Swine Flu in Idaho (Mountain Home, Star: campers, centers, eat)

[Mtn. States Resident]

When I first saw a headline about this a few days ago, I didn't post it as I wanted to see if there would be other articles stating the same information. Now, there are several.

The subject, of course, is important as this is the second time A/H1N1 has jumped species from a human to swine. We who worry about recombination of the molecular pieces and what new "material" may be added or changed from these species jumps, are concerned when we see headlines like these.

"Argentine workers suspected of passing flu to pigs"

Argentine workers suspected of passing flu to pigs | Reuters

and

"Argentine Herd Infected with H1N1"

Argentine Herd Infected with H1N1***Pork - Industry News


I thought of your earlier questions, pimit2, about what is going on. Looks like some residents in the U.S. are not the only ones wondering. (And I haven't forgotten my promise to get back to you when I have time, as I said I would. Just a few complicating details in my life currently.) That time will come sometime in the near future.

"Argentines question government as flu spreads"

Argentines question government as flu spreads | Reuters


So my questions for everyone are these: Should we as U.S. Citizens be asking questions of our governments instead of just accepting the updates as given? If so, at what levels should we be asking? Do you think these are questions for local - city/county officials, or state officials or federal officials, or all of them, or none? Realistically, if you wanted to start asking questions seeing that A/H1N1 is now starting to take the lives of many more in the NE part of the U.S., the border states and other countries around the world, whom do you think we should ask?

Is this a question for the Idaho elected congressional members? Does it go to Health and Human Services? If you are going to start to question the U.S. response to this infection, where do you think Idaho residents are most likely to get the best available answers?

I look forward to the thoughts of those who are concerned that A/H1N1 is not going away, there won't be enough vaccination for everyone, and the U.S. is worried about how severe it will be in the fall. Your opinions and thoughts matter here. What do you think?

Stay safe and do prepare for more infections in the U.S. Hopefully, they will be mild.

Take care, Prepare and Be Aware of A/H1N1 as it is changing and infecting thousands more each week.

MSR

[Mtn. States Resident]

From KPVI,

"Swine Flu Cases Continue to Rise in Southeast Idaho,"

Swine Flu Cases Continue to Rise in Southeast Idaho - KPVI NEWS 6: Pocatello, Idaho Falls-Weather, Sports, News-

I'm disappointed they didn't make the link of the 8 most southeastern counties in Idaho and the closeness to one of the nation's hottest hotspots, UT. However, I am not surprised to see the number of cases start to increase now. The incubation period, or at least when people feel sick enough to seek help, is often longer than what many use to believe.

It will be interesting to see what Idaho's count is with the CDC this week, although that data ended last week, so it appears there are already more cases, at least in the southeastern part of Idaho.

Please don't assume this won't happen to you or someone you know. Please prepare for what you would need to have at home for a severe flu. Hopefully, most cases will be mild-moderate and not require hospitalization.

I dread to see the first tourist from YNP start demonstrating symptoms in about 10-14 more days, given MT's press release when they announced more cases in south Montana.

Take care of yourselves, Prepare and Stay Aware about A/H1N1.

MSR

[Mtn. States Resident]

First U.S.-reported Tamiflu resistant A/H1N1 case.


This is worth reading as a different type of "Swine Flu," is being questioned.

Officials to step up swine flu resistance testing - Swine flu- msnbc.com

Anyone been to San Franciscio recently?

While it is true Relenza is also used to treat bad influenzas, ask your healthcare provider about how that drug is administered and you'll understand better why we all should be watching when the oral medication used front line is now failing in at least 3 cases around the world. I believe there are more, I personally don't think they've all been reported as being Tamiflu-resistent yet.

I encourage you to watch and listen to new info from the CDC as they've requested samples from the Tamiflu-resistant patients for further study. Information allows one to make better decisions.

Please take care of yourselves and those who matter to you!

And Prepare and Stay Aware about A/H1N1 as it appears a lot of factors may be chaning.

MSR

[Mtn. States Resident]

It's Wednesday and the latest UT M and M report is out for UT. Since being such a hotbed, or mini-epicenter, of A/H1N1 activity and since so many Idaho residents travel to UT weekly, I watch these numbers very closely. Plus, as pimit2 pointed out a while ago, tourist season is here and it is nice to know what people in other states may have been exposed to as they arrive in your special areas of ID.

It looks like the newspapers don't even have articles written yet, so I'll go with the best headline I can find at the moment. I personally am sadden to see it, but not surprised.

Swine Flu: Four More Swine Flu Deaths Reported in Utah - KSTU

Four more deaths in UT to A/H1N1 for a total of 14 and a total hospitalization count of 268 patients.

I'm also aware of a CA man who died in UT this week from A/H1N1 as he was air-lifted from a NV hospital to Salt Lake City. I don't know if his death is included in these numbers or not.

My condolences to the families of those who lost their lives to a virus many are still dismissing.

Remember, UT will look low on the CDC numbers, as the state lab stopped processing samples after the first 700 cases, or so, given the over-whelming number of infected patients. Now, only new hospitalized cases and/or deaths are included in the growing number of cases reported.

I won't share what I said when I saw the headline. Sage would probably ban me from the forum. Just know I believe there is a much longer incubation period in some people. My personal belief, and I actually saw published literature last night that some others are agreeing with me, is in adults, for some reason there are mild symptoms (or symptoms so mild people don't think they are sick) for the first two weeks. The very dangerous week, from my own personal observations, is week #3. Something seems to happen.

I don't claim to know what, but I've been worried about more UT deaths last week and this week, given information I wish I could share, but can't. I just knew the timeframe of when a group of people were accidentally exposed to a person who didn't know s/he had A/H1N1 at the time, and lost his/her life to the virus. Others didn't know to take precautions as once again, the weeks of exposure until the patient became very ill were several weeks, not 1-3 or even 1-7 days.

Please pay attention to this and don't think, "it can't happen in my family," due to whatever reasons one may think. A/H1N1 is the great leveler. It knows no difference in what area of town someone lives or what type of vehicle one drives. Exposure to sick patients, or people who later test positive for the virus, and people not practicing preventive measures to protect themselves, is what matters the most.

PLEASE, TAKE PRECAUTIONS WITH YOURSELVES, YOUR FAMILIES/FRIENDS, and WORKERS.

MSR

[Mtn. States Resident]

Props to Channel 8 in Idaho Falls for watching UT the last few weeks as well. Other Idaho Falls media had opportunities to see very detailed information and turned it down several weeks ago.

From KIFI, it is the AP post, nonetheless, Idaho residents looking at Idaho news outlets, can find this on KIFI.


"Utah officials report 14 swine flu-related deaths"

Utah officials report 14 swine flu-related deaths - KIFI - Idaho Falls, Pocatello, Jackson WY - Weather News Sports-

I feel a little better every time I see Idaho media watching this virus too. Hopefully, more people will prepare for it, so if they do become infected, they will have milder cases.

Keep checking KIFI, as KPVI did report more cases in southeastern ID. I simply do not understand, given the state lines, how at some of those people weren't infected either by traveling to UT, or having people from UT, who may not have known they had very mild cases of A/H1N1 traveling through the area.

I encourage ALL MEDIA to start watching numbers for bordering states a lot more closely.

MSR

[norcalmom101]

Vaccines: Mandatory Swine Flu Vaccine Risks

[Mtn. States Resident]

Originally Posted by norcalmom101

Vaccines: Mandatory Swine Flu Vaccine Risks

There are some really interesting topics in that link, NCM. Thanks for posting.

I'd say more, but I still owe poor pimit2 a personal dm about some of this stuff. However, Bob may benefit from reading what you posted.

The one comment, which is repeated over and over again - I heard it yesterday from a physician in charge of infection control where he practices - are the stats about regular flu vs. how many are dying now from A/H1N1. We were talking about which states had deaths and how he believes now he has had A/H1N1.


Once he become that honest with me, we did talk about the ongoing deaths and how deaths do stop in regular flu season. Also, as everyone knows this is not the Americas/EU etc. flu season.

We do become very concerned when normally healthy people die from this virus, we are worried about mutation and how changes occur so rapidly.

We also both acknolwedged the over-whelming flood of emails, special news bulletines etc. sent by various medical societiess, medical associations etc. worried about what will happen in our flu season, given the number of deaths we've seen so far in the "off-season."

While your post entails so much more, NCM, some of which looks absolutely frightening to me (and I'm not talking A/H1N1 as I'm positive like my MD colleague from yesterday, given my exposure, I've had it as well), I had no idea that Gov't officials could close meeting places etc. due to exposure. I knew medical officers could and we saw that maybe 3-4 years ago in Malad when, during regular flu season, a local physician in Malad, essentially closed the town and had people stay home so the spread would stop.

Thanks for posting this info, NCM. Lots of info for those who want to read, abstract of what is really said in the article and think about our future.

Take care of yourself, your kids and friends, NCM.

MSR

[Mtn. States Resident]

The latest CDC update today. This time it is New Jersey who didn't check in with full data as that state is starting to have a lot of deaths.

For any who have been following this thread, you know I posted about those stupid and I do mean stupid "parties" many in NJ were having to expose their kids to this virus now. I hope those aren't the deaths in NJ.

Here is the CDC info, without any subsets of info, for now. But, please feel free to look at the other graphs as some stories are being told. I simply have time constraints right now that I can't post about them.

CDC H1N1 Flu | CDC H1N1 Flu Update: U.S. Human Cases of H1N1 Flu Infection

I believe I counted 21 states with deaths. Looks like OR and WA have stopped having more deaths this week. HOwever, we'll have to see if that trend continues as UT reported none last week and 4 this week and will be reporting more next week.

Everyone, please don't blow this virus off. Regardless othat 36K usually die in flu season, they are who we expect to die. This virus is killing people we don't expect to die.

Take care, Prepare and Be Aware of Updates about A/H1N1.

MSR

[pimit2]

Thank you for the interesting link, NCM. And thank you again, MSR, for your regular updates, concerns and suggestions.

I have faithfully taken a flu shot each fall in my later years. During those years, I have not had the flu (knock on wood). However, it has always been my choice, not someone elses, although my doctor - who knows about my health and medication intake - recommends it. Being "forced" to take a flu vaccination with a vaccine that is brand new and has had only limited assurance testing doesn't make me happy. The fact that this edict may come from the government only makes it worse.

I love my country, but recent actions and failures by the government make me apprehensive. These are the same people who cannot keep my food clean and safe....even though I give them money to make sure of it. How certain can I be that a quickly prepared A/H1N1 vaccine is safe for me?


pimit2 (Bob)

[Mtn. States Resident]

Originally Posted by pimit2

Thank you for the interesting link, NCM. And thank you again, MSR, for your regular updates, concerns and suggestions.

I have faithfully taken a flu shot each fall in my later years. During those years, I have not had the flu (knock on wood). However, it has always been my choice, not someone elses, although my doctor - who knows about my health and medication intake - recommends it. Being "forced" to take a flu vaccination with a vaccine that is brand new and has had only limited assurance testing doesn't make me happy. The fact that this edict may come from the government only makes it worse.

I love my country, but recent actions and failures by the government make me apprehensive. These are the same people who cannot keep my food clean and safe....even though I give them money to make sure of it. How certain can I be that a quickly prepared A/H1N1 vaccine is safe for me?


pimit2 (Bob)

Pimit2,

Nothing got by you in the post from NCM. There are some really frightening actions that could occur, and it seems like you and I mentioned two of them.

I don't want Sage to move this thread elsewhere - maybe in a year after we've all gotten through 2009-10 and the second wave of A/H1N1- but not before then. Regardless of who else visits this thread, I go back and look at information I posted, what was thought about treatment, incubation etc. at that point in wave one of A/H1N1. I do know others making decisions about patient care have visited as well. I hope it can be a resource for anyone who wants.

So let me carefully phrase what I write, as I do care how well or not Idaho residents are and whether or not info about A/H1N1 is shared. I also care that Idaho residents continue to enjoy other freedoms valued in Idaho.

Maybe the best thing I can write is a question. For those who have read NCM's post, what do you think we can do to keep our freedoms the closest to what we want, while dealing with a deadly virus?

While many in science in medicine don't think the first wave of A/H1N1 will stop - we'll just keep trickling cases into regular flu season and the big second wave - (which we all are praying doesn't happen. Everyone would love to be wrong about this.), congress does go into recession soon.

Is there anything we can do to emphasize our feelings to our Reps and our Senators? I'd better to leave it at that and hope others will either start a new thread (cross-referencing with this one so all the dots connect), or post suggestions of what they have done to protect themselves, their families, friends and others from A/H1N1 while making sure others are aware what decisions others may be making for us.

Please post if you have suggestions.

Meanwhile, great point Bob. I hope others will read and think about your well-selected words.

Take care everyone.

MSR