Swine Flu Outbreak Triggers Public Health Emergency

[okarol]

Swine Flu Outbreak Triggers Public Health Emergency
By Peggy Peck, Executive Editor, MedPage Today
Published: April 26, 2009
WASHINGTON, April 26 -- The Obama administration today declared a public health emergency as a "precautionary move" to combat the swine flu outbreak, which has grown from two U.S. cases to 20 in less than a week.

At a White House press briefing Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano said the federal government would release 25% of the 50 million treatment courses of oseltamivir (Tamiflu) and zanamivir (Relenza) in the national stockpile.

The antivirals will be released to the states, "concentrating first on those states that have confirmed cases."

Napolitano said the Department of Defense had another 9 million courses of antivirals in its stockpile, but said those would be reserved for DoD use.

The CDC confirmed eight cases in New York City, seven in California, two in Texas, two in Kansas, and one in Ohio.

Richard Besser, M.D., Acting Director of the CDC, said that the U.S. cases have all been mild, but he cautioned that he expected to see "more serious illness" in the coming days.

In a conference call with reporters, Anne Schuchat, M.D., interim deputy director of the CDC's science and health programs, also braced the American public for more severe disease.

"I do fear that we will have deaths here," she said.

She said it was too early to definitively say that the virus was causing more severe disease in Mexico because the CDC was still gathering information on the cases in that country.

The agency continues to explore why the virus appears to be affecting mostly younger adults, she said.

One hypothesis is that older individuals are being spared because of previous exposure to H1N1 viruses over the course of a lifetime, she said.

According to Dr. Besser the CDC has compiled "seed stock" from this new virus so that "we will be able to develop a vaccine, if that is necessary." He said the CDC has already contacted vaccine manufacturers to discuss that possibility.

He noted what might be a fortunate aspect to the outbreak. "We are at the end of the seasonal flu season, so we expect to see a decrease in the number of cases," Dr. Besser said. He said this seasonal flux might be a limiting factor for swine flu as well.

Additional reporting by Todd Neale.

http://www.medpagetoday.com/InfectiousDisease/URItheFlu/13903

[RightSide]

You can track the outbreaks of flu and many other diseases with the map at:

http://healthmap.org/

[MandaMe1986]

I was watching the news last night and they were talking about how down in Mexico the price of medical masks have gone from 1 peso to 30 pesos. That is like .7 cents to over 2 dollars.  How can you increase price on something like that at a time like this. Its discusting....

[David13]

I also heard they are now trying to change the name of the flu from Swine flu to something else because it is beginning to effect pork sales (people incorrectly think they can catch it by eating pork products). 

[dwcrawford]

first death in Houston annonced this morning.  little boy.  but he got sick  in Mexico (or the border) and was transferred here.  His family have no symptoms but are being watched before then can go home.

What do you think about wearing a mask in dialysis tonight? 
rude?

[dwcrawford]

http://www.hcnonline.com/articles/2009/04/29/pasadena_citizen/news/043009_toddler_death.prt

[MandaMe1986]

I also heard they are now trying to change the name of the flu from Swine flu to something else because it is beginning to effect pork sales (people incorrectly think they can catch it by eating pork products). 

Yeah last night they were saying that The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention say no

http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/world/04/29/09/farm-groups-look-change-swine-flu-name

first death in Houston annonced this morning.  little boy.  but he got sick  in Mexico (or the border) and was transferred here.  His family have no symptoms but are being watched before then can go home.

What do you think about wearing a mask in dialysis tonight? 
rude?

I don't think so Dan.  In fact I think they should make everyone in treatment wear one if it is in your state until it is under control.

And that poor little boy.  It is so sad.

[paris]

I have put a large bottle of sanitizer by my front door.  My husband works at the airport and deals with hundreds of travelers a day.  He is on several computers throughout the airport and I can only imagine the germs.  So, I am asking all who enter to just do a quick squirt until this flu thing is over.   I am not panicking, but will just be a little more careful.   

[dwcrawford]

my nurse Tan didn't even know about it until I show it to here on the news Monday nite.

[MandaMe1986]

Yeah my dad didn't know about it on Sunday when I was talking about it.   People out here don't seem to be to worried.  We have a few cases that might be swine flu but they won't know until they get the test back. Last night they said it would take 24 hours.  If it is I guess I will stay away from going out to much and parks and stuff.  I hope they figure it all out soon. To many people have died already from it.

[dwcrawford]

Is it true that D patients have a lower immune system?  Does everybody know that the flu shot doesn't cover pigs?

[willowtreewren]

This is a JOKE!

This easiest way not to catch Swine Flu is to avoid the situation below:



 

Sent to me by the music teacher at school...

Aleta

[rocker]

That picture made the rounds in email, but with quite a rude caption on it.