Replies

Bring Out Your Dead

Post to me or FReep mail to be on/off the Bring Out Your Dead ping list.

The purpose of the “Bring Out Your Dead” ping list (formerly the “Ebola” ping list) is very early warning of emerging pandemics, as such it has a high false positive rate.

So far the false positive rate is 100%.

At some point we may well have a high mortality pandemic, and likely as not the “Bring Out Your Dead” threads will miss the beginning entirely.

*sigh* Such is life, and death...

12/18/2013

UPDATE: INFLUENZA LIKE ILLNESS ARISES IN MONTGOMERY COUNTY

https://www.facebook.com/mctxpublichealth

As of Wednesday afternoon, there has been one confirmed case of H1N1 virus. Of the eight reported cases, four patients have deceased. Of the remaining four cases in an area hospital, one case has tested positive for the H1N1 virus. Two of the patients tested negative for all flu viruses. Montgomery County Public Health District is awaiting test results for the remaining patient. The 2013 Influenza vaccine does protect against the H1N1 virus. At this time no known deaths received the vaccine.

Based on CDC data, the H1N1 virus is nationally on the rise. It can reasonably be expected that the occurrence of more H1N1 cases will be reported. Public Health Officials will continue to monitor the situation diligently and will provide more information as it is received.

The Montgomery County Public Health District is grateful for Conroe Regional Hospital’s astute physicians who recognized the unusual nature of the illness and began the appropriate testing to reach a diagnosis.

Montgomery County Public Health District has been in discussion with the Texas Department of State Health Services along with the CDC to coordinate investigation efforts. Despite ongoing investigations, it cannot be emphasized enough that common infection control practices should be followed to prevent the spread of infection. As with common flu strains, some people are more likely to develop flu complications than others. Please reference the CDC’s website, http://www.cdc.gov/flu/about/disease/high_risk.htm, which further explains the high risk population, including children under the age of 5, adults over the age of 65, and people with certain medical conditions.

It is also recommended that you receive your flu shot. Montgomery County Public Health Clinic is offering the vaccination by appointment, while supplies last. Call (936) 523-5020 to set up an appointment. For any other questions or concerns, please contact the Public Health hotline at (936) 523-5050. The line will be staffed Monday thru Friday from 8AM-5PM, it is for non-media inquiries only.
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Officials: Houston-area patient with ‘mystery illness’ diagnosed with H1N1

by Jeremy Desel / KHOU 11 News
Posted on December 18, 2013 at 5:23 PM
http://www.kens5.com/news/texas-news/Health-officials-Conroe-patient-with-mystery-illness-diagnosed-with-H1N1—236461641.html

HOUSTON – At least one Exclamation of the eight patients being treated for a mysterious illness at Conroe Regional Medical Center has tested positive for H1N1, according to Montgomery County health officials.

It’s the same strain of H1N1 that caused a pandemic in 2009. Doctors have been seeing hundreds of new cases recently in Texas and nationwide. In fact, H1N1 is one of the viruses included in this year’s flu shot.

The patient diagnosed with H1N1 is still alive. Two other surviving Conroe patients tested negative for H1N1. The results are still pending for one patient.

“So what we’re doing now is we’re retesting those patients who tested negative from the private lab,” Montgomery County Medical Director Dr. Mark Escott said. “And those samples will be sent to the state and the CDC for confirmation testing.” {WHEN? In 2014 or in 2015???}

Four of the patients treated for the mystery illness in Conroe have died.

The illnesses started with flu-like symptoms, then progressed to pneumonia and, in some cases, organ failure. They all initially tested negative for the flu.

Other area hospitals are looking at a possible connection to similar cases they’ve seen.

“Right now in Houston, there are two outbreaks of respiratory illness and both can cause death,” said Dr. Pedro Piedra, an internationally known flu researcher at Baylor College of Medicine.

One of those illnesses is the flu. The other is flu-like.

“Deaths will always occur with influenza. Sometimes more and sometimes less,” Dr. Piedra said.

Just because adults test negative for the flu, doesn’t mean they don’t have it.

“You can have influenza infection and not be able to detect it,” Dr. Piedra explained. “Our rapid test that we use to say whether it is flu or RSV is not so good in adults.”

That’s because adults normally have lower levels of the virus even when they are sick. {not patients in ICU or who are dead…}

The lack of answers has the public worried.

“Wow, that is scary,” said Janelle Cude, who lives in Conroe.

“I think that there is something going on that they are not telling people,” said Laura Bentoe, also a Conroe resident.

Montgomery County health officials will only tell us the victims are between the ages of 41 and 62.

“I just wonder if they are related, do they work together? What do they have in common? They haven’t mentioned any of that,” Bentoe asked.

Health officials can’t answer those questions because they are barred by federal health privacy laws.

Montgomery Co. mystery illness likely H1N1 virus

By The Houston Chronicle | December 18, 2013 | Updated: December 18, 2013 5:33pm
http://www.chron.com/news/houston-texas/houston/article/Montgomery-Co-mystery-illness-likely-H1N1-virus-5076406.php?cmpid=houtexhcat

Conroe Regional Hospital this month reported eight cases of a mystery illness to the county’s public health department. Of the eight, four patients have died, according to Wednesday news release from Jennifer L. Nichols-Contella, spokeswoman for the Montgomery County Hospital District & Public Health District.

At least one of the deaths has been attributed to H1N1, the release said. Nichols-Contella said the 2013 influenza vaccine protects against the H1N1 virus.

None of the patients who died had received a flu shot, the release said.