Full Version: Swine Flu Updates
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/apr/2...-pandemic-swineguardian.co.uk
Mexico imposes swine flu measures BBC News By country Mexico City has banned restaurants and cafes from serving all food except
Video: Health Officials: Nations Must Prep for Pandemic The Associated Press
Swine Flu Suspected at Two More New York City Schools
Mexico imposes swine flu measures BBC News By country Mexico City has banned restaurants and cafes from serving all food except
Video: Health Officials: Nations Must Prep for Pandemic The Associated Press
Swine Flu Suspected at Two More New York City Schools
WHO awaits US confirmation on human flu spread Reuters - By Stephanie Nebehay GENEVA, April 28 (Reuters) - The World Health Organisation said on Tuesday it awaited formal confirmation from US authorities that the new swine flu virus has spread significantly between people, a sign that could indicate an ...
http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/artic...xMNFbcPqtNT60bg
More US swine flu cases, hospitalizations </h2> AFP - WASHINGTON (AFP) — Health officials confirmed 20 new cases of human swine flu in the United States Tuesday, including an unspecified number of hospitalizations, as experts warned of a looming pandemic. "The human swine flu outbreak continues to grow in ...
http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/artic...N7oJxRjmQ8DAKrA
US swine flu outbreak spreads to sixth state </h2> AFP - WASHINGTON (AFP) — Human swine flu appeared in a sixth US state Tuesday with officials on the alert for a worsening outbreak independent of the disease epicenter of Mexico, as US meat exports ran into foreign bans. The nation's total count of ...
More US swine flu cases, hospitalizations </h2> AFP - WASHINGTON (AFP) — Health officials confirmed 20 new cases of human swine flu in the United States Tuesday, including an unspecified number of hospitalizations, as experts warned of a looming pandemic. "The human swine flu outbreak continues to grow in ...
http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/artic...N7oJxRjmQ8DAKrA
US swine flu outbreak spreads to sixth state </h2> AFP - WASHINGTON (AFP) — Human swine flu appeared in a sixth US state Tuesday with officials on the alert for a worsening outbreak independent of the disease epicenter of Mexico, as US meat exports ran into foreign bans. The nation's total count of ...
QUOTE(Snuffysmith @ Apr 28 2009, 02:38 PM) 
It says it's a webding, it is on many of your posts. It looks like it says salaam/peace.
Swine Flu Scare: Stock Market Bonanza for "Politically Connected" BioTech Companies- by Michel Chossudovsky - 2009-04-28
WHO is going to have to up their threat level to five tomorrow or the next day.
QUOTE(heart @ Apr 28 2009, 10:04 PM)
QUOTE(Snuffysmith @ Apr 28 2009, 02:38 PM)
It says it's a webding, it is on many of your posts. It looks like it says salaam/peace.
I know where I have seen that - I think I'm getting it off of James Doolittle's blog. Many blogs
I go to have it. To me it looks like a movie camera.
Nesbitt Burns Investors Guide to Avian Flu Pandemic Aug2005.pdf
BMO Nesbitt Burns Research published An Investor’s Guide to Avian Flu in August 2005. The authors, Sherry Cooper, PhD and Donald Coxe provide one of the first carefully thought out assessment of the effect a pandemic would have on financial investments. What distinguishes their report was its being based upon a scenario for the pandemic that allowed for the authors to use economic modeling to make economic projections for the macroeconomy that could then be assessed from a sector-by-sector viewpoint.
From Page 30 of the report:
Flight to safety in financial markets would be a knee-jerk reaction. Initially gold, the U.S. dollar and U.S. Treasuries would benefit. Gold prices would rise and remain high for sometime, despite potential jewelry liquidation. We saw gold prices pop immediately after 9/11, and declined only after the immediate crisis abated. People would be concerned that the Treasury market would subsequently be vulnerable to massive selling by Asian central banks whose holdings, particularly in China and Japan, are enormous. These sales might arise as government coffers are drained in these regions and more money is needed for assistance and prevention. Interest rates, however, would ultimately fall sharply, as in the Depression, as deflationary forces take hold, economic activity would slow and credit demand would plummet. Credit risk premia would rise sharply, taking the spread between corporate and government bonds up meaningfully. Many who are now over-extended with debt would lose their homes and their businesses. The surging supply of houses and rental properties (as tenants and homeowners die or can no longer afford them) would burst the housing bubble.
Link to full report…
BMO Nesbitt Burns Research published An Investor’s Guide to Avian Flu in August 2005. The authors, Sherry Cooper, PhD and Donald Coxe provide one of the first carefully thought out assessment of the effect a pandemic would have on financial investments. What distinguishes their report was its being based upon a scenario for the pandemic that allowed for the authors to use economic modeling to make economic projections for the macroeconomy that could then be assessed from a sector-by-sector viewpoint.
From Page 30 of the report:
Flight to safety in financial markets would be a knee-jerk reaction. Initially gold, the U.S. dollar and U.S. Treasuries would benefit. Gold prices would rise and remain high for sometime, despite potential jewelry liquidation. We saw gold prices pop immediately after 9/11, and declined only after the immediate crisis abated. People would be concerned that the Treasury market would subsequently be vulnerable to massive selling by Asian central banks whose holdings, particularly in China and Japan, are enormous. These sales might arise as government coffers are drained in these regions and more money is needed for assistance and prevention. Interest rates, however, would ultimately fall sharply, as in the Depression, as deflationary forces take hold, economic activity would slow and credit demand would plummet. Credit risk premia would rise sharply, taking the spread between corporate and government bonds up meaningfully. Many who are now over-extended with debt would lose their homes and their businesses. The surging supply of houses and rental properties (as tenants and homeowners die or can no longer afford them) would burst the housing bubble.
Link to full report…
Ret. Army General Russell Honoré On CNN: Did Swine Flu Come Out Of a Lab?
Swine flu's ground zero? Residents say nearby Smithfield Foods Farm
Swine flu creates controversy on Twitter: News sources becoming less centralized
QUOTE(heart @ Apr 28 2009, 05:05 PM)
WHO is going to have to up their threat level to five tomorrow or the next day.
this is as stupid as the color code for terror
red-blue-green-orange-yellow-pink-
1-2-3-4-5-6
red light green light 1 2 3
put you hands in the air
simple simon says
shake them all around
there is a great line in the Simon Carr article snuffy posted-
It may well be true that, virally speaking, H1 swine flu is "already worse than H5". But that H5N1 bird flu was hardly worth worrying us with at all. According to the World Health Organisation, 257 people have died of it in the last seven years, while the best part of a billion others have died of non-bird flu related causes.
It may well be true that, virally speaking, H1 swine flu is "already worse than H5". But that H5N1 bird flu was hardly worth worrying us with at all. According to the World Health Organisation, 257 people have died of it in the last seven years, while the best part of a billion others have died of non-bird flu related causes.
QUOTE(graham4anything @ Apr 28 2009, 06:19 PM)
there is a great line in the Simon Carr article snuffy posted-
It may well be true that, virally speaking, H1 swine flu is "already worse than H5". But that H5N1 bird flu was hardly worth worrying us with at all. According to the World Health Organisation, 257 people have died of it in the last seven years, while the best part of a billion others have died of non-bird flu related causes.
It may well be true that, virally speaking, H1 swine flu is "already worse than H5". But that H5N1 bird flu was hardly worth worrying us with at all. According to the World Health Organisation, 257 people have died of it in the last seven years, while the best part of a billion others have died of non-bird flu related causes.
also
Why we want to believe that 750,000 Britons are under threat of dying a miserable death through failure of the respiratory system isn't clear, but we do want to play with the idea. We do provide a receptive environment for the bacillus of looming disaster.
When Aids first came to prominence in the 1980s, it was widely accepted that most people would be infected over the next generation. The creation of misleading graphs, tortured tables and spurious argumentation was incredible. In the end, no one believed it. But we had to go through 15 years without Aids infecting most of us before we could accept it.
The Millennium Bug grew in a similar culture. The BBC estimated that $300m had been spent on preventing a global computer crash that would destroy the world's processing power. After nothing happened, the organisers of the prevention drive declared it a great success. But companies – and indeed countries – that did nothing performed as well as those who had spent the $300m.
Don't count on those disposable masks to completely protect you against the swine flu percolating around the globe.
Many people in Mexico City, as well as travelers to and from Los Angeles, have been seen wearing mouth and nose protection of one type or another in recent days.
Most were wearing face masks, which are loose-fitting and designed largely to help stop droplets from spreading from the person wearing the mask. They also protect the wearer's mouth and nose from splashes. They are not created to protect the wearer from breathing in very small particles.
Respirators, on the other hand, are made for just that. They are similar in appearance to the relatively inexpensive face masks but are designed specifically to protect the wearer from breathing in such particles. These masks, known as N95 for its filtering ability, fit more snugly on the face than face masks so that most air is breathed through the filter material. They work best if they are fitted specifically to the person wearing the mask.
A respirator that fits snugly on the face can filter out small particles that can be inhaled around the edges of a face mask. But it's easier to breathe through a face mask than a respirator over a long period of time, said experts at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Understanding swine flu
Swine flu: The basics 
Graphic: Examining the virus -- 
Does wearing face masks even work? 
Photos: Swine flu causes global concern 
Full coverage of the swine flu
Federal health officials said Monday that they, quite frankly, didn't know how helpful either type of devices are in preventing swine flu infection.
If used correctly, masks and -- more likely -- respirators may indeed reduce the risk of getting influenza, according to information released from the CDC. But for people who live in areas with confirmed cases, there is no single action that will provide complete protection. It simply isn't practical to wear a mask all the time, and they are not 100% foolproof.
Face masks and respirators are most useful for people who are in crowded settings, such as classrooms or airplanes, where they will protect the mouth and nose from germs and reduce the likelihood of coughing or sneezing on other people.
Face masks and respirators are sometimes recommended for people who are in close contact with an infected person. "Close contact" is defined as three feet or less by the World Health Organization and six feet or less by the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration.
Face masks and respirators should be worn once, according to the World Health Organization. (Look for face masks labeled for surgical, dental, medical procedure, isolation or laser use.)
Health experts note that face masks and respirators should be used along with other precautions, such as frequent hand-washing, covering coughs, staying at home if ill and avoiding crowds.
For more information on face masks and respirators, see these Web pages from the CDC:
www.cdc.gov/flu/professionals/infectioncontrol/maskguidance.htm
www.cdc.gov/Features/MasksRespirators/
www.cdc.gov/swineflu/masks.htm
shari.roan@latimes.com
Many people in Mexico City, as well as travelers to and from Los Angeles, have been seen wearing mouth and nose protection of one type or another in recent days.
Most were wearing face masks, which are loose-fitting and designed largely to help stop droplets from spreading from the person wearing the mask. They also protect the wearer's mouth and nose from splashes. They are not created to protect the wearer from breathing in very small particles.
Respirators, on the other hand, are made for just that. They are similar in appearance to the relatively inexpensive face masks but are designed specifically to protect the wearer from breathing in such particles. These masks, known as N95 for its filtering ability, fit more snugly on the face than face masks so that most air is breathed through the filter material. They work best if they are fitted specifically to the person wearing the mask.
A respirator that fits snugly on the face can filter out small particles that can be inhaled around the edges of a face mask. But it's easier to breathe through a face mask than a respirator over a long period of time, said experts at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Understanding swine flu
Swine flu: The basics Graphic: Examining the virus -- Does wearing face masks even work? Photos: Swine flu causes global concern Full coverage of the swine flu Federal health officials said Monday that they, quite frankly, didn't know how helpful either type of devices are in preventing swine flu infection.
If used correctly, masks and -- more likely -- respirators may indeed reduce the risk of getting influenza, according to information released from the CDC. But for people who live in areas with confirmed cases, there is no single action that will provide complete protection. It simply isn't practical to wear a mask all the time, and they are not 100% foolproof.
Face masks and respirators are most useful for people who are in crowded settings, such as classrooms or airplanes, where they will protect the mouth and nose from germs and reduce the likelihood of coughing or sneezing on other people.
Face masks and respirators are sometimes recommended for people who are in close contact with an infected person. "Close contact" is defined as three feet or less by the World Health Organization and six feet or less by the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration.
Face masks and respirators should be worn once, according to the World Health Organization. (Look for face masks labeled for surgical, dental, medical procedure, isolation or laser use.)
Health experts note that face masks and respirators should be used along with other precautions, such as frequent hand-washing, covering coughs, staying at home if ill and avoiding crowds.
For more information on face masks and respirators, see these Web pages from the CDC:
www.cdc.gov/flu/professionals/infectioncontrol/maskguidance.htm
www.cdc.gov/Features/MasksRespirators/
www.cdc.gov/swineflu/masks.htm
shari.roan@latimes.com
http://susiemadrak.com/2009/04/26/12/27/me...-than-reported/
Mexican Reports: Flu Much Worse Than Reported
Apr 26th, 2009 at 12:27 pm by Susie
Once again, it looks like the internet is ahead of the official media. Comments on a BBC News site paint a much grimmer picture than we’ve been led to believe about the swine flu epidemic in Mexico. And while I’m reluctant to assume all commenters on a news site are telling the truth, I don’t think we can completely dismiss this, either. After all, Mexican authorities, already reeling from a sharp drop in tourism, have a strong financial incentive to downplay the size of this problem.
For instance, there’s this from Antonio Chavez, a doctor working in Mexico City:
I’m a specialist doctor in respiratory diseases and intensive care at the Mexican National Institute of Health. There is a severe emergency over the swine flu here. More and more patients are being admitted to the intensive care unit. Despite the heroic efforts of all staff (doctors, nurses, specialists, etc) patients continue to inevitably die. The truth is that anti-viral treatments and vaccines are not expected to have any effect, even at high doses. It is a great fear among the staff. The infection risk is very high among the doctors and health staff.
There is a sense of chaos in the other hospitals and we do not know what to do. Staff are starting to leave and many are opting to retire or apply for holidays. The truth is that mortality is even higher than what is being reported by the authorities, at least in the hospital where I work it. It is killing three to four patients daily, and it has been going on for more than three weeks. It is a shame and there is great fear here. Increasingly younger patients aged 20 to 30 years are dying before our helpless eyes and there is great sadness among health professionals here.
From Alvaro Ricardez, Oaxaca City, Oaxaca, Mexico:
In the capital of my state, Oaxaca, there is a hospital closed because of a death related to the porcine influenza. In the papers they recognise only two people dead for that cause. Many friends working in hospitals or related fields say that the situation is really bad, they are talking about 19 people dead in Oaxaca, including a doctor and a nurse. They say they got shots but they were told not to talk about the real situation. Our authorities say nothing. Life goes on as usual here.
Migdalia Cruz, Phoenix, Arizona:
I have a sister-in-law from San Luis Potosi state in Mexico and we were told that in San Luis Potosi there have been at least 78 deaths, just in that city alone, not 68 in all of Mexico, as is being reported. Schools have been closed until 6 May in this state and in other areas in Mexico. Also, many public venues are being closed, so this makes it more deadly and dangerous than has been stated.
Yeny Gregorio Dávila, Mexico City:
I work as a resident doctor in one of the biggest hospitals in Mexico City and sadly, the situation is far from “under control”. As a doctor, I realise that the media does not report the truth. Authorities distributed vaccines among all the medical personnel with no results, because two of my partners who worked in this hospital (interns) were killed by this new virus in less than six days even though they were vaccinated as all of us were. The official number of deaths is 20, nevertheless, the true number of victims are more than 200. I understand that we must avoid to panic, but telling the truth it might be better now to prevent and avoid more deaths.
It appears that Mexican authorities are sitting on information in an attempt to keep people from panicking - and of course, people are panicking because they have no real information. It sounds like everyone’s assuming that any deaths among young people from atypical pneumonia or respiratory illness were caused by the flu - a not unreasonable assumption, given the lack of information that indicates otherwise. Young, healthy people do not typically die from the flu.
In the meantime, Veratect has activated a Twitter feed to more quickly update their public health clients, and this morning they’re tracking confirmed and suspected cases in Scotland, Costa Rica, Spain, France, Israel and New Zealand.
The strain identified here is milder and has not yet killed anyone, but in a pandemic flu, most of the deaths occur in the second and third wave.
Posted in Politics As Usual, The Best Healthcare in the World, The Body Electric
source http://susiemadrak.com/2009/04/26/12/27/me...-than-reported/
Mexican Reports: Flu Much Worse Than Reported
Apr 26th, 2009 at 12:27 pm by Susie
Once again, it looks like the internet is ahead of the official media. Comments on a BBC News site paint a much grimmer picture than we’ve been led to believe about the swine flu epidemic in Mexico. And while I’m reluctant to assume all commenters on a news site are telling the truth, I don’t think we can completely dismiss this, either. After all, Mexican authorities, already reeling from a sharp drop in tourism, have a strong financial incentive to downplay the size of this problem.
For instance, there’s this from Antonio Chavez, a doctor working in Mexico City:
I’m a specialist doctor in respiratory diseases and intensive care at the Mexican National Institute of Health. There is a severe emergency over the swine flu here. More and more patients are being admitted to the intensive care unit. Despite the heroic efforts of all staff (doctors, nurses, specialists, etc) patients continue to inevitably die. The truth is that anti-viral treatments and vaccines are not expected to have any effect, even at high doses. It is a great fear among the staff. The infection risk is very high among the doctors and health staff.
There is a sense of chaos in the other hospitals and we do not know what to do. Staff are starting to leave and many are opting to retire or apply for holidays. The truth is that mortality is even higher than what is being reported by the authorities, at least in the hospital where I work it. It is killing three to four patients daily, and it has been going on for more than three weeks. It is a shame and there is great fear here. Increasingly younger patients aged 20 to 30 years are dying before our helpless eyes and there is great sadness among health professionals here.
From Alvaro Ricardez, Oaxaca City, Oaxaca, Mexico:
In the capital of my state, Oaxaca, there is a hospital closed because of a death related to the porcine influenza. In the papers they recognise only two people dead for that cause. Many friends working in hospitals or related fields say that the situation is really bad, they are talking about 19 people dead in Oaxaca, including a doctor and a nurse. They say they got shots but they were told not to talk about the real situation. Our authorities say nothing. Life goes on as usual here.
Migdalia Cruz, Phoenix, Arizona:
I have a sister-in-law from San Luis Potosi state in Mexico and we were told that in San Luis Potosi there have been at least 78 deaths, just in that city alone, not 68 in all of Mexico, as is being reported. Schools have been closed until 6 May in this state and in other areas in Mexico. Also, many public venues are being closed, so this makes it more deadly and dangerous than has been stated.
Yeny Gregorio Dávila, Mexico City:
I work as a resident doctor in one of the biggest hospitals in Mexico City and sadly, the situation is far from “under control”. As a doctor, I realise that the media does not report the truth. Authorities distributed vaccines among all the medical personnel with no results, because two of my partners who worked in this hospital (interns) were killed by this new virus in less than six days even though they were vaccinated as all of us were. The official number of deaths is 20, nevertheless, the true number of victims are more than 200. I understand that we must avoid to panic, but telling the truth it might be better now to prevent and avoid more deaths.
It appears that Mexican authorities are sitting on information in an attempt to keep people from panicking - and of course, people are panicking because they have no real information. It sounds like everyone’s assuming that any deaths among young people from atypical pneumonia or respiratory illness were caused by the flu - a not unreasonable assumption, given the lack of information that indicates otherwise. Young, healthy people do not typically die from the flu.
In the meantime, Veratect has activated a Twitter feed to more quickly update their public health clients, and this morning they’re tracking confirmed and suspected cases in Scotland, Costa Rica, Spain, France, Israel and New Zealand.
The strain identified here is milder and has not yet killed anyone, but in a pandemic flu, most of the deaths occur in the second and third wave.
Posted in Politics As Usual, The Best Healthcare in the World, The Body Electric
source http://susiemadrak.com/2009/04/26/12/27/me...-than-reported/
First US Death From Swine Flu Is Reported New York Times - By SHARON OTTERMAN and MARK McDONALD American authorities confirmed the first death outside of Mexico from swine flu on Wednesday, as the number of confirmed cases of the disease continued to rise in Europe.
Questions and Answers About Swine Flu Washington Post
Companies restrict travel, advise staff on flu Reuters
Questions and Answers About Swine Flu Washington Post
Companies restrict travel, advise staff on flu Reuters
the kid who died was Mexican and though he died in USA, it really shouldn't count as USA as he got the flu in Mexico itself.
For the conspiracy theorists and disinformation minded:
http://turnerradionetwork.blogspot.com/
<h3 class="post-title entry-title"> Tonight on Turner Radio Network </h3> As we do each Wednesday, tonight we'll change our commercial free music in favor of talk radio for the evening. Tonight's line-up is as follows:
http://turnerradionetwork.blogspot.com/
<h3 class="post-title entry-title"> Tonight on Turner Radio Network </h3> As we do each Wednesday, tonight we'll change our commercial free music in favor of talk radio for the evening. Tonight's line-up is as follows:
8:00 PM ET with James P. Wickstrom
At 9:00 PM, "The Hal Turner Show" will cover the following sizzling topics:
The super flu outbreak was a biological weapon attack specifically designed to usher-in Martial Law and one world government for the New World Order and we can prove it! The weapon was grabbed from the U.S. Army bio-weapons lab at Fort Detrik, MD.
The Security and Prosperity Partnership of North America summit in Canada released a plan that establishes U.N. law along with regulations by the World Trade Organization and World Health Organization as supreme over U.S. law during a pandemic and sets the stage for militarizing the management of continental health emergencies.
The "North American Plan for Avian & Pandemic Influenza" was finalized at the SPP summit last week in Montebello, Quebec.
At the same time, the U.S. Northern Command, or NORTHCOM, has created a webpage dedicated to avian flu and has been running exercises in preparation for the possible use of U.S. military forces in a continental domestic emergency involving avian flu or pandemic influenza. .
Next up will be a possible rally in Auburn, AL over a black city councilman who desecrated the graves of Civil War soldiers by ripping out Confederate Flag grave markers. The councilman said the flags "offended and intimidated" him because they're racist. If he's intimidated by a little flag, let's see how he feels when we bring REAL racists to town! Spread the word to the Klan, Aryan Nations, Nazis and Skinheads. Auburn, AL is in the cross hairs!
Hal will also be dealing with a Judge in Utah who has jailed a woman for 30 days because she sent a text message from court while she was a spectator!
No one knew she did it until a court worker told the judge a few days later. The judge abused his power and is abusing this woman by jailing her for 30 days.
We think it's time the judge finds out what it's like when someone abuses their power, so we're going to abuse OURS by giving out his home address and phone number! Folks nationwide can then tell him what they think.
Hal will also talk about the ongoing financial collapse, how Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke and former US Treasury Secretary Hank Paulson committed extortion and intentionally violated Securities and Exchange Commission regulations. It appears these guys have committed real crimes and they seem to think they'll be able to get away with it.
Lastly, Hal will also be talking about how Goldman Sacks increased its "Value-at-Risk" (VaR) ratio 22% to over $200 million they can lose in any single day. This was part of how they wrecked their company before getting bailed out and now, they're taking even more risks with OUR tax money.
Hal might decide to incite vigilantism against these folks, so be sure to tune in.
Naturally, we'll take your phone calls LIVE on the air.
At 11:00 PM ET -- Jay Faber gives you his unique perspective on events of the day
The Mayo Clinic's take on this:
What's the real story about swine flu? I've heard it's the next global pandemic, but I'm not sure what that means.
Answer
<h5 style="text-align: left;">from James M. Steckelberg, M.D.</h5> You're not alone in your confusion about the current swine flu outbreak, which seems to have started in Mexico near the end of the regular 2008-2009 flu season. Since then, the swine flu strain of influenza has also been reported in the United States, Canada and Spain. No one knows whether this particular swine flu will become pandemic — that is, whether it will affect large numbers of people in wide geographic regions.
Swine flu is one of the many type A influenza viruses. It's unusual for humans to catch swine flu, but occasional cases occur, usually in people who have contact with infected pigs. Like other flu viruses, the swine flu virus changes its DNA as it spreads, giving rise to a number of subtypes.
Health officials around the world are concerned about the current swine flu outbreak because:
In the United States, the same new strain of H1N1 swine influenza has infected some recent visitors to Mexico and their household contacts. So far, the infection has resulted in relatively mild respiratory illnesses in this group.
- It's caused by a new strain of swine flu virus, which means humans haven't had a chance to develop antibodies that could be used to make a vaccine. The new strain is a variant of a recognized swine flu virus — swine influenza virus H1N1. The new form contains DNA sequences from human and avian influenza viruses, as well as from other strains of swine influenza.
- It's spreading rapidly in the hardest-hit areas of Mexico.
- The infection progresses rapidly. In those most severely affected in the Mexican outbreak, potentially fatal respiratory problems developed after less than a week of coughing, aches and fever.
- In Mexico, the death rate is unusually high among those who develop respiratory distress.
Why is there such a big difference in severity? One possibility is that the virus mutated to a less dangerous form around the time it showed up in the United States. Another, more sobering possibility is that the severe illness linked to swine flu in Mexico is the result of viral mutations that haven't yet appeared in other countries — but possibly will in time.
Efforts to understand and contain swine flu are under way on a global scale. Until more definitive information is available, the best response for those outside the most affected areas is to:
- Keep tabs on respiratory symptoms. If you or someone in your family develops symptoms suggesting a cold or the flu, be alert for persistent or worsening symptoms, particularly a high fever.
- Stay home if you're sick. If you do have swine flu, you can give it to others starting about 24 hours before you develop symptoms and ending about seven days later.
- Wash your hands thoroughly and frequently. Flu viruses can survive for two hours or longer on surfaces, such as doorknobs and countertops.
- Take extra precautionary measures if you visit or live in an affected area. Travel to Mexico has not been restricted, but some airlines are waiving fees for changing your travel plans.
- If you have a chronic condition, such as asthma or heart disease, it's a good idea to wear a breathing mask when you're out in public in affected areas.
- Be prepared. Ask your health care provider or county health department about infection-control plans in case of a serious swine flu outbreak. The antiviral drugs oseltamivir (Tamiflu) and zanamivir (Relenza) reduce the severity of symptoms.
What Economics Can Teach Us About Swine Flu
Casey B. Mulligan, Economix (NYTimes.com), April 29, 2009
BREAKING NEWS-
WHO SAYS ONLY 7 DEATHS WORLDWIDE FROM SWINE FLU, NOT HUNDREDS...AND ONLY 79 CASES CONFIRMED WORLDWIDE
http://www.smh.com.au/world/only-7-swine-f...90429-aml1.html
A member of the World Health Organisation (WHO) has dismissed claims that more than 150 people have died from swine flu, saying it has officially recorded only seven deaths around the world.
Vivienne Allan, from WHO's patient safety program, said the body had confirmed that worldwide there had been just seven deaths - all in Mexico - and 79 confirmed cases of the disease.
Unfortunately that [150-plus deaths] is incorrect information and it does happen, but that's not information that's come from the World Health Organisation," Ms Allan told ABC Radio today.
"That figure is not a figure that's come from the World Health Organisation and, I repeat, the death toll is seven and they are all from Mexico."
Ms Allan said WHO had confirmed 40 cases of swine flu in the Americas, 26 in Mexico, six in Canada, two in Spain, two in Britain and three in New Zealand.
Ms Allan said it was difficult to measure how fast the virus was spreading.
She said a real concern would be if the flu virus manifested in a country where a person had had no contact with Mexico, and authorities were watching all countries for signs of that.
"There is no pattern that has emerged at this stage to be able to say that it is spreading in a particular way or it is spreading into a particular country ... the situation is continuing to evolve," she said.
She said the WHO was not recommending against overseas travel, but urged those who felt sick to stay home and others to ensure they kept their hands clean.
No decision had yet been made about vaccinations.
"This virus is not airborne, it's caused by droplets ... so it's not a time for worry. It's a time to be prepared," Ms Allan said.
WHO SAYS ONLY 7 DEATHS WORLDWIDE FROM SWINE FLU, NOT HUNDREDS...AND ONLY 79 CASES CONFIRMED WORLDWIDE
http://www.smh.com.au/world/only-7-swine-f...90429-aml1.html
A member of the World Health Organisation (WHO) has dismissed claims that more than 150 people have died from swine flu, saying it has officially recorded only seven deaths around the world.
Vivienne Allan, from WHO's patient safety program, said the body had confirmed that worldwide there had been just seven deaths - all in Mexico - and 79 confirmed cases of the disease.
Unfortunately that [150-plus deaths] is incorrect information and it does happen, but that's not information that's come from the World Health Organisation," Ms Allan told ABC Radio today.
"That figure is not a figure that's come from the World Health Organisation and, I repeat, the death toll is seven and they are all from Mexico."
Ms Allan said WHO had confirmed 40 cases of swine flu in the Americas, 26 in Mexico, six in Canada, two in Spain, two in Britain and three in New Zealand.
Ms Allan said it was difficult to measure how fast the virus was spreading.
She said a real concern would be if the flu virus manifested in a country where a person had had no contact with Mexico, and authorities were watching all countries for signs of that.
"There is no pattern that has emerged at this stage to be able to say that it is spreading in a particular way or it is spreading into a particular country ... the situation is continuing to evolve," she said.
She said the WHO was not recommending against overseas travel, but urged those who felt sick to stay home and others to ensure they kept their hands clean.
No decision had yet been made about vaccinations.
"This virus is not airborne, it's caused by droplets ... so it's not a time for worry. It's a time to be prepared," Ms Allan said.
Flying Pigs, Tamiflu and Factory Farms - by F. William Engdahl - 2009-04-29 If we are to trust the media reports, the world is on the brink of a global pandemic outbreak of a new deadly strain of flu H1N1.
Swine Flu: State of Emergency, Mexican-Style - by Michael Werbowski - 2009-04-29
All truth passes through three stages:
First, it is ridiculed.
Second, it is violently opposed.
Third, it is accepted as being self-evident.
– ARTHUR SCHOPENHAUER (1788-1860)
First, it is ridiculed.
Second, it is violently opposed.
Third, it is accepted as being self-evident.
– ARTHUR SCHOPENHAUER (1788-1860)
The following is a small note that was buried deep in copy released late yesterday:
"Although it’s called swine flu, this new strain is not infecting pigs and has never been seen in pigs. The threat is person to person transmission."
Vials of swine flu virus explode on train
April 28, 2009 - 9:50 AM
Vials of innocuous swine flu virus have exploded on an intercity train, prompting police to stop passengers before they arrived in Lausanne.
A laboratory technician from a Geneva hospital had been transporting the vials on Monday evening from a veterinary institute in Zurich. The Federal Health Office had called for the development of a diagnostic test for the illness that has killed as many as 150 people worldwide.
Near Fribourg the technician heard a muffled pop. Built-up gas from dry ice surrounding the vials had caused the package to explode.
The carriage in which the technician was travelling held 61 passengers at the time. The Federal Railways did not learn of the incident until 40 minutes later after the train had already passed through Fribourg. Police then stopped the train near Lausanne, inspected passengers and wrote down their names as a precaution.
More…
"Although it’s called swine flu, this new strain is not infecting pigs and has never been seen in pigs. The threat is person to person transmission."
Vials of swine flu virus explode on train
April 28, 2009 - 9:50 AM
Vials of innocuous swine flu virus have exploded on an intercity train, prompting police to stop passengers before they arrived in Lausanne.
A laboratory technician from a Geneva hospital had been transporting the vials on Monday evening from a veterinary institute in Zurich. The Federal Health Office had called for the development of a diagnostic test for the illness that has killed as many as 150 people worldwide.
Near Fribourg the technician heard a muffled pop. Built-up gas from dry ice surrounding the vials had caused the package to explode.
The carriage in which the technician was travelling held 61 passengers at the time. The Federal Railways did not learn of the incident until 40 minutes later after the train had already passed through Fribourg. Police then stopped the train near Lausanne, inspected passengers and wrote down their names as a precaution.
More…
Stay Focused.
The first fallout casualty of the Flu panic today is a $50 billion dollar request to the IMF by Mexico. Quantitative Easing is going to shift into high 8th gear everywhere.
COT are such a lucky bunch perfectly positioned to hammer gold from unchanged to minus $3 hard since about 5am today.
If you throw away your gold protection, as some of you are right now, you might as well take off your mask on the Swiss train car with the exploding virus vials or run up to someone in Mexico City and say please sneeze on me a few times.
Keep your eye on the ball.
The first fallout casualty of the Flu panic today is a $50 billion dollar request to the IMF by Mexico. Quantitative Easing is going to shift into high 8th gear everywhere.
COT are such a lucky bunch perfectly positioned to hammer gold from unchanged to minus $3 hard since about 5am today.
If you throw away your gold protection, as some of you are right now, you might as well take off your mask on the Swiss train car with the exploding virus vials or run up to someone in Mexico City and say please sneeze on me a few times.
Keep your eye on the ball.
From George Ure at Urban Survival:
First, an update from a pretty good source about what's 'hot' on the flu front this morning:
I continue to be perplexed by a couple of points: The first is "Where the treatment protocol?" and the second is "What are the over-the-counter/OTC options?" for the millions of Americans who either don't have healthcare, or figure they would face more risk by going to a hospital than by self medicating and staying at home.
One the question of treatment protocols, it turns out that they really do exist...well...sort of.
For example, a quick search of pandemic flu treatment protocols brings up a US Department of Transportation study "Preparing for Pandemic Influenza" but it's focus is not on the doctor/PA level practitioner trying to respond to a sick patient, so much as it's a guide for 9-1-1 centers to develop dispatch protocols for Personnel and Public Safety Answering Points (PSAPs).
Similarly, the Homeland Security "Best Practices and Model Protocols" document of April 2007 does a fine job of sorting out who should respond how at an agency/sector level but darned if it gets into the diagnostic tree and efficacy studies.
I haven't had time to do an exhaustive search, but after spending a fit of time on the phone with a doc I know, his point that the practitioner-level/treatment recommendations really ought to be more readily available. His view went something like this: "OK, so I have someone show up in my office and they've got a 102 degree temp, they're barfing their guts out, sniffling and hacking...what's the current best course for proper diagnosis and treatment based on the most current cases which CDC and WHO have in this episode?"
To be sure, the WHO has some generalized information on their web site if you scroll to "Treatment and Prophylaxis: Antiviral Agents, but it's not a detailed diagnostic flow chart by any stretch. What this particular doc is looking for is the whole tree, contraindications and a drug-by-drug summary. You know, the kind of thing that would say use this antiviral but only if the patient doesn't have the following conditions, kind of thing, along with a batting average or best SWAG based on these similar modeled responses.
Would you be happy with the flu response plan for Tonga down in the South Pacific? That's easier to come by. But enough of that...on to the next point.
How this flu kills is interesting. Seems that it triggers an over-reaction by the body's immune system in a process called cytokine storming. Here's a contributed article by Spencer Feldman, this is NOT PRESENTED AS MEDICAL ADVICE AND IS FOR DISCUSSION PURPOSES ONLY and remember as you read this, that it was prepared for bird flu not the hybrid which is currently in play. That said, it may offer some perspectives on how the flu operates and let me say this one more time: THIS IS NOT MEDICAL ADVICE - FOR THAT SEE YOUR DOCTOR! Got it? :
I'll continue watching developments, but I'd summarize where we are this morning as follows:
In terms of the markets, the combination of incipient inflation due to the high cost of bailouts (glue to hold the financial system together, when you think about it) and the added impacts of ratcheting up travel restrictions due to flu are likely to combine to cloud our earlier outlook for a rally through mid summer.
First Hybrid Flu Death
First, an update from a pretty good source about what's 'hot' on the flu front this morning:
"1) A 23 month old in Texas died. Seems to not fit the pattern, but no details released to public yet, so I don’t know if this is an anomaly or something is different than normal about the swine flu. Based on normal flu years, about 5-15% of US deaths are healthy young adults that don’t fit the pattern. This may be the same hard to figure out death pattern, or something may have changed in the way the H1N1 is behaving. We’ll know more as details are released.Meantime, maybe someone was actually paying attention yesterday when I bemoaned the lack of precision when it comes to the hybrid flu that's making the rounds. Not only is the World Health Organization calling this outbreak the 'North American Flu' but I see where "U.S. officials want 'swine' out of flu name" as well.
2) Patient zero (or very near to zero) was apparently identified. Young boy who was sick in early March. His blood was tested then & they found nothing, since they weren’t looking for swine flu. Retested & apparently positive. His parents did not get sick, nor others in the village; at least sick enough to have seen a doctor & had blood-work done. They live right next to a big pig-plant (locations in Mexico & US). They, of course, say that the swine flu has nothing to do with them & their pigs don’t have influenza. I’m sure the Mexican health agencies will do more than take their word & look into it."
I continue to be perplexed by a couple of points: The first is "Where the treatment protocol?" and the second is "What are the over-the-counter/OTC options?" for the millions of Americans who either don't have healthcare, or figure they would face more risk by going to a hospital than by self medicating and staying at home.
One the question of treatment protocols, it turns out that they really do exist...well...sort of.
For example, a quick search of pandemic flu treatment protocols brings up a US Department of Transportation study "Preparing for Pandemic Influenza" but it's focus is not on the doctor/PA level practitioner trying to respond to a sick patient, so much as it's a guide for 9-1-1 centers to develop dispatch protocols for Personnel and Public Safety Answering Points (PSAPs).
Similarly, the Homeland Security "Best Practices and Model Protocols" document of April 2007 does a fine job of sorting out who should respond how at an agency/sector level but darned if it gets into the diagnostic tree and efficacy studies.
I haven't had time to do an exhaustive search, but after spending a fit of time on the phone with a doc I know, his point that the practitioner-level/treatment recommendations really ought to be more readily available. His view went something like this: "OK, so I have someone show up in my office and they've got a 102 degree temp, they're barfing their guts out, sniffling and hacking...what's the current best course for proper diagnosis and treatment based on the most current cases which CDC and WHO have in this episode?"
To be sure, the WHO has some generalized information on their web site if you scroll to "Treatment and Prophylaxis: Antiviral Agents, but it's not a detailed diagnostic flow chart by any stretch. What this particular doc is looking for is the whole tree, contraindications and a drug-by-drug summary. You know, the kind of thing that would say use this antiviral but only if the patient doesn't have the following conditions, kind of thing, along with a batting average or best SWAG based on these similar modeled responses.
Would you be happy with the flu response plan for Tonga down in the South Pacific? That's easier to come by. But enough of that...on to the next point.
How this flu kills is interesting. Seems that it triggers an over-reaction by the body's immune system in a process called cytokine storming. Here's a contributed article by Spencer Feldman, this is NOT PRESENTED AS MEDICAL ADVICE AND IS FOR DISCUSSION PURPOSES ONLY and remember as you read this, that it was prepared for bird flu not the hybrid which is currently in play. That said, it may offer some perspectives on how the flu operates and let me say this one more time: THIS IS NOT MEDICAL ADVICE - FOR THAT SEE YOUR DOCTOR! Got it? :
Suggestions for the Acute Management of a H5N1 Pandemic, by Spencer FeldmanAgain, THIS IS NOT MEDICAL ADVICE AND IS OFFERED ONLY FOR INFORMATION. FOR MEDICAL ADVICE SEE YOUR DOCTOR.
The H5N1 (Asian Avian Flu or "Bird Flu") virus owes its lethality to its ability to instigate pathological immune responses in the host via cytokine storm. This leads to disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) and massive infiltration of inflammatory cells into the lungs. Thus, any H5N1 protocol must take into consideration, not only the inhibition of the virus, but also the effects of DIC and alveolar flooding.
Given that there are reports of some patients dying within three hours of initial symptoms, any medical response must be swift and aggressive. Traditional models for treatment outside of a hospital setting rely upon antiviral medications. This is insufficient as there are now strains of the H5N1 that are resistant to all major antiviral drugs, and furthermore does nothing to address the issues of DIC and alveolar flooding.
Alternative models concentrate on immune stimulating products. This is a dangerous idea as it is the strength of the immune response that makes the H5N1 so deadly. Increasing immune response may prevent an initial infection, but in an infection that has already taken hold, it will only worsen the outcome.
Preventative Measures: Studies suggest that Vitamin E and Selenium may decrease the infectivity and pathogenicity of the H5N1 Avian Influenza(1).
Additionally, air pollutants have shown to increase the risk of contracting the H5N1 Avian Influenza(2). Raising glutathione, a primary detoxification pathway for petrochemicals may be of benefit. Finally, strengthening capillary walls may be suggested in preparation for a possible hemorrhagic episode.
Acute Management: Current scientific thought holds that the lethality of the H5N1 Avian Influenza may be caused by systemic viral dissemination, cytokine storm and/or alveolar flooding(3). As such, an intelligent protocol for supporting the body would be to take these factors into consideration. The H5N1 Avian Influenza contains the compounds Hemagglutinin and Neuraminidase (also called sialidase). Both of these compounds are required in the infection cycle of certain virus. The drugs Zanamivir and Oseltamivir (Tamiflu) are both Neuraminidase inhibitors.
One study suggests that the common Chinese Herb Astragalus may also be a Neuraminidase inhibitor(4). Since another study(5) suggests that Ca2+ and Mag2+ both speed up the activity of neuraminidase, and that Ca2+ is required for its function, making these elements unavailable via chelation with sodium and potassium citrate may be of use.
Studies also suggest that Lactoferrin(6), sulfated polysaccharides such as Ceramium Rubrum(7) (Red Marine Algae) and Elderberries(8) may be Hemagglutinin inhibitors. Unfortunately, Elderberry also increases cytokines (see above) especially Tumor Necrosis Factor alpha (TNFa)(9) which is specifically associated with the toxicity of the H5N1 Avian Influenza (10). For this reason, ingredients that studies suggest normalize TNFa such as Curcumin and Vitamin E (11),(12) should be considered.
One outcome of a cytokine storm can be disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC). DIC may be responsible for the massive hemorrhaging seen with the H5N1 Avian Influenza(13). Thus, in addition to supporting normal cytokine levels, supporting the body in normalizing blood coagulation parameters with nutritional compounds may also be suggested(14),(15),(16). The drugs Amantadine and Rimantadine work by inhibiting the matrix protein(s). Studies indicate that Glutathione and Resveratrol may have an effect on matrix proteins as well(17), (18). Finally, Lactoferrin may support the body in decreasing infiltration into the lungs of inflammatory cells(19).
Emergency Solution While I have already manufactured a product that contains all of the ingredients listed, the FDA does not allow for commercial sale alternative products to be made (other than homeopathics) for the bird flu.
The following ingredients should be available locally and might form the basis of a makeshift H5N1 survival pack.
1- Curry powder as a source of turmeric to suppress TNFa
2- Red wine with the alcohol boiled off as a source of resveratrol
3- Kelp as a hemagglutinin inhibitor
4- Astragalus as a neuraminidase inhibitor (available at any Chinese herb shop)
5- Vitamin E as a blood thinner (available at any health food store) Conclusions
Reports of people dying from the H5N1 Influenza in as little as three hours from the first signs of infection suggest the necessity of carrying on one’s person whatever they consider an adequate defense against this infection.
To recap, In designing such a defense, the key factors to address regarding the H5N1 virus would be:
1- Decreasing the risk of initial infection
2- Decreasing the potential virulence of infection
3- Inhibiting Hemagglutinin
4- Inhibiting Neuraminidase
5- Inhibiting Matrix proteins
6- Binding of viral receptor sites
6- Reduction of calcium and magnesium
7- Decreasing general inflammatory cytokines
8- Decreasing TNF-a in particular
9- Supporting normal platelet activity
10- Decreasing free radical activity in the lungs
11- Minimizing hemorrhage
12- Strengthening blood vessels
13- Protecting against the after effect of hemorrhage
14- Replenishing electrolytes lost to diarrhea
15- Inhibiting secondary infections
I'll continue watching developments, but I'd summarize where we are this morning as follows:
- With one death reported in the US, I'd expect on many more.
- Restrictions on travel are starting to scale up - slowly for now - as France is about to ask the EU to suspend flights to Mexico.
- The flu kills by cytokine storming and paradoxically, 'bulking up your immune system' might not help - might even increase risks.
- Progress is being made on identifying new pathways which show vaccine promise.
- Headlines that include comments like "swine flu fears diminishd" seem to me to be premature.
In terms of the markets, the combination of incipient inflation due to the high cost of bailouts (glue to hold the financial system together, when you think about it) and the added impacts of ratcheting up travel restrictions due to flu are likely to combine to cloud our earlier outlook for a rally through mid summer.
The Global Politics of Swine Flu - Kaveh Afrasiabi, Asia Times
Swine Flu No Rerun of 1918 Pandemic - Don Martin, National Post
Swine Flu No Rerun of 1918 Pandemic - Don Martin, National Post
, STAY AWAY from echinecea if this comes our way
Submitted by Health Gazette on Thu, 2006-05-11 08:55. Alternative Medicine
Research suggests certain natural foods may be as effective against virus H5N1 as commercial antivirals.
(PRWEB) May 10, 2006 -- A Biology teacher from Australia, named Stephen Jones, has done extensive research into the H5N1 virus and compiled a list of natural foods that are effective against it and listed others that are detrimental.
The list may come as a surprise to many people since foods such as spirulina and echinacea are listed as detrimental. This strange occurrence is largely due to the fact that the virus is immune to 2 cytokines that the body produces (TNF-a and IL-6). Cytokines are compounds produced by the body’s immune system that attack and remove foreign bodies. The problem is that when a foreign body is immune to certain cytokines, the body sees that its immune response is not working and tries even harder, which can lead to what is called a cytokine storm, where the body becomes flooded with these compounds and they eventually destroy the body itself. Foods such as Echinacea actually stimulate the production of these specific cytokines; hence consuming it is not a good idea if one suspects they may have the virus.
During the 1918 Spanish Flu many healthy young people died from cytokine storms due to their immune systems overreacting. Consuming foods which suppress the production of cytokines TNF-a and IL-6 and enhance the production of the ones that actually are effective against the virus will aid the patient greatly.
Other foods that create mucous in the respiratory tract, such as bananas, are also listed as detrimental due to the fact that the predominant breeding ground of the virus is the respiratory tract and another way in which a patient may suffer is due to the body's over production of mucous in this area.
Folk Medicines and Herbs to use and avoid with Bird Flu
Below is a list of foods that are said to contain substances that are natural antivirals, immune boosters or they decrease cytokines TNF-a and IL-6.
Alternative medications that are most likely to help us during a severe pandemic:
Garlic (allicin) - Very effective antiviral. Best if fresh (raw) and crushed. Must be consumed within 1 hour of crushing. Dosage is initially 2 to 3 cloves per day but later reduce until no body odour occurs. No toxic effects noted. (Pubmed PMID 9049657)
Vitamin C - Boosts the immune system and is an antiviral by blocking the enzyme neuraminadase. Viruses need neuraminadase to reproduce. There are anecdotal stories of people taking large amounts of Vitamin C (children ½) surviving the Spanish Flu. Research shows that it may reduce the production of cytokines TNF-a and IL-6. A study on 470 people involved giving the test group 1000 mg hourly for 6 hours and then 1000 mg 3 times daily after reporting flu symptoms. Symptoms decreased by 85%. (Pubmed PMID 10543583, 634178, 16169205, 12876306)
Green Tea (possible Tamiflu/Relenza alternative)- Very effective antiviral. Also decreases the production of the cytokine (catechins) TNF-a. Inhibits neuraminidase. May have antiviral activity that is equal to other antivirals such as Tamiflu. (Pubmed PMID 16137775)
St Johns Wort (Hypericum) - Very effective antiviral. Also decreases the production of the cytokine IL-6. Hypericum is an extract from St John’s Wort. There have been some very successful field trials in commercial flocks infected with H5N1 in Vietnam. (Pubmed PMID 7857513, 11518071, 11362353, 7857513, 11518071)
Vitamin E - Immune booster. Also decreases the production of the cytokine TNF-a. (Pubmed PMID 155882360, 10929076) Experiments involved using mice. Very suitable for immune compromised people, especially the elderly. Effects enhanced when taken with Vitamin C.
Apple Juice - Antiviral. Fresh apple juice including the pulp and skin has greater antiviral activity than heated commercial apple juice. More research is needed. Effectiveness on H5N1 is unknown. (Pubmed PMID 32832, 12452634)
Resveratrol - Antiviral. In addition to inhibiting neuraminidase, Resveratrol also sends a message to cells to stop manufacturing viruses. This is a proven antiviral found naturally in red wine, peanuts, mulberries, Japanese Knotwood root (richest source), raisins and red grapes. Resveratrol supplements are relatively inexpensive, are more stable than wine and is available in liquid form for absorption in the mouth. No toxic effects noted. (Pubmed PMID 1583880, 12817628, 15985724)
Scuttellaria (Skullcap) - Antiviral. A herb used as a tea. It has no side effects and is also a mild tranquilliser. Research suggests neuraminidase, which is a substance needed by the H5N1 virus to reproduce, may be inhibited.
Cranberry Juice - Early research shows that it may be an antiviral, making viruses less able to invade or multiply. Effectiveness on H5N1 is unknown. (Pubmed PMID15781126)
Cat’s Claw (Uncaria tomentosa) - Decreases the production of the cytokine TNF-a. Also boosts immune system. The number of white blood cells was significantly increased during treatment. No toxicity was noted. (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/q...arch&DB=pubmed) Active constituents can be found in the leaves, bark, vine, and roots. Water extraction from bark used. Children and pregnant women are to avoid. Has a potentially damaging effect on the DNA of proliferating cells. (cancers, foetuses, growing children)
Curcumin (Tumeric Spice) - Decreases the production of the cytokine TNF-a. This is the yellow compound in turmeric spice. Research shows that this may be very good for preventing a cytokine storm although this is not proven. Must be taken with food or gastritis or peptic ulcers may occur. Pregnant women and feeding mothers should avoid this. The medicinal properties of curcurnin cannot be utilised when used alone due to rapid metabolism in the liver and intestinal wall. When combined with Piperine found in black pepper the absorption is increased with no adverse effects. Obtainable from health stores in tablets, liquid, capsules already combined with piperine. Dosage is 500mg to 4000mg daily.
Astragalus root (Astragali Radix) - Boosts immune system. (Pubmed PMID15588652)
Tea tree Steam Inhalation - Reduces the cytokine TNF-a. Add 2 drops of tea tree oil in a bowl of steaming water. Cover head with a towel and inhale for 5 to 10 minutes. Relieves congestion and fights infection. Its effectiveness is unknown. (Pubmed PMID 11131302)
The following substances may be best to avoid during a H5N1 pandemic
Elderberry juice (Sambucal) - AVOID - Increases production of cytokines TNF-a and IL-6. This substance is very effective against the common flu but may not be desirable for the H5N1 virus. Increases in these cytokines may trigger a lethal cytokine storm. (Isr Med Journal2002 Nov;4:944-6)
Micro Algae (Chlorella and Spirulina) - AVOID - Increases production of cytokine TNF-a. (Pubmed PMID 11731916)
Honey - AVOID - Increases production of cytokines TNF-a and IL-6. (Pubmed PMID12824009)
Chocolate - AVOID - Increases production of cytokines TNF-a and IL-6. (Pubmed PMID 12885154, PMID 1091792
Echinacea - AVOID - Increases production of cytokines TNF-a and IL-6. Although it is often used for normal flu, research shows that it may increase the chance of cytokine storms for H5N1. (Pubmed PMID 15556647, 9568541)
Kimchi - AVOID - Increases production of cytokines TNF-a and IL-6. (Pubmed PMID15630182)
Dairy products & Bananas - AVOID - These foods increase mucous production.
References:
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/ (search using Pubmed ID number listed after each food)
"Swine Flu Was Cultured In A Laboratory": Dr. John Carlo
Vaccines as Biological Weapons? Live Avian Flu Virus Placed in Baxter Vaccine Materials Sent to 18 Countries
An important watch. Dr. Henry Niman has been on the cutting edge of flu mutations from the get-go. Pass around if you think appropriate, or ignore if not. It seems wise to at least hear what he has to say and stay vigilant.:
http://www.wpxi.com/video/19313969/index.html
http://www.wpxi.com/video/19313969/index.html
Flying Pigs? by John Andrews / April 29th, 2009
As a hardened cynic I cannot in all honesty say that it was only the face masks that made me start to wonder, but they certainly piqued my curiosity.
Mexican governments are not famous for their compassionate concerns for their own people. If ordinary Mexicans were truly important to their government why do they have to leave their country in their tens of thousands every year in order to be treated like slaves and fugitives in a hostile land? Why would you need to leave the comfort of your home and family and friends for such misery and hardship if you had such a kind and caring government?
But what we see on our TV screens almost every day are images of ordinary Mexicans going about their business wearing pale blue face masks. We see images of uniformed face mask-wearing personnel strolling around the streets handing them out 'free of charge' to people not wearing them. It seems a strange thing to do for a government that is so unconcerned about its people that it's quite happy to engineer its society in such a way that a life of slavery and fear in a racist xenophobic foreign land is preferable to life at home.
The face masks are supposed to be a response to an alleged outbreak of 'swine-flu', that supposedly originated in Mexico. At least half of our TV news bulletins are given over to the topic, and it features on the front pages of all the national papers. We see the various 'experts' lining up to talk about 'pandemics' and to remind us all of the great flu outbreak in 1918 that killed more people than World War One. To bring it closer to home we see a story of a young Scottish couple who recently had a holiday in Mexico and are now in quarantine in a Scottish hospital where they are being treated for 'swine-flu'. We see reporters going around the couple's hometown interviewing citizens who might have breathed in the same air. We see the panic-stricken faces of those same citizens as they share their very real concerns about their safety and that of their loved ones. We haven't quite got people running around hysterically pulling out their hair screaming that it's the end of civilization as we know it — but that doesn't seem far off.
Yet if we have a little look at the facts, as far as we know them, you can only scratch your head and wonder what all the fuss is about.
At the time of writing the young Scottish couple who have shown 'mild flu-like symptoms' are the only confirmed cases in the UK, with a mere fifty other people being tested. According to The Independent today (29th April) the US has reported a total of 64 cases. In Mexico itself, where you would assume the disease must be completely out of control, about 2000 people are supposed to have it and 152 people are supposed to have died because of it — from a population of about 109,000,000. So this international panic reduces to the possibility of one in every 50,000 Mexicans having flu. Yet intriguingly the same report devotes just half a sentence to the rather conflicting information that 'the World Health Organization said it had notification of 79 confirmed cases worldwide.' The report did not tell us how many people had been struck by lightning worldwide since the outbreak of this 'pandemic', but the comparison might have been interesting.
In a different article in the Independent we learn that:
One of the many 'experts' gracing our TV screens yesterday, whose name escapes me, informed us that the face masks are all but useless for people hoping not to catch the infection, as contaminated air could pass around the sides of the mask. Furthermore, apparently the masks quickly become unserviceable because they become damp through the moisture in the breath of those using them. So why is the Mexican government distributing them so generously to all and sundry?
Perhaps its intentions are not to help people remain infection-free themselves, but to help stop them spreading the virus. If the outbreak had occurred in Sweden say, one of the few countries that does seem to care about the welfare of its people, I might have thought that a credible explanation. But this is Mexico, whose government really couldn't care a tinker's cuss about the overwhelming majority of its people, and doesn't seem a likely candidate to waste too many pesos on dishing out freebies.
I'm sure there's nothing suspicious about the fact that Emperor Obama apparently requested an extra $1.5 billion from the US congress yesterday to 'build anti-virus stockpiles and to monitor the spread of the disease' (presumably the WHO are not up to that particular job). Or the fact that whoever it is that's in the business of making face masks is doing extraordinarily well at the moment (according to The Guardian: 'The Department of Health is also in talks to "urgently increase" stockpiles of surgical face masks, to be used by doctors and nurses if infections spread more widely here." – even though most 'experts' seem to agree the masks are all but useless); or printers (more from The Guardian: 'The government is today preparing a mass information campaign that will see leaflets about swine flu delivered to every home in the UK as fears grow that the virus will become a pandemic.') To say nothing of the assorted spooks and spin-doctors whose careers are entirely wrapped up with keeping the public in a permanent state of twitchy anxiety. I'm sure there's no connections between any of these things.
I predict this curiously named swine-flu 'pandemic' will go exactly the same way as the equally curious bird-flu 'pandemics' of the last couple of years; that a few more billions of taxpayer pounds will find their way into some dubious bank accounts; that no more people will die from flu than in any normal year without millions of government leaflets and face masks; and that our governments will proclaim this long and loud as 'major victory' and a direct consequence of their 'vigilance' and 'leadership'.
Having said all that I might actually try and get myself a freeby face mask if I can — it might screen the overwhelming aroma of pig "expletive deleted".
http://dissidentvoice.org/2009/04/flying-pigs/
As a hardened cynic I cannot in all honesty say that it was only the face masks that made me start to wonder, but they certainly piqued my curiosity.
Mexican governments are not famous for their compassionate concerns for their own people. If ordinary Mexicans were truly important to their government why do they have to leave their country in their tens of thousands every year in order to be treated like slaves and fugitives in a hostile land? Why would you need to leave the comfort of your home and family and friends for such misery and hardship if you had such a kind and caring government?
But what we see on our TV screens almost every day are images of ordinary Mexicans going about their business wearing pale blue face masks. We see images of uniformed face mask-wearing personnel strolling around the streets handing them out 'free of charge' to people not wearing them. It seems a strange thing to do for a government that is so unconcerned about its people that it's quite happy to engineer its society in such a way that a life of slavery and fear in a racist xenophobic foreign land is preferable to life at home.
The face masks are supposed to be a response to an alleged outbreak of 'swine-flu', that supposedly originated in Mexico. At least half of our TV news bulletins are given over to the topic, and it features on the front pages of all the national papers. We see the various 'experts' lining up to talk about 'pandemics' and to remind us all of the great flu outbreak in 1918 that killed more people than World War One. To bring it closer to home we see a story of a young Scottish couple who recently had a holiday in Mexico and are now in quarantine in a Scottish hospital where they are being treated for 'swine-flu'. We see reporters going around the couple's hometown interviewing citizens who might have breathed in the same air. We see the panic-stricken faces of those same citizens as they share their very real concerns about their safety and that of their loved ones. We haven't quite got people running around hysterically pulling out their hair screaming that it's the end of civilization as we know it — but that doesn't seem far off.
Yet if we have a little look at the facts, as far as we know them, you can only scratch your head and wonder what all the fuss is about.
At the time of writing the young Scottish couple who have shown 'mild flu-like symptoms' are the only confirmed cases in the UK, with a mere fifty other people being tested. According to The Independent today (29th April) the US has reported a total of 64 cases. In Mexico itself, where you would assume the disease must be completely out of control, about 2000 people are supposed to have it and 152 people are supposed to have died because of it — from a population of about 109,000,000. So this international panic reduces to the possibility of one in every 50,000 Mexicans having flu. Yet intriguingly the same report devotes just half a sentence to the rather conflicting information that 'the World Health Organization said it had notification of 79 confirmed cases worldwide.' The report did not tell us how many people had been struck by lightning worldwide since the outbreak of this 'pandemic', but the comparison might have been interesting.
In a different article in the Independent we learn that:
The World Health Organization have said the deadly swine flu virus could no longer be contained and raised its alert to just two steps lower than the maximum of six, signifying a "significant increase in risk of a pandemic." Presumably this is the same WHO that reported "79 confirmed cases worldwide."Let's get back to the face masks. Why is the Mexican government distributing them to all and sundry?
One of the many 'experts' gracing our TV screens yesterday, whose name escapes me, informed us that the face masks are all but useless for people hoping not to catch the infection, as contaminated air could pass around the sides of the mask. Furthermore, apparently the masks quickly become unserviceable because they become damp through the moisture in the breath of those using them. So why is the Mexican government distributing them so generously to all and sundry?
Perhaps its intentions are not to help people remain infection-free themselves, but to help stop them spreading the virus. If the outbreak had occurred in Sweden say, one of the few countries that does seem to care about the welfare of its people, I might have thought that a credible explanation. But this is Mexico, whose government really couldn't care a tinker's cuss about the overwhelming majority of its people, and doesn't seem a likely candidate to waste too many pesos on dishing out freebies.
I'm sure there's nothing suspicious about the fact that Emperor Obama apparently requested an extra $1.5 billion from the US congress yesterday to 'build anti-virus stockpiles and to monitor the spread of the disease' (presumably the WHO are not up to that particular job). Or the fact that whoever it is that's in the business of making face masks is doing extraordinarily well at the moment (according to The Guardian: 'The Department of Health is also in talks to "urgently increase" stockpiles of surgical face masks, to be used by doctors and nurses if infections spread more widely here." – even though most 'experts' seem to agree the masks are all but useless); or printers (more from The Guardian: 'The government is today preparing a mass information campaign that will see leaflets about swine flu delivered to every home in the UK as fears grow that the virus will become a pandemic.') To say nothing of the assorted spooks and spin-doctors whose careers are entirely wrapped up with keeping the public in a permanent state of twitchy anxiety. I'm sure there's no connections between any of these things.
I predict this curiously named swine-flu 'pandemic' will go exactly the same way as the equally curious bird-flu 'pandemics' of the last couple of years; that a few more billions of taxpayer pounds will find their way into some dubious bank accounts; that no more people will die from flu than in any normal year without millions of government leaflets and face masks; and that our governments will proclaim this long and loud as 'major victory' and a direct consequence of their 'vigilance' and 'leadership'.
Having said all that I might actually try and get myself a freeby face mask if I can — it might screen the overwhelming aroma of pig "expletive deleted".
http://dissidentvoice.org/2009/04/flying-pigs/
was in Manhattan today
and not one person looked worried or wore a mask in my journey through the big city
and I personally know 10 family members I love dearly, who went to this afternoon's NY Met game at Citi field
and today is a kids day, with I believe 1000s and 1000s of kids (most from the borough of Queens near Shea (oops, I mean Citi field is), all within a 10 minute or less drive of the school that was infected.
I texted one of them a few minutes ago and asked- how many people in the big stadium are wearing masks?
And I was told from all they could see, just 6 or 7
the catcher
the 5 or 6 umpires
and a great time was had by all
(and I think we are being had by the Bushies who still own a vast amount of the behind the scenes stuff)
I told you about numbers yesterday.
nothing from nothing leaves nothing
and there has been NO major increase.
and not one person looked worried or wore a mask in my journey through the big city
and I personally know 10 family members I love dearly, who went to this afternoon's NY Met game at Citi field
and today is a kids day, with I believe 1000s and 1000s of kids (most from the borough of Queens near Shea (oops, I mean Citi field is), all within a 10 minute or less drive of the school that was infected.
I texted one of them a few minutes ago and asked- how many people in the big stadium are wearing masks?
And I was told from all they could see, just 6 or 7
the catcher
the 5 or 6 umpires
and a great time was had by all
(and I think we are being had by the Bushies who still own a vast amount of the behind the scenes stuff)
I told you about numbers yesterday.
nothing from nothing leaves nothing
and there has been NO major increase.
QUOTE(Snuffysmith @ Apr 29 2009, 03:02 PM)
WHO says no sign flu outbreak slowing
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20090429/ts_nm/...2hvc2F5c25vc2ln
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20090429/ts_nm/...2hvc2F5c25vc2ln
1/2 the articles you post say its real
1/2 the articles you post say its not
one could get very confused
(and when the public is distracted, odd things tend to happen below, while they are looking up)
QUOTE(graham4anything @ Apr 29 2009, 08:15 PM)
QUOTE(Snuffysmith @ Apr 29 2009, 03:02 PM)
WHO says no sign flu outbreak slowing
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20090429/ts_nm/...2hvc2F5c25vc2ln
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20090429/ts_nm/...2hvc2F5c25vc2ln
1/2 the articles you post say its real
1/2 the articles you post say its not
one could get very confused
(and when the public is distracted, odd things tend to happen below, while they are looking up)
I agree. Common Ground here. None of this adds up.
http://www.reuters.com/article/topNews/idU...0090429?sp=true
WHO raises flu threat level, warning pandemic imminent
By Laura MacInnis and Stephanie Nebehay
GENEVA (Reuters) - The World Health Organization warned on Wednesday that a global flu pandemic was imminent, raising its threat level as the swine flu virus spread and killed the first person outside of Mexico, a toddler in Texas.
"Influenza pandemics must be taken seriously precisely because of their capacity to spread rapidly to every country in the world," WHO Director General Margaret Chan told a news conference in Geneva.
"The biggest question is this: how severe will the pandemic be, especially now at the start," Chan said, but added the world "is better prepared for an influenza pandemic than at any time in history."
Nearly a week after the H1N1 virus, or swine flu, first emerged in California and Texas and was found to have caused deaths in Mexico, Spain reported the first case in Europe of swine flu in a person who had not been to Mexico, illustrating the danger of person-to-person transmission.
Chan raised the WHO alert level to Phase 5, its second highest warning that a pandemic, or global outbreak of a serious new illness, is imminent.
The new alert a signal to governments and businesses to take action, and to pharmaceutical companies to ramp up antiviral drug production and capacity, she said.
Almost all cases outside of Mexico have had only light symptoms, and only a handful of cases have needed hospitalization.
But in Mexico, where up to 159 people have died from the virus and around 1,300 more are being tested for infection, people struggled with an emergency that has brought normal life virtually to a standstill over the past week.
"I'm depressed. I don't understand where this came from, how it spreads, how long it will last or what it will to the economy," an elderly woman named Licha said, sitting on a Mexico City park bench and wearing a surgical mask.
MORE COUNTRIES, MORE CASES
Germany and Austria reported cases of the illness, bringing the number of affected countries to 9.
U.S. officials said a 22-month-old boy had died in Texas -- the first confirmed U.S. swine flu death -- while on a family visit from Mexico. Officials warned more deaths could be expected as surveillance of the illness increases.
President Barack Obama, facing the sudden flu emergency along with his broader drive to pull the United States out of its deep recession, said the Texas death showed it was time to take "utmost precautions."
About 30 U.S. Marines in southern California on the biggest military base in the United States were quarantined after one of them was confirmed to have contracted the illness.
Despite jitters, many global markets rose as traders sought hopeful signs through the gloom of the worldwide financial crisis.
"The market doesn't seem to be affected by this too much," said Cleveland Rueckert, market analyst at Birinyi Associates Inc. Stamford, Connecticut.
WORRIES FOR MEXICO
Mexico's central bank warned that the outbreak could deepen the recession, hurting an economy that already shrank by as much as 8 percent in the first quarter.
France said it would seek a European Union ban on Thursday on flights to Mexico. Argentina and Cuba have stopped flights from Mexico, and Ecuador restricted charters to and from the country.
The EU, the United States and Canada have advised against non-essential travel to Mexico, a popular tourist destination, with many of the cases linked to travel there.
H1N1 swine flu is seen as the biggest risk since H5N1 avian flu re-emerged in 2003, killing 257 people of 421 infected in 15 countries. In 1968 a "Hong Kong" flu pandemic killed about 1 million people globally, and a 1957 pandemic killed about 2 million.
Around the world, governments have built up stockpiles of two antiviral drugs -- Relenza, made by GlaxoSmithKline and Tamiflu, made by Roche AG and Gilead Sciences Inc..
Seasonal flu kills 250,000 to 500,000 people in a normal year, including healthy children in rich countries.
Health agencies advise frequent hand-washing and covering sneezes and coughs to help stop the spread. Experts generally agree that face masks, especially the surgical masks seen on the streets of Mexico City, offer little protection.
(Reporting by Maggie Fox, Doina Chiacu and Will Dunham in Washington, Jason Lange, Catherine Bremer Alistair Bell and Helen Popper in Mexico City, Eric Burroughs and Tan Ee Lyn in Hong Kong; Writing by Andrew Quinn, editing by Anthony Boadle and Frances Kerry)
WHO raises flu threat level, warning pandemic imminent
By Laura MacInnis and Stephanie Nebehay
GENEVA (Reuters) - The World Health Organization warned on Wednesday that a global flu pandemic was imminent, raising its threat level as the swine flu virus spread and killed the first person outside of Mexico, a toddler in Texas.
"Influenza pandemics must be taken seriously precisely because of their capacity to spread rapidly to every country in the world," WHO Director General Margaret Chan told a news conference in Geneva.
"The biggest question is this: how severe will the pandemic be, especially now at the start," Chan said, but added the world "is better prepared for an influenza pandemic than at any time in history."
Nearly a week after the H1N1 virus, or swine flu, first emerged in California and Texas and was found to have caused deaths in Mexico, Spain reported the first case in Europe of swine flu in a person who had not been to Mexico, illustrating the danger of person-to-person transmission.
Chan raised the WHO alert level to Phase 5, its second highest warning that a pandemic, or global outbreak of a serious new illness, is imminent.
The new alert a signal to governments and businesses to take action, and to pharmaceutical companies to ramp up antiviral drug production and capacity, she said.
Almost all cases outside of Mexico have had only light symptoms, and only a handful of cases have needed hospitalization.
But in Mexico, where up to 159 people have died from the virus and around 1,300 more are being tested for infection, people struggled with an emergency that has brought normal life virtually to a standstill over the past week.
"I'm depressed. I don't understand where this came from, how it spreads, how long it will last or what it will to the economy," an elderly woman named Licha said, sitting on a Mexico City park bench and wearing a surgical mask.
MORE COUNTRIES, MORE CASES
Germany and Austria reported cases of the illness, bringing the number of affected countries to 9.
U.S. officials said a 22-month-old boy had died in Texas -- the first confirmed U.S. swine flu death -- while on a family visit from Mexico. Officials warned more deaths could be expected as surveillance of the illness increases.
President Barack Obama, facing the sudden flu emergency along with his broader drive to pull the United States out of its deep recession, said the Texas death showed it was time to take "utmost precautions."
About 30 U.S. Marines in southern California on the biggest military base in the United States were quarantined after one of them was confirmed to have contracted the illness.
Despite jitters, many global markets rose as traders sought hopeful signs through the gloom of the worldwide financial crisis.
"The market doesn't seem to be affected by this too much," said Cleveland Rueckert, market analyst at Birinyi Associates Inc. Stamford, Connecticut.
WORRIES FOR MEXICO
Mexico's central bank warned that the outbreak could deepen the recession, hurting an economy that already shrank by as much as 8 percent in the first quarter.
France said it would seek a European Union ban on Thursday on flights to Mexico. Argentina and Cuba have stopped flights from Mexico, and Ecuador restricted charters to and from the country.
The EU, the United States and Canada have advised against non-essential travel to Mexico, a popular tourist destination, with many of the cases linked to travel there.
H1N1 swine flu is seen as the biggest risk since H5N1 avian flu re-emerged in 2003, killing 257 people of 421 infected in 15 countries. In 1968 a "Hong Kong" flu pandemic killed about 1 million people globally, and a 1957 pandemic killed about 2 million.
Around the world, governments have built up stockpiles of two antiviral drugs -- Relenza, made by GlaxoSmithKline and Tamiflu, made by Roche AG and Gilead Sciences Inc..
Seasonal flu kills 250,000 to 500,000 people in a normal year, including healthy children in rich countries.
Health agencies advise frequent hand-washing and covering sneezes and coughs to help stop the spread. Experts generally agree that face masks, especially the surgical masks seen on the streets of Mexico City, offer little protection.
(Reporting by Maggie Fox, Doina Chiacu and Will Dunham in Washington, Jason Lange, Catherine Bremer Alistair Bell and Helen Popper in Mexico City, Eric Burroughs and Tan Ee Lyn in Hong Kong; Writing by Andrew Quinn, editing by Anthony Boadle and Frances Kerry)
- 6 Probable Cases of Swine Flu in Md. | NBC Washington Apr 29, 2009 ... There are now six probable cases of swine flu in Maryland, according to Gov. Martin O'Malley.
www.nbcwashington.com/news/local/6-Probable-C... - 7 hours ago -
- Swine flu in Maryland: 6 probably swine flu cases in Maryland ... Apr 29, 2009 ... Maryland officials say the state has its first probable cases of swine flu, including two among public school students.
www.baltimoresun.com/news/nation/bal-swine-fl...
http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/nation/ba...0,7429946.story - HealthMap | Global disease alert map Swine flu in Maryland: 6 probably swine flu cases in Maryland -- ... » Officials : Probable Cases Of Swine Flu Found In Wisconsin - Madison ... » ...
healthmap.org/swineflu
http://healthmap.org/swineflu - Local Officials Prepare for Arrival of Swine Flu - ...Frank Calia, an infectious-disease specialist who chairs the department of medicine at the University of Maryland School of Medicine, said that swine flu ...
www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/04/27/A... -
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/conte...9042702811.html - Six probable cases of swine flu in Maryland - wtop.com Apr 29, 2009 ... WASHINGTON - There are six probable cases of swine flu in Maryland, state health officials say. Maryland Gov. Martin O'Malley says samples ...
www.wtop.com/?nid=25&sid=1664016
MARYLAND CASES
Parents Debate Sending Children To School as Officials Urge Caution
Washington Post Staff Writers
Thursday, April 30, 2009
The word came so late in the school day yesterday that officials couldn't send a letter to parents, so they resorted to e-mails and phone calls: A student at Folger McKinsey Elementary School in Severna Park was one of six "probable" cases of swine flu in Maryland.
"I heard this morning that a toddler died in Texas. And now suddenly there's a case in my back yard," said Beth Pendergast, whose daughter Danielle is a third-grader at Folger. "To be honest, my family is scared, and I'm scared. Even though they're taking all the precautions, it's still my child. At this point, there's no way I'm sending her to school tomorrow."
The six people represent the first possible cases of swine flu to reach the Washington region, setting off debates for parents about whether to send children to school as officials urged residents to remain calm and said that efforts to stockpile medications were expanding.
The six "probable" cases are the Folger student and two family members who live in Anne Arundel County and three people in Baltimore County, including a high school student, Gov. Martin O'Malley (D) and state health department officials said at an afternoon news conference.
Additionally, 10 students at the University of Delaware are thought to be infected with the virus, which is spreading around the world and has led to at least one death in the United States. A toddler from Mexico City died Monday in Texas.
Health officials said that none of the three Anne Arundel family members had traveled abroad recently but that a fourth family member had recently been to Mexico, where the virus appears to have originated.
Two of the Baltimore County cases are members of the same family, and one has recently been to Mexico. The third case is not related to the other two, and officials did not provide details on that person's background.
Maryland and Delaware health officials said that the federal Centers for Disease Control in Prevention were testing the suspected cases and that the results could be released today. None of the infections appeared to be life-threatening, none of the people had been hospitalized and most appeared to be recovering.
The public should be prepared for more infections, officials said. In addition to the six Maryland cases that have been sent to the CDC in Atlanta for confirmation, six other samples were being analyzed by a state lab for preliminary signs of swine flu.
No cases had been reported in the District or Virginia.
Officials continued to urge people to take common-sense precautions, such as frequently washing hands, covering their mouths when coughing and staying home if feeling ill.
"This is not a time for alarm, but rather heightened awareness and care for our families, ourselves and each other," O'Malley said.
Folger McKinsey was scrubbed with disinfectant last night, and health authorities told school officials that it was safe for it to be open today.
But some parents said they were so concerned that they might keep their children home.
"We're trying to figure out the timeline of it, how much time has already passed, how many days our children might have been exposed to it, how it could have come here in the first place," said Karen Reynolds, who has two children at the school. "It's a little scary."
Karen Troy, who has two children at Folger, said she was not sending them to school today. "I'm not going to send them back to a place where children may have been incubating this illness," she said. "We're hoping they will come to their senses and close the school. We all know how it spreads, so why not contain it?"
The Baltimore County high school student attends Milford Mill Academy in the western part of the county, near Windsor Mill. Students gathered outside yesterday said they had received word about their schoolmate from the news and text messages from their parents.
"Our classes are packed," said Jasmine Nelson, a 10th-grader. "We could be sitting next to somebody who has it."
The University of Delaware campus remained open yesterday, but the state Division of Public Health commandeered a gym, and 103 health professionals screened students. The workers recorded symptoms and directed those who appeared to be at risk to nurses who determined whether they should be supplied with Tamiflu and an inhaler.
Many of the students said they had been ordered to the gym by their parents, who called after learning that four university students who became ill Monday were thought to have the virus. Six additional students treated at the university Tuesday also showed signs of the virus.
"We were in Mexico a month ago on spring break," said Kelly McGraw, 20, of West Chester, Pa. "I have a little bit of a cold. I just wanted to be sure."
Heidi Truschel-Light, media relations director for the Delaware Division of Public Health, said that more than 250 students were evaluated and that at least 60 were given precautionary doses of antiviral medication.
Of the 10 students thought to be infected, at least one had traveled to Mexico for spring break, but others had not.
"We're involved in an ongoing process of notifying people who have had close contact with these students," Truschel-Light said.
Staff writers Michael Birnbaum, Michael Alison Chandler, Ashley Halsey III, Steve Hendrix, Nelson Hernandez, Susan Kinzie, Valerie Strauss, Theresa Vargas, William Wan and Matt Zapotosky and staff researcher Meg Smith contributed to this report.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/conte...ST2009042703878
- Swine Flu Suspected in Region; World Warned of Likely Pandemic (Post, April 30; 12:00 AM)
- System Set Up After SARS Epidemic Was Slow to Alert Global Authorities (Post, April 30; 12:00 AM)
- Parents Debate Sending Children To School as Officials Urge Caution (Post, April 30; 12:00 AM)
- Swine Flu Devastates Mexico's Tourism Industry (Post, April 30; 12:00 AM)
- Two Towns, Divided by a Border -- and by Perception of Risk in Outbreak (Post, April 30; 12:00 AM)
- OPM Chief Thinks Telecommuting Has a Nice Ring to It (Post, April 30; 12:00 AM)
- 3 More New York City Schools Close Due to Suspected Swine Flu (Post, April 29; 6:30 PM)
- Little Boy at the Center of a Viral Storm (Post, April 29; 12:00 AM)
- So Much for the Specter of a Flu Pandemic (Post, April 29; 12:00 AM)
- Experts Study Differences in Flu's Severity (Post, April 29; 12:00 AM)
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