Pandemic Plan

Swine flu ICU cases in UK double in one week

2010-12-20T23:15:23-06:00

In the U.K., the number of flu patients in intensive care has doubled in a week to 190, according to the Daily Mail. The 17 most seriously-ill patients are on highly-specialized heart-lung machines known as ExtraCorporeal Membrane Oxygenation (ECMO) units – three times the usual number. Even at the height of the swine flu pandemic last year only 12 of...

Dr. Niman: Is D225G in severe swine flu?

2010-12-16T23:52:00-06:00

Concerning the surge in severe suspected swine flu cases in parts of Europe, Dr. Henry Niman suggests it may indicate that D225G or other receptor binding domain changes are on the rise. Last season the acquisition of D225G was linked to severe and fatal cases, but the level of D225G in circulation was relatively low. However, the virus with D225G...

In parts of UK, severe swine flu already is worse than last year

2010-12-15T23:33:28-06:00

In the UK, while general levels of suspected swine flu seem low, a surge in severe cases already exceeds the peak levels of last year in some areas ... and has medical leaders worried they can't handle the potential caseload. Already, 15 patients have died and more than 100 are in intensive care. From The Independent: Intensive care specialists said...

It's too soon to talk about the pandemic in the past tense

2010-01-02T23:13:00-06:00

Suddenly, there seems to be a public perception that the H1N1 swine flu pandemic is over. At least, that's the sense I get within the U.S. public. It's thankfully true that instead of officially having "widespread" flu activity nationwide in the U.S., only four states reported "widespread" activity last week, down from seven the week before. However, outpatient medical visits...

A swine flu mutation worth watching - D225G

2009-11-29T23:33:00-06:00

Flu viruses are known to be imprecise when they replicate, with the result being mutations or changes in the genetics of the "offspring" viruses. When a change like this happens, a copy of the virus suddenly has a new trait. The new trait may be good for the virus (makes it better able to thrive, spread, reproduce). Or it may...

CIDRAP to hold business pandemic prep summit

2009-08-28T20:55:00-05:00

The Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy (CIDRAP) at the University of Minnesota is conducting another summit on pandemic preparedness for businesses on September 22 and 23 in Minneapolis. From the summit's announcement: It's not too late to get some very crucial and practical preparedness planning completed and implemented in your organization. But time is of the essence. No...

Europe anticipates surge in swine flu; triggered by schools?

2009-08-28T20:15:00-05:00

From Reuters: Health authorities across Europe are bracing for a third of their populations to become infected with the new swine flu virus this autumn, but do not plan to close schools or take other drastic measures to stop it. Instead, they plan to educate people about hygiene, get vaccines out as soon as possible, and hope the H1N1 pandemic...

WHO: Asia is way short of H1N1 swine flu vaccine

2009-08-25T20:57:00-05:00

Asia is going to be way short of the new H1N1 vaccine to fight swine flu when the next surge of infections hits during the cold season this year, a spokesman for the World Health Organization (WHO) has told Reuters. "Nowhere is ready ... there is going to be massive underproduction of vaccines as compared to the needs and demand,"...

The pandemic and the economy

2009-08-23T14:34:00-05:00

From an article in the Dallas (TX) Morning News regarding the impact of the recession on pandemic planning: The question of whether North Texas is prepared for a possible onslaught of H1N1 flu is inextricably linked to the state of the American economy. In an era of continuous cost cutting, is your bank going to spring for bottles of hand...

U.S. tells businesses, let workers with flu STAY HOME

2009-08-19T23:40:00-05:00

U.S. officials Wednesday repeated for the jillionth time some key guidelines for how businesses should respond to the H1N1 swine flu pandemic. Highlights: ENCOURAGE employees with the flu to STAY HOME at the first sign of illness. It's best for the worker; it's best for co-workers. Don't request written doctor's excuses. That just further burdens a healthcare system that will...