WHO warns of Severe form of Swine Flu.

ArkansasHunter · 08-28-2009, 10:51 PM

WHO warns of severe form of swine flu

Reuters – An assistant teacher checks a student's temperature before a class begins to prevent possible contagion …

By Maggie Fox, Health and Science Editor Maggie Fox, Health And Science Editor – Fri Aug 28, 1:36 pm ET
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Doctors are reporting a severe form of swine flu that goes straight to the lungs, causing severe illness in otherwise healthy young people and requiring expensive hospital treatment, the World Health Organization said on Friday.
Some countries are reporting that as many as 15 percent of patients infected with the new H1N1 pandemic virus need hospital care, further straining already overburdened healthcare systems, WHO said in an update on the pandemic.
"During the winter season in the southern hemisphere, several countries have viewed the need for intensive care as the greatest burden on health services," it said.
"Preparedness measures need to anticipate this increased demand on intensive care units, which could be overwhelmed by a sudden surge in the number of severe cases."
Earlier, WHO reported that H1N1 had reached epidemic levels in Japan, signaling an early start to what may be a long influenza season this year, and that it was also worsening in tropical regions.
"Perhaps most significantly, clinicians from around the world are reporting a very severe form of disease, also in young and otherwise healthy people, which is rarely seen during seasonal influenza infections," WHO said.
"In these patients, the virus directly infects the lung, causing severe respiratory failure. Saving these lives depends on highly specialized and demanding care in intensive care units, usually with long and costly stays."
MINORITIES AT RISK
Minority groups and indigenous populations may also have a higher risk of being severely ill with H1N1.
"In some studies, the risk in these groups is four to five times higher than in the general population," WHO said.
"Although the reasons are not fully understood, possible explanations include lower standards of living and poor overall health status, including a high prevalence of conditions such as asthma, diabetes and hypertension."
WHO said it was advising countries in the Northern Hemisphere to prepare for a second wave of pandemic spread. "Countries with tropical climates, where the pandemic virus arrived later than elsewhere, also need to prepare for an increasing number of cases," it said.
Every year, seasonal flu infects between 5 percent and 20 percent of a given population and kills between 250,000 and 500,000 people globally. Because hardly anyone has immunity to the new H1N1 virus, experts believe it will infect far more people than usual, as much as a third of the population.
It also disproportionately affects younger people, unlike seasonal flu which mainly burdens the elderly, and thus may cause more severe illness and deaths among young adults and children than seasonal flu does.
"Data continue to show that certain medical conditions increase the risk of severe and fatal illness. These include respiratory disease, notably asthma, cardiovascular disease, diabetes and immunosuppression," WHO said.
"When anticipating the impact of the pandemic as more people become infected, health officials need to be aware that many of these predisposing conditions have become much more widespread in recent decades, thus increasing the pool of vulnerable people."
WHO estimates that more than 230 million people globally have asthma, and more than 220 million have diabetes. Obesity may also worsen the risk of severe infection, WHO said.
The good news -- people infected with AIDS virus do not seem to be at special risk from H1N1, WHO said

samuel · 08-29-2009, 04:03 AM

I wonder if it will be as bad as west nile virus and bird flu?Any time they allow politicians to doctor us,it winds up a major epidemic. ,,,sam.

Deersniper · 08-29-2009, 08:40 AM

My question is how is it spreading to even remote areas without transportation access?

The_Patriot · 08-29-2009, 09:25 AM

Well, WHO is warning us? And why are you yelling?

Nark nark.

LiveToShoot · 08-29-2009, 09:38 AM

It appears that we're witnessing the most organized/orchestrated effort yet for getting the general public's nickers in a wad over a flu pandemic...

...and thereby lining the pockets of big pharma and establishing more government control over the citizenry of the world in each country.

All being so cleverly done for our protection and well being...

The_Patriot · 08-29-2009, 10:33 AM

Reminds me of...

YouTube - Who's On First Base?

They don't make 'em like this anymore.

DaTeacha · 08-29-2009, 03:54 PM

It's just a little weird that this is following the pattern predicted by the "chicken little" paranoid SHTF conspiracy theorist set.

Granted, after the light H1N1 incidence last year, I think a lot of people expected it to be back, possibly in stronger form. Granted, it wouldn't take a genius to predict the reaction of the CDC and the WHO. And granted, it wouldn't take a great leap from there to launch concerns about mandatory innoculations, fictional outbreaks in remote parts of the world, vaccine shortages, vaccines as vectors for other things, vaccines as dangerous and unproven, etc.

Still, it kind of makes you think "Uh Oh, here it comes, just like they said."

So again I ask -- who here is planning to get an H1N1 shot, presuming they are commonly available and not made mandatory? My wife asked the family doctor about it. He said he will get the standard flu shot as usual, and that he/we "probably should" get the H1N1 shot. But he stopped short of saying he will take it, even working in daily contact with sick people, and stopped short of saying we need to get it because we are both at or near 60 and working in the public schools.

My wife will not get either one this year -- every time she has gotten one in the past, she got sick later in the season and did not get sick during those years she did not get the shot. I plan to get the seasonal flu shot since it seemed to work last year, but am still undecided about H1N1.

nathangdad · 08-29-2009, 03:57 PM

Yet I do realize it is the protein coat on the flu that will determine whether or not the shots can be effective. This is something for which planning can occur but really accurate prediction cannot occur.

DaTeacha · 08-29-2009, 04:07 PM

And it's that protein, plus the inner chunk of nucleic acid, that is subject to random mutation which causes the various forms of influenza to be more or less dangerous, more or less virulent, and more or less impacted by the vaccine made in anticipation of the form of flu which will appear each year. Each year's vaccine is based on a well educated prediction of the form of flu which will be most commonly encountered and is no guarantee at all against other forms. It's just too bad it takes so long to make the stuff in the quantities needed for a major outbreak. I wouldn't want to be solely responsible for deciding which form of vaccine to call into production and then find out too late that it was the wrong one.

Deersniper · 10-07-2009, 10:45 AM

The severe form will be caused by the nasal vaccine. They will sneeze live virus for up to three weeks.

08-28-2009, 10:51 PM	#1
ArkansasHunter Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: South Arkansas. Posts: 18,224	WHO warns of Severe form of Swine Flu. WHO warns of severe form of swine flu Reuters – An assistant teacher checks a student's temperature before a class begins to prevent possible contagion … By Maggie Fox, Health and Science Editor Maggie Fox, Health And Science Editor – Fri Aug 28, 1:36 pm ET WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Doctors are reporting a severe form of swine flu that goes straight to the lungs, causing severe illness in otherwise healthy young people and requiring expensive hospital treatment, the World Health Organization said on Friday. Some countries are reporting that as many as 15 percent of patients infected with the new H1N1 pandemic virus need hospital care, further straining already overburdened healthcare systems, WHO said in an update on the pandemic. "During the winter season in the southern hemisphere, several countries have viewed the need for intensive care as the greatest burden on health services," it said. "Preparedness measures need to anticipate this increased demand on intensive care units, which could be overwhelmed by a sudden surge in the number of severe cases." Earlier, WHO reported that H1N1 had reached epidemic levels in Japan, signaling an early start to what may be a long influenza season this year, and that it was also worsening in tropical regions. "Perhaps most significantly, clinicians from around the world are reporting a very severe form of disease, also in young and otherwise healthy people, which is rarely seen during seasonal influenza infections," WHO said. "In these patients, the virus directly infects the lung, causing severe respiratory failure. Saving these lives depends on highly specialized and demanding care in intensive care units, usually with long and costly stays." MINORITIES AT RISK Minority groups and indigenous populations may also have a higher risk of being severely ill with H1N1. "In some studies, the risk in these groups is four to five times higher than in the general population," WHO said. "Although the reasons are not fully understood, possible explanations include lower standards of living and poor overall health status, including a high prevalence of conditions such as asthma, diabetes and hypertension." WHO said it was advising countries in the Northern Hemisphere to prepare for a second wave of pandemic spread. "Countries with tropical climates, where the pandemic virus arrived later than elsewhere, also need to prepare for an increasing number of cases," it said. Every year, seasonal flu infects between 5 percent and 20 percent of a given population and kills between 250,000 and 500,000 people globally. Because hardly anyone has immunity to the new H1N1 virus, experts believe it will infect far more people than usual, as much as a third of the population. It also disproportionately affects younger people, unlike seasonal flu which mainly burdens the elderly, and thus may cause more severe illness and deaths among young adults and children than seasonal flu does. "Data continue to show that certain medical conditions increase the risk of severe and fatal illness. These include respiratory disease, notably asthma, cardiovascular disease, diabetes and immunosuppression," WHO said. "When anticipating the impact of the pandemic as more people become infected, health officials need to be aware that many of these predisposing conditions have become much more widespread in recent decades, thus increasing the pool of vulnerable people." WHO estimates that more than 230 million people globally have asthma, and more than 220 million have diabetes. Obesity may also worsen the risk of severe infection, WHO said. The good news -- people infected with AIDS virus do not seem to be at special risk from H1N1, WHO said __________________ IN GOD WE TRUST NRA MEMBER

08-29-2009, 09:25 AM	#4
The_Patriot Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: South of the Northern Region Posts: 1,767	Well, WHO is warning us? And why are you yelling? Nark nark. __________________ "It doesn't matter how small you are if you have faith and a plan." - Some Commie Bastard

08-29-2009, 03:54 PM	#7
DaTeacha Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: near Funk, Ohio Posts: 3,645	It's just a little weird that this is following the pattern predicted by the "chicken little" paranoid SHTF conspiracy theorist set. Granted, after the light H1N1 incidence last year, I think a lot of people expected it to be back, possibly in stronger form. Granted, it wouldn't take a genius to predict the reaction of the CDC and the WHO. And granted, it wouldn't take a great leap from there to launch concerns about mandatory innoculations, fictional outbreaks in remote parts of the world, vaccine shortages, vaccines as vectors for other things, vaccines as dangerous and unproven, etc. Still, it kind of makes you think "Uh Oh, here it comes, just like they said." So again I ask -- who here is planning to get an H1N1 shot, presuming they are commonly available and not made mandatory? My wife asked the family doctor about it. He said he will get the standard flu shot as usual, and that he/we "probably should" get the H1N1 shot. But he stopped short of saying he will take it, even working in daily contact with sick people, and stopped short of saying we need to get it because we are both at or near 60 and working in the public schools. My wife will not get either one this year -- every time she has gotten one in the past, she got sick later in the season and did not get sick during those years she did not get the shot. I plan to get the seasonal flu shot since it seemed to work last year, but am still undecided about H1N1. __________________ Teach NRA -- If you're reading this, you should be a member. United, We Stand.

08-29-2009, 03:57 PM	#8
nathangdad Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 5,779	I will take the shots Yet I do realize it is the protein coat on the flu that will determine whether or not the shots can be effective. This is something for which planning can occur but really accurate prediction cannot occur.

08-29-2009, 04:07 PM	#9
DaTeacha Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: near Funk, Ohio Posts: 3,645	And it's that protein, plus the inner chunk of nucleic acid, that is subject to random mutation which causes the various forms of influenza to be more or less dangerous, more or less virulent, and more or less impacted by the vaccine made in anticipation of the form of flu which will appear each year. Each year's vaccine is based on a well educated prediction of the form of flu which will be most commonly encountered and is no guarantee at all against other forms. It's just too bad it takes so long to make the stuff in the quantities needed for a major outbreak. I wouldn't want to be solely responsible for deciding which form of vaccine to call into production and then find out too late that it was the wrong one. __________________ Teach NRA -- If you're reading this, you should be a member. United, We Stand.

08-29-2009, 04:03 AM	#2
samuel Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Posts: 11,719	I wonder if it will be as bad as west nile virus and bird flu?Any time they allow politicians to doctor us,it winds up a major epidemic. ,,,sam.

08-29-2009, 08:40 AM	#3
Deersniper Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 4,145	My question is how is it spreading to even remote areas without transportation access?

08-29-2009, 09:38 AM	#5
LiveToShoot Banned Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: SE IDAHO Posts: 4,920	It appears that we're witnessing the most organized/orchestrated effort yet for getting the general public's nickers in a wad over a flu pandemic... ...and thereby lining the pockets of big pharma and establishing more government control over the citizenry of the world in each country. All being so cleverly done for our protection and well being...

10-07-2009, 10:45 AM	#10
Deersniper Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 4,145	The severe form will be caused by the nasal vaccine. They will sneeze live virus for up to three weeks.