"situation is evolving quickly." this is a serious situation that must be watched very carefully,"

[seemslikeadream]

and I am going to watch it closely, if you don't like it don't read it!!




http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/04/25/AR2009042503128.html

The director general of the World Health Organization, Margaret Chan, said the "situation is evolving quickly."

"We do not yet have a complete picture of the epidemiology or the risk, including possible spread beyond the currently affected areas," said Chan, who cut short a trip to the United States so she could rush back to the WHO's headquarters in Geneva to convene an emergency meeting of expert advisers to formulate a response to the virus. It is the first time the committee has been called upon since it was created two years ago to help handle disease outbreaks following the SARS, or severe acute respiratory syndrome, epidemic.

"In the assessment of the WHO, this is a serious situation that must be watched very carefully," she said. "It has pandemic potential."

The virus, for which there is no vaccine for humans, has nearly brought Mexico City to a halt. Normally congested downtown streets in this city of 20 million were almost empty Saturday, and of the few people who ventured outside, many said they did so only out of necessity. Soldiers posted at subway stations handed out face masks to passersby from the back of armored vehicles. Some pedestrians covered their mouths and noses with scarves and rags.

[emilyg]

1. I'm watching. Thank you.

[dixiegrrrrl]

2. do those kinds of masks actually do any good to wear.?

[Mira]

5. Is SARS the only predecessor to this new swine flue virus? In retrospect, it seems the

masks did not do anything much but to line pockets, at least that's what the google said.

[nadinbrzezinski]

6. They did make a difference back in 1918

and other cases

If you want to use one, find a TB mask, very expensive but they are even finer

Of course silly things like washing hands, and staying away from sick people are far more effective

:-)

If you are inmunosupressed, ask your doctor... they won't hurt

And hell knows I use one when dad smokes...

[Ladyhawk]

22. According to the book I read, the masks used in 1918 were worthless.

That doesn't mean there haven't been improvements in surgical masks. However, flu viruses are so contagious there may be nothing that really helps. I don't know.

I've read enough about flu viruses to be concerned. I'm not panicking, but I'm concerned...or is that word not allowed on DU anymore?

The Great Influenza by John M. Barry.

[Phoebe Loosinhouse]

24. I read that as well. His hypothesis as to why it killed the young and vigorous

and strangely did not have as high a death rate with the elderly/very young is that the people with the BEST immune systems had those systems run amok and stop being able to distinguish pathogen from normal cells so in effect their own immune systems killed them. From what I recall - I read it awhile ago.

[Ladyhawk]

25. Yes, it was a cytokine storm that killed young, healthy adults, but

it also killed the very young and very old in great numbers. A line chart tracking the mortality of "normal" flu epidemics was U-shaped. A normal flu virus kills the very young and very old. A line chart of the 1918 pandemic is W-shaped. It killed the very young, young adults with strong immune systems and the very old.

Basically, a cytokine storm was elicited by a strong immune response. When the virus invaded the lungs, the immune system threw everything at the virus, thus congesting the lungs and drowning the victims.

[SidDithers]

27. If you feel the need to wear a mask...

make sure it's rate N95. Dust masks that you buy at Home Depot are useless.

Sid

[glitch]

3. while you're watching take your vitamin D!

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x5532051

edit: once again you are ahead of the curve SLAD. Thank you!

[shanti]

10. colloidal silver

that's another one to take. i remember it from the sars thing.

[glitch]

11. Well, that I don't have. Thanks, I'll look for it. nt

[Hanse]

12. Yes. I also recommend this one.

It's very good.

[sudopod]

28. I don't think that actually does anything except

turn you into a smurf. :3

[bluedawg12]

15. Take your Vit D but NOT to prevent the flu.

The real story about that research:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=389&topic_id=5532051&mesg_id=5536120

[Sheets of Easter]

4. I'm on the frontlines of pandemic prevention, making posts on a political bulletin board.

[csziggy]

7. You can get email updates from the CDC on swine flu (and other health issues)

By subscribing on this page:
http://www.cdc.gov/emailupdates/index.html

There is a preference page to select which updates you want and how often they will be sent.

[seemslikeadream]

8. Thanks

:hi:

[nadinbrzezinski]

9. THanks, added them to my spam list

aka mail....

Useful

[Control-Z]

14. Not sure which to check.

I see seasonal influenza listed. Do you know which will update swine flu specifically?

[csziggy]

30. There are two selections for Swine Flu

Just "Swine Flu" and "What's New on the Swine Flu Site This item may have a wireless alert" about a third of the way down the list of choices. I only selected the "What's New" one.

[Control-Z]

31. I didn't see swine flu at all.

I saw avian and seasonal. I'll go back and look. I only want the wireless alerts, if possible.

Thanks

edit: Found it - easily. I don't know how I missed it before.

[Jester Messiah]

13. *yawn*

Does anyone else here get tired of constantly being told what to panic over next?

[seemslikeadream]

16. Please enlighten us all and link to where ANYONE TOLD YOU TO PANIC

[Name removed]

19. Deleted sub-thread

Sub-thread removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Bluebear]

17. Who told you to panic?

[omega minimo]

18. So will that big fence at the border stop the flu?

[eShirl]

20. MSNBC: New Zealand quarantines 25 amid flu alert

WELLINGTON, New Zealand - Twenty-five students and teachers in New Zealand, some with flu-like symptoms, were quarantined and tested for swine flu after returning from a trip to Mexico, officials said Sunday, as Asia stepped up surveillance for the deadly virus.

-snip-

The group from New Zealand's largest high school returned to the northern city of Auckland on Saturday on a flight from Los Angeles. Thirteen students and one teacher were unwell and one student had to be hospitalized, said Auckland Regional Public Health Services director Dr. Julia Peters.

Health Ministry spokesman Michael Flyger said some had symptoms of an influenza-like illness and the test results were expected later Sunday.

At this stage other passengers on the flight were not being sought and the next step would depend on what the tests showed, he said.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/30412340/

[rainbow4321]

29. Spain, France, and Israel all reporting suspected cases

http://twitter.com/veratect

Spain: Health authorities announce three suspected swine influenza cases in travelers returning from Mexico.
about 1 hour ago from web

France: General Health Director reports two suspected swine influenza cases involving travelers returning from Mexico.
about 1 hour ago from web


Israel: Symptomatic man placed in isolation after returning from Mexico. Testing for swine influenza underway.
about 1 hour ago from web

[Wednesdays]

21. K&R

:kick:

[Ladyhawk]

23. Back in 1918, the flu was downplayed.

While the black plague killed a larger percentage of people, the 1918 flu pandemic killed a much larger number. I've read quite a bit about flu viruses and pandemics and there is cause for concern. Like I said above, is the word "concern" no longer allowed on DU?

The Great Influenza by John M. Barry

[Avalux]

26. WHO Press Conference at 11 am ET. n/t