WHO: Swine Flu Virus Travels Deep Into Lungs, More Likely To Cause Pneumonia
I don't know why people are so determined to ignore this. As someone who's had pneumonia, trust me, it's not an experience you want to have. I was lucky enough to have a bacterial strain that responded to antibiotics. Please, see a doctor if you have any doubts:
The World Health Organization urged doctors Friday to treat suspected swine flu cases as quickly as possible with antiviral drugs, warning that the virus can cause potentially life-threatening viral pneumonia much more commonly than the typical flu, sometimes in relatively young, otherwise healthy people.
"It's not like seasonal influenza," said Nikki Shindo, a medical officer in the WHO's Epidemic and Pandemic Alert and Response Department. "It can cause very severe disease in previously healthy young adults."
Shindo's comments came at the conclusion of a special three-day meeting in Washington of more than 100 experts from around the world. The WHO called the meeting to review the latest research on the new H1N1 virus and to revise guidelines for treating the infection.
Unlike the seasonal flu, Shindo said, the virus appears more likely to travel deep into the lungs, where it can cause viral pneumonia. Such a condition can cause severe lung damage and a life-threatening condition known as acute respiratory distress syndrome.
"Remarkably different is this small subset of patients that presents very severe viral pneumonia," Shindo said.
Shindo noted that some hospitals in Australia and New Zealand were severely strained by seriously ill swine flu patients during their recently ended winter.
"This disease overwhelmed emergency rooms and especially intensive care units because of the very severe patients that required special care," Shindo said, urging hospitals to prepare for the possibility of a significant number of patients requiring intensive care.
"We can expect more severe disease during the upcoming influenza season," she said.
Shindo noted that, although a few cases have been reported of people who have been infected with virus that is resistant to antiviral drugs, the medications remain highly effective for most patients if administered quickly.
"Do not delay treatment," Shindo said. "Do not miss this opportunity for early treatment."
The WHO's warnings came as U.S. health officials announced that the number of states reporting widespread flu had increased from 37 to 41 and regional or local outbreaks were being reported in the remaining parts of the country.
The number of deaths from pneumonia and flu-like illnesses had surpassed what the CDC considers an epidemic level, said Anne Schuchat of the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. About 6 percent of all doctor visits are for flu-like illnesses, she said.
"It's unprecedented for this time of year to see the whole country seeing such high level of activity," she said.
If the WHO has studied the effect on those who have had the pneunomia vaccine?
I had issues with pneunomia many years ago - then I was vaccinated - since then I have had no probs.
*cover your mouth, wash your hands, stay healthy*
"I know that there are people who do not love their fellow
man, and I hate people like that! " ~ Tom Lehrer (1928 - )
but, as a nurse, generally the pneumo vacc is given to limited groups. Anyone that feels flu-like and then develops ANY trouble breathing should seek immediate medical attention - you can't wait on this one.
Yeah right, just as soon as I win the lottery.
Or move to an advanced nation with universal health care.
Many states have already set up free clinics with more on the way as supplies become available.
As an uninsured American I feel the same way every time I hear them chirping on the radio about how I should rush out to have a mammogram...or have a cardiac stress test etc. to see if I have any coronary arteries blocked etc.
Okay. Then what? I find out I have breast cancer cooking....who's going to pay for the surgeon, the hospital, the chemo, the radiation (of course I'd never have chemo OR radiation regardless) and then the whole, "Oh my God! You have FOUR blocked coronary arteries!!! You're probably minutes from a massive coronary!!" Yeah? Well, again....who's going to pay for the surgeon and his team to crack my chest? Who's going to pay the hospital?
Of course, as I like to say, after working as a Registered Nurse for 30 years and paying all my taxes like a good little peasant, I've ALREADY PAID for health insurance (Medicare)...all that money just happens to be going to The Pentagon and not to the American People for something that we actually NEED and that would SERVE us!!!
And on and on it goes.
By the way, here's some of the "warnings" on the H1N1 vaccine from the package insert:
"Vaccination with Influenza A (H1N1) 2009 Monovalent Vaccine may not protect all individuals.
5.4 Limitations of Vaccine Effectiveness
Neurological disorders temporally associated with influenza vaccination, such as encephalopathy, optic neuritis/neuropathy, partial facial paralysis, and brachial plexus neuropathy, have been reported.
8.1 Pregnancy
Pregnancy Category C: Animal reproduction studies have not been conducted with Influenza A (H1N1) 2009 Monovalent Vaccine or AFLURIA. It is also not known whether these vaccines can cause fetal harm when administered to a pregnant woman or can affect reproduction capacity. Influenza A (H1N1) 2009 Monovalent Vaccine should be given to a pregnant woman only if clearly needed.
8.3 Nursing Mothers
Neither Influenza A (H1N1) 2009 Monovalent Vaccine nor AFLURIA has been evaluated in nursing mothers. It is not known whether Influenza A (H1N1) 2009 Monovalent Vaccine or AFLURIA is excreted in human milk. Because many drugs are excreted in human milk, caution should be exercised when Influenza A (H1N1) 2009 Monovalent Vaccine is administered to a nursing woman.
8.4 Pediatric Use
Neither Influenza A (H1N1) 2009 Monovalent Vaccine nor AFLURIA has been evaluated in children. Safety and effectiveness in the pediatric population have not been established."
And finally, I noticed that the New York Nurses received a temporary injunction to stop the mandatory vaccinations of nurses in the state of New York.
"The US has an army of 90,000 soldiers in Afghanistan and is spending $100bn a year, but has still been unable to defeat 20,000-25,000 Taliban who receive no pay at all." - Patrick Cockburn
shot then...
I hate being sick...
I've had walking pneumonia twice as a teen, and being a smoker, it takes what seems like forever to recover from the flu. Plus, I still have my tonsils--good for preventing infection, but bad in that they swell so much that I become unable to talk or breathe through my mouth when they're inflamed.
"Parachutes are allowed in checked or carry-on baggage, but may not be worn in flight."
---Southwest Airlines
Who is so determined to ignore the swine flu? You don't specify and so it leaves one wondering.
We all have to go sometime.
Think of all the money you'll save!
Jon Stewart had a good show on this -- the media is hyping up unfounded fears about the vaccine. The vaccine is made the same way; as we have made the vaccines for years, millions of people have been vaccinated with no ill effects.
It is sad to see this become a political issue. You know that if King George were still in power it would be patriotic to get the shot. Since we have a Democrat in power the shot is risky, rushed, untried, and just might turn your kid into a Lesbian.
If people don't want to get the swine flu shot because the President is a Democrat, I'm fine with that. They'll be less morons that way.
Separately, since the "death panels" aren't making the vaccine available to the general public yet, and restricting it to the young, old and unhealthy people, I have been designated for death.
If we had a good Republican system going, these vaccines would be out on E-Bay, going to the highest bidder. ;-)
but where is it made... in what country? Surely not the good ole USA. Is it?
Hmmm...I better avoid all future Who concerts than.
Diabolus est Deus Inversus
Just like my first Who concert, this will all be forgotten.
So many vaccines, so little time...
about seven or eight years ago where Pete had to be in some sort of "bubble" to protect his health. I love the Who, but I couldn't bring myself to see Pete playing in a situation where he should have probably been recuperating in a hospital somewhere...Sad.
"Parachutes are allowed in checked or carry-on baggage, but may not be worn in flight."
---Southwest Airlines
It is incredibly reckless, irresponsible, and dangerous for anyone in the media to go around suggesting that this flu is either being hyped, part of some "govt conspiracy", or whatever other craziness people are coming up with. It IS NOT a run of the mill seasonal flu that typically kills old people, immune compromised, frail, or the chronically ill. It is killing young otherwise healthy people AND pregnant women. A friend of my husbands just attended the funeral of a 9 year old boy who died from swine flu. He was otherwise healthy. Once the individual has full blown acute respiratory distress syndrome, the odds of survival are only 50/50. They're using heart-lung bypass on these folks to give the lungs a rest and hopefully a chance to recover. Get the vaccine ASAP. Our school system is offering the vaccine to all students, but that's still two weeks away.
Not the vaccine, but the swine flu itself. The government intends to quarantine the people in their houses, and then systematically search these houses and take all the guns. Republicans, be very afraid.
Wait a second, that may not be right. New evidence indicates that the swine flu is God's wrath for too much gayness in society.
Now that I've presented "both" sides, hard to figure out what the situation really is.
Even otherwise bright, rational, intelligent people can fall for the crazy theory that the swine flu vaccine is both dangerous and unnecessary or even some kind of big Pharma plot to make money. I haven't checked out Huffington post yet but would not be surprised if some of their otherwise wonderful contributers are on board with Bill.
on this subject he is every bit as demented as the Truthers and the Birthers.
Hasa Diga Eebowai
then why does the vaccine cost so much? Seriously, economy of scale would reduce the cost to a buck or so per person. Gasoline is only $2.50 for a GALLON. How big is the vaccine refinery and how many tankers do they have, or retail outlets and advertising? Certainly it is NOT a plot for $$$$$. We will see in the P&L statements.
Yes, I've had pneumonia more than once, and there's nothing like trying to sleep sitting up so you won't drown.
It's important for those being cutely tagged as the "Young Invulnerables" to understand that the reason theyre more at risk than older folks is that their more powerful immune systems will react equally powerfully to being attacked, and can literally drown them in the collateral damage caused to their lungs by the body's battle against the virus. This is why so many young people in the prime of life were decimated by the flu of 1918, to which this new strain is uncannily similar.
From the Post article, buried in the middle:
No one seems to be ignoring this flu- quite the contrary. While the groups affected differ from "typical" flu, there does not seem to be any increased virulence. It has a scary name, and, like all flu viruses, has the potential to mutate into a more deadly strain, but isn't that true with the flu bug every year?
Guess I just used up too much paranoia on the bird flu; gotta learn to pace myself.
Corruption favors the wealthy.
agree'd fiver
more press from those taking money from the cartels that are getting a cut of the billions of dollars of tax payers money handed out to them.
keep promoting the hype (another form of shock doctrine)
keep the gravy train rolling
whittle away individuals rights for the well-being of the
corporationspeopleTHANK GOD a Judge has more sense then the press and blogoshpere
http://wcbstv.com/breakingnewsalerts/mandator...
This is early in the flu season and H1N1 has already killed 43 children which is about the normal mortality total for a whole season. I think the Post needs to check their facts.
Hasa Diga Eebowai
"The vaccine / adjuvant combination being referred to as the "swine flu vaccine" has apparently never been safety tested or approved by the FDA. In fact, in many cases the vaccine is being sent to clinics, pharmacies and other health establishments separately from the adjuvant chemical, leaving it up to each local vaccine retailer to properly mix the vaccine with the adjuvant, according to information provided by Turner. With hundreds of millions of Americans potentially being targeted with this vaccine, the potential for improper mixing, improper dosages, and human error is alarming."
http://current.com/items/91135264_urgent-laws...
I work in medicine and we've already received out nasal and injectible vaccines. The article quoted is complete BS.
But go ahead and think this is a gov't plot, it just means Darwin will prevail.
with double blind studies and long term effects have not been recorded. It has been tested right?
My daughter woke up sick, and we were at the doctor's office within an hour. She test negative for flu, but the doctor believes that's what she has, and that we just got in too soon for it to show up on the test. What should we do? Nothing. They're not treating healthy kids her age. Just go home, take some ibuprofin, and wait it out. I refuse to be very worried about something over which the doctor was completely unconcerned. I think the governments would have more cooperation if they focused on teaching people to watch for complications rather than trying to panic us over a mostly harmless disease.
and profits would dwindle.
Don't get the vaccine! Its just smoke and mirrors! Its actually a secret formula that turns you from an honest hard working capitalist, to a blood thirsty socialist gay black guy.
I am utterly terrified of catching this! I was up to date on my Pneumonia Vaccine - yet had Pneumonia twice in January and on Jan 31 - suffered Acute Respiratory Failure. All I remember that night was my husband calling 911. I woke up 6 days later in ICU, in the process of extubating myself!
I hate to go to a Drs office as there are people coughing all around and while masks are offered - few wear them, (I do). I will be having the regular Flu shot early next month and if it's available - the other. Hopefully, we who have weakened lungs, will get through this. At 71 , I'm not quite ready to go.
I was released from Cedar Sinai last Wed. Following a six day stay for pneumonia. Doctor's thought I had PCP pneumonia.
They did 2 different body scans, and a biopsy on my lungs. Turns out out it was regular pneumonia, but it was the second time I had it within two months.
Feeling MUCH better now.
The reason why nobody takes these claims seriously is because it's bullshit. The Republinazi Party loves to keep the unwashed American idiot living in fear, and there's no more reason to fear H1N1 than there is invasions from outerspace.
or they may get the swine flu.
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