EagleTribune.com, North Andover, MA
Special Features
H1N1 Update
Published: October 22, 2009
H1N1 UPDATES
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Swine flu scams lurk on the Internet, FDA warns
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.
Bogus products include devices and sprays that claim to sterilize the air or surfaces, and dietary supplements claiming to boost the immune system. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration says it even has found fake Tamiflu being sold online without a prescription.
Officials say the problem has grown in recent weeks as vaccine is delayed and real Tamiflu continues to be reserved for only the sickest flu patients.
Fraudulent products emerged shortly after swine flu did last spring — about 10 a day, said Alyson Saben, head of a swine flu consumer fraud team the U.S. Food and Drug Administration formed. That slowed over the summer as the flu abated, but lately “we are seeing new sites pop up,” she said.
Most worrisome: sites claiming to sell Tamiflu directly to consumers. The FDA bought and tested five such products. One contained powdered talc and generic Tylenol — no Tamiflu. Several others contained some Tamiflu but were not approved for sale in the U.S.
“We have no idea of the conditions under which they were manufactured. They could contain contaminated, counterfeit, impure or subpotent or superpotent ingredients,” Saben said.
Tamiflu and Relenza are the only drugs recommended for treating swine flu.
Weekly update from the CDC
During the week of October 4-10, influenza activity continued to increase in the United States as reported in FluView. Flu activity is now widespread in 41 states.
Visits to doctors for influenza-like illness (ILI) continued to increase in the United States, and overall, are higher than what is expected for this time of the year. ILI activity now is equal to or higher than what is seen at the peak of many regular flu seasons.
Total influenza hospitalization rates for laboratory-confirmed flu are climbing and are higher than expected for this time of year.
The proportion of deaths attributed to pneumonia and influenza (P&I) based on the 122 Cities Report has increased and exceeds what is normally expected at this time of year. In addition, 11 flu-related pediatric deaths were reported this week; 10 of these deaths were confirmed 2009 H1N1, and one was influenza A virus, but unsubtyped. Since April 2009, there have been 86 confirmed pediatric 2009 H1N1 deaths; 39 of these have been reported to CDC since August 30, 2009.
Fourty-one states are reporting widespread influenza activity at this time. They are: Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Texas, Tennessee, Utah, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and Wyoming. This many reports of widespread activity are unprecedented during seasonal flu.
Almost all of the influenza viruses identified so far are 2009 H1N1 influenza A viruses. These viruses remain similar to the virus chosen for the 2009 H1N1 vaccine, and remain susceptible to the antiviral drugs oseltamivir and zanamivir with rare exception.
Andover to host info. session on H1N1 virus
State and local officials will answer questions from residents about the H1N1 virus, or swine flu, during an information session scheduled for tonight (Oct. 21) in Andover. Click here to read more.
Challenges remain for North Andover girl who survived swine flu
Cassandra Dupont wore her first black eye like a badge of honor.
A stray elbow in karate class was nothing compared to challenges the 13-year-old had already overcome, medical hurdles lined up one after another since the day she was born.
Cassie's mother calls her a miracle. Her doctors call her a princess. But above all, everyone who knows Cassie calls her a fighter.
Her last fight nearly killed her. It came in the form of the H1N1 virus. Click here to read more.
Links to stories relating to
the outbreak of swine flu
NH releases swine flu vaccination plan
CONCORD, N.H. (AP) — Pregnant women, young children with medical conditions and health care providers who have direct contact with patients will be the first people vaccinated against swine flu in New Hampshire.
Gov. John Lynch and the state's public health director said Thursday that they expect New Hampshire to receive 190,000 doses of vaccine in early October, followed by another 80,000 a few weeks later. Public Health Director Jose Montero says that will be enough to cover all those most at risk within four to six weeks, and after that, the vaccine will be available to the next level of those at risk: healthy people under age 24, all other health care workers and parents of young children.
The vaccine for the regular seasonal flu already is available.
Prevention, isolation, vaccination are keys to combating an outbreak
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention expects the highly contagious H1N1 virus, known as swine flu, to bear down on New England within weeks, and health officials are scrambling to prepare for the worst while hoping for the best. However, the vaccine for the H1N1 virus ... Click here to read more
| US Influenza and Pneumonia-associated hospitalizations and deaths, Aug. 30 to Sept. 19 |
||
|---|---|---|
| Cases | Hospitalizations | Deaths |
| Influenza and Pneumonia Syndrome | 8,392 | 822 |
| Influenza Laboratory-Tests | 1,690 | 114 |
| Total | 10,082 | 936 |
| Source: http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/updates/us/ | ||
What is 2009 H1N1 Influenza?
Is 2009 H1N1 virus contagious?
CDC has determined that 2009 H1N1 virus is contagious and is spreading from human to human.
How does 2009 H1N1 virus spread?
Spread of 2009 H1N1 virus is thought to occur in the same way that seasonal flu spreads. Flu viruses are spread mainly from person to person through coughing or sneezing by people with influenza. Sometimes people may become infected by touching something — such as a surface or object — with flu
What are the signs and symptoms of this virus in people?
The symptoms of 2009 H1N1 flu virus in people include fever, cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, body aches, headache, chills and fatigue. A significant number of people who have been infected with this virus also have reported diarrhea and vomiting. Severe illnesses and death has occurred as a result of illness associated with this virus.
How severe is illness associated with 2009 H1N1 flu virus?
Illness with the new H1N1 virus has ranged from mild to severe. While most people who have been sick have recovered without needing medical treatment, hospitalizations and deaths from infection with this virus have occurred.
How does 2009 H1N1 flu compare to seasonal flu in terms of its severity and infection rates?
With seasonal flu, we know that seasons vary in terms of timing, duration and severity. Seasonal influenza can cause mild to severe illness, and at times can lead to death. Each year, in the United States, on average 36,000 people die from flu-related complications and more than 200,000 people are hospitalized from flu-related causes. Of those hospitalized, 20,000 are children younger than 5 years old. Over 90% of deaths and about 60 percent of hospitalization occur in people older than 65.
When the 2009 H1N1 outbreak was first detected in mid-April 2009, CDC began working with states to collect, compile and analyze information regarding the 2009 H1N1 flu outbreak, including the numbers of confirmed and probable cases and the ages of these people. The information analyzed by CDC supports the conclusion that 2009 H1N1 flu has caused greater disease burden in people younger than 25 years of age than older people. At this time, there are few cases and few deaths reported in people older than 64 years old, which is unusual when compared with seasonal flu. However, pregnancy and other previously recognized high risk medical conditions from seasonal influenza appear to be associated with increased risk of complications from this 2009 H1N1. These underlying conditions include asthma, diabetes, suppressed immune systems, heart disease, kidney disease, neurocognitive and neuromuscular disorders and pregnancy.
How long can an infected person spread this virus to others?
People infected with seasonal and 2009 H1N1 flu shed virus and may be able to infect others from 1 day before getting sick to 5 to 7 days after. This can be longer in some people, especially children and people with weakened immune systems and in people infected with the new H1N1 virus.
Source: http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/qa.htm
