Tag Archives: virus

International, U.S.

Norovirus update, 05 February 2013: No one knows why it happens! 200% increase! Blame no paid sick leave! Hospital not the place to be!

05 February 2013

In Manteca, California, the Saint Jude Care Center was given the OK by health officials, after a nearly two week long norovirus outbreak.   County health officials said restrictions are still in effect in other care centers throughout the county: “We always have outbreaks in the county every year. I wouldn’t be at all surprised if we get reports this week or next month. It will be ongoing……It can happen anytime, but mostly in the winter. There’s no real explanation as to why.”-Ginger Wick, San Joaquin County Public Health Department

In Ontario, Canada, the Northumberland Hills Hospital has lifted visitation restrictions, now that they believe a recent norovirus outbreak is finished.

Officials with Barnes-Jewish Hospital in Saint Louis, Missouri, reporting a spike in stomach bug cases. They are seeing at least 15 new patients everyday.  Missouri media reporting that other hospitals have not given status reports on norovirus cases, as there is no regulation requiring them to do so.

For several weeks now schools in Arkansas are getting hit hard, with hundreds of students staying home sick every week.  Some schools have been forced to close.

Health officials in Maryland are warning that February and March are the peak months for norovirus infections in their state.  However they do not track cases, so there are no official numbers to report.

The vomiting bug continues to hammer Merry Olde England. Another hospital had to shut down several wards.  Maidstone Hospital in Kent is restricting visitors because of another outbreak.

04 February 2013

Again, in Merry Olde England, the Queen’s own hospital has been hit with vomiting bug. The Bristol Royal Infirmary has restricted visitation due to an outbreak.  It is one of four Bristol hospitals dealing with outbreaks.

03 February 2013

The new Medical Rescue Team South Authority in Whitehall, Pennsylvania, issued a warning: “Trending appears to show we are headed towards a 200% increase of symptoms similar to the norovirus for the first month of this year compared to last year.”-Jesse Siefert, paramedic

Health officials in Minnesota continue to warn that the new Sydney 2012 norovirus has arrived in the North Star State.

Reports out of Arkansas that people are going to work sick, because they do not have paid sick time, and can’t afford to miss work.

02 February 2013

Reports saying beds are filling up at the health center for Princeton University, New Jersey.

01 February 2013

Depending on which report you read, between 10 and 50 cases of norovirus were linked to a Concord, California, deli. The food shop was temporarily shut down after it catered an event where people started getting sick.  Local health officials blamed it on the employees.

Health officials in Missouri confirming the new norovirus has arrived: “We’ve had four confirmed norovirus outbreaks in varies health care settings around the county, and then we’ve had three of four other outbreaks in health care facilities where the signs and symptoms have been consistent with the norovirus, but from a laboratory standpoint we were not able to prove that.”-Richard Knaup, Saint Louis County Health Department

Ohio doctors say they’re preparing for increases in norovirus cases.  They say that since the first cases of norovirus were documented (back in 1968) that the trend has been as influenza cases slack off norovirus cases pick up.

Did you know the first norovirus case occurred in 1968 in Norwalk, Ohio. This is why it is sometimes called the Norwalk virus. However, the 1968 outbreak was not confirmed until 1972, when researchers were finally able to identify the cause. Ever since then, year after year, there are more and more cases, and stronger and stronger versions of the virus.

Check my previous postings about norovirus.

Influenza

U.S. Influenza update, 04 February 2013: Utah doctors calling it Super Infection! Dogs going down! Old people going down at record rates! Are you a Super Emitter?

On 04 February 2013, Utah doctors reported the death of a seemingly healthy 16 years old boy.  They say he died from a combination of flu and staph. The teenaged athlete got sick on 25 January and went down in a matter of a few days.

Utah doctors are warning of certain conditions that can create a super infection: “The people who have a compromised immune system and are taking some kind of medication or steroids, chronically, are certainly at greater risk from developing super infection from the flu.”-Douglas Dillon, Intermountain Medical Center

On 01 February 2013, North Dakota state health officials reported 55 new cases, and six more deaths.

Also on 01 February, the New Mexico Health Department reported 10 new deaths.

Minnesota reporting 112 deaths, 36 of those in the past week.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported 45 children have died so far.  The CDC tracks only the deaths of children when it comes to the flu. However, the CDC is also reporting record flu rates in old people (older than 65 years). Currently old people are dying at a rate of 116 per 100,000.  The previous record flu death rate was 90 old people per 100,000.

The California Department of Public Health is reporting 14 deaths.  Gary Green at Kaiser Permanente Medical Center in Santa Rosa, simply said “It’s getting worse.”

The Massachusetts Department of Public Health reported 18 deaths. They also reported 500 new cases since last week, which is a decrease from previous weeks.

In Texas, the Dallas County Health and Human Services reporting signs that flu season has peaked there.  The hospitalization rate is down 15% from the week before.  Back in mid January at least 5,500 grade school students in Dallas County were out sick.

In Oklahoma 17 people have died.  Doctors there are also dealing with an increase in another infection which seems to travel with influenza. It’s called respiratory syncytial virus (RSV).  I’ve mentioned it before.  One doctor said as many as 95% of people get RSV by the time they’re two years old, and it’s a recurring illness. It seems to coincide with the flu season, here’s some signs of RSV to help distinguish from influenza: High fever, severe cough, wheezing, having a hard time breathing, and bluish colored lips and finger nails.

In Colorado veterinarians are warning of canine influenza, mutated from horses.  Colorado and New York are the current hot zones for the new dog flu. Dogs have no defense because this is something new: “….is a relatively new virus affecting dogs. It was first identified in 2004 in Florida Greyhounds, and….proven to be a mutated horse virus……When dogs do get exposed to the disease about 80% of them will actually become ill, 20% become asymptomatic carriers.”-Wendy Huaser, vetrinarian

A study by Wake Forest School of Medicine, in North Carolina, revealed that some people are “super emitters” when it comes to spreading the disease. Researchers found that about 19% of infected people studied, emitted much more viruses when they coughed or sneezed, than other infected people. The study also challenges the current belief that flu viruses are spread in large airborne particles. They found much smaller particles as far as six feet from the infected person.

As I’ve been saying about flu vaccines; they’re too little too late, and now the Boston Globe agrees. In a complicated way, using the example of an 1898 study, they explained that the Influenza viruses mutate, or evolve, so fast that each year’s new vaccines are already outdated. Of course, being a mainstreamer they still push for you to get your shots.

Influenza

Japan Influenza Epidemic! New strain attacking children by the thousands! Vitamin D3 better than a flu vaccine?

01 February 2013, the Japanese National Institute of Infectious Diseases is estimating that 2.1 million people are infected with the flu in Japan!

Health officials are basing their claim on reports coming from local hospitals.   740,000 more cases than last week!  It’s the highest estimated number of flu cases in Japan since flu cases began to be officially monitored four years ago!

Last week it was reported that so many children were sick that 2,000 schools were closed! Health officials report that the new strain of flu is going after children first, then going after their parents.

Also out of Japan, researchers studying the effects of flu vaccines discovered that vitamin D3 is at least as effective at preventing flu A infections than the much touted vaccines!  The study was conducted several years ago by the Jikei University School of Medicine Minato-ku in Tokyo. It was published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition in 2010: “This study suggests that vitamin D3 supplementation during the winter may reduce the incidence of influenza A…”

Influenza

U.S. Influenza update, 25 January 2013: All 50 states affected, epidemic levels! 37 children dead! No paid sick leave? Insurance companies crying in their beer? More proof the vaccine is a joke!

25 January 2013, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reporting flu cases in all 50 U.S. states, and at least 37 children have died.  Remember, what the CDC reports is delayed as they have to wait for state officials to report in, and state officials have to wait for local health reports.

CDC also reporting that the percentage of deaths has exceeded official epidemic levels.  Last week it was 9.8%, the CDC’s official epidemic level is 7.3%.  The CDC does not track the number of adults who die, but compares the percentage of flu related deaths to other causes of death.

40 people have died in Indiana, 13 this past week.

In the Gem State of Idaho, 15 people have died since the start of the official flu season on 01 October 2012.  Two of those people who died were not residents of Idaho.

The Washington Health Department reporting increasing flu deaths: “We’ve had 17 laboratory confirmed deaths in Washington this season and 15 of them were 70 and older.”-Donn Moyer, Health Department.

So Far 11,000 people in Massachusetts tested positive for flu, 20 have died. Yet, health officials claim the flu has peaked, then again maybe not as hospitals in Boston are still seeing hundreds of flu patients per day:  “It does seem to have peaked here, but there are still a lot of sick people out there. Far more than last year, probably more than we’ve seen since H1N1.”-Jim Heffernan, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center

17 people have died in Connecticut.

In California, San Diego County continues to see people die from flu. Eight deaths last week brings the total to 14.  Interestingly state health officials are still not including San Diego County deaths in their state count, which currently stands at five!?

Schools in Tennessee closed down. The Obion County School System has closed for the second time this flu season. One day there were as many as 541 students out sick.

Oklahoma health officials reporting a doubling of deaths in the past week. 14 people are now dead. Several grade schools were closed.

Arkansas reporting 19 deaths.

The Pennsylvania Department of Health reports a 27% increase in cases last week.  Local drug stores are reporting shortages of flu vaccines and Tamiflu.  At least 40 people have died.

State health officials in New Jersey have linked the deaths of four children to the flu. Hackensack University Medical Center closed their ER because they were swamped with flu patients!  Health officials say the H3N2 flu strain is worse this year because people infected with it are developing pneumonia much more easily.  There are also reports that hospitals are having a hard time getting a hold of Tamiflu.

Data out of New York shows 20,000 people sick, more than 5,348 hospitalized.  Quinnipiac University announced that any student sick with flu will be banned from school,  unless their homes are more than 200 miles from school, then they’ll be quarantined in empty apartments in the Complex residence hall! In the City of New York workers who do not get paid sick leave held a rally to bring attention to the elites that they can not afford to take off work because they’re sick.  This after the elitist mayor of New York City declared a health emergency.

According to the Community Service Society, more than 1 million people in New York City work jobs that do not have paid sick leave!

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 43% of workers in the United States have no health coverage!

Even with that fact, the three biggest insurers in the U.S., UnitedHealth Group, WellPoint, and Aetna, are already complaining about how much they’ve paid out to doctors and hospitals.  They claim they’ve paid out $1 million USD more than last year, and the flu season is only half way done.

Despite reports of flu vaccine shortages, the number of people getting flu shots is no different than last year. For the 2011-12 flu season 47.6% of the population got flu shots, and according to the CDC it looks like it will be close to the same for the 2012-13 flu season.

Now how about that flu shot?  As I’ve tried to point out before, each year’s vaccines are short and behind the times: “These experts at the CDC say, OK, I think it’s going to be strains one, two and three this year, so that’s what we’re going to make the vaccine protect people against. But it’s a guessing game; so if it’s one, two and five and you get the vaccine, you’re not protected against three and five.”-Brian MacDonald, University at Buffalo microbiology and immunology department

In fact, there is a growing number of medical staff refusing to get the flu shot!  One hospital (Montefiore Medical Center) in New York City reported that 50% of their staff have refused to take the vaccine!

Medical researchers are not only using Google to predict the severity of influenza, but now they’re using Twitter. Researchers at Johns Hopkins University are tracking how many Twitter messages are from people complaining about being sick.

 

International, U.S.

Norovirus Update, 20 January 2013: Hybrid Pandemic! Blame those so called environmentaly friendly reusable shopping bags! Hand sanitizers do not work!

“This virus is just unbelievably contagious.”-Paul Cieslak, Oregon Public Health Division

Health officials in Oregon are reporting a spike in norovirus cases in the past two weeks.  Also, an outbreak that hit a girl’s soccer team has been linked to those so called environmentally friendly reusable shopping bags. It happened in 2010.  Last year researchers were finally able to make the link.  The first victim of the virus actually made an attempt to stay away from the other players, but seven others still got sick.  The common link was a reusable shopping bag containing food that all eight shared.  The bag-o-food was left in the bathroom, for some unintelligent reason.  The researchers speculate that the first girl vomited in the bathroom where the reusable food bag was.  With the norovirus just being in the same area of someone throwing up can get you sick, or contaminate your food.

The Sydney 2012 hybird of the Genotype II.4 strain of norovirus is spreading fast in France, New Zealand, Japan, and the United States.  Ian Goodfellow at the University of Cambridge says Sydney 2012 is “the Ferrari of the virus world” and “one of the most infectious viruses of man.”

Genotype II.4 is known as a type of norovirus that causes epidemics and pandemics. Sydney 2012 is something new, it’s a hybrid between Japanese and  Dutch Genotype II.4 strains.  Aussie and Kiwi Researchers say the two 2007 strains combined to make the Sydney 2012 strain (it was first noticed in Australia in 2012).  There have been several norovirus pandemics: 1996-97, 2002, 2004, 2006 and 2009.

Cases of norovirus, influenza and whooping cough are all on the rise, and some are thinking there’s a connection.  Health officials in the U.S. state (Utah) now considered the launch point for Sydney 2012, say there’s no connection: “As far as we know, they’re completely coincidental and separate.”-Andy Pavia, University of Utah

In California yet another school was hit with the stomach bug.  A week ago there were ten outbreaks reported in Contra Costa County, one of them at the Lafayette elementary school. More than 100 students were sick. But this seems common for schools in Contra Costa County, in the first two months of 2012 at least 30 schools were hit.  If you didn’t hear about it last year it’s because schools are not required to make public such outbreaks!

I recently saw a report out of the U.S. midwest where hospital staff told the reporter they’re being ordered to use lots of “purell” (an alcohol based hand sanitizer). However, Contra Costa Public Health officials in California are saying alcohol based hand cleaners have no effect on norovirus!  (click here to see  study)

Also in California, Marin County Public Health officials gave a nursing home a clean bill of health after an outbreak sickened 78 people.  Six people were hospitalized, and two died.  The nursing home will no longer use a self serve buffet style eating facility, staff must now serve each person their meals while wearing gloves and hats.

In Hawaii, a week and a half ago health officials reported a sudden outbreak of norovirus at several hospitals. They were surprised by how fast it spread. So far no common link has been found, and officials hope it’s over.

In Merry Olde England, health officials are telling sick people to stay away from the hospital!  The United Kingdom‘s Health Protection Agency (HPA) is telling people to phone their doctor or clinic first if they think they’re sick.  Telling people to stay away from the hospital might have helped reduce hospital outbreaks, but, the HPA is also reporting that overall cases of vomiting bug are 56% higher when compared to the same time last year.

Also, norovirus is still alive and well in British hospitals. The Solihull Hospital was recently closed to visitors, and two wards were locked down: “Wards 15 and 19 at Solihull Hospital are currently on lock down due to norovirus.  As there are also many cases of norovirus outside the hospital in the community; Solihull Hospital has closed all wards to visitors except for the outpatients department and intensive care as a precautionary measure to protect patients. Any patients attending an outpatient appointment should not attend if they have experienced vomiting and diarrhoea symptoms two days prior to their appointment.”-hospital statement

A cruise ship company has settled a lawsuit from a woman in Scotland. She got sick with norovirus on a cruise four years ago, and is still suffering symptoms!

Health officials in France report that the number of people sick with norovirus has passed the epidemic level.

In Delaware, the Division of Public Health reports the first cases, and that there have been several outbreaks.

Here’s more proof that cleanliness does not protect you from viruses, and hospitals are the worst place to be: “They can survive freezing and heating and cleaning with many chemical disinfectants. In 2010, scientists surveyed a hospital for noroviruses and found 21 different types sitting on a single countertop. It takes fewer than 20 noroviruses slipping into a person’s mouth to start a new infection.”–Carl Zimmer, science writer National Geographic

Norovirus is also known as Norwalk virus, calicivirus, viral gastroenteritis and many other names and strains: “Symptoms of norovirus infection include diarrhea, vomiting, nausea and stomach cramping. Noroviruses are a group of related viruses that affect the stomach and intestines and are the most common cause of stomach and intestinal inflammation, also known as gastroenteritis, in the U.S.”-David Young, South Carolina Department of Health and Environment Control

Most people are sick with symptoms for 24 to 48 hours.  However, even if you feel better you can still pass it along for almost a week afterwards.  If you’re sick with symptoms for more than 48 hours get medical help.

That said, there is no treatment for norovirus (basically the hospital tries to keep you hydrated), no vaccine, and your body does not develop immunity so you can get sick again and again and again….

Check my previous postings about norovirus.  You’ll notice most outbreaks involve hospitals.  You’ll also read about a recent study that says cleanliness might not have any affect on viruses (it’s actually one of the first studies ever to investigate such claims).

Influenza

U.S. Influenza update, 18 January 2013: Outbreaks spike! Dozens more deaths! Reporting procedures fallible, possibly more deaths than what’s being reported by state & federal officials! More proof vaccines don’t work; U.S. & Canada only countries to push for it!

“If the vaccine does not prove to be effective the way it is professed to perform, then maybe the risk of the getting the flu shot is not worth the non-existent benefit of the vaccine.”-Peter Hanson, Everett, Washington doctor

On 17 January 2013, Minnesota state health officials reported 60 deaths, 33 in just the past week!  They also report a spike in hospitalizations and outbreaks in schools and nursing homes. There are now 107 nursing homes and 90 public schools reporting outbreaks.  Nearly 2,000 people are hospitalized with flu symptoms.  This at a time when the flu season was supposed to be past its peak in the North Star State.

Pennsylvania reporting 40 deaths (18 just in the past week) and at least 16,511 lab confirmed cases (5,000 in just the past week).  Health officials in Allegheny County are also reporting an increase in Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) cases.  The Geisinger Health System is banning visitors younger than 12 years of age from their hospitals.

The governor of Indiana got a flu shot.  He demanded progress reports on flu cases in the Hoosier State. 27 people have died.

New Hampshire reporting 20 deaths so far.

In Massachusetts 18 people have died.  Hospitals report a 40% increase in cases in the past week.  A vaccine shortage resulted in the cancellation of a flu clinic at Gloucester’s Addison Gilbert Hospital. But read what the Bay State governor had to say about vaccine shortages: “This is serious. There is a heightened level of flu activity across the state. But we’re prepared. There is no shortage of vaccine.”-Deval Patrick on 10 January 2013

In Maine, the Pine Tree State’s Center for Disease Control and Prevention reported a quadrupling of cases, and the death of a six years old girl.  The Maine CDC is also warning of a surge in flu cases in the next few weeks.

In Alabama, hospitals are getting tough on visitations. The East Alabama Medical Center said beginning today visitation to the newborn, pediatrics and intensive care units will be restricted. Also, Mobile County Health Department reported the death of a 34 years old man.

After blowing off the severity of this year’s flu season, Idaho health officials are now saying it’s worse than expected. Nine people have died so far (funny, I was watching a local east Idaho noon TV news show earlier this week, and I swore the anchorwoman said there hadn’t been any deaths. guess she’s not reading my postings).  The Troy School District had so many students and teachers out sick that they canceled school on 16 January 2013.  The Gem State’s deputy state epidemiologist, Leslie Tengelsen, admitted there is a lack of standardized reporting procedures: “Influenza is not an officially reportable condition, and so it’s a little tricky to try and get a handle on what’s going on out there.”

Last week Michigan reported four children died.  There are 338 confirmed flu cases.

North Carolina reports decrease in cases, but upticks in deaths.  Nine people died last week.

Health officials in Kansas are saying this year’s influenza is not the same as usual. Doctors are reporting that not only is the flu season earlier, but the symptoms are more severe. Also, there is an increase in flu like illnesses as well.

School officials in Connecticut are reporting an increase in student and teacher absences, because of the flu. Some schools are reporting a 32% increase in absences compared to the same time during the 2011-12 flu season.

A doctor in Maryland warned of more cases to come: “We’re going to have a fairly rough winter because I am anticipating more and more positive cases and more and more people getting sick.”-Alexander Samohin, Concentra Urgent Care

Alaska reporting a spike in cases. Officials say a few weeks ago hospitals were seeing an average of ten cases per week, it’s now averaging 40.  And forget about washing your hands, remember flu is an airborne disease: “This is the season in terms of the winter weather in terms of people sharing tighter quarters in the winter and breathing the same air…”-Brian Yablon, Department of Health and Social Services

California state health officials reporting the number of deaths at five, however that does not include the six deaths reported by San Diego County, nor the death recently reported by Santa Clara County.  A San Francisco Chronicle report pointed out that state officials are not including the County reported deaths in their official count. The article pointed out that because of the lag time in local officials reporting to state, then state to federal, the official state and federal counts could be way behind.  Golden State health officials say their flu season won’t peak until February.

Despite most state and federal officials saying there is no shortage of vaccine, Oklahoma is singing a different tune. The Cleveland County Health Department reporting that they’ve run out of adult vaccines. 500 people are hospitalized, more than 100 in just the past week.

 

Vaccine Hyperbole:

According to a CNN report, the United States and Canada are the only countries in the whole world that pushes flu vaccinations. Even the UN’s World Health Organization says there is no data proving that flu vaccines work (as I’ve reported many times)!

The CNN report showed that some influential U.S. health officials admitted that the policy to push everyone over six months of age to get the flu shot was nothing more than an attempt to simplify the process: “…in 2010, we said, ‘Let’s simplify this and recommended this vaccine for anyone over 6 months old.'”-William Schaffner, Vanderbilt University

For more proof of the vaccine BS, despite all the main stream media’s propaganda saying how great this year’s flu shots are, Bloomberg reports that there is a scramble to make a new vaccine.  They’re calling it the “…Broadest Vaccine Redesign Since 1981”.  If this year’s vaccine is so good, why the push to revamp it?  The problem, as I’ve written before, is that each year’s flu shots are based on the previous years flu infections.  Virus are not static, they mutate every year as a result of passing through so many of we hosts.  Also, current flu shots cover only three of last year’s flu strains.  New shots are reported to cover four strains.  That still doesn’t cover all of them, and again, it’s only the previous year’s flu strains.

Something else the main stream media doesn’t report, is that many people are allergic to vaccines!  Current vaccines use chicken eggs, and some people are allergic to eggs.  The Food and Drug Administration has just approved a new way of making vaccines that uses insects instead of chicken eggs.  Here’s something else you should know; both the eggs and the insect cells are used to grow flu viruses, which are then injected into you when you get the vaccine.

A New York Daily News report says that a growing number of chiropractors are telling people not to get a flu vaccine. A survey of licensed chiropractors reveals that most are against the use of vaccines: “Since the scientific community acknowledges that the use of vaccines is not without risk, the American Chiropractic Association supports each individual’s right to freedom of choice in his/her own health care based on an informed awareness of the benefits and possible adverse effects of vaccination. The ACA is supportive of a conscience clause or waiver in compulsory vaccination laws thereby maintaining an individual’s right to freedom of choice in health care matters and providing an alternative elective course of action regarding vaccination.”

Despite international criticism of the U.S. policy of flu vaccinations many hospital workers, in some states, have been put on leave, or even lost their jobs because they refuse to get vaccinated.  A former hospital worker in Ohio is now suing her former employer. She was fired for refusing to take the flu vaccine.

Idaho, Influenza

U.S. Influenza, 09 January 2013: Emergency declared! Supporter of vaccines admits they don’t work! What Economic Recovery, unAmerican Coporate America blaming lost billions on sickies?

“…I have to tell you that I’ve now been in two large city emergency departments in two days, and I’ve never seen anything like this in the United States”-Nancy Snyderman, medical reporter NBC Nightly News

On 09 January 2013, the mayor of Boston, Massachusetts, declared a public health emergency, because of influenza.  The Bay State reported 18 recent deaths, four in Boston (those 18 deaths are not the 18 pediatric deaths being reported by the CDC). During the 2010-11 flu season only one Bostonian died.

Florida reporting fast spreading flu. Of the 18 recent child deaths countrywide, two were in Florida. On 02 January 2012, the Memorial Hospital Pembroke Urgent Care Center recorded its busiest day ever:  “We had close to 200 patients during the day, which we’ve never had before.”-Roy Dubash, family medicine physician

Idaho has seen eight people die so far, and was one of the first states to report deaths caused by flu like illness. However, Gem State health officials don’t think it a big thing: “Average flu season we might have 12 flu deaths, last year was really mild we only had five.”-Dave Fotsch, Central District Health Department

Utah reports surge in flu cases. Beehive State health officials say the number of cases has already surpassed last year’s case load, for the same time period.  So far 233 people have been hospitalized.

Reports out of California say at least five people have died.  Golden State health officials are expecting a jump in flu cases.

In Wisconsin, Milwaukee county hospitals are being jammed with patients.  As many as eight of the county’s 11 hospitals are reporting temporary shut downs of their emergency rooms due to overcrowding. One doctor said they might have to start rationing Tamiflu: “If this is a prolonged epidemic that goes on for another week or so, Tamiflu may need to go only to the high risk.”-Paul A. Biedrzycki, Milwaukee Health Department

On 07 January 2013, 11 Illinois hospitals had to refuse anymore emergency room patients because of overcrowding.

The Rainbow Babies & Children’s Hospital in Cleveland, Ohio, is reporting much higher pediatric cases than last year.  For October 2011 to January 2012 they had 12 cases, so far this year they’ve seen 93 kids sick with flu.

Many mainstream media outlets, and health officials are pushing flu vaccines.  But, one such health official admitted vaccines don’t work for the people most vulnerable to getting sick. William Schaffner, chairman of the Department of Preventive Medicine at Vanderbuilt University, was interviewed on 09 January 2013 edition of PBS NewsHour.  He said vaccines work well in people who have strong, healthy immune systems.  He admitted vaccines do not work well on the people doctors hope to keep from getting sick; the young and the old! Shaffner then went on to tell people to get vaccinated.

“It works best in young, healthy people who have a robust immune system, but, paradoxically, in the people who we would like to protect the most, senior citizens, people with severe underlying immunological illnesses, it’s not quite as effective.”-William Schaffner, 09 January 2013 PBS NewsHour interview

Think about this, he’s telling us that vaccines work, but this is based on the admitted fact that it seems that only people already healthy and strong benefit from vaccines.  How do we know it’s not because those people are healthy and strong to begin with?

UnAmerican Corporate America is blaming projected billions of U.S. dollar loses on flu sickies.  Actually, that claim is coming paradoxically from the U.S. CDC.  The CDC is projecting that companies will lose $10.4 billion due to employees being out sick.  It’s a paradox because health officials always tell you to stay home from school or work if you’re sick, yet here they are whining about all the lost money for unAmerican Corporate America! And you wounder why so many people go to work sick?

Sure, health officials think by projecting the huge money loses caused by employees getting sick that employers would encourage their employees to stay home sick in order to prevent spreading the disease, but that’s not the reality of what happens.  Stupid is as stupid does, maybe the answer is a true socialized health care system, not this Obama/RomneyCare crap!

The search program Google has been predicting U.S. flu outbreaks based on searches for info on the flu.  It’s been so accurate that it’s now working with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).  Click here for more info.  It’s predicting this year is gonna be bad.

Influenza

U.S. Influenza, 01 January 2013: Already record season in some states! Children targeted! Utah reports flu not covered by vaccines!

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reporting 16 deaths of children the week ending 22 December 2012.  H3N2 (a type of flu A) is the main flu strain, with flu B in second place.

01 January 2013, California reporting two people dead of flu.  One person died from flu B.

Missouri officials reporting a spike in flu cases.   Between September and the end of December 2012, 8,000 cases!!!  55% of cases are children between the ages of two and 14.

Massachusetts (the land of Romney Care) reporting ten times the ‘normal’ amount of flu cases.  3,736 confirmed flu cases now, compared to just 126 for the same time in 2011!

Ohio health officials report a jump in flu related hospitalizations. 863 people have already been hospitalized, compared to only 65 during the same time in 2011.

Florida is reporting record numbers of sick people in the central part of the Sunshine State.  637 confirmed cases of influenza during xmas week.  450 confirmed cases the week before that.  The flu is affecting economic activity: “I run a small landscaping company. I’ve had two guys out for a week, and it keeps spreading like wildfire.”-Nathan Bassett

Minnesota officials are predicting their worst flu season in years. Some hospitals are near capacity, with about 25% of emergency room cases being flu related: “We’ve seen big spikes in demand at our emergency rooms and our urgent cares with influenza and influenza-like illness, and a lot of patients who have been hospitalized with it as well, particularly in our community hospitals.”-Brent Asplin, Fairview Medical Group

Texas, still reeling from West Nile, reporting packed emergency rooms: “It’s been very busy. Flu season is definitely here.”-Neal Talbott, Texas Health Harris Methodist Hospital

Talbott admitted that getting the vaccine will not prevent you from getting sick: “Most people, if they get the flu, if they get the flu shot, it will be less severe.”

Indiana health officials have fired eight hospital staff for refusing to take the influenza vaccination, despite increasing reports saying the vaccines don’t work.

Utah officials are reporting that a few influenza hospitalizations are caused by a type of flu not covered by current vaccines.  Officials say things are too unpredictable:   “We could see and probably will see more cases of influenza occurring, but we have no way of predicting how severe it will be.”-Rebecca Ward, Utah Department of Health

South Dakota reporting 355 cases so far.  Compare that to only five cases for the same time in 2011!  Health officials in the Mount Rushmore State doubt the effectiveness of vaccines, or claims of a new flu, it’s a mystery: “We don’t have a new virus circulating, we don’t have lower immunization rates. We don’t have anything really that we can put our hand on.”-Lon Kightlinger, South Dakota Department of Health

In Nebraska, a confirmed case of flu A has been found in an 11 months old baby.   Health officials reporting an almost equal number of flu A and flu B cases.

As of 22 December 2012, CDC reports Widespread influenza activity: Alaska, Arkansas, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Mississippi, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Texas, Utah, Virginia, West Virginia, Wisconsin and Wyoming.

Regional influenza activity: Alabama, Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Kansas, Michigan, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Mexico, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Tennessee, and Washington.

Local influenza activity: District of Columbia (Washington DC), Delaware, Oregon and Vermont.

Sporadic influenza activity: California and Hawaii.

 

U.S.

U.S. West Nile virus update, 30 December 2012: Resurgence & warning for 2013? Blood donors with no symptoms are carriers! Virus also killing off game birds! Record high average temps being blamed! New version already detected!

“People should be concerned because we found so much more of the virus this year.”-Karen Tobin, Erie County West Nile virus coordinator

Health officials in Erie County, Pennsylvania, are warning that 2013 could be another big year for West Nile virus.

Erie County did not have as many human cases of the virus, as the rest of the Keystone State, but they had a relatively higher percentage of infected mosquitoes: “We didn’t trap as many mosquitoes as we usually do, but a high percentage of the ones we caught had West Nile.”-Jeff Bresslin, Erie County Department of Health

Officials blame it on the weather: “The mild winter enabled many of the mosquitoes to survive through spring.”-Karen Tobin, Erie County West Nile virus coordinator

In South Carolina, officials are also blaming the weather, saying 2012 was a record year for average daily high temperatures. For 2012 the city of Columbia had an average daily high of 67 degrees Fahrenheit (19.4 Celsius).  Normally The Capital of Southern Hospitality, in the Palmetto State, is around 66 degrees for the average.  The National Weather Service has been keeping temp records there since 1887.

Despite stating that they won’t make another West Nile report until Spring 2013, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is already predicting 2012 to be a banner year, but they don’t know why:  “It is not clear why we are seeing more activity than in recent years.”-Marc Fischer, CDC

One CDC official said each state could have its own reasons for West Nile outbreaks: “….the ecology in the United States is extremely varied, so a factor that may affect an outbreak in Colorado may be different than a factor that causes an outbreak in Louisiana. The conditions in an urban area may be different than a suburban area.”-Lyle Peterson, CDC

PLOS Biology reported yet another study that blames lack of bio-diversity for causing all the outbreaks of tropical diseases: “The general logic is that the more organisms you have out there, the more things there are that can interrupt the life cycle of disease, and the less concentration you’ll have of any vector.”-Matthew Bonds, Harvard Medical School, from interview with National Public Radio (NPR)

CDC officials are predicting that by the time the numbers are crunched 2012 will have the most human cases since the Gregorian year of 2004.  More than 80% of cases took place in Texas, Oklahoma, and Mississippi.

In Texas, health officials are hesitant to say the West Nile season is over, they blame the weather: “We’re telling people if you’re going to be outside and the weather is 55 degrees or higher, you should think about using a mosquito repellent. I don’t want to be blamed if someone gets infected after we announce the end of the season and they stop taking precautions.”-Wendy Chung, Dallas County Health and Human Services

Texas are still getting infected with West Nile, even though it’s Winter.  Health officials say a big concern is blood donors:   “….we also started seeing infections among blood donors who had no symptoms. That’s when we started getting worried.”-Wendy Chung, Dallas County Health and Human Services

In Nevada, a Las Vegas woman was diagnosed with West Nile in December.  Her infection is not considered serious.  The Southern Nevada Health District says that despite cooler weather they are still finding infected mosquitoes.

A California woman has died since the beginning of December. She’s the first West Nile death for Orange County.  During the week of xmas, health officials reported six new human cases, for a total of 459.

A college basketball player in Gibson County, Indiana, reports that even when you get over West Nile infection, the symptoms never seem to go away:  “….I still get headaches. If I stand up fast, I get dizzy. The doctors said this could go on for six months, or it could end tomorrow. I never know if I’ll have a good day or a bad day. Three or four days a week are bad days. I always have a constant headache, but I’ve learned to live with that and with the bad days.”-Rachel Sensmeier

The virus isn’t going after just horses and humans, it’s also killing off birds.  So many Sage Grouse have been killed off in North Dakota that Montana is considering sending some of their own grouse to help the Peace Garden State.  40 female Sage Grouse are going to be sent from Montana to North Dakota by 2014/15.  Since 2007 North Dakota’s Sage Grouse population has been cut in half by West Nile virus. Officials are concerned the birds have reached a point where normal reproduction trends will not allow the birds to recover: “One of the thoughts is that with the population as low as it is, we may be experiencing a genetic bottleneck where bringing in new genes from Montana may help.”-Aaron Robinson, North Dakota Department of Game and Fish

However, Montana officials think the 2014/15 date is too late: “We’re supportive of helping North Dakota out, but it might be one of those things where the timing is off.”-Rick Northrup, former Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks

How much does it cost to transplant Sage Grouse?  About $4,000 USD per bird!  A similar attempt was tried with sending Montana birds to Canada, and it was considered a failure. Only one of the 40 had chicks.

And staying on the subject of birds, officials with the Wildlife Rehabilitation Center of Minnesota, say they’ve had a record year for treating sick animals, especially crows.  Some encouraging news; they say they might be seeing a new weaker version of West Nile: “In previous cases, once an animal was infected with West Nile, it was almost 100% mortality. There’s a new strain, though, that there’s a belief that maybe the mortality rate is lower and that there are certain things we can do. Most of the time the treatment is rest and feeding, just like humans need when they have flu.”-Phil Jenni, Wildlife Rehabilitation Center

International, U.S.

Norovirus update: Hospital being blamed!

24 December 2012, prefectural health officials, in Miyazaki Prefecture, say the hospital’s bad hygiene habits, and diagnostic incompetence could be to blame for the latest norovirus outbreak in Japan.

The hospital also delayed reporting deaths.

Officials say the hospital did not report any norovirus infections until three days after the first person died. The hospital did not even mention the death in their first report.  It was another five days, and after several more people had died, before the hospital revealed any deaths.

Six people died between the 14th and 22nd of December.

Hospital staff say they didn’t think the patients had norovirus!

Prefectual officials say the way staff handled the bio-hazard waste from the patients’ discharges (vomiting, etc) could have caused the outbreak in the hospital.  There are still at least 44 people sick, five are in serious condition.