Category: Plagues and Pandemics

Joan M. sent this: WHO says flu pandemic spreading too fast to count. “…the H1N1 flu pandemic has been the fastest-moving pandemic ever and that it is now pointless to ask countries to count every case.” Britain prepares for 65,000 deaths from swine flu Swine Flu Threatens Muslim Hajj Season Swine Flu to force 1 in 8 to take time off work sick Swine flu sweeping world at ‘unprecedented speed’: WHO “In past pandemics, influenza viruses have needed more than six months to spread as widely as the new H1N1 virus has spread in less than six weeks.” Swine Flu: …

LJ in England sent us this: Swine flu deaths in Britain soar to 29 as 12 die in four days Andrew in England sent this from Yahoo UK: Pandemic threat ‘worse than terror’ From Cheryl: Great Pandemic Flu of 2009 is Coming and No One Can Stop It! Cheryl’s comment: “This is a 2006 novel, Another Place to Die by Sam North, called a blueprint for survival tips for the coming pandemic. Worth checking out. It might deserve a place next to Patriots.” SR recommended this: Fight for swine flu vaccine could get ugly

Swine Flu Claims First “Healthy” Victim in UK WHO: No Licensed Flu Vaccine Until End of Year Swine Flu Hits Downing Street, Almost Makes it to G-8 UK: Swine Flu Vax to be Given to Entire Population New flu resembles feared 1918 virus

Swine flu shots at school: Bracing for fall return (Thanks for John in Ohio for the link) A Sign of Things To Come? Argentine Banks Close to Help Stop Spread of the Swine Flu School-Age Children to Get Vaccinations First Swine Flu Deaths in UK Double as Country Now Has Third Highest Cases Britain’s first ‘healthy’ swine flu victim dies – the 15th fatality here in total Obese Exposed as Swine Flu Collides with Fat Epidemic “An unexpected characteristic has emerged among many swine flu victims who become severely ill: They are fat. … People infected with the bug who …

Argentine Businesses Hit By Swine Flu Swine Flu Vaccine Likely to Be Ready in Mid-October Swine Flu on Main US Afghan Base Canada: Tamiflu Resistance In Saskatchewan Jonesy sent us these last two flu items: Tamiflu Resistance in San Francisco “The case suggests swine flu – a form of influenza Type A, subtype H1N1 – is capable of not only developing drug resistance but also spreading between humans in that resistant form, said Dr. Arthur Reingold, professor at UC Berkeley School of Public Health.” “[The] patients in Japan and in Denmark were taking Tamiflu prophylactically [as a preventive measure], said …

UK: Three More Die as Swine Flu Cases Pass 7,500 Canada: Swine Flu in Saskatchewan Raises Pandemic Concerns Businesses Should Prepare Now For Fall Flu

Four Britons Die From Swine Flu; Tips to Help You Fight the Flu “Optimize your vitamin D levels. As I’ve previously reported, optimizing your vitamin D levels is one of the absolute best strategies for avoiding infections of all kinds, and vitamin D deficiency is likely the true culprit behind the seasonality of the flu — not the flu virus itself.” Argentines question government as flu spreads Swine Flu Worries Spark Cambridge Jail Riots Northern Hemisphere Bracing for Fall Flu Carnage Explosion of Swine Flu Deaths in Argentina Homeless People Die After Trial Bird Vaccination In Poland

Swine Flu Reaches Into the Lungs and Gut 100,000 UK Swine Flu Cases a Day by August Uganda Confirms First Case of Swine Flu Tamiflu-Resistant Swine Flu Patient in Hong Kong Teen 4th in UK to Die from Swine Flu “Had serious underlying health problems.” [One wonders if this often-used phrase is true or just panic-control?]

Reader L. Jean sent this: UK Government prediction: 40 deaths per day from swine flu. L. Jean’s comment: “[I really have no idea where the figures come from as sources aren’t quoted in the article, and it doesn’t seem to be causing any panic, in fact most people just don’t believe it, and are saying ‘it’s just fl’” and are refusing to take any precautions – which is bad news for the rest of us. I’m still waiting to find out if it’s a cytokine storm that kills or not – perhaps not if all deaths so far have been …

Mycroft sent us this: Pandemic is here: Time to panic? Now, H1N1 is in Africa New Flu Strain Has Pet Owners Worried Former Marine Claims Illness From Mystery Vaccine “Target 5 [a television news team] has discovered that an alarming number of U.S. troops are having severe reactions to some of the vaccines they receive in preparation for going overseas. ‘This is the worst cover-up in the history of the military,” said an unidentified military health officer who fears for his job. A shot from a syringe is leaving some U.S. servicemen and women on the brink of death.’”

Map: US swine flu by state (Thanks to JP for that link) A/H1N1 Swine Flu Tamiflu Resistance Spreading British Medical Association Warns Parents Against “Swine Flu Parties” UK: Girl, 9, Dies in Big Surge of Swine Flu Cases Swine Flu Outbreak Worsens in Argentina New England Journal of Medicine: Spread of a Novel Influenza A (H1N1) Virus Via Global Airline Transport