News Reports for January 8, 2011

US: Flu Cases Rise In Iowa, Illinois

The flu has officially arrived in the Midwest (Snip) The Iowa Department of Public Health says cases of the three strains of flu continue to rise in the state, and more people who are coming down with the flu need to be hospitalized. There were 7 flu-related hospitalizations last week and 15 this week.

Illinois officials say they are also seeing an increase in cases, although the flu is not widespread. (Snip) http://www.kwqc.com/Global/sto...  

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 @ Sat Jan 08, 2011 at 00:57:34 AM UTC

Not just flu

But here in Florida a really bad cold virus is going around.  In the last couple days half the people I've talked to are sick or have been sick in the last couple weeks, including myself.  Worst cold I've had in at least 15 years.  Last year was not like this at all, at least from my perception.

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

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by: Tempest @ Sat Jan 08, 2011 at 17:15:23 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Hi Tempest! Good to hear from ya!

I've just gotten over one of the worst colds I've had in years. I just kept thinking that I was glad it wasn't the flu. I usually get what I call "a touch of a cold."  This was nasty for a cold. It's circulating here too. Not so much the flu as this nasty cold that is sending kids home from school by the droves, my oldest being one of them.


United we stand: Divided we fall
www.flunewsnetwork.com

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by: cottontop @ Sun Jan 09, 2011 at 03:45:59 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

UK: Second wave of flu puts the elderly at risk

A second flu wave could emerge in the coming weeks, this time hitting elderly people, figures suggest. While data released by the Health Protection Agency (HPA) disclose that flu cases appear to have peaked among the young, they also show that infection rates among older age groups are continuing to rise.

Last night a flu expert warned elderly people who had not had the seasonal flu jab to contact their doctors, amid signs that two strains of the virus which have been relatively quiet so far this winter could be about to take a stronger hold.

GPs' surgeries are already running out of vaccine and manufacturers have warned they have no more stock. Last night Scotland's leading microbiologist, Hugh Pennington, described the swine flu vaccination system in England as "a shambles". Continued:  http://www.telegraph.co.uk/hea...

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 @ Sat Jan 08, 2011 at 01:05:33 AM UTC

Canada: Cases of flu in the NWT on the rise

Yellowknife, N.W.T. - Cases of influenza in the NWT have gone up in the last couple of weeks, while few people remain vaccinated for the flu. There was only one reported case of the flu before Christmas, but since December 25th, that number has jumped to six.

The Chief Public Health Officer, Dr. Kami Kandola, said usually 30% of NWT residents get the vaccine every year, but that number is down this season. "Only 20% of the population have taken the flu shot," she said. "Given that we now have confirmed flu activity and it's expected to go up, especially in the January and February winter months, we are recommending that people get their flu vaccine, it's not too late." Continued: http://hqyellowknife.com/news/...

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 @ Sat Jan 08, 2011 at 01:13:08 AM UTC

Canada's flu season in full swing

More flu has been spreading in southern Ontario, parts of southern Quebec and in southern Manitoba in the past couple of weeks, statistics show. (Snip) the week ended Jan. 1 showed only "sporadic activity" at most in the rest of the country, while overall flu activity increased during the last two weeks of 2010.

Influenza A was found in 98.3 per cent of positive flu tests. Of those, 94 per cent were the H3N2 strain and six per cent were H1N1 (Snip) Unlike swine flu, the H3N2 strain tends to hit older people. Many of the latest outbreaks reported were in long-term-care facilities.

The number of doctor visits for suspected flu increased but is at the level expected at this point in the flu season. (Snip) http://www.cbc.ca/health/story...


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 @ Sat Jan 08, 2011 at 01:16:47 AM UTC

NL: 43 people hospitalized for A/H1N1 flu in Netherlands

THE HAGUE, Jan. 7 (Xinhua) -- Since the middle of last October, at least 43 people have been hospitalized due to A/H1N1 flu in the Netherlands, local media reported on Friday.

Most cases have been registered in Nijmegen, a city in the east part of the Netherlands. This is probably due to the fact that two children died in December, which caused a higher level of awareness by parents, says a spokeswoman of the hospital in Nijmegen.

http://news.xinhuanet.com/engl...

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by: Ruby Murray @ Sat Jan 08, 2011 at 01:20:05 AM UTC

South Korea: Flu patients surge amid cold spell

Lee Kyung-joon is concerned about the slowing speed of production at his manufacturing factory in Gyeonggi Province. A factory manager has already been staying at home for days after he was diagnosed with the influenza A(H1N1) virus, while there are more workers who show flu symptoms. (Snip) "In order to prevent further infections, we have tightened up on hygiene."

People with flu symptoms have surged recently amid a cold spell sweeping the nation since Christmas Eve. As many of them are found to be infected with the new strain of swine-origin influenza, health officials have been put on alert against another round of flu outbreaks.

According to the weekly surveillance report published by the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the number of influenza-like-illness patients was 22.26 per 1,000 inpatients last week. The figure was half the level of 44.96 when the flu pandemic peaked in November last year, but much higher than 2.9, an indicator for high prevalence of a seasonal influenza. Considering the characteristic of the virus that spreads faster in cold weather, health officials predicted that more infections will occur in the coming weeks. Continued: http://www.koreaherald.com/nat...  

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 @ Sat Jan 08, 2011 at 01:27:35 AM UTC

Solomon Islands: Eight deaths as a result of flu

The Christmas celebration has truly been disrupted by the flu like fever that swept through the country during the festive season.

Many people enjoyed their holidays but for some, the flu has caused havoc to their plans.

At Visale, Saghalu ward, North West Guadalcanal, eight people died as a result of the flu. The eight were more than 50 year-olds.

Those who passed away had various diseases but when the flu swept in, it struck them severely resulting in their deaths.

http://www.solomonstarnews.com...

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by: Ruby Murray @ Sat Jan 08, 2011 at 01:29:32 AM UTC

Hospitals in Wales under siege as flu crisis deepens

HOSPITALS are facing a fortnight of intense pressure on staff and beds as the winter flu seasons reaches a peak in Wales. Health board managers have already been forced to cancel operations in a bid to cope with winter pressures. But two of Wales' largest health boards, which run the nation's busiest hospitals, will take even more drastic action as demand for inpatient care continues to rise.

Morriston Hospital, in Swansea, which is also coping with a large norovirus outbreak, will convert part of a children's ward into a general medical ward for sick adults. And Cardiff and Vale University Health Board will postpone all non-urgent surgery and outpatient appointments from Monday as all resources are concentrated on the needs of emergency patients.

Public health experts believe flu has reached peak levels in Wales but hospitals will continue to feel its effects throughout January. Continued: http://www.walesonline.co.uk/n...

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 @ Sat Jan 08, 2011 at 07:33:38 AM UTC

Canada: Quebec bird deaths stump wildlife officials

MONTREAL - More than 80 pigeons have keeled over and died at a farm near Quebec City for unknown reasons, the latest in a string of mysterious animal deaths around the world.

Environmental officials in the province say there's no connection to a similar case in Arkansas, but Sylvain Turmel is wondering why he's been picking up dead pigeons for more than two weeks on his farm in Saint-Augustine-de-Desmaures. The first dead bird was found on Dec. 18. He's since found more bodies on his roof and inside the barn. "I was stunned," he said.

"I went to see my tenant to ask whether he'd been feeding them poison. He ended helping me pick up 25 corpses. In the time it took us to collect them, five more had fallen. Continued: http://cnews.canoe.ca/CNEWS/En...

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 @ Sat Jan 08, 2011 at 07:47:02 AM UTC

US: Hundreds more birds found dead in western Kentucky

Kentucky wildlife officials say several hundred birds were found dead in the western part of the state. The grackles, red wing blackbirds, robins and starlings were found last week.

New Year's Eve fireworks have been blamed for the deaths of thousands of blackbirds in central Arkansas. Another 450 birds died this week in Louisiana, likely after hitting power lines or cars. Continued: http://www.nola.com/pets/index...

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 @ Sat Jan 08, 2011 at 07:53:25 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

Thousands of Turtle Doves Drop Dead in Italy

Thousands of turtle doves have fallen dead in the small town of Faenza in Italy, with some of them tragically caught in tree branches like "tiny Christmas balls." Many of the birds had a mysterious blue stain around their beaks, reports the Huffington Post quoting GeaPress. That could be the result of poisoning or signs of hypoxia. Some birds were sent for lab testing, but it will likely be weeks before results are known. Continued: http://www.newser.com/story/10...

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 @ Sat Jan 08, 2011 at 07:57:31 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

UK: Rotherham swine flu death: fiancee tells of shock

The fiancee of a Rotherham man who died of swine flu has spoken of her shock at how rapidly her fit and healthy partner succumbed to the virus. Dean Brown, 44, of East Herringthorpe, died on Wednesday, six days after being taken to Rotherham Hospital. He is one of four people with swine flu to have died in Rotherham recently. Asked if Mr Brown had any underlying health problems, his fiancee Sandra Kelsall said: "He didn't have anything. He was a fit man."

Professor Walid Al-Wali, the medical director at Rotherham hospital, said: "He was quite healthy and did sport and gym work. "Unfortunately, he died despite aggressive treatment and was confirmed to have swine flu."

A 16-year-old who died at home in Rotherham and two 52-year-olds who died in hospital all had other health problems, but swine flu was a contributory factor in their deaths, Prof Al-Wali said. Continued: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-e...

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 @ Sat Jan 08, 2011 at 12:12:46 PM UTC

UK - Fears over mutating swine flu virus that could render vaccine useless

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/new...

A research team has hurriedly been re-formed to investigate whether the swine flu virus has started to mutate in a way that will render the vaccine ineffective.

Senior Government scientists have already discovered slight genetic mutations in the H1N1 virus.

They are checking whether this is causing some people to be more severely affected, although there is no evidence at this stage to suggest the changes would stop the vaccine working or prevent the anti-viral drug Tamiflu from being effective.

[cont.]

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by: UK - Bird @ Sun Jan 09, 2011 at 02:08:35 AM UTC

This may be a sill question ...

.... but so I understand this completely ....

IF ... IF ... IF this happens does this mean that those of us vaccinated would have NO protection at all? Or would we have some protection and maybe still get the flu, but not as bad since we were inoculated with at least some type of flu vaccine.

I suppose, thinking and writing here ...  all I've learned, it would mean if the mutation is large enough NO vaccine would cover the mutation. -k

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

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by: Readymom @ Sun Jan 09, 2011 at 03:08:36 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

It could be worse

When you consider that kids are most likely to get the H1N1 virus but least likely to die from it I wonder if the strong response to it is due to prior exposure. A bit like the first bee sting primes the body the second sends it into anaphalactic shock.

Then there's those adults that don't get it at all because they've had something similar and the body quickly recognises it.

Bangs head against the wall.

I do think that swine flu is about to decline here in the UK but that a B or H3N2 virus might take over and sweep through the elderly.

The only thing I'm sure of is that influenza is a trickly little bugger that will surprise us at every turn.

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by: UK - Bird @ Sun Jan 09, 2011 at 13:27:57 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

should have read 'I wonder if the strong adult response' n/t

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by: UK - Bird @ Sun Jan 09, 2011 at 13:29:23 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Three dead from flu in Montgomery County

Three people have died of influenza infections in Montgomery County in the past two weeks.

http://www.montgomerynews.com/...

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by: mems @ Sun Jan 09, 2011 at 03:55:11 AM UTC

Basically a recap of previous news .... BUT ...

This is the MOST IMPORTANT part:

The vaccine is free to county residents and is available at the health department clinics in Norristown, Pottstown and Willow Grove (See montcopa.org/health and click on the "2011 Flu Clinics" link). The vaccine is recommended for anyone age 6 months or older.

Someone correct me, if I'm wrong, but I do NOT believe that FREE vaccine is being offered anywhere else in the state of PA.  

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

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by: Readymom @ Sun Jan 09, 2011 at 04:10:56 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

Please post new news stories to ...

News Reports for January 9, 2011

Thank you!

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by: AlohaOR @ Sun Jan 09, 2011 at 05:11:28 AM UTC