H1N1 Influenza (Swine Flu)

During the coming holidays, two things can happen, says health director Caroline C. Baisley: People keep their eye on the ball when it comes to preventive measures to keep H1N1 from spreading; or they get wrapped up in the holidays and turkeys and presents and let down their guard, and the flu escalates.

“Nationwide we’re off the charts right now,” Ms. Baisley says of the H1N1 infection, which is now in all 50 states and D.C. “This can be very dangerous. It’s a novel virus, we have no immunity to it and it’s spreading like wildfire.”

Last week the Centers for Disease Control released new estimates that paint a fresh picture of how the disease has been spreading. In the past six months, the report says, 22 million Americans have come down with H1N1 flu and 3,900 have died, with about 540 of those deaths pediatric.

The numbers tracking the spread in the Connecticut area, Ms. Baisley said, are fluid, a moving target. The first wave, which lasted from April 1 to Aug. 30, saw 1,996 people come down with the virus in Connecticut.

As of Nov. 10, just three months into the second wave, which will last through the spring, there are already 440 confirmed cases, with Hartford County leading the way at 146, New Haven County 112, and Fairfield running third with 87.

The age range is from 1 to 81, but the mean is 18, evenly split between male and female.

One reason the pandemic may be affecting more younger people than older ones, Ms. Baisley said, is that anyone born before 1957 may have gotten vaccinated during the swine flu epidemic of 1976, or have been exposed to it, thus giving them a slight edge. That virus had components similar enough to today’s H1N1 that it could be acting like a vaccine from the past.

“Scientifically, it makes sense,” says Ms. Baisley. It could also explain why older people are much more vulnerable to the regular seasonal flu. Were it not for this imbalance, things could get bad.

And they are bad enough. “We anticipate there will be many more hospitalizations,” she said. Nationwide, there are 200,000 hospitalizations in a cycle of seasonal flu, with 37,000 deaths. “What will those numbers be when these two viruses collide?”

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Chinese health officials reported on Nov. 13 the first deaths in people who received the H1N1 vaccine. The Ministry of Health announced that the two people, including a teacher from Hunan province, died hours after receiving their inoculations. Since September, when the ministry began its H1N1 immunization program, 12 million Chinese have received the pandemic flu shot.

A preliminary autopsy revealed that the teacher died of an apparent heart attack while playing basketball, and a ministry spokesperson told the China Daily newspaper that the death was a “coincidental medical incident” and not related to the vaccine. No details on the second victim have been released thus far.

As they conduct an autopsy investigation into the second death, Chinese health officials have pulled all vaccines that were manufactured in the same batch used to inoculate the teacher. Although the H1N1 vaccine has been rigorously tested and vetted for safety, no inoculation can be considered 100% safe, and some may cause adverse events, including death, in some people.

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The Public Health Agency of Canada today updated its recommendations on H1N1 flu vaccine dosing for children between 3 years and 9 years of age.

The updated recommendations reflect findings from clinical trial results from Europe that suggest that a single half-dose of adjuvanted H1N1 flu vaccine for healthy children may provide an acceptable level of protection from infection from the H1N1 flu virus.

“For healthy children between 3 and 9 years old, this means that one shot may be enough to provide protection from the H1N1 flu virus,” said Dr. David Butler-Jones, Chief Public Health Officer for Canada. “This is good news for parents of healthy children and for Canadians. It frees up resources that can be devoted to immunizing priority at-risk populations, which means that the H1N1 vaccine will be available for the general public sooner.”

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If you search the internet for “H1N1 vaccine” you are likely to find myths and misinformation mixed with the truth about the vaccine.  Many public health officials are concerned that people are being frightened away from getting the H1N1 vaccine based on this campaign of misinformation and fear.  Not only are health officials battling a quickly spreading and potentially deadly influenza virus, they’re also battling the arena of public misinformation about the vaccine that can prevent the illness.

Since the onset of H1N1 in April 2009 nearly 3,900 people, including about 540 children, are believed to have died from the H1N1 flu, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Thursday.  For the first time in over 50 years there is a vaccine against a pandemic strain of influenza before the beginning of winter, when low temperatures and humidity permit the H1N1 virus to spread more readily.  Before you believe what you read on the internet, including the information on this web site, you should speak with a qualified health care professional to understand the truths, myths and risks involved with taking the H1N1 vaccine.

Here are some facts about the vaccine that should help you decide if the vaccine is the correct answer for you and your loved ones:

• The seasonal flu vaccine will not protect you against 2009 H1N1 flu.
• This vaccine is produced using the same processes and facilities that are used to make the currently licensed seasonal influenza vaccines.
• Inactivated 2009 H1N1 vaccine can be administered at the same visit as any other vaccine, including pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine. Live 2009 H1N1 vaccine can be administered at the same visit as any other live or inactivated vaccine EXCEPT seasonal live attenuated influenza vaccine.
• Children through 9 years of age should get two doses of vaccine, about a month apart. Older children and adults need only one dose.
• CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) recommends that certain groups of the population receive the 2009 H1N1 vaccine first. These target groups include pregnant women, people who live with or care for children younger than 6 months of age, healthcare and emergency medical services personnel, persons between the ages of 6 months and 24 years old, and people ages of 25 through 64 years of age who are at higher risk for 2009 H1N1 because of chronic health disorders or compromised immune systems.
• The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved the use of one dose of 2009 H1N1 flu vaccine for persons 10 years of age and older. This is slightly different from CDC’s recommendations for seasonal influenza vaccination which states that children younger than 9 who are being vaccinated against influenza for the first time need to receive two doses. Infants younger than 6 months of age are too young to get the 2009 H1N1 and seasonal flu vaccines.
• The 1976 swine flu virus and the 2009 H1N1 virus are different enough that it’s unlikely a person vaccinated in 1976 will have full protection from the 2009 H1N1. People vaccinated in 1976 should still be given the 2009 H1N1 vaccine.
• People who are allergic to eggs might be at risk for allergic reactions from receiving influenza vaccines, including the 2009 H1N1 vaccine.
• The H1N1 flu vaccine will not prevent “influenza-like” illnesses caused by other viruses.
• In 1976, an earlier type of swine flu vaccine was associated with cases of Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS). Since then, flu vaccines have not been clearly linked to GBS.

If you experience a severe reaction to the vaccine such as a high fever, behavioral changes, difficulty breathing, hives, paleness, dizziness or a fast heartbeat you should go to health care facility immediately.  Be sure inform the doctor of what happened, when it happened and when the vaccine was administered.  Ask your health care provider to report the reaction by filing a Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS).

In summary, educate yourself on the pros and cons of receiving the H1N1 vaccine and make an educated determination only after discussing with your health care provider.  Be Healthy!

OTTAWA — Canadians should be prepared to hear about more swine flu deaths in the coming weeks as the H1N1 pandemic is showing no signs of slowing down, the country’s top doctor warned Thursday.

On the contrary, the spread of the H1N1 virus picked up speed over the past week, Chief Public Health Officer Dr. David Butler-Jones said at a news conference, and its prevalence is nearing levels that were seen at the peak of the first wave in June.

Butler-Jones said there are more regions reporting outbreaks, especially in the western provinces, and the number of hospitalizations and intensive-care unit admissions has tripled since last week.

“We expect to hear of more illness and deaths in the coming weeks as we go further into the second wave. This is something we have to be prepared for as much as it saddens us,” said Butler-Jones. “It’s why prevention remains our goal, for all Canadians to be immunized when their turn comes and ensure appropriate treatment with antivirals for those who are ill.”

The latest death toll from the Public Health Agency of Canada indicates that 115 Canadians with H1N1 have died.

This week’s toll is believed to include a two-month-old baby from London, Ont. Ethan Bailey Desabrais died of influenza but test results were pending to determine if it was the H1N1 strain.

“I was trying to save my son,” said the little boy’s mother, Carla Desabrais. “We were driving down the street and we were yelling for any emergency vehicle that was coming towards us. . . . Every day is a haze.”

The Desabrais’s nine-year-old daughter and 18-month-old son both have been vaccinated. Ethan was not eligible because he was under six months of age.

The child was pronounced dead at hospital.

“Go get the shot,” the mother said Thursday.

Health officials in Alberta, meanwhile, announced that they had seen four more deaths in the past few days.

Butler-Jones said there were no indications the virus is being held at bay.

“Not a bit. Anybody that thinks that we’ve seen anything but the beginning of this, I think that would be lovely, but it’s a bit of wishful thinking. This will continue to increase,” he said.

Getting the H1N1 vaccine into people’s arms is the key measure to slow the spread of the pandemic, and as people await their turn for their shot, other prevention methods, such as people staying home when sick, coughing into their sleeves and frequent handwashing are important, he advised.

Butler-Jones is also offering his advice in full-page advertisements appearing in 125 newspapers across the country Friday and Saturday. In the advertisement, Butler-Jones writes that he wants to provide “the facts” about the H1N1 immunization program, which has been under heavy attack by opposition MPs on Parliament Hill.

He assures Canadians there will be enough vaccine for the entire population and that “getting vaccinated is a safe and effective way to protect yourself and others” from the virus.

During Thursday’s news conference, Butler-Jones said the provinces and territories are administering the H1N1 vaccine as quickly as they can and by early next week, he anticipates that six million Canadians will have been immunized.

Clinics are still fine-tuning how they deliver the vaccine, and that includes figuring out ways to use every last drop of it. There have been reports about some doses being tossed out at the end of the day. Butler-Jones said each vial contains 10 doses and he hopes that wastage is “minimal.”

“I think that’s something that everybody should and will be looking at,” he said.

Butler-Jones and federal Health Minister Leona Aglukkaq both expressed their thoughts on the reports this week that some NHL players have been immunized ahead of the general population, while people in high-risk groups have been lining up for hours since clinics opened last week.

“I’m pleased that they are so keen and interested in getting the vaccine, it shows how important it is, but please wait until your group is ready,” said Butler-Jones.

An Alberta Health Services employee was fired after Calgary Flames players and their families, were allowed to get the vaccine and in Ontario, health officials are promising to investigate how some players with the Toronto Maple Leaf and Toronto Raptors received their shots.

“I think a review of this issue is merited. I don’t feel that at this point in time, that the time is right for this to happen but it is something that we will be looking into,” said Ontario’s chief medical officer, Dr. Arlene King.

Source:  Global News

ATLANTA – Federal health officials now say that 4,000 or more Americans likely have died from swine flu – about four times the estimate they’ve been using.

The new, higher figure was first reported by The New York Times. It includes deaths caused by complications related to swine flu, including pneumonia and bacterial infections. Until now, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention had conservatively put the U.S. swine flu death count at more than 1,000. Officials said this week they’re working on an even more accurate calculation.

The CDC says “many millions” of Americans have caught the pandemic flu virus since it first appeared in April.

Source azcentral.com

Think you know all there is to know about the Swine Flu?  We’ve compiled a list of 10 common myths that have flooded the internet since the Swine Flu has become a part of our daily lives:

1. MYTH: You can catch H1N1 flu from eating pork.  FACT: Absolutely false.  There is no way to contract H1N1 flu from eating bacon, pork chops or other food containing pork.
2. MYTH: You can get flu from drinking water or swimming pools.  FACT: Chlorinated tap water and swimming pool water does not put you at risk for flu.  To date, there has not been any incidence of anyone who has acquired flu from drinking water or from a swimming pool.
3. MYTH: This new vaccine is not safe and is untested.  FACT: Clinical trials conducted by the National Institutes of Health and the vaccine manufacturers have shown that the new H1N1 vaccine is both safe and effective.  The FDA has licensed it.  There have been no safety shortcuts.
4. MYTH: It costs too much money to get an H1N1 vaccine.  FACT: The federal government has purchased the H1N1 vaccine and is providing it to the states free of charge.  This is different in many places from the seasonal flu vaccine.
5. MYTH: Taking precautions is a waste of time. You’ll get the flu anyway. FACT: According to the CDC, precautions such as washing hands, covering cough/sneezes, avoiding sick people, and staying home if ill, help to prevent the flu and to stop it from spreading. Remain vigilant and follow these precautions. If an ill or well person isn’t following these precautions, say something.
6. MYTH: Everybody who has the flu needs to see a doctor.  FACT: People who are in a high-risk group or who are experiencing severe symptoms should see a doctor right away. For most people without risk factors, a regimen of rest, fluids, medications (such as Tylenol, Advil, or Aleve), and (if necessary) decongestants will be adequate. The CDC currently recommends Tamiflu only for those who are hospitalized or who have high-risk conditions.
7. MYTH: I have a cough and a runny nose. I must have H1N1.  FACT: H1N1 symptoms almost always include fever (temp over 100 degrees) with a cough or sore throat.
8. MYTH: If I have the flu but don’t feel too bad, there’s no reason to confine myself.  FACT: Although the H1N1 influenza illness may be mild in some people, it can be serious in others. Some people staff have risk factors such as heart disease, diabetes, and pregnancy — making them more susceptible to complications. Be responsible and protect others — stay at home if you are sick.
9. MYTH: The seasonal influenza vaccine protects you from getting the H1N1 flu.  FACT: The seasonal flu vaccine does not protect against the 2009 H1N1 flu. The seasonal flu vaccine protects against three different influenza viruses that are expected to be around in the fall and winter. The H1N1 vaccine provides protection against only the novel H1N1 virus.
10. Myth: The influenza vaccine will give you the virus.  FACT: Injected flu vaccines only contain parts of dead virus, and therefore cannot infect you. The nasal spray flu vaccine does contain a live a virus, but the virus in the vaccine is specially engineered to remove the parts that make people sick. Despite the scientific impossibility of getting the flu from a flu vaccine, many people often confuse the side effects some experience from  the vaccine with having contracted the flu itself; or receive the vaccine, and within a few days are stricken with a cold or respiratory illness not associated with the flu.

This video discusses the use of antiviral drugs for treating and preventing the H1N1 flu virus.

In this video, CDC’s Dr. Joe Bresee describes how to prevent giving and getting novel H1N1 flu.

This short video explains how flu vaccine is made, and why there may be a delay.