Ukraine: WHO’s Fears Over Ukraine’s Flu Ease

16 November 2009

Combined Reports

Mykola Lazarenko / AP

Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko greeting a young patient while visiting a children’s hospital in Kiev on Friday.

 

The World Health Organization said Friday that a “high to very high intensity of respiratory diseases” had been reported in Russia and Belarus but it was now less concerned about a big outbreak in Ukraine.

“The initial analysis of information from Ukraine indicates that the numbers of severe cases do not appear to be excessive when compared to the experience of other countries and do not represent any change in the transmission or virulence of the virus,” the WHO said in a statement posted on its web site.

Ukraine, Belarus and some Russian cities have recently extended school breaks because of fears about the pandemic virus. WHO spokesman Gregory Hartl said school closures were among steps that could slow viral spread at the beginning of an outbreak, but had less usefulness once the flu had reached 5 percent of a given population.

“After the virus becomes more widespread in a country, closing schools has less of an impact,” he told a news briefing earlier in the week. “If you make a decision to close schools and universities and other institutions you have to be aware there are social and economic consequences of this decision.”

http://www.themoscowtimes.com/news/article/whos-fears-over-ukraines-flu-ease/389501.html

 

Bahrain
•  Bahrain confirms 7th death, 22 cases and 3 critical (Link)

Canada
•  Unadjuvanted H1N1 vaccine approved for wider use (Link)
•  Canadian hospitals face Swine Flu nightmare, 1,324 admitted (Link)
•  Several BC hospitals at capacity, some overcapacity overflow (Link)

India
•  3 more deaths yesterday and 161 new cases of H1N1 (Link)
•  45th death recorded in Gujerat, 26 yr old woman (Link)

Israel
•  confirmation of 46th death (Link)

Jordan
•  Confirmation of 11th death from H1N1, 143 new cases, 85 hospitalized (Link)

Thailand
•  Thailand’s North alerted of bird flu outbreak (Link)

United Kingdom
•  Swine flu outbreak closes school (Link)
•  Scotland: Swine flu claims two more victims (Link)

United States
•  US: VOA officially confirms new CDC estimates of nearly 4000 US deaths from H1N1 (Link)
•  AZ: Arizona confirms 1st death in Graham County (Link)
•  OR: More Ferrets Diagnosed With H1N1 (Link)

General
•  Playing chicken with a nightmare flu
(Link)

Research
•  Cross-Reactivity to 2009 H1N1 Influenza Virus (Link)

Commentary
•  How the Swine Flu Has Spread: Google Flu Trend  (Link)
•  Recombinomics: WHO Evades Ukraine Sequence Questions at News Conference (Link)
•  Recombinomics: Ukraine Dead Increase to 299 – Still No Sequences (Link)

MILLION HIT BY ‘PLAGUE WORSE THAN SWINE FLU’

(I have just been alerted by a flu wiki buddy of these two breaking stories. Please read  carefully  and draw your own conclusions.-cottontop)

A DEADLY plague could sweep across Europe, doctors fear, after an outbreak of a virus in Ukraine plunged the country and its neighbours into a state of panic.

A cocktail of three flu viruses are reported to have mutated into a single pneumonic plague, which it is believed may be far more dangerous than swine flu. The death toll has reached 189 and more than 1 million people have been infected, most of them in the nine regions of Western Ukraine.

President of Ukraine Viktor Yushchenko has called in the World Health Organisation and a team of nine specialists are carrying out tests in Kiev and Lviv to identify the virus. Samples have been sent to London for analysis.

President Yushchenko said: “People are dying. The epidemic is killing doctors. This is absolutely inconceivable in the 21st Century.”

In a TV interview, the President added: “Unlike similar epidemics in other countries, three causes of serious viral infections came together simultaneously in Ukraine – two seasonal flus and the Californian flu

“Virologists conclude that this combination of infections may produce an even more aggressive new virus as a result of mutation.”

Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko has been touring hospitals where victims are being treated and presidential elections in January could be cancelled .

Four men and one woman have died from the flu in Lviv, said emergency hospital chief doctor Myron Borysevych. Two of the dead patients were in the 22-35 age group, with two others over 60. He diagnosed the disease as viral pneumonia.

“We have sent the analyses to Kiev. We don’t believe it’s H1N1 swine flu. Neither do we know what kind of pneumonia it is.” 

 http://www.express.co.uk/posts/view/140492/Million-hit-by-plague-worse-than-swine-flu

Doctors learned why Ukrainians dying! (updated at 06:25 pm)

MIGnews.com.ua

All victims of the virus in Bukovyna (22 people at the age of 20-40) died not from bilateral pneumonia, as was previously thought, but as a result of viral distress syndrome, i.e the total destruction of the lungs.

At first the cardio-pulmonary insufficiency comes, and consequently cardiogenic shock is developed, which causes cardiac standstill and death, told the chief of bureau of the Chernivtsi regional forensic examination, doctor of science, Professor Viktor Bachynsky, UNIAN reports.

“During a bilateral pneumonia some morphological picture is observed. As of data of deaths, there is no such morphological picture. The virus, which causes death, is very aggressive, it does not strike the trachea, but immediately gets into the lungs and causes heavy swelling and solid hemorrhage. Mixed types of parainfluenza and influenza A/N1N1 lead to this state. This is a very toxic strain, which has not yet answered to the treatment of the Ministry of Health”, – said Viktor Bachinsky.

According to him, there is a need to change the treatment standards, because those which were used earlier, resulted in nothing – doctors failed to save all people infected with the virus in the reanimation. The belt ventilators did not help also.

For this reason a group of professors of Chernivtsi Medical University appealed to the Ministry of Health and National Security and Defense Council with a demand to review the standards of treatment of patients in Bukovyna. Scientists-morphologists sent to Kyiv reports, studies and analysis of critically ill patients and people who died of virus.

Viktor Bachinsky noted that the virus is extremely toxic, it is able to penetrate not only through respiratory apparatus but also through the eyes. Chernovtsy scientists recommend in any case use masks and even wear protective spectacles. An important condition to prevent deterioration of the situation is also the observance of quarantine regime.

06:19 p.m. Ministry of Health does not consider it is necessary to publish data on the number of confirmed cases of influenza pandemic in the laboratory. “Ukraine is in the A/N1N1 influenza pandemic, and now it does not matter how many of these cases will be detected, we should treat everybody equally,” – said Deputy Minister of Health Vasyl Lazoryshynets at a briefing on Friday.

Vasyl Lazoryshynets also reminded that in Ukraine since the beginning of the epidemic 1,25 mn people became ill with pandemic influenza, influenza and acute respiratory diseases, including 61,000 people – over the past day, which is by 8,500 less than the previous day. 65,615 people are treated in hospital, including 392 – in the reanimation, 60 have artificial pulmonary ventilation.

Since the beginning of the epidemic in Ukraine 239 people died, including 26 people during the last day, most of them are in the Ivano-Frankivsk, Chernivtsi, Lviv and Ternopil Regions. He also said that according to the laboratory data, 14 people died of pandemic influenza, Interfax-Ukraine reports.

06:25 p.m. To date, swine flu in Ukraine is dominant, but not the only strain, said the head of mission of the World Health Organization in Ukraine Yukka Pukkila.

Yukka Pukkila said that the strain of pandemic virus is detected in 22 cases of 34 samples sent to the control laboratory, which collaborates with WHO in London.

At the same time, Yukka Pukkila stressed that, besides Californian flu in Ukraine there is a large number of varieties of acute respiratory viral diseases and many other viruses that infect the respiratory system, reports Liga.

http://mignews.com.ua/en/categ408/articles/378759.html

Swine Flu Slowing Worldwide

Posted on: Saturday, 14 November 2009, 06:45 CST

The worst may be behind us for swine flu outbreaks, according to new reports from the World Health Organization on Friday.

The global death toll is slowing, although 6,250 people have died since the onset of the pandemic, AFP accounted.

In the week of November 8, the number of deaths from A(H1N1) increased about 179, while there were 224 a week prior and a significant leap of about 700 in the last week of October. 

The pandemic has affected 206 countries or territories globally, the WHO stated on its website.

The influenza season marked signs of peaking in North America, but Europe and Central and Eastern Asia show signs the pandemic is intensifying, the UN health agency said.

“Very intense and increasing influenza activity continues to be reported in Mongolia with a severe impact on the health care system,” it added.

However, the WHO investigated the sudden surge in flu cases in the Ukraine and discovered no indications that the swine flu virus was becoming stronger.

full story

http://www.redorbit.com/news/health/1785974/swine_flu_slowing_worldwide/

 

Australia
•  Man with severe swine flu defies the odds  (Link)

Austria
•  3rd A/H1N1 death (Link)

Canada
•  Access to vaccine increased (Link)
•  Newfoundland confirms its 7th death from H1N1
(Link)

Finland
•  First A/H1N1 flu fatal case reported in Finnish capital (Link)

India
•  India: A 2nd death confirmed in Orissa and ‘nearly 200′ children ILI (Link)
•  India: Punjab orphanage has both dengue cases and H1N1 (Link)

Iran
•  Iran: MP says H1N1 cases ‘higher than those claimed’, 16 students hospitalized (Link)

Italy
•  A/H1N1 death toll rises to 45 (Link)

Kosovo
•  Kosovo: confirmation of 1st death and 22 cases of H1N1 (Link)

Latvia
•  Latvia reports first swine flu death (Link)

Mexico
•  Flu deaths increase rapidly in Mexico (Link)

Philippines
•  Three little pigs in Mindanao (Link)

Poland
•  Poland Confirms Its 1st Death From H1N1 Flu Virus (Link)

Spain
•  2 more deaths confirmed in Catalonia (Link)

Sudan
•  confirmation of 13 cases of H1N1, 4 new cases
(Link)

Turkey
•  Death toll of A/H1N1 flu rises to 60 in Turkey (Link)

Ukraine
•  Fragile Care Worsened Swine Flu in Ukraine (Link)

United Kingdom
•  Wales: Eighteen mothers-to-be admitted to Welsh hospitals with swine flu [cumulative total] (Link)
•  Scotland confirms 2 more deaths, total now 37 (Link)

United States
•  FDA Panel to Consider New Flu Vaccine Technology (Link)
•  California H1N1 death rates by county (Link)
•  IA: H1N1 flu’s strength, speed stun mourners (Link)
•  IL: 7 yr. old dies in Rockford; 3rd death in Winnebago County (Link)
•  IN: H1N1 kills 2 in La Porte County  (Link)
•  KS: KDHE announces additional death of Kansan infected with H1N1 (Link)
•  OR: H1N1 flu claims second local [Yamhill Co.] victim (Link)
•  PA: Geisinger confirms 2nd H1N1 Death in a Week (Link)
•  ME: Two more deaths in Maine (Link)
• FL: 3 yr old girl died of H1N1 (Link)
•  H (Link)

General
•  Novartis receives approval in Switzerland for Celtura (Link)
•  CSL Limited’s H1N1 influenza vaccine approved for infants  (Link)
•  H1N1: Mechanical Ventilation For Patients With Lung Damage Don’t Always Work As Planned (Link)
•  Studies show obesity may increase risk for swine flu (Link)

Serbia: May call declaration of emergency

The Serbian government announced the Plague of Pig Flu

By editorial staff of 11/11/2009 @ 22:05
The department of the Serbian Health announced the plague of pig flu H1N1 towards prevented expanded him the spreading of the virus in the Balkan country.

The serious declaration of the emergency meant the authorised side could forbid the mass to gather, to close the school and to ban the visit to the hospital.

This action also including the mass vaccination for the health workers and the community’s other susceptible group. The department of the Health said had 258 cases of pig flu in Serbia. Seven people died as a result of this virus in Serbia, and the report on the local media said 350 other people were treated in the hospital. /VOA

togglestext translated

http://www.infeksi.com/newsdetail.php?lng=in&doc=4018

 

Armenia
•  11 cases of H1N1 reported (Link)

Bosnia and Herzegovina
•  137 cases of infection with the A (H1N1) (Link)

Canada
•  Second H1N1 wave takes lethal toll on Canadians (Link)
•  Ottawa: Fifth H1N1 death reported (Link)
•  New Brunswick has 2 more deaths confirmed from H1N1 (Link)
•  Four more Alberta H1N1 deaths (Link)

China
•  China’s health ministry investigating deaths of 2 people vaccinated for swine flu (Link)

Egypt
•  Health ministry no longer publishes H1H1 numbers (Blog) (Link)

Finland
•  Two year old died of swine flu after vaccination (Link)

Greece
•  Healthy Minstry announces 5 deaths so far, 330 new cases (Link)

Hungary
•  Confirmation of 2 deaths from H1N1, total now 7 (Link)

India
•  Pune doctor was selling non-H1N1 vaxx as H1N1 vaccine (Link)
•  21st death confirmed in Rajasthan, 80 more confirmed cases (Link)

Iran
•  20 new deaths, total now 58 dead from H1N1 (Link)

Ireland
•  Deaths of pregnant woman and girl bring flu toll to 16 (Link)

Macedonia
•  42 new cases of H1N1, 9 more in hospital, total 25 in care (Link)

Nepal
•  Confirmation of 78 H1N1 cases (Link)
•  15 students test positive for H1N1 in Pokhara (Link)

New Zealand
•  Swine flu “eats away” at woman (Link)

Poland
•  First swine flu death suspected in Poland  (Link)

Romania
•  1146 cases, 89 in past 24 hours (Link)

Serbia 
•  Serbia buys 3 million Swiss swine flu vaccines (Link)
•  For swine flu, Serbians turn to garlic (Link)

Switzerland
•  Switzerland gives green light to new A/H1N1 influenza vaccine (Link)

Ukraine
•  Total 265 deaths thus far (Link)
•  Lvov confirms 87 deaths from flu (Link)

United Kingdom
•  7 Yorkshire deaths in past fortnight – Don’t panic, urge doctors as Yorkshire’s swine flu death toll rises (Link)
•  A child death in Scotland confirmed as 35th death (Link)
•  Scotland: Hospital staff ill after flu jabs (Link)

United States
•  US: CDC confirmed 35 more child deaths in past week (Link)
•  AK: Alaskan death makes 9 total thus far (Link)
•  FL: 11th death confirmed in Pinellas County / St. Petersburg (Link)
•  HI: Cases up, kids vax pgm starts (Link)
•  IL: 12 more deaths recorded, Illinois now has 48 deaths (Link)
•  IN: Local physicians seeing H1N1 sidekick: pneumonia (Link)
•  KY: 4th death confirmed in N. Kentucky (Link)
•  MA: H1N1, MRSA, & Pneumonia Suspected in Amherst Teen Death (Link)
•  MD: Swine flu kills 6 more people in Md.; all had underlying conditions (Link) and  (Link)
•  MI: Paw Paw H1N1 victim ‘went down with it so fast’ (Link)
•  NE: Nebraska confirms 11th death from H1N1 (Link)
•  NJ: Improve data about H1N1 (Link)
•  NM: University of New Mexico student death from H1N1 confirmed (Link
•  NY: 3 more deaths in Oneida County (Link)
•  OH: second death in Licking County, Ohio in less than a week (Link)
•  OK: Oklahoma reports 7 more deaths, 28 total, deaths up 25% in week (Link)
•  OR: Age makes all the difference in severity of flu (Link)
•  OR: Weekly Surveillance Report For Influenza & Other Respiratory Viruses(Link)
•  PA: Blair County Reports First H1N1 Death (Link)
•  SD: South Dakota confirms 4 new deaths, total 17 (Link)v
•  TX: 11 yr old Angola, Texas girl may be H1N1 death (Link)
•  TX: Hispanics Account for Half of Swine Flu Deaths (Link)
•  WA: Two more deaths confirmed in Washington State, in Island County (Link)

Vietnam
•  H1N1 – Dengue fever co-infections (Link)

General
•  W.H.O. Rushes Drugs to Nations Hit by Swine Flu (Link)
•  Protective effect of seasonal flu vaccination? (Mexican Study) (Link) (CDC Study) (Link)
•  Flu infections starting to peak in some areas: WHO (Link)
•  Worldwide deaths from H1N1 more than 6,250 (Link)
•  WHO update 47 (Link)
•  WHO: World map of impact on health services (Link)
•  A/H1N1 influenza death toll rises to 6,260, says WHO (Link)
•  MedaSorb Technologies Corporation Provides Clinical Update (Link)
•  Global swine flu deaths slow as WHO toll passes 6,250 (Link)
•  OPINION: Swine flu skepticism needs response (Link)

Ukraine: 4 more areas put in quarantine

Quarantine-restrictive measures have been taken in Luhansk, Poltava, Mykolayiv and Kirovohrad oblasts to strengthen control over the flu situation.

“This is not a (full-blown) quarantine inasmuch as a quarantine envisions more strict measures and restrictions to prevent the spread of the epidemic. Quarantine-restrictive measures are taken to strengthen control over the situation in these oblasts,” explained Head Sanitary Inspector, Oleksandr Bilovol at a press conference.

As is generally known, the State Commission made the decision to strengthen anti-epidemic measures in every region, including the city of Kyiv on November 7, where the number of people ill have is approaching or has surpassed the epidemic threshold.

http://www.isria.com/pages/12_November_2009_165.php

 

Albania
•  World Bank-funded flu diagnostic centre opens in Albania (Link)

Armenia
•  Officials confirm first three cases (Link)

Azerbaijan
•  Disinfecting sites to prevent H1N1 spread (Link)

Cambodia
•  WHO sees local shots for A(H1N1) by year-end (Link)

Canada
•  Santa gets a flu shot for Xmas (Link)
•  Poll suggests Canadians think H1N1 risks exaggerated (Link)
•  Laval man, 21, becomes 21st fatality in Quebec (Link)
•  H1N1 unlikely to have noticeable effect on economy (Link)

Czech Republic
•  Secondary school in Czech Cheb closed over flu (Link)

Egypt
•  Egypt reports sixth A/H1N1 flu death  (Link)

Germany
•  German soccer striker Klose and family in quarantine after sons get H1N1 (Link)

Iran
•  Death toll increased by 25 last week, total now 58 dead (Link)

Israel
•  Israeli swine flu deaths reach 45 (Link)

Italy
•  Invention washes away sins – without flu fears(Link)

Mexico
•  Highest H1N1 deaths in elderly (Link)

Moldova
•  Moldova Reports Fourth Swine-Flu Death (Link)

Mongolia
•  Flu death rises to 12 in Mongolia (Link)

Nepal
•  Prime Minister may be ‘bedridden’ with H1N1 (Link)

Russia
•  Russia’s health minister warns media against spreading flu panic (Link)

Serbia
•  Eighth victim of H1N1 flu in Serbia (Link)

South Korea
•  12 more deaths confirmed, total now 64 (Link and link)

Ukraine
•  Ukrainians do not die from pneumonia, and from viral disstressindroma (Link)

United Kingdom
•  Scotland: More people catching swine flu (Link)
•  West Midlands confirms 4 more deaths, 23 total so far, and 206 new hospitalizations (Link)
•  Wales reports 6 new deaths from H1N1 (Link)
•  Scotland confirms 34th death from H1N1 (Link)
•  MHRA extends website portal for vaxx & meds adverse reactions reports (Link)

United States
•  US: CDC estimate of H1N1 cases (Link)
•  US: Unprecedented levels of flu and ILI this flu season (Link)
•  CDC: Swine flu has sickened 22 million in 6 months (Link)
•  CA: Sacramento-area churches alter rituals to reduce H1N1 risk (Link)
•  ME: 3rd death confirmed in Maine, second in Penobscot County (Link)
•  MN: Minnesota confirms 7 new deaths, total 21 (Link)
•  NY: H1N1 Surge Triggers Emergency Plan for NYC Hospital(Link)
•  NY: Two deaths were relatives in Ontario County  (Link)
•  OH: H1N1 Cases – Healthy to Death’s Door in One Week (Article & Video) (Link)
•  OH: Swine flu is worrisome for millions of workers (Link)
•  OK: Seven new deaths confirmed in Oklahoma, 28 deaths in total thus far (Link)
•  OR hospitalizations up 29; one more death (Link)
•  PA: State distributes H1N1 ‘care packages’ to schools (Link)
•  PA: Five Additional Fatalities per DOH  (Link)
•  TX: Surgical mask company aims to ease demand  (Link)
•  TX: Fort Worth/Tarrant County confirm 7th death from H1N1 (Link)
•  TX: Athens hospital has experienced ER surge of historic proportions, had good preps (Link)
•  VA:Virginia teen athlete in wheel chair after H1N1 vaccine shot (Link)
•  WI: 2nd death confirmed in Portage County (Link)

Vietnam
•  41st death confirmed and Pasteur Institute President’s comments (Link)

General
•  UPDATE 2-Antivirals can prevent pandemic flu deaths – WHO (Link)
•  Vax Amendment: Kids under NINE need TWO sf Shots! (Link)
•  Common cold may hold off swine flu (Link)
•  Vaccine Production: Overview Sanofi’s slow gestation of H1N1 (Link)
•  For Children With Flu, a Trip to the E.R? (Link)
•  WHO Virtual Press Conference (Link)
•  Pets can get H1N1, so practice good hygiene (Link)
•  Novartis Updates Vaccine Progress in Germany; Acquires Chinese Vaccine Manufacturer (Link)
•  Disney pre-empts spread of swine flu  (Link)
•  WHO stresses antiviral use in high-risk H1N1 patients (Link)
•  H1N1 Health Leaders Gather in Las Vegas (Link)

Commentary
•  CDC Estimate of US H1N1 Pediatric Deaths Raised to 540 (Link)
•  Ukraine Dead Increase to 239 – Still No Sequences (Link)

 

What Is Cough’s Connection To Swine Flu?

By Maggie Mertens

All around our neighborhood, people are coughing. So we weren’t too surprised when a blog reader, who asked not to be identified, wrote in with a question about the hacking:

Is a ‘cough’ always present with the swine flu, or is it possible for that symptom not to be present and still have H1N1?

Most of the time a cough does go along with the swine flu, Dr. Douglas Kamerow, a family physician and former Assistant Surgeon General, says. The symptoms for swine flu are generally the same as classic influenza, which means a cough is very common.

full story

http://www.npr.org/blogs/health/2009/11/coughing_and_swine_flu.html

 

Azerbaijan
•  Azerbaijan reports another confirmed H1N1 case (Link)

Belarus
•  Quarantine in schools lifted, despite of protests of doctors (Link)

Canada
•  Saskatchewan has 2 more suspect H1N1 deaths, others in ICUs (Link)
•  Tamiflu-Resistant Swine Flu Found in Canadian Father (Link)

China
•  China’s Tough Measures on Flu Appear to Be Effective (Link)
•  A/H1N1 flu kills 36, infects 62,800 in Chinese mainland (Link)

Croatia
•  second death confirmed from H1N1 (Link)

Finland
•  Finland’s death toll from A/H1N1 flu rises to six (Link)

India
•  Flu SOS before Cuttack match (Link)
•  Kerala confirms another victim, the 20th in state (Link)
•  Jaipur resident doctor suspect H1N1 case  (Link)

Iraq
•  Swine flu in the region (Link)

Jordan
•  Death toll of A/H1N1 flu reaches 10 (Link)

North Korea
•  N. Korea Reports No Type A Flu (Link)

Pakistan
•  Another Afghani died in Peshawar (Link)

Poland
•  Calm and unvaccinated (Link)

Russia
•  A/H1N1 flu rate in Russia up to 4,563 (Link)
•  2 more H1N1 deaths confirmed, total now 26  (Link)
•  Russian film director Maria Solovtsova died in Minsk from flu (Link)

Saudi Arabia
•  Two Hajj pilgrims have been ‘diagnosed’ with H1N1 (Link)

South Korea
•  Actor recovering from H1N1  (Link)

Turkey
•  36 deaths confirmed from H1N1 (Link)

Uganda
•  Muslims heading for Mecca tested for H1N1 (Link)

Ukraine
•  Number of registered flu and ARVI cases grew 2.5 times (Link)
•  Suspected hemorrhagic pneumonia outbreak hits Ukraine” (Link)
•  Ukraine PM accuses Yushchenko over H1N1 swine flu (Link)
•  H (Link)

United Kingdom
•  Stephen Wright struck down with flu – despite Sky Blues jabs (Link)
•  Flu cases cause 20-fold increase in hospital stays (Link)

United States
•  US (who else?!): Recalculating the Tally in Swine Flu Deaths  (Link)
•  FDA approves Glaxo flu vaccine for use in U.S. (Link)
•  CDC now says 4,000 swine flu deaths in US (Link)
•  CO: 4 more deaths announced in Colorado in past week (Link)
•  IA: Possible Bacterial Meningitis or H1N1 Caused Death (Link)
•  IL: 1st death in Sangamon County, Illinois, an elderly resident (Link)
•  IN: Flu cases tripled in October (Link)
•  KY: Father Speaks Out On Son’s H1N1 Death (Link)
•  MI: Reported Cases of Swine Flu Show Downward Trend for Now (Link)
•  NV: State Tells Las Vegas To Follow CDC Guidelines For Vaccinations (Link)
•  NY: Swine Flu Cases Leads To More Hospital Patients (Link)
•  PA: Flu Screening and Administration Latest Cases (Link)
•  SD: Ethan’s Superintendent Dies Of H1N1 (Link)
•  TX: Houston metro area: 29th and 30th deaths confirmed (Link)
•  VA: Pentagon workers get H1N1 vaccine (Link)
•  VA: Teen suffers rare illness after swine flu shot  (Link)
•  WA: Thurston County missing 2 vials of H1N1 from hospice facility (Link)
•  WV: another flu-like death may be 8th death in West Virginia (Link)

General
•  Planes are breeding ground for germs (Link)
•  Swine flu: One killer virus, three key questions (Link)

Commentary
•  Recombinomics: Media Myths on Swin Flu in Ukraine Raise Concerns (Link)
•  Recombinomics: WHO Appeals to Ukraine for Help with Hemorrhagic Pneumonia (Link)
•  Recombinomics: Ukraine Dead Increase to 213 – Still No Sequences (Link)

 

WHO says H1N1 virus could mutate, warns vigilance in watching for symptoms

Nov 10, 2009 DVM NEWSMAGAZINE

Geneva, Switzerland — Concerned by the potential of the H1N1 pandemic virus to become more virulent as the pool of viral genes circulates among a number of hosts, the World Health Organization (WHO) is calling for close monitoring and proper management of animals that exhibit symptoms of respiratory infections.The WHO is on guard for viral changes, especially after detecting a novel H3N2 influenza virus affecting mink on a farm in Denmark. No humans have been infected with that H3N2 virus, but a WHO spokesperson says the incident demonstrates “the constantly evolving ecology of influenza viruses, the potential for surprising changes, and the need for constant vigilance.”

The WHO also is asking that samples from infected animals and humans be taken for full genome sequencing of the virus to look for mutations that could affect virulence, host range, or antiviral resistance.

Aside from swine, the only animals reported to be infected with H1N1 so far are turkeys in Chile and Canada, and a cat and two ferrets in the United States.

full story

http://veterinarynews.dvm360.com/dvm/Veterinary+news/WHO-says-H1N1-virus-could-mutate-warns-vigilance-i/ArticleStandard/Article/detail/640702?contextCategoryId=378

 

Belarus
•  Eight die of pneumonia in Gomel Region (Link)

Canada
•  Flu shots for pregnant women not OK’d yet (Link)
•  Weekly H1N1 Flu information bulletin (Nov 10, 2009) (Link)
•  15 more deaths in Ontario, new total 52 (Link)
•  8th death confirmed in Manitoba, first death in second wave (Link)
•  8 more deaths in BC, total now 23 and 202 more hospitalizations last week (Link)
•  Ontario health officials add 1st responders police and firefighters, et al to vaxx priority (Link)

India
•  Swine flu death toll crosses 500 in India (Link)

Italy
•  US airman’s wife, baby just delivered, died of H1N1 at Aviano Air Base (Link)

Morocco
•  Schools closed for H1N1 outbreak (Link)

Pakistan
•  At least one doctor caring for dead Afghani woman also has H1N1 (Link)

South Korea
•  S.Korea reports 4 more death cases related to A/H1N1 (Link)
•   Health officials concern at bird flu ‘resurgence’ at time of H1N1 (Link)

Sri Lanka
•  Second death from AH1N1 (Link)

Sweden
•  Change in procedures following misdiagnosis (translated) (Link)

Turkey
•  Turkey’s swine flu toll hits 30 (Link)

United Kingdom
•  Vital step forward in battle with swine (Link)

United States
•  Will Tamiflu Shortage Drive U.S. To India’s Version? (Link)
•  Fearing a Flu Vaccine, and Wanting More of It  (Link)
•  US: H1N1 vaccine for hogs aims to prevent mutated virus (Link)
•  New Flu Victim: Blood Supply (Link)
•  AK: Alaska island village hit by suspected swine flu  (Link)
•  AR: Arkansas now has 18 dead from H1N1 (Link)
•  CA: Vacaville 6 yr old girl confirmed H1N1 death (Link)
•  CA: Kern County, California reports 4 more deaths, 14 thus far (Link)
•  FL: Child, 11, died of H1N1 in Lee County, Florida, 149th death from H1N1 there  (Link)
•  FL: Orange County (Orlando) man, 50, died of H1N1, 9th death there, 149 deaths in state
(Link)
•  FL: Naples health department accidentally gave 77 students ’seasonal vaxx’ not H1N1 vaxx (Link)
•  FL: woman booted from flight for ILI symptoms (Link)
•  KY: child becomes Kentucky’s 21st death confirmed from H1N1 (Link)
•  MA: Boston man 1st death in second wave, 14th death in Massachusetts from H1N1 (Link)
•  NJ: two more deaths in New Jersey last week (Link)
•  NV: Nevada confirms 4 more deaths, two children included (Link)
•  OH: 2 more deaths in Ohio reported, now 25 in total for state (Link)
•  OR: Ferrets in Oregon develop swine flu from owners (Link)
•  OR: 7 new deaths, 33 since Sept. 1, 45 in total from H1N1 thus (Link)
•  TX: 19th death reported in Dallas County, 18 yr old male with no prior health probs (Link)
•  WI: Grant Co. reports first H1N1 flu death (Link)

Commentary
•  Recombinomics: Belarus Reports Almost 1/4 Million Flu Cases (Link)
•  Recombinomics: 189 Deaths Reported in Ukraine – Belarus to 223K Cases (Link)

Ukraine continues to be in a panic about a deadly outbreak

Sam Orez

November 9th 2009

Ukraine continues to be in a panic about a deadly outbreak of influenza still not confirmed as H1N1 swine flu.

The disease contagion may be showing signs of diminishing. But accounts of young and otherwise healthy victims succumbing continue to circulate, contributing to heightened political tensions in a country that will face a general election on January 17, 2010. The virus has become a pivotal issue. Sentiment within the Central European nation increasingly holds that the country’s medical systems and political leaders were slow to react or inadequate in their response to the outbreak. More than 95 victims have died this year.

Signaling the importance given to a show of concern, in the middle of the night on November 3, Prime Minister Yuliya Timoshenko, the Ukrainian foreign minister and the president’s chief of staff gathered at Kiev’s airport to share solemn words about the arrival of a shipment of Tamiflu, a drug effective against swine flu.

Near panic broke out on October 30 as deaths from flu and respiratory infections increased, leading to the announcement of a flu epidemic. Tymoshenko introduced travel restrictions, closed all schools and universities and banned mass gatherings for at least three weeks, and conducted a live TV session on October 31 with her cabinet, health officials and regional officials. Some officials have had to publicly denied rumors that a plague is afoot in the Central European homeland.

full story

http://www.thecuttingedgenews.com/index.php?article=11768&pageid=17&pagename=News

•  You Tube has a newsclip about the Ukrainian situation (Link)
•  Tymoshenko: Flu rate in Ukraine goes down (Link)
•  WHO studies A/H1N1 impact in Zhytomyr (Link)

Afghanistan
•  Schools close due to increasing flu (Link)
•  11 Afghans Die of Swine Flu, Troops Suffering  (Link)

Canada
•  Experience from previous pandemics suggest H1N1 may not have peaked: experts (Link)
•  Edmonton Theatre department loses founding father (Link)
•  Wealthy hospital donors jump the H1N1 queue (Link)
•  5 deaths confirmed in past week in Newfoundland (Link
•  Alberta province confirms 5 more deaths, total now 25 (Link)
•  Quebec: Woman dies from swine flu after vaccination  (Link and link)

India
•  Chandigarh doctor contracts swine flu (Link)

Moldova
•  3 deaths and tripling of cases in last few days (Link)

Serbia
•  Inpress: Serbia may declare flu epidemic (Link)

United States
•  H1N1 exposes weak leave policies (Link)
•  Video: CBS Questioning CDC fatality reports  (Link)
•  AZ: Recent spike in H1N1 cases has parents, teachers worried (Link)
•  DE: Delaware officials report 4th confirmed death (Link)
•  HI: No pandemic plan till September (Link)
•  IA: Two Polk County deaths bring H1N1 state total to 16 (Link)
•  KY: Kentucky records 20th death from H1N1, young man 20s, no prior health conditiions (Link)
•  MA: Advocates see homeless as priority for H1N1 vaccine (Link)
•  MI: Kalamazoo County HD inundated with phone calls (Link)
•  MI: 6 new deaths, including 2 children, total deaths now 28 in Michigan (Link)
•  MI: more than 10% of Michigan deaths had asthma (Link)
•  NC: deaths from H1N1 for two pregnant women and 3 other people (Link)
•  OR: up 113 hospitalizations and 7 deaths in 3 days (Link)
•  OR: Swine flu pandemic makes school nurse’s job even busier (Link)
•  TX: 17th death confirmed in Dallas (Link)
•  WI: 1st death in Wisconsin’s Grant County confirmed (Link)

General
•  Flu outbreaks could put Internet on life support (Link)
•  ”Supercourse” on Influenza A(H1N1) (Swine Flu): A Global Outbreak  (Link)

Commentary
•  Recombinomics: Reported Ukraine Fatalities Increase To 155 (Link)
•  Recombinomics: Total Destruction of Lungs in Ukraine Fatal H1N1 Cases (Link)
•  Recombinomics: Over 2000 Health Care Workers Ill in Ukraine (Link)
•  Recombinomics: Reported Ukraine Cases Top One Million – 174 Fatalities (Link)
•  Recombinomics: WHO Silence on Ukraine Sequences Raises Pandemic Concerns (Link)
•  Recombinomics: Pneumonia Death of Belarus Doctor Near Ukraine Border (Link)

Ukraine to get help from Slovakia, Hungary and Croatia

readiness to provide Ukraine with humanitarian aid to fight the flu epidemic.

The Slovak Republic is ready to supply the second tranche of humanitarian aid. They will provide Ukraine with Slovak-made BioBelieve-Midi and BioBelieve-Kids worth 25,000 Euro. The drugs are certified in Ukraine.

The Ministry of Health of Croatia will supply concentrated oxygen.

Meanwhile, Hungary with provide germicides and 20,000 doses of swine flu vaccine worth USD 500,000.

http://www.isria.com/pages/8_November_2009_126.php

 

Afghanistan
•  Afghanistan now confirms 10 deaths in total from H1N1 (Link)

Austria
•  Pinoys in Austria more cautious after 1st reported A(H1N1) death (Link)

Bangladesh
•  Death toll of [laboratory-confirmed] A/H1N1 flu rises to 6 (Link)

Belarus
•  Call-in poll: 93% do not trust government stats/info (Link)

Bulgaria
•  Flu vaccination (Link)

Canada
•  3rd death confirmed in Newfoundland (Link)
•  Ukraine Pandemic Appeal (Link)

China
•  More than 8 mln Chinese inoculated with A/H1N1 flu vaccine (Link)

Denmark
•  Novel influenza virus found in minks (Link)
•  Influenza in other species: WHO (Link)

Egypt
•  H5N1 in birds (Link)

India
•  Two more swine flu cases in Chandigarh (Link)
•  Another Chandigarh doctor contracts swine flu (Link)
•  Another nation spinning the numbers (Link)
•  Critical case in Vadodara confirmed H1N1  (Link)

Macedonia
•  20 cases of H1N1 (Link)

Moldova
•  A/H1N1 flu death toll rises to 3 in Moldova (Link)
•  25 high school students with H1N1 in Chisinau (Link)

Myanmar
•  64 influenza A/H1N1 cases confirmed (Link)

Palestinian Territory
•  Second Palestinian died of A/H1N1 in West Bank (Link)

Poland
•  Poland distrustful of swine flu vaccination (Link)

Slovakia
•  Slovakia closes border crossings with Ukraine amid A/H1N1 fears (Link)
•  Slovakia reports first H1N1 death  (Link)
•  Border still open with the Ukraine (Link)

South Korea
•  Famous Korean actor Lee Kwang-gi’s 7 yr old son dies of H1N1 (Link)

Spain
•  Cases of influenza A triple in two weeks in Catalunya (Link)

Sweden
•  ”Politicians received cream to vaccination” (Link)
•  Only One Flu Shot for Most (Link)

Turkey
•  Turkey reports 27 A/H1N1 flu deaths (Link)

United Arab Emirates
•  UAE finalises H1N1 plan for Haj pilgrims (Link)

United States
•  US: Some doctors are just saying no to the swine flu vaccine (Link)
•  IN: H1N1 hits younger people hard (Link)
•  NV: Las Vegas Area Holds Clinics After Two Week Wait (Link)
•  NY: Swine flu clinics open around New York City, but get few visitors  (Link)
•  OR: Ready for anything (Link)

General
•  Spread of swine flu intense – study (Link)
•  Clorox Profit Rises 23% as Flu Concerns Spur Demand for Disinfectants (Link)
•  WHO: Infection of farmed animals with the pandemic virus (Link)

Commentary
•  Recombinomics: H1N1 Genetic Changes in RBD Raise Pandemic Concerns (Link)
•  Recombinomics: Reported Ukraine Cases Approach One Million (Link)

Slovakia: All border crossings except one to be closed w/ Ukraine

Sat Nov 7, 2009 10:12am EST

BRATISLAVA, Nov 7 (Reuters) – Slovakia said on Saturday it would close all but one road border crossing with Ukraine on Sunday because of Ukraine’s flu epidemic.

Vysne Nemecke, the biggest checkpoint, will be the only one to stay open.

“The reason is the continuing worsening of the epidemic situation in Ukraine,” Interior Minister Robert Kalinak told journalists. “This is intended to minimize any eventual outbreak of the disease.”

Kalinak said the EU member state’s decision was temporary and aimed to protect the bloc.

Doctors and hygienists will be stationed at the border to monitor passengers and have the powers to bar anyone suspected of being infected from entering the country.

Ukraine could delay a January presidential election until May next year because of its outbreak of H1N1 flu, which has killed more than 100 in recent weeks and infected more than 750,000 [ID:nL695938]. (Reporting by Martin Santa; editing by Andrew Roche)

http://www.reuters.com/article/latestCrisis/idUSL7179665

 

Azerbaijan
•  First Swine Flu Case Reported (Link)

Belarus
•  Dictatorship is life-threatening (Link)

Canada
•  Ontario: Swine flu ‘on the wane’ (Link)
•  Edmonton father questions ER protocols where H1N1 mixes with well persons too (Link)

China
•  A/H1N1 vaccination program extends to all Beijingers (Link)
•  WHO Says Pandemic Flu on Rise in China, Japan (Link)
•  Chinese mainland reports one more death from A/H1N1 flu (Link)
•  Hong Kong reports 39 patients in hospital wards caught H1N1 (Link)

France
•  8 deaths since 03 november 2009 (Link)

India
•  Three swine flu deaths take India’s toll to 489 (Link)
•  Ludhiana reports another death, 39th from H1N1 (Link)
•  Tamil Nadu confirms 9 deaths there so far (Link)

Jordan
•  Pilgrims will leave for Mecca without swine flu vaccination (Link)

Mexico
•  Official warns of collapse in hospitals by AH1N1 (translated) (Link)
•  10 new deaths by A/H1N1 in Morelos (translated) (Link)

Moldova
•  Moldova reports 3rd death from H1N1, a man returned from Moscow (Link)

Mongolia
•  Mongolia to import H1N1 vaccine from China (Link)

Pakistan
•  Afghani migrant woman dies in Peshawar  (Link)

Poland
•  Polish news article from yesterday, translated (Link)

Russia
•  Russia’s swine flu death toll rises to 19 (Link)
•  Situation with A/H1N1/ grippe under control–Golikova (Link)

Saudi Arabia
•  Saudi Arabia Travel Alert November 05, 2009  (Link)
•  Saudi Arabia mandates all barbers wear masks (Link)

Sri Lanka
•  1st confirmed death from H1N1, in Kandy, 16 yr old boy (Link)

Turkey
•  A/H1N1 flu death toll rises to 23 in Turkey  (Link)

Ukraine
•  Flue death toll in Ukraine: 109 dead (Link)
•  Ukraine Radio International: Radio on demand (Link)
•  Crimea: Feodosiya is ready to meeting of flu (Link)
•  Blog: Ukraine Expected to Surpass 1 Million Infections in Only 10 Days; the U.S. took 10 weeks (Link)
•  Official: Ukrainian Election May Be Postponed Due To Swine Flu (Link)
•  135 dead and 317 persons in ‘grave condition’ (Link)

United Kingdom
•  Highest risk get H1N1 vaccine first under British system (Link)
•  Widow of swine flu victim in ‘lies’ anger as Scottish toll hits 32 (Link)

United States
•  US: Harvard School of Public Health Poll shows most tried and failed to get vaxx 1st time around (Link)
•  CDC: Monitoring Influenza Activity, Including 2009 H1N1 (Link)
•  AK: Island village hit by suspected swine flu (Link)
•  IA: Fighting the Good Fight (Link)
•  IL: Low vaccine supply raises ire  (Link)
•  NY: A Swine Flu Death confirmed (Link)
•  OH: Sheriff’s captain died Friday evening from H1N1 (Link)
•  OR: Fewer flu cases in Southern Oregon (Link)
•  OR: H1N1 lands local residents in ICU’s (Link)
•  PA: State offers to help schools give shots free (Link)
•  PA: DOH lists (2) Additional Deaths (Link)
•  PA: Geisinger confirms death resulting from H1N1 (Link)
•  SD: 4 more deaths in South Dakota confirmed, total now 13 (Link
•  TX: second death confirmed in Galveston in less than a week (Link)
•  TX: State defends withholding flu vaccine distribution info (Link)
•  WA: New priorities for flu vaccine (Link)
•  WI: Suspect arrested in Milwaukee theft of flu vaccine (Link)

General
•  A/H1N1 influenza death toll rises over 6,000, says WHO (Link)

Commentary
•  Recombinomics: National H1N1 Epidemic Declared in Bulgaria (Link)
•  UK Swine flu blog: How bonkers is this (Link)