Pandemic (H1N1) 2009, Ukraine - update 1
3 November 2009 -- According to the Ministry of Health of the Ukraine, the country has now recorded more than 250,000 cases of influenza-like illness, with 235 patients requiring intensive care. As of 2 November, 70 deaths from acute respiratory illness have been reported.

Regions in western Ukraine continue to show the highest rates of acute respiratory illness/influenza-like illness. The level of activity in the Kyiv area is also increasing rapidly.

Laboratory testing in Ukraine has confirmed pandemic H1N1 influenza virus in samples taken from patients in two of the most affected regions. As the pandemic virus has rapidly become the dominant influenza strain worldwide, it can be assumed that most cases of influenza in Ukraine are caused by the H1N1 virus.

As elsewhere, WHO strongly recommends early treatment with the antiviral drugs, oseltamivir or zanamivir, for patients who meet treatment criteria, even in the absence of a positive laboratory test confirming H1N1 infection.



At the request of the government, a multi-disciplinary team of nine experts has been deployed by WHO and arrived in Kyiv yesterday evening. Discussions with the Minister of Health were held this morning to brief the team.

Team members will now begin field investigations to characterize the clinical and epidemiological features of the outbreak. Work will initially begin in Lviv region, where reported numbers of cases showing severe manifestations of acute respiratory illness have been especially high. Two virologists on the team have started working at the National Influenza Centre and the laboratories of the Central Sanitary and Epidemiological Station in Kyiv to provide diagnostic support.

Samples sent by the Ministry of Health were received today by the WHO Collaborating Centre for Reference and Research on Influenza, Mill Hill in London, UK. The laboratory will conduct confirmatory tests and further characterize the virus.

Many questions remain to be answered. The outbreak in Ukraine may be indicative of how the virus can behave in the northern hemisphere during the winter season, particularly in health care settings typically found in Eastern Europe.

Given the potential significance of this outbreak as an early warning signal, WHO commends the government of Ukraine for its transparent reporting and open sharing of samples.

WHO continues to recommend no closing of borders and no restrictions on international travel, including to Ukraine. Experience shows that such measures will not stop further spread of the virus.http://www.who.int/csr/don/2009_11_03/en/index.html

Romanian health official resigns after saying 20,000 could die from swine flu
By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS (CP) – 1 hour ago

BUCHAREST, Romania — A top Romanian health official has resigned after saying 20,000 people could die of swine flu in the country.

Health state secretary Adrian Streinu-Cercel quit Tuesday, a day after sounding the alarm on the potential spread of the epidemic. Presidential adviser Virgil Paunescu did not dispute the 20,000 figure but said it had induced "a futile sense of panic."

Paunescu told Realitatea TV that Streinu-Cercel "should no longer appear in public, because he causes panic."

President Traian Basescu has called a meeting of the country's top defence body for later Tuesday to discuss the impact of swine flu. Romania has 581 registered cases of swine flu.
http://www.google.com/hostednews/canadi ... rTkZdBp0-g

District to Discard 6K Doses of H1N1 Vaccine
http://www.whtm.com/news/stories/1109/674574.html

Stroudsburg, Pa. (AP) - A school district in Pennsylvania's Pocono Mountains must discard 6,000 doses of swine flu vaccine because they got too cold.

The Stroudsburg Area School District must dispose of the doses after discovering the refrigeration units holding the vaccine were 4 degrees below the permitted range.

Health department officials told the district to get rid of the vaccine on Monday. Department spokeswoman Stacy Kriedeman says the vaccine isn't viable if it's not kept at the proper temperature. (Continued ...)

Local woman dies from H1N1, coroner confirms
Updated 3:04 PM Tuesday, November 3, 2009

SPRINGFIELD — A 26-year-old woman has reportedly died due to H1N1, Clark County Coroner Richard Marsh confirmed.

“I am very saddened to share the news that we have had our first death due to H1N1 flu in our community,” said Charles Patterson, Health Commissioner. “A 26 year old woman died from the H1N1 flu this past Tuesday, October 27th. Our thoughts and prayers are with the family of the young woman. We are very sorry for their loss.”

http://www.daytondailynews.com/news/day ... 81418.html

Calgary man, 25, latest Albertan to die
http://www.calgaryherald.com/health/Cal ... story.html
November 3, 2009

A 25-year old Calgary man who was dedicated to church and worked as a technical writer for Shaw Cable has died from complications with H1N1, his family said Monday.

Jonathan Evan Harris died last Thursday. Alberta Health Services won't confirm Harris died from H1N1, citing privacy laws, but they did announce Friday that an adult male from the Calgary area had died of the swine flu.

There have been 14 deaths in Alberta from H1N1.

Swine Flu Death
Butte Man Dies of Swine Flu Complications

By Associated Press, 11-03-09

BUTTE – Officials with the Butte-Silver Bow Health Department have confirmed that a Butte man has died of complications from the swine flu.

Assistant Health Officer Karen Billson says the man was in his 50s and died following the onset of a bacterial infection that led to pneumonia. She says the man suffered from other serious medical conditions.

Billson says the man died over a week ago, but the H1N1 diagnosis was confirmed on Monday.

According to the most recent Department of Public Health and Human Services numbers, the death would be the state's eighth due to swine flu complications since August.

http://www.flatheadbeacon.com/articles/ ... ons/13967/

Commentary

WHO Targets Hemorrhagic H1N1 Cases in Lviv Ukraine

Recombinomics Commentary 19:54
November 3, 2009
http://www.recombinomics.com/News/11030 ... Hemor.html

Work will initially begin in Lviv region, where reported numbers of cases showing severe manifestations of acute respiratory illness have been especially high. Two virologists on the team have started working at the National Influenza Centre and the laboratories of the Central Sanitary and Epidemiological Station in Kyiv to provide diagnostic support.

The above comments from the WHO update on Ukraine strike a more serious tone than yesterday's quotes from WHO spokespersons playing down the alarming number of hospitalized and fatal cases, as well as media reports spinning political considerations, or politicians claiming only 15 confirmed H1N1 cases. As the WHO update clearly states, the dominant influenza circulating worldwide is swine H1N1 and it is assumed that most cases in the Ukraine are swine H1N1. Since the official government website lists 19,189 influenza cases (in addition to more than 235,000 ARI cases), the willingness of politicians to cite 15 confirmed cases, as well as media support in the distribution of the propaganda, is unfortunate.

The more severe manifestation of ARI cases are clearly hemorrhagic disease that fills lungs with blood and produces bleeding at all orifices, which are stark reminders of 1918 pandemic cases which were also linked to a swine H1N1.

Samples have arrived at Mill Hill in London, and sequence data should be available shortly. Since current swine H1N1 produced lethal infections in previously healthy young adults, and produced hemorrhagic disease, changes in the viral genome may be absent or minor. Therefore, release of the sequences to the entire scientific community would be useful.

Similarly, an update on the number of hemorrhagic cases would be useful. Rumors have suggested that such the number of such cases is significantly higher than the six described in media reports.

WHO 'assumes' Ukraine gripped by swine flu

(AFP) – 2 hours ago
http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/ar ... 46Zt6_px1A

GENEVA — The World Health Organisation said Tuesday that it was valid to assume that most of the cases of influenza reportedly sweeping through Ukraine were caused by the pandemic A(H1N1) virus.

Ukrainian authorities on Sunday launched an urgent appeal for help from world powers after it imposed drastic measures to tackle a sudden surge of flu-like illness in the country.

More than 250,000 cases have been reported, according to official Ukrainian figures cited by the WHO.

"Given the potential significance of this outbreak as an early warning signal, WHO commends the government of Ukraine for its transparent reporting and open sharing of samples," the UN health agency said in a statement.

"Laboratory testing in Ukraine has confirmed pandemic H1N1 influenza virus in samples taken from patients in two of the most affected regions," it added.

"As the pandemic virus has rapidly become the dominant influenza strain worldwide, it can be assumed that most cases of influenza in Ukraine are caused by the H1N1 virus."

The highest rates of "acute respiratory illness/influenza-like illness" were found in western areas, while they were also increasing rapidly around the capital Kiev, according to the WHO.

Seventy-one people have died as a result of flu and acute respiratory infections, the Ukrainian health ministry said, but the pandemic A(H1N1) virus has been confirmed in only one of the fatal cases.

The WHO said a team of specialists who arrived in the country on Monday will initially focus on the Lviv region, where reported "severe" cases of acute respiratory illness "have been especially high."

Samples from Ukraine have also been received by the WHO's influenza research laboratory in London for tests.

"Many questions remain to be answered," the WHO said.

"The outbreak in Ukraine may be indicative of how the virus can behave in the northern hemisphere during the winter season, particularly in health care settings typically found in eastern Europe," it added.

Local analysts have suggested that rival Ukrainian leaders may be trying to exploit popular fears in campaigning ahead of January 17 presidential polls, as each candidate seeks to take the initiative in fighting the outbreak.

White House: No H1N1 Vaccine at Guantanamo

Posted by Stephanie Condon
http://www.cbsnews.com/blogs/2009/11/03 ... 1876.shtml

White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs denied today that terrorism suspects in the prison at Guantanamo Bay are receiving vaccinations for the H1N1 flu.

"There is no vaccine in Guantanamo, and there's no vaccine on the way to Guantanamo," Gibbs said during his daily press briefing.

Amid a shortage of the vaccine, the Miami Herald first reported last week that the Pentagon would offer the vaccine to the Guantanamo prisoners.

A military spokesman confirmed the report. Army Maj. James Crabtree said the vaccine would arrive at the prison this month and first go to guards. It would then be offered to inmates "entirely on a voluntary basis."

"I don't know what the Pentagon said," Gibbs said today. "I know, in asking yesterday, whether or not there was any vaccine there or whether there was any vaccine that was on its way, the answer to both those questions was no."

Gibbs added that the White House did not stop the Pentagon from shipping the vaccine to the prison -- "there wasn't any there, and there wasn't any on the way," he said.

Only 28 million doses of vaccine were available by the end of the October, rather than the expected 40 million doses, presidential adviser David Axelrod said on CBS Nrews' Face the Nation.

"We will have all the vaccine we need in very order," Axelrod said.

Swine flu ’killing 11% of infected patients’
Tuesday, November 03, 2009 - 09:21 PM

Swine flu is killing more than a tenth of those it infects in California and up to 20% of older victims, a study has shown.

Researchers in the US state also found almost a third of cases required intensive care treatment. Hospital admissions and death could occur “at all ages”.

The findings, published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (Jama), fly in the face of common perceptions of swine flu being a generally mild illness.

The US researchers looked at 1,088 cases of swine flu reported in California between April 23 and August 11 this year.

Of these, 32% were children under the age of 18, with infants having the highest rates of hospital admissions. The midpoint age of patients was 27.

In total, 340 patients (31%) were admitted to hospital intensive care units. Of the 297 intensive care cases for whom information was available, 65% required mechanical ventilation.

Chest X-rays of 833 patients revealed indications of pneumonia or acute respiratory distress syndrome.

The researchers recorded 118 deaths. Fatalities were most common among people aged 50 and over, who had a mortality rate of between 18% and 20%. Seven per cent of deaths were among children younger than 18.

Among fatal cases, it typically took just 12 days after the onset of symptoms for the patient to die. The most common causes of death were viral pneumonia and acute respiratory distress syndrome.

The authors, led by Dr Janice Louie from the California Department of Public Health, wrote: “In contrast with the common perception that pandemic 2009 influenza A (H1N1) infection causes only mild disease, hospitalisation and death occurred at all ages, and up to 30% of hospitalised cases were severely ill.”

Most patients admitted to hospital had underlying health problems, including high blood pressure and obesity, said the scientists. They suggested obesity might be a newly identified risk factor for fatal swine flu infection.

The researchers added: “Clinicians should maintain a high level of suspicion for pandemic 2009 influenza A (H1N1) infection in patients presenting currently with influenza-like illness who are older than 50 years or have known risk factors for influenza complications, regardless of rapid test results. Hospitalised infected cases should be carefully monitored and treated promptly with anti-viral agents.”

Read more: http://www.irishexaminer.com/breakingne ... z0VpuYMLKu

The 11% refers to hospitalised patients.

Here is the abstract of the study:

Factors Associated With Death or Hospitalization Due to Pandemic 2009 Influenza A(H1N1) Infection in California
http://jama.ama-assn.org/cgi/content/sh ... /1896?home

Janice K. Louie, MD, MPH; Meileen Acosta, MPH; Kathleen Winter, MPH; Cynthia Jean, MPH; Shilpa Gavali, MPH; Robert Schechter, MD, MPH; Duc Vugia, MD; Kathleen Harriman, PhD; Bela Matyas, MD; Carol A. Glaser, MD, DVM; Michael C. Samuel, DrPH; Jon Rosenberg, MD; John Talarico, DO, MPH; Douglas Hatch, MD; for the California Pandemic (H1N1) Working Group

JAMA. 2009;302(17):1896-1902.

Context Pandemic influenza A(H1N1) emerged rapidly in California in April 2009. Preliminary comparisons with seasonal influenza suggest that pandemic 2009 influenza A(H1N1) disproportionately affects younger ages and causes generally mild disease.

Objective To describe the clinical and epidemiologic features of pandemic 2009 influenza A(H1N1) cases that led to hospitalization or death.

Design, Setting, and Participants Statewide enhanced public health surveillance of California residents who were hospitalized or died with laboratory evidence of pandemic 2009 influenza A(H1N1) infection reported to the California Department of Public Health between April 23 and August 11, 2009.

Main Outcome Measure Characteristics of hospitalized and fatal cases.

Results During the study period there were 1088 cases of hospitalization or death due to pandemic 2009 influenza A(H1N1) infection reported in California. The median age was 27 years (range, <1-92 years) and 68% (741/1088) had risk factors for seasonal influenza complications. Sixty-six percent (547/833) of those with chest radiographs performed had infiltrates and 31% (340/1088) required intensive care. Rapid antigen tests were falsely negative in 34% (208/618) of cases evaluated. Secondary bacterial infection was identified in 4% (46/1088). Twenty-one percent (183/884) received no antiviral treatment. Overall fatality was 11% (118/1088) and was highest (18%-20%) in persons aged 50 years or older. The most common causes of death were viral pneumonia and acute respiratory distress syndrome.

Conclusions In the first 16 weeks of the current pandemic, the median age of hospitalized infected cases was younger than is common with seasonal influenza. Infants had the highest hospitalization rates and persons aged 50 years or older had the highest mortality rates once hospitalized. Most cases had established risk factors for complications of seasonal influenza.

Swine Flu wave in B.C. kills three, sends 162 to hospital in one week
http://www.vancouverite.com/2009/11/03/ ... -one-week/

Swine Flu has killed three more in B.C. and sent an additional 162 people to hospital in one week, the ministry of health announced on Tuesday.

A total of six people have died in two weeks while the number of people hospitalized rises to 250 in two weeks. 12 more were admitted to ICU.

B.C. has been in the centre of the second Swine Flu wave in the past four weeks with deaths and hospitalizations rising dramatically.

“Since Oct. 27, there have been 162 new severe cases of H1N1 identified in B.C. – seventy-nine in Fraser Health, fifty in Vancouver Coastal Health, seventeen in Interior Health, eight on Vancouver Island and eight in Northern Health – with three new deaths, two in Fraser Health and one in Vancouver Coastal Health,” the ministry announced.

· Since Oct. 27, there have been 162 new severe cases of H1N1 identified in B.C., with three new deaths.

· In total, BC Centre for Disease Control (BCCDC) has confirmed 361 severe H1N1 cases in British Columbia since April 2009, including:

o One hundred and sixty-six in Fraser Health, including nine deaths.

o Forty-eight in Interior Health, including three deaths.

o Fourteen in Northern Health.

o One hundred and ten in Vancouver Coastal Health, including two deaths.

o Twenty-three on Vancouver Island, including one death.

· Of these 361 lab-confirmed cases admitted to hospital, 63 have been admitted to the ICU. Twelve new cases have been admitted to the ICU in the last week.

· To date, fifteen laboratory-confirmed H1N1 cases in B.C. are reported to have died. In thirteen of those cases, there were underlying medical conditions. One case is currently under investigation.

Ukraine

In the hospitals of Ivano-Frankivsk - have 532 patients with viral pneumonia
03/Nov/09

In Ivano-Frankivsk growing number of patients with viral pneumonia.

According to an UNIAN correspondent, this was discussed today at meeting of the Ivano-Frankivsk city Antiepidemic Commission. According to the deputy chief physician of the city of Ivano-Frankivsk GOSHOVSKOY Emma, "the situation in the city has not improved with the flu."

"The number of patients with pneumonia, - she added. - If the weekend was 368 patients, now they received a 532. She said that now in intensive care unit of hospitals of Ivano-Frankivsk with a severe form of pneumonia is 19 patients, 4 of them - in a serious condition and are on mechanical ventilation. In intensive care there were 8 children, but their health is satisfactory. At the same time, she noted that the number of visits to physicians compared to the holidays has increased. "If on Sunday for medical assistance, please contact 751 people, then on Monday, 2,648 people", - said the deputy chief physician of Ivano-Frankivsk.

At the meeting, the Commission noted the lack of protective masks and antiviral drugs in pharmacies of the city, as well as the fact that "the first shock of the epidemic in the population has passed, and now is not respected" mask mode ". Chief Sanitary Doctor of Ivano-Frankivsk Nicholas NOT AVAILABLE cited statistics of influenza and ARI in the city. According to him, in October 2007, influenza and ARI in Ivano-Frankivsk hurt 5828 people in 2008 - 5445, and in 2009 - 18080.

He also predicts that the situation with the disease next week is stabilized, and rates of "disease of 48-49 years ago will go on the wane.

Presiding at the meeting of the commission deputy chairman of the city of Ivano-Frankivsk Zinovy FITEL reported that installed additional phone lines for an ambulance. "This is done in order to increase the opportunity to receive calls", - added the first vice-mayor.

http://www.unian.net/rus/news/news-344802.html

Two swine flu deaths take India’s toll to 477
November 3rd, 2009

NEW DELHI - Two more people succumbed to the contagious swine flu Tuesday, taking the toll in India to 477, health authorities said here.

At least 76 new cases were reported in the country, taking the total number of people affected with the virus to 14,049.

One death was reported from Maharashtra and Kerala each.

With the latest casualty, the toll in Maharashtra has gone up to 204 - the highest in the country.

In Kerala, 16 people have died.

Of the 76 new cases, 22 were reported in the national capital alone. With this the total number of people affected with the virus in the Indian capital rose to 3,488.

However, it is Maharashtra that records the highest number of people who have been tested positive for the flu. As many as 3,675 people have been detected with the virus in the state. It is the highest in the country.

New cases were also reported from Karanataka (23), Tamil Nadu (16), Maharashtra (12), Goa (2) and Kerala (1).

http://blog.taragana.com/health/2009/11 ... 477-14916/

DAILY FATALITY SUMMARY (Reports posted on November 3,2009)

UNITED STATES-- 35
California 1
Colorado 8
Illinois 2
Iowa 1
Kentucky 1
Maryland 1
Montana 1
New York 1
Ohio 1
Oregon 7
Pennsylvania 2
Rhode Island 1*
Texas 4
Virginia 4

CANADA--3
Brirish Columbia 3

WORLDWIDE--39
Belarus 1*
China 1*
India 2
Russia 5
Serbia 1
Slovenia 1*
South Korea 8
Sweden 1
Ukraine 16
United Kingdom 3

NOTES: The US has 1559 fatalities includeing 208 children.The Rhode Island case is suspect.

Belarus and Slovenia have had their first fatalities.

The Chinese case was a Russian visiting in China.There is an internet report of a hospital in China being closed off by police after an infant and his great uncle died outside while waiting.Reportedly there were people coughing up blood and the crowd was getting angry.

Warning on swine flu death numbers
04/Nov/09

Swine flu kills more than one in 10 of those it affects severely enough to put in hospital, a US study has shown.

Up to 20% of older patients taken to hospital with the virus ended up dead, researchers in California found.

Almost a third of cases required intensive care treatment, and deaths occurred among all age groups.

The findings, published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (Jama), suggest that H1N1 swine flu is potentially more dangerous than many people believe, according to the authors.

Dr Janice Louie, from the California Department of Public Health, led the study of 1,088 swine flu cases resulting in being taken to hospital or death in the state between April 23 and August 11 this year. Of these, 32% were children under the age of 18, with infants having the highest rates of hospitalisation. The midpoint age of patients was 27. In total, 340 patients (31%) were admitted to hospital intensive care units. Of the 297 intensive care cases for whom information was available, 65% required mechanical ventilation.

Chest X-rays of 833 patients revealed indications of pneumonia or acute respiratory distress syndrome. The researchers recorded 118 deaths, an overall mortality rate of 11%. Fatalities were most common among people aged 50 and over, for whom death rates rose to between 18% and 20%. Seven per cent of deaths were among children younger than 18.

Among fatal cases, it typically took just 12 days after the onset of symptoms for the patient to die. The most common causes of death were viral pneumonia and acute respiratory distress syndrome. The scientists wrote: "In contrast with the common perception that pandemic 2009 influenza A (H1N1) infection causes only mild disease, hospitalisation and death occurred at all ages, and up to 30% of hospitalised cases were severely ill."

Most patients admitted to hospital had underlying health problems, including high blood pressure and obesity, said the scientists. They suggested that obesity might be a newly identified risk factor for fatal swine flu infection.

The researchers added: "Clinicians should maintain a high level of suspicion for pandemic 2009 influenza A (H1N1) infection in patients presenting currently with influenza-like illness who are older than 50 years or have known risk factors for influenza complications, regardless of rapid test results. Hospitalised infected cases should be carefully monitored and treated promptly with antiviral agents."

A total of 78,000 new cases of swine flu were reported in England in the week ending October 29, according to latest figures from the Health Protection Agency. This was up from 53,000 the week before, but fell short of the 100,000 cases reported in July. A total of 751 patients with swine flu had been admitted to hospital in England, the largest number since July. They included 157 patients needing critical care. To date there have been 137 swine flu deaths in the UK. Nearly half have involved people with underlying health problems.

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ukpres ... 7QvPsF8f-w

Swine flu kills 15 in Turkey

The Turkish Health Ministry announced on Wednesday that 15 people had died of swine flu so far.

04 November 2009, Wednesday
THE ANATOLIA NEWS AGENCY ANKARA
http://www.todayszaman.com/tz-web/news- ... urkey.html

The ministry released a statement in which it said that four people, including two women aged 24 and 31, a 55-year-old man, and a five-year-old boy died in several cities of Turkey due to swine flu, raising the death toll to 15.

The first victim of the swine flu in Turkey was a 28-year-old male hospital janitor in Ankara. He died on October 24.

Swine flu also killed people in İstanbul, southeastern provinces of Diyarbakır and Şanlıurfa, and central province of Konya.

Amazon Indian tribe hit by swine flu

LONDON (Reuters) - Swine flu has hit an isolated tribe of Indians in the Amazon jungle, with seven dying in the last two weeks, Survival International said on Wednesday.

A further 1,000 members of the Yanomami tribe in Venezuela are believed to have caught the flu, the indigenous peoples rights group said.

It is feared the flu could sweep through the area and kill many more Yanomami as the Indians have little resistance to introduced diseases.

About 32,000 Yanomami live in the Venezuela-Brazil border region and form the largest relatively isolated tribe in the Amazon.

Survival director Stephen Corry said the situation was critical and the Venezuelan and Brazilian governments must act immediately to halt the epidemic and improve health care for the Yanomami.

"If they do not, we could once more see hundreds of Yanomami dying of treatable diseases. This would be utterly devastating for this isolated tribe, whose population has only just recovered from the epidemics which decimated their population 20 years ago," he said in a statement.

About 20 per cent of the Yanomami tribe died from flu, malaria and other diseases in the 1980 and 1990s when goldminers invaded their land, Survival said.

The Venezuelan government has closed the border and sent medical teams.

The H1N1 virus -- the correct medical term for swine flu -- has spread globally and killed nearly 5,000 people since appearing early this year, according to the World Health Organisation.

http://uk.reuters.com/article/idUKTRE5A32YI20091104

NC hospital segregates flu victims in outdoor tent

The Associated Press
http://www.newsobserver.com/356/story/174412.html

GREENSBORO, N.C. -- A major North Carolina hospital is pitching tents to battle the spread of swine flu.

The Greensboro News & Record reported Wednesday that two tents in the Moses Cone Hospital parking lot are the first stop for patients seeking treatment for flu symptoms.

The idea is to cut the spread of the H1N1 flu virus by keeping those infected isolated and take the load off the hospital's emergency room.

Hospital officials say the tents are heated and cooled and would be filled with medical equipment and emergency room staff. Patients will be evaluated there and admitted to the hospital if necessary.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates more than 1 million Americans have been infected with swine flu, with many suffering mild cases never reported.

'H1N1 virus nothing like the flu'

Posted By JENNIFER HAMILTON-MCCHARLES, THE NUGGET

Posted 2 hours ago

Victims of the H1N1 virus say symptoms put the illness in a league of its own.

Rosemary Elson was confirmed to have H1N1, along with her husband and five children, in July.

They arrived at the hospital's emergency department, underwent numerous blood tests and nose and mouth swabs and were told it's the swine flu.

The family was quarantined in their home for two weeks. They relied on friends and family to drop off milk and fresh meat at their front door.

The H1N1 virus is nothing like the flu. You're going to know if you get H1N1," Elson said Tuesday.

I couldn't move, I kept passing out and I was in so much pain. It felt like the bottom of my stomach was going to fall out. My ankle, knees and every joint in my body hurt," she said.

While medical officials say there are varying degrees of symptoms, Elson described a severe reaction.

You just don't get a fever . . . your entire head feels like it's cooking.

There's also this poison taste in the back of your throat. And forget about swallowing, because it feels like your swallowing golf balls."

Elson sympathizes with those in hospital who are suffering from the virus and encourages parents to get their children vaccinated.

She said she attempted to get her children vaccinated, but the lineup was too long.

They have yet to return to a clinic and two of her children have influenza-like symptoms.

Elson said the fever and stomach cramping have returned. She said she and her five-and nine-year-olds are back in quarantine.

Something is coming back through the house again," Elson said. But we're trying to avoid the hospital's emergency room at all costs."

Elson said since the pandemic hit Ontario, everyone who has fallen ill cites H1N1 as the cause.

She said now that the local health unit has tapped out its supply, she fears people's concern will escalate.

Dr. Jim Chirico, the district's medical officer of health, said the 19,500 doses of the vaccine have been either administered or distributed to doctors.

He said the health unit has yet to receive more supply and all high risk and general H1N1 clinics are postponed until further notice.

Pregnant women and new mothers are now the focus. The health unit received 800 doses of the unadjuvanted vaccine.

Special clinics are being held this week in North Bay, Parry Sound, Mattawa, Sturgeon Falls and Burk's Falls for pregnant women and women who gave birth within the last six weeks.

Chirico said if there is any unadjuvanted vaccine left the health unit will distribute it among area doctors and he's trying to get more adjuvanted vaccine from the province.

http://northbaynugget.com/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=2159930

H1N1 Flu Confirmed In Iowa Cat

11/04/2009 10:20AM

A cat in Iowa has tested positive for the 2009 H1N1 influenza virus, state officials confirmed this morning, marking the first time a cat has been diagnosed with this strain of influenza.

The cat, which has recovered, is believed to have caught the virus from someone in the household who was sick with H1N1. There are no indications that the cat passed the virus on to any other animals or people.

Prior to this diagnosis, the 2009 H1N1 influenza virus had been found in humans, pigs, birds and ferrets.

The American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) and the American Association of Feline Practitioners (AAFP) are reminding pet owners that some viruses can pass between people and animals, so this was not an altogether unexpected event. Pet owners should monitor their pets’ health very closely, no matter what type of animal, and visit a veterinarian if there are any signs of illness.

The AVMA is actively tracking all instances of H1N1 in animals and posting updates on our Web site at http://www.avma.org/public_health/influenza/new_virus.

For more information, contact Michael San Filippo, AVMA media relations assistant, at 847-285-6687 (office), 847-732-6194 (cell), or msanfilippo@avma.org.

DAILY FATALITY SUMMARY (Reports posted on November 4,2009)

UNITED STATES 61
Arizona 17
California 3
Colorado 9
Florida 1
Illinois 2
Kentucky 2
Minnesota 4*
Montana 1
New Jersey 1
New Mexico 2
Nevada 2
Ohio 2
Oregon 3
Rhode Island 1
Texas 2
Utah 1
Virginia 5
Washington 2
Wisconsin 1

CANADA 10
British Columbia 3
Newfoundland 1
Ontario 5
Quebec 1

WORLDWIDE 65
Belarus 6
Iran 11
Italy 5
Mexico 24
Mongolia 2
South Korea 3
Thailand 2
Turkey 7
United Kingdom 1
Yemen 4

Notes: The US figures are Now 1620 with 212 child deaths included.I have one pediatric death each for Arizona,Illinois New Mexico,and Texas.This is probably low IMO so please PM me about any others so that the count may be corrected.One of the Minnesota cases is unconfirmed.

Belarus also listed 12 other deaths as being from"acute pnemonia".

Ukraine

Influenza killed 96 Ukrainians
05/Nov/09

In Ukraine, the flu and its complications, said 96 people died at the meeting of the Verkhovna Rada Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada Committee on Health Bakhteyeva.

According to an UNIAN correspondent, she said, among the dead, six doctors, seven pregnant women and nine children.

In the report, the draft decree on urgent measures to fight the spread of pandemic influenza in Ukraine T. Bakhteeva noted that the Party of Regions insists that the 500 million UAH. were transferred to the regions for the purchase of medicines and medical supplies.

At the same time Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada Speaker Volodymyr Lytvyn repeatedly interrupted her, noting: "You are reported as the chairman of the committee, not as a member of the Party of Regions faction, and is a draft decree of the Ukrainian Parliament, not the Party of Regions faction, so let's stop political agitation" .

http://www.unian.net/rus/news/news-345138.html

3 NC hospital workers didn't take flu shot, resign

The Associated Press
Posted: Thursday, Nov. 05, 2009
http://www.charlotteobserver.com/232/story/1038655.html

GREENSBORO, N.C. Three workers at a major North Carolina hospital are gone after failing to get vaccinated against the seasonal flu.

The News & Record of Greensboro reported Thursday that the employees resigned from Moses Cone Hospital after failing to take a mandatory seasonal flu vaccine by the Oct. 31 deadline.

Their names and positions were not released.

The Greensboro hospital required all employees to receive the vaccine in September, the first time it has made the shot mandatory. The hospital also requires employees to be vaccinated against the H1N1 swine flu.

Hospital spokesman Doug Allred said more than 8,000 employees and volunteers took the seasonal flu vaccine. He said employees take vaccinations for other illnesses including the measles and mumps.