Category: Plagues and Pandemics

Amid shortage, big NYC firms get swine vaccine. Reader Garth S. (who sent us the article link) asks: “So is this how it works? I get six zeros behind my salary and I can get to the front of the line?” World First As Swine Flu Found in US Cat Critically Ill Swine Flu Patients Spend Weeks in ICU Scandal: NHL Team Gets Priority Flu Shots WHO Targets Hemorrhagic H1N1 Cases in Lviv, Ukraine. So, assuming that his is a new, more lethal strain, I’m led to ask: Will contracting the current mild strain circulating in the US protect someone …

Reader Karl B. sent this new item that he spotted on a news wire, dated 29 October: Unidentified virus kills 30 in western Ukraine. Since I was unable to find a link to the English translation of the piece (originally from a Kiev television outlet), I’ve decided to post it in full: [Presenter] An unknown deadly virus has taken lives of over 30 people in western Ukraine. The preliminary diagnosis is viral pneumonia. The results of analyses are to be made public early next week. According to the latest statistics, some 12 people died in Ternopil Region, 11 in Lviv …

Reader D.P.D. mentioned: Signs of a H1N1 mutation? Something is up in Ukraine: “Viral pneumonia…” Los Angeles County Free H1N1 Vaccination Clinics Overwhelmed Swine flu prompts hundreds of schools to close US Emergency Declaration Increases Concern. “…the CDC has reported a low reactor isolate, indicating the virus is evolving away from the vaccine.” ‘National emergency’ for H1N1 no cause for alarm, experts say. Oh, that makes me feel so much better. Fight Erupts in Line at Nevada Swine Flu Clinic CDC: 19 Children in US Died of Swine Flu Last Week WHO Emergency Response Team to Ukraine US: 10 Million …

Europe swine flu spreads, ‘millions’ infected in U.S. CBS Reveals Swine Flu Cases Seriously Overestimated Increase in flu is called dramatic “Massachusetts has seen a jump in flu activity this week that has led one Central Massachusetts high school to close and that appears to signify the arrival of the second wave of swine flu.” Health officials scramble to counter H1N1 myths. WHO: nearly 5,000 swine flu deaths worldwide. Synopsis of H1N1 Activity between Oct. 11-17 (Week 41) CDC 2009 H1N1 International Situation Update Germans Unhappy With Alternative Swine Flu Vaccine for Politicians, Military

Obama declares swine flu a national emergency US Swine Flu Deaths Surpass 1,000 Pandemic flu can infect cells deep in the lungs, says new research Mandatory Vax for NY Healthcare Workers Cancelled UK: 25% of Critical Flu Cases are Under 16 UK Swine Flu Cases Almost Double in a Week Swine Flu Docs Unnerved at Patients Rapid Decline UK: Half of Swine Flu Deaths Under Age of 45

Florida Plan Advises Hospitals to Bar Some Patients in Event of Severe Flu Pandemic USDA Confirms a US Pig has H1N1 Swine Flu H1N1 in Swine Raises Concern FDA Approves Seasonal Flu Vaccine (Fluarix) for Children Officials See a Shortage in Vaccine for Swine Flu Why CDC says this year’s flu season is “very sobering”

Reader Sheila A. mentioned n informative piece on flu immunizations, from The Atlantic: Does the Vaccine Matter? Swine Flu Claims 11 More Children NY Judge Halts Flu Vaccine Mandate for Health Workers Children Should Not Be Given Common Pain Killer After Vaccine Swine Flu Taking Toll on Hospital Health Workers UK: Swine Flu Death Toll Passes 100, 2 Pregnant Women Die CDC: Production of Swine Flu Vaccine Lagging More than Half of Americans to Refuse Swine Flu Vax UK: Top Insurer Tells Doctors Not to Give Swine Flu

Karen H. sent this piece for the I told you so department: Lung Failure in H1N1 Cases Spurs Life Support Demand. I warned you that there aren’t enough ventilators! Also from Karen: Third Swine-Flu Wave Poses Threat to Hospital ICUs German Army first in line to get cutting-edge swine flu shot. Four-Year-Old Survives Swine Flu (Barely) Massachusetts House Approves Bill Okaying Quarantines Ohio School to Discuss Boy’s Swine Flu Death

US to Stop Counting Flu Cases, Too Many to Count Swine Flu Study Shows Hardest Hit Are Women Spring Swine Flu Put Many Already Hospitalized Patients Into ICU 76 Children Have Died in US From Swine Flu Relenza Warning After Patient Dies Turning Flu Powder Into Liquid US Study Confirms H1N1 Swine Flu More Serious in Young Areas Hard Hit By Swine Flu in Spring See Little Now Japan Tamiflu Resistant Teen Had No Tamiflu Record Swine Flu’s Surge in ICU Cases Reveals Winter’s Toll Swine Flu Spreads Like Wildfire Across US, 19 Kids Die in One Week

Are surgical masks as effective as N95 respirators to prevent influenza? US Rolls Out Massive Swine Flu Vaccination Campaign US Children Now Receiving Swine Flu FluMist China Reports First Swine Flu Death MSNBC Asks: How Safe are the Flu Shots? Sebelius: Americans Must Get Swine Flu Vaccine (BTW, the article does not state that it is mandatory.)

28 Pregnant Women Dead from Swine Flu Army’s First Swine Flu Death is Soldier in South Carolina Many Swine Flu Deaths Linked with Second Infection US Military to Get Mandatory Swine Flu Vaccinations Soon Mexico Braces for Second Wave of Swine Flu

E627K H1N1 Swine Flu Lower Temp Strain Raises Concern UK: 1,000 Kids Get Swine Flu Test Jab Study: Getting Seasonal Flu Shot Makes You Twice as Likely to Get H1N1 Swine Flu

Washington State Okays Mercury in Swine Flu Vaccine (Thanks to Justin B. for the link Again, do some research before getting vaccinated.) Most Parents Won’t Get Kids Vaccinated Against Swine Flu Fever-Free Swine Flu in CNN’s Anderson Cooper

Spike in Pennsylvania Swine Flu Deaths Widespread Flu Antibody Confounds Clinical Trial Swine Flu Surge May Cause Heart Attacks First H1N1 Vaccines Will Be Nasal Spray

Over 1,300 New Swine Flu Cases in Mexico in Three Days PANAMAX 2009 Tests Pandemic Outbreak in Exercise Patients’ Complications After H1N1 Swine Flu Misdiagnosed