Pandemic News/Awareness.

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I had to close the other panflu thread as it was way too long, and becoming unreadable. I am starting this one with info on the agenda of this meeting tomorrow in Congress. I am linking to Flutrackers because all of the info is right there and easily readable from this post: http://www.flutrackers.com/forum/showpost.php?p=61735&postcount=1

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Taiwan and Thailand working on their own vaccines:

http://afludiary.blogspot.com/2007/01/taiwan-and-thailand-working-on-their.html

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White Washing with the Flu - Effect Measure:

http://scienceblogs.com/effectmeasure/2007/01/whitewashing_with_the_flu.php#more

Anything around 1918 or greater will shut down many of our hospitals in a few weeks.

It`s not just PPEs, and understaffed,overworked HCW, either.

Where are the needed supplies going to come from? Little things like IVF, Lab Reagents, O2, food, linens, meds, etc.If they are overwhelmed, then the supply line stops.Our JIT economy will hasten the death of many patients, not just PI patients. Many of our meds are made offshore. Our last US Vit.C plant has closed. All our Vit C is now imported from China. Makes one wonder where things like insulin,BP meds, etc are made,doesn`t it ?

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Things will certainly be different if we are not prepared. Pharmaceuticals will be a hugh problem, and as would all manner of supplies.

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Many medications come from overseas, despite all the warnings about lack of oversight for foreign manufactured drugs. Costa Rica and Puerto Rico are two locations of significant manufacturing facilities, and much of the nation's insulin supply still comes from Denmark.

RR

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From the Egyptian headlines today via Avian Flu Diary:

http://afludiary.blogspot.com/2007/05/egypt-told-to-prepare-for-pandemic.html

You might get the impression that the Egyptians are concerned based on reading this article.

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Deleted duplicate post.

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Here is a series of essays on telling the public about using masks for protection from avian influenza. You know, just the fact that this advice is being issued should alert some of you to the fact that there is a real concern that something very serious could happen.

http://afludiary.blogspot.com/2007/05/cdc-issues-interim-mask-guidance.html

http://afludiary.blogspot.com/2007/05/if-you-want-guarantee-buy-craftsman.html

http://afludiary.blogspot.com/2007/05/cdc-press-conference-on-masks.html

The virus is learning, through trial and error and evolutionary pressures, to expand its host range. And that is less than comforting.

These subtle, though important changes, are why governments are taking the virus far more seriously today than they were two years ago.

Although the science is sporifice, anecdotal accounts in medical journals from the early 1900's give us clues that the 1918 Spanish Flu may have taken years to fulminate into a pandemic. There is evidence that it didn't erupt overnight.

The difference today is, we are watching the virus as it evolves, and have had a warning that those in 1918 simply never could have dreamed of. While we don't fully understand all of the changes we are seeing, we do know they are moving in an uncomfortable direction.

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a global warming can be a reality in a generation and a pandemic can be a reality in a year... we need to pull the old head out of the sand

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Specializes in cardiac, med-surg, some critical care.
a global warming can be a reality in a generation and a pandemic can be a reality in a year... we need to pull the old head out of the sand

Agreed. I think Indigo girl is doing a fantastic job keeping us informed on an almost daily basis. Now only if more of our profession would open there eyes and read! ;)

A very curious thing is happening at my facility........maintainance has hung hardware for privacy curatians in our hallways on the units???? They were told the space was for hall beds for pt. overflow from the ER. Hall beds were banned about 12-15 years ago by the fire department....as fire hazzards.

So what's different all of a sudden? And what about HIPPA?

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There is a big difference between what the CDC has just told the public

regarding mask protection and, what is not only recommended but

mandated by the WHO for HCW. Why the disconnect? If you need

protection, you need reliable information.

http://www.wpro.who.int/NR/rdonlyres/EA6D9DF3-688D-4316-91DF-5553E7B1DBCD/0/InfectionControlAIinhumansWHOInterimGuidelinesfor.pdf

(hat tip Theresa41/CE)

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Two videos on avian flu preparedness:

You should be aware that this second video which seems to be

saying that you should have Tamiflu on hand, does not mention

the latest information about the adverse effects in children, and

the suicides in Japan. Most of us will not be able to get Tamiflu

anyway. Doctors have been discouraged from writing scripts for

prophylaxis.

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A video on the new Google Earth Super Map:

I thought that the resolution could be better, and there may be

a way to adjust this.

http://researchnews.osu.edu/archive/flumap.mov

http://systbio.org/?q=node/184

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Bird Flu Resurfaces in Vietnam:

http://www.flutrackers.com/forum/showpost.php?p=79214&postcount=1

Nearly 200 ducks died at a private farm in the central province of Nghe An on Tuesday. Test results released by a government laboratory in the area show they were infected with the deadly H5N1 virus, said Nguyen Xuan Yem, director of Nghe An's animal health department.

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