5700+ Swine flu deaths WHO latest

In the latest World Health Organisation report (Pandemic (H1N1) 2009 - update 72) on the state of the global swine flu pandemic the WHO notes that "as of 25 October 2009, worldwide there have been more than 440,000 laboratory confirmed cases of pandemic influenza H1N1 2009 and over 5700 deaths reported to WHO."

The WHO assessment is that these figures for the numbers of Swine flu cases and deaths are probably an underestimate as many countries have stopped counting individual cases, particularly of milder illness.

The WHO report states that, "the case count is likely to be significantly lower than the actual number of cases that have occurred."

According to the WHO Swine Flu report "in the temperate zone of the northern hemisphere influenza transmission continues to intensify marking an unusually early start to winter influenza season in some countries."

In the US, and parts of Western Canada there are "high rates of influenza-like-illness (ILI) and numbers of pandemic H1N1 2009 virus detections" and worryingly in Mexico "more confirmed cases since September than during the springtime epidemic."

In Western Europe, Iceland, Ireland, the UK (N. Ireland), Belgium, and the Netherlands are noted as having particluarly high rates of infection with other countries "showing evidence of early influenza transmission".

In Japan a sharp increase is noted which is "approximately 10 weeks ahead the usual start of the winter influenza season."

In a region by region break down of the cumulative cases and deaths duringthe Swine Flu pandemic the WHO reports the following picture;

Region	Cumulative total
	as of 25 October 2009
	Cases*	Deaths
WHO Regional Office for Africa (AFRO)	13536	75
WHO Regional Office for the Americas (AMRO)	174565	4175
WHO Regional Office for the Eastern Mediterranean (EMRO)	17150	111
WHO Regional Office for Europe (EURO)	Over  64000	At least  281
WHO Regional Office for South-East Asia (SEARO)	42901	605
WHO Regional Office for the Western Pacific (WPRO)	129509	465
Total	Over 441661	At least 5712

Swine Flu: Good Drugs Scarce Scam Drugs Everywhere?

The snake oil salesmen just love a good health scare. While there are concerns about shortages of the swine flu vaccine and issues around the availability of genuine medication for Swine flu there seems to be no shortage of scam treatments appearing on the internet.

Increasing numbers of children are now catching swine flu but there are indications in the US at least that some parents are having to go on a hunting trip to find the liquid Tamiflu that they need for their children.

There have been reports that in some areas parents have had to drive from pharmacy to pharmacy to get the Liquid Tamiflu that their pediatrician has prescribed for their child. For the youngest victims of the Swine Flu Tamiflu Syrup may often be a treatment of choice for H1N1 but there are indications that there are problems with availability in some areas.

Tamiflu does not cure the Swine flu but it can reduce the severity of symptoms and reduce the risk of potentially life-threatening complications. With a second wave of swine flu now sweeping the US this has led to a rapid surge in demand which appears to be causing local shortages. The Swiss manufacturer Roche had also decided to focus production on the capsule form.

The Government fortunately has a Strategic National Stockpile and is reported to be moving out hundreds of thousands of five-day courses to supply the states. Officials have also given advice that pharmacists could mix the powder from capsules with syrup to make a make do liquid form for children if the actual syrup version is not available. The FDA has made available the formula for pharmacists to follow and given guidelines for the correct dosing by each child's weight.

"For the most part, patients are getting treated," says Greg Burel, director of the CDC's Division of Strategic National Stockpile. "There have been shortages in sporadic spots, but generally it's still available."

Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius had released 300,000 courses of the liquid formula from the National Strategic Stockpile earlier this month some of which had required to be tested for potency by the FDA because of passed expiry dates.

While there are anxieties and energies directed at a real drug such as Tamiflu with real effects, the snake oil folk have of course been busy. Among the stuff being peddled, often on the internet, is a shampoo that prevents any airborne virus that settles on the scalp from causing swine flu ( !). If you are worried about infection through hand contact then you can buy special disposable gloves that offer protection from ATMs, and door handles and even a "natural immunization" which is "safer" than a flu shot.
The FDA has been compiling a list of apparently fraudulent products that is now running to over 140 drugs, devices and equipment. Much of it is marketed over the Internet. In May the FDA together with the Federal Trade Commission, decided to crackdown on unapproved and unproven products.

According to Gary Coody, the FDA's national health fraud coordinator, the manufacturers of such products "are motivated by profit, not concern for public health." Manufacturers are being told to remove unproven claims or unapproved products and respond to warning letters within 48 hours.

Swine Flu UK update

UK: As Swine flu vaccines are starting to arrive at GP surgeries so that 12m "priority" patients can be immunised GPs are warning that winter vomiting bug cases are rising at the same time as swine flu. They are urging patients with minor illnesses to stay away from surgeries as a combination of the winter vomiting bug and the second wave of swine flu starts to grip the country.

The UK Department of Health has updated its pandemic flu outlook in a new document 'Swine Flu: Guidance for planners' as frontline nurses are being told that getting vaccinated against swine flu is the 'single most important thing' they can do to help the NHS because Pandemic swine flu poses a major threat to the NHS' capacity over the next few months. Nurses and doctors have also been urged to set an example to patients by having themselves vaccinated against swine flu.

Swine Flu Action Around the UK
The leader of Scotland's doctors says GPs are being inundated with swine flu queries from worried patients as the vaccination drive kicks off. Labour in Scotland yesterday claimed the swine flu vaccination drive could "descend into chaos" as it emerged two more Scots had died of the virus. The Tories have demanded that the Health Secretary make a statement to the Scottish Parliament.

In Cheshire Health chiefs are urging residents who are offered the seasonal flu jab to take the opportunity to protect themselves and their families while in Worcestershire as the number of sufferers nearly doubled health workers have been urged to vaccinate themselves against swine flu.
In Devon a mass swine flu vaccination has been launched with front-line NHS staff and hospital patients first in the queue for the jab. NHS North Somerset launched a seasonal flu vaccination programme to ensure as many employees as possible receive the vaccination. Frontline workers at the Royal United Hospital became the first people in Bath to be vaccinated against swine flu.

THE first frontline NHS staff in Wales have started to be vaccinated against swine flu.

Obama Declares Swine Flu National Emergency

President Barack Obama has declared the H1N1 swine flu outbreak a national emergency, a move intended to give hospitals and other medical facilities more flexibility in coping with the problem and giving his health chief expanded authority.

For more information about the H1N1 vaccine, check out the Centers for Disease Control and Protection Web site at www.cdc.gov/H1N1FLU/.

There are signs that H1N1 is going to be with us for a while, with many public-health officials anticipating a third wave of the virus early next year.

Swine Flu UK Update

Doctors have been "unnerved" by the severity of swine flu in some patients and their rapid deterioration into a "life and death situation", Sir Liam Donaldson, chief medical officer has said. Almost a quarter of patients in critical care with swine flu are children and doctors are “unnerved” by the severity of the disease, the Chief Medical Officer reported yesterday. The NHS has been told to brace itself for action after a steep rise in swine flu infections. The number of new cases reported in England over the past week has nearly doubled to 53000. In Scotland, there was a slight rise to 14650. Hospitals are reporting record numbers of patients being treated in the pandemic and the death toll has risen to 128

The swine flu outbreak has left the Department of Health facing the “most difficult winter” for decades, it has been warned. Senior health officials delivered the warning during an emergency meeting with the Stormont health committee yesterday.

Vaccinations against swine flu have started – with those most at risk and NHS staff at the front of the queue. There have been fears that there would be a low take-up among NHS staff, The programme will be rolled out in the coming weeks with vaccines due to be delivered to GP surgeries on Monday. GPs should brace themselves for 'unprecedented' levels of workload, the Department of Health has warned. About 55000 doses have been delivered so far and more are due to arrive soon. At risk groups include those aged between six months and 65.

But there are concerns that thousands of people could miss appointments for their swine flu vaccine due to the postal strikes, Sir Liam Donaldson, chief medical officer has warned.

THE NUMBER of cases of Teessiders being treated for swine flu has rocketed in the last month, latest figures published by the NHS have revealed. The National Flu Pandemic Service authorised 1134 antiviral prescriptions across the region between October and NHS Hampshire has begun delivering an initial batch of 14300 doses to the sick and elderly along with frontline health staff as sickness rates continue to edge up in the county.
Tens of thousands of NHS and council staff are among the priority and at-risk groups to be offered Wales' first supplies. Patients at a Cardiff GP surgery are the first in Wales to receive the new swine flu vaccine. All pregnant women in Buckinghamshire are being contacted by their gps to have the swine flu vaccination. People who live with those with compromised immune systems, such as cancer patients, and people with certain health conditions are also a priority. DETAILS about the start of the swine flu vaccination programme in Wales are expected to be announced today. Up to 750000 people in Wales are considered to be in the at-risk groups and will be the first to be offered the jab.

A group of pcts is reportedly to pay practices extra for immunising healthcare workers against swine flu as NHS managers admit many gps are set to refuse to have the vaccine.

West Midlands health chiefs have confirmed two further swine flu-related deaths amid a rise in new cases. An NHS spokesman said 113 people with swine flu had been admitted to hospital in the wider region this week, compared to 85 previously.

Swine Flu recent news

SWINE FLU DOUBLES IN A WEEK Cases of swine flu have almost doubled in a week with more young people being hit and fears that hospitals may soon be struggling.

No proof swine flu is getting deadlier despite death toll THERE is no evidence the swine flu virus is becoming more deadly despite an increase in the number of people who have died, experts say.

Swine flu infections accelerate to 7000 per week Health officials are under pressure to get the swine flu vaccination campaign underway following new figures showing a significant rise in cases.

Swine flu budget 'not enough' The Health Minister has said his department is coping with the swine flu pandemic - despite a warning from the Chief Medical Officer.

Swine flu scams galore on the Internet New York, October 23 -- While the unrelenting swine flu pandemic has created a scare worldwide, ...

Swine flu cases almost double within a week Swine flu vaccine: As many as 35000 people could require hospital treatment.

Girl, eight, dies from swine flu An eight-year-old girl from Norwich, who contracted swine flu , has died within 24 hours of falling ill.

Warning about fake Swine Flu products: Federal officials have warned promoters of more than 140 products sold over the Internet about fraudulent claims that they can prevent, treat or diagnose Swine Flu. Air "sterilizers." A photon machine. Supplement pills to boost the immune system. Even fake Tamiflu. There seems to be a scam for every season. Now one has infected the flu season. The Food and Drug Administration issued more than 140 warning letters against companies and is warning the public about the number of fake offers for preventing or curing people from H1N1. The FDA recently purchased products on the internet claiming to be Tamiflu, which is an anti-viral medication used to treat the H1N1 virus.

Flu Views

UPDATE 1-July 4 swine flu outbreak shows pattern of virus People may be able to spread swine flu even after their symptoms have subsided, according to new research.

Swine flu questions: If pregnant is priority, where are shots? I can only share with you what we've learned so far about swine flu's symptoms . Yes, fever is the most common symptom people with flu experience.

US Congressman contracts H1N1 Swine Flu Other cases may continue to persist in Washington as Senate and House pages have exhibited flu -like symptoms in Illinois Democratic Congresswoman

Phoenix hospital seeing 'flu surge' among children PHOENIX -- Tuesday night at Phoenix Children's Hospital might have been slow when it comes to swine flu cases.

'Swine flu' closes second school Two primary schools in Carmarthenshire have closed due to staff sickness and pupils suffering flu -like symptoms .

WR student has H1N1 swine flu She said the health department is encouraging parents to keep their sick children home from school until 24 hours after all the flu symptoms.

Browns hammered by flu It states: "If a club has at least six players unable to participate as the result of confirmed or suspected cases of swine flu , it can receive roster ...

Swine flu fears shut down St. Charles school St. Charles East High School is closing its doors from Wednesday through Friday after more than 900 students stayed home sick with flu -like symptoms . ...

Swine Flu News UK

Swine flu vaccination begins as 17th victim dies The swine flu vaccination programme began in Scotland yesterday among health workers and at-risk groups.

Another school shuts because of suspected swine flu outbreak A number of pupils are said to have been experiencing flu -like symptoms over the past week or so.

Swine flu tests after girl dies Tests have been carried out to discover whether swine flu was a contributory factor in the death of a nine-year-old girl from West Sussex. ...

Swine flu claims 16th Scots death A 59-year-old woman from Fife who had been suffering from swine flu has died. The patient, who is the 16th person to die from the H1N1 virus in Scotland,

Three further swine flu-related deaths The Health Minister has said that he is terribly saddened to hear of three further swine flu -related deaths in Northern Ireland.

Health workers first for flu jab It's finally arrived - the day when Northern Ireland sees the start of the vaccination programme against swine flu .

UK-wide swine flu vaccination begins wide programme to vaccinate millions of people against swine flu begins.

The UK starts vaccinating people against swine flu today; in the US and Australia, vaccination has already begun.

See today's Grimsby Telegraph for an in-depth look at the swine flu jab issue.

Royal Bolton Hospital staff among first to have swine flu jab STAFF at the Royal Bolton Hospital will be among the first in the country to be immunised with the new swine flu vaccine .

Swine flu jabs starting next week The swine flu vaccination programme will get under way in the UK next week, the government has said.

H1N1 Swine flu vaccine news 20th Oct 2009

Is the H1N1 Swine Flu Vaccine Safe? What do we really know about the 2009 H1N1 swine flu vaccine ? What do we really not know?

Novavax Launches Pivotal Clinical Study of Novel 2009 H1N1 VLP Flu Vaccine in ... Novavax Inc., the Rockville, Md., biotech company, said on Tuesday that it began a two-stage clinical study in Mexico of a vaccine.

H1N1 Vaccine 'Too Late' A nurse prepares the injectable version of H1N1 Influenza vaccine at Broadmoor Elementary School in Miami.

Toronto preparing H1N1 vaccination plan The city plans to open 10 clinics across the city to distribute the vaccine .

H1N1 vaccine available The US Centers for Disease Prevention and Control (CDC) recommends that pregnant women receive the 2009 H1N1 influenza vaccine.

Minnesota Pig Infected With H1N1 Flu Adding to the seriousness of the situation, manufacturing problems have delayed production of the H1N1 vaccine .

Farrakhan Says H1N1 Vaccine Is Tool Of Depopulation Nation of Islam leader Minister Louis Farrakhan told an audience in Memphis on Sunday that they should refuse to take the H1N1 vaccine.

Swine Flu news 20th Oct 2009

Minister apologises for delayed swine flu notification The North's Minister for Health has apologised to the family of a 14-year-old Derry girl for a delay in telling them that she had swine flu .

Should pregnant women have the swine flu jab? The swine flu vaccine will be available at a GP surgery near you in the next couple of weeks.

More swine flu virus detected in US pigs The swine flu virus has been confirmed in a sample of US show pigs, leading to predictions it will spread to the commercial herd. ...

Calif nurses may strike over swine flu preparation LOS ANGELES — A California nurses' union has threatened a one-day strike at 34 hospitals, accusing the providers of poor swine flu preparedness.

Swine flu sparks fears over MRSA A second wave of swine flu hitting Britain could lead to a rise in MRSA infections, medics have warned.

Flu prompts caution Hospitals around the country are turning away visiting children and tightening restrictions on adults in hopes of limiting the spread of swine flu.

Vaccine arrives with GPs after Republic's fifth swine flu death All five people who have died from swine flu in the Republic so far have had some underlying medical condition.

Swine Flu Update 2009-10-19

Apology follows swine flu delay

Health Minister Michael McGimpsey has apologised to the family of a 14-year-old Londonderry girl for a delay in telling them she had swine flu . ...


Swine Flu Virus Confirmed In Minnesota Pig ... National Veterinary Services Laboratories had confirmed the presence of 2009 pandemic swine flu in a pig sample collected at the Minnesota State Fair. ...

Swine flu shots start to arrive in Washington Production problems have slowed the arrival of swine flu shots in Washington state. But state officials say pharmacies and doctor's offices will have enough .

Fifth swine flu victim dies in Ireland A fifth person has died from swine flu in the Irish Republic, health chiefs have said.

First swine flu jabs for Cumbrian patients available next week

Swine flu jab plea to cut winter death toll Health Secretary Nicola Sturgeon urged Scots last night to get vaccinated against swine flu. Fears that cases of the virus will soar .

Swine flu jabs to start next week More than 400000 doses of the swine flu vaccine will be delivered to hospitals for the start of the vaccination programme next week.

Turkey closes schools in southeastern city following swine flu outbreak ANKARA, Turkey — Health authorities have shut down all schools in southeastern Turkish city of Diyarbakir following outbreaks of swine flu .

Swine flue news

Tragic Orla's family not told she died of swine flu Health chiefs at the Western Trust are facing growing demands to explain why the family of a teenage girl who died with swine flu was not told she had the ...


Swine flu vaccine to arrive this week HOSPITALS in Notts could be in line to get supplies of the swine flu vaccine from Wednesday. The Department of Health is sending out the first stocks to ...


Can our pets get swine flu? So far, the swine flu outbreak appears to present little risk of infecting cats and dogs. "At this time there is no data demonstrating any risk of dogs and ...


Winter flu or swine flu? What's the difference? A Swine flu has been caused by a variant of the H1N1 flu virus, which appeared in Mexico in April 2009 and has since spread around the world. ...


Swine flu blog: Intrusion into grief Is wanting to know about the lives of those who died from swine flu an intrusion into grief?... Deputy editor Alan Cleaver reports daily on the impact of ...


Swine flu jab plea to cut winter death toll Health Secretary Nicola Sturgeon urged Scots last night to get vaccinated against swine flu amid fears that cases of the virus will soar ...


Exclusive: 17-year-old swine flu victim was due to give birth in a month SWINE flu victim Denise Murray was eight months pregnant when she died, the Record can reveal. The 17-year-old mum-to-be became the 15th Scottish swine flu ...

Swine flu update WHO level 4 alert

The World Health Organisation ( WHO ) yesterday raised its pandemic threat alert level from level 3 to level 4 as a result of more countries reporting confirmed cases of Mexican Swine flu and evidence that the infection is now passing from human to human in other countries.

In another significant development today a WHO official confirmed that the current assessment was that it was now to late to prevent further spread of swine flu and that the infection can not now be contained.

Keiji Fukuda, the WHO's assistant director general for health security and environment said that "A pandemic is not considered inevitable at this time. The situation is fluid, and the situation continues to evolve."

In the UK a number of travel firms have cancelled trips to Mexico in a further tightening of international travel.

The Scottish honeymoon couple who returned from Cancoun a week ago are reportedly responding well to treatment in isolation. The staff treating the couple who have been named as Dawn and Iain Askham are also being given anti-viral drugs. 22 contacts of the couple have been traced and there are reports that some of these have shown symptoms.

Elsewhere in the in the UK seven suspected cases of swine flu have been reported in Wiltshire and a "handful" are being investigated in Wales.

Authorities in the UK are reporting that they are well prepared for a pandemic outbreak with enough doses of anti-virals such as Tamiflu to treat half the population. This contrasts starkly with poorer countries such as India which have very much lower stocks of anti-virals in relation to the size of their populations.

While reports of confirmed cases continue to emerge from countries around the world there have as yet been no reported deaths from swine flu other than in Mexico. This is a significant and positive factor in what is an increasingly concerning and developing health crisis.

Swine Flu Outbreak Latest Reports

As the death toll from Swine Flu in Mexico rises to over 80 people more and more countries are putting their systems on alert.

With a crisis rapidly developing the World Health Organisation on Sunday described the outbreak of a multi strain variant of Swine Flu as a Public Health issue of international concern. This is a thinly coded way of saying that in their assessment this has the potential to become a worldwide pandemic.

Much remains uncertain at this point. just how virulent and infectious is this strain of swine flu and how deadly is it? Will it lose some of it's power as it transmits from person to person?

Following the initial Mexican swine flu outbreak there have now been reports of possible outbreaks in four US states. On Saturday there were thought to be 20 suspected or confirmed cases with the latest figures on Sunday suggesting 11 actual confirmed cases. Confirmed cases were reported from California ( 7) Texas (2) and Kansas ( 2).

On Saturday Texas health officials confirmed they were to close Steele High School in the San Antonio suburb of Cibolo to reduce the risk “to students, staff and the community.” At the time of writing two students have confirmed swine flu with a third is listed as a probable case of swine flu.

By Sunday it was confirmed that eight schoolchildren from a group that had returned to New York from a vacation in Mexico were infected with swine flu.

In Europe a British Airways cabin crew staff member who showed "flu-like symptoms" is being treated in a London hospital with after arriving on a flight from Mexico City on Saturday.

In Argentina a health alert has been declared that requires anyone arriving on flights from Mexico to advise if they had flu-like symptoms.

Across Asia Governments have urged the public, and especially travellers, to be on guard for symptoms of the new multi-strain of swine fever. Asian governments have some recent experience with potential pandemics given their recent experience with SARS and avain flu.

In New Zealand, a 25-strong school group has been quarantined pending the results of medical tests. They returned from Mexico showing flu-like symptoms according to local health sources.

In Japan, airports have tightened checks on passengers who arrive from Mexico. Quarantine officials have been giving out face masks and also using thermography imaging cameras to screen for passengers with a fever.