Posted on 06/24/2009 8:04:24 AM PDT by metmom
Almost 100 new swine flu cases reported in Russia in five days
16 October 2009 | 00:24 | FOCUS News Agency
http://www.focus-fen.net/?id=n197373
Moscow. Almost 100 people have been confirmed as suffering from swine flu in Russia since October 11, the country’s top doctor said on Thursday, RIA Novosti reported.
“As of October 15, 807 cases of A/H1N1 have been registered in our country,” Gennady Onishchenko said, adding that in 562 cases the people had become infected whilst travelling abroad.
On October 11, there were 709 confirmed cases of swine flu in Russia. No one has died in Russia of the virus.
A number of schools have been temporarily closed in the country over swine flu fears.
According to the latest report from the World Health Organization, 340,000 cases of swine flu have been confirmed throughout the world and 4,100 people have died from the virus as of September 27.
FL:
State swine flu deaths reach 121; shots are here
By MARY SHEDDEN | The Tampa Tribune
http://www2.tbo.com/content/2009/oct/15/151559/pinellas-has-first-swine-flu-shots-clinics-schedul/news-breaking/
Florida’s swine flu death toll jumped to 121 just as the long-awaited injectable vaccine arrived locally.
The weekly update released Thursday by the Florida Department of Health includes six people from Tampa Bay, including a 10-month-old girl from Sarasota County and a 56-year-old Polk County woman.
Since the pneumonia shot is good for 5 years, and the H1N1 tends to hit the lungs hard, I wonder if those that get milder cases may have had pneumonia shots within the last 5 years.
Also, FWIW, about 3 years ago my sister was in the hospital in ICU, she had high fever, pneumonia and her kidneys were being infected. We were talking about this last weekend and we think its possible that she may have had an early case of H1N1. We think its been around a while, but, no one had a name for it.
I would be very interested in finding out the numbers of people who got the pneumonia shot , & if they were protected from the flu . And if they were protected how long of a protection period it would be .
Laclede County teen dies of possible swine flu - MO
News-Leader staff • October 15, 2009
A Laclede County teen with a potential case of H1N1 influenza died Thursday at a Springfield hospital, according to the state health department.
The girl, whose age was not released, tested positive for a rapid test of influenza A, which usually turn out to be cases of swine flu, according to Kit Wagar, spokesman with the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services.
State health officials learned Thursday the girl began to have flu-like symptoms on Tuesday, checked into a Laclede County emergency room in Wednesday before being transported to an undisclosed Springfield hospital, where she died sometime Thursday, Wagar said.
Wagar said the girl was between the ages of 13 and 17. Federal laws prevent state officials from identifying the hospital, doctor or patients’ names or the patient’s age, Wagar said.
Wagar said state health officials were informed by local sources that the girl may have had other, underlying health problems.
“That is another reason we hold off and say we need to figure out if it was a flu death,” Wagar said.
Wagar said if it turns out the girl had H1N1 flu, a pediatric flu investigation will be conducted and a report will be sent to the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
“It’s very unusual” to have a flu investigation conducted, Wagar said.
Charla Baker, the administrator of the LaClede County Health Department, said her office was notified of the death around 1:30 p.m. Thursday. Her office hopes to receive a written medical report Friday morning, she said.
VA:
State begins swine flu vaccination campaign
By Elizabeth Simpson
The Virginian-Pilot
October 15, 2009
RICHMOND
http://hamptonroads.com/2009/10/state-begins-swine-flu-vaccination-campaign
The state kicked off a media campaign Thursday for the H1N1, or swine flu, vaccine, by giving it to people in priority groups.
The campaign will include public service TV and radio spots, advertising on transit systems, the Internet and at movie theaters. The campaign has the theme “H1N1Get1. It’s up to you to fight the flu.”
State Health Commissioner Karen Remley was among those vaccinated Thursday. The commissioner has asthma, which puts her in a priority group that also includes pregnant women, children 6 months and older, young adults through age 24, people with underlying health problems, parents and caregivers of people with the above-mentioned health conditions and those with children 6 months and younger.
Health care workers and emergency medical service providers also are given priority for the vaccine, and they started receiving the vaccine last week.
Remley received her vaccine at an event at Virginia Commonwealth University’s medical campus, according to a release from the Virginia Department of Health.
A special Web site, www.H1N1Get1.com, also has been set up to provide information about the virus and the places where vaccinations are available throughout Virginia.
Information also is available by calling 1 (877) 275-8343. Not all of the places listed on the Web site have received the swine flu vaccine yet, so people in priority groups should check with the health-care provider first.
VA:
Beach school to close while students recuperate
By Marquita Smith
The Virginian-Pilot
October 14, 2009
VIRGINIA BEACH
http://hamptonroads.com/2009/10/virginia-beach-school-close-while-students-recuperate
After 80 students stayed home sick on Tuesday, St. Matthew’s School Principal Barbara White decided it was best to close the parochial school for an extra day to give the students a chance to recuperate.
“We have lost the battle... but we are determined to win the war! Due to a high number of ill children, we will be closing school on Thursday,” she wrote in a letter to parents.
Not many of those cases are confirmed as the swine flu, White said Tuesday evening. But sickly students, who had some kind of flu or other illness with a fever, have been encouraged to stay home.
More than 500 students attend the Catholic school, which offers 3-year-old preschool through eigh th grade. The school closed for a similar reason a few years ago when there was an outbreak of the stomach flu.
St. Matthew’s is scheduled to close Friday for a teacher’s meeting. Closing Thursday, too, allows a four-day cleansing period. Custodians will have time to come in and scrub the place down, she said.
In her note to parents, White wrote: “Please have our children rest and recuperate so that we may start fresh on Monday. Thank you for your help and cooperation.”
VA:
Beach schools announce swine flu vaccinations
By Lauren Roth
The Virginian-Pilot
October 15, 2009
VIRGINIA BEACH
http://hamptonroads.com/2009/10/beach-schools-announce-swine-flu-vaccinations
In an unprecedented undertaking, Beach public schools will vaccinate as many as 79,500 students and staff members against swine flu beginning next week.
“We’re trying to get an immunity established in the school,” said Mary Shaw, who coordinates health services and nursing for the 85 Beach schools and specialty centers. Individual schools have started to see small numbers of flu cases. “It will continue to increase until we vaccinate the kids,” she said.
The typical case is much like the seasonal flu, with three to four days of symptoms including fever, aches, cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, chills and fatigue, according to the Virginia Department of Health.
Eight Virginians have died of rare complications from the H1N1 influenza, also known as swine flu.
Unlike the seasonal flu, school-age children are at higher risk of complications, Shaw said. That’s why vaccinations are important, she said.
City health department nurses and a team of school division nurses have been tapped to prepare for mass vaccinations during the school day, beginning Wednesday. All school clinics will remain open during the vaccinations, Shaw said.
Parents or guardians must sign a consent form for the free vaccine and may be present during the vaccination, which carries a slight risk of cold-like symptoms such as a cough and runny nose. Permission forms are being sent home in a special “Apple A Day” newsletter today and Friday. Staffers based at schools, including bus drivers, also will be eligible for the shots or nasal sprays.
Vaccinations will begin at the elementary level and will be administered alphabetically by high school attendance zone, starting with Bayside High. As many as five schools will be vaccinated a day.
Depending on supply, vaccinations could continue through December. Other local school divisions also are working on school-based vaccination plans, with shots and sprays beginning as early as Tuesday in Portsmouth and Norfolk. Specific dates haven’t been set in Suffolk or Chesapeake, but parents have received notifications.
Shaw said Beach schools will continue to send home any students with flu-like symptoms. Schools will remain open unless absences make education untenable.
“The school is a controlled environment, unlike home or the grocery store,” she said.
Lauren Roth, (757) 222-5133, lauren.roth@pilotonline.com
Swine flu spreading rapidly in California, health officials say
By Rong-Gong Lin II
Los Angeles Times Staff Writer
October 15, 2009
http://www.latimes.com/news/la-me-swine-flu-m,0,5493315.story
The swine flu virus is spreading rapidly throughout California, public health officials said today, citing physician reports of higher-than-normal flu illnesses for this time of year.
More than 5% of patients coming into doctor’s offices are presenting flu-like symptoms, which is much higher than the usual 2%, according to an estimate based on about 50 physicians across California who monitor flu activity for the state.
“We are seeing a continued ramp-up of the virus activity,” Dr. Mark Horton, California’s public health officer, said at a news conference today. “That is very unusual for this time of year.”
That's going to be hard to do since they are not keeping good records anymore and are lumping all flu's into one now. I find that be a statistical nightmare and suspect that they are just saying that so that they don't have to publicly report the H1N1 cases and or deaths. jmo
Girl who died didn’t exhibit common flu symptoms but was infected with the H1N1 Virus
By Keith Darcé
UNION-TRIBUNE STAFF WRITER
5:34 p.m. October 15, 2009
When 5-year-old Alitza Ortiz Sanchez arrived at a local hospital emergency room last week, she wasn’t suffering from some of the most common flu symptoms, her mother said Thursday.
In fact, Sanchez had been diagnosed with a urinary infection the day before by a doctor in Tijuana. She had a persistent headache and purplish swelling around her eyes, but no fever, sore throat, cough or runny nose.
“We didn’t think it was the flu,” said her mother, Itzya Sanchez, 29.
A test conducted after Alitza arrived at Rady Children’s Hospital in San Diego revealed that Alitza was infected with the H1N1 virus, but the results arrived after the girl had suffered the first of what would be four heart failures.
Alitza died early Saturday.
Sanchez and Alitza’s father, Miguel Ortiz, were driving to Tijuana on Thursday afternoon for a wake. Most of their relatives live in that city.
Alitza will be buried there
http://www3.signonsandiego.com/stories/2009/oct/15/bn15girl2173421/?metro&zIndex=183499
Houston Teen With Swine Flu Dies
Updated: Thursday, 15 Oct 2009, 4:29 PM CDT
Published : Thursday, 15 Oct 2009, 5:14 PM CDT
MENA EL-SHARKAWI
HOUSTON - A Pasadena ISD high school student died because of swine flu, but he had underlying health conditions, a Houston official said.
The 16-year-old boy is the first teenager in the city of Houston to died from the H1N1 strain, City of Houston’s Health Department Spokeswoman Kathy Barton said.
But the teen had underlying health conditions, the details of which were undisclosed. Barton said that he was a high-risk child who could have benefited from the vaccine.
The boy’s death increased the city of Houston’s swine flu death toll to two.
On Sept. 25, Kenneth Lane Beckett, a 27-year-old Harris County Jail inmate, became the first Houston resident to die from the strain. He, too, had underlying medical conditions.
At least 11 Houston-area residents, including a baby and a Fort Bend County teen, have died because of swine flu. The number includes deaths in Houston and Harris, Fort Bend and Brazoria counties.
Until the H1N1 vaccines become widely available, Barton suggests practicing social hygiene.
— Learn How to Prevent Yourself from Getting Swine Flu: http://www.myfoxhouston.com/subindex/health/swine_flu
http://www.myfoxhouston.com/dpp/health/swine_flu/091015_pasadena_teen_swine_flu
02 October 15, 2009 in City, Idaho
Four adults die of apparent swine flu
Mike Prager
The Spokesman-Review
Four adults have died of what is suspected to be swine flu in Spokane and Post Falls recently. Of the four, three were adults who had no underlying health conditions.
The death this week of a Post Falls man in his 30s is being investigated to determine whether it was caused by the 2009 H1N1 influenza virus, the Panhandle Health District said this afternoon.
The man had been suffering influenza symptoms, and tests are being conducted at the Washington State Health Department in Olympia to determine whether he had the virus that is causing a global pandemic and initially was known as swine flu.
“This individual was previously apparently healthy,” said Dr. Robert West, Kootenai County’s coroner.
Family members, friends and co-workers that the man had been in recent contact with are being alerted that his death may have been caused by swine flu.
The Spokane Regional Health District also announced this afternoon that three Spokane County residents have died recently from “likely” H1N1 virus.
They are a man in his 40s with no known underlying health conditions; a woman in her 40s with underlying health conditions; and a woman in her 60s with no known underlying health conditions.
“Every death from influenza is tragic and a reminder of how this virus can have very serious consequences,” said Dr. Joel McCullough, health officer for Spokane Regional Health District.
West said the majority of individuals who get the virus will recover without lasting health problems.
http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2009/oct/15/post-falls-man-may-have-died-swine-flu/
Friends and family mourn the death of H1N1 victim Justin Bouvier
Updated 5 hours ago
Young Justin Bouvier of Timmins is being remembered and mourned by family and friends today as an easy-going friendly guy with “an infectious smile.”
The 15-year-old Timmins boy died at the Timmins and District Hospital on Wednesday. There is the possibility that his death is a direct result of the H1N1 influenza virus since he had tested positive for that virus before being hospitalized.
Bouvier, a student at O’Gorman High School, had what health unit officials describe a longstanding illness previously unrelated to any flu virus. The health unit says further testing will be required to confirm the precise cause of death.
Bouvier was confined to a wheelchair and was also well-known in the community as a child ambassador for Easter Seals.
His death has hit the community hard, not only because it has sparked fears about the flu virus in general, but because it has taken the life of the popular teen.
A Facebook sympathy page has been created so that friends and schoolmates at O’Gorman can post their remembrances. Dozens of people have already left messages.
One person wrote:”Justin was just a great kid, and got along well with every one, it must have been his infectious smile.”
Another student remembered Bouvier for the fact that he was able to help others who struggled with some of their classes.
A published obituary notice indicates Bouvier is survived by his mother Lorri-Anne, five sisters and a brother. Funeral arrangements are being handled by the Miron-Wilson funeral home, with visitations on Friday. A funeral mass will be held at St. Anthony’s Cathedral at 12:00 noon on Saturday. The notice suggested that memoriam donations may be made to the Muscular Dystrophy Association of Canada.
In announcing the news of his death this week, Dr. Susan Kaczmarek, the Medical Officer of Health for the Porcupine Health Unit, said, “We have been informed that these tests were conducted on two male adolescents. One of these individuals was hospitalized and we learned (Wednesday) this morning that this young person has passed away. The second individual is recovering at home.” The health unit will be working with area schools and school boards to assist them in providing information about the H1N1 virus to concerned staff, students and parents, said the health unit news release.
According to the release, Dr. Kaczmarek says that the Porcupine Health Unit is receiving a lot of questions about H1N1.
She adds, “It is important for people to know that most people will have a typical course of influenza. They will be sick for a few days with a cough and fever and then recover. Although H1N1 is a relatively mild strain of influenza A, influenza can still be a serious illness, especially for people with conditions that increase their risk for complications. Those with risk factors may have a more severe illness.”
Understandably, parents will be concerned about sending their children to school, said the health unit release. Dr. Kaczmarek responds that H1N1, like all influenza, is generally a “community acquired disease”, meaning people can be exposed to this virus practically anywhere.
Glen Sheculski, the director of education for the English catholic school board, says there is no need for alarm among parents. He said they can be assured that the school and the school board is taking precautions.
“I hope there would be confidence in what we are doing at the school to ensure that the virus doesn’t spread any further,” Sheculski said Thursday morning. He added there is a cleaning staff at the school that knows how to clean things properly.
He also pointed that the health unit has described the flu as a community acquired virus. “So if you’re not at school and you go to the mall or where ever you could conceivably contract this anywhere within the community itself,” Sheculski said.
http://www.timminstimes.com/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=2127664
Three new deaths in Alameda County, California:
The Alameda County Public Health Department website updated on Oct. 13, raising its death toll from 14 to 17.
http://www.acphd.org/H1N1/index.htm
Roosevelt man dies of A/H1N1 - Utah
Updated: 10/15/2009 06:04:55 PM MDT
A Roosevelt man in his 30s died from the H1N1 flu virus last weekend, the fourth death tied to the swine flu in Utah this flu season.
Jeramie Tubbs, a spokeswoman for the Tri County Health Department, didn’t know if the man had any underlying medical conditions that put him at higher risk for complications.
As the number of H1N1 flu-related illnesses and deaths climb, Utah hospitals are limiting visitors in an effort to halt its spread.
Acting on a recommendation from the Utah Hospitals & Health Systems Association, University Hospital in Salt Lake City, as well as Intermountain Healthcare, IASIS Healthcare and MountainStar hospitals, have banned visitors under age 14. They have also limited other visitors to two at a time — whether in a patient’s room or accompanying a patient to an emergency room.
The limits don’t apply to patients who are receiving end-of-life care. But all visitors must stay home if they are ill, including those with a fever, cough, sore throat, fatigue, nausea, vomiting or diarrhea.
Visitors also are asked to wash their hands frequently.
“Overall, people are taking it in stride,” said Jess Gomez, a spokesman for Intermountain Healthcare. “It’s an inconvenience for some, but once they better understand the reasons for the restrictions — which is to protect their loved ones in the hospital and the people who are caring for them — they are fine.”
http://www.sltrib.com/Utah/ci_13569350
Kootenai Co. ID reports A/H1N1 death
Four area residents dead from swine flu
Posted: Oct 15, 2009 5:30 PM EST Updated: Oct 15, 2009 6:11 PM EST
SPOKANE— Health officials on both sides of the stateline confirm that four area residents - three in Spokane County and one in Kootenai County - have died from the swine flu within the last week.
The Panhandle Health District confirms that Post Falls resident Kerrie S. Scott died at his home in the past week. Officials said he had been suffering from symptoms of the flu.
“The death of a resident of our community saddens us deeply and our sympathies go out to his family and other loved ones,” said Jeanne Bock, Panhandle Health District director. “Although most cases of H1N1 recover without medical attention, this is an unfortunate reminder that all flu viruses can be deadly.”
Scott, who was in his 30s, was a well known youth football coach in Post Falls. Scott’s death is one of five swine flu related deaths in all of Idaho since September 1st.
“We must continue to be vigilant in preventing the spread of the H1N1 influenza and seasonal influenza,” Bock said. “We anticipate that we could see more illnesses and deaths from H1N1, which is now widespread in our communities.”
Meanwhile in Spokane County the Spokane Regional Health District confirmed Thursday afternoon that three people have died from complications related to swine flu.
The health district would only go as far as say the victims were a man in his 40s, a woman in her 40s and another woman in her 60s. In each case none of the victims had an underyling health conditions and all three died in the last week at home.
Source: http://www.kxly.com/Global/story.asp?S=11323337
New classification system for flu related deaths
Source: http://www.mysouthwestga.com/news/st...ocal&id=363704
A new classification system for flu related deaths will increase H1N1 flu death numbers
By Romney Smith
Thursday, October 15, 2009 at 10:38 p.m.
Southwest Georgia has 3 confirmed deaths related to the H1N1 flu and health officials say the number of deaths may increase in the near future.
District Health Director Dr. Jacqueline Grant says there is a new classification system for anyone who dies with both flu and it’s having a direct impact on the numbers of H1N1 deaths.
“Our numbers have changed a little bit because we’re including influenza and H1N1 because we aren’t confirming every flu case to be H1N1 or the seasonal flu” says Dr. Grant.
Since the new classification system calls for the numbers of H1N1 deaths to combine with seasonal flu deaths it will appear as if the H1N1 death toll.
http://www.mysouthwestga.com/news/story.aspx?list=~\news\lists\local&id=363704
Swine flu cases go up to 44 (Nepal)
http://www.thehimalayantimes.com/fullNews.php?headline=Swine+flu+cases+go+up+to+44+&NewsID=39717
2009-10-15
With the five new cases reported recently in Kathmandu and three more in Chitwan, the total cases of A/H1N1-2009 pandemic influenza in the country have climbed to 44 since its outbreak globally this year.
Ministry of Health and Population today said three A/H1N1-2009 cases have recently been detected in Chitwan from the fever-prone areas and another five new traced in Kathmandu.
Three of the five cases in Kathmandu were reported from four major hospitals in the capital. While two new cases were confirmed elsewhere, the ministry said, in a statement issued here today.
The cases were confirmed after the government conducted an examination of suspected patients, the statement said.
The government has said that the new patients were not found to have travelled anywhere but said they probably contracted the disease from other infected people.
Until September 24, Nepal recorded 36 such cases but no death has been reported as all of them have recovered, the ministry said in the statement.
“The Ministry appeals to all to undergo a health check-up immediately if they are suffering from common cold with symptoms similar to those of A/H1N1,” the statement said. Ninety-nine per cent cases resemble with common cold, with only one per cent showing serious symptoms.
Posted By : S-2 Flu at the Pandemic Flu Information Forum
http://www.singtomeohmuse.com/viewforum.php?f=1
DAILY FATALITY SUMMARY (Reports posted on October 15,2009)
UNITED STATES 18
California 3
Colorado 1
Florida 3
Georgia 1
Indiana 1
Michigan 1
Missouri 1
Texas 1
Utah 1
Washington 4*
Wisconsin 1
CANADA 1
Saskatchewan 1
WORLDWIDE 15
India 6
Nepal 5
Trinidad and Tobago 2*
United Kingdom 2
NOTES: Three of the Washington fatalities are not yet confirmed.Trinidad and Tobago`s cases are the first for that country.
COMMENT: Reporting seems to be drying up all over the world despite the obvious spread of sickness.Our counters here are loseing heart.Pixie told me that I might wind up being the last man standing as sources became corrupt or dried up but I can only wonder what I`m going to stand on.
It is doubtfull that many people will read this anymore but I will keep posting in hopes that some trends will be detectable.Thank you.
_________________
Someday the acronym for “just in time”,JIT,is going to mean “just isn`t there”.
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