PANDEMIC ALERT AT 6- Swine Flu- NOW A PANDEMIC

[jpf]

think they should start screening any person arriving at an airport (or any port) coming from Mexico for this virus- and that includes right here in T&T

http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/ ... 92/1/.html (http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/afp_world/view/424892/1/.html)

WHO chief says swine flu could become 'pandemic'
Posted: 26 April 2009 0044 hrs


GENEVA - The outbreak of a new swine flu virus that has killed up to 60 people in Mexico and crossed into the US has "pandemic potential," the head of the World Health Organisation warned Saturday.

Transmitted from human to human, "a new virus is responsible" for around 1,000 cases reported in the Americas, WHO Director-General Margaret Chan said, adding: "It is a serious situation which needs to be closely followed."

How the disease will evolve is "unpredictable," the Chinese health expert added in a telephone press conference, urging countries in the region and elsewhere to "increase vigilance".

"This virus clearly has a pandemic potential," said Chan, who first came to wider attention with her handling of a bird flu epidemic which mutated and killed six people in Hong Kong in 1997.

The WHO went on high alert Friday, with Chan cutting short a visit to the United States to coordinate the global response from Geneva with experts dispatched to Mexico to aid authorities on the ground.

There, the main outbreak has hit the capital, Mexico City, with between 18 and 20 confirmed deaths due to the virus, according to WHO and Mexican figures, respectively.

On Saturday, pedestrians in the sprawling metropolis wore surgical masks distributed free at metro stations -- after authorities warned against underground travel, which increases the risk of contagion.

While no new deaths from the disease were confirmed, about 40 more fatalities are still being tested for links.

San Luis Potosi in central Mexico, where three people died, and Mexicali on the US border, have also suffered cases of the disease.

Some 1,000 patients are under observation, with schools, colleges, theatres and museums closed in the capital. Two football games will be played Sunday without spectators.

Meanwhile, 75 students at the private St. Francis Preparatory School in Queens in New York City have been undergoing tests after showing flu-like symptoms, according to CNN.

Several of the students recently visited Mexico, the New York Times reported Saturday.

Investigators descended on the school Friday after officials said symptoms "were consistent with a strain of swine flu that has swept Mexico City."

The WHO said Friday that the virus detected in 12 fatal Mexican cases is genetically identical to that which affected eight people in the US border states of California and Texas, though all of those recovered.

On Saturday, Chan stressed that there were no reports of similar outbreaks in other parts of the world, but underlined: "It has pandemic potential as it is infecting people."

A spokesman for the UN body, Thomas Abraham, told AFP that "the most worrying fact is that it appears to transmit from human to human."

http://www.who.int/csr/disease/avian_in ... index.html (http://www.who.int/csr/disease/avian_influenza/phase/en/index.html)

Current WHO phase of pandemic alert: 3



Experts at WHO and elsewhere believe that the world is now closer to another influenza pandemic than at any time since 1968, when the last of the previous century's three pandemics occurred. WHO uses a series of six phases of pandemic alert as a system for informing the world of the seriousness of the threat and of the need to launch progressively more intense preparedness activities.

The designation of phases, including decisions on when to move from one phase to another, is made by the Director-General of WHO.

Each phase of alert coincides with a series of recommended activities to be undertaken by WHO, the international community, governments, and industry. Changes from one phase to another are triggered by several factors, which include the epidemiological behaviour of the disease and the characteristics of circulating viruses.

The world is presently in phase 3: a new influenza virus subtype is causing disease in humans, but is not yet spreading efficiently and sustainably among humans.

[BW]

God help us.

[Falcon]

Margaret Chan is ah boss. And a very nice lady too.

[jpf]

also to consider-if a pandemic really occurs or causes people to stay at home businesses would be severely affected, both in terms of less customers & also fewer workers showing up- it would worsen the already bad economic crisis- we might even see a worldwide Depression!

they should really ban all unnecessary travel out of Mexico in order to keep it isolated- and quarantine all infected people immediately

[jpf]

WHO declares swine flu crisis a health emergency

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5i_AZWy_CmwkfQ17w1-rP99e3xZnwD97PN1MG0

21 minutes ago

GENEVA (AP) — The World Health Organization has declared the swine flu outbreak in North America a "public health emergency of international concern."

The decision means countries around the world will be asked to step up reporting and surveillance of the disease implicated in dozens of human deaths in Mexico and at least eight nonfatal cases in the U.S.

WHO fears the outbreak could spread to other countries and is calling for a coordinated response to contain it.

WHO Director-General Margaret Chan made the decision late Saturday after consulting influenza experts during an emergency meeting.

She earlier told reporters the outbreak had "pandemic potential."

But her agency held off raising its pandemic alert level, citing the need for more information.

[Huma]

Swine? Better deal with that in time for Christmas.

[guyguy]

Swine? Better deal with that in time for Christmas.
Tasteless attempt at humor about a global serious issue, particularly on this board. Is it any wonder then that the educational system is deteriorating so rapidly? :evil: :evil: :evil:

[Didi]

Reached the US too.

2 swine flus in Kan., US total 11; 8 likely in NYC
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/04/2 ... 91415.html (http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/04/25/2-swine-flu-cases-confirm_n_191415.html)

[Didi]

Swine flu confirmed in NYC high school students

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090426/ap_ ... flu_states (http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090426/ap_on_re_us/us_swine_flu_states)

Wonder if it reached europe allready? This does not look good at all. If this turns pandemic there will not be enough Tamiflu for everybody.

[Amelia]

Swine? Better deal with that in time for Christmas.
Tasteless attempt at humor about a global serious issue, particularly on this board. Is it any wonder then that the educational system is deteriorating so rapidly? :evil: :evil: :evil:


Huma have so much power as to affect the ENTIRE education system?! :shock:

Is a good thing he isnt in the health care system - one joke and all ah we woulda be dead! :?

:lol:

Didi, tamiflu is like panadol? :humm:

[ebony02]

What is swine flu?

Like humans, pigs get the flu. They develop a sudden fever, a barking cough, sneezing, lethargy and typically lose their appetite.

Pigs usually don't die from swine flu; their flu viruses cause high levels of illness but low death rates.

Swine influenza viruses circulate among pigs throughout the year, but most outbreaks occur during the late fall and winter, just like with outbreaks in humans.

Most swine flu viruses belong to the Influenza A H1N1 and H3N2 subtypes.

Can humans catch swine flu?

Normally, swine flu bugs don't infect people. When they do, it's been in people who have direct contact with pigs; historically, there's such a case every year or two in the U.S.

Between Dec. 2005 and Feb. 2009, there were12 human swine flu infections in the U.S. -- about four a year.

It's possible this uptick was due to improved reporting systems, but the U.S. Centers for Disease Control says "genetic changes in swine flu viruses and other factors might also be a factor."

Since March 2009, a number of confirmed human cases of a new strain of swine influenza A (H1N1) virus infection in the U.S. and internationally have been identified.

Can humans pass swine flu?

Usually no. But what makes this new outbreak worrisome is that in all the recent cases, none had any direct contact with pigs.

Two of the new cases were among 16-year-olds at the same school in San Antonio and there's a father-daughter pair in California, said CDC's Dr. Anne Schuchat.

Is this a new kind of swine flu?

Yes. The CDC reports that the virus in these latest cases is a never-before-seen mixture of viruses typical among pigs, birds and humans.

The influenza A H1N1 virus contains DNA typical to avian, swine and human viruses, including elements from European and Asian swine viruses.

Although it's called swine flu, this new strain is not infecting pigs and has never been seen in pigs.

Why would a new strain be worrisome?

Epidemiologists have been warning for years that it's just a matter of time before a new strain of the flu emerges that has the potential to kill millions. Flu pandemics have historically occurred about three times per century and the world hasn't seen one in more than 40 years.

If an influenza virus changes and becomes a new strain against which people have little or no immunity -- and this new strain is easily spread from person to person -- many people around the world could become ill and die.

The World Health Organization estimates that in the best case scenario, the next pandemic could kill two to seven million people and send tens of millions to hospital.

Is there a vaccine?

There is a vaccine available that can be given to pigs to prevent swine influenza. But there is no vaccine to protect humans from swine flu.

I got the flu shot this year. Am I protected?

No. H1N1 swine flu viruses are very different from human H1N1 viruses and, therefore, vaccines for human flu would not provide protection from H1N1 swine flu viruses.

Can people catch swine flu from eating pork?

No. Swine influenza viruses are not transmitted by food; you cannot get swine influenza from eating pork or pork products.

What are the symptoms of swine flu in humans?

Symptoms of swine flu are similar to those of our regular flu, with sudden onset of:

* Fever
* Lethargy
* Lack of appetite
* Coughing

Some people with swine flu also have reported:

* Runny nose
* Sore throat
* Nausea, vomiting and diarrhea.

How is the virus transmitted?

Human-to-human transmission of swine flu is believed to occur the same way as seasonal flu, mainly through coughing or sneezing of people infected with the influenza virus.

People also can become infected by touching something with flu viruses on it and then touching their mouth or nose.

Can we treat swine flu in humans?

Yes. Most swine influenza viruses have been treated with antiviral medications.

The virus from the most recent U.S. swine flu cases appeared to be resistant to amantadine and rimantadine but were susceptible to zanamivir and oseltamivir (Tamiflu).

Have there been swine flu outbreaks before?

Yes. Most famously, there was an outbreak in 1976 at Fort Dix, N.J., among military recruits that grabbed big headlines at the time.

Worried that they had the beginning of a pandemic on their hands, U.S. officials ordered the manufacture of swine flu vaccine and the country launched a mass immunization program that saw about 40 million people vaccinated.

But the outbreak didn't turn into a pandemic and went away as mysteriously as it appeared.

http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/s ... hub=Health (http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20090424/swine_flu_090424/20090426?hub=Health)

[ebony02]

At least it can be treated, but seeing that the symptoms are similar to the flu, I now wonder if I should travel with a mask tomorrow morning. :(

[lexbarker]

There was someone talking about this 2 weeks ago before any outbreak.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TEQZdeN6s6I

[youtube:7edn7nzd]TEQZdeN6s6I[/youtube:7edn7nzd]

[Didi]

Didi, tamiflu is like panadol? :humm:

No Amelia, its a flu treatment drug.
For flu treatment: When taken within two days of experiencing symptoms, TAMIFLU works
helping to stop the flu virus from spreading inside the body.
For flu prevention: When you have been exposed to someone with the flu, taking TAMIFLU can help keep the virus from making you sick.

[sylvestter]

i find this whole thing very disturbing.
the national under 17 team is in mexico.
yikes!

[Falcon]

It is VERY worrying and needed a lot more than the papers seem to suggest is taking place.

[Didi]

It is VERY worrying and needed a lot more than the papers seem to suggest is taking place.

You are right about that. There are more and more cases in different countries. Europe has confirmed cases as well as suspected cases in different countries now.

[mammadon]

Anybody see the health minister on TV just now?

You does be scared?? :shock:

[Amelia]

That ministry lost all credibility in mine eyes when dey said we dont have a dengue problem. THen dey said we ready to treat obama locally if it comes to that. I mean, really.

But he's probably right, it hasnt reached us yet. So we shall go in search of tamiflu and stock up on that and play the waiting game.

[ebony02]

*Plays X-Files theme song*. The truth is out there.

[trini123]

Global economic recession and now we're going into an international health problem - it just keeps getting better. :)

Be thankful for what you have today because no body knows whats ahead!

[Didi]

Well he's doing the right thing, no need to cause panic. I read that the U-17s are going to be quarantined upon their return and that is a good move.
So far the cases of swine flu outside of mexico have not been deadly, that is good news. I am precautious and prepared myself as best as I can. The only questions I wonder about are, when is it going to hit and how hard?

[letric]

We were planning to travel next month to Tobago, but with the swine scare, seriously considering remaining in Europe at least least until all this furor has been solved.

[Falcon]

And I was thinking to do the opposite.....when drugs start sharing out and it already dont have enough, you think immigrants gettin any?

[Didi]

And I was thinking to do the opposite.....when drugs start sharing out and it already dont have enough, you think immigrants gettin any?

I read T&T had 120,000 doses of Tamiflu, that`s not much. There is no country that has enough for all of it`s citizens. Hopefully, it will not get that bad.

[Didi]

Just saw this:


Operation USA, a Los Angeles-based disaster relief agency, announced that it was sending tens of thousands of N-95 biohazard protective masks to a network of community clinics in San Diego County along with latex gloves and other protective gear in the event that the airborne version of the H1N1 virus, or Swine Flu, crosses the US-Mexico border. This is in response to an urgent appeal from the Washington, D.C.-based National Association of Community Health Centers.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/richard-w ... 91609.html (http://www.huffingtonpost.com/richard-walden/swine-flu-outbreak-precau_b_191609.html)

Better save than sorry.

[jpf]

they suggest good hygiene like washing hands regularly especially after coughing or sneezing but what about areas where doh get water for days & weeks? gov't goin to turn on d water fuh them when swine flu reach? an only flights from today being screened for infected people so it could be in the country already if people from previous flights had it!

http://guardian.co.tt/news/general/2009/04/27/narace-govt-ready-swine-flu

Narace: Govt ready for swine flu
Footballers to be quarantined
Richard Lord | 9:17 pm
Published: April 28, 2009


He said selective screening of people returning home should begin at the air and sea ports from today. Narace said visitors’ passport history will be checked to determine if they should be screened. He said if the person was returning from a swine flu-affected country, he or she would be screened. “Additionally, we will be deploying more personnel to all ports of entry.”

[Chicabonita]

At least it can be treated, but seeing that the symptoms are similar to the flu, I now wonder if I should travel with a mask tomorrow morning. :(

You did? I hope so!

[IN-A-QUANDRY]

Another virus and another scare. What they are doing in publicising it though is important as that will minimize the spread of the virus. May disappear but we shouldn't cry false alarm

[ebony02]

Hundreds of NYC students are said to have the swine flu. Will post article shortly.

[maribunta]

I ordered some tamiflu today...........tablets and suspension!!! Just in case!!!

[ebony02]

http://www.dailygazette.com/news/2009/apr/28/0428_city/

[jpf]

Take a look at this

they shouldnt only do a normal post mortem, but send samples to Carec or whoever in charge of testing for swine flu in T&T or the Caribbean-this thing could be here already!! i hope Mr. Narace dont hide anything like he hide cases of dengue deaths!

the people hoping is not swine flu because they doh have no pigs but they doh know this thing spreading from person to person

http://newsday.co.tt/news/0,99227.html

South woman dies after high fever

By CECILY ASSON Tuesday, April 28 2009



On the heels of the reported swine flu outbreak in Mexico, New York, Canada and other parts of the world, the sudden death of a 33-year-old Penal mother less than 24 hours after developing a high fever and a loss of appetite has thrown an entire neighbourhood into panic.

At about 7.55 am yesterday, furniture store sales clerk, Lisa Chandradaye Ramroop, of Pluck Road, San Francique, Penal who on Sunday morning complained about feeling unwell died in the arms of her only child, Kimberley, 13, seconds after drinking a glass of water she had requested.

Investigators said the body bore no marks of violence and a post mortem is expected to be performed tomorrow at the San Fernando General Hospital to determine the cause of death.

Ramroop, an employee at Standard Distributors for the past 16 years, last worked at the Coffee Street, San Fernando branch.

Symptoms of swine flu in humans include fever, lethargy, lack of appetite and coughing.

A report was made to the Oropouche Police Station and a team of police officers led by Sgt Seecharan visited the scene. The body was viewed by the District Medical Officer and later removed to the mortuary at the SFGH.

Daughter Kimberley told Newsday that her mother was unable to eat after developing a fever on Sunday morning. She said: “She remained in bed for the rest of the day and yesterday morning she was really sick, she was experiencing breathing problems and she asked me for a glass of water. When I gave it to her, she drank it and the next thing I saw her take her last breath.”

Ramroop’s mother, Girlsin, 63, told Newsday she was not rushed to a doctor as they never took the fever seriously since they dismissed it as the cold virus.

“We thought she might be coming down with the flu because she was good on Saturday, singing and dancing with friends, happy as ever. She got fever only on Sunday, and in no time she was dead,” the grandmother of 12 told Newsday. “We are really baffled.” Concerned neighbours however yesterday expressed concerns about the raging swine flu virus. “We wonder if is that because everything happen so fast with Lisa. We hoping and praying that it is nothing like swine flu because there are no pigs within this vicinity.”

Ramroop’s colleague Yasmin Khan said she last spoke to her on Saturday while on the job and “all was well. She was just her happy self and in a great mood. We are very shocked.”

As granddaughter Kimberley, a Form Two student of the Open Bible High School, San Fernando, looked on in shock, Girlsin wept openly as undertakers removed her daughter’s body from the house.

[BW]

[youtube:300rpkoi]ASibLqwVbsk[/youtube:300rpkoi]

scary stuff

[snowbird]

At least it can be treated, but seeing that the symptoms are similar to the flu, I now wonder if I should travel with a mask tomorrow morning. :(

If you are going to get a mask, make sure you get the correct one.......... I know here in Canada, during the SARS outbreak people were simply buying just any 'over the counter mask' at the drugstores etc......truth is, the only ones that were supposidely effective were the ......3M/N95 ....the ones used by Hospitals and other Medical establishments;

however the advice given overhere is that....... "Masks won't stop the spread of Swine Flu....good Hygene will.

[snowbird]

Hundreds of NYC students are said to have the swine flu. Will post article shortly.
You know, Swine flu or not....it doesn't take very long for any flu to run through a group of people in close quarters.........just this past Christmas every single one in our family came down with a strain of the flu (yes, last Christmas was a write off in our family)..... even though most of us had taken a flu shot at the beginning of flu season.....we still got it, and simply from being in the same room with others.....we all went to a party and ....PRESTO....everyone got the flu (and spread it to their loved ones who won't even there)


...this flu is nasty business...take care people, even without showing any symptoms...... start being proactive...

[jpf]

pandemic alert now at 5!! god help us now if this thing slip through d airport or seaports

http://www.who.int/en/


Statement by WHO Director-General, Dr Margaret Chan
29 April 2009
Swine influenza

Ladies and gentlemen,

Based on assessment of all available information, and following several expert consultations, I have decided to raise the current level of influenza pandemic alert from phase 4 to phase 5.

Influenza pandemics must be taken seriously precisely because of their capacity to spread rapidly to every country in the world.

Related links

Swine influenza

Current WHO phase of pandemic alert

International Health Regulations (IHR)

On the positive side, the world is better prepared for an influenza pandemic than at any time in history.

Preparedness measures undertaken because of the threat from H5N1 avian influenza were an investment, and we are now benefitting from this investment.

For the first time in history, we can track the evolution of a pandemic in real-time.

I thank countries who are making the results of their investigations publicly available. This helps us understand the disease.

I am impressed by the work being done by affected countries as they deal with the current outbreaks.

I also want to thank the governments of the USA and Canada for their support to WHO, and to Mexico.

Let me remind you. New diseases are, by definition, poorly understood. Influenza viruses are notorious for their rapid mutation and unpredictable behaviour.

WHO and health authorities in affected countries will not have all the answers immediately, but we will get them.

WHO will be tracking the pandemic at the epidemiological, clinical, and virological levels.

The results of these ongoing assessments will be issued as public health advice, and made publicly available.

All countries should immediately activate their pandemic preparedness plans. Countries should remain on high alert for unusual outbreaks of influenza-like illness and severe pneumonia.

At this stage, effective and essential measures include heightened surveillance, early detection and treatment of cases, and infection control in all health facilities.

This change to a higher phase of alert is a signal to governments, to ministries of health and other ministries, to the pharmaceutical industry and the business community that certain actions should now be undertaken with increased urgency, and at an accelerated pace.

I have reached out to donor countries, to UNITAID, to the GAVI Alliance, the World Bank and others to mobilize resources.

I have reached out to companies manufacturing antiviral drugs to assess capacity and all options for ramping up production.

I have also reached out to influenza vaccine manufacturers that can contribute to the production of a pandemic vaccine.

The biggest question, right now, is this: how severe will the pandemic be, especially now at the start?

It is possible that the full clinical spectrum of this disease goes from mild illness to severe disease. We need to continue to monitor the evolution of the situation to get the specific information and data we need to answer this question.

From past experience, we also know that influenza may cause mild disease in affluent countries, but more severe disease, with higher mortality, in developing countries.

No matter what the situation is, the international community should treat this as a window of opportunity to ramp up preparedness and response.

Above all, this is an opportunity for global solidarity as we look for responses and solutions that benefit all countries, all of humanity. After all, it really is all of humanity that is under threat during a pandemic.

As I have said, we do not have all the answers right now, but we will get them.

Thank you.

[lexbarker]

[youtube:1pz30umt]ASibLqwVbsk[/youtube:1pz30umt]

scary stuff

1976 cure worse than the flu?

[youtube:1pz30umt]Xl31M4B_mZI[/youtube:1pz30umt]

[amajaderen]

And I was thinking to do the opposite.....when drugs start sharing out and it already dont have enough, you think immigrants gettin any?

I read T&T had 120,000 doses of Tamiflu, that`s not much. There is no country that has enough for all of it`s citizens. Hopefully, it will not get that bad.



It is actually 130,000 doses, however, if the uneventful happens then how do you suppose the drugs will be dispatched! How many will the Minister take for himself as well as family and friends, then the President, Prime Minister, Cabinet and their families, then maybe the Health officals, Milatary/Police personnel, Airport officals, etc.

You cannot walk into a Pharmacy and purchase Tamiflu, as far as reports are saying, only the Government Pharmacies has the drug, it is not available at the private pharmarcies! And even if they do get some, how much do you think they will charge for a drug that is in high demand!

Taking the drug before getting the flu is useless, but I can see people doing that for precaution, which will be a waste!

[snowbird]

And I was thinking to do the opposite.....when drugs start sharing out and it already dont have enough, you think immigrants gettin any?

I read T&T had 120,000 doses of Tamiflu, that`s not much. There is no country that has enough for all of it`s citizens. Hopefully, it will not get that bad.



It is actually 130,000 doses, however, if the uneventful happens then how do you suppose the drugs will be dispatched! How many will the Minister take for himself as well as family and friends, then the President, Prime Minister, Cabinet and their families, :roll: then maybe the Health officals, Milatary/Police personnel, Airport officals, etc.

You cannot walk into a Pharmacy and purchase Tamiflu, as far as reports are saying, only the Government Pharmacies has the drug, it is not available at the private pharmarcies! And even if they do get some, how much do you think they will charge for a drug that is in high demand!

Taking the drug before getting the flu is useless, but I can see people doing that for precaution, which will be a waste!

....even after....see the attached write-up
http://www.ottawacitizen.com/Health/Con ... story.html (http://www.ottawacitizen.com/Health/Concerns+raised+over+first+line+defence/1547446/story.html)

..............But recent laboratory tests, including some by the National Microbiology Laboratory, show that Tamiflu is not effective against the H1N1 virus that causes the common flu. These results raise a troubling question: If Tamiflu didn't work against the common Type A/H1N1 flu virus, will it be an effective against the new H1N1 virus that causes the Mexican variant of swine flu?
Some experts believe it may not and say the faith governments have placed in Tamiflu may be misplaced ...........

[BW]

This a hundred times more effective than tamiflu at preventing a pandemic:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v55/PikachuMan/handwashing_e.gif

Note how the guy:
(1) use soap :!:
(2) lather and scrubs throughly for 20 seconds
(3) closes the tap off with the paper towel.

Also don't forget to wash between fingers, under nails, and the tops of your hands. Just like it says in the little cartoon there.

Seriously, instead of hording tamiflu and trying to get masks and all that, first make sure to wash your hands, cover your nose when sneezing, etc. Read the above steps carefully, and you should be alright. :)

[Falcon]

It is actually 130,000 doses, however, if the uneventful happens then how do you suppose the drugs will be dispatched! How many will the Minister take for himself as well as family and friends, then the President, Prime Minister, Cabinet and their families, then maybe the Health officals, Milatary/Police personnel, Airport officals, etc While I agree with you here, amost every government on the planet may do the same....well except Norway and Switzerland....but nearly all.

[Falcon]

Breadwinner, that's right. This misplaced faith in surgical masks is causing a very dangerous situation to be potentially far worse.

[Didi]

That handwashing advice is vital Breadwinner. People also need to stop focusing on Tamiflu, one might not need it as the reported cases have been mild outside of mexico. Thankfully the detailed reporting has now stopped since there are 3 more countries with human to human transfer of the virus. People at home should prepare for this like with every other flu that comes around each year.
If possible have OCD meds at home. If you get diarreha make sure you do not become dehydrated. Drink plenty of fluids (with a pinch of salt).Try to eat toast or crackers,children should be encouraged to eatcrackers, bananas, rice. For kids that feel nauseated and have diarreha, drinking coke and saltine crackes help. If one has infants with diarreha, half a glas of baby carrots in the bottle will help. If one does not have fever reducing meds at home you can wet a dishtowel,wring it out and wrap it around the sick persons calfs for about 10 to 15 minutes.Prepat that several times. Those are little but helpful hints.

[snowbird]

Breadwinner, that's right. This misplaced faith in surgical masks is causing a very dangerous situation to be potentially far worse.

Exactly...one thing we haven't even looked at is......even if these masks are protecting us from the very real virus....where and how are these masks being disposed of once we are done with them? Are they sitting around our homes, or offices in some 'open recipticle? who's handling the garbage? where is it going? Do we know for sure (100%) how this thing is spread?

[Falcon]

Snow, an ill-fitting mask actually concentrates microbes and exposes you to a higher dose of the pathogens than going without a mask!

[snowbird]

Snow, an ill-fitting mask actually concentrates microbes and exposes you to a higher dose of the pathogens than going without a mask!
:shock: ...yep, it looks like these masks may do nothing more than give people a false sense of security........ they are already sold out in the hundreds of medical supply stores in our major cities :roll:

[amzz]

I would use a mask cause I have a bad bad habit of propping my face with my hands quite often. The mask may serve as a deterrence.

I feel by morning the level will be changed to 6.

[snowbird]

I would use a mask cause I have a bad bad habit of propping my face with my hands quite often. The mask may serve as a deterrence.

I feel by morning the level will be changed to 6.

Remember though, Canada just stopped flights going to Mexico this week....so we still have plane loads of people returning from vacations who were already down there, plus we don't know how long the incubation period is anyway..... a school in Toronto just closed today because a student who returned from Mexico last week is only now showing signs.... :roll:

[Didi]

Here's an interesting link: Dr. Henry Niman Talks Swine Flu It's 26 minutes long but worth watching.
http://www.wpxi.com/video/19313969/index.html

[Mailman]

I would use a mask cause I have a bad bad habit of propping my face with my hands quite often. The mask may serve as a deterrence.

I feel by morning the level will be changed to 6.
Morning is breaking? (http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090609/ap_on_re_eu/un_un_swine_flu)

[amzz]

I would use a mask cause I have a bad bad habit of propping my face with my hands quite often. The mask may serve as a deterrence.

I feel by morning the level will be changed to 6.
Morning is breaking? (http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090609/ap_on_re_eu/un_un_swine_flu)


that took long enough
I wonder if GOTT will wake up and really get moving now.

[Mailman]

WHO has now declared H1N1 a pandemic (http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-sci-swineflu12-2009jun12,0,1232742.story), "moderate in severity", and cautions against overreaction.

[jpf]

So we are now at the start of 'the 2009 Influenza pandemic'

while most cases are mild, it's still possible for even healthly persons to develop severe infections according to the WHO:

http://www.who.int/mediacentre/news/statements/2009/h1n1_pandemic_phase6_20090611/en/index.html

In some of these countries, around 2% of cases have developed severe illness, often with very rapid progression to life-threatening pneumonia.

Most cases of severe and fatal infections have been in adults between the ages of 30 and 50 years.

This pattern is significantly different from that seen during epidemics of seasonal influenza, when most deaths occur in frail elderly people.

Many, though not all, severe cases have occurred in people with underlying chronic conditions. Based on limited, preliminary data, conditions most frequently seen include respiratory diseases, notably asthma, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, autoimmune disorders, and obesity.

At the same time, it is important to note that around one third to half of the severe and fatal infections are occurring in previously healthy young and middle-aged people.

Without question, pregnant women are at increased risk of complications. This heightened risk takes on added importance for a virus, like this one, that preferentially infects younger age groups.

Finally, and perhaps of greatest concern, we do not know how this virus will behave under conditions typically found in the developing world. To date, the vast majority of cases have been detected and investigated in comparatively well-off countries.

unfortunately, we are (and will continue to be for some time) a developing country-things not looking good for us in the coming months:| :(

[amzz]

first batch of swine flu vaccine

http://business.smh.com.au/business/novartis-says-it-has-swine-flu-vaccine-20090612-c5x9.html

[trini123]

Are there any do's & don't's --apostrophe fuh so-- in a pandemic level 6? Should one go on a cruise? should one go into crowded areas? should we start wearing masks? ... ????


I scared fuh so.

[Huma]

http://www.trinidadexpress.com/index.pl ... =161494383 (http://www.trinidadexpress.com/index.pl/article_news?id=161494383)


Q: Should we panic, doctor?

A: The swine flu, luckily, is still a mild to moderate virus. Initially, we were a little bit scared because so much people had died in Mexico, but after that, it started to slow down. ...Now we see that the people who died had morbid conditions, like the girl in Dominican Republic; first case in the Caribbean who died. She was 17, pregnant; she had tuberculosis. If you're like that and you get the virus, it might be the last drop that killed the horse. The other cases are, in principle, quite mild. It is even so that in the United States now, people say if you have mild symptoms, don't even bother to go to the hospital or go to a doctor. Just sit it out at home. And cases that I've treated here in Trinidad, the first day you're sick. The second day, you're kind of sick and within five days, all of them are back on their feet.

Q: Didn't you give them Tamiflu?

A: I absolutely didn't give them Tamiflu. We are very restricted in our way how we providing Tamiflu. It's only a few doctors in the hospital who are allowed to prescribe Tamiflu. According to research done by the company that sells Tamiflu, it shortens the sickness process by 1.3 days maximum. So instead of being sick for seven days, you're sick for 5.7 days.

Lookin like another case of children in a container.

[greall]

Hmmm...pre-existing medical conditions do tend to make things worse...

Greg

[jpf]

keep in mind experts have also said it could mutate- pandemics usually come in waves-this first wave might be mild but just like the 1918 Spanish Flu it could turn more deadly in later months- just have to wait & see- WHO is paying attention to the Southern Hemisphere which has its normal flu season now to see what the virus is doing- the Ministry of Health has even hinted that the next Summit & even Carnival might be threatened.