News Reports for September 30, 2012

India: Two more test +ve for swine flu (Madhya Pradesh)

BHOPAL: Two more persons tested positive for swine flu in the state capital while 20 fresh samples of suspected H1N1 cases from here were sent to ICMR laboratory Jabalpur for tests on Saturday. So far 42 people have tested positive for H1N1 contagion in the city, resulting in 10 deaths in the city.

Health officials said, the condition of about a dozen swine flu victims remained critical. However, a woman who died on Friday in a city hospital, tested negative for swine flu.

(Snip)

He said that the only sure cure 'Tamiflu' is being administered to patients who are termed suspected or positive for the H1N1 contagion. In most cases relatives of victims too, were given the preventive treatment" Continued: http://timesofindia.indiatimes...

(Note: According to this article, the city of Bhopal has had 42 positives. Out of those 42 positives, there have been 10 deaths and about a dozen people are in critical condition. It appears to me that they are only testing the most seriously ill patients in the Bhopal hospitals. Surely that has to be it or the WHO, CDC and Indian officials would be swarming into Bhopal!!)

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 @ Sun Sep 30, 2012 at 07:00:37 AM UTC

is it the same H1N1 strain?

I haven't seen any word about whether the H1N1 going around India matches the 2009 pandemic strain - Recombinics (?) is overflowing with measurements of other outbreaks, but it almost seems like no one is dissecting this outbreak to be sure nothing has mutated. If 1/4 of all positives have died, as you say, it should be of high concern and WHO should have the strains tested... have you seen anything about that?

It concerns me that India's news has been full of this "sensational press" for months now, and yet the world seems unconcerned. Perhaps, as you suggest, the world organizations know that only the most seriously ill are even tested... still, it's potentially a crisis waiting to happen, IMO.

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by: Cathy M @ Sun Sep 30, 2012 at 13:32:13 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Hi Cathy

From time to time I have seen conflicting stories on changes in the H1N1 strain in India. A time or two, one of the Indian doctors or officials has said there is a change in the virus but they haven't given any details. Other times it was stated there is no change in the virus, so who knows? It has appeared to me for quite some time now that the virus circulating there is a little more virulent but it's hard to tell with the actual unknown number of cases. H1N1 in India appears to be of absolutely no concern to WHO but then IMO, so are so many other things.

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 @ Sun Sep 30, 2012 at 20:26:20 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Thanks, Carol!

With my middle-aged memory, I couldn't remember if I'd read anything one way or the other. :-}

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by: Cathy M @ Sun Sep 30, 2012 at 23:51:55 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

India: Another patient tests positive for swine flu in Punjab

LUDHIANA: With one more patient testing positive for swine flu on Saturday, the total number of cases this year in Punjab has reached 10. Of these, six cases have been reported from various hospitals of Ludhiana.

(Snip) "Three samples were for swine flu screening on Friday. While the sample of a patient from Karnal admitted to SPS Apollo Hospital in Ludhiana has tested positive, those of two patients, one recuperating at Dayanand Medical College and Hospital (DMCH) and one at Pathankot, tested negative. (Snip) the family members and those came in close contact of swine flu patient have already been given Tamiflu, he added.

Dr Gurpreet Singh, (Snip) who is attending to the swine flu patient, said "The patient was admitted to our hospital on Sunday evening with severe breathlessness (Snip). The patient is still on ventilator, but is a stable and responding to the treatment". http://timesofindia.indiatimes...

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 @ Sun Sep 30, 2012 at 07:12:48 AM UTC

US: Poll - 59% Likely to give Kids H1N1 Vaccine

As hospitals and clinics in the U.S. distribute the first batches of the new H1N1 vaccination, 59 percent of parents say they are likely to vaccinate their children, a new CBS News poll finds.

However, more than a third of parents say they are not likely to do so. Despite nearly three in four Americans viewing the H1N1 virus as a serious problem, less than half say they will get vaccinated themselves.

(Snip)

As for how serious Americans deem H1N1, perhaps because of the vaccine's availability the percentage who say the virus is a very serious problem is down slightly, from 28 percent in August to 21 percent today. Still, nearly three in four maintain the flu is at least somewhat serious. Continued: http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-50...

 

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 @ Sun Sep 30, 2012 at 07:18:48 AM UTC

Physicians warn of influenza in Turkey

As flu season approaches, Turkish physicians are advising the public on ways to avoid influenza, along with advice for identifying and treating the frequently severe and potentially fatal disease.

An increase in the number of influenza cases occurs during autumn and winter in temperate regions all over the world. Although recovery from influenza can be fast and easy, it can also result in hospitalization and even death among people in high-risk groups, such as the very young, the elderly and the chronically ill.

Engin Yurt, a specialist at Medicana Hospital, told Sunday's Zaman that an outbreak of influenza is likely with changes in air temperature, especially in transition to the autumn and winter seasons. "We suggest people get medical treatment when symptoms such as breathing difficulty, coughing up green or yellow phlegm or severe headaches appear," added Yurt. However, he went on to warn people not to use antibiotics without a doctor's prescription, and emphasized that over-the-counter drugs may do more harm than good.

According to pediatrician Hamza Yazgan from Fatih University Sema Clinical Research and Treatment Center, there may be a gradual increase in the number of influenza cases seen by hospitals. "The number of people who suffer from influenza is gradually increasing in our hospital. Seasonal influenza spreads easily and can be potent in crowded areas such as schools, nursing homes or businesses and towns. When an infected person coughs, infected droplets get into the air and another person can breathe them in and be exposed. The virus can also be spread by hands infected with the virus. We suggest people avoid close contact with people who are sick and stay at home to prevent others from catching your illness," stated Yazgan. Continued: http://www.sundayszaman.com/su...

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 @ Sun Sep 30, 2012 at 07:27:08 AM UTC

India: Fever outbreak: two health staff suspended (Tamil Nadu)

Following the recent fever outbreak in Peraiyur taluk of T. Kallupatti block in Madurai district, the Health Department on Saturday suspended two health officials on charge of dereliction of duty.

Three old people died of fever in Periya Chittulotti in the last few weeks while eight persons were admitted to the Government Rajaji Hospital here with fever. One person tested positive for dengue fever and many others were suffering from fever in that hamlet and surrounding areas.

(Snip) the Health Department took a serious view of the fever outbreak in the villages and the officials concerned were taken to task.

He said that a health inspector attached to the M. Subbulapuram primary health centre (PHC) and a health supervisor in T. Kallupatti block PHC had been placed under suspension because they were responsible for the sanitation, hygiene and public health in the villages that witnessed fever outbreak.

(Snip) In Periya Chittulotti, with a population of only 400, 79 persons had confirmed fever and related symptoms. They (health staff) failed to monitor the public health aspects properly in that area. (Snip)

Dr. Palanichamy said that the grassroot health staff should monitor the situation in villages and report the health status to senior level officials for preventive steps. "In the four villages in Peraiyur taluk where fever survey was done in the last couple of days, the situation is under control. We will take disciplinary action if there is surveillance failure. All the 13 blocks in our district are being watched," (Snip) http://www.thehindu.com/news/c...

(Note: My guess about them being so concerned about fever cases in Tamil Nadu's villages would be because of the possibility of an undetected outbreak of H5N1 or to a much lesser degree, H1N1 swine flu. JMO)  

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 @ Sun Sep 30, 2012 at 08:14:44 AM UTC

or it's politics

As I mentioned above, if they are so concerned, you'd think they'd have the strains tested and issue statements that it's the same pandemic strain, no mutations. They should be concerned about an undetected outbreak of H5N1, or the new SARS. (five percent of the village had confirmed sx. - how does that measure up to the pandemic year?) Yet, they might calm the populace more if they were honest about that: "don't worry too much about H1N1, but let us check for H5N1"...

It could also be some political power play - "we never liked those officials", etc.

Thanks for keeping up with this unfolding Indian outbreak.

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by: Cathy M @ Sun Sep 30, 2012 at 13:37:37 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Please post new news stories to...

News Reports for October 1, 2012

Thank you!

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by: AlohaOR @ Mon Oct 01, 2012 at 04:41:25 AM UTC