October 26th, 2009 by MWilhelm

CORNWALL, Ont.—A pre-teen girl believed to have had the H1N1 virus, but no pre-existing medical condition, died Saturday in an Ottawa hospital.

The girl, who was from the Cornwall, Ont. region, initially was admitted to hospital with mild symptoms, but her condition quickly worsened.

Dr. Paul Roumeliotis, medical officer of health for the Eastern Ontario Health Unit, said the girl was healthy until the appearance of the ’flu symptoms, which included fever, muscle pain, and coughing.

The girl, whose identity and age has not been released, didn’t appear to have an existing medical condition that could have contributed to her death, he added.

“She had the symptoms for a couple days, then they got worse very quickly,” Roumeliotis said.

“That seems to be a hallmark of H1N1.”

Testing to confirm it was H1N1 is ongoing.

“The preliminary test showed positive for influenza A,” Roumeliotis said.

“To date, all recent cases of influenza A have been identified as H1N1,” he noted.

“Most of the people who get the virus get better, but for some the infection overwhelms them,” Roumeliotis said.

“Every year hundreds die of the seasonal ’flu.”

Her death comes as 26 schools in the eastern Ontario health unit’s catchment area are dealing with a swine ’flu outbreak.

The health unit is monitoring the siblings and parents, who have so far shown no signs of H1N1.

The death comes days after the province’s top medical official confirmed the second wave of the pandemic swine ’flu has arrived in Ontario, with 29 deaths and 31 people currently in hospital.

October 26th, 2009 by MWilhelm

US President Barack Obama has declared 2009 H1N1 swine flu a national emergency, the White House said at the weekend.

The declaration will make it easier for US medical facilities to handle a surge in flu patients by allowing the waiver of some requirements of Medicare, Medicaid and other federal health insurance programs as needed, the White House said in a statement.

The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said on Friday (Saturday NZ time) that swine flu has become widespread in 46 of the 50 US states, a level comparable to the peak of ordinary flu seasons but far earlier and with more waves of infection expected.

Obama signed the statement on Friday night (Saturday NZ time).

The White House statement said the declaration was intended to prepare the country in case of “a rapid increase in illness that may overburden health care resources.” It was similar to disaster declarations issued before hurricanes hit coastal areas.

“It’s important to note that this is a proactive measure – not a response to a new development,” an administration official said.

“H1N1 is moving rapidly, as expected. By the time regions or healthcare systems recognise they are becoming overburdened, they need to implement disaster plans quickly,” he said.

Seasonal flu normally peaks sometime between late November and early March and kills about 36,000 Americans in an average year.

Swine flu has hit young adults and children the hardest, while seasonal flu normally is more dangerous for people over age 65.

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October 26th, 2009 by MWilhelm

President Obama has declared a national emergency in respect to H1N1. This gives hospitals more leeway in setting up emergency operations to respond to the rising swine flu pandemic. Wouldn’t e-medical records systems come in handy now?

The heavy flow of patients arriving in ERs and doctor offices complaining of flu like symptoms –and the thousands (if not millions) more expected in the months to come–have public health officials worried about hospitals hitting their capacity for caring for the seriously ill.

According to the CDC, since April, there have been about 20,000 H1N1-related hospitalizations and 1,000 deaths. So, Obama’s declaration of national emergency last week waives certain federal rules, making it easier for hospitals, among other things, to set up additional offsite emergency departments.

Wouldn’t it be comforting if you could be assured that clinicians relocated to treat parents at these ad hoc emergency facilities have access to patients’ medical records, such as information about chronic conditions like asthma that could make an individual at higher risk for serious respiratory complications? Or, how about patient allergies to antibiotics that treat bacterial infections that also often accompany serious cases of the flu, especially those with compromised immune systems?

Surely, there are hospitals with ED systems that allow doctors to access records of patients previously seen at the hospital. In some places, the exchange of health data in a region–even if it’s just e-prescribing data–can already help guide doctors in treating patients that were never previously seen at the facility. But many clinicians who end up seeing suspected swine-flu patients in jerry-rigged emergency facilities will be dealing with scant information provided by the patient (if conscious) or by a worried, nervous (and sometimes clueless) loved one.

If all goes according to the high hopes that government and healthcare officials have for the adoption of health IT over the next few years related to the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act’s stimulus programs, then with any luck, the next national emergency will have healthcare providers better equipped to quickly access important information for safely and more effectively treating the sick.

That’s a bit more comforting, isn’t it?

October 26th, 2009 by MWilhelm

HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, FL — More swine flu vaccines were made available for students in Hillsborough County Monday morning.

They couldn’t arrive soon enough. President Obama has declared the H1N1 flu outbreak anational emergency.

The big battle moved to the classroom, or perhaps for accurately the cafetorium, where students were able to line up for their shots in multiple schools.

In all, nine Hillsborough schools are scheduled to get their H1N1 vaccines this week. They include Junta, Greco, Eisenhower, and Liberty Middle Schools, as well as King, Spoto, Middleton, East Bay, and Freedom High Schools.

Freedom High students came out in scores for their shots on Monday.

About 300 doses were expected to be given at the school, which closed late last spring during the county’s first flash of the virus.

October 26th, 2009 by MWilhelm

BERLIN — A debate over two different swine flu vaccines overshadowed Germany’s launch of a public inoculation program against the pandemic on Monday.

Critics warned the vaccinations campaign could be a “million-euro flop” as many people might refuse to participate after learning they would receive a different shot than one being given to politicians, high-ranking government employees and soldiers.

German authorities ordered 50 million doses of swine flu vaccines, and began inoculating physicians, nurses, rescue workers and the chronically ill this week.

However, most Germans will be getting Pandemrix, a vaccine by GlaxoSmithKline PLC that contains an adjuvant, while Germany’s politicians, government employees and troops will get Celvapan, made by Baxter International without an adjuvant.

Adjuvants — or chemical compounds that boost the human body’s immune response and stretch the vaccine’s active ingredient so more doses can be made — are relatively new in flu vaccines, and there is limited data on how safe they are in certain population groups, such as pregnant women and children. No flu vaccines with adjuvants are licensed in the U.S., though they are commonly used in Europe.

Wolfgang Wesiack, the head of the Association of German Internists, warned of “vaccine fatigue” and said many people feared a “two-class health system.”

Government spokesman Ulrich Wilhelm defended the vaccination policy, saying last week the two vaccines were equal. He explained that the different orders were simply the result of government departments making their purchases without coordinating.

He also said Chancellor Angela Merkel would get the Pandemrix shot, intended for the general public.

There have been no major side effects reported in any of the ongoing swine flu vaccine trials, including those using adjuvants.

Some countries, such as Canada, have ordered special stocks of non-adjuvanted swine flu shots for pregnant women and children, thought to be most at risk from swine flu. Though the vast majority of swine flu cases are mild, and most people recover without needing treatment.

The World Health Organization recommends countries use vaccines with adjuvants to increase the global supply.

All flu vaccines have the potential to cause side effects, from sore arms and headaches to fever.

October 23rd, 2009 by MWilhelm

Swine flu is spreading: 292 U.S. deaths have been confirmed since Aug. 30, and seven times that number are suspected. But rumors about the illness and the vaccine to prevent it are spreading even faster.

Some recommendations that were legitimate a few months ago have been superseded by larger studies, giving some people reason to doubt the latest advice.

There is general agreement among experts about treating and preventing the disease, however. The following is based on the most up-to-date information.

Question: What’s the difference between flus?

Answer: “Seasonal flu” actually consists of several strains. The Type A strains change slightly every year, which is why flu vaccine is reformulated annually. The population retains some immunity, however, so most people don’t get seriously ill.

Every once in a while, a major genetic shift introduces a Type A strain to which few people have any immunity. This happened three times in the last century, causing the pandemics that began in 1918, 1957, and 1968. As the population developed immunity over several years, the pandemic strains settled into a seasonal flu pattern.

A new pandemic strain appeared again in spring 2009 and is now building toward its first full season.

Q: Is swine flu more dangerous than seasonal flu?

A: The new flu appears to carry about the same overall risk of complications and death as seasonal influenza. But far fewer people have immunity. An estimated 36,000 Americans a year die from complications of seasonal flu, so if twice as many get sick, there could be 72,000 deaths.

Read the rest of this entry »

October 23rd, 2009 by MWilhelm

Dallas County health officials will announce this afternoon that they’ve received enough of the swine flu vaccine to begin public immunizations.

Details of the county’s plans are to be announced at a 2 p.m. news conference.

That positive piece of news from county health officials notwithstanding, federal figures released today show that Texas remains near the bottom among states in available doses of the 2009 H1N1 vaccine. The state ranked 40th on a per-capita basis, with 3.4 doses shipped per hundred residents.

That’s well behind Illinois, the large state with the highest per capita tally – 5.2 per hundred.

However – unlike in last week’s tally – Texas had moved much closer to other large states, including California and New York. Per-capita doses shipped is a measure of the access that Texans will have to the vaccine.

The latest figures from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reflect doses shipped through Wednesday.According the CDC, 831,400 were sent to Texas.

Nationwide, doctors and health departments continue to complain about the scarce supply of the vaccine.

October 23rd, 2009 by MWilhelm

Public health officials say both the seasonal flu and swine flu can be spread by coughing, sneezing and even talking.

While the viruses only live on surfaces for a few hours, high-traffic spots see constant recontamination, says Kitty Mahoney, Framingham’s public health nurse. She recommends handwashing, sneezing into tissues, coughing into sleeves and staying home when ill, not returning until 24 hours after the end of any fever.

And at MetroWest Medical Center, Dr. Thomas Treadwell, an infectious diseases expert, says, “The big message is get vaccinated.”

In the meantime, Mahoney has provided a list of the top 10 surfaces likely to spread the flu. While she points out that not everyone who is exposed will become infected, she warns that H1N1 is more contagious than seasonal strains.

“You just envision being the bug and all the different ways it can be carried,” she says, advising residents to use one paper towel to turn off bathroom faucets and another to dry hands. “Don’t presume your hands are clean.”

Mahoney’s list:

• Lips and hands
• Used tissues
• Shared utensils and cups
• Shared drinks and food, like a basket of school cafeteria fries
• Shared telephone receivers and computer keyboards
• Toilet handles
• Sink faucets
• Handrails and bannisters
• Door knobs
• Light switches

October 23rd, 2009 by MWilhelm

The Santa Barbara County Public Health Department reports the death of an 82 year old female with significant underlying medical issues and complications associated with the pandemic H1N1 flu. This woman had been hospitalized since early in the month of October.

Michele Mickiewicz, Interim Public Health Department Director, noted “We send our thoughts and sympathies to the family of the deceased. These unfortunate deaths are a reminder that pandemic H1N1 is present in our communities and people are encouraged to continue taking steps to prevent spreading and/or becoming ill with the flu.”

When healthy people have flu symptoms, (including a fever and cough), they are advised to stay home, get plenty of rest and drink clear liquids. Within a few days, these individuals are likely to recover without any medical treatment or hospitalization. When people have chronic medical conditions, are pregnant, are medically fragile or when children under the age of 2 years have flu symptoms, they are advised to contact their doctor right away as treatment may be initiated.

Medical professionals also suggest everyone regardless of age or medical history contact their doctor if their flu symptoms begin to get better and then worsen. With an increase in the number of severe cases of H1N1 in our county, many residents are asking about the availability of H1N1 vaccine. There has been a delay in delivery of the H1N1 vaccine. Although the Centers for Disease Control anticipates there will be enough vaccine for everyone, it will be delivered over a period of many weeks. Because of this, the vaccine at first will be targeted to those at high risk for complications from the flu. The Public Health Department will publish a schedule of vaccine clinics as soon as sufficient H1N1 vaccine is received.

For additional information, go to the Public Health Department flu website www.sbcfluinfo.org, call 888-722-6358, or follow us on Twitter at Twitter.com/SBCPublicHealth.

October 23rd, 2009 by MWilhelm

NORTHERN MICHIGAN — H1N1 vaccine clinics are tentatively scheduled for Friday, Oct. 30, for Antrim, Charlevoix, Emmet and Otsego counties. Only those at the highest risk of developing complications from “swine flu” will be vaccinated.

“We are really hoping we get the vaccine we’ve ordered and have been promised for next week,” said Jane Sundmacher, Marketing and Public Relations coordinator for the Health Department of Northwest Michigan.

All clinics run from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. and vaccines are free of charge. No appointments are being made.

Vaccinations are available on a walk-in, first-come first-serve basis to the most vulnerable groups of people including pregnant women, people who live with or care for infants under 6 months old, health care workers and emergency personnel, children ages 6 months to 4 years old, and youth ages 5 to 18 who have certain medical conditions (asthma or lung disease, heart disease, diabetes, neurological disorders, cancer or undergoing chemotherapy, or immune system disorders). Children ages 9 and under need two doses of vaccine 28 days apart.

October 23rd, 2009 by MWilhelm

RENO, Nev.—About 100 people were turned away in Reno after waiting in long lines to receive a swine flu shot at a free Washoe County clinic for high risk groups.

County health department spokeswoman Judy Davis says the agency had expected to vaccinate about 600 people Thursday, but gave more than 1,000 inoculations from 1 to 7 p.m.

Some people began showing up at 6 a.m., and by noon the line stretched about three blocks.

Davis says the last shot was given at 7:40 p.m. Many who helped run the clinic were volunteers.

Davis says the health department plans two other shot clinics for high-risk groups next week.

October 23rd, 2009 by MWilhelm

Sadly, Swine Flu scams are on the rise, so be wary of any ads that promise to cure or even ward off the virus. Be informed and get the facts on what you need to do to stay healthy. Catching H1N1 can literally take down a football team, such was the case when several Duke players were hit with the Swine Flu in the off season. Read more below.

The FDA has issued warning letters to several of these companies who promote these Swine Flu scams online.

Many of these sites advertise Tamiflu, which has proven to be an effective remedy for the Swine Flu, and the FDA even ordered some of the “Tamiflu” to test it out. Arriving in an unmarked envelope from India, the pills consisted of talc and acetaminophen. Tamiflu is only available by prescription, whereas some of the web sites did not require one.

Margaret A. Hamburg, FDA Commissioner, said:

“Medicines purchased from Web sites operating outside the law put consumers at increased risk due to a higher potential that the products will be counterfeit, impure, contaminated, or have too little or too much of the active ingredient.”

Here are some of the products you’ll want to stay away from:

The Photon Genie: This gadget sends “energy waves” that promises to “strengthen the immune system” which will help prevent and treat the virus.

Swine Flu…Gone: This is a spray that you put on your hands or any surfaces where you think germs can be found that will “kill the virus”.

Even Dr. Andrew Weil’s “Immune Support Formula” received a warning letter from the FDA.

Folks, if it’s too good to be true…then it probably is.

With the shortage of the vaccination, it’s no wonder these Swine Flu scams are trying to cash in on the many who haven’t been vaccinated yet or the ones who fear their children or themselves will contract the virus. What are your thoughts? Let me know. There’s a related video below as well.

October 23rd, 2009 by MWilhelm

Oct. 23 (Bloomberg) — Swine flu vaccine production is slower than anticipated and drugmakers are unlikely to hit the U.S. government’s targets, said Thomas Frieden, director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The amount of vaccine available as of Oct. 21 was 16.1 million doses, with 11.3 million doses shipped to doctors and clinics in local communities, Frieden said during a conference call with reporters.

Swine flu is widespread in 46 states and accounts for more than 8,000 confirmed deaths and 20,000 hospitalizations, the agency said on its Web site. Frieden said the numbers reflect what would be the peak of a typical flu season.

“We’ve had difficulties with the projections we’ve had so far,” Frieden said of vaccine production. “The numbers will continue to increase. We think supply will become much more widespread within the next several weeks.”

October 23rd, 2009 by MWilhelm

A 14-year-old boy has died from human swine flu, the boy died in a Dublin hospital and had an underlying medical condition.

It brings to nine the number of people who have died in the republic from swine flu.

Meanwhile, the Royal College of Physicians and the Institute of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists have jointly recommended that women who are 14 weeks pregnant or more should get the swine flu vaccine.

They also recommend that new mothers up to six weeks after delivery and breastfeeding mothers should get the vaccine.

Pregnant women are four times more likely to develop serious complications or be hospitalised from H1N1 than non-pregnant women.

The complications include early labour or severe pneumonia – risks which are higher after the 14th week of pregnancy.

Both of the vaccines which will be available in Ireland are considered equally safe for use in pregnancy and in the six weeks after delivery.

The organisations say the vaccine has been shown to be the best way to prevent illness and its potential complications. They also say that passive immunity can be passed to a newborn child for up to six months.

It is generally agreed nationally and internationally that potential complications associated with the influenza A(H1N1) virus outweigh any possible risks.

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October 23rd, 2009 by MWilhelm

The fact is, seasonal flu—the kind that circulates every fall and winter, year after year—kills 30,000 to 40,000 people.

In comparison, current government predictions are calling for anywhere from 30,000 to 90,000 H1N1 flu-related deaths this fall. Keep in mind that it’s out of hundreds of millions of potential infections, even as a worst-case scenario, only a small percentage of the US population would get seriously sick.

Cases could decrease if everyone were to take all the right precautions, especially washing their hands frequently and staying home when sick, says Robert Belshe, MD, professor of medicine and pediatrics at the Saint Louis University School of Medicine and director of the vaccine center at Saint Louis University.

People are worried about H1N1 flu because it’s different—and there are so many misperceptions about how dangerous it is, who’s at risk and the best ways to avoid it. Below, five common misconceptions are debunked.

1. H1N1 flu is much worse than seasonal flu

So far, H1N1 flu doesn’t seem to be more virulent than seasonal flu as the symptoms are largely the same, but it is slightly more contagious. According to a new study from Cornell University, every person infected with swine flu puts 1.5 other people at risk in the few days before they, themselves, experience symptoms. With seasonal flu, that number is about 1.3.

Part of the reason why H1N1 flu is more transmissible is that most people don’t have any immunity to it, unlike other seasonal flu strains, to which we may have previously been exposed.

2. Young, healthy people shouldn’t worry

Unlike seasonal flu, which has the most serious health effects in people older than 65, with H1N1 flu incidences so far, 75 percent of serious cases and 60 percent of deaths have occurred in people younger than 49, according to recent CDC data. But some experts believe that it’s not so much that young people are more vulnerable, it’s that older adults are less at risk. About one-third of adults over age 60 have some kind of pre-existing immunity to the H1N1 strain, according to CDC data. There were likely strains similar to the current H1N1 flu circulating when they were children.

Unless you have a chronic condition that’s shown to increase complications of H1N1 flu, such as pregnancy, asthma, diabetes or heart, kidney or liver disease, you’ll likely battle the flu and come out just fine, says Allison Aiello, PhD, assistant professor of epidemiology at the University of Michigan School of Public Health.

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