Tag Archives: vaccine

Influenza

H3N2: Kills family in U.S., Hong Kong reports sudden jump in cases, big hit on old folks homes in U.K., Australia gets hit early

On March 1 and March 2, 2012, in the U.S. state of Maryland, three people died from H3N2 influenza.  They were members of the same family. Two other family members are recovering.

Calvert County Health officials say those who died did not get vaccinated.  Two of those who died also had complications due to MRSA. U.S. health officials say the flu season is off to a late start.

Health officials in Hong Kong are reporting a sudden jump in H3N2 cases.

At the end of January, 2012, they reported 196 total flu cases. At the end of February they reported 465 cases.  Now, for the end of March they have 579 new cases!  At least 50 people have died.

H3N2 is the dominate influenza in Hong Kong, accounting for 48% of all flu cases!  Health officials say it is similar to influenza A/Perth/16/2009, which is a sign that current vaccines should help prevent it.

Here are some tips from Hong Kong health officials: “Build up good body immunity by having a proper diet, regular exercise and adequate rest, reducing stress and avoiding smoking. Maintain good personal and environmental hygiene. Wash hands after sneezing, coughing or cleaning the nose. Maintain good indoor ventilation.  Avoid visiting crowded places with poor ventilation.”
Also: “Members of the public, particularly young children, elderly people and those with chronic diseases, should wear face masks [hopefully you won’t violate any Homeland Security rules] and consult their doctors promptly if they develop influenza-like symptoms.”

In the United Kingdom, old folks homes are getting hit hard.  In just one care center six people died within days of each other.  Officials are seeing a jump in H3N2 cases: “We have been getting outbreaks involving 20 to 30 people at a time. When this happens local health protection unit staff go into the homes and take swabs.”-Nick Phin, U.K.’s Health Protection Agency

The same official said flu deaths that occur in nursing homes are not required to be reported to the public: “…a mandatory scheme whereby anyone admitted to a hospital intensive care unit who dies from flu is reported to the Department of Health. But we don’t formally record flu deaths of people dying in care homes.”

In other words it could be worse than what has been reported!  The Health Protection Agency (HPA) is admitting that nursing homes have the highest cases of influenza A (which includes H3N2). Schools are the next hardest hit, with hospitals coming in third.

British health officials confirm what U.S. health officials are saying: “Flu has circulated late this season….The most common flu strain we are currently seeing circulate this season is H3N2, which can cause more severe illness particularly in older people….”

While some of us in the Northern Hemisphere are getting a late start to the flu season, Australia is reporting an early start.

Officials in New South Wales, Australia, are reporting that Australians returning from vacations in Europe and the United States are bringing H3N2 with them: “…people shouldn’t be complacent! We’ve had two confirmed cases in the Hunter from people who have been overseas.”-David Durrheim, Hunter New England Local Health District

Normally the flu season starts in April in the land Down Under.  Officials there are actually telling people with symptoms to stay away from hospitals, as well as nursing homes, schools and other crowded areas, in order to prevent spreading the virus.

 

 

 

Influenza

H1N1: Swine Flu spreading through India, local governments failing the public, oil rich North Dakota hit, death in Texas, Mexico more than 200 deaths

“There is a ‘sudden and sharp’ rise in the transmissibility of the swine flu virus this month. Usually, the virus transmission is not more than 1 or 2% during March. It is something unusual.”-A C Mishra, India’s National Institute of Virology

Indian health officials now reporting 211 cases from 5 states, and 16 deaths so far this year.

Some doctors say the virus is mutating fast: “…the virus itself has developed a new strain, which helps it to survive in warmer temperatures. While human beings develop immunity to the virus, the virus itself keeps transforming…”-Vijay Kumar Pawar, Aundh Civil Hospital

Some Indian states lack funding for health care, and as a result are actually ignoring cases of H1N1.

In the state of Ashok Gehlot the H1N1 death rate jumped from 5.87% in 2009-2010, to 27% for the 2011-2012 flu season!  Even though the state has finally set up facilities to monitor cases of H1N1, they have no vaccines available!

On March 19, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported 172 cases of H1N1 in the United States.

In the U.S. state of North Dakota, health officials say H1N1 has made itself known. Until two weeks ago flu cases were sporadic, now they are steady.

As of March 26, North Dakota has 365 influenza cases, four of which have been confirmed as H1N1.

“The good thing is the two viruses circulating most in the communities are in the vaccine. People that have been vaccinated would have protection against these viruses.”-Lindsey VanderBusch, North Dakota Health Department

In Corpus Cristi, Texas, a Nueces County woman died from H1N1, the first death since 2010.   She died on March 2, 2012.  She spent ten days in the hospital.  Apparently the information wasn’t made public until March 20.

In Mexico, health officials report 200 deaths from H1N1.  The Mexican state of Sonora reported its 6th death on March 14.  So far there are 274 H1N1 cases in Sonora, but that’s only 9th place compared to other Mexican states.

Guatemala is reporting 55 H1N1 cases, with four deaths.

Symptoms include sudden fever, running nose, sore throat, cough, problems in breathing, diarrhea or upset stomach, loss of appetite.  These are typical with many types of flu, however, if you have other health problems, or a weak immune system, you should see a doctor right away.

 

Influenza

H1N1: Swine flu killing people in India, affordable vaccine shortage, services forced to cut back on care due to lack of money

H1N1 is hitting one Indian city hard & fast, partly due to a shortage of vaccines.  In one week four people have died!  Five are in critical condition.

Pune officials had to destroy their stock of nasal spray vaccines because they had expired.  But there’s no shortage of other forms of more expensive H1N1 vaccines, just a shortage of cash to pay for them!

As of March 18, 2012, 58 people are confirmed infected with H1N1, with 15,000 people being tested for H1N1.  However, to cut costs officials have decided to restrict who gets tested for H1N1: “Only patients down with influenza like symptoms but having associated illnesses like diabetes, hypertension and other chronic illnesses as well as those falling in category A, irrespective of whether they have other co-morbid conditions or not, will be tested for swine flu infection.”-Pravin Shingare, Medical Education and Research (DMER)

On March 17, 2012, Mumbai state health officials called an emergency meeting.  They are trying to figure out the cause of such a sudden, and deadly outburst of H1N1.

So far they’re blaming lack of immunity caused by a new mutant strain of H1N1, and other medical conditions of the patient: “The last outbreak was reported over a year and half ago. The herd immunity people developed after that is on the decline hence people with compromised immunity due to pre-existing morbidities like diabetes, hypertension, cardiac illness, cancer etc are more susceptible.”-Pradeep Awate, state health surveillance officer

They also blame unusually cold weather for India: “The sudden cold wave in February following by the current transition period and difference in diurnal temperatures are favorable conditions for influenza infections like swine flu.”-Pradeep Awate, state health surveillance officer

Influenza

Pale Green Horse & H3N2: CDC says H3N2v Pandemic likely, potentially more virulent than H5N1, WHO says Vaccines must be changed

A U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention study says H3N2 swine flu virus is potentially more virulent than H5N1 bird flu.

Unlike the H5N1 flu, in which a U.S. taxpayer funded study showed that humans could manipulate the virus to make an even more deadly version, H3N2 does not need to be manipulated by humans.  The CDC study shows that Mother Earth is already mutating H3N2 rapidly and towards a more deadly version.

At the same time, the UN’s World Heath Organization has issued a warning, saying vaccines need to be adjusted for the rapidly changing H3N2 strains.

The WHO says the influenza A/H3N2 component, along with influenza B component, of vaccines should be changed.  Also, for the 2012-13 flu season, look out for H1N1 California, H3N2 Victoria and influenza B Wisconsin.

Back to the CDC.  The 2011-12 flu season started late, in fact the CDC says it’s the latest start to the U.S. flu season in the past 29 years!  The CDC warns that a late start does not mean it won’t be bad.

“While most indicators of seasonal flu activity are currently low, we expect them to increase in the coming weeks….In addition to starting late, flu season can also peak late. In fact, in the past 35 seasons we have seen peak activity….four times in March and two times in April….nor can we predict how severe the season will ultimately be.”-Joseph Bresee, CDC

I looked and there before me was a pale horse! Its rider was named Death, and Hades was following close behind him.  They were given power over a fourth of the earth to kill by sword, famine and plague, and by the wild beasts of the earth.

Influenza

China says Influenza B still preventable with flu shots

The UN’s World Health Organization recently said China was being hit with influenza B.  On February 8, officials with the Chinese National Influenza Center said their research shows the current flu B is still preventable with flu shots.

Officials said that the current B strain has not mutated to a drug resistant form. They also said that the number of cases in China are at “acceptable” levels.

Influenza B affects humans and seals, and is not in the same family as influenza A (which includes swine flu).

Business/Economics, International, Technology

UN warns of return of Bird Flu, Vaccines not working

“Wild birds may introduce the virus, but people’s actions in poultry production and marketing spread it.”–Juan Lubroth, UN Food and Agriculture Organization

The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) is warning of a new mutant strain of H5N1 (Bird Flu).  They say it’s spreading throughout southern China, and Vietnam.

Current vaccines do not work on this latest strain.

The UN is predicting the mutant H5N1 virus could spread to Cambodia, Thailand, Malaysia, Korean and Japan.  The last H5N1 outbreak peaked in 2006.