BREAKING NEWS: 8 of 9 student specimens test probable for swine flu, NYC health official says

[Mari333]

Source: msnbc

breaking news top of page

Read more: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/

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breaking news top of page

[B2G]

1. 2 confirmed in Kansas

Not good. Spring breakers returning?

[Ghost Dog]

2. Reuters, CNN more cautious?

(Reuters 20:15 GMT) ... In New York City, health officials were looking into what had sickened scores of students who developed flu-like symptoms in a Queens high school on Thursday and Friday, although the symptoms were reported as mild.

CNN reported they had tested positive for influenza A, the same general group of viruses as the swine flu, but health officials said they could not confirm that.

/... http://uk.reuters.com/article/topNews/idUKTRE53N3DR20090425?sp=true

[Snazzy]

10. I watched the press conf.

They did test positive for influenza A and then not for known variants NYC can test for. Therefore whoever the NYC doctor (dir dept of health prob., not sure)leading the the presser was, said it was likely swine, but won't know 100% till CDC looks at it tomorrow.

And btw, the 8 of 9 who tested pos, that's a sample. Somewhere over 100 kids sick at school in queens. Also mentioned a daycare center in Bronx, no word on that yet.

(Edit: it was New York City Health Commissioner Dr. Thomas Frieden as mentioned down thread)

[Snazzy]

21. PR

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Press Release # 015-09
Saturday, April 25, 2009

...


Health Department Testing Finds Probable Cases of Swine Influenza in Students at a Non-Public School in Queens

Department calls for increased vigilance for possible spread of swine influenza virus


April 25, 2009 – The Health Department is investigating a cluster of respiratory illness in a non-public school in New York City and has determined that at least 8 students have probable human swine influenza. More than 100 of the school’s students were absent several days this week due to fever, sore throats and other flu-like symptoms. The Health Department has interviewed more than 100 students or their families, and all students have had mild symptoms; none have been hospitalized. Some family members have developed similar symptoms, suggesting spread in the family.

In response to confirmed cases of swine influenza (swine flu) in Mexico, California and Texas, the New York City Health Department is working closely with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to assess the possibility of the spread of swine flu.

Swine flu is a respiratory infection caused by influenza type A viruses that regularly cause outbreaks of influenza in pigs. People do not normally get swine flu, but human infections can occur. Human cases typically involve people who have had direct contact with pigs, but person-to-person transmission is suspected among recent cases in the Southwest. The cases in Mexico have had a high fatality rate, but the eight recently confirmed cases from California and Texas have been mild. All of the non-NYC patients have recovered.

The Health Department’s Public Health Laboratory has completed preliminary viral testing on nose and throat swabs from nine affected students. Eight of the nine tests are positive Influenza A. Because they do not match H1 and H3 human subtypes of influenza A by available testing methods, they are considered probable cases of swine flu. The specimens have been sent to the CDC in Atlanta for confirmatory testing. Results of those tests are expected Sunday. (The attached chart outlines the steps required for confirmation.)

Patients experiencing severe symptoms, such as difficulty breathing, should seek health care and treatment. Otherwise, the Health Department recommends at-home care. If affected students at the school in question have household contacts at high risk for complications from influenza – young children, the elderly, and people with chronic illness – those at risk should receive preventive treatment. The most effective way to lower the risk of transmission is for people with symptoms to stay home.

All New Yorkers should cover their mouths when they cough. Additional precautions:

* Wash your hands often with soap and water, especially after you cough or sneeze. Alcohol-based hands cleaners are also effective.

* Try to avoid close contact with sick people.

* If you get sick, stay home from work or school and limit contact with others to avoid infecting them.

Swine influenza cannot be transmitted from eating pork or pork products. The symptoms of swine flu in people appear to be similar to the symptoms of regular human flu and include fever, cough, sore throat, body aches, headache, chills and fatigue. Some people have reported diarrhea and vomiting associated with swine flu. Like seasonal flu, swine flu may cause a worsening of underlying chronic medical conditions.

For facts about influenza, and more information about swine flu, please visit the Health Department and CDC websites. Some specific resources:
From New York City Health Department

Facts about flu
http://www.nyc.gov/html/doh/html/cd/cdinflu.shtml
From Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

General information about swine flu
http://www.cdc.gov/swineflu/general_info.htm

Swine Flu Case Definitions
http://www.cdc.gov/swineflu/casedef_swineflu.htm

Swine Flu Infection Control and Patient Care
http://www.cdc.gov/swineflu/guidelines_infection_control.htm

Preventing the Flu
http://www.cdc.gov/flu/protect/habits.htm

[The Backlash Cometh]

23. How did they get exposed?

[Snazzy]

24. don't have an official answer for that

although I heard on some news here that some kids from the school were recently in Mexico for break.

[Robb]

3. Link:

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/30398682/

updated 1 minute ago

Worries that the new swine flu strain that has killed as many as 68 people and sickened more than 1,000 across Mexico has “pandemic potential” increased with the announcement that the virus had spread to Kansas, and likely to New York City.

On Saturday, two new cases of swine flu were confirmed in Kansas. And New York City Health Commissioner Dr. Thomas Frieden announced that tests showed that eight New York schoolchildren had a type A influenza virus that was likely the swine flu.

Samples have been sent to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for further testing for confirmation. The students showed mild flu symptoms.

[uppityperson]

4. Kansas state officials confirm two flu cases

http://www.reuters.com/article/marketsNews/idUSN2547703020090425

WASHINGTON, April 25 (Reuters) - Kansas state health officials have confirmed two cases of swine flu, just minutes after New York health officials said they had eight probable cases, CNN reported on Saturday.

Health officials across the United States are testing for the new and unusual strain of H1N1 swine flu that is suspected of killing 68 people in Mexico and that has caused mild illness in at least eight people in the United States.

[Ghost Dog]

5. "we don't think that containment is feasible" - CDC

"With infections in many different communities as we're seeing, we don't think that containment is feasible," said Anne Schuchat of the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

"We are not at a point where we can keep this virus in one place... Now that we are looking more widely, I really expect us to find more."

/... http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/8018356.stm

I wish the media could remember to be more specific: it's this particular swine-human-avian recombinant "H1N1" we're interested in, isn't it?

[UKCynic]

12. H1N1

Listening to the BBC.

They say that it appears to be H1N1 which is known, not new, and there is already a vaccine, and that outside Mexico all reported cases have been mild. There is a possibility that this virus weakens rapidly as it is passed on. All good news, if true

[Snazzy]

13. there is no vaccine, unless you are a pig

Is the H1N1 swine flu virus the same as human H1N1 viruses?
No. The H1N1 swine flu viruses are antigenically very different from human H1N1 viruses and, therefore, vaccines for human seasonal flu would not provide protection from H1N1 swine flu viruses.

...

Is there a vaccine for swine flu?
Vaccines are available to be given to pigs to prevent swine influenza. There is no vaccine to protect humans from swine flu. The seasonal influenza vaccine will likely help provide partial protection against swine H3N2, but not swine H1N1 viruses.

http://www.cdc.gov/swineflu/key_facts.htm

[Odin2005]

16. So there is only a vaccine for Republicans? Damn.

:dunce:

[UKCynic]

18. Ah the Beeb, wrong as usual.

N/T

[uppityperson]

6. high school students, results due Sun.

http://www.wcax.com/Global/story.asp?S=10248620

Associated Press - April 25, 2009 4:55 PM ET

NEW YORK (AP) - At least eight students at a high school in New York City probably have human swine influenza, but authorities don't know for sure whether they have the strain that has killed people in Mexico. City health officials say more than 100 students at the private St. Francis Preparatory School in Queens have come down with a fever, sore throat and other aches and pains.

New York City Health Commissioner Thomas Frieden says a government lab needs to do more testing before authorities can pinpoint which strain of flu the students have. Results are not expected until Sunday.

The symptoms in New York have all been mild and no students have been hospitalized, but the illnesses have caused concern because of an outbreak of a strain in Mexico responsible for as many as 68 deaths.

[Grinchie]

7. Nothing like whipping up a frenzy of fear to keep the Citizens stressed out

And more susceptible to depressed immune response.

I'm sure those returning through Security Check points are happy go lucky as well.

[caseymoz]

20. I feel sorry for the TSA people; they're going to get hit HARD.

Not that any of us is going to be well-off.

[Ghost Dog]

8. "public health emergency of international concern" - WHO (retains phase 3 alert)

In response to cases of swine influenza A(H1N1), reported in Mexico and the United States of America, the Director-General convened a meeting of the Emergency Committee to assess the situation and advise her on appropriate responses.

The establishment of the Committee, which is composed of international experts in a variety of disciplines, is in compliance with the International Health Regulations (2005).

The first meeting of the Emergency Committee was held on Saturday 25 April 2009.

After reviewing available data on the current situation, Committee members identified a number of gaps in knowledge about the clinical features, epidemiology, and virology of reported cases and the appropriate responses.

The Committee advised that answers to several specific questions were needed to facilitate its work.

The Committee nevertheless agreed that the current situation constitutes a public health emergency of international concern.

Based on this advice, the Director-General has determined that the current events constitute a public health emergency of international concern, under the Regulations.

Concerning public health measures, in line with the Regulations the Director-General is recommending, on the advice of the Committee, that all countries intensify surveillance for unusual outbreaks of influenza-like illness and severe pneumonia.

The Committee further agreed that more information is needed before a decision could be made concerning the appropriateness of the current phase 3.

/.. http://www.who.int/mediacentre/news/statements/2009/h1n1_20090425/en/index.html

[jimlup]

9. Guess we'll see now

Bad news indeed

[That Is Quite Enough]

11. Oh, FTN. I hope I'm not getting too worked up over this.

Scary stuff to me at least.

[Odin2005]

14. Oh shit.

:scared:

[Arrowhead2k1]

15. Fuck, and I'm going to be going to NYC next week. Hotel is in Queens.

I don't like how fast this is spreading at all.

[FedUpWithIt All]

17. NBC is saying there are suspected cases in MN

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/30398682/

Edited to add that the link has removed MA from the article.

[HereSince1628]

19. Remember, the cheapest, effective defense against influenza is hand washing.

And run screaming into the country-side where you will see no one for the next 4 months!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[eilen]

22. and a mask

Influenza patients are kept in negative pressure rooms as it can be spread through droplet nuclei.

[TheWatcher]

25. SHUT UP TERRORIST!!!!!!!!111111

You're just spreading Panic And Fear across DU with talk like that!

:sarcasm:

[marshall]

26. Time to cancel those Mexican vacations

And thank our lucky stars we didn't go there for spring break.

How long before people are calling for the border to be closed?

[The abyss]

27. Gee I would have to guess that digging up......

all those 1918 victims from the permafrost and collecting those ancient lung tissue samples has finally paid off.

This is not sarcasm.