Swine flu raises fear of pandemic - Adults and Children

Nurses COVID

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Already hit Kansas DANGIT! Im glad they were already able to make a seed stock for this already though. Looks like we might be able to nip this in the butt.

I think it still takes months to complete the vaccine.

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I think it still takes months to complete the vaccine.

That is correct. CDC said that in their briefing yesterday that it would take months, and that it would be in limited supply.

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While I think its important to take precautions, I think most of this is being hyped up by the media.

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http://www.3news.co.nz/News/HealthNews/Auckland-students-being-tested-for-swine-flu/tabid/420/articleID/101256/cat/58/Default.aspx

The group of 22 senior students and three teachers arrived into New Zealand after spending three weeks in Mexico.

After some of the group presented symptoms of an influenza-like illness, the Auckland Regional Public Health Service (ARPHS) is conducting preliminary tests to determine the cause of the illness.

"We are taking this very seriously and doing everything necessary to manage this situation in Auckland," says ARPHS Clinical Director Dr Julia Peters. "The Ministry of Health is managing the response to this issue at a national level."

There have also been cases of the swine flu reported in New York, California and Kansas and a British Airways pilot has been hospitalised in London with flu symptoms after returning from Mexico.

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Specializes in Rural Health.

Just heard about it tonight when I heard there were 2 confirmed cases here in Kansas. One of those people had recently traveled to Mexico. The health dept. faxed us some info on it.

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Specializes in ER/Trauma.

You mean other than the ways I prepare for any other calamity? Natural or man-made?

I have a "bail out" kit at home and I also store a partial one in the trunk of my car.

NO, I don't live in a so-called "volatile zone" of the Earth...

... but calamities don't announce themselves prior to their arrival.

Survival has more to do with "attitude" than "equipment".

OR, as I like to say : "If everyone prepared for a 'disaster', it wouldn't BE a disaster".

:twocents:

cheers,

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Specializes in Med/Surg, Stepdown, ICU, Emergency Room.

So now we have a decent cluster in Mexico City, (plus I would only guess how many unreported cases in rural Mexico), 4 US states, Canada, and now a potential outbreak halfway around the globe in New Zealand.

Is the WHO just being trigger shy and is trying to avoid moving to phase 4? It seemed like the WHO was over every new case of human Avian Flu, but it seems to some like they are sitting on thier hands here. Could it be because the WHO has pointed to the Avian flu as the next carrier of doom, and we got sideswiped without warning by this thing? This whole situation is very interesting, is New Zealand just starting their flu season right about now since they are in the southern hemisphere?

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Specializes in Med/Surg, Stepdown, ICU, Emergency Room.

From the WHO:

Phase 4 is characterized by verified human-to-human transmission of an animal or human-animal influenza reassortant virus able to cause "community-level outbreaks." The ability to cause sustained disease outbreaks in a community marks a significant upwards shift in the risk for a pandemic. Any country that suspects or has verified such an event should urgently consult with WHO so that the situation can be jointly assessed and a decision made by the affected country if implementation of a rapid pandemic containment operation is warranted. Phase 4 indicates a significant increase in risk of a pandemic but does not necessarily mean that a pandemic is a forgone conclusion.

Phase 5 is characterized by human-to-human spread of the virus into at least two countries in one WHO region (Figure 4). While most countries will not be affected at this stage, the declaration of Phase 5 is a strong signal that a pandemic is imminent and that the time to finalize the organization, communication, and implementation of the planned mitigation measures is short.

It seems like we should be at least @ Phase 4

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This does not look good by the hour. Better start stocking on masks and food.

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10 Students in New Zealand Test Positive For H1N1 Swine Flu

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KUqMJiqBVE0

This video is saying that the New Zealand cases are positive for Swine Flu. They also say that they were quarantined early. That may be true, but of course, their fellow passengers were out and about...

Israel

http://www.emaxhealth.com/1/90/30639/first-swine-flu-suspected-case-reported-israel.html

Israel has a suspect case.

Lord help us if this hits Cairo or Jakarta. We do not need co-infections of H5N1 with Swine Flu.

While the influenza is generally on decline in Israel, the country's health minister reported the first suspected case of swine flu in Israel. The patient just returned from Mexico and displayed swine flu symptoms. He is now hospitalized and the authorities are trying to determine if the person really has a swine flu, reports Ynetnews..

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WHO Updates Their Pandemic Phase Description Page

http://afludiary.blogspot.com/2009/04/who-updates-their-pandemic-phase.html

While the WHO (World Health Organization) declined yesterday to change the world's current pandemic alert level (sitting at Phase 3) pending the receipt of more detailed information, they have made major changes to their pandemic phase page.

It would seem to this blogger, based on the press reports we've been seeing, that the outbreaks in Mexico meet this criteria. One has to wonder if this weekend's WHO webpage update isn't a prelude to some kind of announcement.

Yes, lots of us would agree that the WHO's definition has been met.

France

http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,21985,25388919-661,00.html

French health authorities have found two suspected cases of swine flu in travellers returning from Mexico.

Other cases are expected to follow, the top French health official said in an interview on Sunday.

"We do have suspicions, but these have not been confirmed, about two people who have returned from Mexico," general health director Didier Houssin told Le Parisien newspaper.

"There will certainly not be a lack of other cases in the coming days because there have been a lot of flights and boat trips" from Mexico, he added.

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The UK

http://uk.reuters.com/article/usTopNews/idUKTRE53P0M820090426

Tests on a British Airways cabin crew member taken to a London hospital suffering flu-like symptoms have shown he does not have swine flu which has killed up to 81 in Mexico, the hospital said on Sunday.

The man was taken to Northwick Park Hospital in Harrow, northwest London, on Saturday afternoon as a precautionary measure after his flight from Mexico City touched down at Heathrow.

Tests proved negative for the new type of swine flu.

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