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Death toll of H1N1 reaches 4,000 in the US

11/12/2009 | Posted by mesiamd | Edit Post

In a recent estimate by the Center of Disease Control, H1N1 flu claimed the lives of 4,000 people since the disease spread to the United States in April. The number was more than the 1,000 that was previously reported. The rise in mortality was explained by adding the deaths caused by flu complications such as pneumonia and other infections.

So far about 40,000 people stricken with the H1N1 virus have been treated in hospitals. Authorities believe that the swine flu will not cause deaths more than the ordinary seasonal flu which kills about 36,000 people in the US yearly. The World Health Organization has placed the death toll of H1N1 pandemic to 6,000 across the continents.

The vaccine for H1N1 is now available and being administered to vulnerable individuals including those with pre-existing medical condition such as asthma, end stage renal disease, diabetes, those undergoing chemotherapy and immunosuppression. (Photo Credit: Amadaruth) =0=

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Labels: CDC, death, H1N1 virus, Health, influenza virus, mortality, Swine flu, Totie Mesia, update, US, vaccination, vaccine

In spite of emergency declaration, USA suffers from H1N1 flu vaccine shortage

11/02/2009 | Posted by mesiamd | Edit Post

Of the 250 million doses of H1N1 flu vaccine purchased by the US government, only 40 million was expected by Center of Disease Control (CDC) to be available by mid-October. CDC director Dr. Thomas Friedman however said, in reality, only 22.1 million were shipped.

Despite the emergency declaration of Pres. Barack Obama on the flu pandemic, the delay in vaccine availability has led to scrambling for the few medicines available as swine influenza surges in 46 states as of mid October.

“The CDC identified at-risk groups, including pregnant women, children and young adults, and recommended they be vaccinated first. But in many cases, even physicians who have vaccine don't have enough to inoculate all their high-risk patients.”----amednews (11/02/09, Moyer, C. S.)

People waiting in community clinics are afraid of catching disease as they learn the vaccine is in short supply. Since the outbreak of the flu in April, there have been 1,000 deaths and about 2,000 hospitalizations.

The CDC suggests that patients with flu-like manifestations and showing severe symptoms should be given antiviral treatment. Since it takes time to make a lab diiagnosis of the flu and the maximum benefit of the antiviral is within the first 48 hours after the onset of symptoms, health authorities recommend that doctors start the medication even without the laboratory confirmation.

Vaccine production is accelerating to meet the demand. In response to CDC request, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA,) has approved the use of emergency intravenous antiviral peramivir for hospitalized patients with worse symptoms and do not respond to oral and inhalational anti-flu medications.

The public is encouraged to watch for advisories regarding the flu including particular attention to precautionary measures, prevention, and treatment regimens. In spite of the health preparations and citizen alerts conducted by health authorities, the vaccine delay is causing fear in the community.

Obviously the expectation on drug availability doesn’t match what has happened in the field. Doctors advise those with flu-like symptoms to stay away from people, wear masks, and bypass staying in patient’s waiting rooms---all to avoid spread of the disease. More cases of the virus infection are expected as the flu season goes in high gear. (Photo Credit: Ben Chau) =0=

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Labels: CDC, epidemic, FDA, H1N1 virus, Health, Influenza, influenza virus, pandemic, Totie Mesia, vaccination, vaccine

Obama calls swine flu a national emergency

10/25/2009 | Posted by mesiamd | Edit Post

As predicted early in spring that the H1N1 flu pandemic will escalate to cause illness in fall and winter. Early this month, about 20% of school children in US have complained of flu-like symptoms, most of them are thought to be caused by the H1N1 virus. In addition, 7% of 10,000 adults surveyed reported manifestations of flu which had claimed the lives of 1,000 people in USA.

The spread of the swine flu has the potential to overtax the healthcare system as 46 out 50 states have reported rising influenza infections. Wordwide, it was reported 5,000 people have so far died of the disease since the first cases were identified in April. This prompted Pres. Barack Obama to declare a national flu emergency.

“The emergency declaration, which Obama signed late Friday, lets doctors and nurses temporarily bypass certain federal requirements so they can better handle a spike in influenza A(H1N1) patients. The declaration comes just days after Health Secretary Kathleen Sebelius warned that demand was outstripping supply of vaccine for the novel flu strain.”----AFP (10/24/09)

More than 1 million Americans have been downed by the H1N1 flu. Facing a vaccine shortage, the state of New York on Friday suspended the controversial ruling that health care personnel be vaccinated against the H1N1 flu by the end of November or face the possibility of job termination.

According to the Center for Disease Control (CDC) about 16.1 million doses of the H1N1 vaccine was ready for distribution and 11 million doses have already been passed on to state health authorities for use. In spite of this, it is believed that the distribution is already late to be able to cover individuals who truly need the vaccine. (Photo Credit: Fassbender, I./ Reuters/ Getty images) =0=

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Labels: H1N1 virus, Influenza, influenza virus, pandemic, Swine flu, Totie Mesia, vaccination, vaccine

H1N1 flu vaccination in US starts in October

9/14/2009 | Posted by mesiamd | Edit Post

With the onset of school, health experts fear that the spread of the swine flu will intensify. That’s why they plan to start the vaccination in about three weeks to protect as much individuals as possible to the pandemic virus.

Earlier, it was thought that the new H1N1 flu virus would need a two step dosing to achieve a level of immunity during the vaccination, but recent studies on patients with ages 18 to 64 years showed that a single dose containing 15 micrograms of the viral antigen was enough to stimulate protective levels of antibodies. From the initial results, the vaccine which didn’t contain adjuvant to boost its efficacy, showed no serious side-effects.

“The results of the vaccine studies suggest one dose of the formula used by drugmakers should offer H1N1 protection similar to the seasonal flu shot. Paris-based Sanofi Aventis SA, London- based GlaxoSmithKline Plc, and Basel, Switzerland-based Novartis AG are among the other companies making the vaccine. “---- Bloomberg.com (09/13/09, Randall, T; Gale, J.)

The single dose regimen will simplify the vaccination process and appreciably increase the production and stockpile of Paris-based Sanofi Aventis SA, London- based GlaxoSmithKline Plc, and Basel, Switzerland-based Novartis AG which are making the vaccines. There are plans in the US to donate prepared vaccines to poor countries. Since the experience their use is limited, more studies are needed to validate the initial findings to ascertain the efficacy and safety of the drug. (Photo Credit: CDC) =0=

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Labels: antibodies, antiviral, H1N1 virus, Influenza, influenza virus, prevention, Swine flu, Totie Mesia, vaccination, vaccine

H1N1 influenza death toll doubles in RP

9/07/2009 | Posted by mesiamd | Edit Post

After the Department of Health (DOH) halted its daily update of the H1N1 pandemic in the country, the government agency reported that the August death toll doubled to 28 from July’s mortality of 13. Those who died were part of the 4,548 reported cases of swine flu documented in the country of which 4,369 fully recovered.

Morbidity & Mortality of H1N1, European Center for Disease Control Data

Worldwide, infected, 254,206 as 08/30/09
Worldwide, deaths 3,315 (ECDC)
Southeast Asia, 262
Thailand, 130
Malaysia, 73
the Philippines, 28
Singapore, 17
Indonesia, 10
Vietnam, two
Brunei, 1
Laos, 1

As the pandemic spreads and persists worldwide, the focus is to rush the flu vaccine which is expected to be ready by October. Health authorities predict a surge of the swine influenza during fall and winter seasons needing preventive measures to control its spread. The easily transmissibe virus has the potential of infecting 2 billon people worldwide.

The vaccination makes the public leery over the potential side effects of the vaccination such as Guillain Barre Syndrome which is more fatal than the H1N1 or the usual flu infection. It is unclear if this vaccination being readied will offer enugh efficacy and protection as desired.

Many health workers believe vaccination is important in preventing morbidity and mortality among vulnerable population groups, particularly the young, the elderly. the immunosuppressed, diabetes and dialysis patients, and those suffering from chronic diseases. (Photo Credit: Benedicti Desrus) =0=

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Labels: DOH, Guillain Barre Syndrome, H1N1 virus, Influenza, influenza virus, morbidity, mortality, Swine flu, vaccination, vaccine

UP Ibalon Bicol

Death toll of H1N1 reaches 4,000 in the US

In spite of emergency declaration, USA suffers from H1N1 flu vaccine shortage

Obama calls swine flu a national emergency

H1N1 flu vaccination in US starts in October

H1N1 influenza death toll doubles in RP

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