News Reports for June 27, 2012

India: 75-year-old in Mumbai tested positive for swine flu (Maharashtra)

Mumbai - A 75-year-old woman from Ghatkopar tested positive for swine flu on Tuesday taking the total number of H1N1 cases to 47 this year (Snip) On June 24, a private pathological laboratory in the city reported seven positive cases.

"All the patients including the 75-year-old woman are stable and have taken Tami flu treatment. The tally is rising because more patients are now aware of getting tested on time," (Snip) "Monsoon is a favourable period for growth of the virus," (Snip)

Since April this year, 16 persons have died and 263 people from Maharashtra have been affected by H1N1. http://www.dnaindia.com/mumbai...  

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 @ Wed Jun 27, 2012 at 05:53:34 AM UTC

Bird flu could mutate to cause pandemic

Scientists have warned in a ground-breaking study of the bird flu virus, known as H5N1, that it would only need to undergo five genetic mutations to be able to spread between humans. They say avian influenza is still capable of becoming the next pathogen to cause a deadly pandemic.

The researchers have published their findings in the journal Science, in spite of attempts by a US agency to stop them, for fear that terrorists could use the information to make a biological weapon.

Study lead author Ron Fouchier (Snip) said, however, that publishing his work was the best possible way for the global scientific community to fight the emergence of any future pandemic. Fouchier said experts wanted to learn which viruses can cause pandemics, so as to prevent them by enforcing strict eradication programmes.

(Snip)

Fouchier also hopes that his research will boost hopes for vaccines and anti-viral drugs against H5N1, which has killed tens of millions of birds and prompted the slaughter of hundreds of millions more.

If bird flu does mutate, it may gain the ability to live in droplets from human coughs and sneezes, travelling through the air. Once airborne, the virus could trigger a pandemic that could result in tens of millions of deaths worldwide.

Fouchier's study, which set out to investigate which mutations the virus would need in order to become airborne, is the first to confirm that the emergence of such a deadly virus is theoretically possible. It looked at the genetic structure of H5N1, comparing it with viruses which have been isolated from previous influenza pandemics and noting five key changes. They tested their hypothesis by genetically modifying H5N1 to a form which was easily transmitted between ferrets, via coughs and sneezes.

Researchers in Cambridge then examined the likelihood of such mutations happening without human intervention, concluding that it was possible after studying the genetic structure of 3,000 avian viruses and 400 human ones. Continued: http://www.healthcare-today.co...

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 @ Wed Jun 27, 2012 at 06:06:44 AM UTC

US: Flu shot now mandatory for workers (Ohio)

KETTERING, Ohio (WDTN) - Kettering Health Network is joining others in now requiring all workers and volunteers to get a flu shot. The thought is if they don't have the flu, they can't give it to you.

"If healthcare workers are vaccinated, there's less transmission of flu from the workers to patients," says Dr. Jeffrey Weinstein, an Infectious Disease Specialist with Kettering Health Network.

You would think those in the medical field would be first in line for flu shots, but just like the rest of us some are hesitant to get the shots for various reasons. Continued: http://www.wdtn.com/dpp/news/l...

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 @ Wed Jun 27, 2012 at 06:14:56 AM UTC

New Zealand: Influenza specialists say flu is in Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch and case numbers are on the rise.

(Snip) Auckland has by far the most cases of flu, especially in hospitals, with Wellington and Christchurch also affected. It says while overall flu activity is still relatively low, the number of confirmed cases has risen.

Canterbury virologist Lance Jennings says flu is on the rise, but about 26,000 fewer people nationally have had the vaccine so far compared to this time last year.
(Snip)
The head of the Emergency Department at Auckland City Hospital says flu is putting considerable pressure on the hospital. Dr Tim Parke said his hospital had been "very busy, teetering on gridlock" but that the situation had settled down after an initial surge.

(Snip) A H3N2 strain is predominant, particularly among older people, with some H1N1 (or swine flu) in younger people. http://www.radionz.co.nz/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 @ Wed Jun 27, 2012 at 07:12:38 AM UTC

ProMED: Pneumonia, the military - Russia (Samara region)

Translated

From: ProMED"", June 26 2012  number of cases increased to 70 soldiers

In Samara the military (doesn't?) understand the cause of pneumonia epidemic that broke out in one of the units. 49 conscripts had already been hospitalized in a military hospital, two of whom are in intensive care.

Total (Snip) of 240 people fell ill. Of these, 70 soldiers with a diagnosis of "pneumonia." (Snip) Two soldiers in a serious condition in intensive care, two were transferred to the ward (Snip)

Now at the military unit has 4 fluorographic apparatus. Every day, soldiers (are) inspected (by) a medical team. All the soldiers were given antiviral drugs.
(Snip)
Experts attribute the cause of outbreaks of pneumonia with congestion (as) placement of personnel in the barracks, the insufficient level of care, preventive check-ups and activities among conscripts. http://www.promedmail.org/dire...

(Note: I posted a story on this days ago and then couldn't find anything else on it. Now the number of soldiers has increased to 70 and this states that a total of "240 people" are ill so I assume this may have spread now to civilians in the area. The cause could be a number of things like community acquired pneumonia, a severe strain of flu, something entirely new or even SARS, etc. IMO, it is unusual for this many people in a small area to come down with pneumonia at the same time so it is concerning to me. The article states they are giving antivirals to the soldiers but I don't think they have identified yet exactly what this is. 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 @ Wed Jun 27, 2012 at 07:34:19 AM UTC

Commentary: CDC's revised swine flu death estimates a fairy tale scare story

Natural News.com
Wednesday, June 27, 2012 by: Jon Rappoport

(NaturalNews) In my years as an investigative medical reporter, I've developed a rule of thumb when dealing with the US Centers for Disease Control:

If they're not lying, they're lying.

I've found this guideline works out well. It's almost magic.

For example, at the so-called height of the Swine Flu epidemic, in the summer of 2009, CBS News exposed the fact that the CDC, in an egregious dereliction of its duty, had stopped counting Swine Flu cases. The CDC just assumed people arriving at hospitals or doctors' offices with anything resembling the flu had Swine Flu. Therefore, the CDC really didn't have the faintest idea how many people in America had Swine Flu. Yet, soon after this CBS report broke, the CDC issued a mind-boggling announcement plucked out of thin air: there were undoubtedly 10 MILLION people in the US infected with Swine Flu. No evidence. No test results. No facts. Just scare tactics. As in: "You must get vaccinated."

Well, they're bloviating again, in a choice bit of revisionist history.

A new CDC study, published in the Lancet Infectious Diseases Journal, states that the final global figure for Swine Flu deaths, 18,500, was grossly underestimated. The new and far more precise figure is... 25,000? No. 50,000? No. 100,000? No. 250,000! But wait. It actually might be as high as 575,400, say the CDC wizards. Continued: http://www.naturalnews.com/036...
 

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 @ Wed Jun 27, 2012 at 07:42:01 AM UTC

Avian flu: a DURC

Video: Laurie Garrett on studying pandemics

THE senior fellow of global health at the Council on Foreign Relations discusses recent publications from two groups studying avian flu, and why they were blocked for so long. http://www.economist.com/blogs...

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 @ Wed Jun 27, 2012 at 07:44:30 AM UTC

Swine flu likely claimed quarter of a million lives: study

The A(H1N1) "swine flu" 2009 pandemic probably claimed over a quarter of a million lives -- 15 times more than the 18,500 reported, a paper in The Lancet Infectious Diseases journal said Tuesday.

The team estimated there were 284,500 deaths from swine flu in the 12 months from April 2009. But the figure may be as high as 575,400, they said.

http://ca.news.yahoo.com/swine...

Be Prepared

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by: DennisC @ Wed Jun 27, 2012 at 13:22:30 PM UTC

Avian Influenza outbreak in Mexico

Highly pathogenic avian influenza has been reported on three farms in Mexican state of Jalisco, the World Organisation for Animal Health has confirmed. The disease was first found on 13 June and was later confirmed by officials on 21 June.

Jalisco is Mexico's highest egg producing region, with over 500 production units. (Snip) over one million birds are believed to be susceptible across the three farms and over 200,000 have already died from the outbreak. A further 60,000 have been destroyed.

Sixty poultry farms within the area of the outbreaks have been sampled (Snip) and officials are in the process of establishing control measures to prevent further spread. (Snip) http://www.fwi.co.uk/Articles/...

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 @ Wed Jun 27, 2012 at 21:53:59 PM UTC

Mexico has H7N3

The positive results on 2 tests are described here:
http://web.oie.int/wahis/publi...

Question:  Can people catch this flu?

"The truth does not change according to our ability to stomach it."  Flannery O'Connor

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by: Jane @ Thu Jun 28, 2012 at 19:28:02 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Hi Jane

Yes, there have been confirmed cases of H7N3 in humans. H7N3 infections cause conjuctivitis and respiratory symptoms. In 2004, poultry workers involved in eradication of H7N3 infected poultry in Britich Columbia were lab confirmed infected.

Abstract
Avian influenza that infects poultry in close proximity to humans is a concern because of its pandemic potential. In 2004, an outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza H7N3 occurred in poultry in British Columbia, Canada. Surveillance identified two persons with confirmed avian influenza infection. Symptoms included conjunctivitis and mild influenzalike illness.  http://wwwnc.cdc.gov/eid/artic...

You may find other cases if you do a search.
 

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 @ Fri Jun 29, 2012 at 00:45:09 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

Thanks, Carol!

Pandemic potential with that one too, drat.  

"The truth does not change according to our ability to stomach it."  Flannery O'Connor

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by: Jane @ Fri Jun 29, 2012 at 03:11:17 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

Jane

There are 15 different hemagglutinin (H) subtypes and all of them have been found in wild birds. These are the the ones I know of that have already infected humans:  H1, H3, H5, H7 and H9. Over 600 people have contracted an H5 (H5N1). The H7 and H9 infections have been rare.... so far.

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 Jun 30, 2012 at 01:31:11 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

India: Bhosari man tests positive for H1N1 (Maharashtra)

PUNE: A case of swine flu infection was found in Pimpri-Chinchwad after a gap of almost two months, when a 21-year-old man tested positive on Wednesday. "The patient is admitted at a private hospital in Pimpri. His throat swab (Snip) tested positive for swine flu," (Snip)

The patient, who is a resident of Bhosari, had a travel history to Rajasthan. "He developed fever and body ache from June 20. He was admitted to a private hospital on June 24. At present, his condition is stable," Jawale said.

Since June, the virus infected 26 people across the state. (Snip) "Most of these 26 cases are from Mumbai, Nagpur and Nashik. Occasional cases of swine flu infection will be seen during this season as rain provides an ideal setting for influenza-like illnesses. There is no need to worry. People should continue to take precautionary measures." (Snip)

Since April, the state reported 273 positive cases and 16 swine flu casualties. Among them, 218 positive cases were found in April, 29 in May and 26 in June, Awate added.

The latest swine flu death was from Pimpri-Chinchwad, when Jayshree Gandhale (30) of Kondhwa Khurd succumbed on May 6. The woman was on ventilator support for more than 40 days. The last reported H1N1 positive case was also from Pimpri-Chinchwad, on May 4. Continued: 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 @ Wed Jun 27, 2012 at 22:00:34 PM UTC

Please post new news stories to...

News Reports for June 28, 2012

Thank you!

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by: AlohaOR @ Thu Jun 28, 2012 at 06:25:06 AM UTC