Swine Flu - H1N1 to be precise - is making a comeback

[Mestral]

I did a quick search and didn't find anything on this recently, but with a couple older threads, somewhat tainted with political viewpoints.
Here is one: http://www.centextalk.com/vb/showthread.php/4602-Phony-H1N1-Crisis-Shows-Ineptness-of-Government-Run-Healthcare
Obviously dj402_97 didn't think too much of the government's response to the flu.

I didn't either:http://crypto-corinthian.blogspot.com/2009/10/well-it-is-officially-swine-flu.html
That link is to the 5th or 6th article I wrote on the subject, and if you read them all,
I said the outbreak is real, but let's not get stupid. After which, Obama got stupid.

There is supposed to be some update on the current resurgence of the virus, tonight at 10pm, according to KXXV.

I mainly wonder, if the public at large got vaccinated a couple years ago, and we had an epidemic then, how many people (percentage) could be vulnerable today?

Vaccine gives a few years immunity, how many, I don't know. Exposure gives permanent immunity, assuming the virus doesn't mutate, but of course they mutate on average, every 5 months, but it takes multiple mutations to completely evade the immunity given by exposure. It gets really complicated, and it isn't my field.

[Grammar Rules]

BELL COUNTY (January 2, 2014) Bell County Public Health District officials confirmed Thursday that an area resident has died of the flu.

Lacy Sanders, the county's disease surveillance coordinator, confirmed that a Coryell County man said to be in his 60s died in late December at the Temple Veteran's Administration Hospital of the flu.

It was the first confirmed flu death in Central Texas, Sanders said.

The victim suffered from a compromised immune system, but Sanders could not elaborate on the condition.

It also was not known if the man had received a flu shot.

A second man, in his 50s, from Holland, continues to fight for life in the Intensive Care Unit at Scott & White Hospital, Sanders said.

He has been battling the disease for several weeks.

He was not vaccinated, Sanders said Thursday.

Local officials say they're battling four strains of influenza this year, including Flu A, Flu B, H1N1 and a fourth type that was not named.

States are required to report only pediatric flu deaths, but as many as 20 deaths have been confirmed in the Houston area alone.

According to published reports, deaths have been reported in Euless, Austin, Dallas, and Beaumont, as well.

The McLennan County Health District reported 349 cases of flu in mid-December and there were 206 reported in Bell County during the same time period.

Kelly Craine with the McLennan County Public Health District said the same spike is being reported around the state and the country, but said health officials haven't seen a comparable increase in H1N1 cases since 2009.

Both Craine and Sanders said this year the illness is more aggressive and is spreading more quickly.

Craine said it's still not too late to get a flu shot.

Health officials say in particular that pregnant women, the elderly, and children should be vaccinated.

Sanders said the flu shot requires about two weeks for the body to build immunity against the illness and the flu mist requires about a week.

http://www.kwtx.com/home/headlines/Central-Texas-Health-Officials-Confirm-Flu-Death-238500171.html?device=tablet

As I understand it, since the flu virus mutates rapidly and often, immunity lasts only during the cycle of that year's outbreak and only for the version of the viruses the CDC anticipated and ordered the prepared vaccine for.

[Mestral]

The above article is still the most current I can find this morning, so that must have been the update they were saying we would get at 10pm.

The immunity is based on a set of surface proteins, and the best illustration I have ever heard is to imagine a bicycle lock like the one pictured below. Ever so often (5 months average) one of the numbers on one of the the dials changes. Any immune response (antigens) you get from exposure (permanent) or vaccine (temporary) also has a 4 digit number, and if it can match a 4 digit number on those dials exactly, it is an effective immunity. If it can match 3 of the four it is partially effective. This is why they say that even if you get the flu after you get the shot, it will likely be a weak case. I know the real underlying system is more complex, but this still seems to be a good illustration.

What made this flu so dangerous a few years ago (2008/2009) is that almost no one's immune system, at that time, had any matching numbers. From the article above, it seems a large portion of the population may still be at risk, but I am not sure.

4276

[xzochye]

A 10-day-old baby died from H1N1 as well as other flu related illnesses in Bell County. The Bell County Health Department confirmed that a 10-day-old baby died in the first week of January from the flu at Scott & White Children's Hospital.


http://www.kcentv.com/story/24387676/ten-day-old-baby-dies-from-h1n1-in-bell-county

[CenTexDave]

Once I retired from the army I told myself "no more flu shots", but the past 4 years I have gotten them because so much easier now.
Most pharmacies and even HEB give them while you wait - no appointment needed - and in 10 minutes you're outta there.

[siamcat]

I've never gotten a flu shot. Think about, then forget about it. My kids got one every year, my daughter got one this year too (hmm last year I guess).
Lucky for me I seem to have a good immune system and don't get the flu very often. (knocking on wood now)

When I was a kid and in school, but my brother was not, he would get every illness going around in school but not me.

The sick, elderly, and children should definitely consider it.

There is a free flu shot clinic in Killeen soon, but I can't find my paper right now. It was in the KDH.

[sojourner truth]

I haven't had a flu shot in 5 years...Haven't had the flu in 5 years either.

The flu virus is started in China, where the CDC stations its researchers to see which strain is most likely to pop up next year.

The flu comes from ducks...The virus cannot be transferred from ducks to humans, butit does transfer from ducks to pigs. Pigs are so genetically close to humans that the mutated virus passes from pigs to humans. This happens beacause the Chinese peasants keep their pigs in their huts with them for safety. They get the mutated virus, and then pass it on to others.

Because there is international flight as a common carrier, everyone around the world now gets it. I wasn't much of a problem prior to flight, except in rural America where farmers got the American strains from their pigs. The Chinese, in the 50s had such a bad strain that it killed millions of them, and was covered up by the communists so no one would think them incapable of dealing with the problem. There were even aerial photos of the disposal sites for the bodies.

Last time we had an American strain that killed thousands was back in the early 1900s. I'm sure the Vegans could make a lot of hay with that propoganda.

[Mestral]

I will agree, it usually starts in Asia, but the '08 outbreak started in Mexico.
People responded stupidly, by attacking pork products.

[mac]

we, the U.S., had a huge epidemic during our civil war and again in WW I. i don't know if it came from China but it killed tons and tons of us...mac


I haven't had a flu shot in 5 years...Haven't had the flu in 5 years either.

The flu virus is started in China, where the CDC stations its researchers to see which strain is most likely to pop up next year.

The flu comes from ducks...The virus cannot be transferred from ducks to humans, butit does transfer from ducks to pigs. Pigs are so genetically close to humans that the mutated virus passes from pigs to humans. This happens beacause the Chinese peasants keep their pigs in their huts with them for safety. They get the mutated virus, and then pass it on to others.

Because there is international flight as a common carrier, everyone around the world now gets it. I wasn't much of a problem prior to flight, except in rural America where farmers got the American strains from their pigs. The Chinese, in the 50s had such a bad strain that it killed millions of them, and was covered up by the communists so no one would think them incapable of dealing with the problem. There were even aerial photos of the disposal sites for the bodies.

Last time we had an American strain that killed thousands was back in the early 1900s. I'm sure the Vegans could make a lot of hay with that propoganda.

[Mestral]

we, the U.S., had a huge epidemic during our civil war and again in WW I. i don't know if it came from China but it killed tons and tons of us...macNo one is quiet certain where those strains originated. Dozens of theories. Most plausible is that it made the jump to humans in a form that did not cause severe illness, and then mutated, a few months later, into the strain that killed millions.

[Mestral]

Well, Influenza is in the news, yet again.
But is it news, if it is old?
They were talking about a couple of fatal cases from a month or two ago.

http://www.kcentv.com/story/24352790/bell-county

And they continue to harp, that people need to get the flu shot,
saying it is not too late.
Trouble is, if the information is already old,
and they do have a financial interest in selling us the vaccine,
how far can we trust their word?

[mac]

http://www.kcentv.com/story/24352790/bell-countyAnd they continue to harp, that people need to get the flu shot,saying it is not too late. and they do have a financial interest in selling us the vaccine,
how far can we trust their word?

kcentv has a financial interest in the flu and selling vaccine?....mac

[Mestral]

kcentv has a financial interest in the flu and selling vaccine?....mac
No, the medical community feeding them the information.

[Grammar Rules]

The same medical community that singled out a couple of middle aged and old ladies, an old man, and a baby to kill just so they could sell more flu vaccine? Twilight Zone stuff.

[mac]

The same medical community that singled out a couple of middle aged and old ladies, an old man, and a baby to kill just so they could sell more flu vaccine? Twilight Zone stuff.

yeow, that's kind of like some of my aunts. they'll swear to be dammed that theirs a cure out there for cancer and the guvment or rich people are a keepin' it secret. i don't dare ask why they'd be doin' that and am almost afraid to take my girls to the reunions for fear that whatever them ole ladies have might be catchin'..... we were always told, as kids, that lake coleman was on top of an old indian burial ground and village.....reckon that water might have something to do with it? doo doo doo doo doo........mac

[Mestral]

The same medical community that singled out a couple of middle aged and old ladies, an old man, and a baby to kill just so they could sell more flu vaccine? Twilight Zone stuff.When did they do this?
Wow! I complain they don't give timely information and expect us to take their word for some time sensitive items
that maybe they have a conflicting interest in, and find out they murdered some people?
Unbelievable.

[Grammar Rules]

Mestral, you are too funny. :))

[Mestral]

Well, it seems to have worked. The news this morning said there were waiting lines to get the vaccine and they have sold just about all of what they bought, so those giving the vaccine won't get stuck with unsold inventory.

I am guessing the number of cases will drop off dramatically, and they will credit the vaccine, despite the fact that only a small percentage of the population got it this month.

[CenTexDave]

Well, it was said we'd have a Black president when pigs fly.
Now we have Swine Flu. :)

[Mestral]

Well, it was said we'd have a Black president when pigs fly.
Now we have Swine Flu. :)My ex-wife sent me that one back when the first wave of this epidemic took off. Still funny, and even better when you look at the dates. I been tracking this outbreak (http://crypto-corinthian.blogspot.com/2009/04/swine-flu.html) since April 2009. Obama was first inaugurated 3 months prior to the first outbreaks. This is the third, and hopefully last, wave of outbreaks. I don't know how it took a couple years off in between the 2nd and 3rd waves.

[Mestral]

Hmmmm.

http://www.kxxv.com/story/24519248/flu-numbers-down-in-mclennan-county

Flu numbers down in McLennan County
Posted: Jan 22, 2014 11:26 AM CST
CENTRAL TEXAS - The McLennan County Public Health District shows flu case numbers dropped dramatically for the week of January 12-18.
The total number of flu cases reported for that week was 155. That number is down from the 337 flu cases reported in McLennan County the week of January 5-11.
Earlier this month, the McLennan County Health Department reported that a woman in her 60s died of influenza type A in January.
In total, there have been six deaths in the Central Texas area linked to the flu.

[sojourner truth]

Almost all, if not every, case so far seen in Bell county has been Type A influenza...not the H1N1 strain predicted and prepared for.

That may have something to do with vacine shortages, as they stocked up for H1N1.

My wife has stopped watching the evening news any more because she can't take seeing 15 minutes straight of people getting shots. I wonder if anyone has complained yet. It is getting so old, and they always do it right when we sit down to eat.

[Imagine]

Had the flu over Christmas break; a nurse told me that it was most likely Type A. I didn't want to go anywhere near S&W and catch something worse...what could a dr tell me anyway besides aspirin for the fever and lots of fluids. Wasn't fun and for a while I was concerned that the cough was settling in my chest. It didn't, and while it took me some time to recover to my pre-flu kick-tushie fighting trim, I still won't get shot.

PS. Amazing how much weight you can gain when you're on a milkshake diet because you don't feel like eating or are unable to swallow much of anything.

[Grammar Rules]

The Statesman says there have been 11 deaths in Austin. They are up; Waco is down.

[Mestral]

Had the flu over Christmas break; a nurse told me that it was most likely Type A. I didn't want to go anywhere near S&W and catch something worse...what could a dr tell me anyway besides aspirin for the fever and lots of fluids. Wasn't fun and for a while I was concerned that the cough was settling in my chest. It didn't, and while it took me some time to recover to my pre-flu kick-tushie fighting trim, I still won't get shot.

PS. Amazing how much weight you can gain when you're on a milkshake diet because you don't feel like eating or are unable to swallow much of anything.You are fortunate. Possibly due to being in "fighting trim" in the first place. My lungs are a weak spot, and I almost always get pneumonia, even if I only get a mild strain of the flu (one of the reasons this subject is of keen interest to me). My take on threat of side effects is ibuprofen is substanitally safer than aspirin, BTW.

[sojourner truth]

Had the flu over Christmas break; a nurse told me that it was most likely Type A. I didn't want to go anywhere near S&W and catch something worse...what could a dr tell me anyway besides aspirin for the fever and lots of fluids. Wasn't fun and for a while I was concerned that the cough was settling in my chest. It didn't, and while it took me some time to recover to my pre-flu kick-tushie fighting trim, I still won't get shot.

PS. Amazing how much weight you can gain when you're on a milkshake diet because you don't feel like eating or are unable to swallow much of anything.

On you, a few extra pounds is not a problem....Probably have to run around in the shower to get wet. You are always slim and trim.

The rest of us, not so much.