The Swine Flu Epidemic

[MedicRN]

http://blog.ksstorm.info/2009/05/h1n1-is-b...y-britches.html

H1N1 is a Bug in My ... (Britches)

I'm more than a little peeved that everyone pooh-poohed Isreali Jews and Muslims offended by the name "swine" flu on Monday, but now that US pork producers are worried that the TV ratings-induced hype is scaring people off the other white meat, we have to DO SOMETHING about it...

Never mind the fact that more people have died in the (pick any two days between Jan1 and April 1) from *regular* flu than have died worldwide so far from H1N1. Regular flu deaths so far this year in the US alone: 13,000. Typical flu deaths from the regular flu each year worldwide: 40,000. Total worldwide deaths from this stuff so far -- what, a couple hundred?

I'm more concerned about the winter flu season than now....there won't be a vaccine for it -- takes too long to develop one. And we won't have the benefit of the ratings period and the end of the first 100 days to have the media pay attention to it....not until a celebrity comes down with it, of course.....

Well said!!!

[tniuqs]

Well silly me, I left my crystal ball somewhere so I will be listetening to WHO and infectious disease control experts, not conjecture nor opinion from the peanut gallery.

WHY is because in 93 I developed a viral pnemonia and spent about 2 months recovering after 3 days on Bi Level support and very very close to kicking the bucket. SARS was 1 death in 100 (if I recall) and quite a few health care workers were complacent untill the full impact was clearly proven, too late for a few.

For those that are interested a global tracking model has been developed .. here is the link.

http://outbreaks.globalincidentmap.com/home.php

As for exactly who is upset from the name, Swine Flu, meh ... The pork industry has pressured govenment to have name changed to H1N1 Human Swine Flu as consuming the other white meat does not lead to infection, the jump from species IS disconcertingand human to human airborne... damn that pig kissing kid anyway !

http://www.phac-aspc.gc.ca/alert-alerte/swine_200904-eng.php

ah political correctness at its finest.

cheers

Edited May 1, 2009 by tniuqs

[tniuqs]

15. July 2009 04:29

Health authorities worldwide are preparing for what the World Health Organisation (WHO) has termed the 'unstoppable' spread of the new A/H1N1 virus (swine flu) for which Dr. Margaret Chan, Director-General of WHO, says a vaccine will not be available for several months to come. Health experts around the world have been surprised by the rapid spread of swine flu and many believe a more deadly form of the disease could yet appear.

A panel of WHO experts say in order to deal with the swine flu pandemic and lessen it's impact countries should adopt three different objectives as part of their pandemic vaccination strategy; protect the integrity of the health-care system and the country's critical infrastructure, reduce morbidity and mortality, and reduce transmission of the pandemic virus within communities. The WHO says countries should use a variety of vaccine deployment strategies to achieve these objectives but any strategy should reflect the country’s epidemiological situation, resources and ability to access vaccine, to implement vaccination campaigns in the targeted groups and to use other non-vaccine mitigation measures.

Experts say the severity of the pandemic is currently considered to be moderate with most patients experiencing uncomplicated, self-limited illness, but it's spread is unstoppable and all countries will need vaccines.

Dr. Chan says currently there is no vaccine and while one might be available in August, having a vaccine available is not the same as having a vaccine that has been proven safe and clinical trial data will not be ready for another two to three months.

The WHO says all countries should immunize their health-care workers as a first priority to protect the essential health infrastructure and then decide an order of priority based on specific conditions.

Some groups such as pregnant women and persons with asthma and other chronic conditions such as morbid obesity appear to be at increased risk for severe disease and death from infection and the WHO suggests that the following groups should be considered;

pregnant women,

those aged above 6 months with one of several chronic medical conditions,

healthy young adults of 15 to 49 years of age,

healthy children,

healthy adults of 50 to 64 years of age,

and healthy adults of 65 years of age and above.

As of yesterday, Australia has had 9,828 cases of swine flu including 20 deaths mostly in people with underlying health problems but a peak in swine flu infections is expected next month.

Australia's Chief Medical Officer Jim Bishop says the novel A/H1N1 virus had already placed many hospitals under pressure and is on track to match one of the worse bad flu seasons in 2007 and it is expected to peak next month.

Dr. Bishop says the expected spike in infection rates will have to be managed without the benefit of a vaccine, but once a vaccine becomes available, the entire population could potentially be immunised if one dose proved to be effective - if two doses were required, the government would prioritise the most needy and give the vaccine to 10.5 million Australians.

Dr. Bishop says the Australian population will be one of the first populations around the world where the vaccine is available.

An announcement is expected next week from Australian vaccine maker CSL signalling the start of its clinical trials but the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) will have to give it's approval before the vaccine can be deemed safe for use in the general public.