Tag: Swine Flu

Swine Flu Virus Found in Minnesota Fair Pig Sample

October 21, 2009
General
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From ENEWSPF:

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced that USDA’s National Veterinary Services Laboratories (NVSL) has confirmed the presence of 2009 pandemic H1N1 influenza virus in a pig sample collected at the Minnesota State Fair submitted by the University of Minnesota. Additional samples are being tested.

"We have fully engaged our trading partners to remind them that several international organizations, including the World Organization for Animal Health, have advised that there is no scientific basis to restrict trade in pork and pork products," said Vilsack. "People cannot get this flu from eating pork or pork products. Pork is safe to eat."

I’m still eating pork. Enough said.

More here.

Notre Dame Student HAD Swine Flu

April 29, 2009
EducationEnvironmentHealth CareHumor
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Throw another pork chop on the grill; the swine flu frenzy is just heating up.

The Sun-Times reports in a headline today: “Notre Dame student has swine flu.”

Indiana health officials reported the state’s first confirmed case of swine flu Tuesday in a student at the University of Notre Dame.

Although there have been no confirmed cases in Illinois, the University of Chicago Medical Center is “investigating a small number of potential swine flu cases,” spokesman John Easton said late Tuesday. “None of these people is severely ill.”

Easton wouldn’t say how many people had been tested.

Read just a bit further down in the story, and you have to wonder what the squealing is all about:

The unidentified Notre Dame student “has fully recovered and is in good health” after seeking treatment for flu-like symptoms at the university’s health center on April 22, the school said in a statement.

The student has fully recovered and is in good health.

Oh.  So the student HAD swine flu, and is fine now.

Forget that.  Time to start screaming in the streets.  Light candles at the Grotto!  Maybe it’s time for ND students to “T-P” the Dome in panic.  What is the administration doing?  Call in the National Guard!  Put Notre Dame on lock down!

Or, make sure you cough into the back of your arm if you have a cough, don’t touch your face, and wash your hands as necessary.

Swine Flu: Welcome to the Latest Media Fear Frenzy

April 26, 2009
EnvironmentHealth Care
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Remember, the most important thing to fear is what we don’t know.  There are things we don’t know about Swine Flu, so you should be very, very afraid.

That’s what I learned this morning watching NBC channel 5 in Chicago.

What else did I learn?  This strain of flu is no more dangerous than any other.  There are approximately 20,000 deaths worldwide from all strains of the flue annually.

What can you do to protect yourself from the swine flue?  Everything you’ve been told to do in order to avoid any other type of flue.

Is there special treatment for this strain of flu?  No.  It’s a virus, like any other flu.

So stop the fear frenzy.

Here’s what the CDC knows:

Human cases of swine influenza A (H1N1) virus infection have been identified in the U.S. in San Diego County and Imperial County, California as well as in San Antonio, Texas. Internationally, human cases of swine influenza A (H1N1) virus infection have been identified in Mexico.

U.S. Human Cases of Swine Flu Infection
State # of laboratory
confirmed cases
California 7 cases
Texas 2 cases
Kansas 2 cases
TOTAL COUNT 11 cases
International Human Cases of Swine Flu Infection
See: World Health OrganizationExternal Web Site Policy.
As of April 25th, 2009 7:30 p.m. EDT

Investigations are ongoing to determine the source of the infection and whether additional people have been infected with similar swine influenza viruses.

CDC is working very closely with state and local officials in California, Texas, as well as with health officials in Mexico, Canada and the World Health Organization. On April 24th, CDC deployed 7 epidemiologists to San Diego County, California and Imperial County, California and 1 senior medical officer to Texas to provide guidance and technical support for the ongoing epidemiologic field investigations. CDC has also deployed to Mexico 1 medical officer and 1 senior expert who are part of a global team that is responding to the outbreak of respiratory illnesses in Mexico.

Influenza is thought to spread mainly person-to-person through coughing or sneezing of infected people. There are many things you can to do preventing getting and spreading influenza:

There are everyday actions people can take to stay healthy.

  • Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Throw the tissue in the trash after you use it.
  • Wash your hands often with soap and water, especially after you cough or sneeze. Alcohol-based hands cleaners are also effective.
  • Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth. Germs spread that way.

Try to avoid close contact with sick people.

  • Influenza is thought to spread mainly person-to-person through coughing or sneezing of infected people.
  • If you get sick, CDC recommends that you stay home from work or school and limit contact with others to keep from infecting them.

So stop the panic.  It’s a flu virus.  Relax.

(Source: http://www.cdc.gov/swineflu/investigation.htm)