Monday, September 28, 2009
Oprah Winfrey Discusses Free Swine Flu (H1N1) Vaccine
Swine Flu Vaccine will be widely available beginning next month at no cost.
Free Swine Flu Vaccine the Blog will keep you informed on locations and news about Swine Flu.
Wednesday, September 23, 2009
Swine Flu - Not a big deal.
MURPHY: Swine flu is not a big deal
By Michael Murphy. Published September 17, 2009.
Have you been coughed or sneezed on lately?
If you answered yes, then you have swine flu. If you answered no, then chances are, you’re going to get swine flu.
Sure, I might be exaggerating a little, but who cares if you contract it?
Swine flu is not the big deal America has hyped it up to be.
Dr. Marc Lipsitch of Harvard University told Reuters.com that new estimates suggest the death rate of swine flu compares to a normal year of seasonal influenza.
Lipsitch added that he thinks we are in a Category 1 pandemic—normal for the seasonal flu.
To give you an idea of what this means, the Pandemic Severity Index set by the U.S. government has five categories: Category 1, the seasonal flu, has a mortality rate of about 0.1 percent.
However, the elderly make up most of this small percentage, as they are more easily affected by the flu.
A Category 5 would resemble the famous 1918 flu outbreak that killed millions.
At the time of the outbreak, people were walking around in gauze facemasks and little girls were jump roping to, “I had a little bird, its name was Enza, I opened the window and in-flu-enza.” Creepy, I know.
But fear not, students of Marquette, because while many of you have probably heard wild rumors about swine flu enrolling at Marquette, the handful of cases on campus haven’t all been confirmed.
It seems more people are turning into hypochondriacs than swine flu victims.
Despite the scarcity of the virus on campus, Marquette has taken the offensive to combat the swine flu by posting hygiene fliers all around campus.
I am assuming they are reaching out to those with the social etiquette of a Neanderthal because the flier gives a brief tutorial on how to cough, sneeze and wash our hands.
Hopefully, this will put a stop to the uncultivated people who walk around campus deliberately coughing and sneezing on people.
For those of you who are genuinely confused about what do to when confronted with a cough or sneeze in a public venue, then you may find the fliers helpful.
If you look at the sign, the stick figure looks more like a lollipop king performing a magic trick.
As you scan down the flier, there is also a picture-by-picture walk through about how to wash your hands.
So far, I have not seen or heard anyone look at the flier and say, “Oh! I thought you were supposed to eat the soap! I have been doing it wrong for the last 20 years!”
So while the Minnesota Department of Health surely meant well when they created these flyers, they were actually making things worse.
A: They wasted a bunch of paper (remember how going green used to be in).
B: They are making people worry more about a virus that is as deadly as the seasonal flu we deal with annually.
So let’s not fall into a panic and let swine flu take the attention off more important things, like Obama’s proposed health care reform, gray wolves being added to the endangered species list and the 2010 Cubs season.
Let’s look this disease right in the eye and say, “I eat pigs like you for breakfast.”
By Michael Murphy. Published September 17, 2009.
Have you been coughed or sneezed on lately?
If you answered yes, then you have swine flu. If you answered no, then chances are, you’re going to get swine flu.
Sure, I might be exaggerating a little, but who cares if you contract it?
Swine flu is not the big deal America has hyped it up to be.
Dr. Marc Lipsitch of Harvard University told Reuters.com that new estimates suggest the death rate of swine flu compares to a normal year of seasonal influenza.
Lipsitch added that he thinks we are in a Category 1 pandemic—normal for the seasonal flu.
To give you an idea of what this means, the Pandemic Severity Index set by the U.S. government has five categories: Category 1, the seasonal flu, has a mortality rate of about 0.1 percent.
However, the elderly make up most of this small percentage, as they are more easily affected by the flu.
A Category 5 would resemble the famous 1918 flu outbreak that killed millions.
At the time of the outbreak, people were walking around in gauze facemasks and little girls were jump roping to, “I had a little bird, its name was Enza, I opened the window and in-flu-enza.” Creepy, I know.
But fear not, students of Marquette, because while many of you have probably heard wild rumors about swine flu enrolling at Marquette, the handful of cases on campus haven’t all been confirmed.
It seems more people are turning into hypochondriacs than swine flu victims.
Despite the scarcity of the virus on campus, Marquette has taken the offensive to combat the swine flu by posting hygiene fliers all around campus.
I am assuming they are reaching out to those with the social etiquette of a Neanderthal because the flier gives a brief tutorial on how to cough, sneeze and wash our hands.
Hopefully, this will put a stop to the uncultivated people who walk around campus deliberately coughing and sneezing on people.
For those of you who are genuinely confused about what do to when confronted with a cough or sneeze in a public venue, then you may find the fliers helpful.
If you look at the sign, the stick figure looks more like a lollipop king performing a magic trick.
As you scan down the flier, there is also a picture-by-picture walk through about how to wash your hands.
So far, I have not seen or heard anyone look at the flier and say, “Oh! I thought you were supposed to eat the soap! I have been doing it wrong for the last 20 years!”
So while the Minnesota Department of Health surely meant well when they created these flyers, they were actually making things worse.
A: They wasted a bunch of paper (remember how going green used to be in).
B: They are making people worry more about a virus that is as deadly as the seasonal flu we deal with annually.
So let’s not fall into a panic and let swine flu take the attention off more important things, like Obama’s proposed health care reform, gray wolves being added to the endangered species list and the 2010 Cubs season.
Let’s look this disease right in the eye and say, “I eat pigs like you for breakfast.”
how does swine flu spread?
How Does Swine Flu Spread?
Swine flu spreads like regular flu: from an infected person through coughing or sneezing. The virus can live on surfaces for a short while, so you can catch it by touching something an infected person touched and then touching your nose, mouth, or eyes. (See the CDC for more information.)
Take the same precautions as you would with regular flu: wash hands regularly, use hand sanitizer, and don't touch your nose, mouth, or eyes unless your hands are really clean. If the flu spreads, you may want to wear a mouth guard to protect against inhaling germs. Look for an "N95" mask, which is designed to keep out germs and viruses.
Swine flu spreads like regular flu: from an infected person through coughing or sneezing. The virus can live on surfaces for a short while, so you can catch it by touching something an infected person touched and then touching your nose, mouth, or eyes. (See the CDC for more information.)
Take the same precautions as you would with regular flu: wash hands regularly, use hand sanitizer, and don't touch your nose, mouth, or eyes unless your hands are really clean. If the flu spreads, you may want to wear a mouth guard to protect against inhaling germs. Look for an "N95" mask, which is designed to keep out germs and viruses.
Monday, September 21, 2009
H1N1 deaths
Swine flu H1N1 deaths - September 19, 2009
http://swine-flue-virus.blogspot.com/ 2009/ 09/ swine...
Belfast: 1 new H1N1 fatal case confirmed HEALTH officials last night confirmed that the death of a 21-year-old Belfast woman in Barcelona was being linked to swine flu. more here... Mexico swine flu death toll climbs to 218 Mexico health officials stated that 1,341 new H1N1 flu cases were recorded since this week bringing the total number of H1N1 flu cases to 26,338 ahead of the usual autumn flu season. Total flu death toll has climbed upto 218 in the country. continue here..
http://swine-flue-virus.blogspot.com/ 2009/ 09/ swine...
Belfast: 1 new H1N1 fatal case confirmed HEALTH officials last night confirmed that the death of a 21-year-old Belfast woman in Barcelona was being linked to swine flu. more here... Mexico swine flu death toll climbs to 218 Mexico health officials stated that 1,341 new H1N1 flu cases were recorded since this week bringing the total number of H1N1 flu cases to 26,338 ahead of the usual autumn flu season. Total flu death toll has climbed upto 218 in the country. continue here..
Italy confirms first swine flu death
Italy said Friday a 51-year-old Neapolitan man with chronic heart problems had become the country’s first H1N1 flu victim.
The man had been hospitalized for several days at Naples’ Cotugno hospital before dying early Friday, the hospital’s intensive care unit said.
Italy has reported some 2,000 swine flu cases nationwide.
The man had been hospitalized for several days at Naples’ Cotugno hospital before dying early Friday, the hospital’s intensive care unit said.
Italy has reported some 2,000 swine flu cases nationwide.
History of Swine Flu
In 1976, there was an outbreak of swine flu at Fort Dix. This virus is not the same as the 2009 outbreak, but it was similar insofar as it was an influenza A virus that had similarities to the swine flu virus. There was one death at Fort Dix. The government decided to produce a vaccine against this virus, but the vaccine was associated with neurological complications (Guillain-Barré syndrome) and was discontinued. Some individuals speculate that formalin, used to inactivate the virus, may have played a role in the development of this complication in 1976. There is no evidence that anyone who obtained this vaccine would be protected against the 2009 swine flu. One of the reasons it takes a few months to develop a new vaccine is to test the vaccine for safety to avoid the complications seen in the 1976 vaccine. New vaccines against any flu virus type are usually made by growing virus particles in eggs. A serious side effect (allergic reaction such as swelling of the airway) to vaccines can occur in people who are allergic to eggs; these people should not get flu vaccines. Individuals with active infections or diseases of the nervous system are also not recommended to get flu vaccines.
Florida Gators Get Flu Shots - Concerns Over Swine Flu Rise
The Florida Gators got a round of flu shots Sunday, the latest precaution for a team fighting to stave off a major problem.
Running back Jeff Demps, tight end Aaron Hernandez and defensive end Jermaine Cunningham were isolated last week because of flulike symptoms.
Coach Urban Meyer said that receivers coach Billy Gonzales was sent home Monday because he was feeling ill and had a fever.
None of the Gators have had a confirmed case of swine flu, but Meyer did say he was concerned the virus could ravage his team.
"It is a panic level of proportion I've never seen before," Meyer said Sunday, a day after his team's 23-13 victory over Tennessee. "You hear about, I think, Wisconsin had 40 players. Ole Miss had 20 players. My wife, with her great insight, said, 'Do you realize the swine flu and everything is hitting the Florida campus last week.' My gosh."
Meyer said team doctors and trainers were doing everything they could to prevent an outbreak. They have hand sanitizer and prevention checklists all around the training facility, and are telling players to stay hydrated and monitor their weight regularly.
"We're trying the best we can, but it's real," Meyer said. "We go to the extremes. They get a separate dorm room for them. They get a separate hotel room for them. They put them right on whatever the flu stuff is. Our guys, our team doctors, they're on it as fast as you can get on it."
Flu shots were the latest course of action. They came about a week after one school official predicted that as many as 40 percent of students could catch swine flu.
Billy Gonzales receivers coach was today with fever.
"We knew it was hitting Gainesville," senior receiver David Nelson said Sunday. "Not just the football team, but throughout the campus and throughout the community. We knew it was a problem. Everywhere you turn, they're always telling you to wash your hand, take showers and all this different stuff.
"We knew there was something going on and there was a few players getting sick, but we didn't know the extent of how many people on our team were sick from it."
So far, only three.
Demps, Cunningham and Hernandez all played against Tennessee on Saturday, but none of them seemed up to par.
Demps, who had a 101-degree temperature, ran four times for 31 yards and a touchdown. Hernandez caught four passes for 26 yards. And Cunningham finished with one tackle.
"They were beat up pretty good," Meyer said.
Meyer said there could more players isolated this week as the Gators prepare to play at Kentucky. Meyer was most concerned with Demps, the team's starting running back, because he's early in the course of symptoms. Hernandez and Cunningham were getting over theirs, Meyer said.
The Gators hope flu shots will help prevent it from spreading any further.
"They're doing a great job of monitoring everybody's weight and making sure everybody's hydrating and making sure they're taking care of themselves," Nelson said. "That's the main emphasis."
Running back Jeff Demps, tight end Aaron Hernandez and defensive end Jermaine Cunningham were isolated last week because of flulike symptoms.
Coach Urban Meyer said that receivers coach Billy Gonzales was sent home Monday because he was feeling ill and had a fever.
None of the Gators have had a confirmed case of swine flu, but Meyer did say he was concerned the virus could ravage his team.
"It is a panic level of proportion I've never seen before," Meyer said Sunday, a day after his team's 23-13 victory over Tennessee. "You hear about, I think, Wisconsin had 40 players. Ole Miss had 20 players. My wife, with her great insight, said, 'Do you realize the swine flu and everything is hitting the Florida campus last week.' My gosh."
Meyer said team doctors and trainers were doing everything they could to prevent an outbreak. They have hand sanitizer and prevention checklists all around the training facility, and are telling players to stay hydrated and monitor their weight regularly.
"We're trying the best we can, but it's real," Meyer said. "We go to the extremes. They get a separate dorm room for them. They get a separate hotel room for them. They put them right on whatever the flu stuff is. Our guys, our team doctors, they're on it as fast as you can get on it."
Flu shots were the latest course of action. They came about a week after one school official predicted that as many as 40 percent of students could catch swine flu.
Billy Gonzales receivers coach was today with fever.
"We knew it was hitting Gainesville," senior receiver David Nelson said Sunday. "Not just the football team, but throughout the campus and throughout the community. We knew it was a problem. Everywhere you turn, they're always telling you to wash your hand, take showers and all this different stuff.
"We knew there was something going on and there was a few players getting sick, but we didn't know the extent of how many people on our team were sick from it."
So far, only three.
Demps, Cunningham and Hernandez all played against Tennessee on Saturday, but none of them seemed up to par.
Demps, who had a 101-degree temperature, ran four times for 31 yards and a touchdown. Hernandez caught four passes for 26 yards. And Cunningham finished with one tackle.
"They were beat up pretty good," Meyer said.
Meyer said there could more players isolated this week as the Gators prepare to play at Kentucky. Meyer was most concerned with Demps, the team's starting running back, because he's early in the course of symptoms. Hernandez and Cunningham were getting over theirs, Meyer said.
The Gators hope flu shots will help prevent it from spreading any further.
"They're doing a great job of monitoring everybody's weight and making sure everybody's hydrating and making sure they're taking care of themselves," Nelson said. "That's the main emphasis."
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)
