/AN
populations should be expanded.

In November 2009, all state health departments were invited to
participate in the workgroup investigation by providing data on
influenza-related deaths among their residents. 12 states (Alabama,
Alaska, Arizona, Michigan, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma,
Oregon, South Dakota, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming) chose to
participate, representing 50 percent of the AI/AN population in the
United States. An H1N1 death was defined as a death in a resident of
a participating state reported during 15 Apr to 13 Nov 2009 with any
positive result from an influenza test, including rapid enzyme
immunoassay, direct or indirect influenza fluorescent antibody,
real-time reverse transcription--polymerase chain reaction assay
(rRT-PCR), or viral culture. Because greater than 99 percent of
influenza specimens tested during the study period had been found to
be H1N1, all cases with a positive influenza test were presumed to be
[pandemic] H1N1 and not seasonal influenza. Race/ethnicity and
influenza risk status* of decedents were determined through review of
death certificates, medical records, or death investigation reports.
CDC-defined groups at higher risk for influenza complications were
used to classify decedents as at high risk for influenza
complications. Bridged-race vintage 2008 postcensal population
estimates** were used by all states to determine population data for
rate calculations. Death rates by race/ethnicity were age adjusted to
the 2000 U.S. standard population. Using rate ratios, AI/AN death
rates were compared with death rates for all other racial/ethnic
populations, including deaths in persons of unknown race.

A total of 426 H1N1 deaths were reported by the 12 states during 15
Apr to 13 Nov 2009 (tabulated in the original text). 42 deaths (9.9
percent) occurred among AI/ANs, although AI/ANs make up approximately
3 percent of the total population in the 12 states. The overall AI/AN
H1N1-related death rate was 3.7 per 100 000 population, compared with
0.9 per 100 000 for all other racial/ethnic populations combined,
resulting in a mortality rate ratio of 4.0. Age group-specific
H1N1-related death rates were 3.5 for persons aged 0 to 4 years, 1.1
for persons aged 5 to 24 years, 4.2 for persons aged 25 to 64 years,
and 7.2 for persons aged 65 years or older. In all age groups, the
AI/AN death rate was higher than the rate for all other racial/ethnic
populations combined.

Among the AI/AN deaths related to H1N1, 81.0 percent of decedents had
high-risk health conditions, compared with 77.6 percent of persons in
all other racial/ethnic populations combined (data tabulated in the
original text). In addition, greater percentages of AI/AN decedents
had asthma (31.0 percent) and diabetes (45.2 percent) than decedents
in all other racial/ethnic populations combined (14.1 percent asthma
and 24.0 percent diabetes).

(Reported By: L Castrodale, J McLaughlin, Alaska Div of Public
Health. S Imholte, K Komatsu, Arizona Dept of Health Svcs. E Wells,
Michigan Dept of Community Health. M Landen, D Selvage, M Sewell, C
Smelser, D Thompson, New Mexico Dept of Health. K Bradley, C
McDonald, Oklahoma State Dept of Health. R Leman, M Powell, Oregon
Dept of Human Svcs. T Miller, L VanderBusch, North Dakota Dept of
Health. L Kightlinger, South Dakota Dept of Health. R Boulton, Utah
Dept of Health. K Lofy, AA Marfin, Washington State Dept of Health. R
McClinton, Wyoming Dept of Health. M Hoopes, Northwest Portland
Tribal Epidemiology Center. T Kim, California Tribal Epidemiology
Center. JM Hayes, Tribal Epidemiology Center, United South and
Eastern Tribes. Z Mahal, Inter Tribal Council of Arizona Epidemiology
Center. E Chao, Council of State and Territorial Epidemiologists. T
Weiser, Portland area; JE Cheek, JT Redd, Div of Epidemiology and
Disease Prevention, Indian Health Svc. R Bryan, Office of State and
Local Support, Office of the Director; M Jhung, nfluenza Div,
National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases; M
Morrison, D O'Leary, Career Epidemiology Field Officer Program,
Coordinating Office for Terrorism Preparedness and Emergency
Response; M Nichols, EIS Officer, CDC.)

MMWR Editorial Note:
----------------------
The AI/AN population is culturally diverse and spread among
approximately 560 federally recognized tribal communities in 34
states and multiple urban areas (2). Health disparities between the
AI/AN population and other racial/ethnic populations are well
documented (3). Mortality rates and trends for respiratory diseases
indicate that AI/ANs are at increased risk for death resulting from
pneumonia and influenza (4,5). Although AI/AN death rates varied
among the 12 participating states in this study, the aggregate AI/AN
H1N1-related death rate from 12 states was 4 times higher than that
of all other racial/ethnic groups combined.

The higher mortality rate among AI/ANs observed in this investigation
is consistent with reports of increased influenza-related morbidity
and mortality among indigenous populations in other parts of the
world during the current H1N1 pandemic and also is consistent with
observations from previous pandemics (1,2). After the influenza
pandemic of 1918-19, U.S. government investigators reported that
influenza-related mortality rates among AI/ANs were 4 times higher
than the rates observed among persons in general urban populations (2).

The factors that produce a higher influenza mortality rate among
AI/ANs are unknown but might include higher prevalence of underlying
chronic illness such as diabetes. The age-specific prevalence of
diabetes in AI/AN adults is 2-3 times higher than for all U.S. adults
(6). In addition, AI/ANs are twice as likely to have unmet medical
needs because of cost (7). AI/ANs also have the highest poverty rate
(30 percent), which is twice the national rate and 3 times the rate
for whites among households with children aged less than 18 years
(8), suggesting that delayed access to medical care and living
conditions associated with poverty might contribute to their higher
influenza mortality rate.

The findings in this report are subject to at least 5 limitations.
1st, AI/AN decedents often are mis-classified as persons of other
races on death certificates, decreasing the number of A1/AN deaths by
as much as 30 percent in some reports (9). 2nd, the time lags in
reporting of deaths and the manner in which states collect death data
and classify decedents as at high risk for influenza complications
might vary and affect rate ratios in an unpredictable manner. 3rd,
race and ethnicity were unknown for 19 deaths, although for a
conservative comparison, these deaths were included with the combined
group of all other racial/ethnic populations. 4th, greater incidence
of influenza disease among AI/ANs might have contributed to the
higher mortality rate; however, the incidence of disease among AI/ANs
is unlikely to be so much greater than all other populations that it
could account for a mortality rate that is 4 times higher. Data on
race/ethnicity are not collected consistently for influenza patients.
Finally, although over 99 percent of all identified influenza strains
in the United States during the investigation period were thought to
be H1N1, confirmation by rRT-PCR or viral culture was not required
for inclusion in this analysis.

Effective public health responses to influenza will depend on
accurate and complete reporting of race/ethnicity in all state and
federal mortality surveillance systems. Community education regarding
the risk for influenza mortality among AI/ANs should be expanded.
Increased efforts should be made to promote awareness among AI/ANs
and their health-care providers about the signs and symptoms of
influenza and recommendations for vaccination and the use of
influenza antiviral medications early in the course of suspected
influenza illness for those at increased risk for complications.
Finally, factors that might contribute to increased influenza-related
mortality in the AI/AN population, including the role of underlying
chronic medical conditions and social determinants of health, should
be topics for future investigation.

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Post Re: Just H1N1 News And Latest Buzz
‘Little ripple' in swine flu cases noted :hmm
Texas Children’s Hospital doctors, others watching to see if trend grows
By PEGGY O'HARE
Copyright 2010 Houston Chronicle
March 13, 2010, 7:23AM

Doctors have noticed a small rise in the number of flu cases at Texas Children's Hospital in the past few weeks, and health officials are hoping the coming months won't bring a repeat of last spring's rash of swine flu illness.

“It's a slight but steady increase over the last seven to 10 days — it's a little ripple,” said Dr. Gail Demmler-Harrison, director of the hospital's diagnostic virology laboratory and also with the Baylor College of Medicine. “But it's been a sustained ripple of influenza A virus detections. So we're waiting to see what's going to happen.”

There were two culture-confirmed cases of Type A influenza in December, three in January and seven in February — all found to be of the swine flu subtype, Demmler-Harrison said.

Five cases of Type A influenza surfaced in the first week of March, but tests are still pending to determine if those are swine flu, she said.

Plenty of vaccines to protect against the swine flu remain available, and more can be obtained if necessary, said Kathy Barton, spokeswoman for the Houston Department of Health and Human Services. The vaccinations can be found at numerous pharmacies and are available during regular business hours Monday through Friday at the city health department facilities, she said.

Barton said she has heard of only two swine flu cases coming out of the city department's lab.

“Right now we haven't seen enough for our hair to be on fire — but we are concerned,” Barton said. “This is exactly the time of year we saw it pop up last spring in Mexico — in March — and then it got to us in April. So it could happen again.”

The illness hit Houston hard last April and May, closing some schools. It simmered over the summer before reaching its peak in September and October, Demmler-Harrison said.

“Last season, there were lots of infections, and there were deaths and there were seriously ill children,” she said. “But there were lots of children that also recovered uneventfully.”

18 deaths in county
Harris County has seen 28 deaths and 219 hospitalizations from swine flu since April 15, 2009, according to the Texas Department of State Health Services. Texas reported 222 deaths and more than 2,200 hospitalizations during that time frame, the agency said.

About 59 million Americans caught the illness last year, resulting in about 12,000 deaths and 265,000 hospitalizations, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

People can best protect themselves by getting vaccinated, washing their hands, staying home if the get sick and calling their doctor if they begin suffering from flu-like symptoms, Demmler-Harrison said.

“There are also a lot of other viruses still circulating now … all transmitted in similar manner,” she said. “So just because somebody right now gets a flu-like illness does not mean it's the swine flu. It could be one of the half dozen other viruses causing similar symptoms.”

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/metropolitan/6911268.html

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Sat Mar 13, 2010 7:37 am
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Post Re: Just H1N1 News And Latest Buzz
I believe VA is starting another round of ad campaigns to push the vaccines they have in storage due to the fact less people saught them than anticipated. I believe the budget for this was secured during the onset from the federal level so it will not be costing the state to push another round of public service spots on radio and t.v.

I believe this push is not due to a raise in swineflu cases but because the vaccines have expiration and disposing unused vaccines will cost the state money in addition to current storage.

Of course, I believe when people get the vaccine because of the recent push the number of actual cases will spike due to the virus shedding from spraying it into your nose.

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Sat Mar 13, 2010 10:09 am
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Post Re: Just H1N1 News And Latest Buzz
Quote:
I believe this push is not due to a raise in swineflu cases but because the vaccines have expiration and disposing unused vaccines will cost the state money in addition to current storage.

Of course, I believe when people get the vaccine because of the recent push the number of actual cases will spike due to the virus shedding from spraying it into your nose.


Bravo, Mik, BRAVO!!!!!! :clap :clap :clap

Posted the above because I thought it was interesting that this little "blip" in cases warranted mention in the home town newspaper. :hmm

I really don't know what to think. Last year TPTB scared the beejeesus out of folks in Texas! Schools closed, etc., etc.

That said - I'm too much of an old school pandemic bird flu watcher to simply blow it off. :sherlock

But folks - Mik has a point and, IMHO, a very, very good one! ;)

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Sun Mar 14, 2010 8:28 am
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Post Re: Just H1N1 News And Latest Buzz
Hopefully the Obama Admin will look into Baxter the same way as they are Monsanto...

Not saying that ANYTHING will come of it but at least they are looking into it :sherlock

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Sun Mar 14, 2010 1:33 pm
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Post Re: Just H1N1 News And Latest Buzz
I'm not so sure, L, that will happen. I remembered something about Obama and Baxter, so I looked it up.

Barack Obama has shares in Baxter

The President of the United States, Barack Obama has shares in Baxter, the company many say is responsible for the h1n1 swine flu pandemic. Back 2005 Barack Obama bought $50,000 worth of stock in two companies.
Right after he bought the shares also in 2005 Barack Obama (still a senator at that time) introduced the first comprehensive bill to address the threat of avian influenza pandemic. AVIAN Act (S. 969)
Then it makes it even more interesting that over $60 million dollars was awarded for a vaccine against the bird flu (2007) that at the time did not mutate till afterwards.

http://fto.co.za/news/barack-obama-h...111015772.html

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Sun Mar 14, 2010 9:21 pm
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Post Re: Just H1N1 News And Latest Buzz
Awe geeze well there goes that theory :headbang

Thanks Ruts

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