H1N1 flu victim collapsed on way to hospital [Latest H1N1 updates downthread]

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.

( The new hospitalizations and deaths are mentioned in the bottom of the article . The new hospitalizations and deaths count is only for Cook County not the whole state of IL )

Swine scare doesn’t skip St. Nick

December 18, 2009
BY MAURA POSSLEY

It’s the usual merry routine for the big guy outside the Sears store at Orland Square Mall. Slip into the red and white suit, tie up the black boots and remain seated for about 10 hours on his Kris Kringle throne.

But in between the visits with hundreds of boys and girls each day, Santa’s taking extra precautions this year.

» Click to enlarge image

Kris Kringle sprays his hands down with disinfectant while working his shift at Orland Square Mall in Orland Park, IL on Thursday December 17, 2009.
Matt Marton/SouthtownStar
The H1N1 pandemic changed the way a lot of us approach the flu season, and Santa’s no exception.

At the Orland Park mall and other shopping centers across the country, Santas are slathering on hand sanitizer, avoiding touching their faces, gargling with mouthwash or saltwater, downing lots of vitamin C and getting plenty of rest.

While he prepares to fight the flu every holiday season, the H1N1 virus has meant increased safety measures aimed at protecting the good boys and girls who endure long lines to see him, particularly because this strain has sickened many younger than age 25. Mall Santas around the country are adopting similar precautions, according to Noerr Programs, which provides Santas to malls in 34 states, including seven Illinois shopping centers.

At the Orland Park mall, meeting Kris Kringle on Thursday were Lexi, 3, and Shaun, 4 months, accompanied by their mother, Kristen Pepper, of Tinley Park.

“Everywhere else (the H1N1 flu) kind of scares me, like Chuck E. Cheese and those places,” Pepper said. “But I didn’t even think of it here.”

Santa-America, a volunteer organization of Santas who visit sick children, lobbied unsuccessfully this fall to allow Santas to be among the first vaccinated - along with health care workers and pregnant women - for H1N1. The group has also launched a flu safety awareness campaign, dubbed “Santa-tize.”

“Santa, probably in the month from Thanksgiving to Christmas, sees more children than anybody,” said John Scheuch, Santa-America’s president of Santa-America.

Though Santa didn’t officially make it onto the Centers for Disease Control priority list, many were vaccinated after explaining their day jobs.

“If Santa were to contract the H1N1 virus, it might be two days before he started feeling symptoms,” Scheuch said. “In the meantime, he could have affected who knows how many children. For Santas in the mall, that’s literally hundreds of children a day.”

Some Santas have opted to leave the famous white gloves - a signature item in family photos - at home this year. Gloves can act as a germ carrier, whereas Santa can simply sanitize his hands between visits without them.

“You’d have to have a truck backed up for you to change gloves each time,” Scheuch said, adding mall Santas can see as many as 40 children in an hour.

Each day amongst Orland Square shoppers, Kris Kringle opts to change his gloves on his twice-daily breaks or after a visit with a child who is showing flu symptoms. He’s also been spotted spraying his gloves with disinfectant when he can.

And there’s plenty of hand sanitizer to go around, with dispensers at Santa’s entrance and throughout the mall’s holiday set.

“Santa always does everything he can to protect the health of himself and the children,” said the Orland Square Kris Kringle, who never breaks character while seeing upward of 600 people each day.

On Thursday, among another crowd waiting their turn on Santa’s lap, was Michael Williams, who’ll turn two on Sunday .

“I’m not overly concerned,” said his mother, Sue Williams. “We don’t take any unnecessary risks. I think a lot of it is just common sense.”

THE H1N1 VIRUS

When our seasonal flu season should have been ending last spring, we saw this new flu virus spread, continuing through the summer to sicken people around the world.

The new flu was different from seasonal strains, affecting more people under the age of 25 and fewer over the age of 64.

Though Cook County health officials have seen a decline in reported cases over the last four weeks, they worry another outbreak of the virus could come early next year, in particular after holiday traveling and gatherings that increase the spread of germs. They encouraged people who haven’t been vaccinated to do so.

2009 DEATHS & HOSPITALIZATIONSIN SUBURBAN COOK

Hospitalizations: 26 cases within the last week, 514 total for the year.

Deaths: Two deaths within the last week, 13 total for the year.

Virus’ Toll by Age Group

0-4 years: 80 hospitalizations, 1 death.

5-24 years: 159 hospitalizations, 4 deaths.

25-49 years: 153 hospitalizations, 3 deaths.

50-64 years: 88 hospitalizations, 2 deaths.

65 and older: 34 hospitalizations, 3 deaths.

Cook County Department of Public Health.

Swine scare doesn’t skip St. Nick :: The SouthtownStar :: http://www.southtownstar.com/news/1946515,121809santash1n1.article

Sebelius: H1N1 vaccine now plentiful

Published: Dec. 18, 2009 at 8:18 AM
http://www.upi.com/Top_News/US/2009/12/18/Sebelius-H1N1-vaccine-now-plentiful/UPI-38581261142296/

WASHINGTON, Dec. 18 (UPI) — More than 100 million U.S. doses of the swine flu vaccine were available Friday as 24 states lifted restrictions on who could get the vaccine, officials said.

Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius said Thursday the vaccine to guard against the H1N1 virus was plentiful, topping 100 million doses, the Los Angeles Times reported.

The newspaper said some U.S. pharmacies are beginning to receive vaccine available for general distribution, ending restrictions that favored those most at risk, including children and pregnant women. Now, the Times said, health officials’ biggest fear is that many people will decide they don’t need the vaccine now because the epidemic appears to be waning.

“We have a wonderful window of opportunity to prevent or lessen a third wave,” Sebelius said at a news conference, noting that in the 1957 Asian flu pandemic, the fall outbreak tailed off but it was followed by another wave early in the new year, perhaps spurred by holiday travel.

Estimates from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention indicate through mid-November, about one in six Americans caught H1N1, and about 10,000 have died, the Times reported.

Pandemic flu straining Afghan health clinics - WHO

Fri Dec 18, 2009 12:54pm GMT
http://uk.reuters.com/article/idUKLDE5BH14R20091218?rpc=401&feedType=RSS&feedName=governmentFilingsNews&sp=true

GENEVA, Dec 18 (Reuters) - Afghanistan has seen a 60 percent increase in the number of respiratory ailments this winter, with H1N1 flu adding pressure on a medical system already weakened by the war, the World Health Organisation said on Friday.

“The current winter season is of great concern to health providers,” Peter Graaff, the WHO representative in Afghanistan, told a news briefing in Geneva.

He said the pandemic virus was spreading at the community level in 18 of Afghanistan’s 34 provinces, with a resultant jump in the official number of acute respiratory infections.

“The government has confirmed more than 942 cases but this is likely to be the tip of the iceberg when you consider the weak lab capacity in the country, and the government is confirming only severe cases,” Graaff said.

Afghanistan, Azerbaijan and Mongolia are the first three countries which are to receive doses of pandemic vaccine in the next few weeks, the WHO said on Thursday. The U.N. agency plans to send vaccines donated by drug makers and governments to 95 poor countries in all. [ID:nLDE5BG1CU]

The country, where Taliban fighters have been battling U.S. and NATO forces since late 2001, lacks maternal and child health services as well as basic surgical care, especially in conflict-affected areas, Graaff said.

More than 150,000 infants die each year in Afghanistan and two women die every hour from complications linked to pregnancy and delivery.

“Pandemic is an additional burden for the health system in general,” Graaff said, while noting that polio vaccinations reached 95 percent of children “even in insecure districts” in the second half of 2009 in southern Afghanistan.

[snip]

South Korea delivers swine flu medicine to North Korea

By Associated Press
December 18, 2009, 3:15AM
Kwang-Tae Kim, Associated Press
http://www.cleveland.com/world/index.ssf/2009/12/south_korea_delivers_swine_flu.html

SEOUL, South Korea — A convoy of South Korean trucks crossed the border into North Korea on Friday to deliver swine flu medicine, a day after Pyongyang threatened retaliation over naval drills around their disputed sea border.

The previously scheduled shipment marks the South Korean government’s first humanitarian aid since conservative President Lee Myung-bak took office in early 2008 with a pledge to pursue a hard-line policy toward the North and hold it accountable to its nuclear disarmament pledges.

North Korea acknowledged for the first time last week that swine flu had broken out in the country after Seoul offered unconditional aid to help contain its spread. The North did not mention any virus-related deaths, but a Seoul-based civic group claimed that the disease had killed about 50 people in the North since early November.

South Korea sent enough doses of the antiviral drugs Tamiflu and Relenza for 500,000 North Koreans, according to Seoul’s Unification Ministry, which handles inter-Korean affairs.

The delivery across the heavily armed border came a day after North Korea threatened retaliation over what it claimed were South Korean naval drills around their disputed sea border, accusing Seoul of attempting to escalate tension.

[snip]

H1N1 death toll up in Idaho

The last free Nampa vaccination clinic will be Dec. 29. Ada’s last clinics of the year will be Monday.

BY COLLEEN LAMAY - clamay@idahostatesman.com
Idaho Statesman
Published: 12/18/09
http://www.idahostatesman.com/localnews/story/1013796.html

The swine flu appears to be in retreat in some areas of Idaho, but the death toll is still rising. Nineteen people have died from illnesses associated with the H1N1 virus as of Dec. 12, the state Health and Welfare Department says. That’s up by one from the department’s last report a week ago.

Health officials are still urging people to get vaccinated. Now that vaccine availability has increased, past restrictions on who can get vaccines have been lifted. The vaccine is now available to everyone age 6 months or older. Children under 10 require two doses of the vaccine at least 28 days apart.

ADA COUNTY

The Central District Health Department has scheduled two free mass-vaccination clinics from 3 to 7 p.m. Monday in the former Comp USA store, 1195 N. Milwaukee St., Boise, and at Meridian Middle School, 1507 W. 8th St., Meridian.

Each clinic will be stocked with 2,300 doses. Of those, 1,000 doses will be nasal spray, recommended for people ages 2 to 49.

CANYON COUNTY

The Southwest District Health Department is holding a free clinic from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday at the former Sportsman’s Warehouse at I-84 and Midland Boulevard. The district will hold the last of its public clinics from 4 to 7 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 29, at the Sportsman’s Warehouse site.

ELSEWHERE

Meanwhile, Southwest also plans clinics in:

Emmett from 2 to 5 p.m. Friday at Walter Knox Memorial Hospital.

Wilder from 4 to 7 p.m. Monday at the Chula Vista Recreation Building, 20520 Highway 20.

Homedale from 4 to 7 p.m. Wednesday at the Homedale Armory/Fairgrounds, 423 N. Nevada.

Private health care providers and drug stores are offering H1N1 vaccines now, too. They can charge a $19 administrative fee.

Colleen LaMay: 377-6448

Egypt:

Vicious circle

As dozens of schools, and hundreds of classes, close, parents are left wondering whether health and education officials really know what they are doing in their attempts to combat the spread of swine flu, reports

Reem Leila
17 - 23 December 2009
Issue No. 977
http://weekly.ahram.org.eg/2009/977/eg8.htm

Since the H1N1 virus hit Egypt in early June, the government and people have often seemed in a state of panic. Even before the first case was reported officials rushed to implement precautionary measures, including health screening at airports and the controversial nationwide cull of pigs. Now, with more than 4,800 swine flu infections with 61 fatalities reported, and amid growing fears of vaccine shortages, officials have opted to close down classes in schools with more than three swine flu victims among their pupils. Some 164 schools and at least 1,400 classes have been shut down so far.

Health officials predict that the number of fatalities will reach 100 by the end of December. The Ministry of Health has announced an additional 25 swine flu casualties within less than a week. The latest deaths were reported as soon as they occurred. According to Abdel-Rahman Shahin, official spokesman at the Ministry of Health, 76 per cent of the latest fatalities had chronic underlying health problems. “The remaining 24 per cent did not appear to have underlying health complications. The Health Ministry is currently investigating the reasons behind their death and why they did not respond to Tamiflu,” says Shahin.

The growing number of fatalities is attributed to the onset of winter. Health officials expect infection and death rates to escalate until the end of February 2010. Health Minister Hatem El-Gabali advised women not to become pregnant in the months leading up to April, pointing to a higher risk posed by the pregnancy. However, he assured that there is no scientific evidence that suggests that pregnant women will die if infected with the virus.

“By the middle of March numbers will start to fall,” says Shahin.

The Health Ministry is currently setting the price of the H1N1 drug Tamiflu, which will soon be available for sale in pharmacies. The price per pack, says Shahin, should not exceed LE75.

Though thousands of students have lost class time due to classes being closed and because of the five-day extension to the Eid Al-Adha holiday, Adel Abdel-Ghaffar, official spokesman at the Ministry of Education, insists mid-year exams will be held as scheduled.

“We cannot suspend an entire school year when students’ infection rates form only 36 per cent of overall cases, and there have been just two deaths among pupils. The academic fate of 16 million school pupils and two million university students cannot be risked for the sake of few hundred who have caught the flu and because parents are panicking needlessly,” Abdel-Ghaffar says.

Meanwhile, El-Gabali has referred doctors who signed health certificates for the five Egyptian pilgrims who died during the hajj to a disciplinary committee. The doctors are accused of issuing the mandatory certificates stating that the pilgrims were free of any chronic illnesses knowing that the five were ill.

Despite the death toll some public health professionals criticise what they say are unnecessary steps taken by the Health Ministry. Alaa Ghanam, a former senior Ministry of Health official, believes the government and other concerned authorities have engaged in unnecessary scare mongering since the virus appeared last March.

“There’s a difference between raising awareness and spreading panic,” Ghanam said. “News of the virus has dominated front-pages in Egypt for weeks, even though the death toll is below the international average.”

In response to public fears the government launched a campaign that Ghanam believes has ranged between the excessive to the genuinely bizarre. From the culling of hundreds of thousands of pigs earlier this year to delaying the start of schools for three weeks, the government’s plan, Ghanam says, has been panicked and panic-inducing.

He blames the local media for sensationalist coverage that played on local fears fanned by the avian flu outbreak several years ago without mentioning that swine flu is far less deadly, and in fact no more dangerous than standard influenza.

We have, says Ghanam, witnessed an “up and down” policy that seems to be re-evaluated on a daily basis. He complains of the loss of “an opportunity on a golden platter” for the ministry to launch a comprehensive upgrade of the public health system.

“Danger from the virus is tied to the quality of the public health system. The government should have spent its money on improving the local health facilities.”

Safeway offers flu, H1N1 immunizations at its pharmacies

By Allison Cerra
http://www.drugstorenews.com/story.aspx?id=126411&menuid=333

PLEASANTON, Calif. (Dec. 18) Safeway is promoting a healthy holiday season with immunization offers at its stores.

The retailer announced Friday it is providing the seasonal flu vaccine in all of its 1,730 stores and the H1N1 flu vaccine in 17 states. Vaccines are given on a walk-in basis, with no appointment necessary.

“A number of factors make people more susceptible to seasonal flu and H1N1 flu during the holiday season,” said Dave Fong, SVP pharmacy. “Simply traveling to visit family could mean being in an enclosed airplane with airborne viruses. It is difficult to avoid potential exposure, but easy to lessen your chances of becoming ill by getting vaccinated.”

Safeway Pharmacies are partnering with state and county public health departments to increase the access, availability and convenience of the H1N1 vaccines to people in high-risk groups, as determined by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. However, in many states and counties restrictions have been lifted and anyone can be vaccinated.

Medicare Part B participants will receive the flu shots at no charge. Customers should contact their Safeway pharmacy to learn about age or other restrictions.

For more information or to find a local Safeway pharmacy that is administering the H1N1 flu vaccine, customers can call 1-877-SAFEWAY.

UK:

Swine flu cases continue to fall

18 December, 2009
http://www.nursingtimes.net/whats-new-in-nursing/swine-flu/swine-flu-cases-continue-to-fall/5009825.article?referrer=RSS

The latest swine flu figures have revealed a slight drop in the number of new cases in England last week.

An estimated 9,000 new cases of swine flu were confirmed last week, down from 11,000 the week before.

The Government’s chief medical officer, Sir Liam Donaldson, said good planning by the NHS prior to the onset of the virus has meant that the number of cases has been generally lower than forecast, adding that the UK had been “lucky”.

Sir Liam, who announced his resignation earlier this week, said the Government’s pandemic flu plans had worked ‘extremely well’ despite fears that the NHS would become overwhelmed by the virus.

He said the country had been able to “fight for every life”’ when it came to dealing with swine flu and, if just one family had been spared the loss of a child or another family member at Christmas, then that was a reason for throwing his hat up in the air.

The number of people who have died from the virus in the UK currently stands at 298, up from 283 in the previous week, while the number of patients admitted to hospital with the virus has fallen from 636 to 523.

India’s swine flu toll touches 769, over 23,000 affected
http://www.thaindian.com/newsportal/health1/indias-swine-flu-toll-touches-769-over-23000-affected-lead_100291533.html
December 18th, 2009

Ten swine flu deaths, including two in the national capital, were reported Friday, taking the total toll in India to 769, health authorities said here.
Also, a record 364 new cases were reported in the country, taking the total number of people affected with the virus to 23,182.

Four deaths were reported from Punjab, taking the total number of people who have died due to the contagious virus in the state to 18.

With the two deaths in the national capital, the deaths have climbed to 54, union health ministry officials said here.

Two deaths were also reported from Haryana, taking the toll to 26. One death each was reported from Maharashtra, which records the highest number of fatalities in the country, and Rajasthan.

In Maharashtra, 248 people have died due to the flu, while the figure has touched 105 in Rajasthan.

“Three deaths, including two in Delhi, have been reported during the day,” said a statement issued here.

Delhi reported 214 new cases of infection Friday, taking the cumulative infection figure to 8,156 so far.

“The capital reported 214 fresh swine flu cases. Of the 214 new cases, 107 were children,” Anjana Prakash, additional nodal officer handling swine flu cases in Delhi, told IANS.

Of the total 8,156 swine flu cases, 4,777 are children, she said.

“Till date, samples from 101,858 persons have been tested for Influenza A (H1N1) in government laboratories and a few private Laboratories across the country and 23182 of them have been found positive,” the statement said here.

New cases were also reported from Rajasthan (43), Uttar Pradesh (30), Chandigarh (27), Haryana (10) and Karnataka (2).

Swine flu kills girl and adult woman (Ireland)
http://www.herald.ie/national-news/swine-flu-kills-girl-and-adult-woman-1980950.html
December 18 2009 By Clodagh Sheehy

Two more people have died from swine flu — a young girl and a woman — bringing the number of deaths in Ireland to 22.

Those contracting the virus continue to fall, claims the Department of Health, amid reports that fewer than one-in-five healthcare workers have received the vaccination.

The latest victims, a woman from the east of the country and a girl from the west, had underlying health problems, which have been a feature in all but one of the deaths so far.

Intensive

Chief medical officer Dr Tony Holohan has expressed his condolences to the two families.

There are still 152 people being treated in hospital for the condition and nine of these are in intensive care.

In Northern Ireland, a child (9) has died from the virus. The child had underlying health conditions and died within the past few days.

Although more than 500,000 people have been vaccinated in the Republic against swine flu, nurses administering the vaccine have reported that the uptake among HSE medical staff has been particularly low.

The HSE has confirmed that “less than 30,000” healthcare workers have received the vaccine of the 111,000 employed by the authority.

This means that fewer than one-in-five workers have had the jab and it is an even smaller percentage for frontline staff.

A HSE spokeswoman said they had found that “in hospitals that have been dealing with cases of swine flu, staff are very aware of the impact the virus has on patients.

“As a result, the uptake among staff is much higher,” she said.

“We’d like to re-iterate why it’s so important to get it. We’re looking as high an uptake as possible.”

Dublin-based GP Juliet Bressan said many family doctors were not getting the vaccine for themselves. “GPs are very reluctant to take any vaccine but we don’t really know why,” she said.

She added that her husband caught the virus a few months ago, but she did not, despite not being vaccinated — and she has no intention of getting the vaccination.

Dr Bressan said the purpose of vaccinating healthcare workers was not to protect them but to stop the virus spreading.

Dr Joan Gilvarry, from the Irish Medicines Board, has confirmed that more than 500,000 people have received the vaccination, with 790 reports of adverse reactions.

Flu pandemic may change U.S. flu approach forever
http://www.businessinsurance.com/article/20091218/NEWS01/912189993
Dec. 18, 2009

The H1N1 flu pandemic may have changed the U.S. approach to handling influenza forever and for the better, U.S. officials said Thursday.

While they said years of work were needed before vaccine production was up to the desired standard, some experiments such as vaccinating children in schools might work to help control seasonal influenza.

But there are still holes in the public health system that will take years to patch, and communication with the public could use a bit more polishing, they acknowledged.

“We still don’t have the domestic capacity to make as much (flu vaccine) as we need as fast as we need it,” Nicole Lurie, assistant secretary for preparedness and response at the Department of Health and Human Services, told a news conference.

She said HHS had been forced by the H1N1 pandemic to work closely with state and local health officials to monitor the virus and deploy drugs and vaccines.

“I actually think our nation’s preparedness, our seasonal flu efforts and so on, will never be the same,” Ms. Lurie said.

HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius said 100 million H1N1 vaccines will have been delivered or would be ready for order by the end of the week. She urged Americans to get vaccinated now and said everyone, not just people on the priority lists, should feel free to get one.

“This is a serious flu that targets people who normally don’t get seriously ill from the flu,” Ms. Sebelius told the news conference.

“We have a chance to lessen the impact or even prevent a big third wave...and we need to seize this opportunity right now,” she said.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that 47 million Americans have been infected with H1N1, nearly 10,000 have been killed by it and more than 200,000 hospitalized.

Ebbing second wave

“The number of children and young adults killed by mid-November was five times more than in the average flu season,” CDC Director Dr. Thomas Frieden said.

“We have an ebbing second wave but we have an uncertain future.”

School vaccinations have worked well, and CDC may press to keep the programs for seasonal influenza, Dr. Frieden said.

“Not only will vaccinating kids in school reduce the number of kids who get sick...but may well also tamp down the spread of flu in a community,” he said.

But Dr. Frieden fretted about losses to public health. The CDC reported that in 2009, 10% fewer epidemiologists were working in state health departments than in 2006. Those specialists in the spread and pattern of disease are key to keeping track of viruses like flu, Dr. Frieden said.

“This virus was undoubtedly circulating for several months before it was identified,” Dr. Frieden said.

Had it been detected, he said, vaccine makers could have started work on a vaccine month earlier.

Dr. Frieden also noted there was confusion about how many vaccines would be available, and when. HHS has been criticized for at first saying 250 million vaccines would be produced, then rolling back on the numbers that could be delivered.

“Clearly we need to do better at managing vaccine expectations,” Dr. Frieden said.

Much work remains on improving vaccine technology, said Dr. Anthony Fauci, head of the U.S. National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases. The goal is a so-called universal vaccine that would not have to be reformulated as the virus mutates every flu season.

“We need to harness the science to be able to make an influenza vaccine that not only is good from season to season but ... that doesn’t change from season to season and from pandemic to pandemic,” Dr. Fauci said.

“It is going to be several years before we get there.”

Press release:

Three more Norwegian-like mutations of human swine influenza virus detected (Hong Kong)
http://tinyurl.com/ydlx88v

The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health today (December 18 ) said it had made three more detections of a human swine influenza (HSI) virus strain with mutation similar to the one reported by Norway. The detections arose from an ongoing surveillance program of virus isolates performed by the Centre’s Public Health Laboratory Service Branch.That brought to eight the total number of such detections so far in Hong Kong. A CHP spokesman said, “Out of 351 virus isolates so far tested, CHP has detected eight viral gene sequences with the same mutation as the one reported in Norway in November this year.” Among these eight cases, three of the patients passed away and one is still receiving intensive care treatment.The other four recovered.

Five of the eight cases have been announced earlier by the CHP. The spokesman said that the significance of the mutation was being assessed by scientists in the World Health Organisation network of influenza laboratories. “CHP is closely monitoring influenza viruses worldwide and remains vigilant for changes in the virus that may have public health significance,” he said.

“These viruses are still sensitive to antiviral drugs, oseltamivir and zanamivir.” “CHP will continue to monitor influenza viruses in Hong Kong through its laboratory surveillance program and alert the public of any unusual signs,” he said.

Calgary dad died of H1N1 complications, says family

Flu vaccine clinics close next week

BY COLETTE DERWORIZ, CALGARY HERALDDECEMBER 18, 2009

CALGARY - As a steady stream of people sought vaccinations at H1N1 clinics Thursday, the family of a Calgary swine flu patient came forward to say the father of two has died due to complications related to the virus.

The 35-year-old man, whom the family asked not to be identified, had been in and out of hospital with pneumonia for the past three weeks.

Family members said he died at home around 5:30 a.m. Thursday.

Health authorities could not immediately confirm the death was related to H1N1.

“Alberta Health Services does not have any confirmed H1N1 deaths to report today,” said spokesman Bruce Conway. “Unexpected deaths that occur outside of Alberta Health Services facilities are investigated by the provincial medical examiner.”

If confirmed, it would bring the number of deaths related to H1N1 to 66 across Alberta.

It comes the day after the department announced a 16-year-old boy with no underlying health conditions had died, prompting a reminder that Calgarians should get their flu shots before the clinics close permanently next week.

[snip]

About 3,600 Calgary and area residents received the H1N1 shot Wednesday, bringing the local total to nearly 465,000. About 1.1 million Albertans have been vaccinated since the campaign got off to a controversial start in October. Clinics were initially plagued by long lineups, and officials had to suspend the program due to a shortage of doses.

After Dec. 23, patients can get the vaccine by appointment at doctors’ offices and some pharmacies, although health officials warn that pharmacists and most doctors won’t be able to vaccinate children under the age of 10 due to record-keeping requirements.

Officials said it’s key to get vaccinated because there could still be a third wave of H1N1 this winter.

So far, there have been 1,255 people hospitalized — including 391 in the Calgary area — due to complications from the illness.

cderworiz@theherald.canwest.com

http://www.calgaryherald.com/entertainment/Calgary+died+H1N1+complications+says+family/2355276/story.html

Central Valley board, teachers at odds over sick day plan

Friday, December 18, 2009
By Brian David, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Central Valley School District teachers are ready to give up sick days to help a coworker fighting for her life against the H1N1 virus.

But they were less than thrilled with the district’s proposal that calls for them to give up two days for every one granted — at half pay — to their colleague, fifth-grade teacher Robin Sampson.

[snip]

After meeting privately on the issue for close to an hour, the board approved a 30-day one-to-one sick day bank, long enough to keep Ms. Sampson at full pay and benefits until after the next board meeting.

[snip]

Ms. Sampson taught in Monaca for seven years, despite long-standing kidney problems that have led to three transplants. She moved to Todd Lane Elementary School in Center when Monaca merged with Center Area to form Central Valley School District.

According to her sister, Mary Klaas, Ms. Sampson became ill Oct. 15 and was hospitalized the next day. She was diagnosed with the H1N1 virus and pneumonia, then suffered a pulmonary embolism and kidney failure.

Ms. Sampson’s sick days ran out Dec. 11, and her health care benefits are set to expire at the end of the year.

[snip]

http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/09352/1021970-100.stm

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