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 ...
CA:
Supervisors Declare H1N1 Emergency
Hospitalizations On Rise
POSTED: 10:28 am PST November 3, 2009
UPDATED: 10:30 am PST November 3, 2009
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Sacramento County supervisors on Tuesday declared a state of emergency over the rising number of hospitalizations related to the H1N1 flu bug.
The move came at the request of Dr. Glennah Trochet, the county’s health
http://www.kcra.com/health/21509426/detail.html
Russians suffer from a flow of air marshals
According to expert groups, patient men, aged 32, Russian nationality. October 28 by flight from Russia arrived in Beijing. November 1, accompanied by a colleague to go to Ditan hospital. On admission showed severe hypoxia with respiratory failure, chest X-ray showed extensive bilateral pulmonary effusion disease, medical personnel, emergency rescue treatment. The same day, municipal health bureau to conduct on-site consultations, and organizing groups of experts to carry out rescue efforts, but the patient’s condition continues to increase, progress rapidly, acute respiratory distress syndrome, multiple organ failure, self-breathing disappeared at 4:30 on November 2 minutes after she died.
http://finance.qq.com/a/20091104/000559.htm
Microbiologists warn against underestimating
die1 (w) on 03.11.2009, 19:59 Clock
The virus, also called H1N1/09-Grippe disease altered their genetic material very quickly, said Hörauf. This risk increases with the number of infected people. “With each infection, the bacterium multiplies and billions of times in every generation can change genetic material.” As the population is not immune, further measures were needed to prevent the spread of swine flu
http://www.virtualnights.com/blog/386841_mikrobiologen-warnen-vor-unterschaetzung
PA is showing a new death (in addition to the 5y/o reported from Adams county, on this news thread)
PA DOH: http://www.h1n1inpa.com/newsroom/pa-situation-update/
Looks like it’s in Berks County.
MN:
Empty desks, offices: Cities plan for H1N1
Communities across the Twin Cities (Minneapolis/St. Paul) area are ready for a full-blown emergency, or anything short of it.
By MARY JANE SMETANKA, Star Tribune
Last update: November 1, 2009 - 8:40 PM
Linger near the front desk at St. Louis Park’s City Hall and you’ll see the receptionist swab the counter with cleaner to kill any flu viruses left by the dozens of people who stop by each day.
But the precautions cities are taking now against H1N1 are nothing compared to what they’ll do if a full-blown health emergency is declared.
VA::
Virginia Dept of Health Website now reports 17 H1N1 Deaths (Note: On 10/28 they were reporting 13 deaths.)
•Count of Deaths Associated with Laboratory-Confirmed Novel H1N1 Influenza Reported to VDH: 17
http://www.vdh.state.va.us/epidemiology/DiseasePrevention/H1N1/H1N1Tracking.htm
Second swine flu victim in Serbia
http://www.b92.net/eng/news/society-article.php?yyyy=2009&mm=11&dd=03&nav_id=62787
3 November 2009
BELGRADE — A 32-year-old woman who died while being transported to a Belgrade clinic is the second confirmed swine flu victim in Serbia.
The woman, who came from a village near Kruševac, was taken ill on October 28.
The first death in the country from the flu virus was registered in October.
Earlier in the day in Belgrade Health Ministry’s working group expert Predrag Kon said that there are more and more serious cases of the flu, and that the health situation of these individuals that are in serious condition is being monitored closely.
Kon said that there have been 169 confirmed cases of swine flu in Serbia thus far.
He recommended that citizens with high temperatures should stay at home and use medication and vitamin C to combat their fever.
“If the temperature is not going down and you are having breathing problems, it is best to consult a doctor, who will determine what the next course of action should be,” Kon said.
Since the spreading of the virus is evident, Kon said that it is important to take hygiene very seriously, with regular hand washing and less direct contact with other individuals.
Kon said that wearing protective masks in the streets is not necessary, but that they should be used in close spaces where there is a possibility of contact with someone that has been infected with the H1N1 virus.
new death in Clark County, Ohio...
Local woman dies from H1N1, coroner confirms
Updated 3:04 PM Tuesday, November 3, 2009
SPRINGFIELD — A 26-year-old woman has reportedly died due to H1N1, Clark County Coroner Richard Marsh confirmed.
“I am very saddened to share the news that we have had our first death due to H1N1 flu in our community,” said Charles Patterson, Health Commissioner. “A 26 year old woman died from the H1N1 flu this past Tuesday, October 27th. Our thoughts and prayers are with the family of the young woman. We are very sorry for their loss.”
Calgary man, 25, latest Albertan to die
http://www.calgaryherald.com/health/Calgary+latest+Albertan/2175815/story.html
November 3, 2009
A 25-year old Calgary man who was dedicated to church and worked as a technical writer for Shaw Cable has died from complications with H1N1, his family said Monday.
Jonathan Evan Harris died last Thursday. Alberta Health Services won’t confirm Harris died from H1N1, citing privacy laws, but they did announce Friday that an adult male from the Calgary area had died of the swine flu.
There have been 14 deaths in Alberta from H1N1.
a new death in Silver Bow County, Montanta...
Swine Flu Death
Butte Man Dies of Swine Flu Complications
By Associated Press, 11-03-09
BUTTE – Officials with the Butte-Silver Bow Health Department have confirmed that a Butte man has died of complications from the swine flu.
Assistant Health Officer Karen Billson says the man was in his 50s and died following the onset of a bacterial infection that led to pneumonia. She says the man suffered from other serious medical conditions.
Billson says the man died over a week ago, but the H1N1 diagnosis was confirmed on Monday.
According to the most recent Department of Public Health and Human Services numbers, the death would be the state’s eighth due to swine flu complications since August.
http://www.flatheadbeacon.com/articles/article/butte_man_dies_of_swine_flu_complications/13967/
EU must help Ukraine to fight flu - Poland
http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/L3708125.htm
03 Nov 2009
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk has called on the European Union to help neighbouring Ukraine fight a flu epidemic and a growing number of H1N1 cases, saying its further spread is threatening the wider bloc.
Ukraine shut schools, banned public meetings and restricted travel earlier this month in an attempt to combat the H1N1 flu epidemic, which has also caused public concern in Poland.
“The character of this threat demands that rapid action be undertaken at the European Union level,” Tusk wrote in a letter to European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso and Swedish Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt, who holds the rotating EU presidency.
“This will serve both the interests of Ukraine, and the EU itself,” he said in the letter, a copy of which was obtained by Reuters on Tuesday.
Tusk urged Brussels to hold an extraordinary meeting of the EU’s health council to identify Ukraine’s needs and discuss availability of vaccines.
Poland’s Health Minister Ewa Kopacz said there had so far been 185 cases of swine flu and around 41,000 of seasonal flu diagnosed in the biggest ex-communist EU member. There have been no deaths.
“I don’t understand why we are all so worried about a rare flu that has a much more gentle course than the regular one. I don’t understand why people do not take vaccines for seasonal flu,” she told a Polish television channel.
But news broadcasts showed Poles lining up at pharmacies to get sanitary masks which were quickly sold out in a sign of growing public concern.
Deputy Foreign Minister Andrzej Kremer told Reuters that Warsaw was awaiting a reply from Brussels, and said he feared the epidemic could spread rapidly in eastern Europe.
“Poland has already organised quite reasonable help for Ukraine, but in a split second we will see swine flu in Belarus, we are already hearing something about Romania,” he said.
Shipments of medicine and medical equipment have been leaving Poland for Ukraine in recent days. A growing number of swine flu cases have also been reported in Germany and Slovakia, which likewise share borders with Poland. (Writing by Gabriela Baczynska; editing by David Stamp)
Commentary
WHO Targets Hemorrhagic H1N1 Cases in Lviv Ukraine
Recombinomics Commentary 19:54
November 3, 2009
http://www.recombinomics.com/News/11030902/Ukraine_Hemor.html
Work will initially begin in Lviv region, where reported numbers of cases showing severe manifestations of acute respiratory illness have been especially high. Two virologists on the team have started working at the National Influenza Centre and the laboratories of the Central Sanitary and Epidemiological Station in Kyiv to provide diagnostic support.
The above comments from the WHO update on Ukraine strike a more serious tone than yesterday’s quotes from WHO spokespersons playing down the alarming number of hospitalized and fatal cases, as well as media reports spinning political considerations, or politicians claiming only 15 confirmed H1N1 cases. As the WHO update clearly states, the dominant influenza circulating worldwide is swine H1N1 and it is assumed that most cases in the Ukraine are swine H1N1. Since the official government website lists 19,189 influenza cases (in addition to more than 235,000 ARI cases), the willingness of politicians to cite 15 confirmed cases, as well as media support in the distribution of the propaganda, is unfortunate.
The more severe manifestation of ARI cases are clearly hemorrhagic disease that fills lungs with blood and produces bleeding at all orifices, which are stark reminders of 1918 pandemic cases which were also linked to a swine H1N1.
Samples have arrived at Mill Hill in London, and sequence data should be available shortly. Since current swine H1N1 produced lethal infections in previously healthy young adults, and produced hemorrhagic disease, changes in the viral genome may be absent or minor. Therefore, release of the sequences to the entire scientific community would be useful.
Similarly, an update on the number of hemorrhagic cases would be useful. Rumors have suggested that such the number of such cases is significantly higher than the six described in media reports.
a new death in Kenton County, Kentucky...
First H1N1 Death Reported In N.Ky.
EDGEWOOD, Ky. – A Kenton County woman in her mid-50s has died from medical complications co-existent with the H1N1 swine flu, the Northern Kentucky Health Department reported Tuesday.
This is the first death in the Northern Kentucky region associated with H1N1 swine flu.
“The loss of any one of our residents is always a tragedy, and our thoughts go out to the individual’s family,” said Steven R. Katkowsky, M.D., District Director of Health. “Influenza is a serious illness that can lead to serious complications and even death, as it did in this case.”
Nationwide, between Aug. 30 and Oct. 24, over 2,900 pneumonia and influenza syndrome-based deaths have been reported to the CDC due to the H1N1 swine flu. In Kentucky, 15 deaths have been reported, including the local one.
To date, 180 cases of H1N1 swine flu have been confirmed in Northern Kentucky, but this number may not accurately reflect the actual number of cases. Because H1N1 swine flu is becoming more and more widespread, testing to confirm the presence of H1N1 swine flu at the Division of Laboratory Services is limited to persons sick enough to be hospitalized or at high risk of complications, such as pregnant women. Any person with flu-like symptoms accompanied by a fever is presumed to have H1N1 swine flu.
http://www.wcpo.com/news/local/story/First-H1N1-Death-Reported-In-N-Ky/atdwrch9jkKPqvLyCILUGQ.cspx
WHO ‘assumes’ Ukraine gripped by swine flu
(AFP) – 2 hours ago
http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5hTH3C3tvlOD2ksswqY46Zt6_px1A
GENEVA — The World Health Organisation said Tuesday that it was valid to assume that most of the cases of influenza reportedly sweeping through Ukraine were caused by the pandemic A(H1N1) virus.
Ukrainian authorities on Sunday launched an urgent appeal for help from world powers after it imposed drastic measures to tackle a sudden surge of flu-like illness in the country.
More than 250,000 cases have been reported, according to official Ukrainian figures cited by the WHO.
“Given the potential significance of this outbreak as an early warning signal, WHO commends the government of Ukraine for its transparent reporting and open sharing of samples,” the UN health agency said in a statement.
“Laboratory testing in Ukraine has confirmed pandemic H1N1 influenza virus in samples taken from patients in two of the most affected regions,” it added.
“As the pandemic virus has rapidly become the dominant influenza strain worldwide, it can be assumed that most cases of influenza in Ukraine are caused by the H1N1 virus.”
The highest rates of “acute respiratory illness/influenza-like illness” were found in western areas, while they were also increasing rapidly around the capital Kiev, according to the WHO.
Seventy-one people have died as a result of flu and acute respiratory infections, the Ukrainian health ministry said, but the pandemic A(H1N1) virus has been confirmed in only one of the fatal cases.
The WHO said a team of specialists who arrived in the country on Monday will initially focus on the Lviv region, where reported “severe” cases of acute respiratory illness “have been especially high.”
Samples from Ukraine have also been received by the WHO’s influenza research laboratory in London for tests.
“Many questions remain to be answered,” the WHO said.
“The outbreak in Ukraine may be indicative of how the virus can behave in the northern hemisphere during the winter season, particularly in health care settings typically found in eastern Europe,” it added.
Local analysts have suggested that rival Ukrainian leaders may be trying to exploit popular fears in campaigning ahead of January 17 presidential polls, as each candidate seeks to take the initiative in fighting the outbreak.
Secret document: Belarusians die from pneumonia complicated by swine flu
http://www.charter97.org/en/news/2009/11/3/23355/
Medical workers report to the Health Care Ministry that, about ten people have died in Minsk from pneumonia, a A(H1N1) flu complication.
Journalists managed to get a medical report saying the cause of death of two persons of 27 and 36 years old (they died on the same day) was pneumonia. RNA of A(H1N1) flu were detected in their tissue samples.
The 27-year old man had a high temperature and went to a local polyclinic, was treated at home, but after some days taken to hospital #6, where he died on October 26.
According to a source of “Belorusskie Novosti”, it is mostly young people who die from the A(H1N1) virus in Belarus.
The difficulty is that a death certificate is only the first step to prove the cause of death was the virus. According to the source, it give the officials an opportunity to sit on their hands and speak about the mixed infection, etc. Post-mortem and histologic examinations are needed to confirm the death was caused by the A(H1N1) virus. Medical officials can state the flu is just a background disease, but not a ground for the complications, and will be right formally.
For the moment, the medical worker has information about ten confirmed death cases of A(H1N1) flu. He states: “The pneumonia, we are speaking about, is a complication of A(H1N1) flu, it is not a bacterial pneumonia. A sick person chokes and can’t breathe. He prescribed artificial ventilation, but dies. This takes three or four days.”
The source notes a fast growth of pneumonia cases in Belarus and in Minsk. He states that the number of fatal cases exceeds the normal statistics for this period of year. There are many patients with pneumonia in intensive therapy units. He can’t say whether all of them are checked for the A(H1N1) virus.
The physician’s statement can’t be proven officially. According to some reports, medical workers are not permitted to say any information about the current situation with the A(H1N1) virus. Requests to the Health Care Ministry remain unreplied. The ministry representatives deny death cases of swine flu or refuse to give any comments in order to prevent panic. Officials never think it is impossible to hide the truth for long, it will leak and gather rumours and make even greater panic.
Attempts of the authorities to hush up the situation are short-sighted, the physician said. The current situation needs not reports saying it is under control, but urgent measures.
He gives an example of behaviour of the Ukrainian government: “The country has asked for help and received it. 600,000 doses of Tamiflu, bought by the Ukrainian government, had already been delivered. In accordance with medical norms, this is enough to supply all regions of Ukraine and make reserves.”
The medical worker emphases that Belarus becomes a proving ground where the virus is tested in natural condition, when preventive measures are insufficient and treatment is minimal: “The duty of the health system is to buy the necessary medicines beforehand and be able to forecast keen demand. At least, sufficient number of protective masks must have been purchased. It finds out that our medical system is not effective to fight the epidemic. The officials continue to state the virus is raging in Ukraine and Russia, but not in Belarus. “
The physician emphasized: the Belarusian medical workers are not allowed to give information to the public (that’s why the source wants to stay unanimous). He proves this with own examples: “We are constantly told not to sow panic, which means we can’t give true information. We are strictly forbidden to speak with the press... An attempt to decrease the number of disease cases in Belarus comes to absurdity and forgery. Medical issues become political issues. They twist our arms forcing us to make politically correct diagnoses. Influenza is another proof in this range.”
Here are the alleged documents:
White House: No H1N1 Vaccine at Guantanamo
Posted by Stephanie Condon
http://www.cbsnews.com/blogs/2009/11/03/politics/politicalhotsheet/entry5511876.shtml
Posted at PFI
EnoughAlready
Joined: 25 Jan 2007
Posts: 1400
Posted: Tue Nov 03, 2009 3:59 pm Post subject:
From Monotreme-— Secret Document post
Quote:
The medical worker emphases that Belarus becomes a proving ground where the virus is tested in natural condition, when preventive measures are insufficient and treatment is minimal: “The duty of the health system is to buy the necessary medicines beforehand and be able to forecast keen demand. At least, sufficient number of protective masks must have been purchased. It finds out that our medical system is not effective to fight the epidemic. The officials continue to state the virus is raging in Ukraine and Russia, but not in Belarus. “
Proving ground?
The duty of the health system... beforehand and “forecasting”...
just want to pull that out because it is the people of the world’s anthem.
Russia... it’s raging there, like in the Ukraine? I can’t keep up with all this stuff.
Quote:
The physician emphasized: the Belarusian medical workers are not allowed to give information to the public (that’s why the source wants to stay unanimous). He proves this with own examples: “We are constantly told not to sow panic, which means we can’t give true information. We are strictly forbidden to speak with the press... An attempt to decrease the number of disease cases in Belarus comes to absurdity and forgery. Medical issues become political issues. They twist our arms forcing us to make politically correct diagnoses. Influenza is another proof in this range.”
Oooops.
Last time I remember this kind of thing being said was the ER doctor in Texas with the email “scandle.”
http://www.singtomeohmuse.com/viewforum.php?f=1
It’s what, unlucky, “severe” cases in the US (especially those without antivirals at onset)
had, April, May, June, July, August, Sept, Oct...
WHO Report on H1N1 as of May 20 http://www.who.int/wer/2009/wer8421.pdf
p 4 ..”findings in severe new influenza A (H1N1)-related pneumonia are similar to those noted in avian influenza A (H5N1) virus infection in humans”...
BRIAN RIES
Updated 10:41 AM EST, Tue, Nov 3, 2009
After a rough spring that saw as many as 20 to 40 percent of New Yorkers exposed to H1N1, subway riders have resorted to defending themselves with their fists.
Violence struck on a southbound D train Monday morning after two women got into an argument over one’s refusal to cover her mouth while coughing. It ended with her spitting on the other, a punch, and the second woman dragging the first to the floor of the car by her hair.
Here’s the play-by-play account, as witnessed firsthand by The Business Insider’sLawrence Delevingne:
“No one got the conductor — it just seemed like a shouting match — but as the train pulled into 42nd Street, the coughing woman spit on the other, provoking what sounded like a punch from the reaction of the crowd (we didn’t directly see it). Then the cougher attempted to exit the train as the doors were open, but the second woman grabbed her by the back of the hair, violently yanking her down to the floor.”
Be careful out there transit riders, and remember, cover your mouth, wash your hands, and don’t spit on each other. What is this, elementary school?
Back to top
Family says it was H1N1:
Calgarian, 25, died from H1N1, family says
By Colette Derworiz, Calgary HeraldNovember 3, 2009
http://www.vancouversun.com/health/Calgarian+died+from+H1N1+family+says/2174518/story.html
CALGARY - A 25-year-old Calgary man who was dedicated to church and worked at Shaw Cable has died from complications of the H1N1 virus, his family said Monday.
Jonathan Evan Harris died Thursday at the Rockyview General Hospital.
Alberta Health Services won’t confirm Harris died from H1N1, citing privacy laws, but they did announce Friday that an adult male from the Calgary area had died from the swine flu.
There have been 14 deaths in Alberta from H1N1. Harris’s family declined to comment on their son’s death. “Everyone is just traumatized,” said his mom, Elizabeth Harris, suggesting details could be found in his obituary, which was published in Monday’s Herald.
“Although his life was cut short, it was lived with gentleness, kindness, joy, quiet humour, wit, richness, integrity, and pure love,” the tribute said.
Harris was also very active in his faith. His youth pastor, Sindy Jeske, said Harris was always a great man—even in his youth.
“One of my favourite qualities about him was his desire to be a true gentleman. This is such a rare characteristic,” she said in an e-mail. “He went out of his way to treat people with dignity and respect.”
Harris’s funeral will be held at 4 p.m. Thursday at St. George’s Anglican Church, 244 Templemont Dr. N.E.
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