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Make a prediction on Will the A/H1N1 swine flu grow into a pandemic as feared?
Sunday, April 26, 2009
Will the swine flu grow into a pandemic?
In for a little gamble?
Make a prediction on Will the A/H1N1 swine flu grow into a pandemic as feared?
Reuters: WHO's war room in high gear after flu outbreaks
GENEVA (Reuters) - The Strategic Health Operations Center -- nicknamed the 'SHOC room' or war room' -- has kicked into high gear, staffed round-the-clock by experts fighting a new flu virus spreading in Mexico and the United States.
The World Health Organisation's nerve center for tracking epidemics and coordinating a response became fully operational on Thursday night as the first reports of multiple deaths emerged.
Reuters: WHO's war room in high gear after flu outbreaks
The World Health Organisation's nerve center for tracking epidemics and coordinating a response became fully operational on Thursday night as the first reports of multiple deaths emerged.
Reuters: WHO's war room in high gear after flu outbreaks
NY Times: As Nations Try to Contain Flu, N.Y. Cases Are Confirmed
HONG KONG — Officials around the world raced to contain an outbreak of swine flu as cases were confirmed in New York on Sunday and potential ones were reported from New Zealand to Hong Kong to Spain, raising concerns about the potential for a global pandemic.
NY Times: As Nations Try to Contain Flu, N.Y. Cases Are Confirmed
NY Times: As Nations Try to Contain Flu, N.Y. Cases Are Confirmed
NYC Health: Testing Confirms Swine Influenza at School in Queens
Tests conducted at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have confirmed cases of human swine flu among students at St. Francis Preparatory School in Queens. The school is suspending classes on Monday. The affected students have experienced only mild symptoms and many are already improving, but a similar virus has recently caused deaths in Mexico.
All of the U.S. patients have recovered fully. The Health Department’s surveillance system has not shown a citywide increase in flu-like illness. An investigation of a cluster of children with illness in a Bronx daycare facility has so far not identified any confirmed or probable cases.
Testing Confirms Swine Influenza at St. Francis Preparatory School in Queens
All of the U.S. patients have recovered fully. The Health Department’s surveillance system has not shown a citywide increase in flu-like illness. An investigation of a cluster of children with illness in a Bronx daycare facility has so far not identified any confirmed or probable cases.
Testing Confirms Swine Influenza at St. Francis Preparatory School in Queens
WHO | Current WHO phase of pandemic alert
In the 2009 revision of the phase descriptions, WHO has retained the use of a six-phased approach for easy incorporation of new recommendations and approaches into existing national preparedness and response plans. The grouping and description of pandemic phases have been revised to make them easier to understand, more precise, and based upon observable phenomena. Phases 1–3 correlate with preparedness, including capacity development and response planning activities, while Phases 4–6 clearly signal the need for response and mitigation efforts. Furthermore, periods after the first pandemic wave are elaborated to facilitate post pandemic recovery activities.
The current WHO phase of pandemic alert is 3.
WHO | Current WHO phase of pandemic alert
Contagion on a Small Planet - Dot Earth Blog - NYTimes.com
Andrew C. Revkin in his Dot Earth column:
"An urbanizing planet knitted by transportation is an extraordinarily welcoming world for infectious disease, particularly easily transmitted viruses like the flu. That’s why it wasn’t surprising Saturday when the World Health Organization concluded that the outbreaks of swine flu focused in central Mexico as well as a school in New York City and several other places around the United States officially constituted “a public health emergency of international concern.”"
NYTimes Dot Earth Blog: Contagion on a Small Planet
"An urbanizing planet knitted by transportation is an extraordinarily welcoming world for infectious disease, particularly easily transmitted viruses like the flu. That’s why it wasn’t surprising Saturday when the World Health Organization concluded that the outbreaks of swine flu focused in central Mexico as well as a school in New York City and several other places around the United States officially constituted “a public health emergency of international concern.”"
NYTimes Dot Earth Blog: Contagion on a Small Planet
AP: White House to detail govt response to swine flu
The White House plans a briefing Sunday afternoon to discuss swine flu and the government's response.
The officials who will discuss the situation include Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano and the acting director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Dr. Richard Besser.
The Associated Press: White House to detail govt response to swine flu:
The officials who will discuss the situation include Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano and the acting director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Dr. Richard Besser.
The White House briefing is set for 12:30 p.m. EDT.
The Associated Press: White House to detail govt response to swine flu:
Sveriges Radio International - No Mass Vaccination Against Swine Flu
Swedish health authorities have no immediate plans for special protective measures against swine flu. After an analysis of the latest reports from Mexico the Swedish Institute for Infectious Disease Control announced that at present there was no intention to launch mass vaccinations against the virus sickness. In a joint statement the disease control institute and the Civil Contingencies Agency said that there was no reason for panic or alarm. Swedish travelers who have recently visited Mexico were recommended to seek medical help in case of respiratory problems.
Sveriges Radio International - No Mass Vaccination Against Swine Flu
Los Angeles Times: Swine flu outbreak declared 'public health emergency'
Mexican pedestrians and motorists wait at the Ciudad Juarez crossing amid delays as U.S. authorities try to screen for possible swine flu cases. Health officials fear a global pandemic if the virus is found to transmit easily among humans. (Jesus Alcazar / EPA)
Reporting from Los Angeles and Mexico City -- International officials Saturday declared the swine flu outbreak in Mexico and the U.S. a 'public health emergency' as new cases were reported on both sides of the border and fears grew of a possible global epidemic.
The Mexican government indicated that the outbreak was more severe than originally acknowledged, announcing that more than 1,300 people are believed to have been infected. The virus, which the World Health Organization's top official said had 'pandemic potential,' is now suspected in the deaths of 81 Mexicans, Health Secretary Jose Angel Cordova said.
Los Angeles Times: Swine flu outbreak declared 'public health emergency
RIA Novosti - Russia - Russia sets up commission to prevent swine flu outbreak
MOSCOW, April 26 (RIA Novosti) - Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin has set up a government commission to prevent the spread of swine flu in the country, the government's press secretary said on Sunday.
The Russian government is taking preventive measures following an outbreak of swine flu in Mexico that killed dozens of people, Dmitry Peskov said.
RIA Novosti - Russia - Russia sets up commission to prevent swine flu outbreakA Disease A Day: In The News – All You Wanted To Know About Swine Flu (Influenza)
Normally, swine flu doesn’t infect humans. From December 2005 through February 2009, only 12 people were reported to be infected with swine flu. In most of these cases, these people had direct exposure to pigs. Since March 2009, though, the virus started spreading in humans in San Diego County and Imperial County, California, as well as in San Antonio, Texas and in Mexico. The total number of cases in the US alone in this month was 11 (the same number of humans infected in 4 years).
A Disease A Day: In The News – Swine Flu (Influenza) - All You Wanted To Know
Reuters: New Zealand pupils quarantined in swine flu scare
WELLINGTON (Reuters) - A group of New Zealand school pupils and teachers just returned from Mexico were quarantined on Sunday after showing flu-like symptoms.
Public health officials said some of a group of three teachers and 22 students from a secondary school in the country's biggest city, Auckland, had shown influenza-like symptoms a day after returning from three weeks in Mexico.
They were being confined to their homes while the results of tests were awaited.
New Zealand pupils quarantined in swine flu scare | Health | ReutersFP: Swine flu: Twitter's power to misinform
Who knew that swine flu could also infect Twitter? Yet this is what appears to have happened in the last 24 hours, with thousands of Twitter users turning to their favorite service to query each other about this nascent and potentially lethal threat as well as to share news and latest developments from Mexico, Texas, Kansas and New York (you can check most recent Twitter updates on the subject by searching for “swine flu” and “#swineflu”). And despite all the recent Twitter-enthusiasm about this platform's unique power to alert millions of people in decentralized and previously unavailable ways, there are quite a few reasons to be concerned about Twitter's role in facilitating an unnecessary global panic about swine flu.
Foreign Policy: Swine flu: Twitter's power to misinform | Net Effect
Swine Flu Outbreak: Perfect Case for Twitter | SEO Services
Swine flu proves a perfect case for widespread use of Twitter. Never before has there been a method by which important breaking news can spread with the velocity it is spread on Twitter. When I saw the stories of swine flu in the news, I tweeted about it, just as thousands of others did.
There has been a lot of misinformation on the topic of Swine Flu (H1N1), but the fact that Twitter has provided for such fast spread makes me wonder if Twitter can outspread the flu.
Swine Flu Outbreak: Perfect Case for Twitter | SEO ServicesH1N1 Swine Flu Timeline
Note from the creator: Okay, a few things - you will not see exact death/infected counts here. Almost every news site out there has completely different estimates, all over the place. The red text next to the date shows what that specific source has picked up (articles are weighed against other articles automatically on Google News and duplicates are removed) and the most important information, which is regexed out of the article texts. If you see any PDF sources, they should have automatically been converted to PNG or plaintext.
H1N1 Swine Flu Timeline
H1N1 Swine Flu Timeline
Daily News: NYC health officials: At least 8 Queens students likely have swine flu
Students sickened at a Queens school probably have the dreaded swine flu that has killed dozens in Mexico and is threatening to erupt into a global pandemic, officials said Saturday.
Health Commissioner Thomas Frieden said preliminary tests suggest the new bug raced through St. Francis Preparatory School in Fresh Meadows, where 200 students fell ill last week.
NYC health officials: At least 8 Queens students likely have swine flu; global pandemic fears growWashington Post: U.S. Slow to Learn of Mexico Flu
U.S. public health officials did not know about a growing outbreak of swine flu in Mexico until nearly a week after that country started invoking protective measures, and didn't learn that the deaths were caused by a rare strain of the influenza until after Canadian officials did.
The delayed communication occurred as epidemiologists in Southern California were investigating milder cases of the illness that turned out to be caused by the same strain of swine flu as the one in Mexico.
Washingtonpost.com: U.S. Slow to Learn of Mexico FluCenters for Disease Control and Prevention
The following information can help you provide safer care at home for sick persons during a flu pandemic.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Interim Guidance for Swine influenza A (H1N1): Taking Care of a Sick Person in Your Home
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Interim Guidance for Swine influenza A (H1N1): Taking Care of a Sick Person in Your Home
Fox News: The Most Powerful Virus Is Fear Not Flu
We hear about an unseen killer and we worry that we will be next. The best antidote for this kind of fear is the facts.
So let me take on the fear-laden terms. The first is pandemic. A pandemic means a new flu virus infecting people in several areas of the world at the same time. It can be mild, moderate, or severe. Everyone knows about the 1918 Blue Death that killed over 50 million people worldwide, but how many people realize that the last pandemic, in 1968, ameliorated by vaccines, antibiotics, and public health measures, killed only 32,000 in the U.S. and 700,000 worldwide, less than many yearly outbreaks.
The current swine flu outbreak is not a pandemic, as the outbreak is confined mainly to Mexico, but if it does become one, it is far more likely to be the 1968 variety because of modern public health measures and because we have been exposed to several parts of this virus before and have an immune memory to it.
FOXNews.com: Dr. Marc Siegel: The Most Powerful Virus Is Fear Not FluHuffington Post: WHO Chief: Swine Flu Has "Pandemic Potential"
MEXICO CITY — Mexico's president assumed new powers Saturday to isolate people infected with a deadly swine flu strain as authorities struggled to contain an outbreak that world health officials warned could become a global epidemic.
New cases of swine flu were confirmed in Kansas and California and suspected in New York City. But officials said they didn't know whether the New York cases were the strain that now has killed up to 81 people in Mexico and likely sickened 1,324 since April 13, according to figures updated late Saturday by Mexico's health secretary.
Huffington Post: WHO Chief: Swine Flu Has "Pandemic Potential"Globeandmail.com: Montrealers under quarantine don't have swine flu
MONTREAL — Quebec's health ministry and hospital officials confirmed Saturday that the province has no confirmed cases of the swine flu that has gripped Mexico.
But they refused to comment on media reports that a woman placed in quarantine subsequently tested negative for the flu virus.
Globeandmail.com: Montrealers under quarantine don't have swine flu: report
But they refused to comment on media reports that a woman placed in quarantine subsequently tested negative for the flu virus.
Globeandmail.com: Montrealers under quarantine don't have swine flu: report
Right Side News: Is the Swine Flu Outbreak a Bio-Terror Attack?
(...)
This new flu is likely a lab-created, genetically engineered virus that either: (1) Escaped accidentally from a lab; or (2) was deliberately released by a nation or non-state organization or a well-trained individual.
(...)
This event is an advanced biological warfare event. It is far more important than 9/11 and, by itself, could bring deaths in such magnitudes as to exceed the number of deaths from all causes in the Second World War.
Right Side News: Is the Swine Flu Outbreak a Bio-Terror Attack?
Newser: Tamiflu Useless Against Dominant Flu Strain
Newser.com reported in february '09 about the resistance of A/H1N1 to Tamiflu.
The dominant flu strain circulating in much of the US is nearly 100% resistant to Tamiflu, the most commonly used antiviral, the Los Angeles Times reports. Despite a milder than usual flu season, the resistance is still causing concern, and the CDC is advising doctors to substitute Tamiflu with Relenza, another antiviral, or mix it with an older one."
Newser: Tamiflu Useless Against Dominant Flu Strain
The Guardian: Swine flu symptoms similar to those of human flu
The symptoms of swine influenza in people are similar to the symptoms of regular human seasonal flu and include fever, fatigue, lack of appetite, coughing and sore throat. Some people have also reported vomiting and diarrhoea.
Testing has shown that the human swine influenza H1N1 can be treated with the antivirals oseltamavir (Tamiflu) and zanamivir (Relenza).
Swine flu symptoms similar to those of human flu | World news | guardian.co.uk
CNN: More cases of swine flu reported
(CNN) -- A potentially deadly new strain of the swine flu virus cropped up in more places in the United States and Mexico on Saturday, in what the World Health Organization called "a public health emergency of international concern.The most recent reports Saturday afternoon were of two confirmed cases of the virus in Kansas -- bringing the number of confirmed U.S. cases to 11.
REUTERS: Global flu epidemic fear grows
MEXICO CITY/GENEVA (Reuters) - A new flu that has killed up to 68 people in Mexico could start a global epidemic, the World Health Organization warned on Saturday, as tests showed the strain might be spreading in the United States.
Mexico's crowded capital, where most of the deaths happened and home to some 20 million people, hunkered down in fear of the swine flu.
REUTERS: Global flu epidemic fear grows, more U.S. cases
Mexico's crowded capital, where most of the deaths happened and home to some 20 million people, hunkered down in fear of the swine flu.
REUTERS: Global flu epidemic fear grows, more U.S. cases
WHO: FAQ about Swine influenza
The WHO published a Swine influenza frequently asked questions paper
I answers these questions:
• What is swine influenza?
• What are the implications for human health?
• Where have human cases occurred?
• How do people become infected?
• Is it safe to eat pork meet and products?
• What about the pandemic risk?
• Is there a human vaccine to protect swine influenza?
• What drugs are available for treatment?
It is available as PDF.
Swineflu_Qanda_20090425.PDF
I answers these questions:
• What is swine influenza?
• What are the implications for human health?
• Where have human cases occurred?
• How do people become infected?
• Is it safe to eat pork meet and products?
• What about the pandemic risk?
• Is there a human vaccine to protect swine influenza?
• What drugs are available for treatment?
It is available as PDF.
Swineflu_Qanda_20090425.PDF
REUTERS: WHO calls emergency meeting
GENEVA (Reuters) - The World Health Organization said on Friday it was calling an emergency committee to advise whether outbreaks of swine flu in humans in the United States and Mexico constituted an international public health threat.
WHO calls emergency meeting on swine flu | U.S. | Reuters
A Blog About Swine Influenza A H1N1
From Wikipedia:
The outbreak of a new strain of Swine Influenza A (H1N1), in late March 2009 infected many people in Mexico City, other regions of Mexico, and parts of the United States, causing severe illness and death in Mexico. By April, the World Health Organization (WHO) and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC) [7] have both expressed serious concerns that the novel strain, which apparently transmits from human to human and which to date has had a relatively high mortality rate in the possible and confirmed Mexican cases, has the potential to become a flu pandemic.
Train commuters in Mexico City wearing surgical masks in an attempt to protect themselves from the swine flu. Masks cannot filter viruses, but they can protect from aerosols and fingers that carry viruses.
The outbreak of a new strain of Swine Influenza A (H1N1), in late March 2009 infected many people in Mexico City, other regions of Mexico, and parts of the United States, causing severe illness and death in Mexico. By April, the World Health Organization (WHO) and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC) [7] have both expressed serious concerns that the novel strain, which apparently transmits from human to human and which to date has had a relatively high mortality rate in the possible and confirmed Mexican cases, has the potential to become a flu pandemic.
Outbreak
In March and April 2009, over 1000 cases of unusually virulent flu in humans were detected in Mexico and the southwestern United States, causing more than 60 deaths, mostly in Mexico City and central Mexico.[2] Some of these have been confirmed by the World Health Organization to be a never-before-seen strain of H1N1.[8][1] The story of the outbreak was broadcast live first in Mexico on April 23, 2009. A new swine flu strain has been confirmed in 16 of the deaths and at least 100 others are being tested as of April 24, 2009.[9] The Mexican fatalities are mainly young adults, a hallmark of pandemic flu.[10]
Mexican Health Minister José Ángel Córdoba on April 24, said "We’re dealing with a new flu virus that constitutes a respiratory epidemic that so far is controllable."[2]
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