The Swine Flu and You

[GotLead?]

Most US states have a high incidence of verified cases of this stuff.   Most people will be fine, just like with normal flu...but here's some general good info for you or anyone you know that may have contracted this.  http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/qa.htm

[BigRedOne]

Thanks for posting this to get the information out. 

[GotLead?]

No problem.  One thing I noticed that they are saying makes this flu different from others is that people under 25 are at a higher risk of serious problems whereas people over 64 are not as much at risk.  So if you start having symptoms, don't panic but don't ignore them either.  I was a little nervous about my son starting back to school because stuff spreads like wildfire there.

[morte]

From CDC-
Swine flu(approx.) 430 deaths
seasonal flu 40,000 deaths.

[GotLead?]

Internationally, here is the situation: This report provides an update to the international situation as of September 18, 2009. As of September 13, 2009, the World Health Organization (WHO) regions have reported more than 296,471 laboratory-confirmed cases of 2009 H1N1 influenza virus (2009 H1N1) with at least 3,486 deaths, which is an increase of at least 18,864 cases and 281 deaths since September 6th. The laboratory-confirmed cases represent a substantial underestimation of total cases in the world, as many countries focus surveillance and laboratory testing only on people with severe illness. The 2009 H1N1 influenza virus continues to be the dominant influenza virus in circulation in the world. Since April 2009, 60.7% of influenza specimens reported to WHO were 2009 H1N1 viruses.  http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/updates/international/091809.htm

The CDC has changed the reporting structure for the H1N1 virus on August 30th and the counter was "reset" to zero for US pandemic info.  This was not too long after the H1N1 strain really started taking off.  Here's some quotes from the CDC:  You can read the whole thing here: http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/reportingqa.htm

Do the numbers reported now include 2009 H1N1 cases in the spring and summer?

No. The number of reported hospitalizations and deaths was “re-set” to zero on August 30. The report of the first week of data for the newly defined system will appear in the September 11, 2009 FluView.

If states are reporting aggregate influenza hospitalizations and deaths, how will you tell what percentage of cases is due to 2009 H1N1 and what percentage is due seasonal influenza viruses?

Due to CDC’s new case definitions, there will be no definitive way to differentiate between hospitalizations and deaths due to seasonal influenza versus those due to 2009 H1N1 influenza from aggregate reporting.  And some deaths that are not due to influenza specifically will be included. However, information on the proportion of influenza viruses that are 2009 H1N1 versus seasonal influenza will continue to be reported in FluView from the virologic surveillance system. (For example, as of August 29, 2009, 97% of all subtyped influenza A viruses being reported to CDC were 2009 H1N1 viruses.)

Why did CDC stop reporting confirmed and probable 2009 H1N1 flu cases?

Individual case counts were kept early during the 2009 H1N1 outbreak when the 2009 H1N1 virus first emerged. As the outbreak expanded and became more widespread, individual case counts become increasingly impractical and not representative of the true extent of the outbreak. This is because only a small proportion of persons with respiratory illness are actually tested and confirmed for influenza (including 2009 H1N1) so the true benefit of keeping track of these numbers is questionable. In addition, the extensive spread of 2009 H1N1 flu within the United States made it extremely resource-intensive for states to count individual cases. On July 24, 2009, CDC discontinued reporting of individual cases of 2009 H1N1, but continued to track hospitalizations and deaths.

So although there are many cases of the regular seasonal flu going around (still much earlier than usual) the H1N1 is still spreading at an alarming rate.

[Vellusian]

Actually, it might be a good thing that this virus how it is. Exposure to the H1N1 or vaccination could give partial immunity to the virus. So in being highly 'contagious' and not very potent, it works to humanity's favor far more than the reverse.

The best thing for anyone young to do is to get vaccinated, because no matter what any disease can have severe complications.

[unnamedsoldier]

Since my wife works in a hospital she HAS to get vaccinated, no questions asked...shut up, roll up the sleeve and voila. They want spouses to get it too, LOL....they`re gonna have to break in my house when I`m sleeping and tie me up if that is going to happen. Never been vaccinated for ANY form of flu and won`t be unless I survive to a ripe old age. I know MOST of the ins and outs of this thing due to my wife and DON`T PANIC. Yes it will hit us all harder then usual but take the precautions...simple things like washing your hands after leaving the house and coming home and SNEEZING IN YOUR ARM!!! Not the way we we`re taught as kids to sneeze into the hand. The french here kiss each other like the Euros do at greetings...I don`t, thats one of the worse things you can do at get togethers.

Spread love and peace, not viruses. If you feel sick, call in sick and recoup, don`t be selfish and give your flu to numerous others.

Good post Mr.Dodge, many peeps are not aware of these thangs.

[GotLead?]

I've only had one flu vaccination in my life and that was given to me free by the place I was working at the time.  I remember clearly that I got the shot on a Friday and had felt fine all week long, including Friday.  I was so dang sick with the flu by Sunday that I could hardly get out of bed for days,  That's the worst case of flu I can ever remember having.  So no, I don't plan on getting the vaccine but it would probably help the majority of people.  My luck though and I'd have to make out my will before they give it to me.  I've long been a believer that you only need medicine (especially antibiotics) if you are really sick.  I think it does a person good to get sick sometimes because the body builds up a natual resistance to whatever bug is attacking them.  Our bodies have great defensive mechanisms in place (for most people) and it will fight and defeat many of the virus or bacterial problems that we encounter.  My brother is one of those guys that goes to the doctor and gets antibiotics every time he has a sore throat or flu-like symptoms.  I'm the opposite...you have to almost drag me to the doctor unless I am really bad off.  I would bet that my natural immune system is working much better than his.  BUT, there are things around that your body cannot take care of without some timely help in the way of medicines.  This strain of flu is probably no worse than others in many ways - but it is something to take seriously.  I'll probably go to the Dr if I get flu-like symptoms and they don't go away after a few days...just to be safe.

[PeterG]

One thing I noticed that they are saying makes this flu different from others is that people under 25 are at a higher risk of serious problems whereas people over 64 are not as much at risk. 

I think this is a very misleading point of information. I think young people are more at risk of contracting the flu or being exposed to it at least, mostly because what age group is confined to school all day almost everyday? Look at the statistics of the deaths though. Very young people and older people mostly and nearly every death I have heard about has involved someone with a serious preexisting condition. I get so sick of seeing all the masks and hand sanitizers here in Japan because people freak out about everything. They also wear masks during allergy seasons to be polite but you walk into any drug store or general merchandise store and immediately are greeted by displays of masks. What they haven't seemed to grasp is that having athletic events in the cold rain all day long that include activities where students have to put their face in a pan of flour to retrieve a marshmallow with their mouths is putting students more at risk than a normal school day is. It's not just Japan though. The more germs we try to kill and avoid the more we are putting ourselves at risk due to lack of exposure to them. It is kind of sad though that it takes a pandemic of hype to get people to use simple hygiene. What?! I have to wash my hands sometimes?! NO WAY!!

[Vellusian]

In 1957, a similar influenza event took place, granting many people over the age of 60 an immunity to the disease.

--Science Crap--
Basically, the immune system works by finding a virus, bacteria, or fungus, having it eaten my macrophages (white blood cells) and transferred to a dendritic cell. The DC will kill it and chop it up into little bits. It will then show those bits to T cells and occasionally B cells. If the T or B cells have a match for the little bit, then the cells will be activated and then will take a couple of days to divide and go attack the immune system. People without immunity would take a minimum of 7 days to clear the disease. People with immunity would take 3.
--/Science Crap/--

So the elderly who have prior exposure have residual T cells and B cells waiting to help, but if their immune system is overall weakened, they have a greater chance of disease complications.

[PeterG]

Gee Vel, you think you're a scientist or something?