We aren't quite done with this particular flu outbreak. The 2009 H1N1 pandemic (aka swine flu) is declining in most places in the US (not in New England yet, but that will come) and we have no idea whether there will be a third wave in spring (maybe), or whether lower amounts of H1N1...
New CDC Estimates Of Swine Flu Cases
From CDC Thursday on a new estimate of United States cases:
The Numbers
CDC estimates that between 14 million and 34 million cases of 2009
H1N1 occurred between April and October 17, 2009. The mid-level in
this range is about 22 million people infected with 2009 H1N1.CDC...
H1N1: More Illness, A Bit More Vaccine, Bruised Intentions
There are several really good flu pieces in the NY Times from the last few days. One set of stories is on the issue of vaccine distribution, including this one:
Citigroup has received 1,200 doses, more than half of what it requested, health officials said, and in late October, Goldman received 200...
Wall Street At Front Of The Line For H1N1 Vaccine
Today, Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW) asked Health and Human Service (HHS) Secretary Kathleen Sebelius to investigate why the Center for Disease Control (CDC) approved the distribution of the H1NI vaccine to Wall Street firms at a time when the vaccine is unavailable to most Americans.
...
The Hajj and H1N1: Pilgrimage During a Pandemic
Filed under: Religion, Health Care, Woman Up, International
By some estimates, the hajj is the single largest, annual gathering in the world; the pilgrimage of Muslims to Mecca attracts between 2 and 3 million visitors from all over the globe. But this...Isn’t That Sweet?
Sometimes we need to just step back and remember that politicians, yes, even Republican politicians, are just like the rest of us; people who love their children and whose first concern is for their health:
... Rep. John Culberson among hundreds of people lined up to get the swine flu vaccine at...
Interview with Bruce Gellin, Director, National Vaccine Program Office (HHS)
As 2009 H1N1 (the virus formerly known as swine flu) continues to spread (that's what pandemic viruses do), vaccine remains in short supply but is starting to be administered to high risk patients and health care workers with direct patient contact. Among the weekend flu stories are the proactive administrative move of declaring...
Flu Data Shows Concerned Health Officials, Skeptical Public
It's hard to ignore the concern in the wording of the latest weekly CDC flu update.
The influenza-like illness that we track with our ILInet sentinel provider system is showing higher levels of illness than we saw last week. Again, these are unprecedented levels of illness. The national average is about 6.1%...
Pandemic Influenza: 2009 H1N1 And The Peak of The Second Wave?
From the Free Dictionary:
pan·dem·ic (pn-dmk) adj.
- Widespread; general.
- Medicine Epidemic over a wide geographic area and affecting a large proportion of the population: pandemic influenza.
June 11, 2009, Margaret Chan, Director General of the World Health Organization:
On the basis of available evidence,...
Glenn Beck And The Fringe View Of Pandemic Flu
Pandemic flu in particular, and public health in general, is a subject I hate to see politicized. Up until now, only Dick Armey has been foolish enough to do so. Armey's schtick was this:
"In September or October there will be a hyped up outbreak of the swine flu which they’ll say...
