News Reports for January 10, 2013

Flu picks up steam across the U.S.: Severe flu kills 18 children this season

http://www.cnn.com/2013/01/09/...

By Elizabeth Landau, CNN
updated 8:54 PM EST, Wed January 9, 2013

(SNIP)
Dr. David Zich, internal medicine and emergency medicine physician at Northwestern Memorial Hospital in Chicago, said this is the worst flu season he's seen in his 12 years at his hospital, in terms of the concentration of patients.
(SNIP)
Why so many cases? Zich theorizes that one reason there are so many flu cases is that the heart of the flu season coincided with the December holiday season, meaning many people were already sleep-deprived from parties and were more likely to get sick.Those who went to gatherings of family or friends may have already begun to feel sick, and spread the virus to others. People are generally contagious the day before symptoms start, and for five days after becoming sick, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Last flu season was light, but this year has brought with it some "ominous signs," Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases at the National Institutes of Health, told CNN's Wolf Blitzer Tuesday.Flu cases started going up early, toward the end of November and the beginning of December, he said. "And it went up on a pretty steep trajectory," he said. "The last time we saw that happen that way was the flu season of 2003 and 2004, which turned out to be a bad flu season.'
(SNIP)
People may get more complications from this particular strain of H3N2, "which may make them ill for a longer period of time," Dr. Michael Jhung, medical epidemiologist in the influenza division at CDC, told CNN's Mary Snow.
(SNIP)

In a "light" year, a few thousand people may still die, but a particularly serious year could see up to 49,000 deaths from the flu, Fauci said. "There's an average of about 200,000 hospitalizations and there's a lot of economic burdens."
(SNIP)

Patients with normal flu symptoms should get a lot of rest and take painkillers to help with muscle aches, Zich said. "In five to seven days, you're going to be feeling yourself again," he said.

But there are scenarios in which going to a hospital is necessary. If a patient is short of breath, or can't keep fluids down because of nausea, these are signs of a problem that needs immediate attention, as vomiting or sweating from fever can lead to dehydration, Zich said.
(SNIP)

The CDC recommends that people who have a higher risk of complications from the flu receive antiviral treatment. These include people with chronic illnesses such as pulmonary, cardiovascular and neurological conditions, as well as anyone 65 years and older and children under age 2.
(SNIP)

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by: bgw in MT @ Thu Jan 10, 2013 at 04:49:12 AM UTC

This is a fairly long article with a lot more information.

I recommend that you read it in its entirety.

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by: bgw in MT @ Thu Jan 10, 2013 at 04:50:36 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

ProMED: Avian influenza (02): Mexico (AG) high path H7N3, poultry, OIE

Highly pathogenic avian influenza, Mexico
---------------------------------------

Information received on 9 Jan 2013 (Snip)

Summary:

Report type: Immediate notification

Date of start of the event: 3 Jan 2013

Date of pre-confirmation of the event: 7 Jan 2013

Report date: 8 Jan 2013

Date submitted to OIE: 9 Jan 2013

Reason for notification: 1st occurrence of a listed disease

Manifestation of disease: Clinical disease

Causal agent: Highly pathogenic avian influenza virus

Serotype: H7N3

Nature of diagnosis: Clinical, Laboratory (basic)

This event pertains to: a defined zone within the country

(Snip)

Epidemiology:

Source of the outbreak(s) or origin of infection:

*Unknown or inconclusive

Epidemiological comments: The last outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza serotype H7N3 occurred in September 2012 in the northeastern part of the State of Jalisco. Following control and eradication measures, passive and active surveillance was strengthened, and on 3 Jan 2013, SENASICA was informed of an increase in mortality and a decrease of egg production on a commercial layer farm in the State of Aguascalientes. Timely notification from the farmer and surveillance activities allowed immediate depopulation of the 2 affected production units, the reason why both outbreaks identified are closed. Continued: http://www.promedmail.org/dire...

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 @ Thu Jan 10, 2013 at 07:00:35 AM UTC

Bird flu research at UW-Madison idle as researchers await guidelines

(Snip)

The voluntary moratorium organized by 39 flu researchers around the world - including virologist Yoshihiro Kawaoka at UW-Madison - initially was to last 60 days, so an international forum could debate whether the benefits of the research outweighed its risks.

Then the U.S. National Institutes of Health, which funds the research, decided it needed a new review framework for experiments that use gene engineering or other techniques to make naturally occurring H5N1 viruses more lethal, or able to jump to mammals. The policy was to identify high-risk research before it begins.

The policy is still in the works, and the research continues to be on hold in Madison and elsewhere.

"To my knowledge, there are no plans to resume that work anytime soon," said Terry Devitt, a UW-Madison spokesman. "We're proceeding as if the moratorium is still in effect."

The Madison lab is continuing with other kinds of flu research that doesn't involve bird flu, though Kawaoka is eager to resume his bird flu research, Devitt said.

Research by two separate teams - one led by Kawaoka at UW-Madison and another in the Netherlands - had already engineered new strains of the H5N1 virus that proved contagious among ferrets when news of the discovery leaked into the international science community and sparked the controversy in late 2011.

News that the virus could potentially be passed between mammals, and possibly humans, sparked fears of a potential pandemic, either through accidental release of the virus from a lab or misuse of the research by terrorists if key details of the research were published in scientific journals.

The National Science Advisory Board for Biosecurity recommended the research transcripts of Kawaoka and the scientist from the Netherlands be altered so the contagious strains of the H5N1 virus could not be replicated by terrorists.

The mortality rate for the virus is 60% to 90%. While the research in the Netherlands produced a deadly strain, the virus created in the Madison lab was not fatal and responded to available vaccines, according to online commentary by Kawaoka published last January in Nature magazine. Continued: http://www.jsonline.com/featur...

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 @ Thu Jan 10, 2013 at 07:02:53 AM UTC

India: Bio-security gate to keep birds safe from flu (Karnataka)

Picking up lessons from the recent outbreak of H5N1 influenza at Hesaraghatta that saw thousands of chickens, ducks and emus being culled, the Veterinary College in Hebbal has sanitised its poultry unit by installing a bio-security gate around its units.

(Snip) Not only will it prevent the spread of virus and bacteria, but will also sanitise people - potential carriers of viruses -before they enter the poultry unit.

(Snip) "The poultry stock at the university is crucial for both academic and non-academic purposes. The epidemic is such that if one poultry unit is infected, it spreads to others. We do not want to take such chances and hence the bio-security gate. Only those working on poultry projects and in the unit will be allowed to enter."

Venkat Reddy, professor and head of the department of poultry science, said, "Usually, many people visit poultry units at universities and we need to ensure zero tolerance to protect the birds. The gate scans people and looks for contamination. The visitor will be allowed to enter only if he is contamination-free."

All employees at the poultry unit and hatchery have been given special clothing. They must wear either disposable or washable caps. Apart from the gate, visitors are also made to dip their feet in disinfectant.

The university is urging both public and private poultry units to instal bio-security gates. Continued: http://www.bangaloremirror.com...  

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 @ Thu Jan 10, 2013 at 07:20:38 AM UTC

Swine flu rears its head in Israel

Two known cases of H1N1 virus at central hospitals; in West Bank (Palestine), at least 10 people are dead.

Two Israeli women have contracted swine flu and are currently hospitalized, after hundreds of cases of the virus were identified in the West Bank in recent weeks.

(Snip) a 27-year-old who gave birth several days ago, is being treated at Assaf HaRofeh Medical Center in Tzrifin, some 10 miles southeast of Tel Aviv.

The second woman, reportedly in her 60s, is at the intensive care unit (Snip). http://www.timesofisrael.com/s...

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 @ Thu Jan 10, 2013 at 07:26:04 AM UTC

US: Worst-in-years flu season spreading in Florida

Florida's flu season is one of the worst in years and more sickness is on the way. The flu struck people throughout the state and nation early this year, starting in late November, and its prevalence has only increased since.

That became clear on Jan. 2, when the Memorial Hospital Pembroke Urgent Care Center rang in the New Year flu season with a bang, as well as whimpers, coughs and sneezes from a packed waiting room. It was the clinic's busiest day ever.

"We had close to 200 patients during the day, which we've never had before," said Dr. Roy Dubash, family medicine physician at the clinic. "I have not seen it busier," he said. "It has really seemed to take off the last week."

(Snip)

The Florida Department of Health reported the state had "widespread" flu-like activity in the final week of 2012, the most-recent report for which data is available. Of the 18 children who have died with flu-like symptoms, two were from Florida and lived in Polk and Wakulla counties.

Statewide, about 5 percent of emergency-room and clinic visits were due to patients exhibiting influenza-like symptoms as of last week, according to health department data. The last time the rate was this high: November 2009, during the H1N1 flu pandemic implicated in 230 deaths in Florida. In September of that flu season, about 7 percent of emergency-room and clinic visits were flu-related.

Florida health officials don't expect a pandemic this year, despite the high rate of flu and influenza like illness, nicknamed "ILI." They say people shouldn't panic, but they should wash their hands, stay home if sick and get their flu shots.

"The amount of influenza and ILI that we're seeing in Florida this year should not be downplayed, and our prevention messages for hygiene and vaccination are extremely important," Continued: http://www.miamiherald.com/201...

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 @ Thu Jan 10, 2013 at 07:35:05 AM UTC

Going Viral

If you ask the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta, this year's flu season is looking "moderately severe." That assessment has been reflected in the relatively calm tone of national media coverage in recent weeks.

(Snip) if you ask Google Flu Trends, we're in the midst of an outbreak that is shaping up to be the most extensive on record. Never before this week have so many people searched for the terms that Google believes are likely indicators of the influenza virus. If Google's algorithm is accurate, that should translate to a volume of doctor visits that significantly exceeds that of the H1N1 outbreak in October 2009. The media usually loves a good health scare. So why isn't anyone sounding the alarm?

Because, four years after Google Flu Trends launched, the CDC still drives the bulk of national media coverage, suggesting that health reporters aren't fully comfortable putting stock in Internet algorithms that go back only a few years. Yet Google's figures may deserve far more attention than they've been getting.

By the CDC's latest "outpatient surveillance" estimates, roughly 5.6 percent of Americans visiting the doctor are reporting respiratory illnesses, or flu-like symptoms. That's a large number, significantly higher than the national baseline of 2.2 percent or the 2.3 percent peak of last year's mild flu season. (Snip) The figure approached 6 percent in the moderately severe 2007-2008 season and topped out at 7.7 percent in October 2009 in the midst of the H1N1 pandemic.

(Snip) The CDC's current estimates aren't all that current. Because they are based on after-the-fact reports from more than 3,000 health care providers around the country, the numbers can tell us only how many people were suffering from the flu a couple weeks ago. Today's CDC FluView figures, for instance, come from the week of Dec. 23. We won't know until Friday how many people visited the doctor with respiratory symptoms during the week that began on Dec. 30.

(Snip) In fall 2008, the company's charitable arm, Google.org, unveiled Flu Trends, a site that scans millions of Google searches from around the world to track flu activity in near real time. According to a study published in Nature in February 2009, the system can detect outbreaks nearly two weeks before they show up in the official CDC reports. And the site can tell you on any given day what countries, states, and even cities are likely seeing the largest number of cases.

Today, Flu Trends is painting a foreboding picture. On a global scale of green (minimal flu activity) to bright red (intense flu activity), the United States is the reddest country in the world. (Snip) (Hang in there, Connecticut!) Boston, New York, Philadelphia, Houston, and Denver are among a slew of cities tagged with the "intense" rating. http://www.slate.com/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 @ Thu Jan 10, 2013 at 08:31:09 AM UTC

Indonesia: Regions warned of new strain of bird flu

Thu, January 10 2013,

Most regions across the country have now begun taking measures in anticipation of the spread of a new strain of the avian flu virus which has killed thousands of ducks over the past few months.

The new virus has been identified as H5N1 clade 2.3.2.

The Cirebon regency administration has set up a special team for bird flu prevention comprising 80 members, 17 of whom are veterinarians, and they have been deployed to promote the vaccination program in all villages with duck and chicken farms in the regency

"Through this measure we want to make sure that Cirebon will be free of bird flu," head of the local agriculture and husbandry office Ali Effendi said on Wednesday.

continued:
http://www.thejakartapost.com/...

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

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by: cottontop @ Thu Jan 10, 2013 at 10:57:08 AM UTC

Indonesia: C. Java to distribute new bird flu vaccines in Feb

Wed, January 09 2013

The Central Java administration will start distributing in February vaccines for a new strain of bird flu, identified as H5N1 clade 2.3.2, that has killed thousands of ducks in Yogyakarta, Central Java and East Java.

Central Java Animal Husbandry Agency chief Whitono said on Wednesday that the master seed of the vaccines--discovered last December in Sukoharjo, Central Java--was currently being produced by the Agriculture Ministry's Animal Husbandry Department.

"It takes between a month and a month and a half to multiply the vaccines. God willing the new vaccines will start circulating within the first week in February," he said.

In the meantime, poultry farmers are obliged to comply with appropriate bio-security measures, especially after directly handling poultry, according to Whitono.

They were also advised to use the vaccines for the older avian flu strain of clade 2.1.3 which killed chickens before the new vaccines arrived, he added.

The agency reported that more than 196,233 ducks had died from the new virus in 28 regencies and cities in the province.

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

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by: cottontop @ Thu Jan 10, 2013 at 11:11:02 AM UTC

That should be (link)

http://www.thejakartapost.com/...

for the C. Java to distribute new bird flu vaccines in Feb
story.  Sorry Miss Carol. :-)

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

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by: cottontop @ Thu Jan 10, 2013 at 11:13:13 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

Why the Flu Is So Dangerous This Year, and Why It Could Get Worse

The flu is taking the nation by storm, with major cities declaring public health emergencies and cases of confirmed infections soaring above last season's relatively average numbers. The bad news is that it could get worse.

The vaccine for this year's flu appears to be matching up relatively well with the Influenza A strains - bearing in mind that in the best case scenario, the vaccine will be between 60 to 70 percent effective (based on Centers for Disease Control and Prevention statistics from recent years).  But against a particular strain of Influenza B, the vaccine is proving completely ineffective.

That strain accounts for roughly 10 percent of infections so far this year, an infectious disease researcher from Vanderbilt University told CBS News, with overall Influenza B infections roughly doubling those of last season. If that trend continues, we are likely to see even higher levels of the vaccine-resistant strain appear by the peak of the season, still weeks away.  The age groups getting hit the hardest are between 0-4 years and 65 years and older.

Another troubling trend is found in the statistics tracking underlying causes of hospitalization due to influenza infection. Typical causes include asthma, suppressed immune system, and chronic lung disease.

Most of those causes stay relatively stable from year to year, but this year two underlying causes among adults are showing a significant increase since 2009-2010: cardiovascular disease and metabolic disorder.

During the 2009-2010 season, flu hospitalizations related to cardiovascular disease accounted for about 20 percent of total hospitalizations; this year the number is already approaching 40 percent.  For metabolic disorder, the numbers have also nearly doubled since 2009-2010.

The reasons for the cardiovascular disease increase include an aging population, and elevated heart-health risk factors like hypertension (high blood pressure). According to the American Heart Association, half of the 74 million Americans diagnosed with high blood pressure are not being treated. When an extensive, compounding factor like the flu comes along, those numbers translate into hospitalizations for many.

The reasons for the increase of metabolic disorder as an underlying cause of hospitalization are more difficult to nail down, but it's possible that disorders of the pancreas and liver due to skyrocketing type 2 diabetes among adults are partly to blame. Continued: http://www.forbes.com/sites/da...

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 @ Thu Jan 10, 2013 at 20:57:45 PM UTC

NYT: Flu Widespread, Leading a Range of Winter's Ills

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/01...

It is not your imagination - more people you know are sick this winter, even people who have had flu shots

The country is in the grip of three emerging flu or flulike epidemics: an early start to the annual flu season with an unusually aggressive virus, a surge in a new type of norovirus, and the worst whooping cough outbreak in 60 years. And these are all developing amid the normal winter highs for the many viruses that cause symptoms on the "colds and flu" spectrum.

Influenza is widespread, and causing local crises. On Wednesday, Boston's mayor declared a public health emergency as cases flooded hospital emergency rooms.

Google's national flu trend maps, which track flu-related searches, are almost solid red (for "intense activity") and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's weekly FluView maps, which track confirmed cases, are nearly solid brown (for "widespread activity").

[snip]
At Brigham and Women's Hospital, 100 patients were crowded into spaces licensed for 53. Beds lined halls and pressed against vending machines. Overflow patients sat on benches in the lobby wearing surgical masks.

"Today was the first time I think I was experiencing my first pandemic," said Heidi Crim, the nursing director, who saw both the swine flu and SARS outbreaks here. Adding to the problem, she said, many staff members were at home sick and supplies like flu test swabs were running out.

Nationally, deaths and hospitalizations are still below epidemic thresholds. But experts do not expect that to remain true. Pneumonia usually shows up in national statistics only a week or two after emergency rooms report surges in cases, and deaths start rising a week or two after that, said Dr. Gregory A. Poland, a vaccine specialist at the Mayo Clinic in Minnesota. The predominant flu strain circulating is an H3N2, which typically kills more people than the H1N1 strains that usually predominate; the relatively lethal 2003-4 "Fujian flu" season was overwhelmingly H3N2.

No cases have been resistant to Tamiflu, which can ease symptoms if taken within 48 hours, and this year's flu shot is well-matched to the H3N2 strain, the C.D.C. said.
[snip]
Simultaneously, the country is seeing a large and early outbreak of norovirus, the "cruise ship flu" or "stomach flu," said Dr. Aron J. Hall of the C.D.C.'s viral gastroenterology branch. It includes a new strain, which first appeared in Australia and is known as the Sydney 2012 variant.

This week, Maine's health department said that state was seeing a large spike in cases. Cities across Canada reported norovirus outbreaks so serious that hospitals were shutting down whole wards for disinfection because patients were getting infected after moving into the rooms of those who had just recovered. The classic symptoms of norovirus are "explosive" diarrhea and "projectile" vomiting, which can send infectious particles flying yards away.

[snip]

This month, the C.D.C. said the United States was having its biggest outbreak of pertussis in 60 years; there were about 42,000 confirmed cases, the highest total since 1955. The disease is unrelated to flu but causes a hacking, constant cough and breathlessness. While it is unpleasant, adults almost always survive; the greatest danger is to infants, especially premature ones with undeveloped lungs. Of the 18 recorded deaths in 2012, all but three were of infants under age 1.

[snip]

Though flu cases in New York City are rising rapidly, the city health department has no plans to declare an emergency, largely because of concern that doing so would drive mildly sick people to emergency rooms, said Dr. Jay K. Varma, deputy director for disease control. The city would prefer people went to private doctors or, if still healthy, to pharmacies for flu shots. Nursing homes have had worrisome outbreaks, he said, and nine elderly patients have died. Homes need to be more alert, vaccinate patients, separate those who fall ill and treat them faster with antivirals, he said.

Dr. Susan I. Gerber of the C.D.C.'s respiratory diseases branch, said her agency has not seen any unusual spike of rhinovirus, parainfluenza, adenovirus, coronavirus or the dozens of other causes of the "common cold," but the country is having its typical winter surge of some, like respiratory syncytial virus "that can mimic flulike symptoms, especially in young children."

[snip]

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by: Cathy M @ Thu Jan 10, 2013 at 21:04:51 PM UTC

Mayor Menino declares public health emergency in Boston because of flu outbreak

http://www.boston.com/dailydos...

Mayor Thomas M. Menino declared a public health emergency Wednesday morning because of the expanding flu outbreak. Health care centers across the city will be offering free vaccines to anyone who hasn't yet been immunized. The city has 700 confirmed cases of flu so and four flu-related deaths. Last year Boston had only 70 confirmed cases.

Massachusetts has had 18 flu-related deaths so far this season, according to the state Department of Public Health. Officials emphasized it's not too late to get a shot.
[snip]

The city's declaration of a health emergency was "very unusual," said Dr. Anita Barry, director of Boston's Infectious Disease Bureau. She said it was designed to raise awareness about the severity of the flu season and to make public resources available to improve vaccinations.

[snip]
The good news is that the strains of flu virus in circulation this year were anticipated, and 91 percent of the viruses found in testing this year are well-matched to the vaccine, said Kevin Cranston, director of the DPH Bureau of Infectious Disease. There are ample supplies of the shot, he added.

Confronting an earlier and a harsher than usual flu season, hospitals and other health care facilities are limiting visitors who may potentially infect sick or elderly patients with the virus -- precautions not seen since the 2009 H1N1 "swine flu" pandemic.

UMass Memorial Medical Center this week decided to ban visits from children age 14 and under, since kids frequently contract the virus in school, and only allow patients to have two visitors at a time.

[snip]

Massachusetts General Hospital said its capacity has been "strained to its limits" with an additional 40 to 80 patients coming in daily to its outpatient clinics and emergency room with flu-like illness. The hospital has restricted visitors to its obstetrics department filled with vulnerable, unvaccinated newborns and has urged all staff to stay home if they have a fever along with other flu symptoms such as a runny nose, sore throat, cough or body aches.

Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center had to open a previously closed wing to accommodate the influx of patients sick with the flu or the intestinal illness norovirus, which is also circulating.

[snip]

About 3 in 10,000 Americans over age 65 have been hospitalized with the flu so far this season compared with 1 in 100,000 at the same time last flu season.

[snip]

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by: Cathy M @ Thu Jan 10, 2013 at 21:07:31 PM UTC

Indonesia: New bird flu strain may be bioterrorism, says BIN

Thu, January 10 2013

Indonesia's top intelligence agency has scrutinized the spread of a new strain of the avian flu virus that has killed thousands of ducks over the past few months, saying the disease could be a form of biological weapon used by foreign countries.

"My agency has been following this phenomenon since the beginning. We have to stay alert as the global development of biological weapons has been very fast. In the future, this kind of biological attack will be used in wars," National Intelligence Agency (BIN) chief Lt. Gen. Marciano Norman said at the State Palace on Thursday.

However, an intelligence investigation had yet to find any proof that the current bird flu outbreak in some places across Indonesia was a form of biological attack or a test of biological weapons by foreign countries, he added.

"We are closely monitoring developments. We cannot jump to conclusions without strong proof," he added. "We are asking relevant bodies with relevant competence to dig deeper into the new virus while we will back them up."

Coordinating Political, Legal, and Security Affairs Minister Djoko Suyanto echoed Marciano's statement. "Since the allegation came to us, we have formed a team to delve into it. The team comprises of BIN and the Health Ministry, among others," he said.

Djoko agreed that it was possible that the virus might have been "engineered" for certain interests. "The allegations represent good input for us to stay vigilant to the possibility," he said.

The government has asked regions across the country to begin taking measures to anticipate the new bird flu virus, identified as H5N1 clade 2.3.2.

In Bantul, Yogyakarta, the new virus strain has killed more than 1,000 ducks. The same strain also reportedly killed hundreds of ducks in Central Java and in East Java.

The Central Java provincial administration has recorded nearly 200,000 cases of duck deaths in 28 regencies and cities since September 2012.

Over 6,000 ducks were reported to have been infected with the virus in the regencies of South, Central and East Lampung.

In Payakumbuh, West Sumatra, known as the province's main production center of poultry products, the virus killed nearly 2,000 ducks in December 2012, while in Sidenreng Rappang, South Sulawesi, some 25,500 birds have reportedly died since December 2012.

http://www.thejakartapost.com/...

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

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by: cottontop @ Thu Jan 10, 2013 at 22:56:28 PM UTC

Yep, it's bioterrorism.

The Central Chinese government directed all the wild birds and ducks in the country to fly over Indonesia and crap. Everywhere there was a splatter, the H5N1 virus was released. It's a new form of bioterrorism warfare..... code name..... "bird-shit"!

ROTFLMAO

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 Jan 11, 2013 at 02:05:43 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

OMG!!!!

It sounds like Carol's been snorting too many feathers off of that old pink feather boa!!!! LOL!!

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by: Bronco Bill @ Fri Jan 11, 2013 at 03:15:43 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

It was temporary insanity.....

that's my story and I'm sticking to it. LOL

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 Jan 11, 2013 at 07:22:13 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

NYC Flu "epidemic"

http://newyork.cbslocal.com/20...

'Severe' Strain Of Flu Reaches Epidemic Proportions In New York City
Number Of Cases N.Y. State-Wide Nearly 5 Times Higher Than Last Year

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by: Bronco Bill @ Fri Jan 11, 2013 at 03:09:39 AM UTC

Please post new news stories ...

...to News Reports for January 11, 2013

Thank you!

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by: AlohaOR @ Fri Jan 11, 2013 at 05:10:43 AM UTC