US Swine Flu, April 29th [Archive] - This Blue Marble, a Global Current Events Discussion Forum

Potemkin

04-29-2009, 10:11 AM

http://www.themonitor.com/articles/swine_25945___article.html/confirms_washington.html

Official: First US death in Houston a Mexican boy who became ill in Valley
Comments 5 | Recommend 0
April 29, 2009 - 6:56 AM
The Associated Press

8:38 a.m. update

HOUSTON (AP) - Officials say the first confirmed death in the U.S. from swine flu was a 23-month-old Mexican child who died in Houston.

Kathy Barton, a spokeswoman for the Houston Health and Human Services Department, said Wednesday that the child had traveled with family from Mexico to Brownsville in south Texas. She says the child became ill in Brownsville and was taken to a Houston hospital and died Monday night.

The Centers For Disease Control and Prevention confirmed the death earlier Wednesday.

8:30 a.m. update

ATLANTA (AP) - The CDC on Wednesday confirmed the first swine flu death outside of Mexico in the current outbreak, a 23-month-old child in Texas.

The child died in Houston, Kathy Barton, a spokeswoman for the city's health department, told KTRK-TV. It wasn't immediately clear where the child was from.

Houston spokesman Frank Michel told the Houston Chronicle the child came from Brownsville, in south Texas. Barton said the toddler came from Mexico.

Calls by The Associated Press seeking comment from local health officials weren't immediately returned.

The first U.S. swine flu death was confirmed earlier by Centers for Disease Control and Prevention spokesman Dave Daigle.

The acting head of the CDC called the confirmation tragic, but said it's too soon to say just how fast the swine flu virus is spreading.

Dr. Richard Besser said in a nationally broadcast network interview that health authorities had anticipated that the virus would cause deaths, and said that "as a pediatrician and a parent, my heart goes out to the family."

But Besser said on NBC's "Today" show that it's too soon to say if the death in Texas suggests the virus is spreading to more states. Nor would he say whether officials think it will become a nationwide problem.

He also said he does not believe the flu strain has become more dangerous.

Besser went on to note that even with seasonal flu, there are always some people who can't resist it very well, and said authorities need to learn more about the threat.

Children, especially those younger than age 5, are particularly vulnerable to flu and its complications, and every year children die from seasonal flu.

According to the CDC, more than 20,000 children younger than age 5 are hospitalized every year because of seasonal flu. In the 2007-08 flu season, the CDC received reports that 86 children nationwide died from flu complications.

As of April 11, CDC had received reports of 53 seasonal flu-related deaths in children during the current seasonal flu season.

Potemkin

04-29-2009, 10:12 AM

http://www.themonitor.com/articles/school_25898___article.html/district_students.html

Swine flu hits Valley?
Comments 24 | Recommend 4
Two suspected cases close Starr County school
April 27, 2009 - 11:59 PM
Jennifer L. Berghom

RIO GRANDE CITY - Two suspected cases of swine flu have prompted school officials to close Veterans Middle School until Monday.

The Rio Grande City school district received word from the Starr County public health department Monday afternoon that two students from the middle school tested positive for a strain of influenza that is highly possible to be the swine flu and was asked to close the campus for the remainder of the week.

Those cases have not yet been confirmed as the swine flu strain; swabs taken from the patients have been sent to the Texas Department of State Health Services for further testing, said Dr. Jose Vasquez, director of the county's health department.

Vasquez said the health department could receive results in as early as 48 hours.

The district sent home letters with students providing them with information about the school closures and the illness to give to their parents, said Roel Gonzalez, Rio Grande City school district's superintendent.

"I feel really bad. It's another night I'm not going to sleep," Gonzalez said.

Crews are expected to begin cleaning the middle school today, Gonzalez said. "We're going to do our part," he said.

The timing of the cases is not the best for the district. Students all over the state began taking the Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills exams this week, including those in grades 6, 7 and 8. Students are required to pass the tests to move on to the next grade.
Gonzalez said the state will allow middle school students to make up the tests, but he's worried about students in other schools whose parents keep them home out of fear of contracting the illness.

"I worry what it's going to do for our kids," he said.
Other school districts said they've sent home letters to parents that include information from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and ask them to keep their children home if they are sick and have flu-like symptoms. The other districts said they've been referring to procedures they have adopted regarding pandemic influenza should a case appear in their schools.

The Brownsville school district is making sure its schools' bathrooms have enough soap, putting sanitizer in classrooms and providing schools with extra disinfectant to wipe down desks, doorknobs and hand railings, said Drue Brown, the district's spokeswoman.

Jennifer L. Berghom covers education and general assignments for The Monitor. She can be reached at (956) 683-4462.

Exodia

04-29-2009, 10:17 AM

Commandant says Calif. Marine may have swine flu

Apr 29th, 2009 | WASHINGTON -- The commandant of the Marine Corps says one of his troops may have swine flu and that 39 in all are being confined until tests come back.

General James Conway says an initial test indicated one Marine in California may have the illness. Officials are awaiting another test on that Marine.

In the meantime, he and his roommate are quarantined and confined to quarters at the Twenty-Nine Palms base in California. Conway says the roommate is not showing any symptoms.

Another 37 troops that had been in contact with the sick Marine are restricted from going to the mess hall and troop formations until officials have a clear idea of whether the first Marine has the illness.

Conway revealed the development during a Pentagon press conference Wednesday.

http://www.salon.com/wires/ap/2009/04/29/D97S5QLO0_us_marines_swine_flu/

Potemkin

04-29-2009, 10:20 AM

Suspected Swine Flu Has College Campus on Alert

By MICHELLE WAYLAND

Updated 7:12 AM PDT, Wed, Apr 29, 2009

San Diego State University officials have issued a statement alerting staff and students of a “suspected" case of the swine flu in a student.

So far this case has not been confirmed, but the school is working with the health department to take precautions.

Officials say the student does not live on campus and will not be returning to class until his or her condition improves.

We have also learned that teachers from a Mira Mesa school who recently fell ill do not have swine flu after a student at "Christ The Cornerstone Academy" tested positive for the virus.

The school closed Monday and has since been cleaned; it’s expected to reopen Wednesday.

Health and education officials investigating California swine flu reports are focusing attention on schools, which are described as rich breeding grounds for influenza.

State health officials say there are 11 confirmed swine flu cases in California. Individual counties have reported other cases that have yet to be confirmed by the state.

So far just one public school -- Highlands Elementary in the Bay Area city of Pittsburg -- and a few private schools have closed in California because of confirmed swine flu cases or investigations into illnesses.

Parents of the state's 6.3 million school children are being urged to keep sick kids at home and send healthy kids to school. State schools superintendent Jack O'Connell says "our schools are safe."

UC Berkeley epidemiology chief Arthur Reingold says children are a common conduit for disease so schools are a good place to focus.

Experts say the problem lies in students, especially very young ones, who lack hygiene skills such as keeping coughs and sneezes to themselves. State health chief deputy director Bonnie Sorensen says simply, "Our schools are the germinators."

Governor Schwarzenegger has declared a statewide health emergency to help state agencies coordinate a response to the outbreak.

Find this article at:
http://www.nbcsandiego.com/news/local/Suspected-Swine-Flu-Has-College-Campus-on-Alert-.html

Nightowl

04-29-2009, 10:33 AM

Just heard that the high school close to my house will be closed for a week because a student tested positive for swine flu. This is in San Jose, CA.

San Jose Mercury News (http://www.mercurynews.com/topstories/ci_12245969?nclick_check=1)

A student at Branham High in San Jose has tested positive for swine flu, prompting school district and county health officials to close the school for one week.

Branham High is scheduled to reopen May 6. More (http://www.mercurynews.com/topstories/ci_12245969?nclick_check=1)

Exodia

04-29-2009, 10:34 AM

Philly hospital reports negative swine flu test

Published: Wednesday, April 29, 2009

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Health officials say a patient at a Philadelphia hospital has tested negative for swine flu.

Test results came back Tuesday afternoon on 24-year-old Rachel Roberts, who's from Ontario and was on a flight from Cancun to Philadelphia on Monday. She

http://www.pottsmerc.com/articles/2009/04/29/news/doc49f85bf42f659986693165.txt

flourbug

04-29-2009, 10:42 AM

hat tip sososleepy for this link about the siblings in Lowell, MA

http://www.necn.com/Boston/Health/2009/04/29/Siblings-in-Lowell-Mass-have/1241015870.html

Exodia

04-29-2009, 10:46 AM

5 min 36 sec ago

Siblings in Lowell, Mass. have swine flu

(NECN: Lowell, Mass.) - Two young siblings in Lowell, Massachusetts, have tested positive for swine flu.

They became ill after a trip to Mexico.

The siblings have the first confirmed cases of swine flu in New England.

Governor Deval Patrick and health officials will hold a news conference later this morning.

The names and ages of the siblings have not been released.

An official says they are not hospitalized and they are recovering.

Please stay with NECN and NECN.com as more details become available.

http://www.necn.com/Boston/Health/2009/04/29/Siblings-in-Lowell-Mass-have/1241015870.html

flourbug

04-29-2009, 10:46 AM

More info about the child in Texas:

April 29, 2009
Texas Reports Swine Flu in Child from Mexico City

Swine influenza has been confirmed in a 22-month-old boy from Mexico City who died earlier this week in a Houston-area hospital. The boy, who had several underlying health problems, had traveled with his family to visit relatives in Texas.

Swine flu was confirmed in laboratory testing done by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta. The Texas Department of State Health Services was notified of the finding earlier today.

Preliminary illness investigation information indicates that on April 4 the boy had traveled with his family on a commercial flight from Mexico City to Matamoros, Mexico, for a visit with relatives in Brownsville, just across the Mexico-Texas border.

The boy developed a fever on April 8 followed by other influenza-like symptoms. He was admitted to a Brownsville hospital a few days later and the next day was transferred to a Houston-area hospital by a medical transport service.

Though an illness investigation continues, state health officials said the boy would not have been infectious on the Mexico-to-Matamoros flight and that none of the boy's known close contacts has subsequently become ill with influenza-like symptoms.

Citing personal privacy concerns for the boy’s family, medical confidentiality requirements and the absence of an obvious health threat from the boy to the public at large, state health officials declined to provide specific dates or other details at this time.

http://www.dshs.state.tx.us/news/releases/20090429.shtm

leistb

04-29-2009, 11:04 AM

www.stratfor.com (http://www.stratfor.com)

Stratfor
---------------------------

SWINE FLU UPDATE

The United States confirmed its first swine flu death with a 23-month-old toddler in Texas on April 29. Officials have confirmed that the virus has infected more people in North America, Europe and Asia. Yet the seriousness of the issue may have actually decreased in the past few hours.

Mexico's casualty figures on the issue have been maddeningly inconsistent. As of two days ago, the Mexican Health Ministry reported over 150 deaths believed to be related to the swine flu. But only 20 of those deaths had been confirmed to be flu-related, and on April 29 that number was revised down to only seven. There is still a lack of information regarding the particulars about this new pathogen; but if it has killed only seven people after two months of spreading in a country with somewhat limited health care services, perhaps its virulence is not so harsh after all, even if its communicability is impressive. Bear in mind that every year 36,000 Americans are killed by "normal" flu strains -- a figure that averages out to 100 a day.

There is, of course, the possibility that Mexico's record keeping is not up to snuff, and we do not intend for that statement to denigrate Mexican capabilities. Mexico City health authorities are at the epicenter of the outbreak. Their primary concerns at this point are triage and mitigation, not accurate data recording. Information flow in the early stages of an outbreak is sketchy, no matter where it occurs, and Mexico is no exception. But as time progresses, the fog of uncertainty appears to be lifting somewhat.

As normal, STRATFOR will defer to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on the technical particulars, but this is looking more and more like a "normal" flu strain. Of course, we are still left with a question that implies this is not all over just yet. There are still several dozen people in Mexico City who died of pneumonia. If it was not caused by swine flu, what actually killed them?

Copyright 2009 Stratfor.

Exodia

04-29-2009, 11:04 AM

Obama suggests schools with swine flu shut down, mourns death of toddler in Texas

LAURAN NEERGAARD | AP Medical Writer
10:35 AM EDT, April 29, 2009

1 2 next WASHINGTON (AP) — President Barack Obama said Wednesday that wider school closings in the U.S. may be necessary in an escalating global health emergency that claimed the first death in the United States and swept Germany onto the roster of afflicted nations. Obama said local schools across America should consider temporarily shutting down if conditions worsen.

Giving an update on a rising menace that has dominated health officials' time and caused spreading anxiety, Obama said, "Every American should know that the federal government is prepared to do whatever is necessary to control this virus."

He said he wanted to extend "my thoughts and prayers" to the family of a 23-month-old Mexican boy who died in Houston, the first confirmed U.S. fatality among more than five dozen infections. Health officials in Texas said the child had traveled with his family from Mexico to Brownsville in south Texas and was brought to Houston after becoming ill and died Monday night.

"This is obviously a serious situation," and "we are closely and continuously monitoring" it, Obama said.

Meanwhile, the commandant of the Marine Corps said a Marine in southern California might have the illness and 39 Marines were being confined until tests come back. General James Conway told a Pentagon briefing an initial test indicated the sick Marine — who was not identified — might have swine flu but his illness did not appear life-threatening.

Obama said it is the recommendation of public health officials that authorities at schools with confirmed or suspected cases of swine flu "should strongly consider temporarily closing so that we can be as safe as possible."

Obama was underscoring advice that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention provided earlier to cities and states, and that some schools — most prominently in New York City — already have followed.

"If the situation becomes more serious and we have to take more extensive steps, then parents should also think about contingencies if schools in their areas do temporarily shut down, figuring out and planning what their child care situation would be," Obama advised.

Obama said the federal government is "prepared to do whatever is necessary to control the impact of this virus." He noted his request for $1.5 billion in emergency funding to ensure adequate supplies of vaccines.

Germany confirmed three cases Wednesday, and Britain and Spain had reported cases earlier. New Zealand's total rose to 14.

There were also 13 cases in Canada, two in Israel, and one in Austria.

Egypt's government ordered the slaughter of all pigs in the country as a precaution, though no swine flu cases have been reported there. Egypt's overwhelmingly Muslim population does not eat pork, but farmers raise some 300,000-350,000 pigs for the Christian minority.

The disease is not spread by eating pork, and farmers were to be allowed to sell the meat from the slaughtered animals.

In the U.S., Obama said the government needs local agencies to help by looking out for any suspected flu cases.

And he advised people to take their own precautions — washing hands, staying home if they are sick, and keeping sick kids home.

The world has no vaccine to prevent infection but U.S. health officials aim to have a key ingredient for one ready in early May, the big step that vaccine manufacturers are awaiting. But even if the World Health Organization ordered up emergency vaccine supplies — and that decision hasn't been made yet — it would take at least two more months to produce the initial shots needed for human safety testing.

"We're working together at 100 miles an hour to get material that will be useful," Dr. Jesse Goodman, who oversees the Food and Drug Administration's swine flu work, told The Associated Press.

And the U.S. is shipping to states not only enough anti-flu medication for 11 million people, but also masks, hospital supplies and flu test kits.

Dr. Richard Besser, acting head of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, was asked Wednesday why the problem seems so much more severe in Mexico than in the United States.

He replied that U.S. officials "have teams on the ground, a tri-national team in Mexico, working with Canada and Mexico, to try and understand those differences, because they can be helpful as we plan and implement our control strategies."

snip

http://www.newsday.com/news/nationworld/wire/sns-ap-med-swine-flu,0,4588004.story

Exodia

04-29-2009, 11:11 AM

Mild Flu :rolleyes:

Father marvels at son's survival after fever put down to swine flu

Father's fears over son's agony reflect growing unease among parents in US

Chris McGreal in Washington guardian.co.uk, Wednesday 29 April 2009 15.20 BST Article history

It was only afterwards that James Goins began to wonder at the narrowness of his son's escape.

The doctors couldn't tell him what was wrong with 16-year-old Aaron even as the youth's temperature surged and Goins watched helplessly as his son's suffering worsened.

"I couldn't even touch my son he was so hot. I couldn't pick him up. His muscles were seizing up on him. He couldn't move. He had a fever of 102. He was throwing up, and diarrhoea. He screamed out when I touched him. My wife was freaking out. I thought I was going to lose my son. It's the hardest thing in the world."

At that point Goins, the director of an arts foundation in California, called an ambulance.

"The doctors said maybe it was appendicitis. They said he might have to have immediate surgery. He was in so much pain he was on morphine, for god's sake."

The hospital eventually concluded that it wasn't appendicitis after all. "They didn't have any answers. They just said it was a very bad flu. In their words 'a wicked flu'," said Goins.

The doctors may have been closer than they realised.

Aaron slowly recovered while his father still worried about what had struck his son down. Then the teenager returned from school with a possible answer.

"His biology teacher was the one who pointed it out. He said Aaron had to have had the swine flu," he said.

The reports of swine flu had only just begun to come in, first from Mexico and then parts of the US, including California.

"When we looked at it, it was exactly the same symptoms. It made sense. This wasn't any normal flu," said Goins.

Aaron hasn't been to Mexico but his home town of Palmdale has a large Latino population some of whom regularly travel back and forth across the border.

"I suppose it could have been passed on at school or the art institute. Other children in the area have been sick but not as bad as Aaron," said Goins. "This whole thing was absolutely horrendous."

Goins could be wrong, although the doctors cannot offer any other explanation for Aaron's illness. But a lot of parents are wondering these days.

There is no sense of panic in the US. The number of infections by swine flu remains small and many people remember the failure of the avian flu scare to materialise into mass casualties.

But there is growing unease among some over where the latest crisis might lead and, at times, doubts about the government's assertions that it can handle it.

The declaration of a health emergency, President Barack Obama's plea to congress for $1.5bn (£1.02bn) to deal with the disease and the admission by the head of the Centres for Disease Control that deaths will surely come, have parents from California to New York checking their children and themselves.

The largest cluster of swine flu infections in the US is in one, and possibly three, New York City schools. The city's health commissioner says the total number of infected children could run into the hundreds.

Sophia Goumakos, 17, was among those who became sick at St. Francis prep school after a trip to Cancún. Her symptoms were relatively mild, a sore throat and a temperature. Her mother, Peggy, hauled her off to Long Island Jewish hospital. Reports about swine flu were by then taking over the news bulletins.

"I couldn't text anyone. I couldn't watch TV," Goumakos told the New York Post.

The hospital concluded that Sophia did not have swine flu. But the young woman's symptoms only grew worse and her mother sent the laboratory test to the city health department.

On Sunday evening, it told the Goumakos that Sophia had contracted the disease. School friends and other parents have been in touch, out of concern but also no doubt out of the sense of solidarity that fear can bring.

"Everybody's made such a big deal," said Peggy Goumakos. Aaron Goins recovered and Sophia Goumakos is receiving treatment.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/apr/29/swine-flu-united-states

Potemkin

04-29-2009, 11:47 AM

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/metropolitan/6397750.html
Planning for worst, hoping for best on swine flu
Houston waits for word on tests sent to officials at CDC
By TODD ACKERMAN HOUSTON CHRONICLE
April 28, 2009, 10:56PM
1 2
photo
JIM MAHONEY MCT

Richardson ISD worker Jerry Woolridge applies an anti-bacterial spray on Canyon Creek Elementary School to protect students form swine flu Tuesday morning. The school is closed for the remainder of the week.

Houston remained in limbo about swine flu Tuesday, nervously anticipating an outbreak that federal officials predict will claim lives but that’s missing a key ingredient: patients.

As area health care providers began implementing disaster planning, public health officials set up phone banks to answer residents’ questions, and travelers fretted over whether to cancel plans.

But local doctors said they’re not seeing much flu activity of any kind.

“It’s like a hurricane,” said Dr. Jeff Kalina, associate director of The Methodist Hospital’s emergency room.

“We’re all waiting for something and hoping there’s nothing. Things could change at any time, but so far, so good.”

The possibility a swine flu outbreak could turn into a pandemic has captured the world’s attention since last week, when the Mexican government began reporting such a virus was killing people.

The number of fatalities attributed to it there is now estimated at 150 .

No deaths have been reported in the United States, although federal health officials said they expect that to change as they continue to look for the disease.

The number of cases in the United States increased to 68 on Tuesday, including six in Texas (in the San Antonio and Dallas areas), but all were still considered mild.

As of Tuesday night, Houston officials were still waiting for confirmation of any cases here.

The city’s health department and Texas Children’s Hospital both sent a few sample cultures from suspected cases to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention early Monday.

Houston hospitals who said they saw possible cases this week included Memorial Hermann, St. Luke’s and Baylor College of Medicine’s outpatient clinic.

On Tuesday, Ben Taub General Hospital officials reported that they had seen an increase in patients with flu symptoms in the past two days, but one official thought it was probably just a typical early-week upswing.

However, Houston health care officials have started planning for the worst, initiating hospital plans that outline responses to specific stages of outbreaks, holding meetings throughout the workday, and determining space and personnel for swine flu clinics.

Several cruise lines that operate out of Galveston, such as Carnival and Royal Caribbean, canceled stops in Mexico on Tuesday. Their announcements came a day after the CDC advised travelers not to travel to Mexico unless it was essential.

On the other hand, the swine flu threat wasn’t disrupting convention business at Houston-area hotels. Organizers for the Offshore Technology Conference, scheduled for Monday through Thursday at Reliant Center, said no registered attendees have canceled because of swine flu fears.

Chronicle reporters Brett Clanton, Jena Moreno, Liz Austin Peterson and Nancy Sarnoff contributed to this report.

Ramius31

04-29-2009, 11:58 AM

HELSINKI (AFP)--Finnish health authorities said Wednesday they had isolated a patient with possible swine flu symptoms who had been in Mexico and fallen ill after returning home.

"The patient had been in Mexico and after returning home she fell ill and her symptoms are typical to influenza. She had high fever and sore muscles," Juha Salonen, a specialist in infections at Paeijaet-Haeme hospital, told AFP.

"The patient was taken into hospital and put in isolation," he said.

Tests were being conducted.

"We are expecting results in the next couple of days," he said.

If confirmed, it would be the first case of swine flu in the Nordic region. Dozens of people have been tested in Sweden, Denmark and Norway but so far no cases have been confirmed.

Click here to go to Dow Jones NewsPlus, a web front page of today's most important business and market news, analysis and commentary: http://www.djnewsplus.com/access/al?rnd=vV6ro2ZV050qOZbQiXWzFA%3D%3D. You can use this link on the day this article is published and the following day.

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

Ramius31

04-29-2009, 12:03 PM

DJ WHO Pandemic Emergency Committee To Meet Wed - Spokeswoman

.

GENEVA (AFP)--Experts from the World Health Organization emergency committee will meet later Wednesday to discuss the swine flu outbreak, a spokeswoman confirmed.

"Yes, I confirm that they will meet this evening," WHO spokeswoman Fadela Chaib told AFP

Ramius31

04-29-2009, 12:26 PM

DJ CDC Official: Swine Flu Vaccine Could Be Available By Sept

.

By Jennifer Corbett Dooren

Of DOW JONES NEWSWIRES

WASHINGTON (Dow Jones)--A swine-flu vaccine likely wouldn't be available until September, a top Centers for Disease Control and Prevention official said Wednesday.

Anne Schuchat, CDC's interium deputy director for science and public health programs, told Senate lawmakers that "under the best case scenario" the first doses of vaccine could be available by September.

Schuchat said the CDC is currently growing so-called "seeds" that would then be distributed to manufacturers who would use the seeds to make vaccines.

Dr. Richard Bresser, the acting director of CDC, has said health officials are still deciding whether such a vaccine would be make as a separate vaccine or if it would be incorporated into the upcoming vaccine for the 2009-10 seasonal influenza season.

Schuchat, who was testifying before the U.S. Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs, said the agency doesn't think this year's seasonal influenza vaccine would offer any protection against the swine flu because it's a new virus.

The type of swine flu is being caused by an influenza A strain that's a combination of pig, bird and human viruses that hasn't been previously identified in people, the CDC has said. Health officials are concerned it will spark the next influenza pandemic, or a widespread illness caused by a new type of virus to which humans have little or no immunity.

At a separate press conference on Wednesday, Anthony Fauci, the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases at the National Institutes of Health, said once a pilot vaccine is developed it would take a couple of months for the vaccine to be tested to determine the appropriate dose and to look at other issues such as whether the vaccine would be safe and effective.

Earlier Wednesday, Sanofi-Aventis SA (SNY) Chief Executive Christopher Viehbacher told the Wall Street Journal that company could produce the first doses of a swine-flu vaccine about 15 weeks after it hears from health authorities about the type of vaccines they want. Sanofi is a major producer of seasonal influenza vaccines along with Novartis (NVS) and GlaxoSmithKline PLC (GSK).

The bulk of influenza vaccines are produced chicken eggs which takes several weeks.

Ramius31

04-29-2009, 12:44 PM

DJ UPDATE: US Officials: 91 Swine Flu Cases Seen In 10 States

. (Updates with additional information from CDC in 6th paragraph)

By Jennifer Corbett Dooren

Of DOW JONES NEWSWIRES

WASHINGTON (Dow Jones)--The number of human cases of swine flu in the U.S. has risen to 91 in 10 states, top government officials said Wednesday.

Department of Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano provided new figures to lawmakers at a U.S. Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs hearing on swine flu.

Dr. Richard Besser, the acting director of the Centers for Disease Control in Atlanta, said at a press conference with reporters that new cases have been confirmed in Arizona, Nevada, Indiana, Michigan and Massachusetts after previously being seen in New York, California, Texas, Ohio and Kansas.

So far one person has died in Texas, a 23-month old, and five people have been hospitalized. The total number of swine flu cases is up from 64 reported Tuesday.

The CDC said 51 cases have been confirmed in New York, 16 in Texas, 14 in California, two each in Massachusetts, Michigan, and Kansas. Arizona, Indiana, and Ohio each have one confirmed case of the swine flu.

The type of swine flu is being caused by an influenza A strain that's a combination of pig, bird and human viruses that hasn't been previously identified in people, the CDC has said. Health officials are concerned it will spark the next influenza pandemic, a widespread illness caused by a new type of virus to which humans have little or no immunity.

Earlier Wednesday the World Health Organization said the swine-flu outbreak is moving closer toward becoming a pandemic as several countries have reported increasing number of cases.

-By Jennifer Corbett Dooren, Dow Jones Newswires; 202-862-9294; jennifer.corbett@dowjones.com

-Jared Favole contributed to this report

flourbug

04-29-2009, 12:45 PM

I'm going to be posting information on the various flu threads, directly from the chat. If a link is included, I will post it here, but some comes from TV, newspapers, and other offline sources.

RunningInCircles From Breaking News: BULLETIN -- U.S.-MEXICO BORDER PARTLY CLOSED.

oops, looks like Sky News jumped the gun. Closure is an OPTION but the border is still currently wide open.

leistb

04-29-2009, 01:00 PM

penguinzee

04-29-2009, 01:06 PM

Well, it WAS a popular vacation destination...

Franc (penguinzee)

Ramius31

04-29-2009, 01:13 PM

DJ Maine Confirms 3 Swine-Flu Cases, All Adults -AP

.
DOW JONES NEWSWIRES

Health officials in Maine said Wednesday that laboratory tests confirmed three cases of swine flu in adults in the state, the Associated Press reported. Gov. John Baldacci and Dr. Dora Anne Mills from the Maine Center for Disease Control made the announcement as President Barack Obama suggested school closings may be necessary in the health emergency, which claimed its first life in the U.S. The disease has spread to four more states with 91 cases now confirmed.

Full story at http://www.wabi.tv/news/5684/swine-flu-in-maine

Ramius31

04-29-2009, 01:21 PM

DJ Texas Gov Issues Disaster Proclamation On Swine Flu -Report

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DOW JONES NEWSWIRES

Gov. Rick Perry Wednesday morning issued a disaster proclamation for Texas concerning the swine flu, Austin's News 8 reported. Perry said Texans can be confident in the state's level of preparedness and there is "no need to panic." Texas has 16 of the 91 confirmed cases of swine flu in the U.S. In addition to the toddler who died in Houston, there are two others in serious or critical condition: one is another 23-month old infant and the other is a pregnant woman thought to have swine flu but yet to be confirmed.

Full story at http://www.news8austin.com/content/your_news/default.asp?ArID=239184

leistb

04-29-2009, 01:27 PM

Ramius31

04-29-2009, 02:36 PM

Suspected H1N1 Flu Case Reported at California Marine Base
By Fred W. Baker III
American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, April 29, 2009 – The Marine Corps commandant today confirmed a suspected case of what the U.S. Homeland Security Council now is calling H1N1 flu, but has been known as “swine flu,” at the Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center, Twentynine Palms, Calif.
A male Marine reported to a medical clinic on base over the weekend complaining of flu-like symptoms. Initial test results indicate the H1N1 virus, and the service is waiting for further results from testing at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta, Marine Corps Gen. James T. Conway said.

The Marine, along with his roommate, are quarantined in the barracks, Conway said, adding that the roommate has shown no symptoms and the infected Marine is recovering.

“He’s doing fine,” the general said. “He’s up and about. He said he feels pretty good. The doctors tell us that at this point, there appears to be no threat to him in terms of loss of life.”

Doctors at the base also identified and restricted the activities of 37 other Marines who may have had contact with the infected Marine. The 37 are not officially quarantined, but are not allowed in public places such as unit formations and dining facilities.

The infected Marine was not given Tamiflu, an anti-viral drug used to prevent the flu, because he was past the point in his illness at which the medicine would have been effective, Conway said. All of the other Marines involved are taking Tamiflu.

The southern-California base is about 200 miles from the Mexican border, but the Marine had not visited Mexico, Conway said.

Marine doctors should receive the test results from the CDC in the next two days.

This case comes on the heels of two military family members in Texas, both teenage boys, with confirmed cases this month. Both boys have made full recoveries.

Defense Department officials say they are monitoring the outbreak closely, with a primary focus on protecting the military population.

Two prescription anti-viral drugs, Relenza and Tamiflu, already are standard stock at U.S. military treatment facilities, and larger quantities are stockpiled at several sites in the United States and overseas, officials said.

http://www.defenselink.mil/news/newsarticle.aspx?id=54124

Mama Alanna

04-29-2009, 02:38 PM

Kind of a lumpy story here:

Minnesota gets first probable swine flu case; feds offer business checklist
Minneapolis / St. Paul Business Journal - Philadelphia Business Journal, Staff Reports

Federal officials are offering a checklist for businesses to use as they prepare for the impact of a swine flu outbreak on their operations.

Earlier Wednesday, Minnesota officials announced the first probable case of swine flu in the state, a female from the Cold Spring, Minn.-area who had contact with someone who traveled to Mexico. Two schools in Cold Spring, Rocori Middle School and St. Boniface School in Cold Spring, were closed today to help prevent the spread of the virus.

The person affected, a 7th grade girl according to WCCO-TV, has been treated and is doing well, officials said. The state sent a sample of the virus detected in Minnesota to labs in Atlanta for confirmation that it is the same strain as the H1N1 novel influenza, also known as swine flu.

Minnesota public health officials have urged precaution, but not panic over the virus. They have said they wouldn't be surprised if the new, and sometimes deadly, strain of the flu crops up in Minnesota as it continues to be spread around the country and world, according to media reports.

The new business-oriented checklist — prepared by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention — is posted on the federal pandemic-flu website.

"In the event of pandemic influenza, businesses will play a key role in protecting employees' health and safety as well as limiting the negative impact to the economy and society. Planning for pandemic influenza is critical," the agencies said in a statement.

The checklist includes these key tasks that businesses -- especially larger ones -- should consider as they prepare:

* Identify a pandemic coordinator and/or team with defined roles and responsibilities for preparedness and response planning. The planning process should include input from labor representatives.
* Identify essential employees and other critical inputs (e.g. raw materials, suppliers, sub-contractor services/ products, and logistics) required to maintain business operations by location and function during a pandemic.
* Train and prepare ancillary workforce (e.g. contractors, employees in other job titles/descriptions, retirees).
* Develop and plan for scenarios likely to result in an increase or decrease in demand for your products and/or services during a pandemic (e.g. effect of restriction on mass gatherings, need for hygiene supplies).
* Determine potential impact of a pandemic on company business financials using multiple possible scenarios that affect different product lines and/or production sites.
* Determine potential impact of a pandemic on business-related domestic and international travel (e.g. quarantines, border closures).
* Find up-to-date, reliable pandemic information from community public health, emergency management, and other sources and make sustainable links.
* Establish an emergency communications plan and revise periodically. This plan includes identification of key contacts (with back-ups), chain of communications (including suppliers and customers), and processes for tracking and communicating business and employee status.
* Implement an exercise/drill to test your plan, and revise periodically.

http://www.bizjournals.com/twincities/stories/2009/04/27/daily23.html

penguinzee

04-29-2009, 03:01 PM

Just ran some numbers... doesn't look good...

Assuming a factor of 1.5x per day, we'll be at ~41 million cases in the US alone by the end of May, from where we stand right now (95 cases confirmed).

We've probably got 2 weeks at most before things get really crazy...

Franc (penguinzee)

Samen

04-29-2009, 04:02 PM

Pentagon confirms Marine is ill with swine flu

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/ap/top/all/6399243.html

Ramius31

04-29-2009, 04:03 PM

DJ New Jersey Reports 2 More Swine Flu Cases; 7 Total -Report

.

DOW JONES NEWSWIRES

New Jersey health officials said Wednesday said they've identified two more cases of likely swine flu, bringing the state's number of infected to seven. The state's health department said all seven are being treated at home for a mild form of the disease, also known as H1N1.

Full story at

http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2009/04/nj_health_officials_id_2_more.html

flourbug

04-29-2009, 07:50 PM

Nueces Co. has 94 suspected cases of swine flu

CORPUS CHRISTI — As the waiting game is nearly over for five people in Nueces County who were tested for the swine flu on Monday, the number of suspected swine flu cases grew from 20 on Tuesday to 94 by Wednesday, according to Dr. William Burgin, the medical authority for the Corpus Christi-Nueces County Health District.

The five cases of flu-like symptoms reported on Monday in Nueces County and one in San Patricio County have not been determined to be swine flu.

Nasal swabs from those with symptoms were sent to the state lab, and officials have said it will take 72 hours to get results.

Until then, a large number of patients are being tested at local hospitals. Driscoll Children's Hospital officials said that 17 children were tested for influenza on Wednesday, bringing the total for the past three days to nearly 100.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention hasn’t confirmed any cases of swine flu, also being called the North American flu, at area hospitals. Nationally, there are 91 confirmed cases, and in Texas, the first fatality from the virus was recorded Wednesday when a 22-month-old boy from Mexico died at Texas Children's Hospital in Houston.

http://www.caller.com/news/2009/apr/29/nueces-co-has-suspected-cases-swine-flu/

RunningInCircles

04-29-2009, 08:19 PM

JEFFERSON CITY (AP) -- Gov. Jay Nixon says Missouri has a probable case of the swine flu.

Nixon announced the suspected case involving a Platte County resident Wednesday evening at a hastily called Capitol news conference. Platte County is in western Missouri and covers part of Kansas City. The probable case was discovered earlier Wednesday during lab tests on samples sent to the state health lab.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta will determine if the case is swine flu. Nixon's office said those tests currently are taking about two days.

The swine flu is believed to have originated in Mexico, where it's confirmed or suspected in more than 150 deaths and nearly 2,500 illnesses.

The governor's office released no information about the Platte County resident because notification is still pending. It was not immediately clear if the Platte County resident had traveled to Mexico.

The person will be asked to remain home for seven days after symptoms first appeared to avoid spreading the illness.

In the U.S., there have been nearly 100 confirmed cases in at least 10 states from coast to coast, including one death in Texas.

source: http://www.kmox.com/Gov--says-Missouri-has-probable-case-of-swine-flu/4297931

Potemkin

04-29-2009, 10:31 PM

http://www.star-telegram.com/804/story/1347939.html

All Fort Worth schools closed amid flu concerns

By EVA-MARIE AYALA
eayala@star-telegram.com
FORT WORTH -- Fort Worth will close all of its 144 schools through at least May 8 because of swine flu concerns.

Superintendent Melody Johnson said only necessary staff at central administration would work.

The school district has about 80,000 students and 11,000 employees.

So far, Texas has 16 confirmed cases of swine flu.

Johnson had closed four campuses earlier in the day after probable cases were reported at those schools. They were McLean Middle, McLean 6th Grade Center, South Hills Elementary and Westcliff Elementary.

Johnson had said earlier this week that she would only close schools if a case was confirmed. But after it was taking longer than the expected 48 hours to get such confirmation from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta, Johnson said today that she would close schools when there were probable cases.

McLean Middle, McLean 6th Grad Center, South Hills Elementary and Westcliff Elementary each have one probable case of the illness.

drummagick

04-29-2009, 11:46 PM

Health officials say there are three (3)probable swine flu cases in Seattle. They involve a child, a man and a woman.

nwcn.com breaking news

drummagick

04-30-2009, 12:17 AM

Probable swine flu (H1N1) in King County
Wednesday, April 29, 2009
Health officials encourage residents to get prepared at home and work

KING COUNTY, WA – Today, three probable cases of swine influenza A (H1N1), also known as swine flu, have been identified in King County. The laboratory samples have been sent to U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and Public Health - Seattle & King County is awaiting final confirmation.

The CDC has determined that the swine flu virus H1N1 is contagious and is spreading from human to human. Symptoms of swine flu include a fever of more than 100°F, coughing, joint aches, severe headache and, in some cases, vomiting and diarrhea.

"Now that swine flu is likely in King County, we expect to see more infections, but it's too early to say how severe the illnesses will be. We are working to provide needed information and assistance to these people and their families. We are also working with health care providers and community partners to prepare in the event that the situation becomes more serious," said Dr. David Fleming, Director and Health Officer for Public Health - Seattle & King County.

"We've prepared for this day for the past four years, and now we must all do our part to reduce its spread," said Ron Sims, King County Executive. "We encourage everyone to get prepared at home, find out about plans at your job, and take steps to protect yourself, your family and the community by staying home when you are sick, washing your hands often and covering your coughs and sneezes."

"In the last few years, Seattle has prepared for pandemic flu. We will activate our Emergency Operations Center at the first level so our emergency operations personnel can coordinate procedures and communications," said Greg Nickels, Seattle Mayor.

As of today, April 29, there are three probable cases of swine flu in King County, in addition to two cases in Snohomish County and one case in Spokane County.

The three King County residents with probable swine flu include:

a male child of Seattle who was hospitalized and is improving
a male in his 20s from Seattle, not hospitalized and improving
a woman in her 30s from Seattle, not hospitalized and improving
Human cases of swine influenza virus infection also have been identified nationally and internationally.

When should you seek medical care?

Use the same judgment you would use during a typical flu season. Do not seek medical care if you are not ill or have mild symptoms for which you would not ordinarily seek medical care. If you have more severe symptoms of fever, cough, sore throat, body aches or are feeling more seriously ill, call your health care provider to discuss your symptoms and if you need to be evaluated.

Public Health will continue to work with health care providers to test flu patients who develop severe illness or are associated with clusters, but does not currently recommend testing for all flu patients.

If the following flu-like symptoms are mild, medical attention is not typically required: runny nose or nasal stuffiness; low-grade fever for less than 3 days; mild headache; body aches and mild stomach upset.

What can I do now to get prepared?

This is an excellent time to get prepared at home and work for a possible influenza pandemic. See www.kingcounty.gov/health/pandemicflu

Everyday behaviors to stay healthy

If you are sick, stay home from work or school.
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. If you don't have access to soap and water, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
To further prevent the spread of germs, avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth.
Avoid close contact with sick people
What is swine flu?

"Swine flu" is an influenza A (H1N1) virus normally found in pigs. There are many such viruses and they rarely infect humans. The virus currently causing human illness is a new type of swine flu that has developed the ability to infect people and be transmitted from person to person.

Although this new virus is called "swine flu," it is not transmitted from pigs to humans, or from eating pork products. Like other respiratory diseases, it is spread from person to person through coughs and sneezes. When people cough or sneeze, they spread germs through the air or onto surfaces that other people may touch.

For more information and frequent updates: www.kingcounty.gov/health/swineflu
Public Health Hotline: 206-296-4949

RunningInCircles

04-30-2009, 01:02 AM

ATLANTA (Reuters) - Demand for hand-washing products and face masks soared in the United States on Wednesday as many people stepped up health precautions against swine flu after the first death in the country from the virus.

Drugstore chain Rite Aid Corp reported an "extraordinary spike" in national demand for hand sanitizers, wipes and soap and demand was also up for Roche Holding AG's flu drug Tamiflu, said spokeswoman Ashley Flower.

Drugstore chain Walgreens reported increased demand for products that could help keep flu at bay and said it was stocking all products recommended by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

A 22-month-old boy died in Texas of swine flu. U.S. officials said he was on a family visit from Mexico, where up to 159 flu fatalities have been recorded.

There are 91 confirmed cases in 10 U.S. states from New York to California, according to the CDC, which said the number was likely to rise.

In the California capital Sacramento, some residents rushed to buy surgical masks at drugstores, to wear over their mouths as a protection against the virus.

"I had four people in here this morning as soon as we opened up," said Tom Nelson, who sold four boxes containing 20 masks each at his busy Midtown store, Pucci's Leader Pharmacy.

Since Monday, 20 to 30 people had called or come in to buy masks and to see if Tamiflu was in stock. "We order them (masks) every day, and now the suppliers are out. If we get a run on them, we'll be out like everyone else," Nelson said.

In other signs of concern over the virus, two schools closed in California on Wednesday and at least one in Chicago because of suspected cases of the virus and high levels of absenteeism among students.

Many Americans were taking precautions at home.

Virginia Endecott of Katy, Texas described her family's response as "heightened vigilance" and said she was wiping household appliances, door handles and other surfaces at least twice a day as well as using hand wipes.

"We're probably a little more worried than we otherwise would be," she said.

MEXICO TRIPS CUT SHORT

Many people returning on Wednesday from Mexico to Dallas Fort Worth International Airport wore face masks to protect against the possible spread of the virus and some said they had cut short their trips.

Several said they were surprised not to have been subjected to additional screening and questions by U.S. Customs.

"Customs was normal here (in the United States). In Mexico they made us fill out a form and we had to write if we had a headache, stomach ache, fever or coughing," said Jorge Ortega, 21, who flew in from the Mexican city of Chihuahua.

Angel Aguirre, 29, a U.S. citizen who works in the leather upholstery industry, wore a face mask and said that, as an extra precaution, he had also wrapped his clothes in plastic and planned to wash them as soon as he got home.

"I was there about three days. It should have been two weeks," said Aguirre.

Several Americans said they were increasingly vigilant but not panicking.

"I figure it's going to get worse before it gets better. It's going to spread, right?" said Kathy Ivcich, 53, a real estate agent in Chicago.

http://www.reuters.com/article/domesticNews/idUSTRE53S88Q20090429