[WiNaDeYo]

Homework reading assignment: H1N1 101

http://www.wickedlocal.com/belmont/n...d-cases-May-18

Update on H1N1 (swine flu) confirmed cases, May 18
By Mass. DPH
Mon May 18, 2009, 03:49 PM EDT

Boston, Mass. - Since the last update on Friday, May 15, DPH has confirmed 26 additional H1N1 influenza (swine flu) cases in Massachusetts. This brings the confirmed case count to 167.

Two of the newly confirmed cases were hospitalized, which brings the total number of hospitalizations to 13. The total number of hospitalizations is likely to fluctuate over the next few days as records are updated to reflect the new CDC definition of “hospitalizations.” The new definition includes only those cases that were hospitalized for longer than 24 hours.

As the number of cases in Massachusetts continues to increase, the focus on individual case counts becomes less important than examining overall trends.

Therefore, beginning today, DPH will shift away from listing individual cases of confirmed H1N1, and will instead begin listing aggregate cases by county. DPH will also provide data on age distribution of cases and an aggregate count of hospitalizations in the state.

Please note that DPH continues to work closely with health care providers and local public health departments on community level prevention activities.

Flu outbreaks evolve in unpredictable ways; it is impossible to know whether this outbreak will decrease, remain the same, or grow in coming weeks, and whether the illness will remain at its current severity which, on the whole has been relatively mild. Some severe cases may occur in people with underlying risk factors such as young children, the elderly, and people with chronic medical conditions. The Centers for Disease Control and DPH are watching closely for signs of increased severity of the H1N1 influenza (swine flu), and will continue to monitor and report on any developing trends.

Because there is no vaccine for H1N1 influenza, public health officials remind all Massachusetts residents to continue taking simple steps to keep themselves and others healthy.

§ Wash your hands frequently with soap and warm water or use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.

§ Cover your cough with a tissue or cough into your inner elbow and not into your hands.

§ If you are sick stay home from work and if your child is sick keep them home from school for 7 days, or 24 hours after your symptoms go away—whichever is longer.

§ Stay informed about the latest developments on the H1N1 flu.

For more information on H1N1 flu (swine flu) please visit www.mass.gov/dph.

..and this is just the state of Mass...

Extra bonus reading:

http://www.capitalfm.co.ke/news/Inte...ally-4464.html

10,000 with swine flu globally
BY AGENCE FRANCE PRESSE
Update 4 hours and 49 minutes ago

GENEVA, May 19 - The global tally of confirmed swine flu cases in 40 countries rose by 1,001 in a day to 9,830, with 79 deaths, the World Health Organisation said on Tuesday.


10,000 with swine flu globally
BY AGENCE FRANCE PRESSE
Update 4 hours and 49 minutes ago

GENEVA, May 19 - The global tally of confirmed swine flu cases in 40 countries rose by 1,001 in a day to 9,830, with 79 deaths, the World Health Organisation said on Tuesday.

Some 545 of the new confirmed cases and four of the additional deaths recorded since Monday were reported by Mexico, while 409 new cases and one additional death were reported by the United States, data posted on the WHO's website showed.

The third most infected country was Japan, which has been the focus of most recent concern because of the sudden spike in infections there that has prompted authorities to close thousands of schools.

Japan reported 34 new cases bringing the national total to 159, according to the WHO's daily update.

The other new cases were recorded in Chile (three, for a total of four), China (one, total seven), El Salvador (two, total six), Panama (five, total 59), Peru (one, total two) and Britain (one, total 102).

This one too, folks:

http://www.marketwatch.com/story/jap...s-grow-sharply

May 18, 2009, 2:58 a.m. EST
Japan swine flu cases mushrooming
WHO may reportedly hike swine flu alert level

The nation's number of cases of swine flu, also known as influenza A-H1N1, reached a government tally of 92, after 84 people in Osaka and Hyogo prefectures, including high school and college students, were confirmed as infected with the H1N1 strain of influenza A, Kyodo reported Monday.

But in a separate report, Kyodo said its own calculations show that the number of Japanese cases of new flu infections was higher, at 129.

Japanese authorities confirmed Saturday that a student in Kobe who had not been overseas was infected, according to a New York Times report.

The Times report said the World Health Organization may soon raise its pandemic alert level to 6 -- the highest level -- due to the rise in Japanese cases.

By definition, if the World Health Organization finds sustained community transmission -- infections between people with no connection to travel from North America -- it will "presumably" raise its pandemic alert level to 6, since Japan is outside of the WHO Americas region, the report said.

Designation of a phase 6 would indicate that a global pandemic is under way, according to the WHO.

The level was still set at phase 5 shortly before 11 p.m. Eastern time Sunday, according to a spokeswoman for WHO. The U.N. health body defines phase 5 as a "strong signal that a pandemic is imminent."

In a recent update posted on its Web site, the WHO said 39 countries have officially reported a total of 8,480 cases of the influenza A-H1N1 infection, with Mexico reporting 2,895 laboratory-confirmed human cases of infection.
Call for 'calm'

The spread of the flu cases may have "notable effects" on the global economy, the International Monetary Fund's first deputy managing director, John Lipsky, said at a news conference Monday in Tokyo, according to Kyodo.

Meanwhile, Japan's Prime Minister Taro Aso called for calm Monday following the reports of the new domestic flu infections.

He also said the government has no plans to ask citizens to scale down corporate activity, Kyodo reported.

The outbreak led to a decision to suspend classes for certain periods at more than 1,000 schools in Osaka and Hyogo.

Several companies have also taken measures to deal with the spread of the flu infections.

Cosmetics company Shiseido Co. /quotes/comstock/!4911 (JP:4911 1,656, +59.00, +3.69%) has banned 25,000 workers at domestic group firms from taking any business trips within Japan after already having ended overseas visits, an article in the Nikkei newspaper's Monday morning edition.

Mass electronics retailer Edion Corp. /quotes/comstock/!2730 (JP:2730 577.00, +18.00, +3.22%) has told its sales personnel who use public transportation to avoid peak travel times, allowing them to "stagger" their starting times, the report said.

And another:

http://www.voanews.com/english/2009-05-19-voa32.cfm

H1N1 Swine Flu Continues to Spread
By Melinda Smith
Washington
19 May 2009

The H1N1 swine flu virus continues to make its way around the world, with at least 8,800 cases now confirmed in 40 countries. On Monday, an assistant school principal in New York City died from the swine flu, making a total of six deaths reported in the U.S. The virus was at the top of the agenda this week, as health officials from 193 countries met for the World Health Assembly in Geneva, Switzerland...

Dr. Margaret Chan, Director-General of the World Health Organization, says for some time governments have known that preparedness was needed. "We have lived for five long years under the threat of pandemic caused by the lethal H5N1 avian influenza virus. This has left our world better prepared, but also, very scared," she said.

The influenza season is now underway in the southern hemisphere. Dr. Chan is predicting epidemics in several countries where the virus has been reported in that part of the world.

Because the new H1N1 strain spreads rapidly from person to person, researchers have been working furiously to produce a vaccine in case the virus regains strength and affects greater numbers of people.

U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius says production of a new vaccine is not intended to disrupt production of a seasonal vaccine. "U.S. government agencies are working together in an unprecedented way to take the steps necessary to develop a vaccine against the H1N1 virus, should there be a need for it, and doing it in a way that ensures the production of seasonal flu vaccine continues," she said.

The World Health Organization estimates that as many as two billion doses of the swine flu vaccine might be produced. The vaccine may be ready in four to six months.

Special interest reading:

http://www.voanews.com/english/2009-05-19-voa16.cfm

US Preparing for Possible H1N1 Swine Flu Pandemic
By Lisa Schlein
Geneva
19 May 2009


A senior U.S. health official urges countries to adopt aggressive measures to contain the A-H1N1 swine flu virus. U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services Kathleen Sebelius says everyone must cooperate in this activity because disease knows no borders....

http://www.cbc.ca/health/story/2009/...accine465.html

'Still in danger zone,' for swine flu: UN chief
Last Updated: Tuesday, May 19, 2009 | 1:02 PM ET
CBC News

Drugs and vaccines against the global swine flu outbreak need to be available to poor countries, the head of the United Nations told top health officials Tuesday as they discussed delays in creating a vaccine.

"We must remain vigilant," UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon told a news conference at the World Health Organization's annual meeting in Geneva.

"We may be in a grace period with H1N1 but we are still in the danger zone."

Don't fool yourselves and do your homework! It ain't over, folks, so don't let your guard down!
Peace and Good Will!