Swine flu.....possible pandemic - Officially named H1N1 Flu (Apr 29,09)

[Heather]

Oklahoma up to 114 cases and 1 death

Number of Oklahoma swine flu cases rises to 114 as health board hears of plans for vaccination

By Associated Press
12:26 PM CDT, June 11, 2009

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — The Oklahoma State Department of Health says the number of swine flu cases in the state has risen to 114.

Scott Sproat, the Health Department's chief of emergency preparedness and response, says state health officials have yet to see a plateau in the number of swine flu reports, even during what typically is a slow season for flu cases.

During a meeting of the state health board on Thursday, he said tentative preparations are being made for the distribution of a swine flu vaccine after it becomes available.

He says the Health Department would coordinate such vaccinations, which likely would not begin until sometime this fall.

One person has died from the swine flu in Oklahoma, a 43-year-old Kay County man. The Health Department announced the death earlier this week.

 

[Ruth]

I do not know how many cases there are in California where I live. More people are getting it in the area where I live.

I now have snezzing and dizziness from the last time I reported my symptoms. My husband had to help me up from the computer and will have to again. When I last left the computer room, I had an atonic seizure. I have also had tremors, which my neurologist says are seizures. I feel dizzy again, so I will go sit down, with help from my husband. If I get worse I will go to the emergency room.

 

[RobinN]

Something I ran across today on the subject of flu vaccines, and thought I would share:

http://loveforlife.com.au/node/6636

 

[TempusFugit]

Thanks for the link there Robin. Looks as if the British Government are planning something similiar:

Can't post the link. Basically, sky news have reported that all brits are to be vaccinated against the swine flu virus.

I am certainly going to think long and hard about this - I accept that research techniques are more refined now etc., but forewarned is forearmed.

***Editor's note***

Here is the link Tempus wanted to include. The information is really quite interesting.

UK NEWS About the Swine Flu

Meetz

 

[RobinN]

Prevention: Is the swine flu jab safe?

A warning that the new swine flu jab is linked to a deadly nerve disease has been sent by the Government to senior neurologists in a confidential letter.

The letter from the Health Protection Agency, the official body that oversees public health, has been leaked to The Mail on Sunday, leading to demands to know why the information has not been given to the public before the vaccination of millions of people, including children, begins.

It tells the neurologists that they must be alert for an increase in a brain disorder called Guillain-Barre Syndrome (GBS), which could be triggered by the vaccine.

GBS attacks the lining of the nerves, causing paralysis and inability to breathe, and can be fatal.

The letter, sent to about 600 neurologists on July 29, is the first sign that there is concern at the highest levels that the vaccine itself could cause serious complications.

It refers to the use of a similar swine flu vaccine in the United States in 1976 when:

* More people died from the vaccination than from swine flu.
* 500 cases of GBS were detected.
* The vaccine may have increased the risk of contracting GBS by eight times.
* The vaccine was withdrawn after just ten weeks when the link with GBS became clear.
* The US Government was forced to pay out millions of dollars to those affected.

Concerns have already been raised that the new vaccine has not been sufficiently tested and that the effects, especially on children, are unknown.

It is being developed by pharmaceutical companies and will be given to about 13million people during the first wave of immunisation, expected to start in October.

Top priority will be given to everyone aged six months to 65 with an underlying health problem, pregnant women and health professionals.

The British Neurological Surveillance Unit (BNSU), part of the British Association of Neurologists, has been asked to monitor closely any cases of GBS as the vaccine is rolled out.

One senior neurologist said last night: ‘I would not have the swine
flu jab because of the GBS risk.’

There are concerns that there could be a repeat of what became known as the ‘1976 debacle’ in the US, where a swine flu vaccine killed 25 people – more than the virus itself.

A mass vaccination was given the go-ahead by President Gerald Ford because scientists believed that the swine flu strain was similar to the one responsible for the 1918-19 pandemic, which killed half a million Americans and 20million people worldwide.

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/art...ologists-25-deaths-America.html#ixzz0OQ2KkKJI

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/art...s-concern-neurologists-25-deaths-America.html

 

[epileric]

Similar concerns in Canada

The race is on to create a vaccine for swine flu, as many infectious disease experts warn that the northern hemisphere could face a "second wave" of H1N1. But some worry the fast-tracked vaccine may be more dangerous than the virus itself.

http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20090815/vaccine_safety_090816/20090816?hub=Health

Something I ran across today on the subject of flu vaccines, and thought I would share:

http://loveforlife.com.au/node/6636

That "Love for Life" group has been associated with Satanists & conspiracy theorists. I would have a hard time taking them seriously.

Recently, his executor, an "Aloysius Fozdyke" (their satanic names) sent the 15 pp. document by email to Arthur Cristian, webmaster of "loveforlife.com.au" "I have felt it necessary to edit very little of this work," "Fozdyke" wrote to Cristian, "although legal considerations have ensured that some names and details were excised. It was his intention to have this published in the popular media."

Famous Conspiracy Theories Website

 

[Ruth]

Hi Epileric,

In the county next to mine 4 people have died this summer from the flu. Most flu's go away in the summer. Not this one. We have had the same news here about the vaccine. They plan on giving us a shot once a month for 3 months. That sounds like a killer. One vaccination should be plently. I am debating as to whether have the vaccination at all. I have a surgical mask to wear when I am out in public. I am not embarrassed to wear one. When we go to the ER, we are required to wear one. That is the main place where we would get it.

A high fever of about 103-104 and coughing are the main symptoms. Ruth

 

[Loudmouth]

In my town of 50,000 people, nearly 7,000 have had swine flu in the last 7 weeks. They are giving out the tamiflu with a 'flu number' that tells you what case you are in our primary care trust area. My friend and her eldest daughter were cases 3 and 4 back in the second week of july (her parents were 1 and 2 they had been on holiday in mexico). My middle child and my youngest child were cases 38 and 39 in the third week of July, and by the fourth week of July when my daughter and myself came down with it, we were cases 2,998 and 2,999. The information sheet with tamiflu says it needs to be administered within 48 hrs of first symptoms, but after personal experience, it doesn't work on children if it's not given within 6 hrs of the first symptom. My 7 yr old was iller than he was when he had meningitis at 2 months old. He didn't move from the sofa for 11 days! We are back to full health now. The school had 13 confirmed cases before the summer holidays started on 18 July. They are talking about keeping the school shut for an extra month in our area because of swine flu. That would mean the children not going back until the 5th October. My seizures are still on the increase ever since I had swine flu, hence seeing the Neuro soon.

 

[RobinN]

Dr Mercola's suggestions:

If you want to avoid catching the flu, drugs and vaccines is not the answer. Your body and health are better served by addressing the reasons why the immune system is impaired, which allows it to acquire the infection to begin with.

Here are some much healthier and less expensive steps you can take:

* Avoid sugar
* Get enough rest
* Eat garlic regularly
* Don't let stress overwhelm you
* Exercise regularly
* Wash your hands


Please realize that Tamiflu is NOT a safe drug Serious side effects include convulsions, delirium or delusions, and 14 deaths in children and teens as a result of neuropsychiatric problems and brain infections Japan actually banned Tamiflu for children in 2007.

Remember, Tamiflu went through some rough times not too long ago, as the dangers of this drug came to light when, in 2007, the FDA finally began investigating some 1,800 adverse event reports related to the drug.

Additionally common side effects of Tamiflu include:

* Nausea
* Vomiting
* Diarrhea
* Headache
* Dizziness
* Fatigue
* Cough

All in all, the very symptoms you're trying to avoid.

Additionally, Tamiflu has been reported to be ineffective against seasonal flu outbreaks, and may not be sufficient to combat an epidemic or pandemic.

But making matters worse, some patients with influenza are at HIGHER risk for secondary bacterial infections when on Tamiflu. And secondary bacterial infections, as I mentioned earlier, was likely the REAL cause of the mass fatalities during the 1918 pandemic!

But here’s the real kicker.

When Tamiflu is used as directed (twice daily for 5 days) it can ONLY reduce the duration of your influenza symptoms by 1 to 1 ½ days, according to the official data.

Why on earth would anyone want to take a drug that has a chance of killing you, was banned in Japan, is loaded with side effects that mimic the flu itself, costs over $100, and AT BEST can only provide 36 hours of SYMPTOM relief. Just doesn't make any sense.

Please recognize that there is serious revenue in Tamiflu. The Financial Times reports that governments around the world have previously stockpiled 220 million doses in preparation for a pandemic that has yet to appear. The cost of this preparation is $7 billion dollars.

http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2004/09/15/tamiflu.aspx

 

[Ruth]

Hi Robin, thank you for the information. I was worried about taking Tamiflu. I had heard about the pandemic in 1918 and how the vaccine itself killed several people.

We love garlic and we will take the other precautions necessary. We also use surgical masks. The flu is alive in our county and other counties close by. 4 people have recentely died of the flu in the county next to ours. Ruth

 

[Dutch mom]

Oink oink, both my twins were diagnosed with H1N1 swine flu (called Mexican flu here in Holland) today.

They're having diarrea, pain in their belly and muscles, headace, high temp/feever. No cough. My youngest boy started last weekend and seems to have had most of it by now, my girl started yesterday and feels very sick.

My eldest son has had several tc seizures yesterday and the day before yesterday while ketosis is good, which usually is a sign he's getting ill. He is a bad drinker so we might get in trouble with him. If he gets sick and is drinking bad, we've got to go to the hospital for Tamiflu (we'll see, I'm going to try to avoid Tamiflu if possible.)

Summer holliday lasts untill coming sunday here. I'm a teacher and have got to go to work again on monday, but chances my husband and I will get it are > 90% so I guess I won't be very welcome there..

 

[Bernard]

Sorry to hear that DM. There were some helpful tips posted here on page 3.

 

[Loudmouth]

(((((HUGS))))) to dutch mum and your kids....your summer holidays are ending the way mine started! Hope the kids feel better soon. IF you do have tamiflu for them, insist they take it after food, even a slice of bread stops the tummy upsets from the tamiflu.

 

[Ruth]

Hi Dutch Mom,

You need to take them to the hospital ASAP. People have died here because they did not make it to the hospital in time.

I truly hope they get better. Ruth

 

[Kansas Educator]

I swear I had it a couple weeks ago. I had a sudden onset fever of 101.8, cough and digestive upset. The worst of it lasted 3 days but it took me about 6 days to get completely over it. I called my Dr. and she just said to stay in bed, drink fluids and take Tylenol to keep my temp down. I did all that and recovered without a trip to the Dr so I can't say 100% that it was H1N1, however, I think it was. I don't think it's any worse than the typical flu and just requires a person to stay as healthy as they can and take care of themselves. I am a teacher too and our school isn't even planning to close this year when it strikes.

 

[RobinN]

It seems to me, and I am no medical doctor, but .... if you are in general good health, you will make it through most illnesses you come in contact with. If you happen not to be in good health, well.... you are taking your chances either way.

 

[Dutch mom]

Hi,

In Holland the new policy is only to see the doctor when you're part of a risk group. The flu seems to be not as dangerous as presumed before. My twins don't have the cough which gives a risk to get pneumonia. They have a very bad diarrea, pain in their belly all day long and have had fever peaking up. They drink well and I don't see worrying signals to go the hospital.

The biggest risk from the flu seemes to be so many people getting sick in the same period that essential things in society can't go on as usual, that's why to keep them away from school and other people.

My husband has mild symptoms now, I haven't (yet.)
My eldest son has no signals yet except for having several tc seizures breaking through the diet in spite of adequate ketosis. But we had to pick him up from his special needs daycare center yesterday because of many children there having health problems (lungs) and keep him home untill his siblings/family members aren't infectious anymore.

Perhaps he's the healthiest one in our family? Not one of us gets on a daily base exactly the right vitamines and minerals like he does thanks to the supplements needed on the diet. He's healthy enough, no risk group himself, but being sick usually gives diet problems and increased seizures. Biggest worry with him is getting in enough fluids when ill, especially important with diarrea.

I don't want to give him tamiflu, the side effects seem worse than the flu itself, even convulsions are mentioned! To many risky side effects while tamiflu only reduces being sick bij 1-2 days.

Guess we better all get this flu now in summer time; they're expecting the virus to mutate in autumn and getting worse. Summer flu's tend to be more indigestial, winter flu's usually have more respirational symptoms. Getting it now gives antibodies and will make people more resistant to mutated virus.

Trying to see the positive side... the flu gives me an extra week vacation, not being welcome on school monday, so I can take care of my sick kids.

 

[Meetz1064]

Awww, DM

What a bummer deal. I am thinking positive thoughts for you, and hoping that YOU don't get it at least....

 

[Loudmouth]

dutch mum, do you think that as my 5 year old has had it in july, he will be protected from getting it in the autumn? because they are saying that because of the respiritory effects of getting it in the winter combined with his chronic asthma could be very dangerous, and they want to give him the immunisation. If he will already be protected from it, I don't want to give him an immunisation he wont need, but i don't want to run the risk of him getting it agian either...In a bit of a quandary as to what to do, what does everyone else think?

 

[Dutch mom]

Hi Loudmouth,

I've been told they expect the virus to mutate in autumn and becoming 'meaner'. You can get infected again when it's mutated but because of antibodies from a related virus infection before, it will be milder for people who've had it before (shorter and milder symptoms.)
I don't know, 'they' and 'expect' doesn't sound very sure.
When your kid has chronic asthma he belongs to a risk group. I sure do understand your concerns. But I don't like the idea of a vaccine which isn't tested long enough either.
Still just two cases in my house for now, one of them being over it since today (lasted about 10 days), my girl still is sick.