Posted on 06/24/2009 8:04:24 AM PDT by metmom
Within minutes, six-year-old Rubjit Thindal went from happily chatting in the back seat of the car to collapsing and dying in her father's arms.
"If we had known it was so serious, we would have called 911,'' Kuldip Thindal, Rubjit's distraught mother, said in Punjabi yesterday. "She just had a stomach ache -- she wasn't even crying.''
Rubjit was pronounced dead at hospital barely 24 hours after showing signs of a fever. Later, doctors told her parents she had the H1N1 influenza virus. She is believed to be the youngest person in Canada with the virus to have died.
(Excerpt) Read more at news.guelphmercury.com ...
Flu sends two Lloyd George students to hospital - BC
By JASON HEWLETT
Daily News Staff Reporter
October 15, 2009
Kamloops – Two Grade 1 students at Lloyd George elementary have been hospitalized with flu-like symptoms, prompting staff to take extra precautions to prevent a possible H1N1 outbreak at the school.
But the Kamloops-Thompson School District has no plans to close Lloyd George unless directed to do so by the Interior Health Authority.
Principal Bruce Mitchell said Wednesday the children are in the same classroom where a number of students were sick with flu-like symptoms on Friday. The two who fell ill did so on the weekend and were taken to hospital.
He would not say the gender of the students and is not aware of either having underlying health concerns.
“They were not on our medical alert list,” said Mitchell.
Custodial staff is taking extra care while cleaning and sanitizing the school, with special attention paid to the classroom with the ill children.
“That’s their primary job right now,” Mitchell said.
Parents were notified about the hospitalized students Wednesday and will be updated about the number of absentees at the school.
He said eight per cent of the student population was home sick with flu symptoms on Tuesday and five per cent were absent Wednesday.
“Five per cent is not a good level of absentees, but we have had higher at other times of the year,” he said.
Dr. Rob Parker, a medical health officer for the IHA, said there is no public health rationale to close Lloyd George.
He said the only way schools will close is if enough students and staff fall ill or are hospitalized with swine flu to prevent the school from operating properly.
Interior Health is notified as soon as absentee rates reach 10 per cent at any school in the district. Parker said there are many schools in the region with less than 10 per cent, but the majority of absences are because of influenza.
He said everyone has been instructed if they feel any symptoms of the swine flu — cough, achiness, fatigue, fever, runny nose, etc. — they should stay home so they get better and not infect anyone.
Lloyd George isn’t the only school suffering from influenza. School district Supt. Terry Sullivan said 10 per cent of students at NorKam secondary were home with symptoms Wednesday.
[snip]
Here’s one of the reasons they didn’t shut schools:
Swine Flu School Closings Could Cost Billions
Gov’t Urges Schools To Close Only As Last Resort
Posted: 7:00 am EDT September 30, 2009
Updated: 7:47 am EDT September 30, 2009
WASHINGTON — Closing schools and day care centers because of swine flu could cost between $10 billion and $47 billion, a report by the Brookings Institution think tank found.
http://www.wsoctv.com/news/21157140/detail.html
Welcome to Swine Flu.org. This website is for providing you with the latest news and information regarding the H1N1 swine flu pandemic.
http://www.channel3000.com/news/21298087/detail.html
Ashwaubenon High School Closes Due To Flu-Like Illnesses
All Athletic Events Will Be Canceled Thursday, Friday
Posted: 4:46 pm CDT October 14, 2009
ASHWAUBENON, Wis. — Classes will be canceled at Ashwaubenon High School on Thursday and Friday due to an unusually high number of student absences.
Utah children who are at high risk for developing complications from the flu may be more worse off than children in almost any other state.
That’s because certain serotypes — or strains — of pneumococcal bacteria unique to the state aren’t targeted by Prevnar, a routine, recommended vaccine given to children born after 2000, said Carrie Byington, a University of Utah professor of pediatrics and infectious diseases.
And research by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows such infections, when combined with the H1N1 swine flu, can cause severe illness.
http://www.sltrib.com/news/ci_13554666
http://www.azstarnet.com/sn/hourlyupdate/313362.php
That’s a Gannett source, so we can’t post the text. The story says that the state of Arizona health department sent out a memo last week asking docs/hospitals to quit sending them samples for testing for mildly ill patients because the lab is overwhelmed. They said to send only samples to test for hospitalized or dead patients. They also said to assume that all cases are swine flu because that’s all they are seeing when they do test.
Great website - thanks for the link!
1-year-old’s Death Related To Swine Flu - WI
Oct 15, 2009 10:28 am US/Central
http://www.walb.com/Global/story.asp?S=11319888
Baldwin County physician who oversaw swine flu vaccine trials says side effects negligible
By Casandra Andrews
October 15, 2009, 5:31AM
http://blog.al.com/live/2009/10/baldwin_county_physician_who_o.html
MOBILE, Ala. — As small amounts of the swine flu vaccine arrive in Alabama, some parents still question the safety of the inoculation.
At least two recent national polls showed that a substantial number of those surveyed worry that the vaccine for the H1N1 virus, which causes so-called swine flu, wasn’t tested as well as other flu vaccines.
Citing safety concerns, many respondents said they wouldn’t allow their children to receive the immunization.
Dr. Raymond Peterson, a Baldwin County pediatrician who oversaw H1N1 nasal mist vaccine trials for Coastal Clinical Research in Mobile, said he respects parents’ concerns but thinks they are wrong if they don’t immunize their children.
“The prevention of disease is the only thing smart that has happened in American medicine for centuries,” Peterson said.
The side effects are negligible, he said.
Researchers studying those who first received H1N1 vaccines found side effects similar to the seasonal flu vaccine, the CDC reported.
The most widely reported side effect for swine flu vaccine has been pain at the injection site, doctors have said.
Fairhope chiropractor Renee Lopez said her children, ages 2 and 4, have never been vaccinated for the flu or anything else and never will be.
She and her husband, Kyle Lopez, also a chiropractor, led a swine flu workshop Oct. 1 in Fairhope, where they talked about flu vaccine ingredients, among other things.
Two black and white signs that read “Flu shots contain mercury” hang inside the Lopezes’ Fairhope offices.
More than 90 percent of flu vaccines this year do include thimerosal, a mercury derivative used to preserve much of the vaccine.
All four H1N1 vaccine makers approved by the FDA in 2009 also produced single-injection doses without preservatives for children younger than 6.
“It is necessary for parents and individuals to be able to make informed choices about their health, not blindly following mass recommendations,” Renee Lopez said.
Seasonal influenza claims the lives of about 36,000 people annually in the U.S., according to health officials.
The H1N1 influenza strain was detected in April 2009 in the United States and quickly spread across the globe. Because of its prevalence, Alabama’s Department of Public Health quit counting reported cases of the flu this summer.
Since July, the Alabama Department of Public Health has been notified of 17 swine flu-related deaths in the state. The latest victim, reported this week, was a man from Cherokee County who contracted the H1N1 flu strain.
Two men from Mobile, both with underlying health conditions, have died after contracting H1N1, state and local health officials have reported.
H1-N1 Flu claims three lives in Albany area - GA
Posted: Oct 15, 2009 11:11 AM EDT
Updated: Oct 15, 2009 11:21 AM EDT
ALBANY, GA (WALB) - Health officials revealed today that three of the 27 people killed by the flu in Georgia are from the Albany area.
Most of the Georgia deaths happened months ago but the fact that three people who died were from the Albany area was just revealed today.
We are continuing to gather information on this story and will have more details as they become availble.
http://www.walb.com/Global/story.asp?S=11319888
Oct 15, 2009 7:37 am US/Central Iowa Health Officials See Increase In Flu Cases
http://wcco.com/wireapnewsia/Iowa.health.officials.2.1249564.html
Palm Beach Gardens girl to leave Miami hospital today after surviving swine flu
By ANDREW MARRA
Palm Beach Post Staff Writer
Thursday, October 15, 2009
An 8-year-old Palm Beach Gardens girl so sick with swine flu that she was on a respirator and unable to talk has made a complete recovery and will be released today from a Miami hospital, the hospital announced.
Cameron Pirozzi, a third-grader, was hospitalized in late June after a cough and 105-degree fever that progressed into respiratory failure, hospital executives said in a statement. She attends St. Mark’s Episcopal School in Palm Beach Gardens, according to WPTV.com.
It turned out she had H1N1, or swine flu, and she had to be sedated for six weeks and placed on a ventilator.
After treatment at two other hospitals, she ended up at the Holtz Children’s Hospital in the UM/Jackson Memorial Medical Center in Miami.
She had to re-learn how to speak and walk.
“For a while the prognosis wasn’t good, but I never stopped believing she would fully recover,” said her mother, Kelly Pirozzi, in a statement released by the hospital. “This really is a miracle.”
Pirozzi will be released today - just in time to celebrate her ninth birthday on Saturday.
Jackson Memorial will hold a news conference this morning to discuss her recovery.
http://www.palmbeachpost.com/localnews/content/local_news/epaper/2009/10/15/1015swineflugirl.html
Aw, *blush* thank you!
Have 2 down with the fever now....3 of us still healthy.
HPA report in the UK.
Weekly pandemic flu media update
15 October 2009
KEY POINTS
The flu-like illness rate in England from the Royal College of General Practitioners (RCGP) scheme increased to 29.1 per 100,000 in week 41. An increase was seen in most age groups except those over 65 years.
The main burden of flu-like illness nationally is in the 5-14 and 15-24 years age groups.
This week, the antiviral collection numbers in the National Pandemic Flu Service have continued to increase and this has been seen in all age groups except the over 65s. The largest increase (17%) in week 41 was seen in the 5-14 year olds.
Interpretation of data to produce estimates on the number of new cases continues to be subject to a considerable amount of uncertainty. HPA modelling gives an estimate of 27,000 new cases in England last week (range 13,000 to 58,000) compared with 18,000 in week 40. This indicates a doubling every two weeks.
This estimate incorporates data from National Pandemic Flu Service and GP consultations.
During week 39 (September 27-October 3) flu activity increase sharply in the US.
Following the move from laboratory testing for confirmation of swine flu to clinical diagnosis of cases, the level of flu in the community is being monitored using a range of surveillance mechanisms, including the RCGP consultation rates, QSurveillance®, and the National Pandemic Flu Service.
A more detailed UK weekly epidemiology update can be accessed at:
www.hpa.org.uk/swineflu/surveillance&epidemiology
CLINICAL INDICATORS
Clinical data are obtained from GP surgeries that report the weekly and daily consultations for flu-like illness and other acute respiratory illness.
Current estimated weekly Royal College of General Practitioners (RCGP) consultation rates of flu-like illness
From a network of approximately 100 general practices covering a population of approximately 900,000 with an equal distribution within each of three defined reporting regions; North, Central and South.
In week 41 (ending 11 October) GP consultation rates for flu-like illness in England increased compared to the previous week (26.3 per 100,000 in week 40 to 29.1 per 100,000 in week 41). This is still just below the baseline threshold of 30/100,000.
Link is http://www.hpa.org.uk/webw/HPAweb&HPAwebStandard/HPAweb_C/1254510504813?p=1231252394302
Gwent news
Fourth Welsh swine flu death confirmed
5:20pm Thursday 15th October 2009
By South Wales Argus Newsdesk »
HEALTH officials in Wales confirmed a fourth swine flu-related death today.
It takes the total number of deaths in the UK to 93, with 76 in England, 10 in Scotland and three in Northern Ireland. Most people had underlying health conditions.
An Assembly Government spokesman confirmed the fourth death in Wales, but said no information could be released “out of courtesy’’ to the patient’s family.
“We need to be assured that the family are aware that this information will be made public,’’ he said.
Wales’s first swine flu-related death was on August 15 - a 55-year-old woman from Caerphilly County Borough.
The Conservatives’ shadow health minister in the Assembly, Andrew RT Davies, repeated a warning for people to remain vigilant.
He said: “I am concerned, however, that the previously good flow of information on this issue from the Assembly Government and Health Minister appears to have dried up lately.
“It is vital politicians and the public at large are kept fully informed about the risks and also preventative measures that can be taken to stop swine flu cases multiplying rapidly in the future.’’
Link is http://www.southwalesargus.co.uk/news/gwentnews/4685427.Fourth_Welsh_swine_flu_death_confirmed/
AFX UK Focus) 2009-10-15 17:42
UPDATE 1-Britain to start swine flu vaccination next week
By Kate Kelland
LONDON, Oct 15 (Reuters) - Britain, which has seen more than 100 deaths linked to the H1N1 swine flu virus, will start a nationwide vaccination programme next week, its chief medical officer said on Thursday.
The UK is the latest to begin mass immunisation ahead of a feared second wave of infections. Similar programmes are already underway in the United States, China and Australia.
A total of 415,000 doses of GlaxoSmithKline’s Pandemrix shot will be delivered from Oct. 21 to immunise high-risk patients in hospitals and front-line healthcare workers.
“The programme will be rolling from next week,” medical chief Liam Donaldson told reporters.
From the week beginning Oct. 26, 4.4 million doses of the same vaccine will be delivered to general practitioners for patients in priority groups, along with 49,000 doses of Baxter’s Celvapan.
David Salisbury, director of immunisation, said Britain was expecting more vaccines to come from Baxter but added: “We are much less confident of their delivery schedule than we are of GSK’s” due to yield problems.
The government has previously said the first to be immunised would be about 5 million people aged over six months in current seasonal flu risk groups, all pregnant women, contacts of people with compromised immune systems, and health and social care workers.
In total, around 11 million people are in line for the first phase of vaccination.
All those over 10 years of age receiving Glaxo’s vaccine will get a single shot, but children from six months to 9 years will receive two doses, as will everybody receiving Celvapan.
Baxter’s Celvapan, which is produced by cell culture, will be mainly reserved for people with egg allergies.
Responding to concerns about giving swine flu shots to pregnant women, officials said they were confident the vaccines were safe and offered a valuable protection against a potentially dangerous disease.
“I do not want to see pregnant women dying of a preventable disease — that’s the bottom line,” Donaldson said.
Health officials said that in the past week there were an estimated 27,000 new cases of H1N1 flu, up from around 18,000 in the previous week, while the number of deaths of people with the virus had passed 100.
There have now been 83 deaths in England, 15 in Scotland, four in Wales and four in Northern Ireland.Donaldson said he was “concerned about the relatively high number of patients” who were becoming seriously ill, adding the proportion of hospitalised patients in critical care was at its highest level in Britain since the outbreak began.
(Writing by Ben Hirschler; editing by Elaine Hardcastle)
(kate.kellandthomson@reuters.com; +44 (0)7990 567 059)
http://www.iii.co.uk/news/?type=afxnews&articleid=7576406&subject=companies&action=article
Swine flu cases hit 25,000 mark in Northern Ireland
Thursday, 15 October 2009
The number of suspected swine cases in Northern Ireland has hit the 25,000 mark, with the infection rate now at its highest ever level.
Chief medical officer Dr Michael McBride today warned there is a great risk of complacency about the public health risk.
Vaccinations will begin on October 21 for frontline workers with jabs for at-risk groups soon afterwards.
Dr McBride said: “We have never seen levels of transmission like this before. This represents a very significant increase as compared to last week but I think we need to keep a sense of proportion and not create a sense of panic.”
There have been over 13,000 courses of anti-virals prescribed.
The past week saw an almost 60% rise in lab confirmed diagnoses of the virus, with 119 detected in the last seven days, according to the Department of Health. This accounts for more than a fifth of the 565 positive samples detected in the region since the outbreak began.
With only a proportion of those with symptoms undergoing the tests, the actual number who have contracted flu is much higher.
GP consultations for flu and flu-like illness have jumped by 37% over the past seven days - which represents 222 per 100,000 head of population. The age category with the highest incidence is the 5-14 bracket.
Four deaths have been linked to the virus in Northern Ireland and 280 people have been hospitalised.
Two other people from the region have died in England and Spain.
The first 11,000 doses of the vaccine arrived in the region earlier this week.
Chief Medical Officer Dr McBride said while the number being admitted to hospital had actually dropped in the last week (from 61 to 34) he expected it to rise again in the coming seven days as a consequence of the increased number of diagnoses.
“I think that there is a tremendous risk of complacency in relation to the significant public health risk that this virus still poses,” he added.
“We need to ensure that we communicate that message clearly and consistently to the public to ensure that we protect the public for whatever lies ahead.”
He stressed that most of those who catch swine flu will experience mild symptoms.
“I want to reassure the public however that for the vast majority of people swine flu remains a relatively mild illness from which you will make a full recovery,” he said.
“If you think you have swine flu stay at home, please do not visit your GP practice, pharmacy or A&E in person.”
However he urged anyone with an underlying health condition or who is in one of the high risk categories - such as pregnant women, young children and older people - to contact their GP.
“For otherwise fit and healthy people, there is usually no need to take antivirals,” he said.
“Most people will recover at home by taking simple measures to alleviate symptoms such as resting, taking paracetamol and drinking plenty of fluids.
“If, however, your condition suddenly deteriorates or is getting worse after seven days (five for a child) then you should contact your GP or out-of-hours service.”
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