Human Flu

[chrissie]

While I think forewarned is forearmed, sometimes the media blow things up so much.

In the past, we `ve been threatened in the UK by Aids Epidemics, mad cow disease, bird flu - none of which proved to be the threatened pandemics - and now this swine flu.

We should take precautions if it arrives but certainly not live our lives in fear or dread.

chrissie

[Stewart]

Your very right crisse, we were supposed to have all died 2 years ago from bird flu, well it did'nt happen, yes be prepared, but keep calm.
Stew

[patsy]

Blimy, I have just sneezed after eating my midday meal, should I call Health Direct? Dr Who, or 999, oops, it's okay no need, I just realised I may have put more pepper on my meal than I ought to have done.
Patsy

[Micheal]

Is this the answer? That the UK doesn't have 30 million vaccines or 'shots', but courses?
news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/8020386.stm

The WHO has praised the UK - along with France - for being the best prepared.

More than 30m courses of anti-viral drugs have been bought - enough to treat half the population.

[Terry]

Swine Influenza (Flu)

Swine Flu website last updated April 27, 2009 1:00 PM ET
U.S. Human Cases of Swine Flu Infection
(As of April 27, 2009 1:00 PM ET) State # of laboratory
confirmed cases
California 7 cases
Kansas 2 cases
New York City 28 cases
Ohio 1 case
Texas 2 cases
TOTAL COUNT 40 cases
International Human Cases of Swine Flu Infection
See: World Health OrganizationExternal Web Site Policy.

Human cases of swine influenza A (H1N1) virus infection have been identified in the United States. Human cases of swine influenza A (H1N1) virus infection also have been identified internationally. The current U.S. case count is provided below.

An investigation and response effort surrounding the outbreak of swine flu is ongoing.

CDC is working very closely with officials in states where human cases of swine influenza A (H1N1) have been identified, as well as with health officials in Mexico, Canada and the World Health Organization. This includes deploying staff domestically and internationally to provide guidance and technical support.

CDC activated its Emergency Operations Center to coordinate the agency's response to this emerging health threat and yesterday the Secretary of the Department Homeland Security, Janet Napolitano, declared a public health emergency in the United States. This will allow funds to be released to support the public health response. CDC's goals during this public health emergency are to reduce transmission and illness severity, and provide information to assist health care providers, public health officials and the public in addressing the challenges posed by this newly identified influenza virus. To this end, CDC has issued a number of interim guidance documents in the past 24 hours. In addition, CDC's Division of the Strategic National Stockpile (SNS) is releasing one-quarter of its antiviral drugs, personal protective equipment, and respiratory protection devices to help states respond to the outbreak. Laboratory testing has found the swine influenza A (H1N1) virus susceptible to the prescription antiviral drugs oseltamivir and zanamivir. This is a rapidly evolving situation and CDC will provide updated guidance and new information as it becomes available.

[Simon]

I agree, the information given out is patchy and unclear

AFAIK the antivirals referred to are tamiflu (oseltamivir) and relenza (zanamivir).

The real logistical problem I see is that there isn't the infrastructure to deal with screening on the scale needed if a pandemic situation arose, so hampering the concept of giving treatment to those found to be positive for the virus.

[June]

The word 'antivirals' was used in Commons, very non-specific as there are different ones - not a definative referral to Tamiflu. There are 33m doses, which, if distributed evenly would cover 50% of the population; however it doesn't necessrily work like that. Btw, I mistakenly used the word 'shot', although I was talking about oral meds too.

I thought people may be interested in these quotes for further information:
--
>Tamiflu is not a substitute for influenza vaccination. Use of Tamiflu must not affect the evaluation of individuals for annual influenza vaccination. The protection against influenza lasts only as long as Tamiflu is administered. Tamiflu should be used for the treatment and prevention of influenza only when reliable epidemiological data indicate that influenza virus is circulating in the community.

[Cindy]

tamiflu is an oral medicine not a jab, the adult dose for treatment is 75mg twice a day for 5 days, for prevention 75mg once a day for 10 days - UK Govt figures suggest there is sufficient tamiflu stockpile to treat about 50% of the population, key workers will be given preventative dose at first sign of mass infection, rest of population given treatment dose where outbreaks occur.

Most keyworkers already have their tamiflu (or it is held at their place of work by designated peersons) to prevent the logistical problems of delivering it in time

[Danny]

Thanks for your interesting replies, I hope more will join the debate.

I watch the media. as we all do, but if I want more acurate facts, I use the internet and try and get as close to the source as possible, ignore the hysteria and check back now and again for updates.

When I refer to 'They' it's not necessarily meant in a negative way. 'They' means the shadowy people/agencies that may have authority over the scientists and others. The effect for us is a trickle filter so we, the public, have a sanitised version of events as seen in the press and no idea of what, if anything, lies beneath.

Flu pandemics happen about every 18-25 years or so give or take - we're a couple of years overdue now. The pandemics also come in waves - it's not just one wave that sweeps the world in a few months end of, but more likely 2,3 or more over a year or two. This H1N1 so far seems to have a 10-12% mortality rate, but as more cases arise that figure will change - probably downward.

I'm not sure the UK (who is supposed to be the best prepared nation in the world) is as well prepared as we are made to believe. Tamiflu will understandably be given to those on the frontline - key services - medical, police, military. Tamiflu is given in a couple of doses, not a single shot (unless it's been developed further recently and I didn't know) so the 33m doses becomes 16.5m - just enough for those key workers and the few who are regarded as entitled to the jab. Certainly not most of the population as we are told. The scientists can't develop a vaccine until they've isolated the virus and if it's mutating they can't do that. This process can take several months from the onset of the last mutation of the flu. Then there's the time taken to manufacture the vaccine in large quanities.

At the moment, my concerns are more about the effects on the infrastructure than the flu itself. If everyone is at home being ill or quarantined, then who's there to treat our sick, police the streets, bake our bread etc?

[June]

A swine flu alert has been issued to all British hospitals telling them of its symptoms, what protective clothing staff should wear and how to report cases.

Two people have been admitted to hospital in Scotland as a precaution after returning from Mexico with flu-like symptoms. The results of their tests would be known today, said the Scottish health secretary, Nicola Sturgeon.

"The patients have displayed mild flu-like symptoms and their current condition is not causing concern," she said. Another "19 or 20" people in Scotland who had come into contact with them had been traced, she said.

The health secretary at Westminster, Alan Johnson, said there would inevitably be more potential cases and anyone entering the country with flu-like symptoms would be examined "very, very quickly".

The British government's chief medical officer, Professor Sir Liam Donaldson, issued the alert telling UK hospitals how to handle the situation.

British tourists returning to Heathrow from Mexico City yesterday were kept back on their plane while they were questioned by health officials. There are no scheduled arrivals from Mexico City today.

One passenger, Ana Penalver, of London, who was wearing a blue mask to ward off infection, said some people on British Airways flight 242 had reported feeling unwell but they were all allowed off after doctors spoke to them.

The NHS has enough of the antiviral drugs Tamiflu and Relenza to treat half the UK population, according to the Department of Health. The drugs have proved effective on patients in Mexico. Scientists were working on developing a vaccine against the new strain, Johnson told BBC1's Politics Show.

Scientists at the National Institute for Medical Research in north London spent the weekend working on virus samples provided by the US Centres for Disease Control and are expected to have diagnostic kits to detect the strain within a few days. Officials from across the government yesterday discussed the situation under the cabinet's emergency Cobra system, although ministers did not attend.

Spain has the single confirmed case in Europe so far. A British male flight attendant from the British Airways flight from Mexico City to Heathrow has been given the all-clear after having hospital tests when he showed flu-like symptoms.

In the event of a pandemic, it is likely that affected areas would be put under quarantine, travel restrictions imposed, schools closed and public meetings banned. In case of panic buying and food shortages, Cobra would be called into action to coordinate the response.

A national flu pandemic strategy drawn up in response to the threat of bird flu would be implemented. The Department of Health would establish a national operations room to co-ordinate medication and vaccine distribution.

A national flu hotline would be set up for people with symptoms to call. Those likely to have the virus would be given priority for antiviral drugs.

Healthcare workers would be given priority for doses of Relenza and Tamiflu. While these drugs are not cures, they can reduce the severity of the infection and help limit its spread while a vaccine is developed.

Two major drugs companies are contracted to develop vaccines against the virus.