Only thing that link's missing is the proper response, James.... "Go get a flu test -- In Southern Illinois or Southeast Missouri!" :D Funny, I've actually got a bad cold that's settled in my chest over the last couple days (probably as a result of how hard I'm pushing my body with P90X and then getting up a few mornings at 4 a.m. to chase those stupid turkeys...) One of the first thoughts that entered my mind this morning was... yep, you guessed it. :huh:
Most recent update... Swine Flu Now Referred to as H1N1 Flu The virus previously referred to as swine influenza is now referred to as H1N1 influenza. Please note that this is a rapidly evolving situation and current guidance and other website content may contain variations in how this new H1N1 virus of swine origin is referred to. Over the coming days and weeks, these inconsistencies will be addressed, but in the interests of meeting the agency's response goals, all guidance will remain posted and new guidance will continue to be issued. Update on Situation In response to an intensifying outbreak in the United States and internationally caused by a new influenza virus of swine origin, the World Health Organization raised the worldwide pandemic alert level to Phase 5 on April 29, 2009. A Phase 5 alert is a “strong signal that a pandemic is imminent and that the time to finalize the organization, communication, and implementation of the planned mitigation measures is short.” The United States Government has declared a public health emergency in the United States. CDC’s response goals are to reduce transmission and illness severity, and provide information to help health care providers, public health officials and the public address the challenges posed by this emergency. CDC is issuing and updating interim guidance daily in response to the rapidly evolving situation. CDC’s Division of the Strategic National Stockpile (SNS) continues to send antiviral drugs, personal protective equipment, and respiratory protection devices to all 50 states and U.S. territories to help them respond to the outbreak. The swine influenza A (H1N1) virus is susceptible to the prescription antiviral drugs oseltamivir and zanamivir. In addition, the Federal Government and manufacturers have begun the process of developing a vaccine against this new virus. U.S. Human Cases of H1N1 Flu Infection As of 10:30 AM ET on April 30, 2009, CDC has confirmed 109 cases in 11 states: Arizona: 1 California: 14 Indiana: 1 Kansas: 2 Massachusetts: 2 Michigan: 1 Nevada: 1 New York: 50 Ohio: 1 South Carolina: 10 Texas: 26 (and 1 death) For more information, see the CDC H1N1 Flu website. International Human Cases of H1N1 Flu Infection For information about investigation into cases outside the United States, see the World Health Organization website. Sebelius, Napolitano Hosted Webcast on H1N1 Flu, Answers Questions from the American People Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius and Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano hosted a Webcast on Thursday to answer questions from the American people regarding the H1N1 flu. View the archived webcast. What You Can Do to Stay Healthy Stay informed. This website will be updated regularly as information becomes available. Influenza is thought to spread mainly person-to-person through coughing or sneezing of infected people. Take everyday actions to stay healthy. Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Throw the tissue in the trash after you use it. Wash your hands often with soap and water, especially after you cough or sneeze. Alcohol-based hands cleaners are also effective. Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth. Germs spread that way. Stay home if you get sick. CDC recommends that you stay home from work or school and limit contact with others to keep from infecting them. Follow public health advice regarding school closures, avoiding crowds and other social distancing measures. Develop a family emergency plan as a precaution. This should include storing a supply of food, medicines, facemasks, alcohol-based hand rubs and other essential supplies. Call 1-800-CDC-INFO for more information. For more information on what you can to stay safe and healthy, check the CDC H1N1 Flu website. Additional Updates on the CDC H1N1 Flu Website To learn about other updates made to the CDC H1N1 Flu Website in the past 24 hours, please check the "What's New" page on the CDC H1N1 Flu websi
There were two confirmed cases in VA last night as well http://www.nbc29.com/Global/story.asp?S=10283141&nav=menu496_2_3
I understand the flu is a bad deal, especially for the young, old, or weak. What I don't understand is why THIS flu? The regular flu kills over 30,000 people a year in the US alone....this one has one death to date. Why is this one a pandemic that strikes fear into everyone when the seemingly equally deadly one that has been around for years is of no cause for concern to anyone? Could it be the media push for fear or a big story? Could it be a liberal push to favor universal health care? Could it truly be a deadly disease that sweeps the nations of the world killing thousands? I honestly can't figure this one out. All the facts point toward this being "just another flu", so why the utter chaos over it (and NOT over the flu that strikes annually)? BTW, a woman in our county is hospitalized with it in GA, so our local news says.
Perhaps the reason is that the swine flu is not "seasonal" like the "regular" flu. The regular flu has a season in which cases rise, peak and then fall. You can also get a preventative "flu shot" before flu season to protect against the most prevalent "regular" flus. There is no vaccine (that I have read about anyway) for the swine flu. I haven't seen any facts which point to this as being "just another flu" but I would be interested in them if you could post some links.
Swine-flu terror: The only thing to spread as fast as Obama-mania! I have more fear for the damage that the later can do
grand forks,ND has just reported two more swine flu cases. im not worried however only living 45 mins away from grand forks. and being there yesterday. i think its been blown way out of proportion. with a little treatment its gone in a couple days. if people just wash their hands and take their vitamins everyone will be fine.
That is the main thing. SOOO many people don't stay home when they are sick. Stay the F**K home if you are ill. I appreciate you coming to work but no one wants to catch your stinking germs.
ALL flus are seasonal, in fact the CDC already stated that with the onset of summer coming, cases should decrease (except for southern hemisphere). The current flu shot does not prevent swine flu, as it is a new strain of already existing flus. They say it will be a month or two before a new vaccine is in widescale production. BUT, they also say it mirrors seasonal flus in severity and symptoms, only that (In Mexico anyway) it seems to target 25-45 yo adults rather than the young and elderly. Of the 4 flu treatments used in USA, two are futile...the other two WORK against the swine flu. If you get the flu, ask for Tamiflu to be certain in case it is swine flu. http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/antiviral.htm Obviously anything can happen with this, but it appears to be no different than any other new flu strain in severity, spreading, etc....only that the media is making a ginormous hayday of it.
I'm not trying to say it's the next black plague but it is different because, well, it IS different. It is so different that health officials don't know much about it. From what I have read the name, swine flu, is misleading in that they have not found any association bewteen pigs and the disease in humans. Flu virus strains that there is information on are more easily dealt with, especially with vaccines that have been developed for them. Anytime there is a virus with so many unknowns it is wise to be more cautious than less cautious. As more becomes known about the virus I am sure the alert levels will start to come down.
496 cases in Wisconsin what are you guys doing over there? Wash your hands and quit working so hard. Stay home!!!!
