News Reports for December 1, 2009

Canada: Few cases of suspected flu wind up testing positive

http://www.theglobeandmail.com...

Public health officials are warning the wave of H1N1 this fall is not nearly as widespread as suspected, leaving a significant number of Canadians who believe they have gained a ticket to immunity still vulnerable to the virus.

Last week in Ontario, fewer than one in four cases of suspected H1N1 tested positive in laboratory analysis. In British Columbia, the rate was one in three. The rest, based on samples, were mostly rhinovirus - the common cold - and enterovirus, a common flu-like bug.

In a year when Canada has collected record amounts of clinical data about influenza, the evidence is mounting that even doctors aren't very good at telling the difference between H1N1 and the common cold.

[snip]
"This year is very different because we are swabbing way more than we ever would and we are more accurate than we've ever been before - and it's still not very accurate."

With labs overwhelmed by the number of cases being sent for testing, health officials are now asking doctors not to bother testing for H1N1 except in certain circumstances, such as for pregnant women or other people with underlying health concerns.

[snip]
Which means people who think they don't need to be vaccinated because they believe they have already been exposed are gambling against poor odds, he said. "It's a guessing game and there isn't a good solid way to find out. We're recommending people get the vaccine unless they have had laboratory-confirmed evidence of this pandemic influenza virus."

In B.C., the Centre for Disease Control tested nearly 2,500 specimens a month ago when the virus was peaking. As in Ontario, roughly half of the swabs tested positive for influenza, and virtually all of the flu cases have proved to be H1N1.

Every week since, the rate of H1N1 in lab tests has dropped. In B.C. last week, 34.7 per cent of the 1003 samples tested positive. In Ontario, just 22.8 per cent of the specimens tested positive last week.

[snip]
Comment: This article seemed kind of self-contradictory, tho maybe I'm just staying up too late...

Keep the information coming!

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by: Cathy M @ Mon Nov 30, 2009 at 23:43:02 PM CST

Russian doctors fear swine flu might mix with bird flu

http://en.rian.ru/science/2009...

Russian doctors fear that a new flu virus might appear as a result of reassortment between the swine flu and bird flu viruses, Russia's chief sanitary official said on Monday.

"We have been monitoring it very closely," Gennady Onishchenko told journalists.

[snip]

The combination of H5N1 bird flu and H1N1 viruses could become a monstrous hybrid - a virus that combines high mortality rate of the former and ability to transmit efficiently among people of the latter.

The announcement followed media reports that doctors have registered a swine flu mutation, resistant to Tamiflu, a drug commonly used to treat the disease. AFP reported that in some cases the mutated virus also had an increased ability to attack lung tissue.

Comment: For a place that, less than a month ago, was denying it had more than a handful of swine flu, to say this publically is a bit scary...

Keep the information coming!

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by: Cathy M @ Mon Nov 30, 2009 at 23:46:52 PM CST

Russia's Health Ministry reports 600 flu deaths in 2009

http://en.rian.ru/russia/20091...

[note - this was from 11/25, but I didn't see it posted anywhere]
About 600 people have died in Russia from flu, including the H1N1 virus, since the start of the year, the health minister said on Wednesday.

"The number of people who have died from different kinds of flu since the start of the year does not exceed 600," Tatyana Golikova said.

The minister said the number of flu and respiratory infection cases has exceeded the epidemic threshold in 46 regions across the country. However, in some cities the number of cases has reduced, she said.

She said 11,633 swine flu cases have been so far registered in Russia.

The official death toll from swine flu in Russia has reached 16. Media reports earlier said there have been 26 human swine flu deaths registered in the country.

[snip]

The Russian health minister warned earlier this month against a media panic over the virus.

Comment: How can you have a media panic, when the media is not allowed to report or comment on it??

Keep the information coming!

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by: Cathy M @ Mon Nov 30, 2009 at 23:49:59 PM CST

Mutations in swine flu and politics

http://www.speroforum.com/a/23...

[note: the date of the article was 11/30, yet it talks about the Haji as if it hadn't happened yet... hmmm...]

Reports in Europe and elsewhere are rife of a mutation of the H1N1 "swine" flu virus that apparently first appeared in Ukraine and has now popped up in numerous other countries. As of November 28, two fatal cases of the mutated virus emerged in France, following two deaths caused by the virus identified in Norway on November 20. According to the World Health Organization, the same virus has been identified in patients in other countries including Brazil, China, Japan, Mexico, and the United States.

So far, in France, 76 deaths have been recorded for H1N1. Worldwide, deaths blamed on the epidemic rose by 1,000 during the week of November 21-28. But in the Ukraine, the total figure surpassed 300 in early November 2009, with as many as 16 deaths caused in one day.

The mutated virus appears to be able to penetrate further into the passages of victim's lungs, thus making it more dangerous. However, there is yet no evidence to show that it can be spread between people. As long as there is no proven "person-to-person" contagion, the relative risk posed by the mutation is low, experts insist.

[snip]

However, H1N1 deaths may increase as its mutations combine. The permutations are many. Some mutations are vaccine- and antiviral-resistant, while another causes lung hemorrhaging. Each mutation is causing different effects in victims, and even combining to attack individuals in some cases. In the UK, a laboratory reported that the current H1N1 vaccine would probably not be effective against the variant of the swine flu virus that caused a panic in Ukraine. This variant, in which the virus uses D225G as a receptor binding domain, causes bleeding in the lungs. Another H1N1 mutation results in the resistance to treatment with antiviral medication. The mutation that results in acute lung damage has been called a "low reactor" to the vaccine, meaning that the vaccine will not provide an immune response for that strain of virus adequate to prevent infection.

Lung hemorrhaging caused by a swine flu mutation has been reported in from China and Norway to France and the Ukraine. Thus far in the United States, there have been unconfirmed reports of fatalities in patients with hemorrhaged lungs. Worldwide, a strain of the H1N1 bug resistant to Tamiflu, a principal anti-viral medication, has been found with high incidence found in Wales and North Carolina. One such case has been found in France.

[snip]

Russia has also had its share of flu deaths and reaction to infection. At least ten universities in western Russia have been closed due to the flu. The State Pedagogical University in the city of Lipetsk said it is canceling classes because about one in four of the university's students are sick with flu-like symptoms, even though they are not known if they have swine flu, or a variant of H1N1. The closure is expected to last until December 2.

But the Mideast has actually been hit the hardest. According to the latest World Health Organization estimates, influenza H1N1 has so far more victims in Iran than in the other 22 countries of the WHO's Eastern Mediterranean Region. With 33 deaths so far, Iran registers 17 percent of the total 188 deaths in the region since May 2009. Saudi Arabia has recorded 28 deaths, Oman 25 and Syria 22 and also had the highest rate of fatalities in comparison to the cases with 9.5 percent of them being fatal. Yemen follows with a rate of 2.5 percent, Afghanistan with 1.7 percent, and Iran with 1.5 percent. Kuwait has registered the highest number of cases with 6,640 (23 percent of all the 28.751 in the region), followed by Saudi Arabia with 4,119; Oman with 3,829; and Egypt with 2,494. Kuwait also has the highest number of cases per head with 2.46 over a thousand, followed by Oman with 1.12 cases (over a thousand), and Bahrain with 1.10 cases (over a thousand).

[snip]

The Health Ministry of Israel had registered 51 swine flu deaths as of early November. A two-year-old child from Nazareth died following a swine flu shot; she had had several illnesses and recently received a pacemaker. Another 41 people complained of side effects of the flu jab. The standard for inoculation holds that children under the age of three are not good candidates for the flu vaccine.

In the conflictive Democratic Republic of Congo, an unknown epidemic has caused three deaths and affected more than 100 people. The epidemic broke out in Londela Kayes, in southwest DRC some 300 miles from Brazzaville. Symptoms include diarrhea, strong fever and vomiting. Health authorities on the scene have concluded that they are confronting a flu virus even while they have yet to receive samples. The A/H1N1 has been found in Brazzaville and Pointe Noire and was presumably spread from there. The DRC reported its first case in October at a Brazzaville school.

Comment: I've kind of lost track -- is this just a summary, or is there new news?

Keep the information coming!

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by: Cathy M @ Mon Nov 30, 2009 at 23:57:41 PM CST

Confirmation of D225G and next years' vac...

Thus far in the United States, there have been unconfirmed reports of fatalities in patients with hemorrhaged lungs.

Are cases of suspected D225G variant treated differently as far as testing so that eventually there is confirmation?

Also, with this variant and yet, another that is showing resistance to anti-virals, how and when do they plan for next year's H1N1 vaccination? Will it be included with seasonal vaccine and how do you know which mutations to plan for with so many variables possible between now and then? Seems like a crap shoot.  

 



"History never looks like history when you are living through it." ~John W. Gardner

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by: tess @ Tue Dec 01, 2009 at 03:05:30 AM CST

[ Parent ]

Is there a link to this article you can give us? n/t

Always have a plan B.

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by: maryinhawaii @ Tue Dec 01, 2009 at 09:45:15 AM CST

[ Parent ]

oops, sorry...didn't see it was just a quote from article above. (more coffee needed!) nt

Always have a plan B.

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by: maryinhawaii @ Tue Dec 01, 2009 at 09:46:51 AM CST

[ Parent ]

Sorry Mary, was a 3 a.m. post. I could have worded topic a little better. ;) (more sleep needed) nt

 



"History never looks like history when you are living through it." ~John W. Gardner

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by: tess @ Tue Dec 01, 2009 at 17:48:23 PM CST

[ Parent ]

Finland confirms human-to-pig transmission of A/H1N1 flu

 Finland confirms human-to-pig transmission of A/H1N1 flu
www.chinaview.cn 2009-12-01 07:08:02  

   HELSINKI, Nov. 30 (Xinhua) -- Finland has confirmed the country's first known human-to-pig transmission of A/H1N1 influenza, said Finnish Food Safety Authority and Finnish National Institute for Health and Welfare in a statement on Monday.

   According to the agencies, samples taken from some pigs of a pig farm in Southern Pohjanmaa region, west in the country tested positive for the A/H1N1 flu viruses.

   Finland has confirmed a total of 7,038 cases of A/H1N1 flu by Monday, reporting 16 fatalities related to the disease. The epidemic of A/H1N1 flu has peaked in all parts of the Finland, with signs to subside in northern part of the country. A massive vaccination plan against A/H1N1 flu covering the entire population is under way in the country.
http://news.xinhuanet.com/engl...

Life is not so short but that there is always time enough for courtesy. Ralph Waldo Emerson

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by: mojo @ Mon Nov 30, 2009 at 23:59:14 PM CST

(not US) 30 new cases of H1N1 virus confirmed in Georgia

http://www.rustavi2.com/news/n...

30 new cases of H1N1 virus have been confirmed in Georgia during the last three days, the Georgian National Center for Disease Control reports. Doctors assess health conditions of all the patients as satisfactory. As reported, only two of them are at hospital now and both of them will be discharged on Sunday. In most of the newly confirmed cases of the virus, the patients were infected locally.

Experts suppose, the swine flu may hit the peak in the beginning of December. 177 cases in total have been revealed in Georgia so far.  

Keep the information coming!

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by: Cathy M @ Mon Nov 30, 2009 at 23:59:16 PM CST

Vietnam reports deaths from bird flu, swine flu

Hanoi - A 23-year-old man has died of avian influenza, bringing Vietnam's bird-flu death toll to five this year, health officials said Tuesday, also confirming two more deaths from swine flu. The Ministry of Health reported the man, from the north-we...

Posted : Tue, 01 Dec 2009 05:28:11 GMT

Hanoi - A 23-year-old man has died of avian influenza, bringing Vietnam's bird-flu death toll to five this year, health officials said Tuesday, also confirming two more deaths from swine flu. The Ministry of Health reported the man, from the north-western town of Dien Bien Phu, was admitted to hospital with high fever and respiratory illness on November 26, and died two days later. Samples from his body tested positive for the H5N1 bird flu virus.

Health authorities said that the patient had eaten duck's blood curd a week before developing symptoms. An outbreak of H5N1 among birds in Dien Bien province was first reported on November 21.

snip

The Ministry of Health also confirmed two more deaths from the H1N1 swine-flu virus on Monday.

A 20-year-old pregnant woman from Khanh Hoa province in southern Vietnam died November 24, and 59-year-old man from northern Quang Ninh province died two days later.
http://www.earthtimes.org/arti...

Life is not so short but that there is always time enough for courtesy. Ralph Waldo Emerson

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by: mojo @ Tue Dec 01, 2009 at 00:12:39 AM CST

Vietnam to produce Russian-developed swine flu antiviral drug

Vietnam to produce Russian-developed swine flu antiviral drug

A research group from the Hanoi University of Pharmacy has said that they would produce an antiviral drug developed by Russia specifically for swine flu and avian flu next year.

Fludon H1, or Arbidol, which has been licensed for manufacture and distribution in many countries, will offer treatment for influenza A (H1N1) virus and H5N1 virus with the same efficiency as Tamiflu and Zanamivir drugs, said Nguyen Hai Nam, who leads the research team.

However, the Vietnamese alternative will be four to five times cheaper than the common Tamiflu, Nam said.

Meawhile, Truong Quoc Cuong, head of the health ministry's Drug Administration of Vietnam, on Sunday said they had ordered one million 30g doses of Tamiflu for children.
more
http://www.thanhniennews.com/h...

Life is not so short but that there is always time enough for courtesy. Ralph Waldo Emerson

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by: mojo @ Tue Dec 01, 2009 at 00:14:22 AM CST

Influenza-reporting in Finland

There is  very little news about the Swineflu here, in Finland. Now.

I am deducting: Pandemrix IS a nanovaccine because STM (Social- and Health Ministry) and/or THL (Health- and Wellbeing-department) aren´t denying it publicly. They do not state: Pandemrix is not a nanovaccine.
They keep silent about this issue.

MEPs, Protector Generals Office, finnish Parliament members, media have been contacted. They cannot be unaware, that the people are worried. But they remain silent.

Normally the tabloids would be screaming "H1N1 is a nanovaccine?" and then they would go on and on, days on end, whether it is or is not.
But there is silence about the whole subject in the media. Like they were told to keep away and be quiet.

Yesterday Iltasanomat-magazine told us this: STM is monitoring the chats for discussions of Swineflu. And that THEIR experts will guide the chatters to the fountains of truth and wisdom in THEIR THL-homepages.

GlaxoSmithKline pays 6 million euros per year to THL for vaccine-research.
The government-money THL gets 1 million per year.
So one may at least so far it is allowed make some decuctions of the purity of the water in THEIR fountain of truth.

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by: Riikka S-g @ Tue Dec 01, 2009 at 02:51:21 AM CST

The Deadly mutation of the Virus of Pig Flu with Bird Flu

The Deadly mutation of the Virus of Pig Flu with Bird Flu

By editorial staff of 01/12/2009 @ 00:28

KALIANDA: the Community was appealed to to anticipate the new virus attack that was formed from the combination two genetic the virus namely pig flu (H1N1) and bird flu (H5N1) with the level of the spread and the death was very high. That was revealed by the Section Head the Dan Pengamatan Prevention of the Illness, Dinas Kesehatan of the Regency Lampung Selatan Kristi Endarwati SKM, on Monday (30/11). He said, be based on pengamataan and the Department's research of the Health, naturally the two viruses were enabled bermutasi in a short time.

"We received intruksi to guard against and anticipate him in accordance with the procedure continue to (Protap) clearly from the centre to handle him if terjangkit to humankind," he said. He said, uptil now the community only learned the existence of the bird flu virus and pig flu separately, in fact was based on results of the scientific research, the virus could bermutasi and spread to humankind simultaneously in the form of the very deadly new virus. Further, he explained, the bird flu virus uptil now the characteristics of his spread tended slower but the mortality rate that was resulted in by him very high. Whereas his virus of flu of the spread pig was very fast antarmanusia but the mortality rate was classified as low.

After bermutasi, continued he, the two viruses had finally become a new virus that was perfect with the characteristics was faster fast antarmanusia was increased by the mortality rate was very high. The indication of the spread even more dasyat because of the combination of the sign of the two viruses. He added, the mutation of this virus by the Department of the Health was not yet given by the name because of not yet having the case that happened because of that the community diintruksikan was on the alert and menyosialisasikan to that did not yet know him. The "mutation" of "this virus happened naturally started from the virus H5N1 spread to the pig body that has tertular H1N1 afterwards spread antarmanusia in accordance with the original characteristics" of the "virus H1N1," said he.

He said, was based on the research, the bird flu virus was really enabled to spread to the pig that already terjangkit flu or humankind because of the structure of the pig body had the similarity with the human body, or H5N1 tertular direct to humankind that has tertular H1N1. "One of the viruses till at this time still was difficult to be prevented in fact immune with antivirus, moreover if until the two viruses has bermutasi became the crueller new virus," explained he. He explained, after the virus was combined bermutasi became the virus just had speed perfection of the spread and height perfection of the death for that tertular.

To melaukan the early detection of the case, the Kesehatan Service make an effort with empowerment of the health service, and memebentuk 40 people surveilans (the observer) to berkerja be the same as gave the edication to the community. The important matter that must be done by the community to anticipate him that is guarding the pattern of the healthy life by maintaining the cleanliness as washing the hands before eating, maintained ethics when sneezing and the cough. (Ant/MI)

toggletext translated
http://www.infeksi.com/newsdet...

United we stand: Divided we fall

http://cottontopssandbox.wordp...

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by: cottontop @ Tue Dec 01, 2009 at 05:00:39 AM CST

The same article translated using Google's translation engine

I think Google provides a much more readable version.

http://www.infeksi.com/newsdet...

Deadly Flu Virus Mutation in Bird Flu Swine
by Editors 01/12/2009 @ 00:28

KALIANDA : Public advised to anticipate a new virus attack that is formed from the combination of two genetic swine flu virus (H1N1) and avian influenza (H5N1) with transmission rates and very high mortality.

It was revealed the Section Head Disease Prevention and Observation, Public Health Service of South Lampung Regency Kristi Endarwati SKM, Monday (30/11).

He said, based on research pengamataan and the Ministry of Health, both naturally mutated virus is possible in a short time.

"We have received instructions to be aware and anticipate them in accordance with the procedures fixed (Protap) is clearly from the center to handle it if infected humans," he said.

He said this during the public only knew the existence of bird flu and swine flu separately, but based on the results of scientific research, the virus could mutate and spread to humans at the same time in the form of a new virus that is deadly.

Furthermore, he explained, the bird flu virus during the transmission properties tend to be slower but the resulting mortality rate is very high. While swine influenza virus transmission between humans is very fast but low mortality rate.

After mutating, he added, the virus eventually becomes a new virus perfectly with the nature of human faster speed plus a very high mortality rate. Indication of transmission was more terrible because the combination of symptoms from both the virus.

He added, mutation of this virus by the Ministry of Health has not given the name because there is no case, therefore wary diintruksikan community and not to socialize to know.

"Mutations of this virus occurs naturally begins with the H5N1 virus spread to the body of infected pigs that have been transmitted between humans H1N1 and in accordance with the original nature of the virus H1N1," he said.

He revealed, according to research, the bird flu virus is very possible spread to pigs that have been infected with human flu or because a pig's body structure has similarities with the human body, or directly infected with H5N1 in humans who have contracted H1N1.

"One of the virus until now still difficult to prevent even the antiviral immune, especially when it comes to both the virus has mutated into a new virus that is more vicious," he said.

He explained, after the virus mutates into a virus incorporated the new transmission has the perfect speed and perfection of the high mortality for infected.

For early detection melaukan cases, Public Health Service seeks to empower health care, and 40 people memebentuk surveillance (monitoring) to work together to provide education to the community.

The important thing to be done to anticipate that people maintain a healthy lifestyle with good personal hygiene such as washing hands before eating, keep the ethics when sneezing and coughing. (Ant / MI)

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by: ez.pz.japan.ez @ Tue Dec 01, 2009 at 07:40:52 AM CST

[ Parent ]

WTF?

Is this unfortunate foreshadowing, sensationalism, or a warning of something they know ... trial balloon.

Seems a "bit" irresponsible to me.

Might as well write about the armageddon that comes "when" H1N1, H5N1, and ebola get together.

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by: nika @ Tue Dec 01, 2009 at 08:12:44 AM CST

[ Parent ]

I disagree . . .

Adding ebola to the mix, even in offhand suggestion, would be irresponsible due to the fact that it's quite farfetched.

A virus combining the worst of H5N1 and H1N1 would be horrific, but certainly not beyond the realm of possibility.
When we begin to hear the rumour of this from such disparate sources as we have in the past week, I fear we may be nearing probability rather than possibility.

I don't think 'sensationalism' has anything to do with it.

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by: Clawdia @ Tue Dec 01, 2009 at 23:41:05 PM CST

[ Parent ]

It implies that they may have already successfully made this recombination in the lab

He said this during the public only knew the existence of bird flu and swine flu separately, but based on the results of scientific research, the virus could mutate and spread to humans at the same time in the form of a new virus that is deadly.

They now have a substantial number of pigs infected with the swine H1N1 and new outbreaks among poultry (and the occasional human) of Bird flu - which is endemic in the region - so there is significant opportunity for natural mixing and reassortment or recombination of the two viruses in the pig.

I don't think they are being sensationalistic at all: Indo is usually very reticent and inclined to downplay any disease outbreaks to protect their "public image" so if they have tested and found recombination possible - or they have just run the odds and found them worrisomely high for a recombination event - then they are being correctly proactive IMO.

Always have a plan B.

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by: maryinhawaii @ Tue Dec 01, 2009 at 09:57:56 AM CST

[ Parent ]

Or - it's already happening...

... and they're trying to get the public to come in and be tested/treated more, without tipping their hand. Either way, don't like the multiple comments in the news about this...

Keep the information coming!

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by: Cathy M @ Tue Dec 01, 2009 at 10:06:56 AM CST

[ Parent ]

Too many similar stories . . .

In the past week, warnings about a mating between H5N1/H1N1 have come from at least four different sources - WHO, China, Russia, and Indonesia.

It may be political, but I'm not convinced that's all it is.

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by: Clawdia @ Tue Dec 01, 2009 at 11:37:52 AM CST

[ Parent ]

recombination is ALWAYS possible

there are no end of thought experiments one can run on possible recombinant outcomes one could have across these flu viruses.

Its not really informative to do arm chair experiments.

Awareness that such crosses COULD happen is widespread.

Its not news in other words.

A news piece like this can serve one of two main purposes:

sensationalism - to sell newspapers (thats the core reason we have any media at all, be honest)

cover-asses-of-TPTB - although I dont know why they even bother. Its not like calling the outbreak before it hits mainstream media gets you any real points - this isnt a race to patent something, requiring priority and enabling disclosures.

I vote for the first - sensationalism and politics.

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by: nika @ Tue Dec 01, 2009 at 10:31:13 AM CST

[ Parent ]

I'm with you on that one

Its not really informative to do arm chair experiments.

Awareness that such crosses COULD happen is widespread.

Its not news in other words.

Sorry, no time to post more right now, but am reading just the same.  



All 'safety concerns' are hypothetical.  If not, they'd be called side effects...

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by: SusanC @ Tue Dec 01, 2009 at 12:16:47 PM CST

[ Parent ]

They used the term scientific research in respect to this potential recombination of H1N1 and H5N1.

This research could be in vivo or in vitro experiments, or statistical analysis. But I don't think the public health source being quoted was a politician or journalist, and doctors and scientists don't generally use the term research for "arm chair experiments" or "thought experiments."  

Also, as I stated before, Indonesian Politicos have always been super-secretive denialists when it comes to H5N1 and even H1N1 outbreaks, squelching such "sensational" news rather than blaring it world wide. So to what do you attribute this sudden 180 degree about face in policy that you have decided is behind this story??    

Always have a plan B.

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by: maryinhawaii @ Wed Dec 02, 2009 at 01:35:32 AM CST

[ Parent ]

I am not on the ground

and we scientists talk about armchair experiments all the time.

There are all sorts of permutations one might consider.

I also know that some scientists are less sophisticated than others and might not appreciate the need to nuance their discussion of said armchair experiments for the journalist.

Science journalism is, ahem, less than rigorous in many parts of the world.

Until you have datasets, clusters, sequences, dead, its premature to assume that its an actual case of H1N1/H5N1 recombination versus hyperbolus reporting.

Trust me, the thought of this sort of recombination is horrifying to me too. I am concerned enough as it is with the recent change in virulence we are seeing.

I have 3 young kids, this is not academic to me.

But I have come to respect the density of the fog of war and I would rather take a measured approach, sifting through a larger datastream than the curious unscientific statements as reported through reporters and politicians.

 

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by: nika @ Wed Dec 02, 2009 at 07:36:32 AM CST

[ Parent ]

Read again. I didn't say scientists don't talk about "armchair experiments"

I said they don't refer to such as "scientific research".

To me it is very clear that it is NOT an actual case of H1N1/H5N1 recombination being alluded to in their statement, and I don't believe I ever implied that it was.

Dinas Kesehatan of the Regency Lampung Selatan Kristi Endarwati SKM, on Monday (30/11). He said, be based on pengamataan and the Department's research of the Health, naturally the two viruses were enabled bermutasi in a short time.

This means that they would be ABLE to recombine or reassort, not that they had already. But it said this opinion was based on RESEARCH,not hyperbole. To suspect the quality, integrity and rigor of the scientific knowledge of those in developing countries may enter potential bias into the discussion.

I believe the nature of the research the health minister refers to is intimated in this quote below:

He said, was based on the research, the bird flu virus was really enabled to spread to the pig that already terjangkit flu or humankind because of the structure of the pig body had the similarity with the human body, or H5N1 tertular direct to humankind that has tertular H1N1.

My interpretation of this is that they have already established that the bird flu is able to readily spread to pigs that may already have H1N1, and likewise to humans that already have H1N1 - and that either virus in pigs is able to spread to humans due to similarity in body structure. None of this is new in terms of speculation, but what is uncertain is if they have some kind of new hard evidence to support that speculation.

I merely pondered if they might have done some controlled experiments with the two viruses - either in pigs or in vitro - and found out that they actually DO recombine under certain conditions.

BTW: I have a strong science background as a 23 year biological science teacher with honors, so I am not entirely ignorant of the discipline.

Always have a plan B.

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by: maryinhawaii @ Wed Dec 02, 2009 at 22:27:42 PM CST

[ Parent ]

I don't know

The word 'research' can be and is often used to mean just about anything, including looking up one's horoscopes (just kidding LOL).  I'd normally like to see their methodology to know what exactly they did, what their actual findings are and the logic with which they interpret their findings.  And not just the conclusions to their findings.  And that's in addition to being generally very cautious when it comes from a translated article.  Not that third world countries can't do good research, but that by definition, third world countries are resource-poor and the quality of any 'research' has to be assessed in that light.  



All 'safety concerns' are hypothetical.  If not, they'd be called side effects...

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by: SusanC @ Thu Dec 03, 2009 at 03:14:15 AM CST

[ Parent ]

Didn't they already do that?

I thought I read an article that was posted here a couple months ago that said they had already tried co-infecting some animal hosts with H5N1 and I think H1N1.  My memory on this is a little fuzzy but I remember something about 1 time in 11, there was some sort of recombination.  Apologies if I remember that wrong, if anyone else remembers please feel free to correct me.

Meteorologist in Florida!?!  Now we're talkin'!!!

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by: Tempest @ Tue Dec 01, 2009 at 11:40:10 AM CST

[ Parent ]

Hi Tempest

I don't remember seeing that information but maybe someone else here remembers it. The question in my mind on the article that cottontop posted is, "have they possibly found a case already in one or more of the pigs in Indonesia?" That doesn't mean it is a new virus that has adapted well enough to infect humans, just that they have found evidence it has naturally occurred in pigs. A lot of scientist seem to be very worried about this occurring....frankly, so am I.

Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away. --Unknown

     

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by: Carol@SC @ Tue Dec 01, 2009 at 13:08:45 PM CST

[ Parent ]

As I remember it

they tried mixing swine flu with other human flu (H3N2) and didn't see much to be concerned about. They were about to try H5N1 but haven't reported back yet.

I think the cases of swine flu in pigs, dogs and especially turkeys is adding to the concern. It increases the chances that H5N1 has to mix.

---

by: UK - Bird @ Wed Dec 02, 2009 at 10:41:22 AM CST

[ Parent ]

Very interesting that

we haven't heard anything from that team since they announced they would be doing that particular experiment.

---

by: Ruby Murray @ Wed Dec 02, 2009 at 12:34:56 PM CST

[ Parent ]

there's a new paper in 2009

Reassortment between avian H5N1 and human H3N2 influenza viruses in ferrets: a public health risk assessment.
ABSTRACT:

This study investigated whether transmissible H5 subtype human-avian reassortant viruses could be generated in vivo. To this end, ferrets were coinfected with recent avian H5N1 (A/Thailand/16/04) and human H3N2 (A/Wyoming/3/03) viruses. Genotype analyses of plaque-purified viruses from nasal secretions of coinfected ferrets revealed that approximately 9% of recovered viruses contained genes from both progenitor viruses. H5 and H3 subtype viruses, including reassortants, were found in airways extending toward and in the upper respiratory tract of ferrets. However, only parental H5N1 genotype viruses were found in lung tissue. Approximately 34% of the recovered reassortant viruses possessed the H5 hemagglutinin (HA) gene, with five unique H5 subtypes recovered. These H5 reassortants were selected for further studies to examine their growth and transmissibility characteristics. Five H5 viruses with representative reassortant genotypes showed reduced titers in nasal secretions of infected ferrets compared to the parental H5N1 virus. No transmission by direct contact between infected and naïve ferrets was observed. These studies indicate that reassortment between H5N1 avian influenza and H3N2 human viruses occurred readily in vivo and furthermore that reassortment between these two viral subtypes is likely to occur in ferret upper airways. Given the relatively high incidence of reassortant viruses from tissues of the ferret upper airway, it is reasonable to conclude that continued exposure of humans and animals to H5N1 alongside seasonal influenza viruses increases the risk of generating H5 subtype reassortant viruses that may be shed from upper airway secretions.

It's a cup half-full or half-empty situation IMO.  If reassortment is easy and frequent then it's worrying.  If reassortment is easy and frequent, AND we haven't seen such reassortants in any isolates outside of the lab, then it may mean such reassortants are not very 'fit'.  It's hard to know which side of the coin to focus on.  The fact that it's not transmitted offers just only a tiny bit of comfort...



All 'safety concerns' are hypothetical.  If not, they'd be called side effects...

---

by: SusanC @ Wed Dec 02, 2009 at 15:01:06 PM CST

[ Parent ]

This story is being closely followed by the Indo newshounds.

On November 30, both Mojo and I posted stories similar to the infeksi story posted by cottontop about the possibility (or the consideration of a possibility) from mediaindonesia and from suaramerdeka.  Through the past four years, we have learned that when different media outlets are covering the same story, that is usually a good indication that something is going on.  We know that we are not receiving the entire truth, and so we continue to be alert and watchful for further details.  

"I am opposed to any form of tyranny over the mind of man."  Thomas Jefferson

---

by: History Lover @ Tue Dec 01, 2009 at 20:46:24 PM CST

[ Parent ]

I think all the newshounds

who search and translate the information coming out of Indonesian will agree that the news reports are very conservative there and it would be rare for sensationalism when it comes to the subject of H5N1. The government is always very tight lipped on H5N1 and that is evident by the numerous and long stretches of news blackouts. Reporters walk a fine line in Indonesia and are concerned about backlash from the government.

Also this information is coming from the "Section Head the Dan Pengamatan Prevention of the Illness, Dinas Kesehatan of the Regency Lampung Selatan Kristi Endarwati SKM" and there would be serious repercussions for him if this was not approved of for release to the media.

It definitely got my attention, especially since scientist in other countries are voicing their concerns about the possibility of this happening. Their voices have been a lot louder lately too!

Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away. --Unknown

     

---

by: Carol@SC @ Wed Dec 02, 2009 at 00:01:32 AM CST

[ Parent ]

China lifts ban on pork imports

China lifts ban on pork imports from US, Canada, Mexico
(Xinhua)
Updated: 2009-12-01 15:28

China had lifted import bans on pork products from the United States, Canada and Mexico, the country's top quarantine authorities said Tuesday.

The bans were lifted on the basis of risk assessment, the General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine said in a statement on its website.

In April and May, China imposed bans on pigs and pork imports from Mexico, Canada's Alberta province and some regions of the United States, as an emergency response to the A/H1N1 flu.

http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/b...

United we stand: Divided we fall

http://cottontopssandbox.wordp...

---

by: cottontop @ Tue Dec 01, 2009 at 05:48:11 AM CST

Info Missing In H1N1 Vaccine Tracking

Health Director Says 3 Monitoring Systems Show Different Counts

KITV-TV
updated 2:21 a.m. ET, Tues., Dec . 1, 2009
HONOLULU - KITV.com

The state health director told KITV on Monday that her department is suffering from a lack of accurate information about how much H1N1 flu vaccine has been shipped to Hawaii and how much doctors and other health care providers have actually used.

State health officials met with the Healthcare Association of Hawaii as well as several large health care providers on Monday to work out concerns about how the swine flu vaccine is being distributed.

continued
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/34...

United we stand: Divided we fall

http://cottontopssandbox.wordp...

---

by: cottontop @ Tue Dec 01, 2009 at 05:55:56 AM CST

H1N1 flu strain found in Canadian turkey flock

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0...

---

by: JonC @ Tue Dec 01, 2009 at 08:58:50 AM CST

A little verbiage from above story

The discovery in a single Ontario barn by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency is the second known incident of turkeys becoming infected with the H1N1 virus, also called swine flu. The first was in a flock in Chile.

---

by: Mr White42 @ Tue Dec 01, 2009 at 09:48:24 AM CST

[ Parent ]

This is an old story with today's date (?)

NewsNow often pulls these old stories. Here is the clue that this is from some time ago:

"The Ontario case comes just over a week after the Canadian Thanksgiving holiday, which traditionally involves a turkey dinner."

Thanksgiving in Canada is in October.

---

by: Ottawa Guy @ Tue Dec 01, 2009 at 10:34:24 AM CST

[ Parent ]

Its suppose to be Virginia - USA....not Canada

U.S. finds pandemic H1N1 virus in turkey flock

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

Nov 30, 2009 - WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The pandemic H1N1 flu virus was confirmed in a flock of breeder turkeys in Virginia -- the first U.S. case involving turkeys, the U.S. Agriculture Department said on Monday.

The virus also has been found in hogs, three house cats, pet ferrets and a cheetah in California. USDA said infections of turkeys have been reported in Canada and Chile.

---

by: blackkitty @ Tue Dec 01, 2009 at 11:39:37 AM CST

[ Parent ]

PA DOH changes their state total for 11.30.09

RE: PA DOH Report 11.30.09
http://www.h1n1inpa.com/newsro...

For some unknown reason, the above referenced report is showing a state total of (49), instead of the previously reported (50).

The county that has been changed is 'Clearfield'. It was previously reported there were (2) deaths for that county. Total for that county is now showing (1) death. I have no idea which of the two 'unknown ID' deaths they are removing, listed below.

PA Death #21-DOH Report: 11.06.09 (1)
PA Death #17-DOH Report: 10.28.09 (1)

I'm keeping the original count in my own tally, with a note about the PA DOH change. -k

www.EmergencyHomePreparation.org -- A 'card-catalog' style of prepping information.   -

---

by: Readymom @ Tue Dec 01, 2009 at 10:04:43 AM CST

Foreign Policy: Ukraine's Phantom Swine Flu

November 30, 2009

The global swine flu outbreak has become something of a political football in every country where the pandemic has spread, but Ukraine's response to the virus has achieved a new level of blatant politicization. According to a campaign advisor to Yulia Tymoshenko, the Ukrainian prime minister and presidential candidate purposely inflated fears of an ongoing swine-flu epidemic to aid her presidential run.

"We had to create a phantom and then have a white knight riding in to save the day," Taras Berezovets, a senior campaign advisor for Tymoshenko's BYuT bloc, told me in a Kiev restaurant, confirming widespread suspicions among Ukrainian journalists.

Since October, Ukraine has been in the grips of a full-blown panic over swine flu, complete with quarantines, school closures, runs on pharmacies. The Ukrainian health system, already badly dilapidated, was caught off guard and almost 400 people died of the flu in just three weeks.

Tymoshenko flew into action, organizing a delivery of the antiviral drug Tamiflu - and the requisite press conference - at the Kiev airport in the early morning hours of Nov. 2. She quarantined nine regions of the country, closed all schools and universities, and petitioned the president for $125 million in emergency funds to fight what seemed to be "the plague of the 21st-century plague," as one Ukrainian put it. Incidentally, she also banned all mass gatherings and political rallies - after she had already had hers.

Although the World Health Organization concluded that "the numbers of severe cases do not appear to be excessive when compared to the experience of other countries," the call for calm was drowned out by Tymoshenko's drumbeat of action. Pharmacies ran out of surgical masks and medicines as panicked Ukrainians dangerously hoarded supplies.

http://www.npr.org/templates/s...

---

by: Mr White42 @ Tue Dec 01, 2009 at 14:49:27 PM CST

thanks Mr. White42...sure sounds like Ukraine politicians need to calm down

"I have come to value liberated minds as the supreme good of life on earth."

epitaph on grave of J. Frank Dobie

---

by: Joseph_Roehl_kiwiamerican @ Tue Dec 01, 2009 at 16:29:43 PM CST

[ Parent ]

X (soviet) Files

I saw (on line) Yulia Tymoshenko's campaign rally on November 24th in Kiev.

If that country was in the midst of Plague infestation, you wouldn't know it.

They should postpone the elections to find some candidates.

 

---

by: Mr White42 @ Tue Dec 01, 2009 at 17:01:11 PM CST

[ Parent ]

The Boy Who Cried Wolf

I wonder if people in eastern Europe are familiar with the "Boy Who Cried Wolf" story? I know that we are sure familiar with it here in the U.S.!

---

by: Rosemary F @ Tue Dec 01, 2009 at 21:10:56 PM CST

[ Parent ]

US: Health officials to review disaster plan

We're going to look at how our policies affect every step of countermeasure development and production and then ask, 'how can we do better?'" Sebelius said.

That could mean more contracts for small companies such as Meriden, Connecticut-based Protein Sciences Corp, which failed last month to convince an advisory Food and Drug Administration panel that it had proved its experimental influenza vaccine was safe.

Sebelius did not name the privately held company but described its technology, which uses pieces of engineered virus grown in caterpillar cells, as promising to "be even faster and more dependable."

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

---

by: DemFromCT @ Tue Dec 01, 2009 at 14:59:04 PM CST

China: parents of deceased 14 yr old to sue hospital

THE parents of a 14-year-old girl who was the first H1N1 patient to die in south China's Guangdong Province will sue their daughter's hospital for alleged negligence, seeking 1 million yuan (US$146,497) in compensation.

Chen Hongdi's parents said they only learned their daughter was a swine-flu patient from a newspaper four days after she died.
Chen Guifen, the father, said the People's Hospital in Dongguan City told him his daughter had an acute brain infection and died from respiratory failure, Guangzhou Daily reported yesterday.
Deng Nianqiang, who is in charge of the hospital's H1N1 treatment, said at a press conference held by the city's health authority on November 16 that doctors did not know the girl had swine flu.

Deng said the hospital had not used Tamiflu, a drug targeted at H1N1, on her.

Chen Hongdi's mother, Mo Huizhen, said hospital doctors initially did not attend to daughter for three hours

Read more: http://www.shanghaidaily.com/a...

"I have come to value liberated minds as the supreme good of life on earth."

epitaph on grave of J. Frank Dobie

---

by: Joseph_Roehl_kiwiamerican @ Tue Dec 01, 2009 at 15:08:46 PM CST

Another H1N1 brain infection??? Hmmm. n/t

Always have a plan B.

---

by: maryinhawaii @ Wed Dec 02, 2009 at 01:45:07 AM CST

[ Parent ]

Finland: H1N1 has peaked, new cases declining, 16 deaths so far

The swine flu epidemic has reached its peak in almost all of Finland. In northern parts of the country, it is in decline. Nationwide, some 7200 cases have been confirmed. Sixteen deaths have been attributed to the virus.

Of the fatalities, only one did not have an underlying medical condition that led to complications.

In addition to the confirmed cases, it is assumed that the number of unconfirmed cases of swine flu is many times higher. Most cases have been mild and symptoms have differed little from those of seasonal flu.

Vaccinations against swine flu have caused more allergic reactions than vaccines against seasonal flu usually do. Less than 10% of people receiving the vaccination have had some reaction.

http://www.yle.fi/uutiset/news...

"I have come to value liberated minds as the supreme good of life on earth."

epitaph on grave of J. Frank Dobie

---

by: Joseph_Roehl_kiwiamerican @ Tue Dec 01, 2009 at 15:58:32 PM CST

Tanzania: national authorities say diamond mine has H1N1

The authorities in Tanzania have told about 3,000 workers at a diamond mine to stay at home because of swine flu - but the miners have refused.

Few workers have contracted the illness at the mine in Mwanza region but Tanzania is trying to contain the spread from elsewhere in the region.

Dozens of schools and businesses have already been closed down...Tanzania recorded its first swine flu case in July.

But the authorities have been thrown into panic by a recent upsurge in cases in Mwanza.

Some 142 people in Ilula village tested positive for the illness last week

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/afr...

"I have come to value liberated minds as the supreme good of life on earth."

epitaph on grave of J. Frank Dobie

---

by: Joseph_Roehl_kiwiamerican @ Tue Dec 01, 2009 at 16:02:16 PM CST

India: reports confirm 3 more deaths in past 24 hours, total now 578

New Delhi, Dec 1 (PTI) Three more persons died due to swine flu even as 198 fresh cases were reported from across the country today.

While two deaths were reported from Rajasthan, the third one was reported from Maharashtra. With this, the total toll has touched 578, the Health Ministry said.

Out of the 198 fresh cases, Delhi reported the maximum number of 92 cases, Harayana and Maharashtra followed the national capital in the list with 30 and 13 cases respectively.

With this, the total number of cases has now touched 18,396. Out of the 198 cases reported during the day, two have a history of foreign travel but the rest are indigenous cases.

http://www.ptinews.com/news/40...

"I have come to value liberated minds as the supreme good of life on earth."

epitaph on grave of J. Frank Dobie

---

by: Joseph_Roehl_kiwiamerican @ Tue Dec 01, 2009 at 16:27:30 PM CST

India: another death confirmed, a 25 yr old woman, total now 579

Indore, Dec 1 (PTI) A 25-year-old girl, suspected to be suffering from swine flu, died here today during treatment in a private hospital, officials said.

The patient identified as Sonia Kaur was admitted to the hospital two-days ago, after she complained of breathing problem.

The samples of her swab has been sent to Regional Medical Research Centre, Jabalpur for confirming whether she died of swine flu or some other disease, the officials said, adding that she was also suffering from a heart disease.

Meanwhile, a 20-year-old youth tested positive for the swine flu in neighbouring Pithampur industrial town.

He is undergoing treatment in a hospital...

http://www.ptinews.com/news/40...

"I have come to value liberated minds as the supreme good of life on earth."

epitaph on grave of J. Frank Dobie

---

by: Joseph_Roehl_kiwiamerican @ Tue Dec 01, 2009 at 16:59:45 PM CST

NM: New Mexico's first nations died at twice the rates

Swine flu is killing American Indians in New Mexico at a higher rate than other ethnic groups, the Associated Press reports.

New Mexico so far has recorded 40 deaths from the H1N1 virus. But while American Indians make up 10 percent of the state's population, they represent 20 percent of Swine flu fatalities, according to the AP.

The AP asked deputy state epidemiologist Mike Landen for possible reasons why this is occurring. The answer, in brief, is that Indians have higher rates of diabetes and poverty, making them more susceptible, and often live farther from medical care than non-Indians.

The explanation doesn't offer much solace, but it pinpoints structural challenges that NM's American Indian population confronts.

http://newmexicoindependent.co...

"I have come to value liberated minds as the supreme good of life on earth."

epitaph on grave of J. Frank Dobie

---

by: Joseph_Roehl_kiwiamerican @ Tue Dec 01, 2009 at 17:02:42 PM CST

Concerns Grow Over Possible H1N1-H5N1 "Reassortment"

From Homeland Security Today online publication. Good indepth article.

http://www.hstoday.us/content/...

---

by: Sammysue @ Tue Dec 01, 2009 at 17:14:27 PM CST

This is a MUST READ article, IMO. Not just a rehash, but very up to date and in depth. nt

Always have a plan B.

---

by: maryinhawaii @ Wed Dec 02, 2009 at 01:51:31 AM CST

[ Parent ]

Turkey: nation now has 195 deaths from H1N1

In the past one month, the number of death cases has increased in Turkey as it happens in the world.

69 of 195 death cases of pandemic H1N1 virus were mostly below 50 years of age, and mostly from Ankara, Istanbul and Konya.

Taking this into consideration, Turkish Health Ministry has extended the age group. People with chronic diseases, health officials and healthy people from 6-months to 50 years of age will be included in the vaccination program as of Wednesday...

http://www.turkishpress.com/ne...

"I have come to value liberated minds as the supreme good of life on earth."

epitaph on grave of J. Frank Dobie

---

by: Joseph_Roehl_kiwiamerican @ Tue Dec 01, 2009 at 17:16:13 PM CST

Canada: Calgary man is 57th death in Alberta from H1N1

CALGARY - A Calgary man is the 57th person with H1N1 influenza to die in Alberta.

Alberta Health reported the man's death Monday, saying he had underlying medical conditions.

Health officials will not release further details about victims, including their age or what chronic disease they have, citing privacy laws.

The new flu strain has hospitalized about 1,190 people in Alberta since it first appeared in the spring.

http://www.calgaryherald.com/h...

"I have come to value liberated minds as the supreme good of life on earth."

epitaph on grave of J. Frank Dobie

---

by: Joseph_Roehl_kiwiamerican @ Tue Dec 01, 2009 at 17:20:20 PM CST

Dallas County will offer free swine flu vaccines

http://www.dallasnews.com/shar...

Free swine flu shots will be available to all Dallas County residents, starting next week.

County health officials decided today that it was time to expand the vaccination effort beyond the high-risk groups that have been receiving the scarce H1N1 shots since October.

[snip]

Walk-in shot clinics will be held next week, starting Tuesday, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., at three locations: The health department's downtown Dallas headquarters, at 2774 N. Stemmons Freeway; and its suburban clinics at 440 S. Nursery Road in Irving, and 2774 Valwood Parkway in Farmers Branch.

[snip]

"We will inform the state of our decision," Thompson said. "We can't wait for them to decide for us."

[more]

 



"History never looks like history when you are living through it." ~John W. Gardner

---

by: tess @ Tue Dec 01, 2009 at 17:52:00 PM CST

PA: (3) New Deaths on PA DOH Website for 12.01.09

(3) More fatalities have been added to the PA DOH website for 12.01.09 that have not been in news reports.
They are for:Crawford (1), Delaware (1), and Montgomery (1) counties.

PA DOH: http://www.h1n1inpa.com/newsro...
ToTAL Per PA DOH: 52

Adams-1
Allegheny-6
Armstrong-2
Beaver-1
Berks-3
Butler Co-1
Centre- 1
Chester -1
Clearfield-2
Columbia-1
Crawford -1 (NEW!)
Dauphin -1
Delaware -1 (NEW!)
Erie-1
Fayette-3
Huntingdon-1
Jefferson-1
Lebanon-1
Lehigh-2
Mercer-1
Montgomery-3 (1 New)
Philadelphia-11
Pike-1
Potter-1
Schuylkill 1
Tioga 1
Washington-1
Westmoreland-1
York-1
______________________
TOTAL Per PA DOH: 52

NOTES:

TOTAL Questionable Entries: (4)

Clearfield Co --(1 entry) DOH Report 11.30.09 deleted (1) death for this county. They did not indicate which entry was deleted. I am keeping this entry on the list, due to lack of further information from DOH.

Greene Co --(1 entry) Still NOT on DOH website
PADeath#42-(GreeneCo)26y/oKevinBrown-Died 11.09.09

'Blair County'(2 entries)They still have NOT added in the two 'Blair County' deaths, either:
(Per this news report: "The number doesn't include the two Blair County swine flu patients, whose deaths the department hasn't confirmed were caused by the illness". Source: http://www.altoonamirror.com/p... )

www.EmergencyHomePreparation.org -- A 'card-catalog' style of prepping information.   -

---

by: Readymom @ Tue Dec 01, 2009 at 18:46:25 PM CST

Confirmation for Crawford County:

[quote="Readymom"]

(3) more fatalities have been added to the PA DOH website for 12.01.09 that have not been in news reports.
They are for: Crawford (1), Delaware (1), and Montgomery (1) counties.

Crawford County Fatality Confirmed:

Hat Tip: Monotreme @ PFI

Inmate dies from swine flu
http://www.meadvilletribune.co...
December 04, 2009

Swine flu is being blamed for the death of an inmate at the State Correctional Institution at Cambridge Springs - the first reported death due to H1N1 in Crawford County.

Pennsylvania Department of Health this week reported the death in its online update. Contacted Friday night, Crawford County Coroner Patrick McHenry confirmed that a prisoner died in the SCI's infirmary about two weeks ago.

McHenry did not report the name or age of the deceased, and was not certain how long she had been incarcerated in Crawford County. Her death was investigated by Crawford County Assistant Coroner Scott Schell. Calls to Schell were not immediately returned.

McHenry said the victim's health had been seriously compromised by a condition known as COPD - chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, a progressive ailment that makes it hard to breathe. Those who suffer from COPD likely acquired the condition from an environmental situation such as work conditions with dangerous air quality, heavy smoking or drug use, for example, McHenry said. Coupled with serious flu symptoms, the combination is often life-threatening.  (Continued ...)

www.EmergencyHomePreparation.org -- A 'card-catalog' style of prepping information.   -

---

by: Readymom @ Sat Dec 05, 2009 at 10:55:57 AM CST

[ Parent ]

India: Lucknow Uttar Pradesh girl, 16, died of H1N1 Tuesday

Lucknow A 16-year-old girl, who tested positive for swine flu virus on Monday night, died on Tuesday.

Akansha, a resident of Aliganj area, is the youngest and third patient to die from H1N1 virus in the state capital.

She was admitted to Vivekanand Polyclinic on November 27 with high fever. "She was straightaway put on a ventilator in the ICU," said Swami Muktinathanand, secretary, Vivekanand Polyclinic. "We sent the samples for test to a private testing centre for quick results," he added. "The girl died with bilateral bronco pneumonia and tested positive for swine flu as well," said Dr A K Shukla, Chief Medical Officer of Lucknow.

Meanwhile, health officials claimed Rae Bareli resident Amresh Sinha, who died on Monday, was infected with Influenza A virus and not H1N1. "He tested negative for H1N1 but positive for Influenza A, a new virus," said Dr R K Khanna, Director, Communicable and Vector-borne Disease. "Till now, only two such cases have come up in the state, the other one from Lucknow," he added.

Till now, 287 cases of swine flu have been confirmed in the state. While the state Health department has admitted to only one swine flu death to date - A K Singh, who died in Lucknow on September 14 -three deaths from the H1N1 virus have been reported in the state. Experts believe with the drop in temperature, swine flu virus will proliferate and it is expected that the number of the cases will rise. ens

http://www.expressindia.com/la...  

"I have come to value liberated minds as the supreme good of life on earth."

epitaph on grave of J. Frank Dobie

---

by: Joseph_Roehl_kiwiamerican @ Tue Dec 01, 2009 at 21:03:57 PM CST

Complete link

is http://www.expressindia.com/la...

---

by: NewsDiary @ Tue Dec 01, 2009 at 21:32:45 PM CST

[ Parent ]

thanks NewsDiary, much appreciated ))

"I have come to value liberated minds as the supreme good of life on earth."

epitaph on grave of J. Frank Dobie

---

by: Joseph_Roehl_kiwiamerican @ Tue Dec 01, 2009 at 22:13:19 PM CST

[ Parent ]

OR: Three new deaths, 42 new hospitalizations (Nov. 30)

http://flu.oregon.gov/articles...

In the 6 days since the last update (Nov. 24), there have been 3 new deaths reported (all in Multnomah County), and 42 new hospitalizations.

Total deaths reported to date:
June - Aug: 12
Sept: 2
Oct: 17
Nov: 33

---

by: AlohaOR @ Tue Dec 01, 2009 at 21:45:45 PM CST

Rate of hospitalizations falling

http://oregon.gov/DHS/ph/acd/f...

Between November 15th and 21st, 18 hospitalizations were reported (0.4 per 100,000 Oregonians). This represents a 71% decrease in hospitalizations from the previous week. Rates of hospitalizations have decreased for the past five consecutive weeks and are now lower than we see during the peak of most influenza seasons.

Fifty-two people have died from influenza (48 adults and 4 children). Of the 43 adults for whom information about underlying conditions is known, 98% had one or more underlying conditions. All four of the children who died had neuro-developmental disease.

---

by: AlohaOR @ Tue Dec 01, 2009 at 21:48:34 PM CST

[ Parent ]

Please post new news stories to ...

News Reports for December 2, 2009

Thank you!

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by: AlohaOR @ Tue Dec 01, 2009 at 23:09:51 PM CST