WHO warns of severe form of swine flu

[Fire_Medic_Dave]

Source: Reuters

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Doctors are reporting a severe form of swine flu that goes straight to the lungs, causing severe illness in otherwise healthy young people and requiring expensive hospital treatment, the World Health Organization said on Friday.

Some countries are reporting that as many as 15 percent of patients infected with the new H1N1 pandemic virus need hospital care, further straining already overburdened healthcare systems, WHO said in an update on the pandemic.

"During the winter season in the southern hemisphere, several countries have viewed the need for intensive care as the greatest burden on health services," it said.

"Preparedness measures need to anticipate this increased demand on intensive care units, which could be overwhelmed by a sudden surge in the number of severe cases."

Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20090828/hl_nm/us_flu_pandem...

[WVRICK13]

1. Sure Is A Great Time

to kill health insurance for all.

[caseymoz]

18. One of the only consolations, actually, could be that it will help health care reform.

Especially if paranoid conservatives refuse the shot and get collectively, very sick.

[Lasher]

2. This is some serious shit, Dave.

It just might fizzle out. But then again it might not and I think there's a lot of folks who don't realize what that could mean.

[aquart]

4. This is why it is being watched so carefully

[jwirr]

17. When I look at the ROSE emergency maps it is obviously that this

is already a problem for the rest of the world. Asia and Africa especially. I do not agree with the people who are saying this is a hoax because a pandemic is universal not just the USA. And with today's travel it can happen here to. Better safe than sorry.

[laborinvain]

21. As Misreported As THis Story Has Been

I'll take two grains of salt with this piece.

Remember when a thousand people had died and then, oh wait, only like, nine?

If the initial reporting of the swine flu reporting wasn't a psyop, it may as well have been. If nothing else it was a nice distraction from that big bank robbery we had at the same time. You know, the one where all the top banks robbed us of about 13 trillion?

[Lasher]

23. Yes, I saw that downthread.

Mighty fine detective work by kestrel91316. Looks like some reporter manufactured a breaking development.

The hype notwithstanding, this virus has potential to get really bad.

[emilyg]

3. ty

[Chemisse]

5. Hmm, I read yesterday that the CDC is worried that people are not taking the threat seriously

Now today I read that suddenly there is a 'severe form' of swine flu.

Actually I really am concerned about it, but can't turn off my strong sense of skepticism. For one thing, they say that 15 percent are hospitalized with the flu. But if they don't test all the mild cases, then how do they have any clue? So is it 15 percent of all the cases that merited testing? And those that merited testing was what - 10 percent of all cases maybe?

[stray cat]

10. Kind of like DU - the good news is at least 15% of DUers are likely to get first hand knowledge

[northernlights]

14. It's the WHO that is reporting the severe cases, not CDC

and it is in the southern hemisphere, where it is now flu season, that the severe cases are now turning up.

The WHO stopped requiring testing and individual reporting from countries that have such a high incidence that it was becoming a major burden. I'm sure that they are sufficiently sophisticated in their epidemiology and statistical reporting to get reasonably accurate figures.

The severe cases are not really a surprise. A research team reported back in July that the virus had the ability to infect the lungs, which is one of the things that differentiates it from seasonal flu.

The ability to infect the lungs is a key characteristic shared by virulent flu strains.

Swine Flu: H1N1 Virus More Dangerous Than Suspected, Except To Survivors Of The 1918 Pandemic Flu Virus. ScienceDaily (July 14, 2009) URL at: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/07/0907132122...

[jberryhill]

20. Eventually, you are going to have to consider whether....

1. The WHO and CDC are in on some con game, or

2. The WHO and CDC are staffed by earnest medical researchers and biologists who are concerned about public health.

Your pick.

[dixiegrrrrl]

25. Ever read " And the Band Played On"?

Part of it covered all the political infighting and fact fudging at the CDC. ( over AIDS).

The problem is, for various reasons, I find I can't trust any organization, be it NGO, or government.
Even AARP sold out to the insurance cabal.

[jberryhill]

29. Yes, I Have Read It...

...and its relevance in this context escapes me.

It does suggest that policy would be better informed by science than dogma.

"I find I can't trust any organization"

...which is precisely why idiot policymakers ignore scientific findings, and prefer their prejudices, as you prefer yours.

[kimmerspixelated]

30. Exactly!

[robcon]

22. I'm not taking the threat seriously.

Crying "wolf" too often.

[kestrel91316]

6. Direct link to the WHO's statement:

http://www.who.int/csr/disease/swineflu/notes/h1n1_seco...

I prefer to read what CDC and WHO actually say, rather than some MSM twit's interpretation of it, lol. Just as a matter of personal preference.......

[Chemisse]

8. Ahh, that is different from the news story

It says,

During the winter season in the southern hemisphere, several countries have viewed the need for intensive care as the greatest burden on health services. Some cities in these countries report that nearly 15 percent of hospitalized cases have required intensive care.

[ArcticFox]

9. Good idea - Reuters article misleads

From the link you gave:

"Close monitoring of viruses by a WHO network of laboratories shows that viruses from all outbreaks remain virtually identical. Studies have detected no signs that the virus has mutated to a more virulent or lethal form."

Reading through the entire WHO article, it simply confirms what was already known. This is more severe than seasonal influenza.

Reuters report of "a severe form of swine flu that goes straight to the lungs" seems to imply the opposite of what WHO says (i.e., that the virus has changed and become scarier).

I wish all this fear-mongering would just stop.

[caseymoz]

16. WHO site never said or implied that the virus has changed.

It does say here that there's a more serious course the infection could take, attacking the lungs directly. Presumably, it usually starts in the upper respiratory passages, diffuses to the rest of the body, and consequently spreads to the lungs, which means the lungs are attacked when the body's immune system is already fully mobilized. A different course of attack does not imply a change in the virus itself.

What was news to me is that it is attacking younger adults in higher numbers:

"To date, most severe cases and deaths have occurred in adults under the age of 50 years, with deaths in the elderly comparatively rare. This age distribution is in stark contrast with seasonal influenza, where around 90% of severe and fatal cases occur in people 65 years of age or older."

Even so, from what I could see so far, the death rate on this isn't too much higher than the seasonal flu, but it is much more contagious.

[Fire_Medic_Dave]

12. Thanks for posting it.

[northernlights]

15. aha...thanks Kestrel nt

[rocktivity]

7. Maybe that's what Rachel Maddow had.

She spoke of sleeping through Tuesday under the influence of Tamiflu.


rocktivity

[stray cat]

11. Almost certainly - the seasonal flu is not circulating in the US currently

if its flu - its almost certainly H1N1 as you don't get Tamiflu for most other things.

[Chemisse]

13. Yeah the WHO site confirms that

Saying,

Evidence from multiple outbreak sites demonstrates that the H1N1 pandemic virus has rapidly established itself and is now the dominant influenza strain in most parts of the world. The pandemic will persist in the coming months as the virus continues to move through susceptible populations.

[Lasher]

24. Tamiflu is prescribed for exposure to hepatitis

My doctor prescribed it for me after I rendered first aid to young man who had the virus.

[Indenturedebtor]

19. That's nothing... keep an eye out for the Turduckin virus.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Turducken

As we all know it is the close proximity of different domesticated animals that provides the best environment for lethal viral strains to develop.

I personally think that we should all keep a sharp eye out for the Turducken virus!

[oct2010]

26. not to mention the "I am legend" outbreak from untested flu shots produced for dumbasses

Only Will Smith can save us;
http://www.imdb.com/video/imdb/vi3820028185 /

[Indenturedebtor]

27. My Wife is utterly convinced that before we die the brain eating zombies will appear

I'm about 50/50 on the prospect.

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

28. Hmmm.

[Indenturedebtor]

31. Hahahahahahah perfect :D n/t

[DCKit]

32. My MIL was hospitalized in El Salvador for three weeks last month....

And it took another three before she was strong enough to resume her usual activities.

The Dr.s say is was simple pneumonia, but I thought it might be H1N1 from the get-go.