“Remember I said it standing here, if you don’t remember anything else I said,” Biden continued. “Watch, we’re going to have an international crisis, a generated crisis, to test the mettle of this guy.<<<
Take a look at post 6999, it gives an idea as to the financial reach of a pandemic.
I suspect that it is correct, as in one of those googles that I did, there were several countries that had already blocked imports from Mexico.
I have posted several related posts with out pinging them, as I did not want to clog your ping file.
I suspect that this the page for the martial law plan, they are all pdf and I have too many tabs open to attempt a pdf...
http://www.hhs.gov/pandemicflu/plan/#overview
HHS Pandemic Influenza Plan
Visit PandemicFlu.gov for one-stop access to U.S. Government avian and pandemic flu information. HHS is responsible for Pandemic Influenza Planning, outlined below.
PandemicFlu.gov
Documents in PDF format require the Adobe Acrobat Reader®. If you experience problems with PDF documents, please download the latest version of the Reader®.
The HHS Pandemic Influenza Plan is a blueprint for pandemic influenza preparation and response. It provides guidance to national, state, and local policy makers and health departments.
The HHS Plan includes an overview of the threat of pandemic influenza, a description of the relationship of this document to other Federal plans and an outline of key roles and responsibilities during a pandemic. In addition, it specifies needs and opportunities to build robust preparedness for and response to pandemic influenza.
The HHS Plan has three parts, the first two of which are contained in this document. Part 1, the HHS Strategic Plan, outlines federal plans and preparation for public health and medical support in the event of a pandemic. It identifies key roles of HHS and its agencies in a pandemic and provides planning assumptions for federal, state and local governments and public health operations plans. Part 2, Public Health Guidance for State and Local Partners, provides detailed guidance to state and local health departments in 11 key areas. Part 3, which is currently under development, will consist of HHS Agencies’ Operational Plans. Each HHS component will prepare, maintain, update and exercise an operational plan that itemizes their specific roles and responsibilities in the event of a pandemic.
PLEASE NOTE: Since the initial release of the HHS Plan in 2005, HHS has updated guidance on several topics covered in the original plan. The most current information on Pandemic planning and preparation can be found at PandemicFlu.gov. Direct links to updated guidance on Community Planning and Antiviral Drug Use are provided below:
* Interim Pre-pandemic Planning Guidance: Community Strategy for Pandemic Influenza Mitigation in the United States - Early Targeted Layered use of Non-Pharmaceutical Interventions
* Proposed Guidance on Antiviral Drug Use during an Influenza Pandemic
View and Print Plan by Section
* HHS Pandemic Influenza Plan Fact Sheet
* Overview of Plan
* Part 1 – HHS Strategic Plan
* Part 2 – Public Health Guidance for State and Local Partners
or
View and Print Entire Plan (PDF)
(396 pages, 6MB)
[Many pdf links follow]
Latest pandemic news:
Community Strategy for Pandemic Influenza Mitigation
http://pandemicflu.gov/plan/community/commitigation.html
http://www.hhs.gov/pandemicflu/plan/
—
News site for Gov on flu:
http://www.getreadyforflu.org/pg_faq.htm
Social media
*
Get Ready for Flu Blog
*
Get Ready for Flu Blog: Index of entries
*
Get Ready Report podcasts
*
Get Ready News Twitter
*
Sign up for a Get Ready RSS feed
Materials
*
Get Ready fact sheets and materials
*
Get Ready Calendar of Events
*
Get Ready Advice from Experts — Q&As
*
Get Ready Now! (quarterly newsletter)
Tools
* Get Ready logos (free downloads)
* Get Ready Glossary
* Get Ready merchandise (buttons and T-shirts)
Resources
* Get Ready resources and links
* Get Ready Kids Fun Site
* Get Ready Song Contest
* APHA influenza resources for health professionals
For more about the Get Ready campaign, see our About Us page.
http://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/ws/index.php?pid=6270
723 - Remarks Upon Signing the National Swine Flu Immunization Program of 1976.
August 12, 1976
http://www.brookings.edu/articles/2001/fall_globalhealth_barks-ruggles.aspx
Old and New Disease Risks
In December 1999 the National Intelligence Council released an unprecedented unclassified assessment of the threat that new and reemerging diseases pose to the United States and other countries. The report highlighted a few key facts. First, infectious diseases are a leading cause of death worldwide, accounting for one-quarter to one-third of all deaths globally in 1998. Second, 20 diseases that had been in decline reemerged or spread geographically between 1973 and 1999, including new multiple-drug-resistant strains of tuberculosis, malaria, and cholera. And third, 29 previously unknown diseases were identified in the same period, including HIV/AIDS, Ebola, and hepatitis C. There are no cures for many of these diseases.
The United States, despite its sophisticated medical care and infrastructure, has not been immune to this trend. Between 1980 and 1999, deaths due to infectious diseases doubled. Multiple-drug-resistant forms of TB and staphylococcus alone kill more than 14,000 Americans annually. HIV/AIDS is experiencing a resurgence, especially among minorities and women. In 1999, new HIV infections rose from 40,000 annually to 46,000, according to the Institute of Medicine. However, only 70 percent of Americans infected with HIV know their sero-status, and many who do know are failing to protect and educate themselves. Unprotected sex in some high-risk gay communities has risen to 50 percent, and a survey released by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) in December 2000 found that 40 percent of the 5,600 Americans questioned believed that AIDS could be transmitted by sharing a glass with or being coughed on by an infected person.
Though some lessons have been learned from the struggle against HIV/AIDS, the U.S. health care system is ill equipped to deal with large-scale outbreaks of new or rare diseases. As evidenced by the outbreak of West Nile virus in New York in August 1999, an unknown and relatively weak virus can easily gain a foothold and quickly spread. Although only 82 people had been infected by the end of 2000 and only 8 had died, more than 4,000 birds and 59 horses had tested positive or died from the virus. Even though the CDC alone spent nearly $10 million in 1999 and 2000 to contain West Nile virus, it spread from 3 states in 1999 to 12 states and the District of Columbia by the end of 2000, and its spread continues.
Crops and Animals at Risk
The risks posed by new and reemerging diseases are not limited to humans. Crop and livestock diseases can exact steep health and economic costs. As seen during recent disease outbreaks in Europe, global trade’s transfer of products, animals, and people around the world can speed the spread of infection. The British government anticipates paying around 1 billion pounds to farmers in compensation for culling animals potentially exposed to foot-and-mouth disease. With large parts of the countryside closed to both foot and vehicle traffic, losses to Britain’s tourism industry are expected to top 5 billion pounds. More than 4.5 million animals in Britain have been slaughtered, and others have been killed in France, the Netherlands, and other European countries where the disease spread. Likewise, in Britain, bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE or “mad cow” disease) killed nearly 200,000 cattle. Nearly 5 million more were preemptively slaughtered. As of last November, 90 people had died from variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease (vCJD), a malady linked to eating animals infected with BSE. By December, the cost of BSE in the United Kingdom alone was estimated by the British government to exceed 1.5 billion pounds.
The United States is the world’s largest food producer and exporter. Agricultural products contributed more than $97.2 billion to the U.S. economy in 1997, and the Agriculture Department estimates that farm exports alone contributed more than $49 billion to the U.S. economy in 1999. The potential for harm to the nation’s agricultural industry from alien pests and diseases is enormous.
Lethal Tourists and Cargo?
According to the Agriculture Department, the number of passengers traveling to the United States increased from 27 million in 1984 to 66 million in 1996. More than 400 million U.S. border crossings were recorded in 1996, and in 1998 more than 422,000 cargo-bearing aircraft were inspected on landing in the United States. This flood of people and goods has exacerbated the already difficult job of controlling who and what enters and exits the nation. Each incoming passenger and cargo load could harbor new and deadly diseases or pests. With the increasing globalization of American food sources, including snow peas from Guatemala, apples from Chile, and mangoes from India, the threat from diseases and pests to American crops and people is growing. According to the Department of Commerce, farm imports into the United States increased 65 percent between 1991 and 1999, and that trend is expected to continue as the food supply becomes more global.
In addition, invasive species?both plant and animal?that are controlled or balanced in their native environments increasingly threaten indigenous species in the United States. Conservation researchers cited by the Agriculture Department have found that invasive alien plant infestations cover more than 100 million acres in the United States and are spreading at the rate of 14 percent a year. The department estimates that its agents intercept more than 1.8 million illegal agricultural products a year, stopping more than 52,000 plant and animal pests and diseases from entering the United States. But inspecting bags and cargo and destroying their contents may not keep out viruses and bacteria. Carried by humans, animals, plants, soil, foodstuffs, water, and the very planes and ships that bring foreign people and products to the United States, some diseases do not wait to pass inspection.
Are Diseases Gaining the Upper Hand?
continued.
http://www.upmc-biosecurity.org/
Update on Swine Influenza, April 25, 2009
Media outlets are reporting this afternoon that confirmed and probable cases of the new strain of H1N1 swine influenza have been discovered in Kansas, New York, and California. These reports have not been independently verified by public health officials or diagnostic testing at the time of this writing. Reportedly the cases are clinically mild. Read the rest of this article on the Clinicians’ Biosecurity Network.
Biosecurity News in Brief: April 24, 2009
Swine flu cases without exposure • Mexico closes schools in flu scare • Unique meningitis outbreak in U.S. • Japan’s H5N1 vaccination Policy • Significant improvements in hospital disaster preparedness • Mobile phones to tackle infectious disease • Human trials of malaria vaccine • Missing samples likely destroyed • Malaria • Why are anti-HIV antibodies ineffective? • More meningitis vaccine needed in West Africa • NIH Grants $35 million to UNC-CH. Read Now.
Sign up now to receive news and developments related to biosecurity and other 21st century threats.
Sign up for Biosecurity Briefing
What’s New
Hospitals Rising to the Challenge: The First Five Years of the U.S. Hospital Preparedness Program and Priorities Going Forward: Since 2002, states, territories, and major cities have received nearly $3 billion from the federal government’s Hospital Preparedness Program to improve the readiness of U.S. hospitals for mass casualty disasters. The Center has just completed a year-long evaluation of that program, through which we found that U.S. hospitals and their surrounding communities have achieved significant improvements in preparedness. Executive Summary | Full Report
(posted April 23, 2009).
WMD Commission Appoints Colonel Randall Larsen as Exec. Director. Col. Randall Larsen, the national security advisor to the Center for Biosecurity, has been appointed as Executive Director of the Commission on the Prevention of Weapons of Mass Destruction Proliferation and Terrorism (WMD Commission), which was recently extended for 1 year. Led by former Senator Bob Graham (D-FL), Chairman, and former Senator Jim Talent (R-MO), Vice-Chairman, the bi-partisan Commission was established to address WMD proliferation. The December 2008 report, World At Risk, presented the Commission’s findings. Press Release | Bio for Col. Larsen (posted April 16, 2009).
U.S. Biosecurity and the Center’s Work: This series of interviews with Tara O’Toole, Tom Inglesby, DA Henderson, and senior staff of the Center was broadcast on March 17, 2009, on Homeland Security Inside and Out, co-hosted by Col. Randy Larsen and Dave McIntyre. Listen online (posted April 2, 2009).
New Center Publications
Biosecurity Memos to the Obama Administration: In response to the new administration’s stated commitment to strengthening American biosecurity, the Center has offered strategic recommendations regarding priorities for U.S. biosecurity as well as an array of specific program recommendations. These memos appear in the March issue of the journal Biosecurity and Bioterrorism. Read the memos (posted March 27, 2009).
.
http://www.upmc-biosecurity.org/website/resources/publications/2009/biomemo/index.html
Center Articles and Publications
Special Feature from Biosecurity and Bioterrorism
Biosecurity Memos to the Obama Administration
On inauguration day, President Obama posted his administration’s biosecurity priorities on the agenda page of the White House website. In the following memos, the Center for Biosecurity offers its views on an array of biosecurity challenges confronting the new Administration.
The first memo, by Tara O’Toole and Tom Inglesby, offers recommendations regarding strategic priorities for U.S. biosecurity. The memos that follow, by the Center’s senior staff and analysts, provide program recommendations in key areas: the biosecurity budget, prevention, biosurveillance, medical preparedness, public health preparedness, community engagement, and medical countermeasure development and manufacturing. These memos are intended to be of strategic and pragmatic value for the incoming officials in the Obama Administration who have responsibility for biosecurity in the White House and in the federal agencies.
* Strategic Priorities for U.S. Biosecurity (Tara O’Toole and Thomas Inglesby) PDF | HTML
* Funding Biodefense (Crystal Franco) PDF | HTML
* Preventing the Development and Use of Biological Weapons (Gigi Kwik Gronvall) PDF | HTML
* Preparing the Healthcare System for Catastrophic Emergencies (Brooke Courtney, Eric Toner, Richard Waldhorn) PDF | HTML
* Preserving Gains from Public Health Emergency Preparedness Cooperative Agreements (Jennifer B. Nuzzo, Michael Mair, Crystal Franco) PDF | HTML
* Developing a National Biosurveillance Program (Jennifer B. Nuzzo) PDF | HTML
* Expanding the Public’s Role in Health Emergency Policy (Monica Schoch-Spana, Brooke Courtney, Ann Norwood) PDF | HTML
* Developing Medical Countermeasures for Biodefense (Bradley T. Smith, Michael Mair, Gigi Kwik Gronvall, Jason Matheny) PDF | HTML
* Download PDF of All Memos
Subscribe to Biosecurity and Bioterrorism at www.liebertpub.com.
[This appears to be a newsletter from 2007, I am too tired to find a later edition...granny]
This is the html version of the file http://www.gene-watch.org/bubiodefense/pages/accidents5.7.07.pdf.
Google automatically generates html versions of documents as we crawl the web.
Page 1
Mistakes Happen: Accidents and Security Breaches at Biocontainment Facilities
last updated on 5/7/2007
Category
Date
Location
Accident Type
Agent
Description
Reference
Environmental
Releases
4/1/02
USAMRIID (Fort Detrick,
MD)
Accidental Release,
Exposure of Personnel
Anthrax (Biosafety
Levels 2, 3 and 4)
Researcher tested positive for exposure to
anthrax spores, which were also released into
adajacent hallway and office.
David Dishneau, “Fort Detrick worker tests
postive for anthrax exposure,”
Associated Press,
4/19/2002
4/2/02
USAMRIID (Fort Detrick,
MD)
Accidental Release,
Exposure of Personnel
Anthrax (Biosafety
Levels 2, 3 and 4)
One worker tests positive for anthrax exposure
after second leak at USAMRIID.
Rick Weiss & David Snyder, “Anthrax Leaks a
2nd Time at Army Lab,”
Washington Post,
4/24/2002, B1.
3/1/03
Federal Express
(Columbus, OH)
Environmental Release
West Nile Virus
(Biosafety Levels 2 and
3)
A package containing the West Nile virus
exploded in Federal Express building, exposing
workers to possible infection & causing offices
to be evacuated.
“Package Carrying West Nile Explodes at
Columbus Airport,”
Associated Press,
3/20/2003
6/1/03
USAMRIID (Fort Detrick,
MD)
Environmental Release
Brucellosis (Biosafety
Levels 2 and 3),
Anthrax (Biosafety
Levels 2,3, and 4),
Ebola (Biosafety Level
4) and others.
U.S. Army unearthed 113 bacteria-containing
vials during an excavation to eliminate toxic
chemicals & hazardous waste (including live
anthrax and ebola) buried between 1955 and
1970.
Lois Ember, “Fort Detrick Cleans Up,”
Chemical
& Engineering News,
6/2/2003, p. 12
Intentional Releases
11/28/03
(suspected) U.S. Army
laboratories or Brattelle
Memorial Institute
(Columbus, OH)
Intentional Release
Anthrax (Biosafety
Levels 2, 3 and 4)
Anthrax spores used in 2001 mail attacks,
killing five people, contained properties that
could only be manufactured in one of a small
number of sophisticated government or
corporate laboratories.
Gary Matsumoto, “Anthrax Powder: State of the
Art?”
Science,
Vol. 302, November 28, 2003,
p.1492-97
9/11/01
USAMRIID (Fort Detrick,
MD)
Intentional Release
Anthrax (Biosafety
Levels 2, 3 and 4)
Dry anthrax spores derived from USAMRIID were
used in the Sep 2001 mail attacks that resulted
in 5 deaths.
Timothy D. Read, et al. “Comparative Genomic
Sequencing for Discovery of Novel
Polymorphisms in Bacillus Anthracis,”
Science,
6/14/2002, Vol. 296, pp. 2028-33
Containment and
Security Failures
12/2/03
Plum Island Animal
Disease Laboratory,
USDA (Plum Island, NY)
Containment / Security
Failure
None Reported
3 Hour power failure undermined containment
systems, leading workers to seal windows &
doors with duct tape, air compressors failed.
Marc Santora, “Power Fails for Three Hours at
Plum Island Infectious Disease Lab,”
New York
Times,
December 20, 2002, p. B1
6/18/97
5/7/02
A 1997 inspection of the Biosafety Level 3
facilities at NIID conducted by a biosafety
consultant to the World Health Organization
concluded that there was a “strong possibility
that NIID, through its location and activities,
could be an unacceptable risk to public health
and safety”.
“Report Finds Easy Lab Access to Deadly
Pathogens,”
Reuters,
May 7, 2002
National Institute of
Infectious Diseases
(NIID), Toyama, Japan
Facility deemed a risk
to public health and
safety
U.S. Department of
Agriculture (various
sites)
Containment / Security
Failure
Dr. Christopher Collins and Dr. David Kennedy,
“Report of an Inspection Carried Out at the
National Institute of Infectious Diseases
Toyama, 1-23-1, Shinjuku-ku, Toykyo 162, on
18 June, 1997”
http://homepage2.nifty.com/sisibata/inspectio
n.pdf
None Reported
FBI investigation finds many USDA laboratories
that handle select agents are vulnerable to
theft, permit unauthorized visitors, and cannot
completely account for their pathogen holdings.
Various, at a Biosafety
Level 3 facility
The Council For
Responsible Genetics
5 Upland Roud, Suite 3
Cambridge, MA 02140
tel: 617.868.0870
fax: 617.491.5433
www.gene-watch.org
NO, I would not rely on herbs to cure swine flu, unless that was all that I had to use.
But I am all in favor of starting now to use the herbs, as a protection against getting it.
I am far too tired to try and figure out which to use, but there will be a lot to choose from the looks of page one.
granny
INFLUENZA A (H1N1) VIRUS, SWINE, HUMAN - NORTH AMERICA (03)
***********************************************************
A ProMED-mail post
http://www.promedmail.org
ProMED-mail is a program of the
International Society for Infectious Diseases
http://www.isid.org
In this update:
[1] WHO - Public Health Emergency of International Concern
USA
[2] CDC update
[3] New York City
[4] Kansas
Mexico
[5] Mexico
Elsewhere in the news:
[6] UK - flight attendant ex Mexico, suspected
******
[1] WHO - Public Health Emergency of International Concern
Date: 25 Mar 2009
Source: WHO website [edited]
http://www.who.int/mediacentre/news/statements/2009/h1n1_20090425/en/index.html
Statement by WHO director-general, Dr Margaret Chan [25 Apr 2009]
Swine influenza
After reviewing available data on the current situation, committee members
identified a number of gaps in knowledge about the clinical features,
epidemiology, and virology of reported cases and the appropriate responses.
The committee advised that answers to several specific questions were
needed to facilitate its work. The committee nevertheless agreed that the
current situation constitutes a public health emergency of international
concern.
Based on this advice, the director-general has determined that the current
events constitute a public health emergency of international concern, under
the regulations. Concerning public health measures, in line with the
regulations the director-general is recommending, on the advice of the
committee, that all countries intensify surveillance for unusual outbreaks
of influenza-like illness and severe pneumonia. The committee further
agreed that more information is needed before a decision could be made
concerning the appropriateness of the current phase 3.
Related links:
Swine influenza: http://www.who.int/csr/disease/swineflu/en/index.html
Current WHO phase of pandemic alert:
http://www.who.int/csr/disease/avian_influenza/phase/en/index.html
International Health Regulations (IHR): http://www.who.int/ihr/en/index.html
—
communicated by:
Kunihiko Iizuka
edcvfr3464@yahoo.co.jp
******
[2] USA - CDC update
Date: 25 Apr 2009
Source: CDC website [edited]
http://www.cdc.gov/swineflu/investigation.htm
Human swine influenza investigation: [25 Apr 2009] 19:30 EDT
US human cases of swine flu infection
Investigations are ongoing to determine the source of the infection and
whether additional people have been infected with similar swine influenza
viruses.
CDC is working very closely with state and local officials in California,
Texas, as well as with health officials in Mexico, Canada and the World
Health Organization. On [24 Apr 2009], CDC deployed 7 epidemiologists to
San Diego County, California and Imperial County, California and 1 senior
medical officer to Texas to provide guidance and technical support for the
ongoing epidemiologic field investigations. CDC has also deployed to Mexico
1 medical officer and 1 senior expert who are part of a global team that is
responding to the outbreak of respiratory illnesses in Mexico.
Influenza is thought to spread mainly person-to-person through coughing or
sneezing of infected people. There are many things you can to do preventing
getting and spreading influenza:
There are everyday actions people can take to stay healthy.
* Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Throw
the tissue in the trash after you use it.
* Wash your hands often with soap and water, especially after you cough or
sneeze. Alcohol-based hands cleaners are also effective.
* Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth. Germs spread that way. Try to
avoid close contact with sick people.
* Influenza is thought to spread mainly person-to-person through coughing
or sneezing of infected people.
* If you get sick, CDC recommends that you stay home from work or school
and limit contact with others to keep from infecting them.
—
communicated by:
ProMED-mail promed@promedmail.org
******
[3] USA - New York City
Date: 25 Apr 2009
Source: New York City Department of Health Press Release [edited]
http://www.nyc.gov/html/doh/html/pr2009/pr015-09.shtml
Probable cases of swine influenza found in students at school in Queens
In response to confirmed cases of swine influenza (swine flu) in Mexico,
California and Texas, the New York City Health Department is working
closely with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to assess
the possibility of the spread of swine flu. Swine flu is a respiratory
infection caused by influenza type A viruses that regularly cause outbreaks
of influenza in pigs. People do not normally get swine flu, but human
infections can occur. Human cases typically involve people who have had
direct contact with pigs, but person-to-person transmission is suspected
among recent cases in the south west.
The cases in Mexico have had a high fatality rate, but the 8 recently
confirmed cases from California and Texas have been mild. All of the
non-NYC patients have recovered.
The Health Department’s Public Health Laboratory has completed preliminary
viral testing on nose and throat swabs from 9 affected students. Eight of
the 9 tests are positive for influenza A. Because they do not match H1 and
H3 human subtypes of influenza A by available testing methods, they are
considered probable cases of swine flu. The specimens have been sent to the
CDC in Atlanta for confirmatory testing. Results of those tests are
expected on Sunday [26 Apr 2009]. (The attached chart outlines the steps
required for confirmation.)
Patients experiencing severe symptoms, such as difficulty breathing, should
seek health care and treatment. Otherwise, the Health Department recommends
at-home care. If affected students at the school in question have household
contacts at high risk for complications from influenza — young children,
the elderly, and people with chronic illness — those at risk should
receive preventive treatment. The most effective way to lower the risk of
transmission is for people with symptoms to stay home. All New Yorkers
should cover their mouths when they cough.
Swine influenza cannot be transmitted from eating pork or pork products.
The symptoms of swine flu in people appear to be similar to the symptoms of
regular human flu and include fever, cough, sore throat, body aches,
headache, chills, and fatigue. Some people have reported diarrhea and
vomiting associated with swine flu. Like seasonal flu, swine flu may cause
a worsening of underlying chronic medical conditions.
For facts about influenza, and more information about swine flu, please
visit the Health Department and CDC websites. Some specific resources:
From New York City Health Department: Facts about flu
http://www.nyc.gov/html/doh/html/cd/cdinflu.shtml
From Centers for Disease Control and Prevention:
General information about swine flu
http://www.cdc.gov/swineflu/general_info.htm
Swine flu case definitions <http://www.cdc.gov/swineflu/casedef_swineflu.htm
Swine flu infection control and patient care
http://www.cdc.gov/swineflu/guidelines_infection_control.htm
Preventing the flu http://www.cdc.gov/flu/protect/habits.htm
Chart: steps required to confirm suspected cases of swine flu
http://www.nyc.gov/html/doh/html/pr2009/pr015-09.shtml
Contact: (212) 788-5290
Jessica Scaperotti/Erin Brady: PressOffice@health.nyc.gov
—
communicated by:
ProMED-mail promed@promedmail.org
******
[4] USA - Kansas
Date: 25 Apr 2009
Source: Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) [edited]
http://www.kdheks.gov/swineflu/09-060%20Swine%20Flu%20News%20Release.pdf
KDHE reports 2 cases of swine flu in Kansas
One of the patients had recently traveled to Mexico, flying in and out of
Wichita. Both persons work in Saline County and became ill with the same
unique (H1N1) strain of swine flu that has been identified in Mexico,
California, and Texas. “It’s not yet known whether this will become the
next flu pandemic,” stated Dr Jason Eberhart-Phillips, state health officer
and director of the KDHE Division of Health. “We are working closely with
health agencies at all levels and are continuing to monitor these cases. We
are taking this situation very seriously.”
KDHE and the Dickinson County Health Department are investigating the
sources of exposure, and efforts are being coordinated with CDC.
Individuals who have been in contact with the patients are being
interviewed and tested. Local health departments and hospitals in Kansas
are being continuously updated and provided with information about the
swine flu virus.
In accordance with the Kansas Response Plan, KDHE is also monitoring and
instituting recommendations from CDC for any additional influenza disease
surveillance activities, reviewing plans to further enhance those
activities, and advising health care providers to use rapid detection tests
for persons who have symptoms consistent with swine flu, especially if they
have recently been in Mexico, and taking other steps under the plan.
The KDHE Office of Surveillance and Epidemiology received a report of
unusual flu-like illness from Dickinson County on Friday [24 Apr 2009]
afternoon. Respiratory specimens were collected from both patients and
received by KDHE later on Friday evening. At about 2 am Saturday, the
Kansas Health and Environmental Laboratories at KDHE reported preliminary
results that were positive for influenza A viruses. Between about 2:30 and
3 am, KDHE notified the Dickinson County Health Department of those
preliminary results, which notified the attending physician.
Around that same time, KDHE obtained the use of Governor Kathleen Sebelius’
plane to safely and securely transport the samples as rapidly as possible
to the CDC labs in Atlanta for confirmatory analysis to determine if the
viruses were of the (H1N1) strain. A staff member with the KDHE Center for
Public Health Preparedness handed the samples to a CDC representative at
about 6:10 am on Saturday, and the samples reached the labs at about 6:30
am KDHE convened staff in its Department Operations Center at 10 am on
Saturday, and was notified by CDC of the confirmatory results at 2:30 pm.
Prior to the recent outbreak in Mexico and the US, since 2005 12 cases of
human infection with swine influenza had been reported to CDC. Swine flu
infections in humans are rare, but are related to close proximity to
infected pigs, such as in pig production barns and livestock exhibits at
fairs. Neither of the current patients in Kansas reported having contact
with pigs.
For more information and updates, please visit the KDHE website at
www.kdheks.gov
Office of Communications
Curtis State Office Building, 1000 SW Jackson
Street, Suite 540, Topeka, KS 66612-1368
Contact: Maggie Thompson
mthompson@kdheks.gov
http://www.kdheks.gov
—
communicated by:
Philip Henika philiphe@yahoo.com
ProMED-mail rapporteur Mary Marshall
ProMED-mail promed@promedmail.org
******
[5] Mexico
Date: 25 Apr 2009 [edited]
Source: Yahoo News / Associated Press
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090426/ap_on_re_la_am_ca/med_swine_flu
Mexico fights swine flu with “pandemic potential”
New cases of swine flu were confirmed in Kansas and California and
suspected in New York City. But officials said they didn’t know whether the
New York cases were the strain that now has killed up to 81 people in
Mexico and likely sickened 1324 since [13 Apr 2009], according to figures
updated late Saturday [25 Apr 2009] by Mexico’s health secretary. Tests
have confirmed swine flu as the cause of death in 20 of the cases.
Mexican soldiers and health workers patrolled airports and bus stations as
they tried to corral people who may be infected with the swine flu, as it
became clearer that the government may have been slow to respond to the
outbreak in March and early April [2009].
Now, even detaining the ill may not keep the strain — a combination of
swine, bird and human influenza that people may have no natural immunity to
— from spreading, epidemiologists say. The World Health Organization on
Saturday [25 Apr 2009] asked countries around the world to step up
reporting and surveillance of the disease and implement a coordinated
response to contain it.
Two dozen new suspected cases were reported in Mexico City alone, where
authorities suspended schools and all public events until further notice.
More than 500 events, including concerts and sports games, were canceled in
the metropolis of 20 million. Mexican authorities ordered schools closed in
the capital and the states of Mexico and San Luis Potosi until [6 May
2009], and the Roman Catholic Church announced the cancellation of Sunday
masses in the capital.
The Mexican government issued a decree authorizing President Felipe
Calderon to invoke special powers letting the Health Department isolate
patients and inspect homes, incoming travelers and baggage. But officials
said it was designed to free health workers from possible legal reprisals
and to speed disease control efforts.
A team from the Centers for Disease Control had arrived in Mexico to help
set up detection testing for the swine flu strain, something Mexico
previously lacked. The US Embassy said the US has not imposed travel
constraints to and from Mexico but is suspending the processing of visas
and other services through Wednesday [29 Apr 2009] to avoid creating
crowds. It issued an earlier message advising US citizens to avoid large
crowds, shaking hands, greeting people with a kiss or using the subway.
While suspected swine flu cases have been reported in about 16 Mexican
states, health secretary Jose Cordova said “it has not spread to the entire
country.”
WHO director-general Margaret Chan said the outbreak of the
never-before-seen virus has “pandemic potential.” But she said it is still
too early to tell if it would become a pandemic. WHO lays out 3 criteria
necessary for a global epidemic: The virus is able to infect people, can
readily spread person-to-person, and the global population has no immunity
to it.
Early detection and treatment are key to stopping any outbreak. WHO
guidance calls for isolating the sick and blanketing everyone around them
with anti-viral drugs such as Tamiflu [oseltamivir]. Now, with patients
showing up all across Mexico and its teeming capital, simple math suggests
that kind of response is impossible. Mexico appears to have lost valuable
days or weeks in detecting the new virus. Health authorities started
noticing a threefold spike in flu cases in late March and early April
[2009], but they thought it was a late rebound in the December-February flu
season. Testing at domestic labs did not alert doctors to the new strain,
and Cordova acknowledged Mexican labs lacked the necessary profiling data
to detect the previously unknown strain.
The 1st death occurred in southern Oaxaca state on [13 Apr 2009], but
Mexico didn’t send the 1st of 14 mucous samples to CDC until [18 Apr 2009],
around the same time it dispatched health teams to hospitals looking for
patients with severe flu or pnuemonia-like symptoms. Those teams noticed
something strange: the flu was killing people aged 20 to 40. Flu victims
are usually either infants or the elderly. The Spanish flu pandemic, which
killed at least 40 million people worldwide in 1918-19, also 1st struck
otherwise healthy young adults.
Even though US labs detected the swine flu in California and Texas before
last weekend, Mexican authorities as recently as Wednesday [22 Apr 2009]
were referring to it as a late-season flu. But mid-afternoon Thursday [23
Apr 2009], Mexico City health secretary Dr Armando Ahued said, officials
got a call “from the United States and Canada, the most important
laboratories in the field, telling us this was a new virus.”
“That was what led us to realize it wasn’t a seasonal virus ... and take
more serious preventative measures,” Cordova said. Asked why there were so
many deaths in Mexico, and none so far among the 11 cases in the United
States, Cordova noted that the US cases involved children — who haven’t
been among the fatal cases in Mexico, either. “There are immune factors
that are giving children some sort of defense, that is the only explanation
we have,” he said. Another factor may be that some Mexican patients may
have delayed seeking medical help too long, Cordova said. Some Mexicans
suspected the government had been less than forthcoming. “They always make
a big deal about good things that happen, but they really try to hide
anything bad,” [a Mexico City paralegal] said.
Airports around the world were screening travelers from Mexico for flu
symptoms. But containing the disease may not be an option. “Anything that
would be about containing it right now would purely be a political move,”
said Michael Osterholm, a University of Minnesota pandemic expert.
Scientists have warned for years about the potential for a pandemic from
viruses that mix genetic material from humans and animals. This swine flu
and regular flu can have similar symptoms — mostly fever, cough and sore
throat, though some of the US victims who recovered also experienced
vomiting and diarrhea. But unlike with regular flu, humans don’t have
natural immunity to a virus that includes animal genes — and new vaccines
can take months to bring into use.
A “seed stock” genetically matched to the new swine flu virus has been
created by CDC, said Dr Richard Besser, the agency’s acting director. If
the government decides vaccine production is necessary, manufacturers would
need that stock to get started.
Mexican authorities did lay to rest one persistent doubt, after Mexican
museum director Felipe Solis died this week, just days after accompanying
US President Barack Obama on a tour of National Anthropology Museum on [16
Apr 2009]. Cordova said Solis had a pre-existing illness and died of
pneumonia unrelated to influenza.
[bylines: Mark Stevenson. (David Koop in Mexico City; Frank Jordans in
Geneva; Mike Stobbe in Atlanta; Malcolm Ritter in New York; and Maria Cheng
in London contributed to this report.)]
—
communicated by:
Sara M Volk, PhD, sara.m.volk@gmail.com
Postdoctoral Fellow, Alphavirus Pathogenesis and Evolution
Department of Pathology
Center for Biodefense and Emerging Infectious Diseases:
http://www.utmb.edu/CBEID/virology.shtml
University of Texas Medical Branch
Galveston, Texas, USA
******
[6] UK - flight attendant ex Mexico, susp
Date: 26 Apr 2009
Source: BBC [edited]
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/8018887.stm
UK monitoring swine flu outbreak
At least 81 people in Mexico are now thought to have died from pneumonia
after contracting swine flu. Swine flu is a respiratory disease that
infects pigs and does not normally infect humans. However, sporadic cases
do occur, usually in people who have had close contact with pigs.
Precautionary tests
Health Protection Authority statement
Meanwhile, a male British Airways cabin crew member is undergoing
precautionary tests in a London hospital after falling ill with “flu-like”
symptoms on a flight from Mexico City. He was taken to Northwick Park
Hospital, in Harrow after landing at Heathrow airport at 1400 BST (1300
GMT) on Saturday [25 Apr 2009]. A hospital spokesman said: “He has flu-like
symptoms and is responding well to treatment.”The patient was admitted
directly to a side room and the hospital is scrupulously following
infection-control procedures to ensure there is no risk to any other
individual in the hospital.” [BBC Radio News at 0900 BST 26 Apr reported
that the tests were negative. - Mod.SH]
Antiviral drugs
However, the Foreign Office recommends that anyone visiting those
destinations — or who has recently returned — should consult a doctor if
they experience flu-like symptoms.
—
communicated by:
ProMED-mail promed@promedmail.org
[To summarize the latest findings since the last update:
WHO is now following the guidelines established in the new International
Health Regulations (IHR 2005), having convened a meeting of the Emergency
Committee, defining the H1N1 (also known as “swine flu”) outbreak a “public
health emergency of international concern. The current pandemic alert phase
is still at level 3 (see the chart with pandemic alert phases available at
http://www.who.int/csr/disease/avian_influenza/phase/en/index.html
with
a suggestion that this will be watched closely and may be altered depending
upon how the situation progresses.
In the USA, there have been cases identified in 2 additional states, New
York City (in New York State) and in Kansas. In New York City, there has
been an outbreak in a non-public school, with 8 probable cases out of about
200 children with an influenza like illness (ILI) — these cases had
influenza A viruses identified that did not match H1 and H3 human subtypes
of influenza A by available testing methods, so they are considered
probable cases of swine flu — and in Kansas there have been 2 cases
confirmed, one of whom recently travelled to Mexico. According to the CDC,
as of 7 PM EDT (GMT -4), there have been 7 confirmed cases in California
and 2 confirmed cases in Texas. With the addition of the 2 cases from
Kansas, there have been 11 cases confirmed thus far by the CDC. All cases
in the USA have been self limited with full recovery.
In Mexico, the case count is now 1324 (from about 1000 less than 24 hours
ago), with 81 reported deaths (up from 60 reported deaths less than 24
hours ago). Newswires describing the situation in Mexico are communicating
panic with the addition of significant political overtones, and “spin
doctors” are casting stones, blaming cover-ups and slow responses as
responsible for the outbreak “escaping”, and rumors of implicated swine
production farms as the foci where the outbreak allegedly began — an
unfortunate situation that seems to repeat itself every time there is a
major outbreak with many unknowns.
From the information that is becoming available, it does appear as though
there is significant human to human transmission ongoing of a novel
influenza virus. That translates into a large pool of susceptibles for the
virus to potentially infect. In the absence of a vaccine that will protect
against this novel strain, it is unclear if any measures could have been
effectively implemented that would have interrupted transmission earlier. A
situation that appears to be a reminder that mother nature is still the
most skilled bioterrorist out there.
The suspected case in an airline cabin crew member in the UK, having just
returned from Mexico, has — it seems — been discounted by initial tests.
According to the Health Protection Agency (HPA) of the United Kingdom, as
of 25 Apr 2009 there have not been any confirmed cases of this novel H1N1
virus infection in the UK and Europe (see
http://www.hpa.org.uk/web/HPAweb&HPAwebStandard/HPAweb_C/1240646410227
for the HPA update.
That being said, there are still many unknowns — will the transmission
chain “burn out” on its own? Are the more severe cases and fatalities
reported from Mexico an indication of a more pathogenic strain for young
otherwise healthy individuals or are the reported deaths in individuals
with underlying disease? - Mod.MPP]
[see also:
Influenza A (H1N1) virus, swine, human - N America (02) 20090425.1557
Influenza A (H1N1) virus, swine, human - N America 20090425.1552
Acute respiratory disease - Mexico, swine virus susp 20090424.1546
Influenza A (H1N1) virus, swine, human - USA (02): (CA, TX) 20090424.1541
Influenza A (H1N1) virus, swine, human - USA: (CA) 20090422.1516
Influenza A (H1N1) virus, swine, human - Spain 20090220.0715
2008
........................lm/mpp/sh
The first hour of Coast to Coast is replaying and this time I caught what Eian had said earlier.
When obama was in Mexico, on the 16th, he went to the museum and was greeted by a man with a name that sounded like Solis.
Solis died the next day. [Evidently from the flu...]
EU: Attacking the media
Several stories from the past couple of weeks, all involving attacks on the media. The reasons are different every time, but the bottom line is the same. As FOX News reported last month, they needed a police escort to film in an immigrant neighborhood and were advised at some point to just stay in the car.
Netherlands, April 13
Between ten and fifteen Moroccan youth troubled a reporting team of the television program Netwerk Monday. The team was in the Utrecht neighborhood of Zuilen working on a report. When the youth saw the camera, they got annoyed. They pushed a couple of journalists and threw candy, confirmed a spokesperson for Netwerk and the police Tuesday. The police quickly ended the disturbance, after which the team could go on with filming. “Let’s not make this particularly bigger than it was,” says the editor, who was part of the reporting team. “Nobody was injured, no instrument was destroyed. I’ve been through a lot worse.”
The images were broadcast on the actuality program Wednesday. Netwerk decided on a film portrait of Zuilen due to a number of incidents in the neighborhood. Various people were badgered out due to their sexual leanings. The show will not lodge a complain against the disorderly youth.
Source: Telegraaf (Dutch). See also Netwerk: Onrust Zuilen
Belgium, April 19
A VTM camera team was attacked this afternoon in Schaarbeek (Brussels). The reporter and a cameraman got a few punches and the discette was taken out of the camera. The incident was not direcly connected to the shooting incident this evening, according to Eric Goens, spokesperson for VTM.
The camera team was in Schaarbeek at the place where the shooting incident occurred in order to shoot general images. A youth of immigrant origin riding a scooter wrongly thought that the team was filming traffic violations. The young man began to threaten the team. Soon a big group of immigrants gathered and a skirmish developed. The team received a few punches and the diskette was taken away. The camera stayed intact.
Source: HLN (Dutch)
See also: Brussels: Moroccan attacks agents, is killed by police
Sweden, April 24
Freelance photographer Jens C Hilner was beaten and robbed of his video camera in Rosengård tonight.
“I developed good contact with the youth there in recent months - and that’s what happens here,” he says dejectedly.
It continued not to be calm in Rosengård last night. For the fourth day in a row containers and tires were set aflame by the youth. The police and emergency services held back in order not to risk being subjected to stoning.
But photographer Jens C Hilner, often employed by the Kvällsposten, was there as usual in order to shoot the disturbances.
“I stood at midnight by the Shell truck at Ramels väg (Ramel Road) and both photographed and filmed the burning rented trailer,” he says. “Suddenly I saw someone running towards me shouting out loud. I thought that this guy just wanted to test me, but he hit me hard in the face and pushed me down to the ground.”
While Jens lay on the ground he was kicked in the side, while the attacker tried to grab his camera.
“I refused to let go of my system camera, so I desperately held on to it. Instead, this guy managed to grab my video camera and then run away.”
Jens went over to the gang of youth and asked them for his video camera back.
“I asked them to show me the respect that I showed them the past three months,” he says. And actually a guy went off into the street and got the camera back. Unfortunately it looks pretty damaged.
Jens C Hilner is both shaken and disappointed.
“I learned to know many of the youth in Rosengård and think that we developed a good relationship and good dialog with each other.” He says the youth know he’s not out to get them.
“Most are good guys and there was the idea that some of them would appear in an interview in the next few days. Now I don’t know what’s happening. Right now it feels that I’ll never want to go to Rosengård again. But after a night’s sleep I will certainly change my mind. It’s important to show what’s happening out there.”
Jens is sore in the face and a bit black-and-blue after the attack, but he survived the attack without serious injuries.
“Unfortunately I don’t think that I will be able to pick out the culprit. Everything went so fast,” he says.
Source: Kvällsposten (Swedish)
—
Posted By Esther to Islam in Europe at 4/26/2009 01:03:00 AM
__._,_.___
Islam In Europe
News and Opinions about the Muslim
and Islamic Community in Europe and the West
http://islamineurope.blogspot.com
http://www.natural-homeremedies.com/blog/home-remedies-for-flu/
Flu is a viral infection in which body parts like nose, ear, eyes, throat and lungs gets affected. The scientific term for flu is influenza. There are a number of viruses which can cause flu and these different types of viruses affect different body parts.
The symptoms of flu are somewhat like that of common cold and cough. You may feel fatigue, body ache, headache, fever, lack of appetite, vomiting etc. The only difference is that the symptoms of cold get disappeared within two weeks while the symptoms of flu may go longer than that period.
Unfortunately, no drug or medication is yet known for curing the flu successfully. However, home remedies and herbal remedies are very helpful in treatment of flu. The vaccine for flu are given but as the number of viruses causing flu is considerably high and they have a high mutation rate, the vaccine is not really successful in curing this disease. Hence, the safest way is to go for some home remedies.
It has been found that most of the medications available in the market just stamp down the symptoms and disturb our immune system which makes the flu more difficult to cure. Hence, it may be dangerous to take over the counter drugs in case of flu.
There are a number of home remedies for flu which can cure it in a safe way without a fear of side effect or other health complications. Increase the in take of garlic in your diet or you can take raw garlic while rising in the morning. In case you feel mild fever and body ache, taking gelsemium may help.
Consumption of fruits containing vitamin C also helps in fighting against the virus causing flu. In fact vitamin C strengthens our power to fight against the viruses and diseases.
Take ginger tea during flu is also helpful. In order to reduce the aches and fatigue, you can take cold tablets.
http://www.natural-homeremedies.org/blog/simple-cures-using-mint/
Simple Cures Using Mint
November 19, 2008
Mint is an aromatic, perennial herb. The leaves are used for culinary uses. They have a fresh, cool and refreshing flavour and a cool after taste. They are used in beverages, teas, jellies and syrups. They can also be used in salads, soups and desserts.
Chutneys made from mint are excellent in the summer. They combine the goodness of mint with other ingredients like lemon and corriander which help cool the body.
Mint is good in the cure of dyspepsia, gases, nausea, body aches and pains, nervous insomnia, fatigue, tension and headaches. It helps keep the elements of air, fire and water in control.
Mint helps in curing flu, fever, poor digestion, hiccups, ear aches, flatulence and sinus ailments. It also find good use as a diuretic. The antiseptic property of mint makes it a good cure for insect bites. The strong flavour and scent of mint makes it a good remedy for congestions and colds.
Mint can help cure stomach aches. Put some dried mint leaves in water and boil. Once cool, drink this to cool the stomach down.
Mint not only helps give instant fresh breath but also helps whiten the teeth. It helps keep mosquitos away. Mint is a natural insecticide due to its ability to kill harmless pests like the wasp, hornet, ants and cockroaches.
Tea made from mint is quite popular. It makes a refreshing beverage in the summers. The additional benefit it provides is keeping the three humours, air, water and fire in check.
Fresh mint is clearly the best form to use. Although mint can be easily dried and stored for later use, the fresh mint cannot be replaced either in flavour or potency.
It is important to ensure that the leaves look fresh and green. Ensure that you wash the leaves thoroughly since small leaves can be store houses for several harmful bacteria.
http://www.natural-homeremedies.org/homeremedies-cough.htm
Remedies for cough
Cough is a sudden, often repetitive, spasmodic contraction of the thoracic cavity, resulting in violent release of air from the lungs, and usually accompanied by a distinctive sound. Coughing is an action performed by the body to throw out or to get rid of substances that are irritating the air passages in their way. A cough is usually initiated to clear the phlegm that is been caught in the trachea or its neighboring areas. Coughing is also triggered when a bolus of food goes down the trachea instead of the esophagus because of the failure of the epiglottis, how ever this may result in choking rather. Frequent or continuous chronic coughing usually is seen when there is some presence of a disease. If the patient is a non-smoker and has a normal chest X-ray, the cause of chronic cough in most of all the patients is due to asthma, reflux ( heartburn) or post-nasal drip.(almost about 93%). Some other causes that contribute to chronic cough include chronic bronchitis and medications like as ACE inhibitors. Coughing occurs both voluntarily as well as involuntarily.
We can say that cough is a forceful release of air from the lungs that can be heard. Coughing is one of the ways of protecting the respiratory system by clearing it of irritants and secretions. Coughs are of two types either dry or productive. Dry cough usually does not bring up a mixture of mucus, irritants, and other substances from the lungs ( sputum), while a productive cough brings up all. If the cough is due to infection caused by bacteria then it may be grey, greenish or brown due to the presence of sputum in it. In the case of an allergy or viral infection the cough produced appears white. In the extremely serious conditions, it may happen that the sputum contains blood (cancer condition).
Environmental pollutants, such as cigarette smoke, dust, or smog, are also assumed to trigger of cough. In the case of cigarette smokers, the nicotine present in the smoke is proved to paralyze the hairs of the nose (cilia) that perform the activity of regularly flushing of the mucus from the respiratory system. Since the mucus now gets builds up, it forces the body for its removal by coughing or some other way (mostly it is coughing or sometimes with vomiting).
Post-nasal drip, or the irritating trickle of mucus from the nasal passages into the throat which is caused by allergies or sinusitis, can also be one of the contributing factors for generating cough.
Some of the common chronic disease like, as asthma, chronic bronchitis, emphysema, and cystic fibrosis, are mostly characterized in part by a cough. A condition in which stomach acid backs up into the esophagus (gastro esophageal reflux) can cause coughing, especially when a person is lying down, this should not be mistaken as cough caused by disease. Sometimes cough can also be a side-effect of medications that are administered via an inhaler. Many a times drugs used for treating high blood pressure can also cause side effects of cough, like the beta blockers and some ACE inhibitors
It is important to identify and treat the origin of the cough, along with the disease that resulted to it. Avoid smoking and coming in direct contact with people who smoke or who suffer from cold or flu symptoms. Wash hands at frequent times and especially during episodes of upper-respiratory illnesses.
Home Remedies for Cough
The following are some traditionally prescribed remedies for cough.
Take one tea spoon of pure honey and to it add a pinch of grounded white pepper. Regular usage of this 2-3 times a day for about 4-5 days will cure your cough. This is one of the important home remedies for cough.
Honey when taken with black pepper will loosen the mucous and make you spit the mucus. This will be helpful in throwing the irritating substances of the trachea and help you in treating cough. This is one of the effective cough home remedies.
Another effective natural remedy for cough is that if you have cough due to cold then just drink tea made of ginger 3-4 times a day or just eat raw ginger, this will subside your cough.
Drinking red raspberry, honey suckle, or liquor ice tea with honey is helpful in treating cough in 2-3 days. This is one of the effective cough treatment.
Take 2 tablespoons of honey and mix it in one cup of orange juice and drink it. This is a good cough remedy.
Prepare a cough syrup from baked onion juice, comfrey tea, and honey. Drink it daily and your cough will subside.
Another effective cough treatment is to before going to bed just take a spoonful of honey with few drops of vodka or brandy in it.
Mix 1-2 tsp of pure home made turmeric powder in warm milk and drink it twice a day for coughs of a bacterial origin. Within 2 days your cough will be gone by using this method. This is one of the useful home remedies for cough.
You may also gargle with warm water to which lot of salt is added as many times as possible during the day. This will help you to clear phlegm caught in the throat.
Mix 5 ml of onion juice with 10 ml of pure honey. Take this mixture at least twice a day. This will relieve your cough and will also help in soothing throat. This is one of the best cough cure.
Take 5ml of fresh tulsi (Ocimum sanctum, Holy Basil) and mix it in 10 ml of pure honey. Consume this daily at least twice a day.
Add turmeric to a vessel filled with boiling water and inhale the fumes. It is also beneficial for controlling cough. This is a good natural remedies for cough.
Prepare a paste using ¼ teaspoon of red pepper, ¼ teaspoon of ground ginger, 1 table spoon of apple cider vinegar, 1 table spoon of honey, and 2 tablespoon of water. Mix them well and take 1 teaspoon of this mixture whenever you have cough. This is one of the simplest home remedy for cough.
In case of severe and chronic cough, crush 2-3 garlic and some cloves. Add this to a glass of milk or water. Then boil the mixture till it reduces to half the original content. Filter this and add a little sugar to it for improving the taste. Drink this twice a day and continue this treatment for at least a week to see visible results.
In a large vessel just simply take plain water and boil it. Now inhale these vapors of steam by covering your head region with the towel. Taking deep breaths in between is advisable. You may cough in the beginning and every thing will be fine in 10 minutes, it will help you later to throw out the waste (phlegm).
One of the useful home remedies for cough is to take 1-2 gm powder of black pepper, long pepper, and dry ginger in equal ratios. Take this mixture of powder with honey, 2-3 times a day.
Cough cure - Take some garlic and boil them in water, and drink it. You can add sugar to improve the taste.
Crush some black pepper and eat them with honey.
Chop up an onion, and pour honey over it. Let it be on a sauce pan on low flame for few minutes. Now take some honey from it and allow it to be in your throat. Do not drink water for at least half an hour of this treatment.
For dry and frequent cough take 1-2 gm powder of fried turmeric with honey, thrice a day. This is one of the useful cough treatment.
Take 2-3 cloves and fry them in butter or ghee, and chew them.
Take half a gram of powder of long pepper and mix it with rock salt, twice a day, with hot water. This is one of the simplest cough remedy.
Take some garlic pieces and then boil it in water, add some sugar, lemon and honey to it and drink it.
Take equal parts of black pepper, dry ginger, and sugar mixed in ghee or butter two times a day.
This home remedy for cough is one of the most useful ones. Take some water in the pot and put it to boil, after the water boils, put three cloves of garlic, one spoon of oregano and leave water for boiling around 4 -5 minutes. Take this water in cup and drink directly or add it in milk and then drink it.
Take little water say ¼ cup , to this add 2 teaspoons of honey, half a lemon, cinnamon and one eucalyptus leaf and drink it.
Take some eucalyptus and mint leaves and boil them in water. Now inhale its vapors while the water cools. It will help you in curing your cough. This is an another natural remedy for cough.
Controlling Coughs
Coughs are involuntary spasms of the respiratory tract, but adults can learn to control them. There are also some things you can do so that cough will not happen at all. The following are some preventive measures:-
(i) As the exact reason for cough is not certain we have to be very careful in selecting foods as some of them can aggravate coughs. Avoid sour substances if they are not suitable like curd, pickles, lemon etc.
(ii) Intake of cold water and other chilled products like ice creams soft drinks should be avoided. If not completely but at least they can be restricted.
(iii) Be away from allergens like dust, smoke. Fumes, gases, etc as much as you can. Cover your face with a handkerchief if possible. If you are riding vehicle frequently than make use of mask or other such products to cover your self.
(iv) Certain aroma is not suitable to you so be far from them.
(v) Daily if possible consume one tea spoon of honey.
(vi) If any member in your house has cough problem, keep children away from them and follow hygienic conditions.
(vii) Quit smoking as this is the major reason for cough.
(viii) Stop consumption of alcohol as they reduce blood sugar level and causes pain in head.
(ix) Avoid crowded places as cough is infectious, keep handkerchief in front of your mouth whenever you cough or sneeze
(x) Wash your hands properly before eating, and take a bath if possible after coming from outside.
http://www.natural-homeremedies.org/homeremedies-bronchitis.htm
Acute bronchitis develops by virus that causes colds. Mostly, a cold or flu is followed by acute bronchitis. Though, the flu is common, acute bronchitis is painful. Bronchitis occurs to people who have very less resistance capacity or people whose lungs are already irritated. Lungs get irritated for people who are exposed to smoking cigarettes or some other toxic gases. Hence bronchitis viruses affect the people with irritation in lungs very easily and these viruses causing bronchitis is contagious and can be passed on identically like our common cold as well as flu viruses. The person who is infected spreads the viral particles into the air while coughing. The viruses cause lung irritation and the mucus stimulates a persistent hacking and is the sign of acute bronchitis.
Effects of bronchitis
Wheezing or chest feeling tightness, low fever or burning pain may occur near the breastbone. This results in another hurdle known as pneumonia. People already suffering with asthma, allergy or some respiratory problem, may face utter difficulty if they cause acute bronchitis. Bronchitis subsides in a week or ten days, but the cough lingers for weeks or months as well. Generally, it is believed that coughing is a way of giving out the infection that causes bronchitis. So instead of suppressing the cough with some suppressants, it is best to use humidifiers to enhance the moisture to the air. The enhanced humidity brings the sputum out of the body and relieves the body.
General Home remedies for bronchitis
Drinking lots of liquids keeps the sputum fluid and is easy to bring it out. Liquids such as tea, coffee, soup, warm water, and any other warm liquids can be taken. Warm liquids soothe the throat that is irritated due to constant coughing. To soothe the throat inflammation, salt water gargling may provide you a great relief and is the most recommended home remedies for bronchitis.
Another effective bronchitis treatment is salt water also cuts the mucus that irritates the throat membranes. Just a teaspoon of salt added in a glass of warm water is effective. Gargling salt water can be done frequently, but spitting out the salty water after gargling is also essential. Taking adequate rest is necessary as moving around with bronchitis will worsen the working condition and your body’s capability to fight against the infection may become weaker. Taking ibuprofen or aspirin is good for pain relief. Avoid smoky rooms and people suffering with cold as it involves risk of aggravating another infection.
Natural remedies for bronchitis
Almonds are one of the best bronchitis home remedies. They are rich with all vitamins as well as nutrients. Eating almonds in any form relieves bronchitis.
Honey is one of the traditional natural natural remedy for bronchitis that alleviates the cough arising from bronchitis. There are other ways of having honey. Having a spoon of honey that is done by Slicing an onion and covering it with honey and allowing it to stay overnight is effective in eradicating the bronchitis from the root. This has to taken minimum 4 times a day. Lemons are of great assistance is getting rid of bacteria and mucus.
Drinking lemon tea is very soothing for a sore throat and gargling it brings out the phlegm, thus relieving a person from bronchitis. This is one of the best bronchitis cure.
Herbal Home Remedies for bronchitis
Bay leaf is considered to be the best home remedies for bronchitis. It isrecommended to be taken with tea. Soaking bay leaves in hot water, applying it on the chest and covering it with a towel gives great relief. Ginger is a potent that works exceptionally in tea. Mustard can be mixed with warm water and can be applied on the chest to get relieved from the bouts of cough. Savory is an herb that eliminates the mucus on the lungs when taken with tea. This should be taken only once a day. Thyme also helps in getting rid of mucus and supports the lungs to fight infection.
Using preventative tips for combating cough and congestion through these home remedies for bronchitis is an effective and trouble free way of eliminating bronchitis.
http://www.mylot.com/w/discussions/1989341.aspx
GardenGerty (16765) ranked 66 out of 1,149 in stay healthy 20 hours ago
No, I do not think it is a biological attack.
Yes, there have been at least three discussions about this that I have seen since last night. happy My friends here keep me posted on the real world and I am so grateful. The discussions may be on the same topic, but they are each unique.Yours is unique. I do not think it is a problem.
Viruses do mutate and merge, they are crafty creations, that adapt widely. That is why we cannot cure the common cold. ninjaYou will notice that people died from this in Mexico, but the sufferers recovered in the US, because we have better care.
I will continue as I do, and I will wash my hands lots, and I will spray antiseptic sprays. I rinse my teeth with peroxide, and I think that helps kill germs. I use peroxide to clean things a lot.
I carry hand sanitizer in my work vehicle.
I will take my vitamins, get plenty of rest and sleep enough. I cannot avoid sick people, I take care of people, and if they are sick, I go to the doctor or hospital with them.
I believe that is where people actually catch things.That is my opinion, however. That is just where sick people go.
surrender I only have been sick once in about nine months, and it happened after I spent four hours sitting with someone at the hospital emergency room while her dad was admitted. It did not help that she reeked of cigarette smoke and strong cologne, both of which I am sensitive to.
GardenGerty (16765) ranked 66 out of 1,149 in stay healthy 16 hours ago
The early flu shots did tend to make people sick, but the newer ones do not.
I remember that mess with the first swine flu. The mutations between specie oriented viruses remind me of cousins marrying each other. The offspring either will have lots of defects or they will be geniuses, you never can tell.
They even have a nasal spray that is effective. I had a pharmacist tell me once that taking zinc will inhibit the mutation of viruses in your body, it will block the dna receptors in your cells that tend to make you catch the flu.
He said he would never become wealthy as a pharmacist because he told people the truth about vitamins, they help as well or better than prescriptions and cost less.
Viruses are not affected at all by antibiotics, but the excess antibiotics allow the bacteria to attack us once the viruses have done their damage. I still would rather have a bacterial infection than a viral, because we can treat them with lots of things.
INFLUENZA A (H1N1) VIRUS, HUMAN - NORTH AMERICA
***********************************************
A ProMED-mail post
http://www.promedmail.org
ProMED-mail is a program of the
International Society for Infectious Diseases
http://www.isid.org
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In this update:
[1] Brief history and terminology of swine flu
[2] Comments on swine, poultry prevention and risk
[3] National Pork Board Producer Guidelines
[1] Brief history and terminology of swine flu
Date: 25 Apr 2009
Source: Peter Cowen, ProMED-mail Animal Disease Moderator
Since we have a great deal of experience with confusing terminology when a
disease occurs at the human/animal interface, I thought a few comments on
the current H1N1 situation were warranted. For example, one might argue
that the zoonotic disease, eastern equine encephalitis is not very aptly
named. Horses are a dead end host, wild birds are the zoonotic reservoir,
and poultry flocks serve as sentinel sites for surveillance and indicators
of when to begin mosquito control. Moreover, the disease occurs in people
on both the East Coast and Gulf Coast of the United States. Very little of
this epidemiology could be deduced from the name, eastern equine
encephalitis. With that as a preamble, let me make some comments concerning
the terminology in common use — swine flu — for our present outbreak.
In the first place, the H1N1 virus is being called “swine flu” because of
the outbreak of a different, 1918 origin virus that caused significant
mortality in both swine and human populations and was known as the Spanish
flu. The virus probably has a wild bird origin but it definitive origin
remains unknown (see Taubenberg reference below).
The subsequent history of the swine influenza virus is nicely summarized:
“Influenza as a disease of pigs was 1st recognized during the Spanish
influenza pandemic of 1918 -1919. Veterinarian J S Koen was the 1st to
describe the illness, observing frequent outbreaks of influenza in families
followed immediately by illness in their swine herds, and vice versa [1].
Influenza virus was 1st isolated from pigs in 1930 by Shope and Lewis [2],
with the virus isolated from humans several years later [3]. The 1st
isolation of a swine influenza virus from a human occurred in 1974 [4],
confirming speculation that swine-origin influenza viruses could infect
humans.” See Myers below.
In the second place, influenza viruses regularly circulate in swine
populations and include H1N1, H3N2, H1N2, H1N3 most commonly, with almost
25 per cent of more than 114 000 swine serum samples in the US being
positive for one of the serotypes (see Choi et al. Arch Virol 2002 Jun;
147(6): 1209-20). As such, it is well controlled in swine populations, even
though it can cause concern on particular farms that don’t manage well for
its occurrence or at particular times.
Then, thirdly, swine flu viruses have been known to infect humans — 50
cases were turned up from an extensive review of the literature. Of the
non-military cases, 19 occurred in the United States, 6 in Czechoslovakia,
4 in the Netherlands, 3 in Russia, and 1 each in Canada and Hong Kong. Most
(61 per cent) of the cases studied had reported an exposure to swine and
the median age was 24 years (see Myers below). The most recognizable H1N1
transmission event involved 12 soldiers at Fort Dix in 1976, one of whom
died. Contact with swine was never established. Another important
transmission resulted in the death of a pregnant woman, who was exposed to
pigs, in 1988 in Wisconsin.
Finally, it appears as if no exposure to swine has occurred among people
who have come down with the current novel H1N1 virus. The virus has
elements of human, swine, and avian viruses normally found in Europe or
Asia. It is this genetic analysis of the virus which has really developed
the level of concern for this outbreak. If there wasn’t a match with the US
virus the fact that it is being transmitted out of season and in young,
healthy adults might have even been overlooked.
So, in summary, the reason that we are calling this virus swine flu is the
history and evolution of the virus. It also rests on the fact that some of
the genetic analysis indicates that elements from viruses that have
traditionally been found in swine populations are incorporated. However
since we know nothing of how this particular virus has gotten into the
human population but there apparently is no history of swine exposure, it
probably makes more sense epidemiologically to refer to this simply as an
H1N1 influenza virus.
To some extent a similar nomenclatural history has occurred over time with
the H5N1 virus becoming known by its viral strain, rather than bird flu. At
least with the H5N1 it can most often be traced to exposure to avian
species. But in the case of this so called swine flu, there really does
appear to be no exposure to swine and some evidence (father, daughter pair
in the US) of transmission without exposure to animals. Realistically,
however, the name seems to have stuck in the popular media already and the
terms swine flu does reflect what we know about the history of some very
important H1N1 viruses. Unfortunately, this name will imply a simple,
zoonotic transmission between swine and people, when in reality is origin
and epidemiology is liking to be much more complex. Therefore, good
epidemiologic studies in swine in Mexico could be very helpful in
understanding this apparently new virus.
References
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[2] Comments on swine, poultry exposure
Date: 25 Apr 2009
Source: Barrett Slenning
Animal Biosecurity Risk Management Group
College of Veterinary Medicine, North Carolina State University
barrett_slenning@ncsu.edu
[I find Barrett Slenning to be unusually thoughtful on matters of disaster
preparedness as it relates to agriculture and zoonotic diseases, so here
are some comments he put together as a summary explanation for animal
producers from last night (24 Apr 2009) here in North America. - Mod.PC]
We are dealing with an H1N1 swine-associated type A influenza that carries
both human and avian characteristics. It is a novel virus that had not been
described previously. It appears to be resistant to some antivirals, but
sensitive to Tamiflu and similar drugs.
Human cases from this virus emerged nearly simultaneously in the border
counties (San Diego and Imperial counties) of California (27 Mar 2009) and
in north-central Mexico (22 Mar 2009). The news reporting out of Mexico is
not consistent, and I am not privy to the official consultations between
the 2 countries, but it appears the Mexican outbreak is in the Mexico City
area (south central Mexico), the sectors in and around San Luis Potosi
(about 400 miles north of Mexico City), and in Mexicali (on the border with
Calexico in Imperial county California).
To date, 8 cases in the US have been documented, all of whom recovered/are
recovering (only one was hospitalized and that was an immunocompromised
individual with other disease issues). There are over 900 cases in Mexico,
with over 60 fatalities (approx 6 per cent case fatality rate). Why the
disparity in severity between the 2 countries is unknown, but with the US
numbers being so low, it could just be a luck of the draw kind of thing
right now: my back of the envelope calculations suggest that if the US had
the same base case fatality rate as in Mexico, the likelihood we could have
8 cases without a death is nearly 60 per cent.
None of the US cases have any known exposures to either swine or poultry.
To date, though epidemiologic trace backs are far from complete, none of
the Mexican cases have swine or poultry exposures either. There are a
couple of apparent family clusters in Mexico, so with that evidence and no
recognized pig/bird exposures, it appears that we are seeing human to human
transmission.
We do not know if this virus is circulating in swine populations. We have
no evidence of it in domestic swine, although the industry does not have
the depth of influenza surveillance that we see in poultry, and there is
some doubt that this new H1N1 strain would be identified as unusual with
standard tests anyway. Groups are doing rapid assessments right now, so
that information may change momentarily as data come in. Feral swine are
another possible source/reservoir, but we have no information on them. I do
not know if anyone is currently chasing the potential of this virus to be
in birds.
Nobody knows right now where we are in the epidemic — if this will burn
itself out in a few weeks or not. It is nearing the end of the influenza
season, so that is on our side. However, there are historical precedents
that should give us pause:
1. It was an H1N1 directly from birds that caused the 1918 pandemic that
killed more people than all the wars in the 20th century combined;
2. The 1st cases of that agent showed up in May 1918 in an army base in
Kansas — it went quiet over the summer — and started ravaging the globe
in early fall that year.
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[3] National Pork Board Producer Guidelines
Date: 25 Apr 2009
Source: National Pork Board [edited]
http://www.pork.org/
Swine flu heightens emphasis on biosecurity
The virus has not been reported to cause illness in pigs in the United
States, but it has been associated with illness in 8 people in the states
of California and Texas. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
also has reported that the same virus may be responsible for outbreaks of
influenza in humans in Mexico.
The Pork Checkoff is recommending that pork producers implement biosecurity
practices on their farms to prevent that this new strain of swine influenza
does not enter the US swine herd, and to protect the health and safety of
our industry’s workers.
Consider including the following biosecurity practices for your farm:
- limit the access of people to essential personnel (farm employees,
veterinarians and essential service people);
- implement policies that prevent employees presenting signs of flu-like
illness from having contact with the pigs or other people on the operation;
- prevent access of international visitors or people who have recently
returned from international travel, particularly from travel to Mexico,
into your operation;
- implement a shower-in/shower-out procedure and the use of farm-specific
clothing and footwear for employees entering the barns. At minimum,
employees should don farm footwear and completely wash hands and arms
before having contact with the pigs;
- enforce heightened personal hygiene practices including frequent hand
washing for all people in contact with pigs;
- establish contact with the herd veterinarian to discuss other biosecurity
practices that are merited by this event.
The importance of keen observation of the health and behavior of your
animals cannot be understated and the Pork Checkoff recommends that you
establish immediate contact with a swine veterinarian if you suspect that a
disease may be present on your farm.
More information on influenza can be found in the fact sheet Influenza:
Pigs, people and public health. And, additional information on swine
influenza and an update on the outbreak reported by the CDC can be found at
http://www.cdc.gov/flu/swine
—
communicated by:
ProMED-mail
promed@promedmail.org
[ProMED-mail’s veterinary and viral disease moderators have discussed the
nomenclature of this condition, and have agreed that we should refer to it
in the titles of postings as “Influenza A (H1N1) virus, human”, omitting
the word “swine”. For now, at least, that is what we will do, amending the
titles of earlier postings in this thread (as shown in the “see also”
section below). - Mod.SH]
[See also:
Influenza A (H1N1) virus, swine, human - N America (03) 20090426.1566
Acute respiratory disease - Mexico, swine virus susp 20090424.1546
Influenza A (H1N1) virus, human - USA (02): (CA, TX) 20090424.1541
Influenza A (H1N1) virus, human - USA: (CA) 20090422.1516
Influenza A (H1N1) virus, swine, human - Spain 20090220.0715
2008
...........pc/ejp/sh
http://gregcontreras.blogspot.com/2009/04/possibility-of-bio-terrorism-in-swine.html
Many, many thanks to Mark Taylor for this article, and to Milford421
Possibility of Bio-Terrorism in Swine Flu Outbreak
In a discussion this morning with a cell biologist and medical doctor working at Johns Hopkins, my friend thought this 4-part flu combination is highly unusual and looks like it could be man-made. Especially because it has an avian strain. My doctor friend (he’s Taiwanese) explained that in Asia, it’s common for a avian-swine-human flu to happen naturally, but this virus first showed up in Mexico, where pigs and ducks are not usually raised together. Also, recombination of more than 2-different flu viruses is extremely rare. I’m just repeating what he said as an expert in the field. He says the CDC needs to explain if there is a possibility that we are under a bio-weapon attack.
From CDC via Wikipedia: Anne Schuchat, director of CDC’s National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases, said that the American cases were found to be made up of genetic elements from four different flu viruses — North American swine influenza, North American avian influenza, human influenza A virus subtype H1N1, and swine influenza virus typically found in Asia and Europe. For two cases a complete genome sequence had been obtained. She said that the virus was resistant to amantadine and rimantadine, but susceptible to oseltamivir (Tamiflu) and zanamivir (Relenza).[22][23][24] Preliminary genetic characterization found that the hemagglutinin (HA) gene was similar to that of swine flu viruses present in U.S. pigs since 1999, but the neuraminidase (NA) and matrix protein (M) genes resembled versions present in European swine flu isolates. Viruses with this genetic makeup had not previously been found to be circulating in humans or pigs, but there is no formal national surveillance system to determine what viruses are circulating in pigs in the U.S.[25] The seasonal influenza strain H1N1 vaccine is thought to be unlikely to provide protection.[26]
Here’s more from AP via Seattle Post Intelligencer: http://www.seattlepi.com/health/1500ap_med_swine_flu.html?source=rss
The worrisome new virus - which combines genetic material from pigs, birds and humans in a way researchers have not seen before - also sickened at least eight people in Texas and California, though there have been no deaths in the U.S.
“We are very, very concerned,” World Health Organization spokesman Thomas Abraham said. “We have what appears to be a novel virus and it has spread from human to human ... It’s all hands on deck at the moment.”
Update: doctor friend also says that what is also unusual is that this type/combination virus is the based on the same strain as in the 1918 Spanish flu virus (H1N1) outbreak (extremely deadly, 25 million dead in 25 weeks; total dead 50-100 million dead; 2.5%-5% of the world population). This makes the virus extremely deadly. The likelihood that this combination with the most deadly strain would happen naturally is very, very low.
From Reuters via Los Angeles Times: http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fg-mexico-flu-box25-2009apr25,0,5114253.story
The CDC has analyzed samples of the H1N1 virus from some of the U.S. patients, all of whom have recovered, and said it is a never-before-seen mixture of viruses from swine, birds and humans.
Not really, the creators may be betting that this highly deadly strain further mutates. According to my Doctor source from JHU, it is not necessary to do it in the lab, when nature gets hold of it the virus evolves on its own, it can become very deadly. According to, the natural mutation rate of Influenza virus is 1.5 *10^(-5) per nucleotide per infectious cycle (each individual replication within the cell). That means each of the millions of cells in one body that becomes infected will be mutated at a rate of 1.5 *10^(-5) (10^(-5) = 1.5/10,000) From the Journal of Virology: http://jvi.asm.org/cgi/content/abstract/59/2/377
More from Reuters: (CDC acting director Dr. Richard Besser) Besser said the CDC is being “very aggressive” said it was time for people in the United States to think about what to do if this does turn out to be a pandemic.”
http://www.reuters.com/article/newsOne/idUSTRE53O0MW20090425
More info also from Wikipedia, but certified by my doctor (JHU) friend:
“H1N1 is a subtype of the species Influenza A virus. H1N1 has mutated into various strains including the Spanish Flu strain (now extinct in the wild), mild human flu strains, endemic pig strains, and various strains found in birds.
A variant of H1N1 was responsible for the Spanish flu pandemic that killed some 50 million to 100 million people worldwide over about a year in 1918 and 1919.[1] A different variant exists in pig populations.
Controversy arose in October 2005, after the H1N1 genome was published in the journal Science. Many[who?] fear that this information could be used for bioterrorism. [citation needed]
“When he compared the 1918 virus with today’s human flu viruses, Dr. Taubenberger noticed that it had alterations in just 25 to 30 of the virus’s 4,400 amino acids. Those few changes turned a bird virus into a killer that could spread from person to person.”[2]
Low pathogenic H1N1 strains still exist in the wild today, causing roughly half of all flu infections in 2006.[3]
Since mid-March 2009, over 500 cases, including at least 68 deaths, have been reported in Mexico from an outbreak a new strain of H1N1.[4][5][6]
At least some of these cases result from the same strain of H1N1 that was isolated in 9 US patients in California and Texas.[7]”
General influenza mortality rate is 0.1%, that means this is 20 times more deadly (2.0%), that’s really bad. If the virus mutates in the general population, the mortality rate will likely increase. (It can mutate to become less deadly, but nobody would notice, we can hope, but that’s not a strategy to combat infectious diseases.) The 1918 influenza virus mortality rate was 2%-20%.)
If one million people get the virus, 20,000 dead, at current rates.
Mutation is neutral, that means that 50% will be more deadly and 50% less deadly, but at a mutation rate of 1.5/10,000 per per nucleotide per infectious cycle, 50% of these mutation will be more deadly. And, since this virus has already mutated to become extremely deadly (i.e., 1918), the possibility of this super, possibly human-engineered, 4-virus combination (strain) to become extremely deadly again is greater than 0. How much greater, we don’t know with current information.
Posted by Greg Contreras at 10:41 AM
Mark R. Taylor
Yahoo! Groups Links
To visit your group on the web, go to:
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http://www.cdc.gov/swineflu/investigation.htm
You are subscribed to updates from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
As of 9:00 AM on April 26, CDC has confirmed 20 human cases of swine flu in the U.S.:
* California: 7
* Kansas: 2
* New York City: 8
* Ohio: 1
* Texas: 2
Investigations are ongoing to determine the source of the infection and whether additional people have been infected with swine influenza viruses.
To learn more about swine flu and the CDC investigation, please visit the CDC Swine Flu website.
Investigations are ongoing to determine the source of the infection and whether additional people have been infected with swine influenza viruses.
CDC is working very closely with officials in states where human cases of swine influenza A (H1N1) have been identified, as well as with health officials in Mexico, Canada and the World Health Organization. This includes deploying staff domestically and internationally to provide guidance and technical support. CDC has activated its Emergency Operations Center to coordinate this investigation.
Laboratory testing has found the swine influenza A (H1N1) virus susceptible to the prescription antiviral drugs oseltamivir and zanamivir and has issued interim guidance for the use of these drugs to treat and prevent infection with swine influenza viruses. CDC also has prepared interim guidance on how to care for people who are sick and interim guidance on the use of face masks in a community setting where spread of this swine flu virus has been detected. This is a rapidly evolving situation and CDC will provide new information as it becomes available.
There are everyday actions people can take to stay healthy.
* Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Throw the tissue in the trash after you use it.
* Wash your hands often with soap and water, especially after you cough or sneeze. Alcohol-based hands cleaners are also effective.
* Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth. Germs spread that way.
Try to avoid close contact with sick people.
* Influenza is thought to spread mainly person-to-person through coughing or sneezing of infected people.
* If you get sick, CDC recommends that you stay home from work or school and limit contact with others to keep from infecting them.
Topics on this page:
* General Information
* Summary Guidance
* Guidance Documents
* Travel Notices
* Transcripts
* Reports & Publications
* Related Links
* Past Updates
General Information
Swine Flu and You
What is swine flu? Are there human infections with swine flu in the U.S.? …
Swine Flu Video Podcast
Dr. Joe Bresee, with the CDC Influenza Division, describes swine flu - its signs and symptoms, how it’s transmitted, medicines to treat it, steps people can take to protect themselves from it, and what people should do if they become ill.
Key Facts about Swine Influenza (Swine Flu)
How does swine flu spread? Can people catch swine flu from eating pork? …
Swine Influenza in Pigs and People
Brochure
Información en español
Datos importantes sobre la influenza porcina…
Summary Guidance
CDC has provided the following interim guidance for this investigation.
* Residents of California and Texas
* Clinicians
* State Public Health Laboratories
* Public Health/Animal Health
Residents of States with Swine Influenza Cases
CDC has identified human cases of swine influenza A (H1N1) virus infection in people in the U.S. CDC is working with local and state health agencies to investigate these cases. We have determined that this virus is contagious and is spreading from human to human. However, at this time, we have not determined how easily the virus spreads between people. As with any infectious disease, we are recommending precautionary measures for people residing in these areas.
* Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Throw the tissue in the trash after you use it.
* Wash your hands often with soap and water, especially after you cough or sneeze. Alcohol-based hands cleaners are also effective.
* Try to avoid close contact with sick people.
* If you get sick, CDC recommends that you stay home from work or school and limit contact with others to keep from infecting them.
* Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth. Germs spread that way.
There is no vaccine available at this time, so it is important for people living in these areas to take steps to prevent spreading the virus to others. If people are ill, they should attempt to stay at home and limit contact with others. Healthy residents living in these areas should take everyday preventive actions.
People who live in these areas who develop an illness with fever and respiratory symptoms, such as cough and runny nose, and possibly other symptoms, such as body aches, nausea, or vomiting or diarrhea, should contact their health care provider. Their health care provider will determine whether influenza testing is needed.
Clinicians
Clinicians should consider the possibility of swine influenza virus infections in patients presenting with febrile respiratory illness who
1. Live in an area where human cases of swine influenza A (H1N1) has been identified or
2. Have traveled to an area where human cases of swine influenza A (H1N1) has been identified or
3. Have been in contact with ill persons from these areas in the 7 days prior to their illness onset.
If swine flu is suspected, clinicians should obtain a respiratory swab for swine influenza testing and place it in a refrigerator (not a freezer). Once collected, the clinician should contact their state or local health department to facilitate transport and timely diagnosis at a state public health laboratory.
State Public Health Laboratories
Laboratories should send all unsubtypable influenza A specimens as soon as possible to the Viral Surveillance and Diagnostic Branch of the CDC’s Influenza Division for further diagnostic testing.
Public Health /Animal Health Officials
Officials should conduct thorough case and contact investigations to determine the source of the swine influenza virus, extent of community illness and the need for timely control measures.
Guidance Documents
Interim Guidance for Swine influenza A (H1N1): Taking Care of a Sick Person in Your Home Apr 25, 2009
Interim Guidance on Antiviral Recommendations for Patients with Confirmed or Suspected Swine Influenza A (H1N1) Virus Infection and Close Contacts Apr 25, 2009
Interim Recommendations for Facemask and Respirator Use in Certain Community Settings Where Swine Influenza A (H1N1) Virus Transmission Has Been Detected Apr 26, 2009
Swine Influenza A (H1N1) Virus Biosafety Guidelines for Laboratory Workers Apr 24, 2009
This guidance is for laboratory workers who may be processing or performing diagnostic testing on clinical specimens from patients with suspected swine influenza A (H1N1) virus infection, or performing viral isolation.
Interim Guidance for Infection Control for Care of Patients with Confirmed or Suspected Swine Influenza A (H1N1) Virus Infection in a Healthcare Setting Apr 24, 2009
Interim Guidance on Case Definitions to be Used For Investigations of Swine Influenza A (H1N1) Cases Apr 26, 2009
This document provides interim guidance for state and local health departments conducting investigations of human cases of swine influenza A (H1N1) virus. The following case definitions are for the purpose of investigations of suspected, probable, and confirmed cases of swine influenza A (H1N1) virus infection.
Travel Notices
Risk of Swine Flu Associated with Travel to Affected Areas
April 26, 2009 at 12:28 p.m. ET
Outbreak Notice: Swine Influenza in the United States
April 25, 2009 12:00 p.m. ET
Travel Health Precaution: Swine Influenza and Severe Cases of Respiratory Illness in Mexico
April 25, 2009 12:00 p.m. ET
Press Briefing Transcripts
Media Availability on CDC Investigation of Human Cases of Swine Influenza
April 25, 2009, 1 p.m. EDT
Unedited Transcript of CDC Briefing on Public Health Investigation of Human Cases of Swine Influenza
April 24, 2009 2:30 p.m. EDT
CDC Briefing on Public Health Investigation of Human Cases of Swine Influenza
April 23, 2009 press briefing…
Reports & Publications
CDC Health Advisory April 25, 2009, 3:00 EDT
Investigation and Interim Recommendations: Swine Influenza (H1N1)
Distributed via Health Alert Network
CDCHAN-000281-2009-04-25-ALT-N
Update: Swine Influenza A (H1N1) Infections—California and Texas, April 2009
Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR) April 24, 2009 / Vol. 58 / Dispatch;1-3
Swine Influenza A (H1N1) Infection in Two Children—Southern California, March-April 2009
Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR) April 21, 2009 / Vol. 58 / Dispatch
Related Links
PandemicFlu.govExternal Web Site Policy.
WHO - Influenza-Like Illness in the United States and MexicoExternal Web Site Policy.
Past Updates
* April 25, 2009
* April 24, 2009
* April 23, 2009
Swine Influenza (Flu)
Swine Influenza (swine flu) is a respiratory disease of pigs caused by type A influenza that regularly cause outbreaks of influenza among pigs. Swine flu viruses do not normally infect humans, however, human infections with swine flu do occur, and cases of human-to-human spread of swine flu viruses has been documented. See General Information about Swine Flu.
From December 2005 through February 2009, a total of 12 human infections with swine influenza were reported from 10 states in the United States. Since March 2009, a number of confirmed human cases of a new strain of swine influenza A (H1N1) virus infection in the U.S. and internationally have been identified. An investigation into these cases is ongoing. For more information see Human Swine Flu Investigation.
General Information about Swine Flu
Questions and answers and guidance for treatment and infection control
Human Swine Flu Investigation April 26, 2009 11:30 ET
Information about the investigation of human swine flu in the U.S.
CDC Health Advisory April 25, 2009, 3:00 EST (03:00 PM EDT)
Investigation and Interim Recommendations: Swine Influenza (H1N1)
Distributed via Health Alert Network
Swine Flu website last updated Sunday, April 26, 2009 01:00 ET
US declares public health emergency for swine flu
1 hr 6 mins ago
WASHINGTON - The U.S. declared a public health emergency Sunday to deal with
the emerging new swine flu, much like the government does to prepare for
approaching hurricanes.
Officials reported 20 U.S. cases of swine flu in five states so far, with
the latest in Ohio and New York. Unlike in Mexico where the same strain
appears to be killing dozens of people, cases in the United State have been
mild - and U.S. health authorities can’t yet explain why.
snipped....
Top among those is declaring the public health emergency. As part of that, Napolitano said roughly 12 million doses of the drug Tamiflu will be moved from a federal stockpile to places where states can quickly get their share if they decide they need it. Priority will be given to the five states with known cases so far: California, Texas, New York, Ohio and Kansas.
Napolitano called the emergency declaration standard operating procedure — one was declared recently for the inauguration and for flooding. She urged people to think of it as a “declaration of emergency preparedness.”
“Really that’s what we’re doing right now. We’re preparing in an environment where we really don’t know ultimately what the size of seriousness of this outbreak is going to be.”
[I do not know any thing about this company, except they give good advice.....granny]
http://bulk-survival-food.com/swine-flu-epidemic-planning/322
Swine Flu Epidemic Planning
Published by Kevin at 9:10 am
Being prepared for a flu epidemic like the potential 2009 swine flu means having supplies at home for an extended period of time.
According to the US government pandemic flu website;
Store a two week supply of water and food. During a pandemic, if you cannot get to a store, or if stores are out of supplies, it will be important for you to have extra supplies on hand. This can be useful in other types of emergencies, such as power outages and disasters.
I recommend one month to 3 month worth of supplies. Based on previous epidemics there are several “waves” of infection outbreaks. Your ability to be prepared to stay home for extended periods of time at different phases of the pandemic may be vital to you and your families’ survival.
You should be immediately prepared and have at least two weeks supply at home of food, medicine (prescription and non-prescription), and other essentials. Anything that would force you to leave your home to try to find. It will also be harder to find these items due to supply chain breakdowns during a long pandemic outbreak scenario.
Three very important points for food;
* Buy foods that are the same or similar to what you family can eat. Radical changes in diet can cause much more complications than you need in a crisis.
* Store shelves will empty within hours once it is clear that the crisis is severe, real, and imminent, to most of us.
* Try to get as “ready to eat” type foods as possible - you may be sick and not able to prepare foods
Fill any prescriptions you have for as long as possible. Purchase the regular medical supplies that you would consume over a 6 month period including cold and flu remedies as regular illness don’t go on holiday during a pandemic.
What foods to buy
As mentioned try not to stray far from foods your family is used to and that you know they will eat.
* Rice - most people like rice and preparation is easy as long as you have a stove. Bulk 40-50 lb bags are cheap so if you don’t need to use it the waste will not cost much
* Dry Cereals - try to stay with what your family normally eats, but healthier brands with less sugar are a better choice
* Canned meats and fish - Sardines are great and cheap if you like them.
* Canned Vegetables - Cooked is better for preparedness so they are ready to eat.
* Peanut butter - if there are no allergies.
* Water containers - I won’t spend money on bottled water, the water from you tap is good enough and you should have time to fill containers if a threat to the water supply comes into play.
* Protein and fruit bars - read the labels, make sure they are not empty calorie bars that provide no nutrition
As I mentioned above once the perceived risk level is high in the minds of a critical mass of people the store shelves will empty quickly, due to the nature of our just-in-time food supply chain. Then there will a period of time before shelves will be partially and then fully replenished.
If you want to avoid this I would suggest you shop now.
Panic could set in within a matter of hours if the situation worsens.
For proper longer term preparedness of one to six months, I recommend freeze dried food.
The main reasons are
* It lasts a long time so food will be there for a future crisis if this one, hopefully, does not materialize
* You don’t need to panic buy when a crisis hits to be prepared, you are ‘always prepared’ for 25 years
* Food reserves are ready to eat, only needing water to prepare
I just checked Nitro-Pak’s (emergency preparedness) website and they say that as of today “most orders will SHIP in approx. 1-3 business days. Food orders may take slightly longer.”
Published under Freeze Dried Food, Pandemic Preparedness, nitro-pak, swine flu
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My $800 annual budget and how it works.
I have basically put $800 cash into an online savings account. This is for 4 people, one adult, 1 teen, two tweens and two dogs. This averages out to 54¢ per person per day. One month I might spend $100 and only spend $25 the following, but as long as I have not gone over the $800 for the YEAR I am still within my goal. Any time I have to pay out of pocket for something I will use a credit card that I earn rewards on, either cash back, gift cards back or college savings. Then I will transfer that purchase amount from my online account to my checking account to cover the cost of those items when the bill comes in.
I will use coupons and gift cards, combined with store sales and loyalty cards to make my purchases cost less money out of pocket. Gift cards are obtained from trades, special promotions, survey sites, rebates, in store promotions as well as referral bonuses. I never buy gift cards as that would defeat the purpose. The stores I shop at will double up to 50¢ and triple up to 39¢. We do not pay food tax except on convenience foods. I calculate my savings by the price a product rings up at vs. what I pay out of pocket for it. (Example: if something normally costs $3.99 but is on sale for $2.00 and I have a $1 coupon, I saved $1) I know other people calculate different and that is fine, but I only go by what it rings up at since most of the time I would not buy the item if it were not on sale.
Any money earned from surveys or rebates is added back into the budget for future use as long as the rebate was for a budget item (for example if I do an ACE Hardware rebate that money is not added back into the budget).
What IS included in my budget.
1. all food
2. all HBA (health and beauty items)
3. all dog food
4. all eating out
5. all cleaning supplies
6. all coupons I pay for (the paper)
What is NOT included in my budget
1. Clothing
2. Gifts
3. Car
4. House
5. Bills
6. Coupons I obtain by using ECB or RR or gift cards, since it costs me nothing.
7. Gas
It took me almost three years to get to the level of couponing and stockpiling I am at now. It did not happen overnight. Once you begin obtaining a stockpile of items you are able to cut back expense on those items. So even though it might not look like I am purchasing much for my family in various food groups, I am, or have in the past, and am using food from my stockpile. That food was paid for once, so I am not including it in my budget again for this year as I use it.
It takes me on average 1 hour per week to find the deals, gather coupons and make my lists. Then I might spend another 30 minutes actually shopping for the items. With the help of Hot Coupon World, I can find out the deals online without having to drive to many stores to find them. This is a real time saver.
If you have any questions, please feel free to ask. Please don’t judge until you know the facts. No I am NOT on food stamps nor do we have health problems.
BTW if you are having problems viewing my blog, please upgrade to Internet Explorer 7 or 8. There is a problem with IE6.
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