*The* Swine Flu (Cat 6 Pandemic) Thread

[goodraven]

I've read that a person can be infectious up to 48 hours prior to onset of symptomss - (can someone please try and confirm this).  

If you think you may have been exposed to someone confirmed (H1N1+), you might want to stay away from others before you get sick.

I remeber reading early on that swab test for type A virus can not confirm this particular strain of H1N1 - only a blood test can confirm.  ?

Meanwhile, intersting post by Over-The-Rainbow,  your explanation makes some sense about Ill - just wondering if you knew anything about Deleware - they seemed to have a disproportionate number of confirmed cases (I bet they have their own state facilities).

With re: to speculation around death's ave ages, etc. - If we can assume this is first wave (similar to 1918-19), we would expect to see first victims to be immune deficient = very young, very old, + very sick should get very sick/die first (sorry, don't mean to sound so harsh - not sure how else to say it).   Deaths so far seem to indicate this in the US.- from what we've been told and it's to soon  

However, the sad fact is the US is a "developed" country living next to an "underdeveloped country" - the reason, IMHO, for demographic differences in age (Mexico, 20-29), as best we can determine, might best be argued a being unique to their context.  Meaning: reason for deaths in Mexico, stemming from same H1N1 strain, might be more a reflection of their own unique circumstances (i.e., apples and oranges).  

However, we, as yet, do not know much about each specific case here in the US (regarding why MEDIAN age in US is 15? of those confirmed and hospitalized with H1N1 (does anyone have an updated median age - I read that a few days ago?).  Forgive me , I assume all understand the diff between "median" age and "average" age.

Meanwhile, I'm compiling a list of best alternative herbal, homeopathic, etc. remedies/approaches to a potentially lethal type A strain and or mutation.   Seven different anti-virals so far (they've already been posted - I don't know which ones work against H1N1?  (all, none, some?)  - we need to find out sooner rather then later.

I don't want to find out the hard way (I'll do more research and post findings ASAP)

I make no claims here nor do I profit but advise folks to at least consider these alternatives if and/or when Tamiflu becomes ineffective or a resistent strain emerges (may already be?)

*One known anti-viral for type influenza A virus is dragons blood (please check it out - it's from South/Central America).  I still do not know if this will work vs. current H1N1.

think critically, ask tough questions!   I think we can get through this if we work together!    

[Biminim]

Hey, have any of you read up on encephalitis lethargica?  It was covered in the 9-part BBC documentary, and is briefly mentioned in John Barry's The Great Influenza.  Some of those who survived the 1918/19 H1N1 later went sort of brain dead, and then died.  A virologist on the BBC documentary theorized that the virus migrated from the lungs to the brain and wreaked horrible damage there.  It is estimated that over 1 million died from e.l. over several years after the pandemic disappeared.  So it isn't necessarily a good thing to get exposed to even the first wave, since no one knows if e.l. was caused by the virus in its initial, secondary, or third wave.  Just a wee bit more doom to close out Sunday night!   

[ouroboros]

I've read that a person can be infectious up to 48 hours prior to onset of symptomss - (can someone please try and confirm this).

I probably was, but we'll see....

 

If you think you may have been exposed to someone confirmed (H1N1+), you might want to stay away from others before you get sick.

Didn't know I had been exposed, so went merrily on my way.....

I remeber reading early on that swab test for type A virus can not confirm this particular strain of H1N1 - only a blood test can confirm.  ?

Swab test could not confirm, but RN could see I was ill with flu.
Sent on my merry way with Tamiflu....

However, we, as yet, do not know much about each specific case here in the US (regarding why MEDIAN age in US is 15? of those confirmed and hospitalized with H1N1 (does anyone have an updated median age - I read that a few days ago?).  Forgive me , I assume all understand the diff between "median" age and "average" age.

Could be the younger generation's first exposure to a serious virus. I was exposed/got flu during the mid 70's swine flu and was exposed to Hong Kong flu also in 1968.  Maybe why my case was mild.  This is why parents are now holding chicken pox parties for their kids.  All the vaccines children get now prevent their immune systems from doing battle with the heavier bugs.  They become more and more like hot house flowers.


Alternatives I used:    Emergenc-C, oscillococcinum, Grapefruit Seed Extract (GSE), Vit D 3, Colloidal Silver, gatorade and chocolate, for good measure. 

I had cough, sore throat 24 hours, full blown flu 24 hours, good as gold for last 65 hours, and am very grateful.


(Edited to correct typo)

[Broil]

Hey, have any of you read up on encephalitis lethargica?  It was covered in the 9-part BBC documentary, and is briefly mentioned in John Barry's The Great Influenza.  Some of those who survived the 1918/19 H1N1 later went sort of brain dead, and then died.  A virologist on the BBC documentary theorized that the virus migrated from the lungs to the brain and wreaked horrible damage there.  It is estimated that over 1 million died from e.l. over several years after the pandemic disappeared.  So it isn't necessarily a good thing to get exposed to even the first wave, since no one knows if e.l. was caused by the virus in its initial, secondary, or third wave.  Just a wee bit more doom to close out Sunday night!  

The thing I noticed in the video was that the patients were exhibiting the catatonic type of schizophrenia, in which one can move them into any position and they'll hold it for hours on end (waxy flexibility).  So while the video commentary seemed to indicate that the encephalitis wasn't all that common, as far as I can tell there would have been many more sufferers labelled in a different way and kept in mental hospitals.  There are still some catatonics today, but that subcategory has become increasingly rare over the years.

I'm especially interested in that topic because one of my uncles was diagnosed with catatonic schizophrenia ..... he started displaying symptoms when he was 15 ...... I think that would have been in 1936 or thereabouts.

[Jackson]

Here in AL- we are growing more virus, starting today, to be used to "try" amd create a vaccine.  They are using eggs, (they seem to be aware the virus is not doing well in eggs) and they hope to have 1 billion viruses by the end of the week!  I really hope that lab does not have an "accident." 

Birmingham's Southern Research Institute working with swine flu virus
http://blog.al.com/spotnews/2009/05/birminghams_southern_research.html

[pamela]

a billion?
dang.
somebody's going to make a lot of money. especially if the WHO wants everyone to get this vaccine.
serious question though, if this virus changes and comes back in the fall, will this vaccine do any good?

[Annihilatrix]

More about the man who died in Seattle area. The man didn't visit Mexico and had been homebound since November, rarely leaving the house. The article doesn't mention other family members being sick. Concerned about stigma, the family insists he died from underlying heart problems rather than swine flu.
http://www.komonews.com/news/local/44680052.html

[pamela]

ok, that's about the most retarded thing I've heard.
They would rather him be known as having died from weighing over 400 lbs and having an enlarged heart, thank swine flu?
WTH?
and what stigma?
how can having the flu have a stigma attached to it?

[wiccawench]

yup that sure is retarded.

Though i can see that his FAMILY have their own issues.......

you know.....large person? = *swine* flu or is it just my warped mind?

i just saw that as being a question of DENIAL! I mean they did an autopsy and it came up..sounds to me like they were looking for something that killed him since it wasn't obviously a *foregone conclusion* of the cause of death or the autopsy wouldn't have been called for in the first instance.

That's just messed up.

[Broil]

The family is probably concerned that people will avoid them for fear of catching it.  Quite honestly, I'd avoid close contact with them also.

[Abhaha]

ok, that's about the most retarded thing I've heard.
They would rather him be known as having died from weighing over 400 lbs and having an enlarged heart, thank swine flu?
WTH?
and what stigma?
how can having the flu have a stigma attached to it?

I work in a group home with disabled adults who have a chronic mental illness and other health conditions. On top of that, many are overweight and are smokers. One woman is very very hefty and has COPD. So if this goes through the facility, I think a lot of them are going to die. A number of them also have sleep apna and use a C-Pap machine. IMO it doesn't look good.

Underlying conditions ARE going to have an impact. Weighing 400lbs is a pretty unhealthy condition for anyone.

 

[Broil]

Looks like Mexico has gone up to 56 deaths after releasing some of the backlog today, world total 61: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090511/ap_on_he_me/med_swine_flu

[msegk]

Florida just confirmed 31 new cases, grand total now at 55.

[wordnerd]

Well my kids are flying home from Seattle today
I'm not overly happy about them getting in an airplane
But leaving Seattle with all the recent reports there is good

I sent my ex-husband an email about all of the flu cases and the death in Seattle
He responded
"Thanks ?? "
 

[overtherainbow]

goodraven, I've read repeatedly that you can shed virus (be contagious) for 1-2 days before you show symptoms of flu, and continue to shed virus up to 7 days after symptoms begin (longer, up to 10 days, if you're a kid).  Of course I can't find a single link at this time with my tragically slow service.

I think the deal with the swab test is that this can test for flu type A, but can't give you a subtype.  H1N1 is a subtype.  For this you have to send the sample to a state lab (is this right?) or CDC lab.  Or a WHO lab.  I've also seen "regional lab."

Yeah, that was interesting about the cases in Illinois.  Sorry, I don't know anything about Delaware.  If I come across anything, I'll post.