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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
Quote:
Sunday October 11th, 2009 informationliberation.com
H1N1 FluMist - the Nasal Spray that Keeps on Giving (Associated Content)

http://www.associatedcontent.com/articl ... rue&cat=70

Everyone has to be responsible for their own decisions. If you are afraid of catching the H1N1 flu this year. You may be pondering whether to get a flu shot or using the
H1N1 FluMist. The FluMist is administered into your nostrils. Before making your final decision, you may want to ask some questions and think of some consequences to taking the H1N1 FluMist nasal spray.

The H1N1 FluMist is made with "live" virus. This means that the H1N1 flu will be a part of the nasal spray formula. It's supposed to be just enough to start your immunity to build defenses to it. The shot is supposed to be a killed virus.

If you take the H1N1 FluMist, you will in fact become a carrier of the H1N1 flu. Information on this drug states that you can and will shed the virus for up to 21 days. That means as you are visiting with your elderly family members, or shopping in the isles of your grocery store or sitting in church with young children and people with immune problems, YOU are going to be shedding the virus H1N1 germs.

If you are a person that cannot tolerate the shot or the FluMist for the H1N1 flu, you are a sitting duck when it comes to being around people who have taken the FluMist. The use of FluMist is for people ages 2 - 49. How many people do you come into contact each day that don't fit the age range?

Drugs.com says that you should be careful when coming into contact with "FluMist with anyone who has a weak immune system caused by disease (such as cancer, HIV, or AIDS), or by certain medicines such as steroids, cancer chemotherapy, or radiation treatment. A person with a weak immune system can become ill if they have close contact with you after you have recently received a an influenza vaccine." Pregnant women are also on this list of people who should NOT use FluMist.

What happens when anything gets in your nose? You sneeze! Please be a responsible user of the FluMist and cover your face when you sneeze and cough. Remember, you are passing the H1N1 flu germs. The flu is passed from person to person with the sneezing, the coughing and germs from your hands. So if you take FluMist for the H1N1 flu, please practice good hygiene for the rest of us and wash, wash, wash your hands!

If you take the H1N1 FluMist nasal spray, please read up on it. Please ask questions about it. And please be a responsible user of the FluMist. We're all counting on you out here!
[NOAD]


Mon Oct 12, 2009 10:11 am
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Post Re: Just H1N1 News And Latest Buzz
LOL Yes Burisch I'm going to take the advice of Professional Medical Doctor and AVOID THE JAB as if my life depended on it!

:clap



Quote:

Swine flu fears grow as NHS staff shun vaccine

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/oc ... CMP=AFCYAH


• Health department urges frontline staff to get jab
• Inoculation vital in efforts to contain pandemic

* Denis Campbell, health correspondent
* guardian.co.uk, Sunday 11 October 2009 22.39 BST
* larger | smaller
* Article history


The Department of Health has ordered NHS bosses across England to ensure that frontline staff get immunised against swine flu amid growing signs that many doctors and nurses intend to shun the vaccine.

Chief executives and boards who run hospitals, primary care trusts and strategic health authorities have been told to urgently maximise the number of workers having the jab. Leading DH figures including Sir Liam Donaldson, the chief medical officer, have written to them six times in the last five weeks stressing the need for action before the second wave of the pandemic causes major problems.

Ian Dalton, the NHS's national director of flu resilience, last week warned that vaccination of nurses, doctors and other frontline staff was "absolutely critical" and that widespread take-up of the jabs "will help us to save lives".

The DH's letters stress that patients' health could be put at risk and the NHS left seriously short-staffed through virus-related absenteeism if senior managers do not overcome "perceived obstacles" to the vaccination of workers. Swine flu's threat is so great that the NHS must avoid only small numbers of personnel getting immunised, as usually happens with seasonal flu every winter, the letters add.

They stress that vulnerable patients could be endangered if staff decide not to heed repeated urgings from Donaldson and other senior figures to have the vaccine. There are growing signs that large numbers of workers will shun the jabs because they see them as unnecessary and potentially unsafe.

Dalton wrote to the chief executives of local NHS organisations in England on 10 September telling them: "We all know that uptake of the seasonal flu vaccine among NHS staff is traditionally low. It is an NHS board responsibility that we do not find ourselves in this position with the swine flu vaccine."

But hospital chief executives have told the Guardian that they expect as few as 10%-20% of their staff to get vaccinated and cannot fulfil the DH's demands because the jabs, which are due to begin within days, are entirely voluntary.

One chief executive of a busy urban hospital in one of the swine flu "hotspots" said: "At the moment in my hospital if nothing changes then it could be that 10%-20% of staff have the swine flu jab … Staff could have the virus and pass it on to patients, a proportion of whom will die, albeit a very small proportion."

He added: "The other consequence is that if loads of staff go off with swine flu that will leave us short-staffed, which is dangerous to patients. That's a bigger danger than transmission."

Another hospital chief executive said: "Ideally it should be 100% of frontline staff having the swine flu vaccine. But it obviously isn't going to be. I hope we'll get at least the 50% we usually get for seasonal flu. This is important because although this strain of swine flu is mild in most people, if it's contracted by someone with an underlying health condition that can be serious."

One medical director at another hospital added: "The word on the street in NHS staff circles is that the vaccine is no good and you shouldn't bother with it. Nurses in particular worry that there may be side-effects, that corners have been cut in producing the vaccine and that the generally mild nature of the virus means they don't need to take it. As few as 10%-15% of doctors may have it because we doctors believe ourselves to be above such trivial things as infections."

A poll by Nursing Times magazine last week showed that the proportion of nurses who do not intend to get vaccinated has risen from 31% in August to 47%, while those who definitely will has fallen from 35% to 23%.

Dame Christine Beasley, the chief nursing officer for England, responded by stressing that the vaccine is "as safe as a vaccine can be" and adding: "Nothing in life is risk-free. I can well understand people being worried. I can well understand people thinking it's only a mild illness and why should I bother? I do understand all that, I think you wouldn't be human if you didn't think that." Beasley wants directors of nursing to act as role models to allay concerns among frontline nurses.

Hospital chief executives say privately that Donaldson's repeated reminders of the mild nature of swine flu's effects in those who contract it, and recent claim that the UK is "tantalisingly close" to beating the virus, may be leading staff to believe that vaccination is not important.

The health department said: "Frontline healthcare workers will be absolutely crucial in the height of a pandemic – without them, patient care will suffer, and the NHS will be stretched. Getting the swine flu vaccine will protect them and their patients."

It added: "All NHS organisations will be working hard to ensure that all eligible staff have the choice to protect themselves and their patients from swine flu by having the vaccine."


* guardian.co.uk © Guardian News and Media Limited 2009


Mon Oct 12, 2009 10:51 am
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Post Re: Just H1N1 News And Latest Buzz
Local swine flu deaths jump to 11
Despite the spike in numbers, Harris County's total number of swine flu deaths is still less than some other large counties and comparable to Texas' other urban counties.

• Harris 8

• Dallas 9

• Philadelphia 8

• Bexar (San Antonio) 9

• Dade (Miami) 24

• Los Angeles 33

Source: Texas, Pennsylvania, Florida and California health departments

In what experts suggested should awaken people to the threat, swine flu has been the cause of death in nine more people in the Houston area than previously reported, according to new data from state and local health departments.

The additional H1N1 deaths, which increase the area's total from two to 11, include six in Harris County, two in Fort Bend County and one in Brazoria County. The 11 victims represent all age groups.

“It's truly alarming that there are this many deaths this early,” Dr. Paul Glezen, lead epidemiologist at Baylor College of Medicine's Influenza Research Center. “Polls show people are blase and unconcerned, but this should give them an idea of the virus' lethal nature.”

The confirmations came as Harris County, like the rest of the nation, awaits distribution of the vaccine that can prevent the illness. The vaccine began trickling in last week, but only to health departments and not in sufficient amounts to give to anyone beyond their caregivers. That had not changed Monday.

The eight deaths in Harris County — the original two occurred in Houston — are still less than some other large counties and comparable to Texas' other urban counties. There have been 33 deaths in Los Angeles County, 24 in Dade (Miami), 9 in Bexar (San Antonio) and 8 in both Dallas and Philadelphia counties.

Glezen said he thinks the actual local death toll is higher than 11, given deaths that he knows of at Texas Children's Hospital. Baylor staffs Texas Children's. :censor

A Texas Children's spokesman said one death in September has been confirmed to have been caused by swine flu, two more are listed as probable swine flu deaths and all three involved underlying medical conditions. It was unclear if the one confirmed death was one of the Fort Bend deaths, an infant with a severe congenital abnormality who died in mid-September.

The other two pediatric deaths in the local 11 were the Mexico City toddler who died at Texas Children's in April after being transferred from Brownsville; and a Fort Bend middle school girl who died in May. The state still counts the death of the Mexico City child as a Houston death, even though city health department officials do not.

4 reported last week
The other Houston-area deaths all involved adults — five in the 25- to 49-year-old age group, one in the 50- to 64-year-old group, one over 65 and one whose exact age category was not disclosed.

The new deaths only came to light through a weekly state report that breaks down the number by county. Four of the Harris County deaths were only reported to the health department last week, but the other two occurred in June. :huh

The health department did not announce the deaths in June and last week, and has no plans to announce them in the future, said spokeswoman Rita Obey. :censor

“We don't normally report influenza deaths,” Obey said. “Sadly, we know we're going to have deaths. What we really want everyone to do is focus on how they can protect themselves — the hygiene messages in addition to the vaccine … and not become overly alarmed by the deaths.” :headbang

Obey added that privacy laws prevent releasing whether the patients had underlying health conditions or where they were treated.

Brazoria County health department medical director Dr. Leo O'Gormon said they have no record of a person dying in Brazoria County from H1N1, but a state official stood by the state data, saying the death occurred in September. He would say only that it was an adult.

Neither the state nor city of Houston count the number of swine flu cases any more, but their amount of activity is categorized as widespread, the highest level. Glezen and another Baylor doctor said children with the virus are in hospitals and clinics at alarming levels.

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/headline/metro/6664535.html

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Tue Oct 13, 2009 11:20 am
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Post Re: Just H1N1 News And Latest Buzz
3 Swine Flu Cases Cause Heart Concerns

HOUSTON - There's new fear that people with the swine flu could be at risk for heart failure, KPRC Local 2 reported Monday.

Dr. Barry Diner works in emergency medicine at St. Luke's Hospital, where in the last week they've seen a disturbing trend.

"There's been three cases that also developed into heart failure," said Diner. :candle

It's the first we've heard of swine flu potentially causing such a risk, and the doctor said he hasn't seen heart failure with the regular flu.

"It's kind of concerning because we don't necessarily see that unless we have overwhelming infection," said Diner.

With only three cases, Diner said there's not enough evidence for a direct link between swine flu and heart failure yet, but there is reason for concern.

Of the three patients, one was a teenager and one was a pregnant woman. Doctors delivered the baby early and the new mother is in critical condition.

Doctors said one of the swine flu patients died after heart failure within 24 hours of coming into the hospital. :awe

This comes as Harris County health officials said there have been an additional six swine flu deaths in the county since June.

Three men and three women, all adults over the age of 19 and one over the age of 65, have died. The county said that at least half had pre-existing medical conditions.

"While sadly these deaths are truly tragic for the families, we're not surprised that we're having deaths," said Rita Obey with the Harris County Health Department.

Doctors now are saying if you get flu-like symptoms, you have to judge for yourself if a trip to the hospital is necessary. :huh

"When someone's not feeling well and they feel like they can't handle themselves at home, they need to come to the hospital for an evaluation," said Diner.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/33289412

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Wed Oct 14, 2009 6:34 am
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Post Re: Just H1N1 News And Latest Buzz
[iOctober 25th bot prediction... makes ya go hmmm][/i]
Companies should prepare for potential swine flu outbreak

Companies across the nation, many of which have already shed millions of workers through layoffs, could be caught significantly understaffed should the H1N1 flu spread through their remaining workers, warns one workplace authority. Increasing the likelihood of widespread flu-related absenteeism are ineffective sick leave policies and the lack of any emergency planning related to a potential H1N1 outbreak.

“A nationwide outbreak will not only impact company staffing levels, but it could cripple an already weakened economy that is just beginning to show signs of recovery, by hindering domestic and international business travel and further impairing consumer spending as wary citizens avoid public places,” said John A. Challenger, chief executive officer of global outplacement consultancy Challenger, Gray & Christmas Inc.

There have been more than 9,000 confirmed cases of the H1N1 flu strain reported in the United States so far this year, according to the latest data from the Centers for Disease Control. The World Health Organization puts the number of 2009 cases worldwide at nearly 350,000, with at least 4,100 deaths resulting from the virus.

Yet, even as H1N1 spreads globally, many companies are woefully unprepared for the employee absenteeism that could result. In a 2007 presentation, the Department of Homeland Security indicated that in an influenza pandemic worker absenteeism rates could reach 30 to 50 percent due to illness, ill family member care, death, child care due to school closings, and those who stay home simply because they are afraid of becoming ill.

“For an employer that has recently gone through a downsizing and already stretched thin in terms of staffing, 40 percent absenteeism in a given month could be devastating,” said Challenger.

In fact, a recent survey by the Harvard School of Public Health found that just one-third of companies indicated that they could sustain their business with severe operational problems if half their workforce were absent for two weeks due to H1N1. Only one-fifth felt they could keep operations running if they were staffed at 50 percent for a month. :gah

Despite the inability to sustain operations amid high absenteeism, few companies have taken steps to prevent an outbreak among their workers or maintain business continuity should an outbreak occur. According to the National Partnership for Women and Families, nearly half (48 percent) of the nation’s private-sector workforce is not able to take paid leave without advance notice.

Meanwhile, the Harvard School of Public Health study found that only 35 percent of businesses allow employees to use paid leave to care for a sick family member and only 21 percent provide paid leave to care for children in the event of a school closure.

“Having an effective leave policy is critical in preventing an office-wide outbreak of H1N1. You want to encourage workers to stay home when they are sick so they do not spread illness to co-workers. You also want them to stay home to care for sick children so they are not forced to go to school and spread the virus to other kids,” said Challenger.

In guidelines for business owners prepared by the Department of Homeland Security, employers are advised to allow employees to work from home if necessary and offer “flexible, non-punitive, and well-communicated” leave policies.

“Companies would also be wise to prepare for the worst in order to ensure continuity in the wake of an outbreak. They need to consider not just the possibility of their own workforce being depleted by absenteeism, but also of the likelihood of their suppliers being hobbled. A company might be running at 95 percent capacity, but if a supplier cannot deliver key parts because half of its workers are sick, it could still find itself unable to keep its operations running,” said Challenger.

However, a recent poll by LogMeIn Inc., a provider of remote computing devices, found that nearly 60 percent of small- to medium-size businesses do not have a business-continuity plan in place for a possible flu outbreak. A separate survey of 100 senior executives at private equity, hedge funds and other financial services companies conducted by Insite Security found that only 10 percent have plans to deal with the impact of H1N1 on their businesses. :rant

“The worry is that the business community will be slow to prepare for a widespread outbreak. For many, the cost of proactive measures is too high for something that may not escalate to pandemic proportion. Unfortunately, many companies may find out the hard way that not preparing could be very costly. Employers will be on the frontline of any outbreak, since business travel and workplaces are major factors in the spread of any virus,” said Challenger.

Unfortunately, corporate America’s track record on responding to public health threats is not very reassuring. In 2006, amid growing concerns of a potential avian flu pandemic, a survey by Deloitte Center for Health Solutions, found that 66 percent of mid- to large-sized companies made no preparations. Only 14 percent of companies had “adequate” plans.

“Beyond the impact on individual companies, there is the impact on the entire economy resulting from decreased tourism, trade and increased burden on the health care system,” said Challenger.

One need only look at the 2003 outbreak of SARS for evidence of how widespread illness and the resulting fear and uncertainty can impact large economies. It is estimated that the SARS outbreak – which was relatively minor, infecting just 8,000 people worldwide – cost the Chinese economy $18 billion in lost economic activity, including a 65 percent drop in tourism and a 15 percent decline in retail sales. When the virus spread to Toronto, the Conference Board of Canada estimated that it cost the city $1 billion in lost gross domestic product.

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.

“For those who must go to the workplace, such as retail workers and hands-on service providers, companies should enforce a three-foot minimum buffer between all personnel at all times. Employees should also be encouraged, if not compelled, to follow strict hygienic practices, including washing hands regularly and using anti-bacterial wipes to keep their work area, phone, keyboard and mouse clean.

“Companies might also provide or subsidize flu shots or Tamiflu, which has been shown to be effective in treating swine flu if taken within 48 hours of contraction,” said Challenger.

http://tinyurl.com/yjfbqo8

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Wed Oct 14, 2009 7:05 am
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Post Re: Just H1N1 News And Latest Buzz
Canada: Hospital screens moms-to-be for H1N1
Via the Vancouver Sun: Hospital screens moms-to-be for H1N1. Excerpt:

All pregnant women arriving at BC Women’s Hospital to deliver babies will be screened for the H1N1 virus before they are admitted, according to the hospital’s new H1N1 protocol.

Women with flu-like symptoms will be placed in negative-pressure rooms, while staff and visitors in those rooms will be required to wear gowns and masks. Sick spouses and family members will be strongly urged to leave the hospital and see a doctor.

“We have been working quite hard over the last several weeks and did develop a protocol for women presenting at the assessment room,” said Pam O’Sullivan, vice-president of acute perinatal care at BC Women’s Hospital. “All women are being screened.”

The hospital is taking strict measures because pregnant women in their third trimester are one of the groups most at risk of being affected by the H1N1 virus. They aren’t more likely to get the flu, but the effects of the virus are more severe among pregnant women.

As a result, the hospital wants to keep sick patients isolated from healthy patients in an attempt to prevent any spread of the virus.

http://crofsblogs.typepad.com/h5n1/2009 ... -h1n1.html

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Wed Oct 14, 2009 7:23 am
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Post Re: Just H1N1 News And Latest Buzz
Uncle John here: I will not discuss my opinion on the following. Just thought I would forward it for discussion.

Quote:
From: George Mamouzellos
Bachelor of Pharmacy
University of South Australia

Guys, I'm emailing you because I'm bloody scared about something.

I created my facebook group for fun, and to use it to market my businesses to people. What im doing now totally kills my ability to do that, but I dont care. This is important.

Im a qualified pharmacist. I've been researching the swine flu vaccine that our government has bought for us (using our money, by the way) and its DANGEROUS AS. Its easy a hundred times more dangerous than the swine flu itself, imo.

Something that freaked me out is that several swine flu vaccine manufacturers have asked governments to give them an exemption from lawsuits, in case the vaccine caused harm in people. If you made a vaccine that you knew worked, then why would you need a legal exemption in case it hurt people? Massive warning sign. They don't believe its safe.

The swine flu itself has killed about 2/3000 people total. The regular flu kills 40,000 plus per year - so why are we freaking out about swine flu, and not normal flu? Does that make sense? no.

If the regular flu kills 40,000 plus per year, and the swine flu only killed 2/3 000 - then why are governments buying it in advance, giving it to us for free, and giving drug manufacturers immunity to legal cases against them? Does that make sense? no.

The swine flu vaccine contains 2 horribly dangerous compounds - one is called thimerosol. It is made 50% of mercury. It binds to receptors in your brain, and basically causes brain damage. Is it smart to be injected with thimerosol, and get brain damage, dropping 10 IQ points and going dumb, in order to avoid getting a flu that kills 95% less people than regular flu? no.

The other horrible ingredient is called squalene. Squalene accidentally tricks your immune system into killing your own cells, which creates autoimmune diseases like asthma, multiple scelerosis, diabetes, and a bunch of diseases that we dont have a name for yet (because squalene hasn't been used for that long, and we have little data on its effects) - is is smart to inject yourself with that stuff, in order to avoid a relatively mild flu, like the swine flu? no.

If you're a pregnant mother about to take Panvax, ask yourself this - why would you take Panvax, when it contains Neomycin and Polymyxin B Sulfate - both of which exhibit positive risk to unborn children - so as to
avoid what? A mild flu, that kills 95% fewer people than the regular flu?

Look, i'm a funny guy. Yeah, I make good facebook groups. People join them by the thousands, and laugh. But I'm also a qualified pharmacist. I scored in the top 0.1% of my state in school. I'm expert at critical
analysis of drugs and their effects on humans. And let me be blunt - if someone came up to me with a syringe full of swine flu vaccine, or came near my family with one - I would take the needle off them and poke them with it myself - followed by several very hard punches. This stuff is poison. Don't take it. Don't let your friends take it. Don't let your family take it. If some idiot in a lab coat asks you if you want it, ask them about thimerosol, squalene, and why the company making it wants legal exemption from being sued, and watch their face go into "omg I'm being asked serious questions that I don't have the answer to" mode.

Anyway. I hope you're all well. Chat to you on facebook sometime

:)

Sincerely,

George Mamouzellos
Bachelor of Pharmacy
University of South Australia


Wed Oct 14, 2009 8:22 am
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Post Re: Just H1N1 News And Latest Buzz
Mexico: 3,651 new H1N1 cases in a week
Via Milenio.com: 3 mil 651 nuevos contagios por A/H1N1 en una semana. [3,651 new H1N1 cases in one week] Excerpt, with my translation:

La Secretaría de Salud confirmó que, hasta el pasado lunes, se registraron 39 mil 489 casos de influenza A/H1N1 y 255 muertes, lo que significa que en una semana hubo 3 mil 651 nuevos contagios y 10 decesos. Hasta el 5 de octubre, la dependencia federal informaba de 35 mil 838 y de 245 muertos.

The Health Secretariat has confirmed that, as of this past Monday, 39,489 cases of H1N1 have been confirmed, and 255 deaths. This means that in one week there were 3,651 new cases and 10 deaths. As of October 5, the secretariat counted 35,838 cases and 245 death.

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

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Wed Oct 14, 2009 8:35 pm
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Post Re: Just H1N1 News And Latest Buzz
Stanford hospital to start banning young visitors

By Julia Prodis Sulek and Diana Samuels

Bay Area News Group
Posted: 10/14/2009 06:16:39 PM PDT
Updated: 10/14/2009 06:54:04 PM PDT

In an effort to stem the quickening pace of the swine flu outbreak, Stanford and Lucile Packard Children's hospitals on Monday will begin banning children from visiting their sick loved ones until the pandemic subsides — possibly as late as spring.

Other local hospitals, including Good Samaritan and Regional Medical Center, are considering similar policies as they brace for an extended flu season.

While the policies won't bar children from seeing dying relatives, they are an acknowledgement that young people have been disproportionately hit by the new flu strain — and could inadvertently infect the patients they're visiting. Because people can be contagious before they're symptomatic (and children are less likely to articulate if they have symptoms anyway) officials said it's not possible to weed out only those who are sick.

It's the first time Stanford or Packard have ever imposed such a strict visitation ban.

"These are extraordinary measures in extraordinary times because it's a pandemic," Kathleen Mathews , manager of the infection prevention and control department at Packard. "We thought about it very seriously because we know how difficlut this can be for families. But it is truly because we must make our in-patients our number one priority."

snip

Marty Fenstersheib, the county's public health officer, applauded the strict hospital visitation policies as a way to minimize the spread. Santa Clara Valley Medical Center has long discouraged children under 14 from visiting, but has not imposed any extra bans because of swine flu.

"These are the kids most likely to spread the infection," Fenstersheib said. "We don't want those infections spread in areas where we have people at high risk, and those who are hospitalized are potentially at high risk."

Kaiser is not banning children from visiting its hospitals, though it has set up "respiratory etiquette stations" with hand gel, tissues and face masks to try to limit the spread of sickness.

At Good Samaritan Hospital in Los Gatos, the age cutoff will be 14 and at Regional Medical Center in east San Jose Regional, it will be 12. However, both hospitals won't implement the ban unless there's a spike in the number of H1N1 cases coming through their doors. Regional enforced a similar ban during spring's swine flu scare; it lasted three weeks.

"Whenever it occurs is when we will trigger it," said Leslie Kelsay, spokeswoman for Good Sam and Regional hospitals.

Along with an exemption for children visiting dying relatives, those two hospitals will also allow children to visit newborn siblings to allow bonding, she said. :?:

It's an exemption not shared by Stanford.

"The risk of bringing in siblings for that short of a stay may not be worth it," Mathews said. At the same time, she said, there might be exceptions for children who want to visit their mothers who are hospitalized for an extended time due to high risk pregnancies.

"We will look at all extreme cases on a case-by-case basis," she said.

Stanford hospitals and others are putting up more signs banning anyone with swine flu symptoms from visiting patients.

Visitors at Stanford Hospital Wednesday said they understood the concerns about the spread of swine flu, but also worried the policy would be hard on patients and visitors.

"Not to see your kids or grandkids if they're under 16, it seems difficult to me," said Kent Jensen, who was visiting his critically ill mother with his 8-year-old son Carter and other family members.

Hospital visitor Theresa Bottini said hospital workers were already reluctant to allow her 4-year-old son Brody to visit his terminally ill grandfather, suffering from complications of Hepatitis C, in the intensive care unit.

She said the nurses there were offering her and her family hand sanitizer every couple of minutes, and she wondered how much risk there would be to other patients if the visitors were going straight from a waiting area to the patient's bedside.

"I see the concern, but at the same time, I just think it's more important for him to be able to see his grandfather," she said.

http://www.pandemicfeed.com/2009/10/15/ ... gn=panfeed

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Wed Oct 14, 2009 8:46 pm
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Post Re: Just H1N1 News And Latest Buzz
We just learned last night that effective October 19th, the following measures have been instituted at my institution, a major cancer hospital in Houston.

Screening and Control of Visitors:
Children ages 12 and under will not be allowed to enter the institution, unless they are patients in active treatment or with appointments. This includes dining facilities, skybridges and common areas.

The child visitation room also will be closed during this time. Children are at a higher risk for being infected with influenza-like illness due to close contact with others in school or day care settings. They may be asymptomatic and/or continue to shed the virus after symptoms are resolved.

Managers or designees should watch for influenza-like illness in their work force daily to ensure patient safety.

Employees with influenza-like illness symptoms should be excluded from work at least seven calendar days after onset of symptoms or 24 hours without fever (without medication), whichever is longer.

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Thu Oct 15, 2009 7:47 am
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Post Re: Just H1N1 News And Latest Buzz
UK: H1N1 kills pregnant teenager and unborn baby :candle
Via the Guardian: Swine flu kills pregnant teenager and unborn baby in Scotland. Excerpt:

A pregnant teenager from southern Scotland has been killed by swine flu, leading to the death of her unborn child, the latest in a number of deaths around the UK.

It is understood the 17-year-old died in a hospital in the Borders yesterday but health officials have not released further details at her family's request.

Four deaths were reported in 48 hours this week in Scotland, taking the total number of deaths there from H1N1 to 15.

Health officials in Wales said today that a pregnant woman, 21, from Monmouthshire, died yesterday after being transferred to intensive care following a planned caesarean section. Three deaths have been reported in Wales in the last 24 hours.

While this virus is far milder than first feared, pregnant women are at greater risk of flu complications, alongside the elderly and those with underlying health problems.

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

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Thu Oct 15, 2009 9:12 am
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Post Re: Just H1N1 News And Latest Buzz
Scotland: You can't lose them all
Via The Scotsman, the best news of the day: Baby joy for coma mother flown to Sweden. Excerpt:

A pregnant woman who was flown to Sweden for life-saving treatment after contracting swine flu has had a baby boy.

Sharon Pentleton, 27, feared for the health of her unborn child after she suffered an extreme reaction to the H1N1 virus. But the baby, weighing 6lb 9oz, was delivered by Caesarean section at an Ayrshire hospital on Wednesday.

According to reports, Ms Pentleton and her son appear to be fit and well, and nurses are happy with how they are doing.

Ms Pentleton, from North Ayrshire, became seriously ill in July, when she was six months pregnant. She went to Crosshouse Hospital, in Kilmarnock, suffering from severe back pain. She was initially treated for appendicitis, before being diagnosed with swine flu.

The young woman finally had to be flown to Sweden for ECMO--extracorporeal membrane oxygenation. Congratulations and best wishes to the whole family!

http://crofsblogs.typepad.com/h5n1/2009 ... m-all.html

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Thu Oct 15, 2009 8:06 pm
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Post Re: Just H1N1 News And Latest Buzz
Mexico: Over 2,000 cases in 2 days

Events are moving fast in Mexico. Via El Universal: Suman más de 2 mil casos de Influenza en 2 días: Ssa. [Health: Over 2,000 flu cases in 2 days] Excerpt, with my translation:

Influenza cases continue to rise in all states of the country. In the last two days, 2,431 new cases have been confirmed, and 5 deaths, according to a report issues by the Health Secretariat.

The national total, as of October 14, is 41,920 confirmed cases and 260 deaths. As well, the central and northwestern states have recorded important increases

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

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US: H1N1 spreading rapidly in California
Via the Los Angeles Times: Swine flu spreading rapidly in California, health officials say. Excerpt:

The swine flu virus is spreading rapidly throughout California, public health officials said today, citing physician reports of higher-than-normal flu illnesses for this time of year.

More than 5% of patients coming into doctor's offices are presenting flu-like symptoms, which is much higher than the usual 2%, according to an estimate based on about 50 physicians across California who monitor flu activity for the state.

"We are seeing a continued ramp-up of the virus activity," Dr. Mark Horton, California's public health officer, said at a news conference today. "That is very unusual for this time of year."

Horton said he considered the flu outbreak to be consistent with what is seen during a "moderately severe seasonal flu outbreak."

More than half of local health departments throughout the state are seeing active flu outbreaks, he said.

The H1N1 flu strain is by far the predominant flu strain circulating in California; more than 95% of the flu samples the state has received are testing positive for that strain.

Since this spring, more than 3,000 people in California have been hospitalized with the H1N1 flu strain, and 219 people have died, Horton said.

Most of those who had died had underlying medical conditions, such as asthma, chronic lung disease, muscular dystrophy and cystic fibrosis, but some were otherwise healthy.

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

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Thu Oct 15, 2009 8:17 pm
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Post Re: Just H1N1 News And Latest Buzz
Japan: 8,047 new-flu group infections reported in one week
Via Japan Today.com: 8,047 new-flu group infections reported in one week.

A total of 8,047 group infections involving the new influenza virus were reported at schools as well as welfare and medical facilities in Japan in the week through last Sunday, marking the highest weekly figure since late July when the health ministry started collecting the data.

The figure marked a 1.5-fold increase from the previous week when 5,432 group infections were reported, the Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry said while warning that deaths among the young have begun to increase.

Tokyo recorded the highest number of group infections with 1,371, ahead of 865 in Chiba Prefecture and 784 in Kanagawa Prefecture.

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

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Post Re: Just H1N1 News And Latest Buzz
Hmmm looks like the new higher yielding seed strains announced in August just didn't quite pan out.
Swine flu vaccines delayed, US CDC says
Fri Oct 16, 2009 12:52pm EDT
(Updates with quotes, details)

WASHINGTON, Oct 16 (Reuters) - Delivery of some swine flu vaccines has been delayed because companies cannot make as much as they had hoped, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said on Friday.

The CDC's Dr. Anne Schuchat said while 40 million doses had been anticipated for the end of October, only about 28 to 30 million doses would be available.

"Yields for vaccine are lower than would be hoped," Schuchat said in a telephone briefing.

She also said deaths from H1N1 swine flu were above the epidemic threshold in some U.S. cities and states. H1N1 flu activity was widespread in 41 states, she said.

"It is unprecedented for this time of year to have the whole country having such high levels of activity," Schuchat said.

She also said more children had died in the space of a few weeks than usually die in an entire influenza season. "There are now a total of 86 children under 18 who have died from the 2009 H1N1 influenza virus," Schuchat said.

As of Wednesday 11.4 million doses of H1N1 vaccine were available and 8 million had been ordered by states for distribution.

The U.S. government has ordered vaccine from five companies: Sanofi-Aventis SA (SASY.PA: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz), CSL Ltd (CSL.AX: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz), Novartis AG (NOVN.VX: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz), GlaxoSmithKline (GSK.L: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) and AstraZeneca (AZN.L: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) unitMedImmune.

Schuchat said 15 percent to 20 percent of patients with H1N1 who needed to be hospitalized were requiring intensive care.

http://www.reuters.com/article/BROKER/idUSN1635815920091016

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Fri Oct 16, 2009 11:10 am
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An update and longer article than the one above. Some chilling stats as well!

Swine flu vaccines delayed, CDC says

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Delivery of some swine flu vaccines has been delayed because companies cannot make it as fast as they had hoped, just as the virus has really started to spread, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said on Friday.

The CDC's Dr. Anne Schuchat said that while 40 million doses had been anticipated for the end of October, only about 28 to 30 million doses would be available.

"Yields for vaccine are lower than would be hoped," Schuchat said in a telephone briefing. "We unfortunately won't have as much at the end of this month as we had hoped to."

She also said deaths from H1N1 swine flu were above the epidemic threshold in some U.S. cities and states. H1N1 flu activity was widespread in 41 states, she said.

"It is unprecedented for this time of year to have the whole country having such high levels of activity," Schuchat said.

"There are now a total of 86 children under 18 who have died from the 2009 H1N1 influenza virus," she added. Many had died in recent weeks and the number was now higher than the usual number of child deaths in an entire flu season.

"These are very sobering statistics ... 43 deaths in one month is a lot," Schuchat said. "Some of these children have been totally healthy."

Older children were hardest hit, she said, with 16 deaths among 5- to 11-year-olds and 19 deaths in 12- to 17-year-olds.

The new virus, which emerged in March and was declared a pandemic in June, does not seem any deadlier than seasonal influenza. But it attacks a different age group -- older children and young adults, unlike seasonal flu, which affects mostly elderly people and kills up to 36,000 in a normal year.

And because hardly anyone has immunity, the H1N1 virus may infect far more people than seasonal flu does in a single season.

Schuchat said 15 percent to 20 percent of patients with H1N1 who needed to be hospitalized were requiring intensive care. "Influenza is widespread in the country and illnesses, hospitalizations and deaths continue to increase," she said.

The U.S. government has opted to roll out seasonal flu vaccine and H1N1 vaccines as they become available, which the CDC has said could make for a bumpy vaccination plan.

People need both vaccines to be protected from all the circulating viruses, although Schuchat says virtually all cases of influenza are due to the new H1N1 virus.

As of Wednesday, 11.4 million doses of H1N1 vaccine were available and 8 million had been ordered by states for distribution.

The U.S. government has ordered both types of flu vaccine from five companies: Sanofi-Aventis SA, CSL Ltd, Novartis AG, GlaxoSmithKline and AstraZeneca unit MedImmune.

Schuchat said 82 million doses of seasonal flu vaccine had been distributed, with a total of 114 million doses ordered. On Thursday CVS Caremark Corp said it would cut short its flu-shot clinics due to delivery delays.

"This is how influenza vaccine production often goes," Schuchat said. She said there should be widespread availability by November and advised people who wanted a vaccine but were having trouble finding one to keep trying. :roll

http://www.reuters.com/article/internal_ReutersNewsRoom_ExclusivesAndWins_MOLT/idUSTRE59F4VV20091016

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Fri Oct 16, 2009 2:37 pm
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Post Re: Just H1N1 News And Latest Buzz
H1N1 Attack Rate Raises Pandemic Concerns
Recombinomics Commentary 22:12
October15, 2009
Quote:
Overall our average percentage of absenteeism in the district today was 15% and if you recall from our message last week the average is around 5% at this time of year. The breakdown is as follows:

High School - 7.6%
Mt. Royal Middle - 19%
Scott Ave. Elem. - 24%
Burchfield - 14%
Jeffery - 11%
Marzolf - 18%
Reserve - 12.5%
Rogers 14.5%

On Friday, the Middle School was 29% and was the school last week that started the week at 20% so it seems to be coming down which is a good sign.


The above comments from the website of a school district (Shaler) in suburban Pittsburgh, raise concerns that the H1N1 attack rate may be approaching 100% for some groups, such as middle school students. Most cases in the area (see map) are mild, and school days missed are limited because fevers generally last for only a few days. Consequently, most students only miss 1-3 days of school, so an absentee rate between 19-29% for more than 10 days suggest that more than 50% of the students were absent for 1 or more days. However, many students will not miss school because of a 3 day weekend or because they do not develop fever, so the number of infected students may be much high than 50% and may be approaching 100%.

This high attach rate is support by media reports on other schools which have peak absentee rates between 30-50%, as well as the increasing numbers of school closings. In Texas alone agency reports list 85 schools closed and high numbers have also been reported in other states such as TN and KY and additional schools are now being reported in states where the school season began more recently.

This dramatic spread has happened prior to widespread vaccinations, and signal efficient transmission, which may be blunted by an aggressive vaccination program. However, only a small percentage of ordered doses have been shipped and it is likely that significant transmission will happen prior to vaccination. Most of these cases have been mild, and data from the clinical trial in Australian suggest that mild cases can produce modest immune responses which are increased by the vaccine.

However, this high attack rate raises concerns of re-infection of mild cases as well as the evolution of virus which produces reduced titers to the current vaccine as was noted in the week 37 CDC report.

More detail on the number of student infected in a single outbreak and the level of antibody in the milder cases would be useful.

http://www.recombinomics.com/News/10150 ... ttack.html

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Fri Oct 16, 2009 7:57 pm
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Post Re: Just H1N1 News And Latest Buzz
Underlying conditions playing less of role in H1N1

ATLANTA, Georgia (CNN) -- New research suggests that nearly half of patients hospitalized with the H1N1 virus had no underlying conditions, an increase from prior findings, a federal health official said Tuesday.
This week, the first injectable H1N1 flu shots are to become available.

This week, the first injectable H1N1 flu shots are to become available.

"More than 45 percent actually didn't have an underlying condition" said Dr. Anne Schuchat, director of the National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Schuchat told reporters that the CDC's findings were based on data from about 1,400 adults and 500 children in 10 surveillance sites who were hospitalized with H1N1 virus, sometimes referred to as swine flu.

Those data, which Schuchat called preliminary, appear to clash with findings reported last week in an online publication of the New England Journal of Medicine that found nearly three-quarters of 272 other patients hospitalized with H1N1 had at least one underlying medical condition.

"I think a key point is that this virus can be serious even in healthy people with no underlying conditions," Schuchat said Tuesday. Still, she added, even with the new data, "the majority of people do have underlying conditions."

con.

http://rss.cnn.com/~r/rss/cnn_health/~3 ... index.html

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Fri Oct 16, 2009 8:25 pm
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Post Re: Just H1N1 News And Latest Buzz
US: The H1N1 link to viral pneumonia
Thanks to the reader who sent the link to this Washington Post report, via CBS News: H1N1's Links to Pneumonia Appear Clearer. Excerpt:

As swine flu continues to spread around the globe, a clearer and in some ways more unnerving picture of the most serious cases has started to emerge, indicating that the virus could pose a greater threat to some young, otherwise vibrant people.

The virus can cause life-threatening viral pneumonia much more commonly than the typical flu, prompting the World Health Organization on Friday to warn hospitals to prepare for a possible wave of very sick patients and to urge doctors to treat suspected cases quickly with antiviral drugs.

Experts stress that most people who get the H1N1 virus either never get sick or recover easily. But some young adults, possibly especially women, are falling seriously ill at an unexpectedly rapid pace and are showing up in intensive care units and dying in unusually high numbers, they say.

Although why a minority of patients become so sick remains a mystery, new research indicates that H1N1 is different from typical seasonal flu viruses in crucial ways -- most notably in its ability to penetrate deep into the lungs and cause viral pneumonia.

"It's not like seasonal influenza," Nikki Shindo of the World Health Organization said at the conclusion of a three-day meeting of more than 100 experts the WHO convened in Washington to review swine flu. "It can cause very severe disease in previously healthy young adults."

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

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Sat Oct 17, 2009 8:43 pm
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Post Re: Just H1N1 News And Latest Buzz
US: Three pigs might have swine flu virus
Via the Tulsa World: Three pigs might have swine flu virus. Excerpt:

Preliminary tests show three pigs in Minnesota might have contracted the swine flu virus, making them the first potential U.S. cases in swine, agricultural officials said Friday.

They stressed the finding does not threaten food safety.

The samples were taken from pigs shown at the Minnesota State Fair between Aug. 26 and Sept. 1 as part of a research project. Officials expect results next week to confirm whether the pigs were infected with swine flu virus, also known as H1N1.

The pigs did not show signs of sickness and officials said they likely contracted the virus from some of the nearly 1.8 million people who visited the fair.

The Department of Agriculture's veterinary lab in Ames, Iowa, is conducting tests to confirm the results, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack said in a statement.

In a conference call with reporters Friday, Minnesota Agriculture Commissioner Gene Hugoson said officials don't know what happened to the three pigs, but that they probably were sent to slaughter soon after they were shown at the fair, which ended on Labor Day.

"This is not an issue of food safety," Hugoson said. "Pork products are and continue to be safe to eat."

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

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Sat Oct 17, 2009 8:45 pm
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Post Re: Just H1N1 News And Latest Buzz
H1N1 in a small country
Sometimes a single issue of a newspaper can throw light on how the pandemic influences a small country. Here are some stories from tonight's Trinidad & Tobago Express: (links can be found at original article - link at bottom.)

Common bond: H1N1 flu victims were all overweight.

"Some have mild symptoms, some critically ill"

Da Costa was "distinguished in her field"

Friends, neighbours stay away

Trinity East student tests positive for H1N1

Penal man believed to be another H1N1 victim

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

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Post Re: Just H1N1 News And Latest Buzz
2009-2010 Influenza Season Week 40 ending October 10, 2009

All data are preliminary and may change as more reports are received.
Synopsis:

During week 40 (October 4-10, 2009), influenza activity increased in the U.S.

* 4,093 (29.4%) specimens tested by U.S. World Health Organization (WHO) and National Respiratory and Enteric Virus Surveillance System (NREVSS) collaborating laboratories and reported to CDC/Influenza Division were positive for influenza.
* All subtyped influenza A viruses being reported to CDC were 2009 influenza A (H1N1) viruses.
* The proportion of deaths attributed to pneumonia and influenza (P&I) was above the epidemic threshold.
* Eleven influenza-associated pediatric deaths were reported. Ten of these deaths were associated with 2009 influenza A (H1N1) virus infection and one was associated with an influenza A virus, for which subtype is undetermined.
* The proportion of outpatient visits for influenza-like illness (ILI) was above the national baseline. All 10 regions reported ILI above region-specific baseline levels.
* Forty-one states reported geographically widespread influenza activity, Guam and eight states reported regional influenza activity, one state, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico reported local influenza activity, and the U.S. Virgin Islands did not report.



U.S. Virologic Surveillance:

WHO and NREVSS collaborating laboratories located in all 50 states and Washington D.C. report to CDC the number of respiratory specimens tested for influenza and the number positive by influenza type and subtype. The results of tests performed during the current week are summarized in the table below.

Image

Pneumonia and Influenza Hospitalization and Death Tracking:

This new system was implemented on August 30, 2009, and replaces the weekly report of laboratory confirmed 2009 H1N1-related hospitalizations and deaths that began in April 2009. Jurisdictions can now report to CDC either laboratory confirmed or pneumonia and influenza syndromic-based counts of hospitalizations and deaths resulting from all types or subtypes of influenza, not just those from 2009 H1N1 influenza virus.



To allow jurisdictions to implement the new case definition, counts were reset to zero on August 30, 2009.



From August 30 – October 10, 2009, 4,958 laboratory-confirmed influenza associated hospitalizations, 292 laboratory-confirmed influenza associated deaths, 15,696 pneumonia and influenza syndrome-based hospitalizations, and 2,029 pneumonia and influenza syndrome-based deaths, were reported to CDC. CDC will continue to use its traditional surveillance systems to track the progress of the 2009-10 influenza season.



Image

Antigenic Characterization:

CDC has antigenically characterized 94 2009 influenza A (H1N1) viruses collected since September 1, 2009. No seasonal A(H1N1), A(H3N2) or B viruses collected during this period were available for testing.



All ninety-four 2009 A (H1N1) viruses are related to the A/California/07/2009 (H1N1) reference virus selected by WHO as the 2009 H1N1 vaccine virus.



Pneumonia and Influenza (P&I) Mortality Surveillance

During week 40, 6.7% of all deaths reported through the 122-Cities Mortality Reporting System were due to P&I. This percentage was above the epidemic threshold of 6.5% for week 40.

Image

Influenza-Associated Pediatric Mortality

Eleven influenza-associated pediatric deaths were reported to CDC during week 40 (Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Kentucky, Louisiana [2], North Carolina, Ohio, South Carolina, and Tennessee [2]). Ten of these deaths were associated with 2009 influenza A (H1N1) virus infection and one was associated with an influenza A virus for which the subtype is undetermined.





Image



http://www.cdc.gov/flu/weekly/



FLA_MEDIC:
Obviously, this is an eagerly awaited compilation of weekly influenza information. While it is an impressive collection of data, it isn’t the full picture of influenza across the nation, and the CDC has never represented it as such.



Still, I continue to hear people quote the number of fatalities from this CDC report as if it represents the total number killed by influenza each week.



It doesn’t.



With the exception of the pediatric P&I mortality tracking, none of these reporting systems attempts to measure the total number of flu deaths in the nation. Even these pediatric numbers may be incomplete, and the reporting of some cases often lags weeks behind.



These reports are valuable snapshots of sampling from around country, which help us gauge the relative seriousness of the current flu season – not an accurate count of hospitalizations or deaths.



The 122 MRS report, for instance, only reports from those 122 cities, and only reports on death certificates with Influenza or Pneumonia listed as a cause of death. The CDC describes the difficulties of counting deaths this way:



Exact numbers of how many people died from flu this season cannot be determined.



Flu-associated deaths (which have laboratory confirmed influenza), are only a nationally notifiable condition among children; however not all pediatric influenza deaths may be detected and reported and there is no requirement to report adult deaths from influenza.



In addition, many people who die from flu complications are not tested, or they seek medical care later in their illness when flu can no longer be detected from respiratory samples.



However, CDC tracks pneumonia and influenza (P&I) deaths through the 122 Cities Mortality Reporting System. This system collects information each week on the total number of death certificates filed in each of the 122 participating cities and the number of death certificates with pneumonia or influenza listed as a cause of death.



The 122 Cities Mortality Reporting system helps gauge the severity of a flu season compared with other years. However, only a proportion of all P&I deaths are influenza-related and, as noted, most flu deaths are not lab confirmed.





It is frustrating, I know. And it sounds like it ought to be an easy question to answer:



How many people died from the pandemic last week?



But the truth is, it is impossible to answer. And it isn’t a failing of the CDC, it is simply the reality.



More than 6,000 people die each day in the US, and very few are autopsied to determine the cause of death. Even those that receive a post mortem exam are unlikely to be tested for influenza.


And of course, influenza can weaken a person to the point that they die a week, or even a month, after the infection has cleared. Testing wouldn’t show the virus at that point, but the flu could legitimately be seen as a contributing cause of death.



While it may be unsatisfying to a lot of people, there really is no way to accurately count the number of influenza-related deaths in this country.





That is why the CDC uses the mathematically derived estimate of 36,000 flu-related deaths each year. It’s a ballpark number, based on an average of estimated (not counted) deaths over a 10-year span.



I fully expect that after this pandemic is over – probably a year or two from now - number crunchers will look at the data and give us their interpretation of the impact of this virus. An estimate, or more likely – an estimated range of deaths - from novel H1N1.




It is unlikely to satisfy anyone, of course.



But it will give academics, flublogians, and arm-chair editorialists something to argue over until the next pandemic comes down the pike.

http://afludiary.blogspot.com/2009/10/f ... ek-40.html

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Sat Oct 17, 2009 9:15 pm
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Post Re: Just H1N1 News And Latest Buzz
New ‘overload’ fears as swine flu jab is added to routine childhood vaccines

By Beezy Marsh
Last updated at 12:17 AM on 18th October 2009

Jab: The Government has said that all vaccinations can be given with the swine flu vaccine

The swine flu vaccine will be given to children at the same time as routine jabs – despite the fact there is no evidence the combination is safe.

There are fears that children will be at risk of unknown side effects because safety trials into using the jabs together have yet to be carried out.

The plan has also added to concerns about ‘overloading’ young immune systems with multiple inoculations.

Government experts have ruled that all vaccinations – including those against measles, mumps, rubella, meningitis C, diphtheria, whooping cough, polio, Hib disease and pneumococcal infection – can be given with the swine flu vaccine to children over six months old.

The Government’s Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) decided that because the swine flu vaccine does not contain a ‘live’ virus, it can safely be given with other jabs.

The first wave of a national vaccination scheme against swine flu is set to begin next week, with children who have underlying health problems such as asthma and diabetes among the first to be treated.

The JCVI ruling means these ‘high-risk’ youngsters who are also due for routine jabs could now receive them along with their swine flu vaccine.

Campaigners have already voiced concerns that the recommended programme of more than 20 inoculations, including two doses of the MMR injection, by the age of four puts too much strain on children’s immune systems.

GP Dr Richard Halvorsen, medical director of the Babyjabs clinic in Central London, said last night: ‘There is not a shred of evidence about the potential effects of combining all these childhood jabs with the swine flu vaccine. They simply have not had time to carry out tests.’

The swine flu vaccine has been fast-tracked through normal licensing procedures and the first volunteer children in a UK study received their shots last week.


More...


Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/artic ... z0UGIQ3KdV

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Post Re: Just H1N1 News And Latest Buzz
Quote:
Poll: 75% Of Finns Don’t Want The Swine Flu Vaccine

http://sikainfluenssa.biz/628/poll-75-o ... lu-vaccine


Vaccine

In Finland at least three somewhat big media outlets, Ilta-Sanomat, MTV3 and Helsingin Sanomat, have held polls asking the Finnish people if they are going to take the swine flu vaccine. The results are as follows.

The first online poll was held by MTV3. It’s unclear how many people took part in it, but 61% said they do not want the swine flu vaccine.

Nearly 12,000 people answered the Helsingin Sanomat gallup, and the overwhelming majority, 75%, answered “No”.

Then a third poll at the end of September held by Ilta-Sanomat rendered the exact same percentage as the Helsingin Sanomat gallup, 75% will not be taking the vaccine. Over 16,000 people took part in the Ilta-Sanomat poll.

So it seems that inspite of intense government and mainstream media propaganda and fear mongering on the swine flu, the Finnish people have not bought the hype. Better luck next time.

Liittyvät artikkelit:

1. HS Gallup: 75% suomalaisista ei aio ottaa sikainfluenssarokotetta
2. Ketkä eivät halua sikainfluenssarokotetta?
3. IS Kysely: 75% suomalaisista ei aio ottaa sikainfluenssrokotetta

Tagit: 75 percent, ah1n1, finland, finn, finnish, finnish people, finns, flu shot, gallup, h1n1, helsingin sanomat, hs, ilta-sanomat, is, majority no, mtv3, no, poll, shot, suomi, swine flu, swine flu vaccine, vaccine, will not take the shot


Mon Oct 19, 2009 8:21 pm
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