WHO meeting right now; thread for posting news

[kelee877]

This will be a very important event...please post any info from that meeting here....

[firebird]

Wow! This is happening fast. Any links to listen in or read the activities today?

[louise]

TOP STORY WHO convenes emergency meeting on swine flu crisis

The head of the World Health Organization has convened an emergency meeting at the agency's headquarters to determine if it's necessary to raise the pandemic alert level, as officials work to contain a deadly swine flu outbreak that may have killed more than 60 people in Mexico.
Margaret Chan cut short a visit to Washington and returned to the WHO's Strategic Health Operation Center in Geneva, Switzerland, on Saturday, and was immediately briefed on the latest developments.

At least 62 people have died in Mexico from severe pneumonia caused by a flu-like illness, WHO spokesperson Gregory Hartl said.

Mexican officials put the death toll at 68, with 20 confirmed to be linked to the new swine flu strain, known as A H1N1.

The strain has not been previously diagnosed in either pigs or humans and appears to spread easily from human to human.

More than 1,000 people in Mexico have fallen ill, sparking concerns of a pending public health crisis.

The current pandemic alert level is at Phase 3, and it could go up to Phase 4 after today's meeting. Phase 6 would mean officials are calling the outbreak a pandemic.

Chan said at a news conference on Saturday that the WHO has not received reports of swine flu beyond Mexico and the southwestern United States, but urged all countries to be vigilant for an increase in pneumonia cases or other flu-like illness.

"The viruses causing cases in some parts of Mexico and some parts of the USA are genetically the same," she said, adding the virus "has pandemic potential" because it is spreading between people.

According to Chan, Mexican authorities are reporting that cases range from the very mild to severe, which means it is difficult to tell how widespread the virus really is.

"We need to really comb through those data and get the granularities and understand exactly who is suffering and which (age) group has disease more severe than others," Chan said.

The virus is unusual in that it is primarily affecting healthy young adults. Influenza usually affects the very young and the very old.

Unlike recent bird flu cases, where people who became ill had contact with infected birds, it appears that this strain of swine flu is infecting people with no history of contact with animals, according to Canadian infectious disease specialist Dr. Neil Rau.

"What is concerning is that even though it has the word swine flu, meaning it originates from pigs, people who get this infection have no history of contact with pigs," Rau said Saturday during an interview on CTV Newsnet.

Mexican authorities have closed schools, museums, libraries and theatres in an attempt to prevent the virus's spread, while officials at the Mexico City airport are questioning travellers in an effort to prevent a sick passenger from boarding a plane.

On Saturday, Mexico City's mayor cancelled all public events for the next 10 days in order to control the outbreak.

Mayor Marcelo Ebrard also announced that the city has enough medicine to treat those who are infected.

The Mexican government plans to administer 500,000 doses of influenza vaccine to health care workers, who are at high risk of infection.

However, it is unclear if this year's influenza vaccine offers protection against the swine flu.

The WHO said that 12 of the Mexican cases have been linked genetically to a swine flu virus that has appeared in California.

Officials in the United States said that seven people were infected with swine flu in California and Texas, and all have recovered.

In Canada, Health Minister Leona Aglukkaq said Friday that so far, the virus has not been detected in Canada.

According to Rau, the current outbreak has not been linked to resort areas frequented by Canadian tourists.

However, public health officials are probing a small number of flu-like cases in Canada to determine if they match the Mexican illness.

Experts say the best protection against the virus is to avoid contact with anyone who is coughing or sneezing, wash hands regularly and see a doctor if any of these symptoms become apparent:

fever
cough
sore throat
eye pain
shortness of breath
muscle and joint pain
extreme fatigue
With files from The Associated Press and The Canadian Press


http://news.sympatico.msn.ctv.ca/abc/home/contentposting.aspx?isfa=1&feedname=CTV-TOPSTORIES_V3&showbyline=True&date=true&newsitemid=CTVNews%2f20090425%2fswine_flu_090425

[Shein]

The link below should hopefully take you to a page where you can sign up for a streaming audio link of the CDC News conference which is supposed to take place in about an hour from now....1pm Eastern, 12 noon Central.

http://www.videonewswire.com/cdc/58388/event.html

[kelee877]

Wow! This is happening fast. Any links to listen in or read the activities today?


From what I understand the meeting will be done via tela conferancing(sp)...probably a secure channel and only a trickle of what was said will be released to the press...watch what is not said....

[firebird]

watch what is not said....

You got that right. Glad we have the best newshounds in the business here at the tree. If it can be discovered a tree member will find it.

[kelee877]

The link below should hopefully take you to a page where you can sign up for a streaming audio link of the CDC News conference which is supposed to take place in about an hour from now....1pm Eastern, 12 noon Central.

http://www.videonewswire.com/cdc/58388/event.html

Thank You..CDC is different then the WHO

WHO is deciding weather or not to raise the pandemic level today..CDC will have no say in the raising of the level....

your link could be how the CDC will re-act once WHO makes it decision

They keep everything so hush hush, we need all the info we can get to be prepared....

[kelee877]

CDC to Hold Briefing on Swine Flu


Today at 1:00pm (Est)

Health officials at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention will hold a briefing at 1 P.M. Saturday at their headquarters in Atlanta concerning a new strain of Swine Flu.

The virus has killed dozens in Mexico and sickened several others in texas and california.
The Mexican government has closed museums, theaters and other public places and events in an effort to reduce the spread of Swine Flu.
Mexican Officials are encouraging people to stay home (http://www.avianflutalk.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=22286#). But, if they have to go out, the Army has mobilized soldiers to give out masks to subway commuters.

[CGTech]

Print | Close this window

UPDATE 2-WHO chief says swine flu has pandemic potential
Sat Apr 25, 2009 11:39am EDT
* WHO emergency committee to advise on changing alert level

* All countries urged to be vigilant for unusual cases

* Premature to issue travel advisories, WHO head says

* Too soon to switch to production of new flu vaccine


(Adds details, quotes, byline)

By Stephanie Nebehay

GENEVA, April 25 (Reuters) - Outbreaks of swine flu in Mexico and the United States have the potential to cause a worldwide pandemic but it is too early to say whether they will, the head of the World Health Organisation said on Saturday.

WHO director-general Margaret Chan urged health authorities in all countries to be on high alert for unusual patterns of disease and any rise in severe flu or pneumonia cases.

"This is clearly an animal strain of the H1N1 virus and it has pandemic potential because it is infecting people," Chan said on a teleconference.

"However, we cannot say on the basis of currently available laboratory, epidemiological, and clinical evidence whether or not it will indeed cause a pandemic."

The United Nations health agency has warned for several years that a new virus strain could spark a human influenza pandemic that could sweep around the globe and kill millions.

The new H1N1 flu strain -- a mixture of swine, human and avian flu viruses which has killed up to 68 people among 1,004 suspected cases in Mexico and infected eight in the United States -- is still poorly understood and the situation is evolving quickly, Chan said.

There were currently no indications of similar outbreaks elsewhere in the world, she said.

"It would be prudent for health officials within countries to be alert to outbreaks of influenza-like illness or pneumonia, especially if these occur outside in months outside the usual peak influenza season," added Chan, a former health director of Hong Kong.

Health officials worldwide should also be alert to large incidences of severe or fatal flu-like illness in groups other than young children and the elderly, the ages usually at highest risk from normal seasonal flu, she said.

Most of the dead in Mexico were aged between 25 and 45.

WHO experts have been deployed in Mexico to help health authorities with disease surveillance, laboratory diagnosis and clinical management of cases.

The WHO stood ready with antivirals to combat the outbreaks in Mexico. But authorities have a sizeable supply of Tamiflu, known generically as oseltamivir, and made by Switzerland's Roche Holding (ROG.VX: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz), which has proved effective against the new virus, according to the WHO.


"NOTORIOUSLY UNPREDICTABLE"

"Influenza viruses are notoriously unpredictable and full of surprises, as we are seeing right now," Chan said.

"We need to know how the virus is spread, what is the transmission pattern and whether or not it is going to cause severe disease and in what age group," she said.

An emergency committee of 15 experts was meeting on Saturday to advise her about any "temporary measures" to protect international health or whether to recommend a change in the WHO's pandemic alert level, currently 3 on a scale of 1 to 6.

It was "too premature at this stage" for the WHO to announce any travel advisories, as better analysis of the cases and other clinical data was required, she said. But the experts would address the issue of travel advisories.

"We do not yet have a complete picture of the epidemiology or the risk, including possible spread beyond the currently affected areas," Chan said.

"Nonetheless, in the assessment of WHO, this is a serious situation which must be watched very closely."

It was also too soon for the U.N. agency to advise drugmakers to switch to producing a new vaccine -- to be derived from the new virus -- from their traditional production of seasonal influenza vaccines, she said. (For other stories on swine flu click on [nFLU]) (For WHO information on swine flu go to: here ) (Editing by Mark Trevelyan)


http://www.reuters.com/article/marketsNews/idUSLP31018720090425?sp=true

[CWR]

I was just wondering about the cases of flu in NYC. I wonder how long it takes to confirm if it is the same virus or not? Anyone know?

[kelee877]

I was just wondering about the cases of flu in NYC. I wonder how long it takes to confirm if it is the same virus or not? Anyone know?


few days at least..samples have to be collected and the flown to 2 different labs...and then it takes couple of days for them tets, they have to shot it in to chicken eggs...lol...kelee has a hard time putting thoughts into words...

[ShakinSouth]

I can hardly wait to get off work. I'm topping off tonight with perishables.

[kelee877]

I can hardly wait to get off work. I'm topping off tonight with perishables.

some of us have to wait till pay day:cry:...hope we have enough time to top off....:shock:

[ShakinSouth]

Honeychile...I don't have much, but what few dollars I have are about to be spent.

[CWR]

few days at least..samples have to be collected and the flown to 2 different labs...and then it takes couple of days for them tets, they have to shot it in to chicken eggs...lol...kelee has a hard time putting thoughts into words...


Thanks Kelee! I was wondering why they were not connecting the dots.

[rondaben]

few days at least..samples have to be collected and the flown to 2 different labs...and then it takes couple of days for them tets, they have to shot it in to chicken eggs...lol...kelee has a hard time putting thoughts into words...

It is much faster than that...likely within 48-72 hours. They will use PCR to replicate the DNA much faster than culturing it.

Or, in other words they already know.

[CWR]

It is much faster than that...likely within 48-72 hours. They will use PCR to replicate the DNA much faster than culturing it.

Or, in other words they already know.

Then they are not saying one way or another. Why? hmmmm.....

[kelee877]

It is much faster than that...likely within 48-72 hours. They will use PCR to replicate the DNA much faster than culturing it.

Or, in other words they already know.


You are probably right I am quoting my figures on past readings...Years ago there was a big write up about how samples were getting contaminated because of the procedures...especially the samples coming out of Asia...because they had to transported to the US and Canada..

but I do know for a fact that 2 labratories confirm what it is...

shessh..can,t get my fingers to type what my brain is thinking...:-?

[CWR]

All I am getting from that link is classical music. Why can't they be on time?

[curlysue]

It is much faster than that...likely within 48-72 hours. They will use PCR to replicate the DNA much faster than culturing it.

Or, in other words they already know.

You are correct! They just have not hit the panic button yet. They know they have no vacine. By the time you add in: Start of virus to notice by medical staff, then testing and identifying, then incubation period, it has already moved farther than what we know.

[kelee877]

All I am getting from that link is classical music. Why can't they be on time?

me too,but it looks to be a question and answer period...I am still waiting for the results of the WHO meeting and where or not they call it a phase 6 pandemic

[DreadPirate]

Why does " I am Legend " come to mind??????:shock:

[kelee877]

don,t you love being put on hold and having to listen to elevator music...:shock:

[DreadPirate]

AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH HHHH
HHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH H!:mrgreen:

[Toecutter]

All I am getting from that link is classical music. Why can't they be on time?

Hopefully it's not this classical music!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q5UrVdvk1Ao

[Shein]

Ack....if the Swine Flu doesn't kill me, the on hold muzak from the CDC conference just might do me in on its own....

[TeapotTempest]

don,t you love being put on hold and having to listen to elevator music...:shock:

Hey, is that a Muzak version of "When The Man Comes Around?" :mrgreen:

[CWR]

yee gads my dh just made a horrible face at me! lol He wants to go out. I may miss this. :evil: I don't think he cares for the music one bit. :-D

[CWR]

Hopefully it's not this classical music!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q5UrVdvk1Ao

No it's worse! lol Real Elevator music!

[Shein]

Pure conjecture, but maybe the CDC is waiting for the results of the WHO conference to decide the approach they're going to take during their own conference call....

Ack....if the Swine Flu doesn't kill me, the on hold muzak from the CDC conference just might do me in on its own....

[DreadPirate]

yee gads my dh just made a horrible face at me! lol He wants to go out. I may miss this. :evil: I don't think he cares for the music one bit. :-D
Put him on the leash and open the door.....:mrgreen:

[CWR]

Put him on the leash and open the door.....:mrgreen:

ROFL... I might get in trouble!:shock: But sounds like a winner to me!

[kelee877]

Pure conjecture, but maybe the CDC is waiting for the results of the WHO conference to decide the approach they're going to take during their own conference call....

Thats what I was thinking....

This does not look good....kelee needs green dots...kelee needs green dots....awwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww

[CWR]

Thats what I was thinking....

This does not look good....kelee needs green dots...kelee needs green dots....awwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww

Will green m&ms help? I have those!:mrgreen::mrgreen::mrgreen::mrgreen:

[kelee877]

Put him on the leash and open the door.....:mrgreen:


http://i181.photobucket.com/albums/x296/nightingalesings/Smileys/laughing-blueanimal.gif?t=1240679689 (javascript:void(0);)

[DreadPirate]

Just got back from Lowe's and was briefing BC on sick people. When we checked out the girle was sick and was about to go barf. I mean she was on the verge of flu like symptoms. As soon as we got to the car the hand sanitizer came out.

[kelee877]

Will green m&ms help? I have those!:mrgreen::mrgreen::mrgreen::mrgreen:


http://i443.photobucket.com/albums/qq159/emma_g80/Smileys/bounce021.gif?t=1240679739 (javascript:void(0);)

[Toecutter]

No it's worse! lol Real Elevator music!

Like this then...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G9U6URQSF6U&feature=related
I think I would rather have swine flu.

[CWR]

http://i443.photobucket.com/albums/qq159/emma_g80/Smileys/bounce021.gif?t=1240679739 (http://javascript%3Cb%3E%3C/b%3E:void%280%29;)

I like those green dots! I am jealous.

my dh just found a medical alert app from the cdc for my phone! :shock: cool.

[CWR]

Like this then...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G9U6URQSF6U&feature=related
I think I would rather have swine flu.

Worse, I kind of like that song... But getting closer.

[kelee877]

HAHA...Looks like the WHO is going to miss out...we are having more fun thread drifting...and no I don,t care if it does...lets have some break the tension fun....This is my green protect me squad...

http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m127/reymdg/pspkd001542913.jpg

[CGTech]

This copy is for your personal, noncommercial use only. You can order presentation-ready copies for distribution to your colleagues, clients or customers here or use the "Reprints" tool that appears next to any article. Visit www.nytreprints.com for samples and additional information. Order a reprint of this article now.



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

April 26, 2009
Fighting Deadly Flu, Mexico Cancels More Events
By MARC LACEY and DONALD G. McNEIL Jr.
MEXICO CITY — Alarmed Mexican officials, scrambling to control a swine flu outbreak that has killed as many as 68 people and infected possibly 1,000 more in recent weeks, canceled more public events Saturday in and around the capital and said they were considering keeping schools for millions of students here closed into next week.

Officials also announced that two soccer matches scheduled for Sunday would be played without spectators, and hundreds of cultural events have been canceled.

The Associated Press reported Saturday that 24 new suspected cases of the flu were reported.

Mexico’s health minister, José Ángel Córdova, has said the country is dealing with a new flu virus that constitutes a respiratory epidemic that is so far controllable. He said the virus had mutated from pigs and had at some point been transmitted to humans.

The new strain contains gene sequences from North American and Eurasian swine flus, North American bird flu and North American human flu, said the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. A similar virus has been found in the American Southwest, where officials have reported eight nonfatal cases.

Most of Mexico’s dead were young, healthy adults, and none were over 60 or under 3 years old, the World Health Organization said. That alarms health officials because seasonal flus cause most of their deaths among infants and bedridden elderly people, but pandemic flus — like the 1918 Spanish flu, and the 1957 and 1968 pandemics — often strike young, healthy people the hardest.

Mexican officials have been urging people to avoid large gatherings and to refrain from shaking hands or greeting women with a kiss on the right cheek, as is common in Mexico.

On Friday, Mexico City closed museums and other cultural venues, and advised people not to attend movies or public events. Seven million students, from kindergartners to college students, were kept from classes in Mexico City and the neighboring State of Mexico on Friday, in what news organizations called the first citywide closing of schools since a powerful earthquake in 1985.
******
Because of the situation, the World Health Organization planned to consider raising the world pandemic flu alert to 4 from 3. Such a high level of alert — meaning that sustained human-to-human transmission of a new virus has been detected — has not been reached in recent years, even with the H5N1 avian flu circulating in Asia and Egypt, and would “really raise the hackles of everyone around the world,” said Dr. Robert G. Webster, a flu virus expert at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in Memphis.
*******
Mexico’s flu season is usually over by now, but health officials have noticed a significant spike in flu cases since mid-March. The W.H.O. said there had been 800 cases in Mexico in recent weeks, 60 of them fatal, of a flulike illness that appeared to be more serious than the regular seasonal flu. Mr. Córdova said Friday that there were 1,004 possible cases.

Still, only a small number have been confirmed as cases of the new H1N1 swine flu, according to Gregory Hartl, a W.H.O. spokesman. Mexican authorities confirmed 16 deaths from swine flu and said 45 others were under investigation, most of them in the Mexico City area. The C.D.C. said that eight nonfatal cases had been confirmed in the United States, and that it had sent teams to California and Texas to investigate.

“We are worried,” said Dr. Richard Besser, the acting head of the C.D.C. “We don’t know if this will lead to the next pandemic, but we will be monitoring it and taking it seriously.”

There is no point in trying to use containment measures in the United States, he said, because the swine flu virus has already appeared from San Antonio to San Diego, without any obvious connections among cases. Containment measures usually work only when a disease is confined to a small area, he said.

The C.D.C. refrained from warning people not to visit Mexico. Even so, the outbreak comes at an awful time for tourism officials, who have been struggling to counter the perception that violence has made Mexico unsafe for travelers. The outbreak was also causing alarm among Mexicans, many of whom rushed to buy masks or get checkups.

“I hope it’s not something grave,” said Claudia Cruz, who took her 11-year-old son, Efrain, to a clinic on Friday after hearing the government warnings.

Health officials urged anyone with a fever, a cough, a sore throat, shortness of breath or muscle and joint pain to seek medical attention.

When a new virus emerges, it can sweep through the population, said Dr. Anne Moscona, a flu specialist at Cornell University’s medical school. The Spanish flu is believed to have infected at least 25 percent of the United States population, but killed less than 3 percent of those infected.

The leading theory on why so many young, healthy people die in pandemics is the “cytokine storm,” in which vigorous immune systems pour out antibodies to attack the new virus. That can inflame lung cells until they leak fluid, which can overwhelm the lungs, Dr. Moscona said.

But older people who have had the flu repeatedly in their lives may have some antibodies that provide cross-protection to the new strain, she said. And immune responses among the aged are not as vigorous.

Despite the alarm in recent years over the H5N1 avian flu, which is still circulating in China, Indonesia, Egypt and elsewhere, some flu experts argued that it would never cause a pandemic, because no H5 strain ever had. All previous pandemics have been caused by H1s, H2s or H3s.

Among the swine flu cases in the United States, none had had any contact with pigs; cases involving a father and daughter and two 16-year-old schoolmates convinced the authorities that the virus was being transmitted from person to person.

In Canada, hit by the SARS epidemic in 2003, health officials urged those who had recently traveled to Mexico and become ill to seek treatment immediately.

Marc Lacey reported from Mexico City, and Donald G. McNeil Jr. from New York. Ian Austen contributed reporting from Ottawa.



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[IdahoMom]

Just got back from Lowe's and was briefing BC on sick people. When we checked out the girle was sick and was about to go barf. I mean she was on the verge of flu like symptoms. As soon as we got to the car the hand sanitizer came out.

My family is just getting over the flu!

My sister, age 50 who lives near Spokane had a very bad "cold" which turned into pneumonia and she now has "congestive heart failure. She has been sick for about two monthes and is just now coming around. She had to have Zpaks for the pneumonia, inhalers, and has been to the emergency room at least four times, heart specialist and her regular doctor. She said she has been sleeping in a recliner for the last two monthes because it feels like she will "drown" in the secretions if she lays down.

Grandson age 9 got it April 5 or 6th. With diarhea. Just now getting better. Still very weak.He has asthma and had to go on inhalers, it was in his lungs. They gave antibiotics, because they thought he had "strep throat".

Than pregnant daughter age 32. Extreme cold symptoms/fever. Just now getting better.

Grandaughter age 11, last week, extreme cold symptoms, very high temperature and vomiting. Still ill.

Thursday, son in law came down with it. Very high fever and very weak. Son in law never gets sick, I mean NEVER.

I am wondering if "IT" is allready here and they just weren't looking for it????

Anybody else??

[Jonas Parker]

WHO did NOT upgrade to phase 4!

"Containment NOT feasable!"

[CWR]

HAHA...Looks like the WHO is going to miss out...we are having more fun thread drifting...and no I don,t care if it does...lets have some break the tension fun....This is my green protect me squad...

http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m127/reymdg/pspkd001542913.jpg

Hey do you breed them? lol

I will take the first batch!

No change in phases? And the guy is asking why no change everything on paper is saying it is a phase 4.

[kelee877]

blah blah bu blah....


she seems to be skirting around the questions, no real answers...no rela numbers...

so they can,t contain it but will relieve your suffering....:shock:

[CWR]

What they are not saying is the key. They are not talking about NYC, They are not saying it will be bad they are saying mild cases in the USA.

Basically they don't have the man power.....

[kelee877]

What they are not saying is the key. They are not talking about NYC, They are not saying it will be bad they are saying mild cases in the USA.

Basically they don't have the man power.....

It is what she is not saying...its like this has been all planned out...and the questions being asks are all from reporters and a wall street professional...set up...

here is your NYC

why are they still working on a vaccine if nothing is going to happen...takes months to produce vaccines...
many months process...sheesh...
and no large amounts available...

[CWR]

It is what she is not saying...its like this has been all planned out...and the questions being asks are all from reporters and a wall street professional...set up...

here is your NYC
She blew her off. Can you believe it. They are avoided saying anything about it.

[Jonas Parker]

The spokesperson is dodging questions like a snake! Now saying vaccine is a ways away.

Reporters are asking tough questions, just getting BS answers!

[kelee877]

The spokesperson is dodging questions like a snake! Now saying vaccine is a ways away.

They have always said that..that it would take months tomake a vaccine for a new mutated version of anything..and now add to it..there will be limited amounts...

back to blah blah du balh blah

[johngaltfla]

CDC STATEMENT PER FNC:

Widespread and can not be contained.

[curlysue]

CDC STATEMENT PER FNC:

Widespread and can not be contained.

Need your siren JG.

[ElGato]

OKAY I am starting to freak out a little bit. :shock:

[johngaltfla]

New flu has spread widely, cannot be contained-CDC (http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/N25473389.htm)

25 Apr 2009 17:45:06 GMT
Source: Reuters
WASHINGTON, April 25 (Reuters) - An unusual new flu virus has spread widely and cannot be contained, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention confirmed on Saturday.

"It is clear that this is widespread. And that is why we have let you know that we cannot contain the spread of this virus," the CDC's Dr. Anne Schuchat told reporters on a conference call.

The strain of swine flu is suspected of killing as many as 68 people in Mexico and infecting more than 1,000 more, including eight in the United States. (Reporting by Maggie Fox, editing by Patricia Zengerle)

http://www.blinne.org/photos/uncategorized/siren.gifhttp://www.blinne.org/photos/uncategorized/siren.gifhttp://www.blinne.org/photos/uncategorized/siren.gifhttp://www.blinne.org/photos/uncategorized/siren.gifhttp://www.blinne.org/photos/uncategorized/siren.gif

[kelee877]

So if you cant dazzle them with brillance baffle them with BS...:evil:

[CWR]

You said Kelee dazzle time. I turned them off.... can't handle listening to them anymore. Would rather just read it.

[Lavender]

I wish someone would ask her why the government didn't close our borders immediately after learning of Mexico's outbreak.

[johngaltfla]

I wish someone would ask her why the government didn't close our borders immediately after learning of Mexico's outbreak.

It is impossible. We don't have the manpower.

[DennisQA]

How's Obama going to -yes we can- us out of this?

http://therealbarackobama.files.wordpress.com/2008/11/b-ff-crystal-ball1.jpg:razz:

[kelee877]

You said Kelee dazzle time. I turned them off.... can't handle listening to them anymore. Would rather just read it.

You just missed a good one...someone asked if she knew how many infected people there were...and she said very quickly I cannot answer that now, and cut the lady off...

[DennisQA]

It is impossible. We don't have the manpower.

Maybe they could of used some of those troops already there fighting the drug cartel or were they?:idea:

[Buttercup]

Press conference 3PM EST from (some) New York Department

[Jonas Parker]

NYC Health Dept to do Press Briefing 1500EDT

CDC briefing over.

[CWR]

You just missed a good one...someone asked if she knew how many infected people there were...and she said very quickly I cannot answer that now, and cut the lady off...

That means they do know and it is not good! I am still reeling. I kept wanting to believe it wasn't going to happen.

Any info on whether they are restricting travel in and out of the country?

Guess I better go look...

[kelee877]

So under the carpet is were all this mess will get swept....

[Lavender]

So, I guess we all know as much as CNN, ABC, CBS, MSNBC, FOXNews and etc. knows.

[Sassafras]

So, it's wide spread and cannot be contained. Is it still a Stage 3 threat? Did I miss that somewhere?

[johngaltfla]

WHO chief says swine flu has pandemic potential (http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/LP310187.htm)

25 Apr 2009 17:54:24 GMT
Source: Reuters
* All countries urged to be vigilant for unusual cases

* Premature to issue travel advisories, WHO head says

* Too soon to switch to production of new flu vaccine

(Updates with end of experts meeting, paras 7-8)

By Stephanie Nebehay

GENEVA, April 25 (Reuters) - Outbreaks of swine flu in Mexico and the United States have the potential to cause a worldwide pandemic but it is too early to say whether they will, the head of the World Health Organisation said on Saturday.

WHO director-general Margaret Chan urged health authorities in all countries to be on high alert for unusual patterns of disease and any rise in severe flu or pneumonia cases.

"This is clearly an animal strain of the H1N1 virus and it has pandemic potential because it is infecting people," Chan said on a teleconference.

"However, we cannot say on the basis of currently available laboratory, epidemiological, and clinical evidence whether or not it will indeed cause a pandemic."

The United Nations health agency has warned for several years that a new virus strain could spark a human influenza pandemic that could sweep around the globe and kill millions.

The new H1N1 flu strain -- a mixture of swine, human and avian flu viruses which has killed up to 68 people among 1,004 suspected cases in Mexico and infected eight in the United States -- is still poorly understood and the situation is evolving quickly, Chan said.

An emergency committee of experts met with Chan on Saturday but did not take any decisions on the outbreaks after hearing information from the U.S. and Mexican authorities, WHO spokeswoman Sari Setiogi said. She said a statement would be issued later.

The committee could recommend Chan to take temporary measures to protect health or change the WHO's pandemic alert level, currently 3 on a scale of 1 to 6.

PRUDENCE NEEDED

There were currently no indications of similar outbreaks elsewhere in the world, Chan said.

"It would be prudent for health officials within countries to be alert to outbreaks of influenza-like illness or pneumonia, especially if these occur outside in months outside the usual peak influenza season," added Chan, a former health director of Hong Kong.

Health officials worldwide should also be alert to large incidences of severe or fatal flu-like illness in groups other than young children and the elderly, the ages usually at highest risk from normal seasonal flu, she said.

Most of the dead in Mexico were aged between 25 and 45.

WHO experts have been deployed in Mexico to help health authorities with disease surveillance, laboratory diagnosis and clinical management of cases.

The WHO stood ready with antiviral drugs to combat the outbreaks in Mexico. But authorities have a sizeable supply of Tamiflu, known generically as oseltamivir, and made by Switzerland's Roche Holding, which has proved effective against the new virus, according to the WHO.

"NOTORIOUSLY UNPREDICTABLE"

"Influenza viruses are notoriously unpredictable and full of surprises, as we are seeing right now," Chan said.

"We need to know how the virus is spread, what is the transmission pattern and whether or not it is going to cause severe disease and in what age group," she said.

It was "too premature at this stage" for the WHO to announce any travel advisories, as better analysis of the cases and other clinical data was required, Chan said. But the agency's experts would address the issue of travel advisories.

"We do not yet have a complete picture of the epidemiology or the risk, including possible spread beyond the currently affected areas," Chan said.

"Nonetheless, in the assessment of WHO, this is a serious situation which must be watched very closely."

It was also too soon for the U.N. agency to advise drugmakers to switch to producing a new vaccine -- to be derived from the new virus -- from their traditional production of seasonal influenza vaccines, she said. (For other stories on swine flu click on) (For WHO information on swine flu go to: http://www.who.int/csr/disease/swineflu/en/index.html ) (Editing by Mark Trevelyan)

[kelee877]

So, it's wide spread and cannot be contained. Is it still a Stage 3 threat? Did I miss that somewhere?

yup you missed somewhere where I posted; If you can,t dazzle them with brillance, Baffle them with BS....:mrgreen:

and I will post it a thousand more times if I have too....man that radio chickie pooh has my head relling...I think she read line for line from the CDC type out thats already available...she told us nothing new at all....

[betsy baker]

I just got back from the grocery store. The Health Department (I don't know which one) has issued a bulletin to all stores anyone coming to work with a cough or runny nose, must be sent home asap. There is some sort of outbreak in Northeast Nebraska. My friend said it appears to be rotovirus. (I'll bet). They know somwthing is here.
I have contacted some friends of mine, one of whom works at UNMC contagious dieases dept. I'm not sure when I'll hear anything. I'll keep you posted.

[ElGato]

Wow

[kelee877]

I don,t know what to do now..all is better...I,m now bored...:-?

I guess I should head to the Tavern out my feet up and call it a day...oh I thing I will blow up some ships..always helps when the WHO and CDC lie..

[ElGato]

I suddenly feel like going to the store while they still have milk and bread. :mrgreen:

[obleo]

IdahoMom...you got one heck of a mess on your hands....and all in one family! Y'all get better soon...and don't go no where without protection, uh, as in masks, gloves, sanitizer...yeah, that kind of protection!

And thanks y'all for giving us the blow by blow from the CDC (Conceal, Deny, Confuse) conference...basically we're all right back where we started when this thing first hit the news, am I correct? They didn't say squat!

[kelee877]

IdahoMom...you got one heck of a mess on your hands....and all in one family! Y'all get better soon...and don't go no where without protection, uh, as in masks, gloves, sanitizer...yeah, that kind of protection!

And thanks y'all for giving us the blow by blow from the CDC (Conceal, Deny, Confuse) conference...basically we're all right back where we started when this thing first hit the news, am I correct? They didn't say squat!


TRUE, TRUE and again TRUE...

[bambipei]

Doesn't Mexico have Tamiflu? Or did the sick not seek treatment or wait too long? Things like this would be good to know. :?

[IdahoMom]

[QUOTE=obleo;537333]IdahoMom...you got one heck of a mess on your hands....and all in one family! Y'all get better soon...and don't go no where without protection, uh, as in masks, gloves, sanitizer...yeah, that kind of protection!

Thanks Obleo,

I have been avoiding daughter, kids for awhile now. Her hubby has been taking very good care of them till he now got sick.

Luckily haven't seen sis so far this year..Her husband didn't get it by the way?

I do think IT's out there though, probably has been for awhile. If Mexico has over a 1000 that they know about, it didn't just "pop up" yesterday..

[Jonas Parker]

Doesn't Mexico have Tamiflu? Or did the sick not seek treatment or wait too long? Things like this would be good to know. :?

I've gotten conflicting reports on the efficacy of Tamiflu. Some say it works on this virus, some say it doesn't. Sambucol seems to be the treatment of choice, along with keeping the patient hydrated and aspirin/ibuprophin prn for comfort.

I have this feeling that I'm one old paramedic who'll be hitting the books hard tonight.

[kelee877]

I've gotten conflicting reports on the efficacy of Tamiflu. Some say it works on this virus, some say it doesn't. Sambucol seems to be the treatment of choice, along with keeping the patient hydrated and aspirin/ibuprophin prn for comfort.

I have this feeling that I'm one old paramedic who'll be hitting the books hard tonight.

I would like to add, the one that is working they are in short supply of it...

[Summerthyme]

What I'm getting from all this (quick drink break, then back to a few more hours of rototilling in the gardens) is pretty simple:

First, it IS far too late to "seal the borders"... even if that was remotely possible.

Second, it appears that we may well have jumped stages 3-4... and it seems to me that "staging" is pretty useless once it gets beyond a certain, LIMITED locale.

(IOW, if it's in one or two towns or counties, even if they have very large populations, but it hasn't spread YET- like most of the H5N1 in the past few years- putting in place the appropriate measures to stage 4 or 5 might actually contain it. Of course, ENFORCING those measures would be... interesting. With a government flouting the rule of law in every venue, regular citizens see little reason to follow any laws. Make sense?)

And last...

As always, but especially now given the current early Depression... they are TERRIFIED of having to do something which would essentially shut down global commerce.

So... they're waffling. Want some syrup?

Summerthyme

[nharrold]

Just got back from Lowe's and was briefing BC on sick people. When we checked out the girle was sick and was about to go barf. I mean she was on the verge of flu like symptoms. As soon as we got to the car the hand sanitizer came out.

Sounds like it hit her pretty quickly...

[Jubilee on Earth]

So... they're waffling. Want some syrup?

Summerthyme


Yes, please! :-D I don't have any of my own elderberry syrup or tincture, so I went to the store to buy Sambucol. Only they didn't have it -- they had Sambucus instead. I got it anyway, even though I wanted the original. Still pretty darn expensive... $24 for one bottle!!!!!!!!!!! Let's hope it's just as effective.

[Summerthyme]

Jubilee... have you ordered dry berries?

One more reason I prefer the homemade syrup to tincture is you can make it in about 2 days... not a few weeks.

And it's cheaper than tincture, too.... the price of vodka is nuts these days!

Summerthyme

[curlysue]

Yes, please! :-D I don't have any of my own elderberry syrup or tincture, so I went to the store to buy Sambucol. Only they didn't have it -- they had Sambucus instead. I got it anyway, even though I wanted the original. Still pretty darn expensive... $24 for one bottle!!!!!!!!!!! Let's hope it's just as effective.

They have a nice supply and are reasonable. You can also get the elder berries to make your own.
http://www.mountainroseherbs.com/search/search.php?refine=y&keywords=elder+berries

[Tippy]

Yes, please! :-D I don't have any of my own elderberry syrup or tincture, so I went to the store to buy Sambucol. Only they didn't have it -- they had Sambucus instead. I got it anyway, even though I wanted the original. Still pretty darn expensive... $24 for one bottle!!!!!!!!!!! Let's hope it's just as effective.

What is the difference between sambucol and sambucus? TIA.

[doctor_fungcool]

http://www.recombinomics.com/whats_new.html

Bookmark Dr. Niman's site. It's excellent.

[johngaltfla]

What I'm getting from all this (quick drink break, then back to a few more hours of rototilling in the gardens) is pretty simple:

First, it IS far too late to "seal the borders"... even if that was remotely possible.

Second, it appears that we may well have jumped stages 3-4... and it seems to me that "staging" is pretty useless once it gets beyond a certain, LIMITED locale.

(IOW, if it's in one or two towns or counties, even if they have very large populations, but it hasn't spread YET- like most of the H5N1 in the past few years- putting in place the appropriate measures to stage 4 or 5 might actually contain it. Of course, ENFORCING those measures would be... interesting. With a government flouting the rule of law in every venue, regular citizens see little reason to follow any laws. Make sense?)

And last...

As always, but especially now given the current early Depression... they are TERRIFIED of having to do something which would essentially shut down global commerce.

So... they're waffling. Want some syrup?

Summerthyme

Summer, as always, your wisdom seems to have nailed it. Fortunately the local health food store had the elderberry extract, crystals and caplets I needed.

[Summerthyme]

What is the difference between sambucol and sambucus? TIA.

Sambucol is the brand name of a syrup originally developed by an Israeli doctor, and marketed under that name.

Are you implying there is a product called "sambucus"? If so, I suspect it's essentially a "clone" of the Sambucol, but I don't know for sure.

Sambucol is made from the black elderberry- Sambucus nigra.

Summerthyme

[Jubilee on Earth]

Jubilee... have you ordered dry berries?

One more reason I prefer the homemade syrup to tincture is you can make it in about 2 days... not a few weeks.

And it's cheaper than tincture, too.... the price of vodka is nuts these days!

Summerthyme

Hmmm... I'll have to go back and read your posts. For some reason I thought they both took a few weeks, and I just didn't think I should wait that long. Maybe I will buy some!

Thanks!

[Summerthyme]

John... gee, thanks... I think. Damn... I was hoping I was all wet.

Summerthyme

[Tippy]

Sambucol is the brand name of a syrup originally developed by an Israeli doctor, and marketed under that name.

Are you implying there is a product called "sambucus"? If so, I suspect it's essentially a "clone" of the Sambucol, but I don't know for sure.

Sambucol is made from the black elderberry- Sambucus nigra.

Summerthyme

Thanks! I found this:

http://www.vitacost.com/Natures-Way-Sambucus-Syrup-Original-8-fl-oz

It is called Sambucus but on the ingredients list it has Sambucol (with registration mark).

[Summerthyme]

Yep.. should work. (but I hope someone who has tried it on what they believe was a true "influenza"- not just a "bug", will chime in.)

Summerthyme

[gettin' ready]

WHO did NOT upgrade to phase 4!

"Containment NOT feasable!"

We will never see Phase 4, imo.

It's a joke.

[tjndaltx]

How do you make the vodka/elderberry out of extract or out of the liquid?

[leedaisy]

We will never see Phase 4, imo.

It's a joke.


Please explain.

[kelee877]

Please explain.

You have to read the WHO phases..4 is already here and WHO had a meeting today and they are not going to raise the level...by the time WHO makes a real decision we will be at level 6

[JDSeese]

Well, IMHO, they will not escalate the level - especially if it cannot be contained or prevented - because all it would really do is incite panic.

If they move to Stage 4, what will anyone be able to do differently than they are doing now? 5? 6?

So why bother

[Animal Lover]

Yep.. should work. (but I hope someone who has tried it on what they believe was a true "influenza"- not just a "bug", will chime in.)

Summerthyme

My hubby (in 52 yrs. married) has only been sick once. Only had two colds also. He has me get sambucol and another over the counter med and if he feels like he might get something he takes it. Now me, on the other hand, have had the flu so many times I cannot count them all. He stays clear of me too. I am on my own. If I need something, too bad. So, I guess it has always worked for him. AL

[kelee877]

Well, IMHO, they will not escalate the level - especially if it cannot be contained or prevented - because all it would really do is incite panic.

If they move to Stage 4, what will anyone be able to do differently than they are doing now? 5? 6?

So why bother

Yea it probably cost them a ton of money to move the bulb from the number 3 to 4..and with all the cuts backs...well we understand

[leedaisy]

Got it. I just saw the chart again on CNN of the levels and thought " what the hay we are already at level 5 maybe 6, who are they kidding?"

Another question - with over 100 kids in NY sick how come only 8-9 are being diagnosed with it? They all got sick at the same time but with different virus?

[gettin' ready]

You have to read the WHO phases..4 is already here and WHO had a meeting today and they are not going to raise the level...by the time WHO makes a real decision we will be at level 6

Exactly. Much like the .gov admitting we're in a recession - a year after it began.:roll:

[kelee877]

Exactly. Much like the .gov admitting we're in a recession - a year after it began.:roll:

they must be the ones thats give each other the big pay raises...:shock:

[gettin' ready]

Well, IMHO, they will not escalate the level - especially if it cannot be contained or prevented - because all it would really do is incite panic.

If they move to Stage 4, what will anyone be able to do differently than they are doing now? 5? 6?

So why bother

I agree JD. So I have to wonder what was the point of even enumerating these phases.

As I said, it's a joke. I guess they didn't think they'd ever really have to deal with it?

Besides, things start getting real complicated if they were to declare Phase 4. Another reason I don't think it will ever happen. Nobody wants to go there. Seriously.

[Libbybear2]

I posted on another thread about the flu that I wondered if the missing vials of flu from a Maryland lab had anything to do with this. It was just reported as missing. But no telling how long it has been missing.

And if this has never been seen before in swine or people, it makes me wonder if it is something that was modified in a lab somewhere.

Could this also be the thing that was to come up in the first few months of Obama's administration to test it? Could lead to martial law. And with no one going out and buying things and sick people not going to work, what will be the effect on the economy? And if all the truck drivers get sick and stay out then stores wont have any deliveries anyway.

It is spreading way too fast and it just came out of nowhere to hit Mexico and spread to Canada and the US. If I remember correctly 3 vials are missing from the lab, maybe one for each country?

[Loon]

The vials that went missing were three small vials of Venezuelan equine encephalitis virus

[Milk-maid]

Sambucol is the brand name of a syrup originally developed by an Israeli doctor, and marketed under that name.

Are you implying there is a product called "sambucus"? If so, I suspect it's essentially a "clone" of the Sambucol, but I don't know for sure.

Sambucol is made from the black elderberry- Sambucus nigra.

Summerthyme

Summer,

I tried to get Sambucol about 6 months ago to have on hand. Rite Aid drug store told me they don't make it anymore, but they now have a "Hybrid" product called Sambucus. I asked if they knew the difference between the two and the pharmacist couldn't tell me since he didn't know. I didn't buy it.

Wherever I have tried to get Sambucol, no one had it except CVS pharmacy and the bottles were old but not quite expired. (2010) My brother in El Paso was able to find a few bottles of Sambucol, but it was also old with dust on top.

I went to GNC website and saw that the words "Sambucol" but had a picture of a box of Sambucus next to it on their site...so...?

[Tippy]

Summer,

I tried to get Sambucol about 6 months ago to have on hand. Rite Aid drug store told me they don't make it anymore, but they now have a "Hybrid" product called Sambucus. I asked if they knew the difference between the two and the pharmacist couldn't tell me since he didn't know. I didn't buy it.

Wherever I have tried to get Sambucol, no one had it except CVS pharmacy and the bottles were old but not quite expired. (2010) My brother in El Paso was able to find a few bottles of Sambucol, but it was also old with dust on top.

I went to GNC website and saw that the words "Sambucol" but had a picture of a box of Sambucus next to it on their site...so...?


See my post #92 on the previous page.

[Milk-maid]

Thanks Tippy. I must have missed that. There is so much to read now just to keep up.

[johngaltfla]

Briefing is on now, but no borders will be closed and no major actions expected. Nothing major will happen for 10-14 days gang. So we're on our own.

[Milk-maid]

Almost makes one think they want it to get a major foothold before they take any action...almost on purpose...?

[Purity]

Summer,

I tried to get Sambucol about 6 months ago to have on hand. Rite Aid drug store told me they don't make it anymore, but they now have a "Hybrid" product called Sambucus. I asked if they knew the difference between the two and the pharmacist couldn't tell me since he didn't know. I didn't buy it.

Wherever I have tried to get Sambucol, no one had it except CVS pharmacy and the bottles were old but not quite expired. (2010) My brother in El Paso was able to find a few bottles of Sambucol, but it was also old with dust on top.

I went to GNC website and saw that the words "Sambucol" but had a picture of a box of Sambucus next to it on their site...so...?

Try puritan.com or puritansale.com for Sambucus. They have it. And they have Sambucol lozenges. At least, for now, until there's a run on them.

http://www.puritan.com/elderberry-607?searchterm=elderberry&rdcnt=1


http://www.puritansale.com/elderberry-607?searchterm=elderberry&rdcnt=1

[johngaltfla]

Ohio had a case? Hmmmm, please gang, do not come and visit Florida. Just send your disinfected funds.

[Kettle Farm]

ohio? any info on this JG?

[johngaltfla]

ohio? any info on this JG?

Just searched, nothing yet...

[johngaltfla]

Don't worry, he's on the case!

http://d.yimg.com/a/p/rids/20090426/i/r3845422741.jpg?x=400&y=260&q=85&sig=BQz1Gb00MtgaqaYy2Jo.6Q--

[Kettle Farm]

*grin*

ok, cdc has listed one case in ohio. but can't find where. my family is writing me asking what we know. dh is a paramedic in several large cities and counties, goes back to work tuesday...

[shortstop]

Good Grief... there he is... our fearless leader....playing golf.... Well he is the best at leading by example... sheeshh....!

At least he is not hiding the in the bunker wearing one of those bio-hazaard suits.... not yet....

[Summerthyme]

I think I'm going to be sick.

Is that REALLY POTUS (Pretender of The United States) in that pic???

Damn... I thought I knew how deep his sociopathic tendencies ran.

I was wrong. WAY wrong.

Summerthyme

[KERIC]

From what I understand the original Sambucol was sold to France and they started adding the artificial raspberry flavoring. Down here (at least in my immediate area), our Whole Foods stopped carrying it because of the flavoring.

It has just recently been back on the shelves here as "Sambucus" which has no artificial anything. Our CVS also carries "Sambucol" but this particular brand has Sodium Benzoate (SP?) so I refuse to buy that one.

Barb in Florida

[Milk-maid]

How convenient for Napolitano that she is the central figure in the (press conference) plan for the security measures being taken as far as the Swine Flu....just as the calls for her firing cresendo'd. She has made herself invaluable.... what a load o' crap.

* calls this a mild case in the US...don't know why there are so many fatalities in Mexico, they are exploring this.

* President O was never in any danger nor any of the press corps that traveled with him in Mexico.

[firedance]

I think I'm going to be sick.

Is that REALLY POTUS (Pretender of The United States) in that pic???

Damn... I thought I knew how deep his sociopathic tendencies ran.

I was wrong. WAY wrong.

Summerthyme



Yes, but look how heavily he carries his burdens. Poor thing!

[Stropes]

* President O was never in any danger nor any of the press corps that traveled with him in Mexico.

How did they achieve this? Were they wearing bio-hazard suits? They really do think we are all stupid, don't they?

[Milk-maid]

Obviously they do.

Actually the upside is that if he gets sick so does all his favorite Democratic party members he surrounds himself with.