Flu Outbreak in Mexico

[whiskeytangofoxtrot]

That ain't no crap. Shut down the border before their luck makes ours even worse than it already is!

 

[United]

just got a laugh reading about the quake on CNN...here is a quote

"People in neighboring office buildings -- quite a majority of them wearing masks because of the swine flu outbreak -- were piling out into the streets," Cook said. "There were a few humorous people on the stairways saying, 'This is the apocalypse. First the swine flu, and now this.'

what next for them..UFO landing or meteor hit. $10 on meteor strike here.

 

[jeremy]

what next for them..UFO landing or meteor hit. $10 on meteor strike here.

I would almost take you up on that action if I was a gambling kind of man...

Other than a handful of places the meteor strike would do wonders for that place...

 

[smokingman]

40 confirmed cases in USA now.
73 cases of swine flu confirmed; hundreds more feared - CNN.com
CDC - Influenza (Flu) | Swine Influenza (Flu)

 

[suby]

WHO just raised the pandemic scale to level 4. Heard it on CNBC (?).

Here's a link.
Reuters AlertNet - REVISED WHO SCALE SAYS PHASE 4 INDICATES SIGNIFICANT INCREASED


edit: although WHO website still says level 3. link:
WHO | Current WHO phase of pandemic alert

 

[SavageEagle]

IT"S THE PLAGUE!!!!!! AHHHHHHHHHH

 

[03mustgt]

I am keeping my eye on this too. It has a very devastating potential, and i am very concerned. The next 5 days will be crucial to see if this thing levels off, drops, or keeps rising. I hope the cdc and fed are prepared to do whats neccessary to keep this bug under control.

 

[SavageEagle]

Or what if it's just the excuse TPTB have been waiting for?

Watch to see their reaction, or, lack thereof.

 

[Disposable Heart]

While waiting for man to go extinct Try this game...

Pandemic 2 and other Free Internet games @ CrazyMonkeyGames.com

Why worry about swine flu when you can make your own horrible disease to plague mankind (for a hint, Madagascar is damn near impossible to infect, game glitch, dont worry if you dont get it sick).

 

[repair]

Here is what Welpoint, the largest insurance company in the US has to say about the flu


Statement on Swine Flu Outbreak
WellPoint, Inc

.
April 26, 2009
​

Background​

​

According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC), cases of a type of flu known as swine influenza A ("swine flu") have been identified since late March in the United States, following a much larger and ongoing flu outbreak in Mexico. As of today, 20 cases of swine flu have been identified in the United States, primarily in San Diego, San Antonio, and New York City. The cases in the United States have been characterized as mild, with only one hospitalization, and no deaths have been reported. However, more than 1,300 cases of possible swine flu have been reported in Mexico, resulting in more than 80 deaths, although not all of the deaths have been confirmed as resulting from swine flu infection.
While the swine flu virus is spreading from human to human, it is not certain how readily this can occur. The World Health Organization (WHO) is also monitoring the situation carefully and has declared a "public health emergency of international concern".
On Sunday, April 26, following identification of 20 confirmed cases of swine influenza A (H1N1) in the US: California (7), Texas (2), New York City (8), Kansas (2), and Ohio (1), the White House held a briefing led by Secretary Janet Napolitano, Department of Homeland Security and Richard Besser, MD, Acting Director, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to discuss the latest surveillance and confirmation of newly diagnosed cases, steps the government was taking and steps communities, families and individuals can take to prevent the spread of respiratory infections potentially associated with the swine influenza.
Secretary Napolitano declared a "U.S. public health emergency" as a standard operating procedure to enable access to medical and diagnostic testing and purchase of antiviral medication. In addition the:
U.S. is releasing 25% of the strategic national stockpile of antivirals (Tamiflu and Relenza) to States with confirmed cases. The total U.S. stockpile contains 50 million treatment courses;
Department of Defense is releasing 7 million courses of treatment to personnel in the Armed Forces;
Department of Agriculture is checking the safety of the U.S. food supply and has not identified any concerns at this time;
U.S. is initiating passive surveillance protocols for flights into the U.S. and at points-of-entry are asking travelers to identify any symptoms and information regarding travel plans; and
Facts don’t currently warrant more aggressive action, thus no travel restrictions are currently in place.
CDC Acting Director Besser stated that they expect more cases in the U.S., as there is broader surveillance and greater awareness. He added that the U.S. should expect to see some cases similar to the severity of illness in Mexico, but given that the U.S. is at the end of the 2008-2009 flu seasons this may help reduce the number of seriously ill cases. He cautioned that every outbreak was unique, and that the CDC would be working with the states and local communities who have reported potential cases to monitor the identification of new cases and any reported deaths.
Daily updates will be provided by DHS, HHS, CDC and the White House. In addition they will also be issuing community guidance that will be posted at CDC - Influenza (Flu) | Swine Influenza (Flu) .
WHO updates are available at WHO | Swine influenza and are available in English and Spanish.
What is Swine Flu?
Swine flu is common disease of pigs and is caused by the same category of influenza virus (influenza A) that causes flu in humans. While outbreaks of swine flu are common in pigs, swine flu is uncommon in humans. It can occur, however, in individuals who are around pigs, and it is known that the virus can spread between humans in much the same way regular flu can spread, typically through coughing or sneezing as well as by contact with items contaminated by flu virus. Over the past four years, a dozen cases of swine flu have been reported in the United States. One death was reported, during an outbreak on an army base in 1976, and in 1988 a pregnant woman from Wisconsin died of swine flu. The current outbreak appears to be caused by a strain of swine flu not previously seen in humans (H1N1).

Symptoms and Treatment of Swine Flu​

Swine flu in humans resembles regular flu, with symptoms such fever, cough, sore throat, body aches, headache, chills and fatigue. Some individuals have diarrhea and vomiting as well. Like regular flu, swine flu can in some cases cause serious respiratory problems or worsening of chronic medical problems.
Swine flu can be treated with some of the same drugs that are used for regular flu. The CDC recommends the use of the antiviral medications oseltamivir (Tamiflu®) or zanamivir (Relenza®) in these situations. The medications work best if they are started within 2 days of the onset of symptoms. The swine flu viruses currently isolated from humans are resistant to the antiviral medications amantadine and rimantadine.

Spread and Prevention of Swine Flu​

People can spread swine flu when they have symptoms and possibly as long as 7 days after they first become ill, even if symptoms have subsided. It is also thought that children can remain contagious for an even longer period of time. There is currently no vaccine for prevention of swine flu, and vaccines used for seasonal flu provide no protective effect for the current H1N1 strain of swine flu. As a result, individuals should follow sensible preventive measures, like these recommended by the CDC:
Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Throw the tissue in the trash after you use it.
Wash your hands often with soap and water, especially after you cough or sneeze. Alcohol-based hand cleaners are also effective.
Try to avoid close contact with sick people.
If you get sick with influenza, stay home from work or school and limit contact with others to keep from infecting them. Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth. Viruses spread this way.
At this time, the CDC recommends that individuals who live in or have recently traveled to San Diego and Imperial Counties in California or Guadalupe County in Texas and who develop flu symptoms consider seeking care from their health care providers. More serious symptoms require emergency medical care. In children, such symptoms include:
Fast breathing or trouble breathing
Bluish skin color
Not drinking enough fluids
Not waking up or not interacting
Being so irritable that the child does not want to be held
Flu-like symptoms improve but then return with fever and worse cough
Fever with a rash
In adults, such symptoms include:
Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath
Pain or pressure in the chest or abdomen
Sudden dizziness
Confusion
Severe or persistent vomiting
Swine flu is not spread by food, such as pork, which is safe when handled and prepared appropriately. Cooking pork to an internal temperature of 160°F kills the swine flu virus as well as other bacteria and viruses.

Current Requirements for Coverage of Tamiflu®​

For WellPoint commercial plans and for Medicare part D, with prior authorization requirements for medications, there currently exist prior authorization requirements for oseltamivir (Tamiflu®), the medication that would be used to treat swine flu. These requirements permit treatment with Tamiflu® for members who have been diagnosed with influenza with no restrictions other than in the quantity of medication that may be dispensed and how frequently it may be prescribed over the course of a year. For prophylaxis (prevention) of influenza, the requirements limit coverage to individuals deemed "at risk" for complications of the flu, specifically:
people 65 years an older
nursing home or other long-term care residents
those with chronic heart or lung conditions
children hospitalized over the past year with diabetes, chronic kidney disease, weakened immune systems (including HIV/AIDS), and other serious conditions
children on long-term aspirin therapy
pregnant women
others with conditions that compromise the respiratory system, such as brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, seizures, and the like
WellPoint is closely monitoring the recommendations of the CDC and other agencies and will remove current prior authorization requirements or guidelines to ensure access to Tamiflu® to those who appropriately need it.

WellPoint’s Commitments in the Event of Pandemic Flu
​

Offer members coverage, within the scope of their benefit plans, for medically necessary care, including antiviral medications.
Comply with all state and federal regulatory guidelines for care, including those that override benefit language.
Keep members and providers informed about the pandemic through resources available on our websites.
Inform employers of Centers for Disease Control and other governmental recommendations and provide resources through our health plan websites.
Expand current 24-hour phone access capabilities to serve as a clearinghouse for members, providers, employers, and others seeking information, support, and/or referral to appropriate resources.
Facilitate the availability of clinical personnel among WellPoint associates who wish to volunteer their services, if such assistance is requested by government agencies.
Ensure access to and capacity of customer service operations.
Provide case identification and other data-related support services to government agencies as requested and as permitted by health information protection regulations and laws.

​

References for further information​

The following two web sites are providing continually updated information regarding the outbreak as well as background information for individuals, clinicians, and organizations.
US Centers for Disease Control (CDC):
http://www.cdc.gov/swineflu/investigation.htmhttp://www.cdc.gov/swineflu/investigation.htm
World Health Organization (WHO):
WHO | Swine influenza

 

[Chefcook]

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=grbSQ6O6kbs]YouTube - Monty Python-Bring out your dead![/ame]

 

[jeremy]

Has this affected travel to Europe yet? Specifically Germany?

 

[turnandshoot4]

Wouldn 't this flu outbreak be a good reason to ACTUALLY close our borders to the Mexicans? And not just the border crossings, I mean all the way from the Gulf to the Pacific.

 

[SavageEagle]

Wouldn 't this flu outbreak be a good reason to ACTUALLY close our borders to the Mexicans? And not just the border crossings, I mean all the way from the Gulf to the Pacific.

Damn straight it would!

Will i hold my breath. No. But God I wish they would! Ban travel to Meh-hee-Co!

 

[jeremy]

Wouldn 't this flu outbreak be a good reason to ACTUALLY close our borders to the Mexicans? And not just the border crossings, I mean all the way from the Gulf to the Pacific.

But think of all those poor people who are just trying to come here for better jobs...

I can barely say that with a straight face...

 

[turnandshoot4]

They'll get the jobs, by killing us in the process.

 

[Sailor]

First confirmed case In Indiana

1 Case Of Swine Flu Confirmed In Indiana - cbs2chicago.com

 

[melensdad]

First confirmed case In Indiana

1 Case Of Swine Flu Confirmed In Indiana - cbs2chicago.com

I just picked my daughter up from school. Her 8th grade class went on a retreat this weekend. The school is sending over half the kids home today. Its the flu. Seriously doubt it is the swine flu.

 

[Annie Oakley]

Melensdad, I hope that it is just the plain old garden variety flu. Let us know how she gets along.

 

[SavageEagle]

Seriously. With the way this virus is, I wouldn't take any chances.