Swine Flu Again?

Here we go again? No. Not according to the "Experts."

Hey folks,

As you all know, I was one of those out there that followed the Swine Flu IN DEPTH. I gave you the CDC updates and posted News Articles in regards to it. Check the Archives and you will see what I mean.

So this story got my attention. Obviously. Health Day - Two U.S. Children Contract New Strain of Swine FluBut general public should not be concerned, CDC says By Steven Reinberg HealthDay Reporter

FRIDAY, Sept. 2 (HealthDay News) -- Experts at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention are investigating two recent cases of swine flu in which the new strain of flu passed directly from pigs to children.

This strain of flu does not appear capable of human-to-human transmission, but further study is needed, because if it were to spread among humans, the implications would be severe, the agency said. The CDC says the new strain contains genetic material from the H1N1 virus that swept the world last year, plus DNA from other pig flu viruses.

"We hope to learn more about the extent of transmission as soon as possible," said CDC spokesman Tom Skinner. "We see a couple of cases of swine origin influenza every year, and usually it's in people who have direct contact with swine. Right now there doesn't appear to be any sustained human-to-human transmission."

Both cases, revealed Sept. 2 in an early release of the CDC's Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, involved children under 5 years old, one in Indiana and the other in Pennsylvania.

The Indiana boy who came down with the flu had no contact with pigs, but a caregiver had been in direct contact with swine in the weeks before the boy became sick. In the other case, a girl developed flu after having contact with pigs at a fair, according to the report.

Both children recovered, and no other family members got sick, the CDC said.

According to Skinner, these are the first cases of new swine flu seen this year.

"As far as the general population is concerned, here we have a situation where we have a couple of cases in people who have had contact with swine," Skinner said. "The general public, I don't think, should be concerned about these cases."

However, people who have contact with swine and develop an upper-respiratory illness accompanied by fever need to make sure their doctor knows that they had contact with swine, Skinner said.

"This report shows our system of being able to detect new and emerging influenza viruses is working," he said.

Skinner added that the flu viruses known to go from person-to-person are those seen during the flu season, which usually starts in December.

This year's seasonal flu vaccine contains the same strains as last year's, which are the ones seen now in the Southern Hemisphere, he said. Skinner urged people to get a flu shot before the flu season begins in North America this winter.

Flu expert Dr. Marc Siegel, an associate professor of medicine at New York University School of Medicine in New York City, said "there is no concern for the public at this point."

"You have to remember that swine flu strains and bird flu strains are coming out all the time, and two cases doesn't mean anything," Siegel said.

Pigs are mixing vessels for flu, Siegel explained. "We see this every year. The key here is that we don't see any tendency toward sustained human spread," he said.

So basically do not worry about it. Like with ANY Flu Season, just take the necessary precautions and keep one eye on those around you that may seem under the weather. Please, if you do start showing signs of illness, go see your Doctor, and PLEASE, stay home. No need to spread it to others, no matter WHAT it is.
Peter

Sources:
Health Day - Two U.S. Children Contract New Strain of Swine Flu

Swine flu shots at school: Bracing for fall return

UPDATE: Swine Flu Update

Hey folks,

I'm still getting, well, before the Email Change, NEW EMAIL opntalk@gmail.com, from some of you wondering why I keep following this so closely. Here is why. Normal Flu has a season. When it turns warmer, it goes away to return during "Flu Season" then goes away again. Not with Swine Flu. It is still very much alive and is STILL Spreading. So what happens when actual "Flu Season" DOES come back around? Will it be more deadly? Will it spread MORE easily? Will it mutate to become something else? This is why it HAS to be watched. According to the AP - Swine flu shots at school: Bracing for fall return By LAURAN NEERGAARD, AP Medical Writer Lauran Neergaard, Ap Medical Writer – 1 hr 10 mins ago

WASHINGTON – U.S. swine flu vaccinations could begin in October with children among the first in line — at their local schools — the Obama administration said Thursday as the president and his Cabinet urged states to figure out now how they'll tackle the virus' all-but-certain resurgence.

"We may end up averting a crisis. That's our hope," said President Barack Obama, who took time away from the G-8 summit in Italy to telephone another summit back home — the 500 state and local health officials meeting to prepare for swine flu's fall threat.

No final decision has been made on whether to vaccinate Americans, Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius stressed. That depends largely on studies with experimental batches that are set to start the first week of August — to see if they're safe and seem to work and to learn whether they require one or two doses.

But if all goes well, the federal government will buy vaccine from manufacturers and share it for free among the states, which must then "try and get this in the arms of the targeted population as soon as possible," Sebelius said.

First in line probably will be school-age children, young adults with risky conditions such as asthma, pregnant women and health workers, she said. Unlike regular winter flu, the swine flu seems more dangerous to these groups than to older people.

"Schools are natural places" to offer those vaccines, Education Secretary Arne Duncan said.

Go home and get schools, mayors and other community leaders to spread that message, Sebelius said.

"The last thing we want is millions of parents to be surprised" the day the get-your-kid-vaccinated-at-school note comes home, she said.

Schools do occasionally team up with local health officials for special flu vaccination clinics, but it's not common. More than 140 schools around the country scheduled flu vaccination days last fall, some providing free vaccine. Some vaccinated only students bearing parent consent forms; others opened their doors to entire families.

It will be a confusing fall, Sebelius acknowledged. Doctors' offices, clinics and even grocery stores will be in the midst of dispensing 100 million-plus doses of regular winter flu vaccine — and the swine flu vaccine, which will roll out slowly, will require at least one completely separate inoculation.

"We know a mass vaccination program of even modest scale will involve extraordinary effort on your part," Sebelius told state health workers.

She also announced $350 million in grants to help states prepare, money to be used partly to brace hospitals for a surge of demand from the truly sick and the well-but-worried.

"We want to make sure we are not promoting panic but we are promoting vigilance and preparation," Obama told the gathering.

State officials welcomed the funds but had more practical questions for the feds, starting with what they learned from the chaos when swine flu first burst on the scene last spring and schools around the country closed because of sick students.

Since then, the virus has infected an estimated 1 million Americans and still is spreading, remarkable considering influenza usually can't tolerate summer's heat and humidity.

"What I need from all of you is an idea of when it is best to close, when it is necessary to close and when it's not," said Belinda Pustka, superintendent of Texas' Schertz-Cibolo-Universal City Independent School District.

"Closing school is a last resort not a first resort," Duncan stressed, but he said schools need to plan how they'll keep students learning if they do have to close for extended periods.

Pustka's schools posted assignments online. But Sue Todey of Wisconsin's Department of Public Education said that between rural geography and poverty, many students don't have the necessary Internet access and she's exploring using public television or old-fashioned sending home of paper assignments.

An even bigger problem: When schools close and working parents need to stay home — or any worker gets sick — too often, they don't get paid, said Paul Jarris of the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials. So they come to work, spreading infection.

"How are we going to assist people who don't have benefits?" he asked.

Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano said she was working with the Labor Department to address that question, and she urged employers to allow telecommuting and make other provisions should swine flu hit their workplaces this fall.

Swine flu outbreaks in the fall are all but certain given its continued spread here — 50 outbreaks in children's summer camps so far — and abroad, with major problems in parts of the Southern Hemisphere.

What doctors can't predict is how bad it will be during the U.S. flu season, but Obama's team of heavy-hitters spent Thursday warning against complacency.

Even if swine flu proves no more deadly than regular winter flu, that kills 36,000 Americans a year — and with swine flu, teenagers and young adults are being disproportionately hit, said Dr. Thomas Frieden, director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. And both types could very well spread at the same time this fall.

"If it doesn't happen, we'll be fortunate," Sebelius added.

CDC Update Case count on their site?

Alabama 400 cases 0 deaths
Alaska 122 cases 0 deaths
Arizona 762 cases 11 deaths
Arkansas 42 cases 0 deaths
California 2461 31 deaths
Colorado 146 cases 0 deaths
Connecticut 1364 cases 6 deaths
Delaware 347 cases 0 deaths
Florida 1781 cases 7 death
Georgia 138 cases 0 deaths
Hawaii 722 cases 1 death
Idaho 115 cases 0 deaths
Illinois 3259 cases 14 deaths
Indiana 273 cases 0 deaths
Iowa 156 cases 0 deaths
Kansas 136 cases 0 deaths
Kentucky 130 cases 0 deaths
Louisiana 183 cases 0 deaths
Maine 107 cases 0 deaths
Maryland 686 cases 2 death
Massachusetts 1328 cases 4 deaths
Michigan 489 cases 8 deaths
Minnesota 634 3 death
Mississippi 188 cases 0 deaths
Missouri 68 cases 1 death
Montana 67 cases 0 deaths
Nebraska 215 cases 0 deaths
Nevada 327 cases 0 deaths
New Hampshire 237 cases 0 deaths
New Jersey 1289 cases 10 deaths
New Mexico 232 cases 0 deaths
New York 2582 cases 52 deaths
North Carolina 312 cases 2 deaths
North Dakota 58 cases 0 deaths
Ohio 147 cases 1 death
Oklahoma 150 cases 1 death
Oregon 403 cases 4
Pennsylvania 1794 cases 6 deaths
Rhode Island 177 cases 2 death
South Carolina 176 cases 0 deaths
South Dakota 34 cases 0 deaths
Tennessee 213 cases 0 deaths
Texas 4463 cases 21 deaths
Utah 953 cases 14 deaths
Vermont 50 cases 0 deaths
Virginia 306 cases 2 death
Washington 636 cases 4 deaths
Washington, D.C. 45 cases 0 deaths
West Virginia 179 cases 0 deaths
Wisconsin 6031 cases 4 death
Wyoming 99 cases 0 deaths
Territories
Guam 1 case 0 deaths
Puerto Rico 18 cases 0 deaths
Virgin Islands 15 case 0 deaths
TOTAL (54)* 37,246 cases 211 deaths

We need to keep watching this so we have ANY kind of hope in dealing with it if it DOES mutate. Diligence and readiness is key.
Peter

Sources:
AP - Swine flu shots at school: Bracing for fall return

NOTE: New Email opntalk@gmail.com

Swine Flu Update 051309

UPDATE: CDC Update for Wednesday 051309

Update as of May 12, 2009, 3:00 PM ET

A New Virus Emerges

Novel influenza A (H1N1) is a new flu virus of swine origin that was first detected in April, 2009. The virus is infecting people and is spreading from person-to-person, and has sparked a growing outbreak of illness in the United States with an increasing number of cases being reported internationally as well.

CDC anticipates that there will be more cases, more hospitalizations and more deaths associated with this new virus in the coming days and weeks because the population has little to no immunity against it. Novel influenza A (H1N1) activity is now being detected in two of CDC’s routine influenza surveillance systems as reported in the May 8, 2009 FluView. FluView is a weekly report that tracks U.S. influenza activity through multiple systems across five categories.

The May 8 FluView found that the number of people visiting their doctors with influenza-like-illness is higher than expected in the United States for this time of year. Second, laboratory data shows that regular seasonal influenza A (H1N1), (H3N2) and influenza B viruses are still circulating in the United States, but novel influenza A (H1N1) and “unsubtypable”* viruses now account for a significant number of the viruses detected in the United States.

It’s thought that novel influenza A (H1N1) flu spreads in the same way that regular seasonal influenza viruses spread; mainly through the coughs and sneezes of people who are sick with the virus.

CDC continues to take aggressive action to respond to the outbreak. CDC’s response goals are to reduce the spread and severity of illness, and to provide information to help health care providers, public health officials and the public address the challenges posed by this new public health threat.

Increased Testing

CDC has developed a PCR diagnostic test kit to detect this novel H1N1 virus and has now distributed test kits to all states in the U.S. and the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico. The test kits are being shipped internationally as well. This will allow states and other countries to test for this new virus. This increase in testing will likely result in an increase in the number of confirmed cases of illness reported. This, combined with ongoing monitoring through Flu View should provide a fuller picture of the burden of disease in the United States over time.
CDC is issuing updated interim guidance daily in response to the rapidly evolving situation.

Clinician Guidance

CDC has issued interim guidance for clinicians on identifying and caring for patients with novel H1N1, in addition to providing interim guidance on the use of antiviral drugs. Influenza antiviral drugs are prescription medicines (pills, liquid or an inhaler) with activity against influenza viruses, including novel influenza H1N1 viruses. The priority use for influenza antiviral drugs during this outbreak is to treat severe influenza illness, including people who are hospitalized or sick people who are considered at high risk of serious influenza-related complications.

Public Guidance

In addition, CDC has provided guidance for the public on what to do if they become sick with flu-like symptoms, including infection with novel H1N1. CDC also has issued instructions on taking care of a sick person at home. Novel H1N1 infection has been reported to cause a wide range of symptoms, including fever, cough, sore throat, body aches, headache, chills and fatigue. In addition, a significant number of people also have reported nausea, vomiting or diarrhea. Everyone should take everyday preventive actions to stop the spread of germs, including frequent hand washing and people who are sick should stay home and avoid contact with others in order to limit further spread of the disease.

*Unsubtypable viruses are viruses that through normal testing cannot be subtyped as regularly occurring human seasonal influenza viruses. In the context of the current outbreak, it’s likely that most of these unsubtypable viruses are novel H1N1.

Alabama 9
Arizona 187
California 193
Colorado 44
Connecticut 28
Delaware 45
Florida 55
Georgia 4
Hawaii 6
Idaho 2
Illinois 554
Indiana 61
Iowa 55
Kansas 22
Kentucky** 10
Louisiana 20
Maine 6
Maryland 23
Massachusetts 107
Michigan 133
Minnesota 24
Missouri 14
Montana 1
Nebraska 19
Nevada 12
New Hampshire 16
New Jersey 7
New Mexico 30
New York 192
North Carolina 11
Ohio 7
Oklahoma 14
Oregon 74
Pennsylvania 17
Rhode Island 7
South Carolina 32
South Dakota 3
Tennessee 54
Texas 206 2
Utah 67
Vermont 1
Virginia 17
Washington 176 1
Washington, D.C. 7
Wisconsin 437
TOTAL*(45) 3009 cases 3 deaths

Preview for Sunday 051009

Happy Mother's day to all Moms out there.

Hey folks,

Welcome to the Big Sunday Edition of the OPNTalk Blog. Glad you could stop by. My Mom is on a Camping Trip with my Step-dad, my Son Joshua, my Niece, and a friend of her's Sky. Don't worry folks, it is in a air conditioned Cabin. My Mom loves going camping and couldn't wait to get Josh into it. I would have loved to go with them, but, as usual, I have other obligations. So I will be taking my Aunt to Mom's Day Breakfast at this place I tried for the first time just a couple of weeks ago called the "Sunny Day Cafe." GREAT PLACE!

I found a Mother's Day poem that I want to share with you. It's by Tomee Lee Sloan. It really hit me when I read it, because it truly does represent my true feelings and thoughts of my Mom. That's coming right up in just a few minutes.

Coming up today?

Happy Mother's Day!

A Commonsense Approach To The Energy Issue

More Serious Sleep Disorders

Legislation will support research, surveillance, planning and interagency coordination

IWA for Sunday 051009

All that in just a few seconds. First up, did you see this yesterday? On his continuing Socialistic march, Obama's next target, as I told you, is the Credit Card Companies. Another Private industry, being dictated to by the Federal Government. For your own good, of course. And of course, the MMD {Mainstream Media Drones} are playing it up. According to ABC News - Are Taxpayers Bailing Out Troubled Banks Twice? By DAVID MUIR and SIDNEY WRIGHT IV May 9, 2009

The federal government is taking up the fight against credit card companies accused of taking advantage of consumers.

In taking aim at what he called "abuse that goes unpunished," President Obama has asked Congress to send him a bill by Memorial Day that prevents credit card companies from suddenly raising rates on everyday customers.

"Americans know they have a responsibility to live within their means and pay what they owe," Obama said. "But they also have a right to not get ripped off by sudden rate hikes, unfair penalties and hidden fees."

UH, Mr. President? THEY SIGN A CONTRACT to get these cards. It is THEIR RESPONSIBILITY to live in their means. Not the Credit Card Companies, not the Government to see to it that they do not get themselves into problems.

Congress is moving swiftly to comply with the president's request. A credit card holder's Bill of Rights has already passed the House. The bill would prohibit retroactive rate increases, prevent companies from issuing cards to anyone under 18 and eliminate what's called "double-cycle billing."

Double-cycle billing is a little known calculation used by many companies. The company looks at your current monthly balance, as well as your previous months' spending, and averages them both, charging you a higher interest rate.

Although the practice is considered deceptive, credit card holders often consent to it when they sign a contract.

That's my point. As this Law Professor points out. It's in the contract. If you, a private citizen wants to enter into a contract with the Credit Card Company, and Private Company, then the relationship is Private and NOT subject to Government interference.

"Most of these credit card companies have a little clause left somewhere in the back on page 28 in language that says, 'we can charge you any amount we want, at any time we want, for no reason at all,'" said Elizabeth Warren, a law professor at Harvard.

Warren chairs the Congressional Oversight Panel, an independent agency that tracks the hundreds of billions in taxpayer dollars already being used to help the banks survive.

On the heels of this week's stress tests, which showed 10 of the nation's 19 largest banks will need a further injection of cash to survive, she said it's no secret where the banks will get the money.

"We've seen a sharp rise in interest rates in the last few months on good customers who are paying. It's coming from banks taking taxpayer dollars." Warren said.

Which the customers are or should be aware is a possibility. But the Government will not even take back the money from the Banks that did not even want it to begin with. They just want power and control over the said Banks. Just like they want to micro manage all kinds of Private Industries. The stress tests are a joke and they keep changing it. Ten of the 19? One more than half? Come on. that is clearly a set up to give more money that most do not even want, gaining MORE control. Now credit card companies?

Now do not get me wrong here folks, I'm not in the tank for Credit Card Companies. I have had enough problems with them myself that I decided I would have only one, and that is a Debit Card. I have the money, I can by whatever. I can rent a Hotel Room, Fly, rent a car, dine out, and do whatever I could with an actual credit card, but at the end of the month, I have no bill. No bill growing due to insane interests that makes a $10 Tee Shirt $100.00 dollars.

What's next for Obama and Crew to take over? Now that they have pretty much taken over Finances? My guess would be Healthcare.

As for your Daily Swine Flu Update, the CDC has not updated any information other than the case count went up MAJORLY. As it stands right now.

Alabama 4
Arizona 182
California 171
Colorado 41
Connecticut 14
Delaware 44
Florida 43
Georgia 3
Hawaii 6
Idaho 1
Illinois 421
Indiana 39
Iowa 43
Kansas 12
Kentucky** 3
Louisiana 9
Maine 4
Maryland 23
Massachusetts 89
Michigan 103
Minnesota 1
Missouri 10
Nebraska 13
Nevada 9
New Hampshire 4
New Jersey 7
New Mexico 30
New York 190
North Carolina 7
Ohio 12
Oklahoma 4
Oregon 15
Pennsylvania 10
Rhode Island 7
South Carolina 42
South Dakota 1
Tennessee 46
Texas 110 2
Utah 60
Vermont 1
Virginia 16
Washington 83
Washington, D.C. 4
Wisconsin 317
TOTAL*(44) 2254 cases 2 deaths

Going to fill my cup so we can get going here today. Today's favorite? Don Francisco's "Butterscotch" www.don-francisco.com Be right back.
Peter

Swine Flu Update 050909

UPDATE: Swine Flu update for Saturday 050909

CDC: Update as of May 8, 2009, 11:00 AM ET

The ongoing outbreak of novel influenza A (H1N1) continues to expand in the United States. CDC expects that more cases, more hospitalizations and more deaths from this outbreak will occur over the coming days and weeks.

CDC continues to take aggressive action to respond to the expanding outbreak. CDC’s response goals are to reduce spread and illness severity, and provide information to help health care providers, public health officials and the public address the challenges posed by this emergency.

CDC is issuing updated interim guidance daily in response to the rapidly evolving situation.

Antiviral Guidance

CDC has issued guidance for health care providers on the use of antiviral medications during the current outbreak. The priority use for influenza antiviral drugs is to treat severe influenza illness and people who are at high risk of serious influenza-related conditions.

School Guidance

At this time, CDC recommends the primary means to reduce spread of influenza in schools focus on early identification of ill students and staff, staying home when sick, and good cough etiquette and frequent hand washing. Decisions about school closure should be at the discretion of local authorities based on local considerations. (See the School Guidance.)

Increased Testing

CDC has developed a PCR diagnostic test kit to detect this novel H1N1 virus and has now distributed test kits to all 50 U.S. states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico. The test kits are being shipped internationally as well. This will allow states and other countries to test for this new virus. This increase in testing capacity is likely to result in an increase in the number of reported confirmed cases in this country, which should provide a more accurate picture of the burden of disease in the United States.

Alabama 4
Arizona 131
California 107
Colorado 25
Connecticut 4
Delaware 39
Florida 6
Georgia 3
Hawaii 5
Idaho 1
Illinois 392
Indiana 29
Iowa 5
Kansas 12
Kentucky** 3
Louisiana 7
Maine 4
Maryland 4
Massachusetts 83
Michigan 49
Minnesota 1
Missouri 9
Nebraska 4
Nevada 8
New Hampshire 3
New Jersey 7
New Mexico 8
New York 174
North Carolina 7
Ohio 6
Oklahoma 4
Oregon 15
Pennsylvania 2
Rhode Island 7
South Carolina 29
South Dakota 1
Tennessee 36
Texas 93 2
Utah 24
Virginia 14
Washington 33
Washington, D.C. 1
Wisconsin 240
TOTAL*(43) 1639 cases 2 deaths

Swine Flu Update 050809

CDC: H1N1 Daily Update

UPDATED: May 7, 2009, 7:15 PM ET

The ongoing outbreak of novel influenza A (H1N1) continues to expand in the United States. CDC expects that more cases, more hospitalizations and more deaths from this outbreak will occur over the coming days and weeks.

CDC continues to take aggressive action to respond to the expanding outbreak. CDC’s response goals are to reduce spread and illness severity, and provide information to help health care providers, public health officials and the public address the challenges posed by this emergency.

CDC is issuing updated interim guidance daily in response to the rapidly evolving situation.

Antiviral Guidance

CDC has issued guidance for health care providers on the use of antiviral medications during the current outbreak. The priority use for influenza antiviral drugs is to treat severe influenza illness and people who are at high risk of serious influenza-related conditions.

School Guidance

At this time, CDC recommends the primary means to reduce spread of influenza in schools focus on early identification of ill students and staff, staying home when sick, and good cough etiquette and frequent hand washing. Decisions about school closure should be at the discretion of local authorities based on local considerations. (See the School Guidance.)

Increased Testing

CDC has developed a PCR diagnostic test kit to detect this novel H1N1 virus and has now distributed test kits to all states in the U.S. and Puerto Rico. The test kits are being shipped internationally as well. This will allow states and other countries to test for this new virus. This increase in testing capacity is likely to result in an increase in the number of reported confirmed cases in this country, which should provide a more accurate picture of the burden of disease in the United States.

Alabama 4
Arizona 48
California 106
Colorado 17
Connecticut 4
Delaware 38
Florida 5
Georgia 3
Hawaii 3
Idaho 1
Illinois 204
Indiana 15
Iowa 5
Kansas 7
Kentucky* 2
Louisiana 7
Maine 4
Maryland 4
Massachusetts 71
Michigan 9
Minnesota 1
Missouri 4
Nebraska 4
Nevada 5
New Hampshire 2
New Jersey 7
New Mexico 8
New York 98
North Carolina 7
Ohio 5
Oklahoma 1
Oregon 15
Pennsylvania 2
Rhode Island 2
South Carolina 17
Tennessee 2
Texas 91 2
Utah 8
Virginia 11
Washington 23
Wisconsin 26
TOTAL (41) 896 cases 2 deaths

Swine Flu Update 050709

UPDATE: CDC update for Thursday 050709

Hey folks,

So what is my take on the "Gay Marriage Movement?" It is not real. More on that in a second. First up, here is your H1N1 update from the CDC.

The ongoing outbreak of novel influenza A (H1N1) continues to expand in the United States. CDC expects that more cases, more hospitalizations and more deaths from this outbreak will occur over the coming days and weeks.

CDC continues to take aggressive action to respond to the expanding outbreak. CDC’s response goals are to reduce spread and illness severity, and provide information to help health care providers, public health officials and the public address the challenges posed by this emergency.

CDC is issuing updated interim guidance daily in response to the rapidly evolving situation.

School Guidance

This includes updated interim guidance for schools and childcare facilities on preventing the spread of novel influenza A (H1N1) virus. At this time, CDC recommends the primary means to reduce spread of influenza in schools focus on early identification of ill students and staff, staying home when sick, and good cough etiquette and frequent hand washing. Decisions about school closure should be at the discretion of local authorities based on local considerations.

Increased Testing

CDC has developed a PCR diagnostic test kit to detect this novel H1N1 virus and has now distributed test kits to all states in the U.S. and Puerto Rico. The test kits are being shipped internationally as well. This will allow states and other countries to test for this new virus. This increase in testing capacity is likely to result in an increase in the number of reported confirmed cases in this country, which should provide a more accurate picture of the burden of disease in the United States.

Alabama 4
Arizona 48
California 67
Colorado 17
Connecticut 4
Delaware 33
Florida 5
Georgia 3
Hawaii 3
Idaho 1
Illinois 122
Indiana 15
Iowa 1
Kansas 2
Kentucky* 2
Louisiana 7
Maine 1
Maryland 4
Massachusetts 45
Michigan 8
Minnesota 1
Missouri 2
Nebraska 4
Nevada 5
New Hampshire 2
New Jersey 7
New Mexico 3
New York 97
North Carolina 7
Ohio 5
Oklahoma 1
Oregon 15
Pennsylvania 1
Rhode Island 2
South Carolina 16
Tennessee 2
Texas 61 2
Utah 1
Virginia 3
Washington 9
Wisconsin 6
TOTAL (41) 642 cases 2 deaths

CDC- WEBSITE

Be right back.
Peter

Swine Flu Update 050609

UPDATE: Two Deaths? Weakening in Mexico, US growing Weary

Hey folks,

Here is an interesting article from the Baltimore Sun - Mild flu could hit harder in the fall Health officials watch S. Africa, Argentina for clues on next wave By Stephanie Desmon stephanie.desmon@baltsun.com May 6, 2009

The number of swine flu cases in Mexico is stabilizing. In the U.S., though more people are being diagnosed with the virus, cases have been mostly mild, claiming two lives. And health officials have backed off on closing schools where students are sick.

Yeah that makes sense. Right?

It may seem as though the threat of the virus known as H1N1 has lessened. But infectious disease experts and public health officials agree: The worst is likely still to come. In pandemics of the past, flu that arrived in the spring hit harder come fall, when influenza season returned.

"If you were just to bet on the odds, you would bet H1N1 would abate in the summer and return in the winter," said Dr. William Schaffner, chairman of preventive medicine at Vanderbilt University School of Medicine in Tennessee.

"The illness produced, so far, is really quite mild. But the question would be - as it circulates among humans in the Southern Hemisphere [in their winter flu season] - could it pick up a virulence gene ... that is capable of producing severe disease?

"Influenza is surprising. Its behavior is very difficult to predict."

Health officials are looking to countries such as South Africa and Argentina to see how their flu seasons progress, whether swine flu circulates there and whether the virus mutates into a nastier strain. No matter, experts are bracing for a rocky fall and winter.

An ordinary flu season kills 36,000 in the U.S. each year, hospitalizing hundreds of thousands and sickening millions. Those figures are based upon an illness that many people are immune to, either through annual vaccination or through immunity acquired by getting the flu in a previous winter.

But humans have never encountered this virus, and there is no immunity to it. Even if the swine flu stays mild, "everyone's susceptible," said Andrew Pekosz, who studies the flu at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.

Of the 36,000 figure, he said, "we can easily see that double: twice as many hospitalizations and twice as many deaths."

If the strain becomes more virulent, those statistics could be even worse.

Federal and global health officials, knowing that, are moving quickly to develop a vaccine against the swine flu. At the same time, vaccine makers are already under the gun manufacturing the seasonal flu vaccine that also will be ready by fall.

For now, no decision has been made as to whether a swine flu vaccine would be mass-produced and widely distributed. But the scientific process, which takes time, is under way even as health officials learn more each day about the H1N1 virus.

"I think we should be moving ahead as fast as possible with the vaccine," Dr. James D. Cherry, a pediatric infectious diseases expert at the University of California-Los Angeles, told a group of pediatricians at a conference Monday in Baltimore. "This is real. ... This is going to happen. We need vaccination to control this. Antivirals [medication] will not be enough to control this."

He also worries that people who come down with the flu will be more susceptible to secondary infections that could be lethal.

Researchers know that very little influenza circulates in the summer. There are many schools of thought as to why (more time spent outdoors, perhaps), but one reason seems to be that the virus transmits better from person to person in low humidity and cooler temperatures.

Officials still don't know a lot about the new virus. What they do know is that the strain is not as deadly, for now, as the Spanish influenza pandemic of 1918 that killed so many millions - though that flu started out fairly mild in the spring and returned with a vengeance during flu season.

At this point, officials with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have seen very little mutation. If the virus remains stable, a vaccine would likely be effective.

But Pekosz said the longer the flu strain stays in circulation, the more chance it has to change and become better at infecting people and better at making them sicker. It is unknown how the virus will interact with human proteins and every time it enters a new person, there is a chance that it will evolve to create a more serious illness.

"The prudent measure is to prevent exposure if at all possible," he said.

But, he added, "the people who are getting infected now ... would most likely be immune to any second wave coming through."

Some even wonder if it wouldn't make sense to expose healthy people to the virus while it is mild, rather than wait for it to possibly turn lethal come fall. While that makes sense biologically, experts say, having "swine flu parties" modeled on the "chicken pox parties" of the 1970s and 1980s where children were intentionally exposed to that disease, would be irresponsible, given how little is known about how the virus will behave.

You THINK?

"The 2009 influenza A H1N1 virus is likely to circulate widely in our communities; if not now then almost certainly in the fall," the CDC's acting director Dr. Richard Besser and Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius said in a statement.

"We all have a special responsibility during this time to protect ourselves and protect our neighbors and others in our community by behaving responsibly and doing whatever we can to minimize the spread of disease. A virus that may only cause sniffles and mild inconvenience in one person may put the next into the hospital."

The CDC used to begin each flu season with a prediction of its severity, Schaffner said. Agency officials no longer do that.

"The crystal balls remain in the drawer," he said. "We don't take them out anymore."

CDC: Update

The ongoing outbreak of novel influenza A (H1N1) continues to expand in the United States and internationally. CDC expects that more cases, more hospitalizations and more deaths from this outbreak will occur over the coming days and weeks.

CDC continues to take aggressive action to respond to an expanding outbreak caused by novel H1N1 flu.

CDC’s response goals are to:

Reduce transmission and illness severity, andProvide information to help health care providers, public health officials and the public address the challenges posed by this emergency. CDC is issuing updated interim guidance daily in response to the rapidly evolving situation. This includes updated interim guidance for clinicians on how to identify and care for people who are sick with novel H1N1 flu now that more widespread illness has been detected in the United States. CDC recommends that testing and antiviral treatment be prioritized for those with severe respiratory illness and those at highest risk of complications from seasonal influenza. This includes children younger than 5 years old, pregnant women, people with chronic medical conditions and weakened immune systems, and people 65 years and older. In addition, CDC has provided information for the public on what to do if they develop flu-like symptoms.

CDC has completed deployment of 25 percent of the supplies in the Strategic National Stockpile (SNS) to all states in the continental United States. These supplies and medicines will help states and U.S. territories respond to the outbreak. In addition, the Federal Government and manufacturers have begun the process of developing a vaccine against the novel H1N1 flu virus.

Response actions are aggressive, but they may vary across states and communities depending on local circumstances. Communities, businesses, places of worship, schools and individuals can all take action to slow the spread of this outbreak. People who are sick are urged to stay home from work or school and to avoid contact with others, except to seek medical care. This action can avoid spreading illness further.

Alabama 4
Arizona 17
California 49
Colorado 6
Connecticut 2
Delaware 20
Florida 5
Georgia 1
Idaho 1
Illinois 82
Indiana 3
Iowa 1
Kansas 2
Kentucky* 1
Louisiana 7
Maine 1
Maryland 4
Massachusetts 6
Michigan 2
Minnesota 1
Missouri 1
Nebraska 1
Nevada 1
New Hampshire 1
New Jersey 6
New Mexico 1
New York 90
North Carolina 1
Ohio 3
Oregon 15
Pennsylvania 1
Rhode Island 1
South Carolina 16
Tennessee 2
Texas 41 1
Utah 1
Virginia 3
Wisconsin 3
TOTAL (38) 403 cases 1 death

So OK. I have a question. The first Paragraph in the Baltimore Sun Article says this. "In the U.S., though more people are being diagnosed with the virus, cases have been mostly mild, claiming two lives." Where was the second? Was that just a typo? Anyway, I hope if there was another, it should be updated soon. This CDC Update was as of May 5, 2009 at 11:55 PM.

Take the necessary precautions. Be well, and I will see you tomorrow.
Peter

Swine Flu Update 050509

UPDATE: You think America is going Overboard about the Swine Flu?

Hey folks,

Coming right up will be another "I told you so." Did you catch this yesterday? A lawyer is claiming that the White House told him that they would unleash the Mainstream Media on his company and destroy it? Should be no surprise to you. That in just a minute.

Happy Tuesday to you. Actually, Happy Cinco de Mayo, "fifth of May." The day where some celebrate Mexican army's unlikely defeat of French forces at the Battle of Puebla on May 5, 1862, under the leadership of Mexican General Ignacio Zaragoza Seguín.

Well today, Mexico is starting up a new battle. This time with China. They are going their to get their people out of the country. China on a hunt for anything Mexican and anyone that has come into contact with anyone Mexican. I'm not kidding. I know some of you think that the US is going over board with the Swine Flu thing. What do you think about this? According to BBC News - Mexico starts China flu airlift

A Mexican plane has arrived in China to collect dozens of Mexicans who have been quarantined because of fears they may be infected with swine flu.

About 70 Mexicans were confined despite just one confirmed case of the virus.

The issue sparked a diplomatic row, with Mexico accusing China of targeting its citizens unfairly, and Beijing saying it was a "purely medical" issue.

Some 26 people have died of the virus in Mexico and more than 1,000 cases have been reported in 20 countries.

But just one fatality has been recorded outside Mexico - a two-year-old Mexican boy who died in the US while on a visit.

In other developments:

• The World Health Organization says 1,124 people around the world have so far contracted the H1N1 swine flu virus. However, WHO figures often lag behind those announced by national government laboratories

• Mexico puts the number of infections within its borders at 727, higher than the WHO's figure of 529

• President Felipe Calderon appears on Mexican TV praising the country's precautions against swine flu. "Thousands of lives have been saved not only in Mexico but in the world," Mr Calderon said

• In the UK, delivery begins of specially-produced leaflets offering advice on swine flu and advice on how to prevent its spread

• South Korea reports its second confirmed case of swine flu, the first instance of human-to-human transmission in Asia.

Second row brewing

The row between Mexico and China developed after a 25-year-old man who had flown from Mexico to Shanghai and Hong Kong was diagnosed with swine flu - or H1N1.

CONFIRMED CASES
Mexico: 101 suspected deaths - 26 confirmed; 727 confirmed cases
US: One death, 286 confirmed cases
Canada: 140 confirmed cases
Spain: 54 confirmed cases
UK: 27 confirmed cases

China decided to track down everyone on his flight and put them into quarantine. It also isolated everyone in the traveller's hotel in Hong Kong.

Mexican officials say more than 70 of their citizens in China have been confined. It is not yet clear whether or not these people had any contact with the infected traveller.

About 50 are being held in Shanghai in two five-star hotels, with 10 in Beijing and several more in the city of Wenzhou.

A charter plane landed in Shanghai at about 1300 local time (0500 GMT) to pick up the first group of Mexicans.

The flight will then stop in Beijing, Guangzhou and Hong Kong before returning to Mexico City.

One traveller quarantined in Beijing told Mexican radio that soldiers were guarding the hotel gates.

"This is like a kidnapping for us," Mirna Elisa Berlanga said.

Mexico has issued strongly-worded statements over the past few days condemning Beijing's response.

"I think it's unfair that, because we have been honest and transparent with the world, some countries and places are taking repressive and discriminatory measures because of ignorance and disinformation," said Mexican President Felipe Calderon.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Ma Zhaoxu denied there was any discrimination, saying: "The measures concerned are not targeted at Mexican citizens. This is purely a medical quarantine issue."

Meanwhile, another diplomatic row could be brewing after Canada asked China to explain why a group of at least 20 Canadian students had been quarantined in the north-eastern town of Changchun.

Canada said none of the students had shown any flu symptoms.

The US embassy said on Tuesday that four American citizens had also been quarantined in China due to swine flu fears.

So here is your official CDC update for Tuesday, May 5, 2009

CDC continues to take aggressive action to respond to an expanding outbreak caused by novel H1N1 flu.

CDC’s response goals are to:

Reduce transmission and illness severity, and Provide information to help health care providers, public health officials and the public address the challenges posed by this emergency. CDC continues to issue and update interim guidance daily in response to the rapidly evolving situation. CDC will issue updated interim guidance for clinicians on how to identify and care for people who are sick with novel H1N1 flu illness. This guidance will provide priorities for testing and treatment for novel H1N1 flu infection. The priority use for influenza antiviral drugs during this outbreak will be to treat people with severe flu illness.

CDC has completed deployment of 25 percent of the supplies in the Strategic National Stockpile (SNS) to all states in the continental United States. These supplies and medicines will help states and U.S. territories respond to the outbreak. In addition, the Federal Government and manufacturers have begun the process of developing a vaccine against the novel H1N1 flu virus.

Response actions are aggressive, but they may vary across states and communities depending on local circumstances. Communities, businesses, places of worship, schools and individuals can all take action to slow the spread of this outbreak. People who are sick are urged to stay home from work or school and to avoid contact with others, except to seek medical care. This action can avoid spreading illness further.

Alabama 4
Arizona 17
California 30
Colorado 7
Connecticut 2
Delaware 20
Florida 5
Idaho 1
Illinois 8
Indiana 3
Iowa 1
Kansas 2
Kentucky* 1
Louisiana 7
Maryland 4
Massachusetts 6
Michigan 2
Minnesota 1
Missouri 1
Nebraska 1
Nevada 1
New Hampshire 1
New Jersey 7
New Mexico 1
New York 73
North Carolina 1
Ohio 3
Oregon 3
Pennsylvania 1
Rhode Island 1
South Carolina 15
Tennessee 1
Texas 41 1
Utah 1
Virginia 3
Wisconsin 3
TOTAL (36) 279 cases 1 death

Be right back with the story about the MMD Threat. {Mainstream Media Drones} Journalism is truly dead.
Peter

Swine Flu Update 050309

Straight from the CDC

Hey folks,

Here is your H1N1 {Swine Flu} Update for Sunday 050309

CDC:

CDC continues to take aggressive action to respond to an expanding outbreak caused by H1N1 (swine flu).

CDC’s response goals are to:

Reduce transmission and illness severity, and Provide information to help health care providers, public health officials and the public address the challenges posed by this emergency. CDC continues to issue and update interim guidance daily in response to the rapidly evolving situation. This includes guidance on when to close schools and how to care for someone who is sick at home. Supplies from CDC’s Division of the Strategic National Stockpile (SNS) are being sent to all 50 states and U.S. territories to help them respond to the outbreak. In addition, the Federal Government and manufacturers have begun the process of developing a vaccine against this new virus.

Response actions are aggressive, but they may vary across states and communities depending on local circumstances. Communities, businesses, places of worship, schools and individuals can all take action to slow the spread of this outbreak. People who are sick are urged to stay home from work or school and to avoid contact with others, except to seek medical care. This action can avoid spreading illness further.

Arizona 4
California 24
Colorado 2
Connecticut 1
Delaware 4
Florida 2
Illinois 3
Indiana 3
Kansas 2
Kentucky* 1
Massachusetts 6
Michigan 2
Minnesota 1
Missouri 1
Nevada 1
New Jersey 7
New York 51
Ohio 1
South Carolina 13
Texas 28 1
Virginia 2
TOTAL (21) 160 cases 1 death

Plus one Pig in Canada. Be right back with some of YOUR reactions to this whole situation.
Peter

Flu Fighters Warn Against Complacency, More US Schools Closed

UPDATE: Swine Flu update for 050209

Hey folks,

Here is the latest update on H1N1.

AP - Flu fighters warn against complacency, seek clues

MEXICO CITY – The leader of an international team helping Mexico face down the swine flu outbreak said it should soon learn whether the epidemic is really stabilizing in Mexico, but that many key questions about how the disease kills still need to be answered.

Dr. Steve Waterman, the head of a team from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, also warned against taking false comfort from the fact that only one person has died outside Mexico, saying more deaths are likely as the epidemic evolves.

"That is the big question: Is it stabilizing or not? And it is too early to say, but I think we are getting systems in place where we are going to be able to get a handle on this soon," Waterman, standing amid CDC doctors and specialists at the Mexico City nerve center where officials are confronting the outbreak, said Friday.

Mexican officials have been cautiously optimistic that the worst is over here, even as the government took additional protective measures Friday by beginning a five-day shutdown of all nonessential government and private business.

In Washington, even President Barack Obama voiced hope Friday that the new virus may turn out to be no more harmful than the average seasonal flu.

"It may turn out that H1N1 runs its course like ordinary flus, in which case we will have prepared and we won't need all these preparations," Obama said, using the flu's scientific name.

AP - More schools shut as swine flu spreads in US By ERICA WERNER, Associated Press Writer Erica Werner, Associated Press Writer – 24 mins ago

WASHINGTON – Scores more schools shut down around the country because of the swine flu virus at week's end and Education Secretary Arne Duncan offered tips to teachers and students on how to deal with classroom interruptions.

Federal officials closely watched developments as at least two dozen new cases of swine flu were reported.

President Barack Obama, whose administration has taken a high profile to offer reassurances and advice about the threat, expressed hopes the swine flu will run its course "like ordinary flus." Health officials suggested the virus now appears less ominous than it did at first.

"I'm optimistic that we're going to be able to manage this effectively," Obama said Friday. But he said the federal government is preparing as if the worst is still to come so that it won't be caught flat-footed.

"This is a new strain of the flu virus, and because we haven't developed an immunity to it, it has more potential to cause us harm," the president said in his radio and Internet address Saturday. "Unlike the various strains of animal flu that have emerged in the past, it's a flu that is spreading from human to human. This creates the potential for a pandemic, which is why we are acting quickly and aggressively."

The government issued new guidance for schools with confirmed cases, saying they should close for at least 14 days because children can be contagious for seven to 10 days from when they get sick. That means parents can expect to have children at home for longer than previously thought.

The Education Department said that more than 430 schools had closed, affecting about 245,000 children in 18 states. That was about 100 more schools reported closed than reported on Thursday.

The latest developments in the flu scare — more intense in neighboring Mexico than in the United States — came as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported the virus had been confirmed in more U.S. states.

Confirmed cases had risen from 109 on Thursday to 161 Friday, the CDC said, with the flu reported in about double the number of states as the 11 reported Thursday. The U.S. death toll remained at one — the Mexican toddler who visited Texas with his family and died there.

Mexico has confirmed more than 300 swine flu cases and has 16 confirmed deaths, although reports have indicated that roughly 120 may have died from it.

Worldwide, the total confirmed cases numbered more than 650, although officials believe there are many more.

The CDC said that the virus was continuing to spread, though no faster than the rate of the regular winter flu.

"We think the cases do continue to occur," said CDC's Dr. Anne Schuchat. But CDC also said the new swine flu virus lacks genes that made the 1918 pandemic strain so deadly.

While emphasizing at a news conference that the closures to date represent a tiny fraction of the almost 100,000 schools in the country, Duncan instructed teachers, parents and students to be prepared if their school does close.

To teachers, Duncan said: "Think about reworking upcoming lesson plans so students can do their schoolwork at home if necessary."

To parents: "Learn about what they're learning at school. Keep them on task."

And to students: "Don't fall behind your peers at other schools that are still in session. Keep working hard."

Major U.S. airlines announced plans to curtail flights into Mexico.

Many travelers have become increasingly concerned about going to Mexico, though authorities there said new cases were leveling off.

U.S. travelers have been advised to avoid nonessential travel to Mexico. Continental Airlines Inc., the biggest U.S. carrier to Mexico, said Friday it would halve the number of seats it sells to fly there. Delta Air Lines Inc. and UAL Corp.'s United Airlines also announced plans for reduced flights to Mexico, while smaller carriers were following suit.

Though most U.S. cases have been relatively mild and have not required a doctor's visit, U.S. precautions include shipping millions of doses of anti-flu drugs to states in case they're needed, replenishing the U.S. strategic stockpile with millions more treatment courses, and shipping 400,000 treatment courses to Mexico.

CDC Update:

CDC continues to take aggressive action to respond to an expanding outbreak caused by H1N1 (swine flu). CDC’s response goals are to reduce transmission and illness severity, and provide information to help health care providers, public health officials and the public address the challenges posed by this emergency.

CDC continues to issue and update interim guidance daily in response to the rapidly evolving situation. Early this morning, CDC provided interim guidance on school closures. Supplies from CDC’s Division of the Strategic National Stockpile (SNS) are being sent to all 50 states and U.S. territories to help them respond to the outbreak. In addition, the Federal Government and manufacturers have begun the process of developing a vaccine against this new virus.

Response actions are aggressive, but they may vary across states and communities depending on local circumstances. Communities, businesses, places of worship, schools and individuals can all take action to slow the spread of this outbreak. People who are sick are urged to stay home from work or school and to avoid contact with others, except to seek medical care. This action can avoid spreading illness further.

Arizona 4
California 13
Colorado 2
Delaware 4
Illinois 3
Indiana 3
Kansas 2
Kentucky* 1
Massachusetts 2
Michigan 2
Minnesota 1
Nebraska 1
Nevada 1
New Jersey 5
New York 50
Ohio 1
South Carolina 16
Texas 28 1
Virginia 2
TOTAL (19) 141 cases 1 death

See you tomorrow for the Big Sunday Edition. Take care of yourselves out there.
Peter

Vaccine promised as swine flu cases pass 100

UPDATE: Swine Flu update for Friday 050109

Hey folks.

Happy Friday to you. Since it is Friday, we will be going to the Emails in just a second. First up of course, here is your Swine Flu Update for Friday May 1, 2009

AP - Vaccine promised as swine flu cases pass 100 By LAURAN NEERGAARD, AP Medical Writer Lauran Neergaard, Ap Medical Writer – 53 mins ago

WASHINGTON – U.S. authorities are pledging to eventually produce enough swine flu vaccine for everyone but the shots couldn't begin until fall at the earliest.

Worries about the spread of the virus mounted Thursday as the nation's swine flu caseload passed 100, and nearly 300 schools closed in communities across the country. Federal officials had to spend much of the day reassuring the public it's still safe to fly and ride public transportation after Vice President Joe Biden said he wouldn't recommend it to his family.

Scientists were racing to prepare the key ingredient to make a vaccine against the never-before-seen flu strain — if it's ultimately needed. But it will take several months before the first pilot lots begin required human testing to ensure the vaccine is safe and effective. If all goes well, broader production could start in the fall.

"We think 600 million doses is achievable in a six-month time frame" from that fall start, Health and Human Services Assistant Secretary Craig Vanderwagen told lawmakers.

"I don't want anybody to have false expectations. The science is challenging here," Vanderwagen told reporters. "Production can be done, robust production capacity is there. It's a question of can we get the science worked on the specifics of this vaccine."

Until a vaccine is ready, the government has stockpiled anti-viral medications that can ease flu symptoms or help prevent infection. The medicines are proving effective.

Reassurances from top health officials didn't stop the questions from coming.

An estimated 12,000 people logged onto a Webcast where the government's top emergency officials sought to cut confusion by answering questions straight from the public: Can a factory worker handling parts from Mexico catch the virus? No. Can pets get it? No.

And is washing hands or using those alcohol-based hand gels best? Washing well enough is the real issue, answered Dr. Richard Besser, acting chief of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. He keeps hand gel in his pocket for between-washings but also suggested that people sing "Happy Birthday" as they wash their hands to make sure they've washed long enough to get rid of germs.

Although it is safe to fly, anyone with flu-like symptoms shouldn't be traveling anywhere, unless they need to seek medical care.

The swine flu outbreak penetrated over a dozen states and even touched the White House, which disclosed that an aide to Energy Secretary Steven Chu apparently got sick helping arrange President Barack Obama's recent trip to Mexico but that the aide did not fly on Air Force One and never posed a risk to the president.

So far U.S. cases are mostly fairly mild with one death, a Mexican toddler who visited Texas with his family — unlike in Mexico where more than 160 suspected deaths have been reported. Most of the U.S. cases so far haven't needed a doctor's care, officials said.

Still, the U.S. is taking extraordinary precautions — including shipping millions of doses of anti-flu drugs to states in case they're needed. The World Health Organization is warning of an imminent pandemic because scientists cannot predict what a brand-new virus might do. A key concern is whether this spring outbreak will resurge in the fall.

The CDC confirmed 109 cases Thursday, and state officials confirm 22 more. Cases now are confirmed in New York, Texas, California, South Carolina, Kansas, Massachusetts, Indiana, Ohio, Arizona, Michigan, Nevada, New Jersey, Delaware, Maine, Colorado, Georgia and Minnesota.

CDC Update:

In response to an intensifying outbreak in the United States and internationally caused by a new influenza virus of swine origin, the World Health Organization raised the worldwide pandemic alert level to Phase 5 on April 29, 2009. A Phase 5 alert is a “strong signal that a pandemic is imminent and that the time to finalize the organization, communication, and implementation of the planned mitigation measures is short.”

The United States Government has declared a public health emergency in the United States. CDC’s response goals are to reduce transmission and illness severity, and provide information to help health care providers, public health officials and the public address the challenges posed by this emergency. CDC is issuing and updating interim guidance daily in response to the rapidly evolving situation. CDC’s Division of the Strategic National Stockpile (SNS) continues to send antiviral drugs, personal protective equipment, and respiratory protection devices to all 50 states and U.S. territories to help them respond to the outbreak. The swine influenza A (H1N1) virus is susceptible to the prescription antiviral drugs oseltamivir and zanamivir. In addition, the Federal Government and manufacturers have begun the process of developing a vaccine against this new virus.

Arizona 1
California 14
Indiana 1
Kansas 2
Massachusetts 2
Michigan 1
Nevada 1
New York 50
Ohio 1
South Carolina 10
Texas 26 1
TOTAL COUNTS 109 cases 1 death

Be right back with your Friday, From the Email Segment.
Peter