Posts Tagged ‘Swine flu’

Everyone is on flu alert this season due to the H1N1 scare. Despite efforts in early vaccine deployment and increased production, public demand is still not being met, especially among patients who belong to small private clinics that have not been allocated shipments of the vaccine. As I found out this weekend, it is very difficult to find even one pharmacy or clinic that has the vaccine in stock. One tool I did find helpful is a Flu.gov widget that displays sites in your area which carry the vaccine and whether it is available. Although I found the information on availability to be very inaccurate, it does compile for you a comprehensive list of locations which should guide you in your search. Try it out here:

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Believe it or not, we’re still only in the middle of flu season. With the H1N1 flu hitting early, this may be a flu season that just seems to go on forever. Since arriving in the US in April the H1N1 flu has killed nearly 10,000 Americans, including 1,100 children and 7,500 younger adults, and infected one in six people (between April and November 14 there had been nearly 50 million cases). The good news is vaccine availability is on the rise. In fact, 12 million more doses will be available this week and a large part of that should be now available to the general public. Getting the H1N1 vaccine is the best way to protect oneself from H1N1 infection. Unlike the seasonal flu vaccine, which protects from what we think will be the most prevalent strains of the current season, we know exactly what we’re dealing with in regards to the H1N1 strain, so the vaccination is formulated to target it specifically. Getting the vaccination also protects those around you since it decreases the number of people who can catch H1N1 and go on to spread it, a concept called herd immunity. [via MedlinePlus]

Go to the Guide To H1N1 Flu.

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According to the World Health Organization the number of reported cases of H1N1 influenza has increased by at least 24,000 in just the past two weeks. And with the new H1N1 vaccine just recently being distributed to the public the CDC is reaffirming the current vaccination guidelines. The groups most at risk, and therefore should be vaccinated are:

Please note that the  H1N1 vaccine is not intended to replace the seasonal flu vaccine. The seasonal flu and H1N1 vaccines may be administered on the same day.  [via CDC]

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The New York Times is reporting that the first injectable H1N1 vaccines have shipped from vaccine maker Sanofi-Aventis. Previously, the first H1N1 vaccinations were to be the live virus type, in the form of a nasal spray. However, live virus vaccines are not recommended for certain groups including pregnant women, people with health problems, and adults over the age of 50 – some of the groups most at risk should they contract H1N1 infection. Sanofi-Aventis has a contract with the US government to provide 75 million doses of the vaccine, which will be provided free to physicians and health care workers. Health officials say there will eventually be enough vaccine for anyone who wants one, but priority will be given to high-risk groups first. The seasonal flu vaccine is currently distributed in sufficient quantity to the general public. Stay tuned to for up-to-date recommendations for the H1N1 vaccine as it becomes more widely available. [via Kaiser Health News]

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Two Saskatchewan farm workers have contracted a new flu virus strain, which Canadian officials have reported to the World Health Organization. The new strain contains genes from a seasonal human flu strain and a flu virus common in the swine population. The current H1N1 pandemic strain contains human, swine and avian genes. The new strain is not related to the current H1N1 strain that has killed over 400 people worldwide, and is believed to be only of low public health risk. Those who have already received the flu vaccine should have some immunity against this strain.

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Even though media attention has waned on the H1N1 flu (aka Swine flu) pandemic, confirmed cases continue to rise in the United States and around the world. Many states have issued reminders to health care practitioners and institutions to remain vigilant about H1N1 flu as there are currently over 33 thousand confirmed cases and 170 deaths in the US. World wide there are almost 90 thousand confirmed cases and 382 deaths. H1N1 flu is spread the same way as regular flu – through sneezing, coughing, and touching contaminated objects and then touching your nose or mouth. Therefore, keep reminding yourself and others about hand washing and covering up when you sneeze or cough.

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The World Health Organization (WHO) is urging pharmaceutical companies for assistance in helping poorer countries prepare for the H1N1 flu. This comes in the midst of the 62nd World Health Assembly in Geneva where health ministers from around the world are meeting. Less wealthy countries don’t have the necessary pharmaceutical resources needed to effectively combat the virus. More importantly, the opportunity to prevent further spread of the epidemic is ripe since the H1N1 flu has not reached most developing countries. Currently, only 6 out of 30 major drug companies have agreed to donate and/or reduce vaccine costs to poorer countries. This has prompted UN Secretary General, Ban Ki-moon, to call for solidarity among the world’s countries. Solidarity, said Ban, “must mean that all have access to drugs and vaccines.”

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After receiving reports that a Mexican national who was infected with influenza H1N1 traveled through Shanghai en route to Hong Kong this week, Chinese officials decided to quarantine 43 Mexican citizens who were either visiting or living in China in an effort to prevent any possibility of disease spread. The incident has caused a row in among the international community, especially in Mexico, because none of those quarantined apparently tested positive for the H1N1 virus. China is assuring the public that the Mexican nationals are treated well. According to the Beijing municipal health bureau, they were given the best rooms in the hotels they were held in, and sent fruit and flowers daily. The Mexican govenment has sent a chartered plane to China to bring its citizens home.  Read more and share your comment here.

H1N1 Flu Updates:

• Latest Developments from Kosmix
• World Health Organization Updates
• Mexico Swine Flu Blog from Medical News Today

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The American Veterinary Medical Association has released a statement saying that human exposure to pigs and consumption of pork products will not increase your risk of infection with swine flu. Thus far, the swine flu has only been identified and transmitted among humans. There have been no reports of outbreaks among swine herds. In fact, the term “swine flu” is a misnomer since this strain is actually composed of a combination of viruses that include swine, poultry and human influenza viruses. And today, the World Health Organization announced that they will no longer be using the term “swine flu” to avoid confusion over the danger posed by pigs. Instead the proper, scientific name H1N1 influenza A will be used. With that being said, the AVMA is also reminding us to follow proper cooking guidelines for all meat products to reduce the incidence of food borne illnesses such as salmonella.

Learn about swine flu symptoms.

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A 23-month old Mexican child who was brought by his parents to the US in search of treatment for swine flu has passed away in Houston. Although the swine flu, like the average flu, tends to affect those with poor immune systems – the very young and the very old – it is not certain why there have been more fatalities in Mexico, the presumed origin of the strain. It may be because there are simply more cases in Mexico, and even more un-diagnosed cases. Another theory is that the virus may have mutated or that a second strain is spreading at the same time. Whatever the reason, medical advise should be sought if you have any symptoms of the flu. As well, make sure to practice good hygiene in order to reduce transmission of communicable diseases.

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