Swine Flu Outbreak Precautions Begin

Operation USA, a Los Angeles-based disaster relief agency, announced that it was sending tens of thousands of N-95 biohazard protective masks to a network of community clinics in San Diego County along with latex gloves and other protective gear in the event that the airborne version of the H1N1 virus, or Swine Flu, crosses the US-Mexico border. This is in response to an urgent appeal from the Washington, D.C.-based National Association of Community Health Centers.

The relief group is withholding in its Los Angeles warehouses tens of thousands more masks and other paraphernalia in case they are needed in the Los Angeles area.

This may sound highly dramatic but in reality this type of preparedness activity is beginning to unfold across the USA and in many other countries.

We do not yet know the lethality of this particular strain or mix of animal and human viruses, but it appears at first glance less deadly than the "bird flu" virus which caused over 250 deaths in Asia over the past 5 years and decimated tens of millions of chickens and ducks in Asian countries where they are an important part of the food supply. That virus rarely "jumped species" from animal to man and it was never airborne.

The Swine Flu variant we are facing appears to be far more easily transmissible from animal and human to other humans. The early evidence shows it was able to travel to the U.S. and Europe inside the lungs of passengers returning home from Mexico.

We need to follow a series of simple steps regarding hygiene, avoiding crowds and reporting the onset of any flu-like illnesses early-on. For California's 8+ million medically uninsured, local clinics and public health authorities will be available to screen new cases of flu at little or no cost. Should anti-virals be needed, they are being provided from federal and state stockpiles if pharmacies run out.

Self medication with other medication in lieu of a medical exam is not advised as you may lose the 72 hour window where Tamiflu and Relenza are effective against this type of Swine Flu.

Above all, follow the news closely -- especially messages from the US Centers For Disease Control.

Comments

[cfarer43]

THINK FAST!!
A study published today in the Journal of the American Medical Association indicates that TAMIFLU-resistant flu does not make people any more or less sick. But researchers say they're still in dark as to why TAMIFLU-resistant infections are on the rise. A whopping 98 percent of this year's circulating H1N1 flu strains are IMMUNE to TAMIFLU, compared with only 12 percent during the 2007-2008 flu season.

The trend is alarming enough that Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) officials have been huddling for the past week to consider whether to adjust the composition of the federal pandemic flu drug stockpile, of which 40 million treatment courses (80 percent) is TAMIFLU, says Robin Robinson, director of the Biomedical Advance Research and Development Authority (BARDA), an HHS arm that manages the stockpile.

[Eva Adams]

"Avoid unnecessary kissing" was official advice on German TV report today to prevent spread of swine flu. What's necessary kissing?

[whoopingcrone]

True Facts

[wolverine442]

I work in a west LA hospital, Almost every pharmacy contacted today in west LA was out of both Tamiflu and Relenza. It is being rationed by the wholesalers at this point. 12 courses per pharmacy per week we were told as of 11am today.

[hofwatch]

The public isn't aware that millions of rapid, accurate flu tests are available in most labs around the U.S. The rapid test can't prove a patient is infected with Swine Flu, but within 20 minutes it can prove whether or not the patient has some type of flu. The way it is being done now, patient specimens are sent away to labs which take 4-5 days to find out if is the Swine Flu, Meanwhile the patient is often left untreated because the antiviral drugs need to be started within the first 48 hours. Many other countries are using these rapid flu tests to identify, treat, and track flu victims. Meanwhile millions of our flu test kits sit on lab shelves.

[SunDriedTomato]

As of 9:30 this morning, we officially have influenza at our house. Doctors here don't want anyone with flu coming into their offices and they aren't collecting cultures (just numbers) unless there is an unusual cluster of cases or definite contact with known swine flu. Wash your hands, folks.

[RichardWalden]

So far, Tamiflu and Relenza are effective against this flu---moderating symptoms when administered within 72 hours after becoming ill....and in keeping the flu at bay when taken prophylactically for 10 days. Obviously, viruses mutate and over a period of time, this one may as well....making flu vaccine production an urgent priority....one which takes a few months at minimum.

[ObamaSheeple]

"Tamiflu and Relenza are effective against this flu"

Where is your evidence? Their effectiveness is dubious at best. And yes, there are plenty of studies that show its ineffectiveness, especially against avian flu.

[Idytme]

Is tamiflu resistant to this? Because in report after report across the world most flues these days are resistant to tamiflu. Even in place like Sweden (I think, maybe Norway) where it is not used regularly. So lets get the true facts on Tamiflu and this outbreak.