News for 8/30/09

Argentina
•  Argentina swine flu toll rises to 465 (Link)
Bangladesh
•  First swine flu death reported in Bangladesh(Link)
Canada
•  Local teacher receives commendation for helping to contain an H1N1 flu outbreak at B.C. cadet centre (Link)
•  Lethal infection ‘a flag’ in flu watch (Link)
China
•  China takes hard line against swine flu (Link)
•  Hong Kong Reports A/H1N1 Flu Death [...]

India: 12 countries report Tamiflu-resistant H1N1

One Inflames, the Other Informs: Comparing AP and Reuters Reports on CDC’s Chicago H1N1 Study

By Tom Blumer (Bio | Archive) August 29, 2009 – 09:43 ET
Yesterday, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released the results of a study entitled “2009 Pandemic Influenza A (H1N1) Virus Infections: Chicago, Illinois, April-July 2009.”
In a report Rush Limbaugh criticized on the air, Mike Stobbe of the Associated Press (“Swine flu sends more [...]

WHO warns of severe form of swine flu

By Maggie Fox, Health and Science Editor Maggie Fox, Health And Science Editor – Fri Aug 28, 1:36 pm ET
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Doctors are reporting a severe form of swine flu that goes straight to the lungs, causing severe illness in otherwise healthy young people and requiring expensive hospital treatment, the World Health Organization said [...]

Many Health Workers Won’t Take Swine Flu Vaccine

Even though testing has so far raised no “red flags” regarding safety of potential swine flu vaccines, surveys and focus groups show that healthcare workers and members of the public may be leery of being getting shots when supplies become available this fall.
Writing in the BMJ, Dr. Paul K. S. Chan and associates at the [...]

Many Hospitals Are Not Ready for H1N1: Nurse Survey

Data from 190 Healthcare Facilities in Nine States from California to Maine
A patient health and safety survey of 190 American hospitals from coast to coast compiled by registered nurses in nine different states finds that a disturbing number of our nation’s healthcare facilities are not prepared for the coming H1N1/swine flu pandemic, according to results [...]

Feds Clarify Hospital Triage Rules in Event of H1N1 Frenzy

Hospital and public health officials who worry about being deluged this fall by sick and worried well patients fearing H1N1 now have comforting federal guidance on how to re-direct crowds without violating the law. First, jammed hospital emergency departments can set up alternate screening sites elsewhere on campus, with personnel stationed outside the emergency department [...]

Home Influenza treatment booklet

Here is what Gratton Woodson MD recommends. You can download his entire free Home Influenza treatment booklet at the link. Perhaps someone will find this useful.-cottontop 

The Flu Treatment Kit

Providing good care to family members and friends sick with influenza is a task that will be easier with a good supply of select over-the-counter medications, [...]

Canada: Stronger oversight for public health

Aug 24, 2009 04:30 AM
Canada has endured the ravages of SARS and the havoc wreaked by a listeriosis outbreak in recent years. Both episodes exposed the glaring shortcomings in our public health protection systems, notably the inability of federal and provincial authorities to seamlessly share information and resources – and act decisively.
Now, with many worried [...]

Uganda: Tests Rule Out Ebola in Mbale

Sunday, 23rd August, 2009
By Anne Mugisa and Raymond Baguma
BLOOD samples of the patient admitted in Mbale Hospital suspected of having Ebola have been found free of the virus, the Uganda Virus Research Institute has said.
The Ministry of Health spokesperson, Paul Kagwa, yesterday said the ministry was investigating other possible diseases the patient, whose name has [...]