From Osg's friends in Mexico!

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/04/25/2-swine-flu-cases-confirm_n_191415.html

I was watching a person from the CDC and they said that they have no plans to make a vaccine for this even though they could have started to already. Apparently they knew this strain and had the DNA for the last few weeks.

I wonder if Texas Governor Perry will be so quick to refuse federal funds?

Problem is all vaccines are for last years strain. every year it mutates and a small mutation means a good vaccine. a big mutation.....

A Pandemic event is not some over the top Hollywood/Nightmare scenario. it is an absolute. it's going to happen. problem is that by the time the CDC becomes aware that it's the "it" event. 'It" will be already too late to do jack about it.

We seem to be overdue for a pandemic flu event so bank it happening in our lifetimes.

Nydia will be a much better responder to this thread than I. /knock knock Hello Nydia?

Despite fairly massive re-budgeting to combat all that pervasive bioterrorism that left its original purpose underfunded, the CDC is fairly on top of things in the general case.

Also, the numbers of infections and their severity (low 1000s, with a 4%? mortality) does not justify "pandemic."

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/talking_point/8018428.stm

I work as a resident doctor in one of the biggest hospitals in Mexico City and sadly, the situation is far from "under control". As a doctor, I realise that the media does not report the truth. Authorities distributed vaccines among all the medical personnel with no results, because two of my partners who worked in this hospital (interns) were killed by this new virus in less than six days even though they were vaccinated as all of us were. The official number of deaths is 20, nevertheless, the true number of victims are more than 200. I understand that we must avoid to panic, but telling the truth it might be better now to prevent and avoid more deaths.

Yeny Gregorio Dávila, Mexico City

It's just like the bloody Bird Flu panic - and in the end like 30 people worldwide died.

These things can be very media driven.

It's just like the bloody Bird Flu panic - and in the end like 30 people worldwide died.

These things can be very media driven.

I agree, which is why the ? in the title. It really sucks that we can't trust almost everything including news sources even in non-political things like the Flu.

It takes about 6-8 months to produce large quantities of vaccines. So they decide around Feb what 3 strains to include in the following fall's vaccines.

But this is rather scary: The first case was seen in Mexico on April 13. The outbreak coincided with the President Barack Obama’s trip to Mexico City on April 16. Obama was received at Mexico’s anthropology museum in Mexico City by Felipe Solis, a distinguished archeologist who died the following day from symptoms similar to flu, Reforma newspaper reported. The newspaper didn’t confirm if Solis had swine flu or not. Source (http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601087&sid=aEsNownABJ6Q&refer=worldwide)

Healthy one day, dead the next, was one sign of the 1918 spanish flu pandemic (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1918_flu_pandemic). That particular strain tended to over-exert the immune system and the patient ended up drowning in their own body. A normal piece of lung would float in water because it was basically filled with air. These would sink. Microscopically, you would see that the alveoli would be filled with fluid, which made it impossible to breathe. These people were drowning. There was so much liquid in the air spaces of their lungs that patients would have bloody fluid coming out of their noses. When they died, it would often drench the bedsheets."

Without sufficient oxygen, patients would suffer from cyanosis--a discoloration of the skin. "Two hours after admission they have the mahogany spots over the cheek bones," a physician wrote at the time, describing the epidemic at Camp Devens, Massachusetts. "And in a few hours you can begin to see the cyanosis extended from the ears and spreading all over the face, until it is hard to distinguish the colored man from the white." Nurses would triage incoming flu patients by looking at the color of their feet. Patients whose feet were black were considered as good as dead.

Something else was strange about the 1918 strain, and that was its choice of victim. Flu epidemics kill mostly at the demographic fringes--the very old, whose immune systems are the least robust, and the very young. Other adults do get sick, but they rarely die. In 1918, however, the usual pattern of mortality was reversed. The Longyearbyen seven, for example, were all between the ages of nineteen and twenty-eight, and that was by no means unusual. In the United States, men between twenty-five and twenty-nine died of the Spanish flu at several times the rate of men between seventy and seventy-four. This wasn't just a deadly infectious disease. It was a deadly infectious disease with the singular and terrifying quality of being better at killing the young and healthy than the old and the infirm. Source (http://www.gladwell.com/1997/1997_09_29_a_flu.htm)
This article by Gladwell is also informative as it explains how flu strains end mutating and spreading from species to species.

People use Tamiflu and Relenza for so many sniffles that many strains of flu are showing resistance to the drug after only 2 years.

My girlfriend's parents both came back from the Netherlands with awful flus despite having the vaccine. Her dad was ok, but her mom was coughing up blood for about a week. Was pretty scary for a while.

Secession? It was a goof....I was joking...never really meant it...

Seems like Texas Governor is all about needing the Federal government now...

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/04/26/rick-perry-after-secessio_n_191521.html

C'mon, he's only asking for help for those hard-working Texans, not the deadbeats who would have been sponging off of those unemployment benefits ;)...

The reason the 1918 flu pandemic was deadlier in the healthy than the impaired has to do with *how* they were dying, as well as contact patterns: they were drowning as a *result* of a vigorous immune response, not of an insufficient one.

I think that so far we're seeing a lot of panic about what may not turn out to be much; but the fact that the deaths in Mexico were also of relatively young, healthy, presumably immunocompetent individuals is probably the most worrisome part of this. To this end, Relenza/Tamiflu, which are viral transcription inhibitors, may turn out to be crucial lifesavers if this thing does spread as they reduce viral load and thus blunt the inflammatory cascade that causes the massive fluid buildup in the lungs. As Smidget said, it generally takes 6-8 months for the identification/vaccine development/production rampup to take place, so if we *are* staring down the barrel of a pandemic, it, supportive measures, and infection control (quarantine) are what we will be looking at for several months...

In the meantime, limit your contact with pig farmers (kind of a joke, but here in south Texas, our initial cases were swine>human), wash your hands frequently, and remember those packets of kleenex your mother mysteriously seemed to always be able to produce from nowhere, people :). By the way, during the much-overhyped SARS outbreak, my mother actually bought and used those disposable masks when she travelled by air to come see me, and left me some 'just in case'; while I thought that seemed ridiculous at the time (and it was), it might not be a bad idea for those of you who travel by air frequently...

Regards,
Nydia

Do those masks actually do much?

Not really. They'll reduce rates of casual airborne communication by a bit, but nothing for nearly anything other than being directly coughed on. Most medical personnel wear them to contain possible contaminants, not protect themselves from them.

They're actually reasonably effective for their intended purpose - which is impeding droplet aerosol transmission (coughed/sneezed airborne particles in fluid microdroplets travelling < 1 meter). They do nothing about the hand or droplet-to-eye contact which is how a significant amount of flu transmission takes place (which is why you see health care workers working with influenza wearing face shields - the conjunctiva is actually a favored portal of entry of the virus), of course, nor are they magically going to protect you from everything that's floating around, but for an extended ride in the contained space of a bus or airliner they're worth picking up if you're concerned, imho.

Regards,
Nydia

P.S. And, gotta love the Huff Post, check out their headline, clearly it's the Apocalypse: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/

http://www.fluidinfo.com/terry/2009/04/26/a-few-comments-on-pandemic-influenza/

Oddly enough I bought out the stock of face masks and surgical gloves at the local pharmacy early this morning.

A bought of the flu might almost be an upgrade to the spring time alergies I have right now.

As for buying out that stuff, are you serious Rover? Way to get played by the media hype. It won't be time for that until all international travel and commerce is suspended.

I know I washed my hands after reading this thread, just in case.

Probably wont turn into much and I sure hope not... If I get really sick from something like this I wont do well. Worth at least keeping an eye on.

A bought of the flu might almost be an upgrade to the spring time alergies I have right now.

As for buying out that stuff, are you serious Rover? Way to get played by the media hype. It won't be time for that until all international travel and commerce is suspended.

And by that time try to find available stock...

In Beijing people wear that crap just to breathe the air.

As a matter of fact, we have many carriers in my office that continue wearing latex gloves since the Anthrax 'attacks'. I will not be surprised to see more taking them up now with this flu making the rounds.

BTW, did anyone else have a momentary flash of "Captain Trips" at the news of the deaths in Mexico?

'I know I washed my hands after reading this thread, just in case.'

- Not just this thread, that's for sure :P

Beware the walk'n dude.

Beware the walk'n dude.

I'm siding with the old black lady on this one!


LOL...good reference...yet apocalyptic

I'm siding with the old black lady on this one!


LOL...good reference...yet apocalyptic

I thought it fit well as I am a King fanboi.

Meh mildly concerned seeing as I work at a military hospital so we're liable to get the cases here in San Antonio...

I briefly thought about going shopping in my Chem/Biohazard suit as a gag, but then I figured people would start freaking the fuck out so I decided against it.

That "The Stand"?

That "The Stand"?

Yep!

Meh mildly concerned seeing as I work at a military hospital so we're liable to get the cases here in San Antonio...

I briefly thought about going shopping in my Chem/Biohazard suit as a gag, but then I figured people would start freaking the fuck out so I decided against it.

Those are too chalky/charcoaly to wear around! Would be funny though.

meh I wear gloves at work when I am in classroom anyways. I have not got a bad case of the flu in the last few years since i started doing that at work. You would be amazed how gross student and teacher keyboards are and they are not umm leaking body fluids on them! kinda freaks people out when they see IT walk in put on latex gloves and start banging away on a keyboard.

SC

I'm hoping I don't have to go into "hermit mode" if this thing becomes widespread. It's pretty hard to pull off in today's world.

And the mighty "puch me faced" Glenn Beck weighs in with his conspiracy about this. Even in the darkest times these guys provide an amazing amount of comedy...go figure.

http://mediamatters.org/countyfair/200904270012?show=1


Our government is moving wildly fast. Unlike anything we -- I mean, we did the research last night, and we went back to the AIDS epidemic --all the way back, looking at all the different things. They've never moved this quickly.


And then of course the best way to prepare for future disasters is to...

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/04/27/gop-stripped-flu-pandemic_n_191732.html

People are still traveling, although there are now notices of advisement but no actual groundings of aircraft or port recalls of ships. I am waiting to see how long it will take for China to close its borders as well as the rest of the Asian countries. Granted China will wait until the ultimate last minute, since no trade = no Chinese economy. The huge population density and the scare from the bird flu, SARS etc will assure they are watching this closely, though.

I wish you all would stop linking Huffingtons, btw. That is blocked by the Great Fire Wall of China. Most political blogs are.

I'm not panicing yet, but i'm worried. i did a lot of reading/researching on this back in the early to mid 90's (pre-intratubes for me) and the consesus was then we were overdue for an event. been keeping an eye out ever since.

Was 20 cases when i went to work this morning is 40 this afternoon. the problem with "confirmed' cases is for one there are going to be 5 more not yet "confirmed".
whats scary is much like the 1918 event this seems to prefer healthy adults.

http://imgs.xkcd.com/comics/swine_flu.png

Just lick an autistic kid and you'll be safe.

And now for a musical interlude!

Q0WXQiCvOco&NR

Here are two emails that have been sent around my office today from our leadership. I do not work in areas with patient contact but I still get this stuff. I thought I'd post them to show what health organizations are doing to addresss the issue.

With the recent concern over Swine Flu, <where I work> Health is requiring waiting areas to have masks available for any patients exhibiting upper respiratory symptoms and adhere to respiratory etiquette. To help facilitate identifying these patients, please print the attached sign and post in all waiting areas.

As more information becomes available, IC will communicate additional concerns, and recommendations.

Should you have any questions, please contact the IC offices as needed.


LARGE RED LETTERS SAYING:

STOP!
If you have a fever and a cough
or other respiratory symptoms,
please report immediately to the
Reception Desk.


PARE!
Si usted tiene fiebre y una tos, u
otro síntomas respiratorios, favor
de reportase inmediatamente al
escritorio de la Recepcionista.




The issue:

A new strain of influenza has captured the attention of the medical community. Known as Swine Influenza A (H1N1) Virus Infection, the strain has been endemic for many years in various parts of the world. While it is typically seen only in those who come in direct contact with infected pigs, there has been an increased incidence of the flu that now appears to be spread from human-to-human. This new variant of Swine Flu appears to have genetic material from three different species of influenza – those that infect pigs, humans, and birds. The presence of genetic material from human influenza probably enables this virus to infect humans.

Forty human cases of Swine Flu have been identified in the United States. To date, only one case has required hospitalization and none has been fatal so far. There have been no cases of Swine Flu reported in Pennsylvania.



What we know about Swine Flu:

1. The virus can be spread human to human

2. Proper hand hygiene and respiratory etiquette are the best forms of defense

3. It is unknown whether the recent flu shot provides any coverage for this new strain

4. Presentation of illness and severity is no more than typical seasonal influenza

5. The virus appears to be sensitive to routine antiviral medications including “Tamiflu” and “Relenza”

6. Patients are contagious for seven days

7. There are no confirmed cases within the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania

8. Properly prepared pork products are NOT a threat or means of spread



What we are doing about it:

In 2006 and 2007, <where I work> developed pandemic influenza preparation plans, based on the avian flu threat. While we recognize that Swine Flu has not been declared a Pandemic, this plan serves as a guide to preparing for the new strain as well as other public health concerns.

This morning, approximately 30 <where I work> leaders met to discuss the situation and <where I work>'s plan of action. We are currently monitoring advisories from the CDC, the World Health Organization and the Pennsylvania Department of Health, and are preparing to care for patients who may have Swine Flu symptoms in the most effective and efficient manner. We’ve created a special INET portal, which contains information and resources, and have already begun to distribute to clinical staff information regarding evaluation, treatment and prevention of secondary infections.


What you can do:

* Re-visit your department’s Pandemic influenza scenario plans and/or protocols and engage your staff in preparedness discussions
* Consult the INET portal and become familiar with the information and resources that are available
* Wash your hands frequently
* If you manage a clinical area, make sure your staff provides surgical masks to patients who present with flu-like illnesses (patients do not need a respirator [N-95]). Staff members should always wear eye protection with their mask

Information on laboratory testing and treatments will be sent to providers via the leadership team.



What’s next?

Briefings will be conducted for all <where I work> entities on a daily basis in order to prepare and provide the safest possible environment for our patients and staff. Watch for frequent updates to the INET Swine Flu Portal and for general updates in future issues of Around <where I work> and Leadership Update.

A great Google Maps mashup:

http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&hl=en&t=p&msa=0&msid=106484775090296685271.0004681a37b713f6b5950&ll=32.639375,-110.390625&spn=15.738151,25.488281&z=5

Cheers,

There is 2 reported cases in Orlando now, both near the International Airport which they are VERY concerned about.

Got home from work yesterday feeling lousy, and stayed home today with all the classic flu symptoms. I have no concerns about the swine variety tho', as all flu cases that have been getting reported on Minnesota are considered the "normal" virus, so far. And to think I got a flu shot for the first time this season. :(

I did spend the day constructively, watching "Tin Man".

So. Countries, such as China who already hardly let any US products in (Most every foreign brand sold here has to be MADE here under license. Nothing is brought in) as it is but peddle their lead paint encrusted shit on us, are putting an embargo on US pork products now. That's pork that has been slaughtered, checked and frozen and also there is no science to confirm that ANY pigs when alive even have the damn virus. Amazing how quick some people will exploit a global problem to punish those they don't particularly care for.

Not to mention that processed pork (i.e. you're not doing the slaughtering) is perfectly safe in that the flu is an enveloped virus that can't survive long outside of a living host.

Don't you come in here bashing our panic with your science! We don't need no stinkin' rational thought round these parts.

I just ate bacon.

I've never craved a BLT more, guess what's for dinner tonight!

By the way, during the much-overhyped SARS outbreak, my mother actually bought and used those disposable masks when she travelled by air to come see me, and left me some 'just in case'; while I thought that seemed ridiculous at the time (and it was), it might not be a bad idea for those of you who travel by air frequently...


Wouldn't wearing a mask on an airplane set off all kinds of hysterics?

Wearing a mask in Asia is so commonplace, I think it's an expected courtesy when you are ill to do so, that noone would think twice about it in that arena.

It's not a bad idea, wouldn't be a bad one for us to adopt. I can't tell you the amount of times I've gotten sick from someone "poweringthrough" their illness by continually coming to work when sick as a dog.

Airplanes are awful. Like I said earlier, both of my girlfriend's parents got some strain of the flu on an airplane this month. Breathing the same recirculated air of a few hundred people for a few hours time will make anyone sick. I used to get a cold each time I flew to/from Prague back in college.

The air on airplanes is also extremely low humidity. So low that you'll get small tears in your sinuses if you haven't been chugging vast quantities of water. And those tears make it far easier for floating virus and bacteria to get into your bloodstream.

I guess I don't see the huge deal.

35,000 people in the US have already died this flu season from other strains of the flu virus...

I am flying out of Columbus into O'Hare this weekend, and I am not worried about this swine flu. I'm worried about any number of diseases from the shit air on the plane, but not one particular strain over another has me more worried.

A few deaths isn't a big deal. The (potentially) big deal is that it's a new strain of the virus transmitting from person to person, which is one of the steps toward it killing millions.

Also, it has unearthed comedy gold from the past:

ASibLqwVbsk

Didn't they say the same thing about Bird Flu <tm>? The same thing could be said about cancer. If cancer starts transmitting person to person, it could kill millions, as well.

Smells like another hype story to sell headlines....

Avian hasn't done that yet though, whereas this swine outbreak is happening because it's going human to human. This certainly could be all hype, but the human to human transmission is a very significant difference.

I'm thinking the CDC needs to attach a power animal to all strains of flu to keep awareness and vaccinations up.

Scheduled for 2010 -- Shark flu!

I want Dinosaur Flu.

The Flamingo Flu has a nice ring to it.


Cheers,

No No No No No! You have to make it topical to whatever movie is in the cinema!

Wolverine Flu FTW!

How about the Eagle Flu ! The bird of Freedom will kill all!

Skunk flu for the win!

My seven year old came home yesterday and told me he thought there was about to be a zombie invastion... his teacher told him of this strange virus in Mexico that was killing people.... he extrapalated this is the coming Zombie apocolypse....


Brought a tear to my eye.... he can see through this "flu" cover up for what it really is LOL :)

But seriously, that first paragraph is the 100% truth (paraphrased) from his mouth.... I thought it was funny :)

Maybe it's the paranoid in me, but wouldn't this be a very 'convenient' method to lock down borders, and limit people's ability to move about freely?

What's next? You can't gather into groups for fear of spreading the 'disease'?

Zombie pigs!!!!!

It's the Porkocaplypse! (term I started using last night, and am now stuck on ;) )

On a more serious note, the WHO just raised the pandemic level to 5 after documented human-human transmission data came in from Spain today involving someone who had not been to Mexico. We also had a death here in Houston of a child today of it (who had been to Mexico)...

Speaking of upcoming likely twitter-worthy moments:

At the daily HHS briefing today, Sec. Napolitano and brand new Sec. Sebelius announced that they will be doing a webcast tomorrow to answer questions submitted by the public.

The webcast will take place at 1 pm EDT, and will be carried on two web sites:

http://www.hhs.gov and

http://www.cdc.gov

Questions need to be submitted in advance by e-mail to:

hhsstudio@hhs.gov

Both Secretaries stressed that they want to turn public concern into practical and useful public action, and that they will be looking at all available methods for doing public outreach.

I expect the questions will be *awesome* ;) , but if anyone is interested, it should be interesting to hear the ratio of wheat to chaff in the presentation and what strategy the government ends up taking (several reporters, as well as senators today made noise about us closing the border with Mexico, to which Napolitano responded that the virus is already *in* the United States and so this wouldn't accomplish anything in particular)...

Regards,
Nydia

The WHO has already said that its too late for that sort of method anyway and the focus needs to be on mitigation of the effects of the virus. Closing borders and halting trade would do nothing to stop the spread. Any sort of embargo or disruption of trade at this point would just be political ax grinding veiled in emergency measures.

Speaking of upcoming likely twitter-worthy moments:


Twitter worth comments, like dude im totally full, or oh man im so stoned.

The WHO has already said that its too late for that sort of method anyway and the focus needs to be on mitigation of the effects of the virus. Closing borders and halting trade would do nothing to stop the spread. Any sort of embargo or disruption of trade at this point would just be political ax grinding veiled in emergency measures.


So they are skipping ahead, to "ZOMG it's teh END O TEH WORLD<TM>" and skipping all the steps in between?

Pretty poor way to impose your will on the populace....

How is the WHO skipping anything Sixee?

They have a 6 phase procedure which they have followed for this Swine Flu outbreak:

http://www.who.int/csr/disease/avian_influenza/phase/en/index.html

ZOMG it's teh END O TEH WORLD<TM> doesn't happen until phase 6.


Cheers,

So they are skipping ahead, to "ZOMG it's teh END O TEH WORLD<TM>" and skipping all the steps in between?

Pretty poor way to impose your will on the populace....

Yes a much better way to impose your will would be to say that a country has weapons of mass destruction and that they are part of a group that attacked your country, then you can pass some legislation and give it a nifty name that about 30% of the suckers will fall for and you could torture people that you say are the enemy with little or no evidence they are other than you don't like their names and they have beards.

Then, here's the kicker, you could get all of the news organizations to lambaste anyone who disagrees with you and question their loyalty to their country. Once you succesfully pull that off you can give contracts to the company you worked for and still hold tens of thousands of shares of stock in and never really ask them to account for the money even though they aren't completing any of their projects they were contracted to do...

That's a much better way to impose your will on people...instead of that stupid way of protecting them from a possible flu pandemic.

Yes a much better way to impose your will would be to say that a country has weapons of mass destruction and that they are part of a group that attacked your country, then you can pass some legislation and give it a nifty name that about 30% of the suckers will fall for and you could torture people that you say are the enemy with little or no evidence they are other than you don't like their names and they have beards.

Then, here's the kicker, you could get all of the news organizations to lambaste anyone who disagrees with you and question their loyalty to their country. Once you succesfully pull that off you can give contracts to the company you worked for and still hold tens of thousands of shares of stock in and never really ask them to account for the money even though they aren't completing any of their projects they were contracted to do...

That's a much better way to impose your will on people...instead of that stupid way of protecting them from a possible flu pandemic.

I'm sure some of the Republicans on the board are mastrubating to to all that.

What I can't figure out is why people who a few years ago that were part of the 'question authority' crowd are so willing to feed at the trough of every international organization? What happened to questioning authority?

I'm sure some of the Republicans on the board are mastrubating to to all that.

What I can't figure out is why people who a few years ago that were part of the 'question authority' crowd are so willing to feed at the trough of every international organization? What happened to questioning authority?


People still question authority...however there has not been a removal of constitutional rights such as was given great support by republicans a short time ago. No one has been trucked of to an internment camp and distributing Tamiflu is hardly unconstitutional.

People still question authority...however there has not been a removal of constitutional rights such as was given great support by some republicans a short time ago. No one has been trucked off to an internment camp and distributing Tamiflu is hardly unconstitutional.

Fixed that for you.

And just so you don't think I'm totally off my rocker with my point of view...

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090430/ap_on_he_me/eu_swine_flu_drastic_measures;_ylt=Aqu5GqIj1R6JFXD o0hybXUYDW7oF

From Egypt's order that all 300,000 pigs in the country be slaughtered to travel bans and putting the kibosh on kissing, the world is taking drastic — and some say debatable — measures to combat swine flu.


At airports from Japan to South Korea to Greece and Turkey, thermal cameras were trained on airline passengers to see if any were feverish. And Lebanon discouraged traditional Arab peck-on-the-cheek greetings, even though no one has come down with the virus there.

In Germany, where officials confirmed three cases, Lufthansa announced that starting Thursday it will put a doctor aboard all flights to Mexico, the epicenter of the outbreak.


The World Health Organization said total bans on travel to Mexico — such as one imposed by Argentina, which hasn't had any confirmed cases — were questionable because the virus is already fairly widespread.

Roselyne Bachelot, France's health minister, said she would ask the European Union to suspend all flights to Mexico at a meeting Thursday in Luxembourg.



The WHO said closing schools and public places, along with banning or restricting mass gatherings, can be a way to contain the spread of disease. Epidemiologists call it "social distancing," and the idea is simple: If you keep people who have the virus away from others, you can stop the chain of transmission.

I'm at Starbucks right now. The place is less than half as full as usual on this day/time.

The guy next to me is sneezing. Great.

One of my majors' students (in class Tues night, obviously sick, one of two that went home sick before the lab practical) came up positive for the flu and has been asked to stay home - no idea when/if we'll get shut down, although they've already shut down one of our small San Marcos facilities for 10 days due to a confirmed case.

Finals should be *awesome* next week ;).

Regards,
Nydia

Eh just go find someone with it and get it, build up an imunnity now before it mutates into the Rage Virus.

I've got yer vaccine right here!

Oh, and at least they're having fun with the dubiously effective swine flu masks down in Mexico:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/healthpicturegalleries/5243655/Decorated-swine-flu-surgical-masks-in-Mexico.html

Doubles as a dental dam?

3M has installed additional production lines and is running extra shifts to meet the demand for those masks, which according to the medical experts are great for blocking sand and such at construction sites but are virtually worthless for blocking airborne germs.

So at least 3M, which had been laying folks off, is finding a way to make lemonade from this lemon.

I am getting something of a kick out of watching the non-stop news reports on this flu, and seeing very little comparison to the impact of the normal flu virus this year; I think I saw a figure in excess of 30k deaths. And, in 2006 when we had a combined 56k+ deaths due to influenza and pneumonia (using figures from the Center for Disease Control) we did not have all this panic and non-stop news reporting.

I think they are just looking for distractions, right now.

And, I am feeling better and going back to work tomorrow, where I can maybe catch something else handling all those letters. :eek:

Well Bylimet, I would say it is getting blown out of proportion, but it still has the potential to be a mess.

First, its spring time. Influenza is rare this time of year, particularly in Mexico which is much warmer. That means this strain is abnormally strong and could be difficult in the fall and winter.

Second, it has only been visable in Mexico for about 3 months and has 170ish confirmed deaths. Influenza has a 1:1000 fatality rate so either there have been 170,000 cases (being vastly under-reported) or this strain is stronger than normal - both aren't ideal.

Lastly, there are cases around the developed world. When it makes its way to places with worse healthcare it could get ugly.

We don't need to panic, but getting our shots this september (when they are expected to be ready) will be huge to avoiding it this fall.

3M has installed additional production lines and is running extra shifts to meet the demand for those masks, which according to the medical experts are great for blocking sand and such at construction sites but are virtually worthless for blocking airborne germs.

So at least 3M, which had been laying folks off, is finding a way to make lemonade from this lemon.

I am getting something of a kick out of watching the non-stop news reports on this flu, and seeing very little comparison to the impact of the normal flu virus this year; I think I saw a figure in excess of 30k deaths. And, in 2006 when we had a combined 56k+ deaths due to influenza and pneumonia (using figures from the Center for Disease Control) we did not have all this panic and non-stop news reporting.

I think they are just looking for distractions, right now.

And, I am feeling better and going back to work tomorrow, where I can maybe catch something else handling all those letters. :eek:

I'm glad you don't work for the CDC or WHO!

Keep in mind that even the Spanish Flu only infected a few hundred people in the first week.

I edited. I had a wouldn't where a would should have been.

I edited. I had a wouldn't where a would should have been.


You could have said that in your reason for edit field!

I'm glad you don't work for the CDC or WHO!

Keep in mind that even the Spanish Flu only infected a few hundred people in the first week.

The Spanish Flu hit in 1918-1919, with an estimated 525 million people infected and 20 million dying, including 675, 000 in the U.S. and 10,000 in my state of Minnesota. Yes, let us keep in mind what occurred 90 years ago with the prevailing health/medical/prevention/detection/poverty/transportation conditions of that time.

I am not discounting the potential severity, only pointing out the chicken little response I am seeing and questioning whether it is appropriate.

Keep reading beyond the part you bolded, to see the apples you're comparing oranges to.

We may have good anti-virals like Tamiflu today, but we're also more densely packed in and are spreading things around the globe much faster than possible 90 years ago.

From the sound of it, the strain outside Mexico seems to be much milder than what was killing people initially. Either that or the hospitals in Mexico City are truly horrendous (which I doubt). Flu mutates pretty quickly on occasion. Perhaps for once it has mutated into a less deadly form (the better to spread itself) that we are seeing elsewhere around the world?

Of course, there is really nothing to prevent it from mutating into a far deadlier strain in the coming year too.

In general, people don't die as much from the flu as secondary infections like pneumonia. Whether that's true of this strain remains to be determined, but it's not unlikely. Thus you can't really compare fatality rates against areas where you're more likely to die of pneumonia, etc, for other reasons when talking about influenza.

Keep reading beyond the part you bolded, to see the apples you're comparing oranges to.




Okay, how many were infected in the first week with this strain?

Okay, how many were infected in the first week with this strain?

No one knows which is obviously part of the problem. Like I said, 170ish fatalities in Mexico. Normally with Influenza its a 1:1000 fatality rate domestically to maybe 5% in lesser developed countries. So far only ~2500 reported cases in Mexico but there is probably which would be a scary fatality rate, its more likely that there are 10,000+ infections and just dramatically unreported (when was the last time you went to the hospital when you had a flu, I can't think of ever going personally). That is also why it seems weaker in the US, because we simply don't have as many cases so we'll obviously have a lot less deaths. Almost all of these cases are people who visited Mexico in the past week or two, so its unlikely its a mutation that only affects people about to get on departing international flights.

Lets not forget the flu season is September to January. Its crazy people are getting the flu in the Spring (and its really summer type weather in Mexico right now).

You could have said that in your reason for edit field!

Ya know, there isn't one of those options in the mobile version. Even more annoying, there is no quote feature (yet there is a rep button, which is kinda worthless)

Two schools in my area have been closed, and we were told today it's not a matter of if, but more likely when we will be closed. We were told to update grades, take personal items home, and be prepared to be locked out of the building on short notice.

srs bizness here now. They've activated Hospital Incident Command.

<edit> and <edit> Hospitals have decided to initiate their Hospital Incident Command Centers. (<edit> IC will include all entities in <edit> County.) Although we have not seen any confirmed cases of H1N1 in Pennsylvania, there is a benefit to having one person fulfilling the role of incident commander. Incident Command recognizes that the AOC can delegate authority to others when necessary, using an effective span of control to ensure proper safety and accountability.

Distinct, standardized position titles serve three essential purposes:

They reduce confusion within a hospital or with outside agencies or other healthcare facilities by providing a common standard for all users.
They allow the position to be filled with the most qualified individual rather than by seniority. They facilitate requests for qualified personnel, especially if they come from outside the hospital.

We will be meeting in the HCC (Hospital Command Center) at 0700 tomorrow with a conference call with leadership at 0800. The following positions have been assigned:

All this, cause of the snifoos?

Saw somewhere that 36,000 people died world wide last year from the NORMAL flu. Is this a please stop the madness thing yet or should we still be panicking over this swine flu stuff?

Saw somewhere that 36,000 people died world wide last year from the NORMAL flu. Is this a please stop the madness thing yet or should we still be panicking over this swine flu stuff?


I would say panic...but try to make money off of it...but actually...breathing the air of China will probably kill you faster.

Saw somewhere that 36,000 people died world wide last year from the NORMAL flu. Is this a please stop the madness thing yet or should we still be panicking over this swine flu stuff?

That figure isn't worldwide, that's the US figure for the most recent flu season.

Is this a please stop the madness thing yet or should we still be panicking over this swine flu stuff?


The reason that people are on edge about H1N1 is because of the reportage on the deaths in Mexico, and more specifically, *who* died (and how); it wasn't the elderly, as is usually the case in a normal flu season, but otherwise healthy individuals between age 20-50. They didn't die slowly due to having weakened immune systems and being 'worn down', as typically happens in 'normal' influenza deaths; their own immune systems killed them very rapidly as the result of a massive hyperresponse known as a 'cytokine storm' (how's that for drama ;) ), which causes rapid buildup of fluid in the lungs and a severe drop in blood pressure. This is unusual in flu epidemics and the last time it occurred was during the 1919 epidemic; hence the worry that we might be in for another bad one.

So far, only the Mexico cases (and one Texas case, arrived from Mexico)seem to be of this nature, suggesting that there are at least two strains of
H1N1 floating around; hopefully the one that goes global is the milder variety and/or the strain loses virulence as it passes from person to person (which not uncommonly happens). In any case, there's not much to do at this point and see what happens as the cases come in and whether we see many more of these hyperinflammatory type deaths...

Regards,
Nydia

http://imgbit.com/images/a9100438211241059875.jpg

First probable case hit our ER today. It will take a few days for the CDC to confirm but they're treating it as such for precautionary measures. =\

Did they hose everyone/thing down with bleach and alcohol?

Or are they gonna nuke the site from orbit? It's the only way to be sure.....:eek:

I'd post more of the crazy daily updates that have turned into a 2x sometimes 3x a day update but I don't have time to edit all the names and shit out. They're flooding my inbox though and I'm sick of it :(

They've quarantined the individual until the CDC tells them what to do. Someone has made flow charts for clinicians on how to triage patients in clinical areas and for some dumb reason I'm on these emails too. I want to smack someone.

A better mashup:

http://flutracker.rhizalabs.com/


Cheers,