22 January 2014 (18:32 UTC-07 Tango 21 January)/20 Rabi ‘al-Awwal 1435/02 Bahman 1392/22 Gui-Chou (12th month) 4711
Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada: A second person has died from H1N1. Health officials report that overall flu cases are well below last year’s numbers.
Ontario, Canada: A 16 months old infant in North Bay died from H1N1. 927 confirmed flu cases in the province.
European Union: The European Centre for Disease prevention and Control (ECDC) says influenza is now hitting Bulgaria, Greece, Portugal and Spain.
Germany reports only four confirmed influenza cases at this point (H3N2 & H1N1).
Across all of the European Union (EU) 62% of flu cases are H1N1, 38% are H3N2. Despite the common belief that flu is a cold weather bug, European health officials point out that the flu is migrating north as temps warm up. Influenza season in Europe actually begins in the much warmer Mediterranean countries.
In Cyprus, two people have checked into a privately run hospital with H1N1. Health officials told Cypriots not to worry as H1N1 is now part of the “…seasonal influenza which is circulating in other European Countries.”
The ECDC is also warning that there is not enough flu shots in the EU. Not because there is a shortage, but because EU members have failed to stockpile enough. Most EU members are only at 40%-60% of what is planned to be a mass influenza vaccination program in preparation for the 2014-15 flu season. Mmmm, why the concern for such a massive vaccination program?
The U.S. FEMA is also preparing for pandemic: “The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is seeking to augment its market research……..bio-medical waste collection and removal services during emergency response events…..Indefinite Delivery Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) contract with one or more contractor(s) for a base period of 1-year plus four twelve-month option periods.”
Florida, U.S.A.: State health officials say influenza is now at epidemic levels. H1N1 is the dominant version, and it’s hitting pregnant women and people in their 40s hardest. There are now an average of about 400 new cases per week in the Sunshine State. Officials admit many counties do not track influenza related deaths.
New York, U.S.A.: Madison County reporting their first H1N1 death.
Texas, U.S.A.: A doctor with the Heart Institute of East Texas, is now in a medically induced coma because of H1N1. His wife is also hospitalized, and suffered a heart attack because of H1N1. Their adult daughter said H1N1 hit her father hard and fast, and his own fellow doctors misdiagnosed the problem: “He was making his rounds and became nauseous. He went to the emergency room and they told him they thought he had an upper respiratory infection and sent him home with an antibiotic. My mom began to get sick the next day after caring for him.”-Rebecca Gill
Anti-biotics do nothing against flu viruses! They are for fighting bacteria only. Rebecca Gill says she is sick now, as well, and is asking for financial help.
Wisconsin, U.S.A.: Reports of 397 hospitalizations.