Swine Flu Bulletins and Information

[David Baxter PhD]

How To Tell a Cold From the Flu
InteliHealth
September 29, 2009

The common cold and flu - both the seasonal and the new swine flu -- are caused by different viruses but can have some similar symptoms, making them tough to tell apart. In general, the flu is worse and symptoms are more intense.

COLDS: Usual symptoms include stuffy or runny nose, sore throat and sneezing. Coughs are hacking and productive. It's unusual to have fever, chills, headaches and body aches, or if present, those symptoms will be mild.

FLU: Fever is usually present, along with chills, headache and moderate-to-severe body aches and tiredness. Symptoms can come on rapidly, within three to six hours. Coughs are dry and unproductive, and sore throats are less common.

Sources: U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; Roche, maker of Tamiflu.

 

[Banned]

Swine Flu Bulletins

CTV News | Swine flu vaccine could be approved this weekhttp://calgary.ctv.ca/servlet/an/lo...N1_pregnancy_091018/20091018/?hub=CalgaryHome

 

[Banned]

H1N1 Now the Dominant Flu Virus

CTV News | H1N1 now the dominant flu virus, says expert

 

[NicNak]

What To Do If You Get Sick: 2009 H1N1 and Seasonal Flu

What To Do If You Get Sick: 2009 H1N1 and Seasonal Flu
Centres for Disease Control and Prevention
October 22, 2009

You may have the flu if you have some or all of these symptoms:

• fever *
• cough
• sore throat
• runny or stuffy nose
• body aches
• headache
• chills
• fatigue
• sometimes diarrhea and vomiting

*It’s important to note that not everyone with flu will have a fever.

What should I do if I get sick?
If you get sick with flu-like symptoms this flu season, you should stay home and avoid contact with other people except to get medical care. Most people with 2009 H1N1 have had mild illness and have not needed medical care or antiviral drugs and the same is true of seasonal flu.

However, some people are more likely to get flu complications and they should talk to a health care provider about whether they need to be examined if they get flu symptoms this season.

They are:

• Children younger than 5, but especially children younger than 2 years old
• People 65 and older
• Pregnant women

People who have:

• Cancer
• Blood disorders (including sickle cell disease)
• Chronic lung disease [including asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)]
• Diabetes
• Heart disease
• Kidney disorders
• Liver disorders
• Neurological disorders (including nervous system, brain or spinal cord)
• Neuromuscular disorders (including muscular dystrophy and multiple sclerosis)
• Weakened immune systems (including people with AIDS)

Also, it’s possible for healthy people to develop severe illness from the flu so anyone concerned about their illness should consult a health care provider.

There are emergency warning signs. Anyone who has them should get medical care right away.

What are the emergency warning signs?
In children

• Fast breathing or trouble breathing
• Bluish skin color
• Not drinking enough fluids
• Not waking up or not interacting
• Being so irritable that the child does not want to be held
• Flu-like symptoms improve but then return with fever and worse cough
• Fever with a rash

In adults

• Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath
• Pain or pressure in the chest or abdomen
• Sudden dizziness
• Confusion
• Severe or persistent vomiting

Do I need to go the emergency room if I am only a little sick?
No. The emergency room should be used for people who are very sick. You should not go to the emergency room if you are only mildly ill. If you have the emergency warning signs of flu sickness, you should go to the emergency room. If you get sick with flu symptoms and are at high risk of flu complications or you are concerned about your illness, call your health care provider for advice. If you go to the emergency room and you are not sick with the flu, you may catch it from people who do have it

Are there medicines to treat 2009 H1N1?
Yes. There are drugs your doctor may prescribe for treating both seasonal and 2009 H1N1 called "antiviral drugs.” These drugs can make you better faster and may also prevent serious complications. This flu season, antiviral drugs are being used mainly to treat people who are very sick, such as people who need to be hospitalized, and to treat sick people who are more likely to get serious flu complications. Your health care provider will decide whether antiviral drugs are needed to treat your illness. Remember, most people with 2009 H1N1 have had mild illness and have not needed medical care or antiviral drugs and the same is true of seasonal flu.

How long should I stay home if I’m sick?
CDC recommends that you stay home for at least 24 hours after your fever is gone except to get medical care or for other things you have to do and no one else can do for you. (Your fever should be gone without the use of a fever-reducing medicine, such as Tylenol?.) You should stay home from work, school, travel, shopping, social events, and public gatherings.

What should I do while I’m sick?
Stay away from others as much as possible to keep from making them sick. If you must leave home, for example to get medical care, wear a facemask if you have one, or cover coughs and sneezes with a tissue. And wash your hands often to keep from spreading flu to others. CDC has information on "Taking Care of a Sick Person in Your Home” on its website at CDC H1N1 Flu |Interim Guidance for Novel H1N1 Flu (Swine Flu): Taking Care of a Sick Person in Your Home

 

[David Baxter PhD]

Previously healthy pre-teen child dies after H1N1 diagnosis

Eastern Ont. child dies after H1N1 diagnosis
CBC News
Monday, October 26, 2009

A previously healthy pre-teen girl from eastern Ontario has died at an Ottawa hospital after being diagnosed with H1N1.

Dr. Paul Roumeliotis, medical officer of health for the Eastern Ontario health unit, said the girl had no pre-existing medical conditions when she was admitted to hospital, where she died over the weekend.

"My concern is that it underscores the importance that we put onto the potential complications of any flu, especially a novel flu like H1N1," Roumeliotis told CBC News.

"It is extremely sad to see the virus claim the life of a child," he added in a statement.

Officials are not saying exactly where the girl lived or how old she was at the request of her family.

It is the second death and the first death of a child linked to H1N1 in the area served by the Eastern Ontario unit, which includes the counties of Stormont, Dundas, Glengarry, Prescott, Russell and the city of Cornwall. A 52-year-old eastern Ontario woman died in June after testing positive for H1N1.

 

[David Baxter PhD]

How the flu virus invades your body

YouTube - Flu Attack! How A Virus Invades Your Body

 

[Banned]

Re: How the flu virus invades your body

That is super cool.

 

[Eye Stigmata]

Re: Previously healthy pre-teen child dies after H1N1 diagnosis

I wasn't convinced about the H1N1 Flu vaccine before, but I spoke to my mom last night. She's a family doc and has been seeing cases of H1N1, especially in otherwise healthy 20 - 25 year olds who are currently in the ICU from it. Also pregnant women (pretty high risk) The H1N1 attacks your respiratory system, so anyone with any type of lung conditions should absolutely 100% be getting the vaccine, if someone already has a respiratory problem and then gets H1N1...well..chances of survival aren't very good.
So I think I'll be getting the vaccine after all... Doctors orders

Symptoms:
*Major one is Fever
*Cough
*Runny Nose
*Muscle aches/pains
*Headaches/Nausea

It takes about two weeks from date of vaccine to be fully protected.

 

[David Baxter PhD]

Re: Previously healthy pre-teen child dies after H1N1 diagnosis

The thing about H1N1 that is different from other flu varieties is that it attacks the young and healthy, not just the old and weak. Indeed, it is starting to look like the young and healthy may be more at risk, if anything.

 

[Banned]

Re: Previously healthy pre-teen child dies after H1N1 diagnosis

There has been a second death in Ontario, of a teenager:

Ontario teen dies from H1N1 - Canada - Canoe.ca

 

[Eye Stigmata]

Re: Previously healthy pre-teen child dies after H1N1 diagnosis

The nice thing about the health care system is that they are providing the shot for free, and holding all sorts of free clinics at various hours, I've seen some that are running from 2 -8 pm. So it makes it easy for everyone to get vaccinated.

It's a shame people are dying from this...especially such young people.

** Also, if you do start to get a fever / flu symptoms and fear it could be the H1N1, you can go to an Urgent Care clinic and get Theraflu (I think that's how you spell it) And it stops the virus before you get really sick, but must be taken within 48 hours of experiencing symptoms otherwise it's useless

 

[NicNak]

Can My Dog or Cat Get H1N1 (Swine) Flu?

Can My Dog or Cat Get H1N1 (Swine) Flu?
About.com

October 20, 2009 update: H1N1 News - Ferret Tests Positive in Oregon

Information about H1N1 (Swine) flu and how to protect yourself and your family is readily available.

But what about our dogs and cats? Can they catch or spread H1N1 (Swine) flu to each other or members of their human family? Most likely, the answer is no. This is to say that to date there are no known dog/cat to human (or vice-versa) influenza transmissions.

Care should be always taken to use proper sanitation and personal hygiene in all cases of illness, and especially for the ever-changing influenza viruses.

There are two types of influenza viruses: Type A and Type B. The Type A viruses are found in humans and many types of animals, usually strains specific to that species. The type B viruses circulate widely among humans1.

Dogs and cats do have their own versions of influenza viruses. The canine influenza virus is an influenza Type A H3N8 virus, and the feline version is Type A H5N1 influenza virus. (The numbers and letters after the type denote the numbers and types of proteins on the surface of the virus. The letter H stands for hemagglutinin and the letter N stands for neuraminidase.2)

Related Reading: New dog vaccine for H3N8 flu

Who is spreading what virus? It is interesting to note that birds play an important role in the spread of all influenza A viruses. From the CDC: "Wild birds are the primary natural reservoir for all subtypes of influenza A viruses and are thought to be the source of influenza A viruses in all other animals." Read more.

While rare, there have been human infections from pigs. In this current case of swine flu, a pig virus mixed with a human virus at some point in time to produce the new strain that is being passed human-to-human. This allows for quick spread of this virus in the human population. Because this is a newly created (reassorted) virus, humans do not have any immunity from previous exposures as with "regular" viruses.

Back to dogs and cats. While they both have influenza Type A viruses that can infect and cause illness in dogs and cats, humans are not as similar of a species to share these viruses in the current forms. There have been no reports yet of any cases that have spread to humans or from humans to pets.

Read more about influenza viruses in dogs and cats:H5N1 infection in domestic cats - from the CDC
Summary: "To date, there is no evidence that domestic cats have a role in the natural transmission cycle of H5N1 viruses" and "the European Center for Disease Prevention and Control has issued preliminary recommendations for cat owners living in H5N1-affected areas. These include keeping domestic cats indoors to prevent exposure to potentially infected birds and avoiding contact with semi-domestic and feral cats living outside the home." Report from the CDC

Key facts about Dog Flu - from the CDC
Summary: "To date, there is no evidence of transmission of canine influenza virus from dogs to people and there has not been a single reported case of human infection with the canine influenza virus. However, human infections with new influenza viruses (against which the human population has little immunity) would be concerning if they occurred. Influenza viruses are constantly changing and it is possible for a virus to change so that it could infect humans and spread easily between humans." CDC Key Facts Sheet

What about pet pigs?
According to the AVMA Flu FAQ: "To date, the 2009 H1N1 virus has not been reported in pot-bellied pigs. However, the possibility of human-to-pig transmission of the virus warrants extra caution by pig owners."

What about birds?
In August 2009, it was reported that turkeys in Chile were infected with the H1N1 virus. It is believed that, as with swine, the turkeys were infected by a human source. It is not known at this time if humans can be infected from birds.

If your pet is sick
As always, if you suspect that your dog or cat is sick, please contact your veterinarian directly for an examination and to discuss any questions. Always use good sanitation practices (wash hands, etc.) when dealing with animals.

 

[David Baxter PhD]

Know the Difference between a Cold and H1N1 Flu Symptoms

Know the Difference between a Cold and H1N1 Flu Symptoms
Daily Press
October 21, 2009

Symptom | Cold | H1N1 Flu
Fever | Fever is rare with a cold. | Fever is usually present with the flu in up to 80% of all flu cases. A temperature of 100?F or higher for 3 to 4 days is associated with the H1N1 flu.
Coughing | A hacking, productive (mucus- producing) cough is often present with a cold. | A non-productive (non-mucus producing) cough is usually present with the H1N1 flu (sometimes referred to as dry cough).
Aches | Slight body aches and pains can be part of a cold. | Severe aches and pains are common with the H1N1 flu.
Stuffy Nose | Stuffy nose is commonly present with a cold and typically resolves spontaneously within a week. | Stuffy nose is not commonly present with the H1N1 flu.
Chills | Chills are uncommon with a cold. | 60% of people who have the H1N1 flu experience chills.
Tiredness | Tiredness is fairly mild with a cold. | Tiredness is moderate to severe with the H1N1 flu.
Sneezing | Sneezing is commonly present with a cold. | Sneezing is not common with the H1N1 flu.
Sudden Symptoms | Cold symptoms tend to develop over a few days. | The H1N1 flu has a rapid onset within 3-6 hours. The flu hits hard and includes sudden symptoms like high fever, aches and pains.
Headache | A headache is fairly uncommon with a cold. | A headache is very common with the H1N1 flu, present in 80% of flu cases.
Sore Throat | Sore throat is commonly present with a cold. | Sore throat is not commonly present with the H1N1 flu.
Chest Discomfort | Chest discomfort is mild to moderate with a cold. | Chest discomfort is often severe with the H1N1 flu.

The only way to stop the spread of the epidemic is to spread awareness.

 

[NicNak]

Re: What To Do If You Get Sick: 2009 H1N1 and Seasonal Flu

People who have:

• Neurological disorders (including nervous system, brain or spinal cord)
  

A curious question. Do any of our conditons fall into the catagory of "Neurological Disorders (including, nervous system, brain) ?

I was just wondering.

 

[David Baxter PhD]

Re: What To Do If You Get Sick: 2009 H1N1 and Seasonal Flu

A "neurological condition" refers to a disorder of the physical brain or physical nervous system, not "mental disorders" in general.

 

[NicNak]

Re: What To Do If You Get Sick: 2009 H1N1 and Seasonal Flu

A "neurological condition" refers to a disorder of the physical brain or physical nervous system, not "mental disorders" in general.

Ohh, ok. Thank you Dr Baxter. I was curious when I read that, I wasn't sure. Thanks for clearing it up. I appreciate it.

 

[Retired]

Re: What To Do If You Get Sick: 2009 H1N1 and Seasonal Flu

Neurological Disorders

Examples of neurological disorders would be Migraine, Parkinson's and Tourette Syndrome.

These disorders can either be "errors" in the wiring of the brain or malfunctions in neurotransmitters that affect body functions.

A listing of neurological disorders can be found at the NIH site:

Disorders Index: National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS)

 

[Jackie]

Re: Know the Difference between a Cold and H1N1 Flu Symptoms

Diarrhoea or vomiting, are another two symptoms of swine flu you don't normally get with a cold.

 

[why]

Re: Previously healthy pre-teen child dies after H1N1 diagnosis

** Also, if you do start to get a fever / flu symptoms and fear it could be the H1N1, you can go to an Urgent Care clinic and get Theraflu

Tamiflu
A shot of which, I may get in a couple of days. I had been fighting something for a couple of weeks, then yesterday, BAM, fever and nausea. So if they haven't calmed down by tomorrow, I'll phone my GP.

 

[David Baxter PhD]

FAQ about the swine flu vaccine

Answers to the questions I hear most about the swine flu vaccine
by Dr. Marla Shapiro, CTV.ca
October 27, 2009

It sure is a different flu season... wasn't that the understatement of this year! My office has been fielding calls for the past few weeks, but this week, with the opening of flu clinics, my phones have gone wild. Here are a few of the questions we have been getting, and my answers.

There is still much confusion over who can get the vaccine? can you get one when you?re sick?
Let's go through how this season is different. The seasonal influenza vaccine -- the vaccine that we typically have every year -- will not work against the prevalent strain that we are seeing circulating right now, which is H1N1. However, the seasonal flu puts seniors over the age of 65 at risk. For that reason, in most provinces across Canada, we are offering the seasonal flu to people 65 and older. If the seasonal flu takes more of a foothold in the circulating flu strains, then it would it be offered to everyone under the age of 65.

At the present time H1N1 is the prevalent strain, and although in most people it tends to be mild, in certain groups it acts more aggressively. Those identified groups are: children up to 5 years old, those under 65 with chronic disease, and women in the second half of their pregnancy. Other high-risk groups include people in remote communities, health care workers and first line responders.

We usually don't like to give you the vaccine if you are sick as then if you develop problems, it?s difficult to tease out whether those problem are from the primary illness you had in the first place or the vaccine.

Explain the issue between adjuvant and non-adjuvant?
An adjuvant is something added to a vaccine that boosts its immune acting powers. The adjuvant, usually made of water, oil and even vitamin E, recruits antibody-producing cells locally to the site of the injection. It is more immunogenic at the site of the vaccination and therefore a bit more of an ouch. We do have safety data on adjuvanted vaccines and in fact, we have been using adjuvants for quite some time with other vaccines. Adjuvants allow us to use less of the inactivated virus so the vaccine stretches farther to access more people across the country. Because it is more immunogenic it gives you more of a bang for the buck, so to speak. It offers you broader protection, so if the virus drifts over time and a new strain emerges, you may have some cross-protection to a strain not included in the vaccine.

What should pregnant women do?
Pregnant women in the second half of their pregnancy are more at risk of serious illness than the general population. Health Canada has just ordered more vaccines without the adjuvant. Women who are beyond 20 weeks into their pregnancy or pregnant women with underlying health conditions however have been told that if the non-adjuvant vaccine is not available, then they should not wait until it become available; they should get the adjuvanted H1N1 vaccine.

Last week, the Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Canada also said all evidence suggests that adjuvanted vaccines are just as safe as non-adjuvanted vaccines. But the preferred version for pregnant women is the non-adjuvanted version because there hasn't been a lot of research on the use of the adjuvant in pregnancy. It now seems pregnant women will have the non-adjuvant vaccine available soon.

Is delaying the seasonal flu shot to patients doing more harm than good?
We?re delaying the seasonal flu vaccine because we are not seeing it circulate anywhere near the amount that H1N1 is circulating. Therefore it does not make sense to tie up resources giving a vaccine to a flu virus that, for most of us, is not a risk.

The vaccine is available to most of us ? but is it too soon? How safe is it?

Every year the seasonal flu vaccine is new to us as well. What is not new is the flu vaccine technology. As well, this H1N1 vaccine is a great match for what is circulating presently. We also have a fair bit of safety data on this particular vaccine adjuvant with no red flags being seen to date.

Health officials are saying it?s irresponsible not to get the vaccine, what do you think? Are there any side effects?
It is important to make an informed decision as to the risks and benefits. For example, a baby under 6 months is at risk but is not able to take the vaccine. So caregivers who could transmit the virus should get the vaccine to protect not only themselves but the vulnerable infant. This concept of being protected by other people's immunity is called the herd effect.

There have been local reactions to the vaccine, as expected. Health Canada will continue to monitor and have surveillance for vaccine side effects. We do have data on this particular adjuvant and 150,000 have received this vaccine so far- again with no red flags to date. Another 41,000 or so have received this adjuvant without untoward effects. This is indeed reassuring.

We are trying to make decisions with emerging information. While there are no guarantees, at the present time it is important to weigh the benefits and risks of preventing the infection and make an informed decision. For those who have died -- and more children have died in the US so far than in a full flu season -- having had the opportunity to have a vaccine for them could and would have saved lives. While the Australian experience for the most part was mild disease, there still were reports of severe illness, mortality and patients requiring prolonged ICU admissions. Again, each of us must make an informed decision.

A new awareness campaign started yesterday ? do you think it?s doing a good job of answering people?s questions?
Hopefully, it will debunk a lot of the nonsense circulating on the internet!

Are family doctors getting the information they need to answer patients? questions?
Family doctors are getting regular updates. Many have not stocked the vaccines because of logistical reasons. The vaccines are shipped in 500 dose shipments and many family doctors do not have fridge capacity to store them. In addition once reconstituted, 10 vaccines are available and must be used within a 24-hour period. For those with offices that have trouble coordinating 10 guaranteed shots per vial in a 24-hour period, there is concern about waste, so they have decided to leave distribution to clinics where waste can be minimized. Many of these logistical issues will sort themselves out and more family doctors are likely to be carrying the vaccines.

Finally ? other than vaccination, what can we do to protect ourselves from catching H1N1?
We have all the tools available that we have been talking about for some time. Wash your hands for an adequate period of time. Use a hand sanitizer if you do not have access to soap and water. Remember the 'sleeve sneeze' or into a tissue and dispose of the tissue. Remember to disinfect surfaces with a household disinfectant. And finally- stay home if you are sick!