rigorousintuition.ca

I have bad hayfever the past few weeks and today was feeling incredibly exhausted. Feeling spooked about H1N1 which is just beginning to hit LA, I called a close naturopath friend. She gave me some non-allopathic tips on alternative ways to prevent infection. Thought I'd share:

-- Take 1000m of Vitamin D each morning. Best source is cod liver oil, especially if you live north of the 30th parallel (florida panhandle -> so-cal). If you live close to it or south, get lots of sunlight!

-- AKG (derived from shark oil, I believe) is apparently an amazing immune booster but must be taken 3 times daily

-- Homeopathic product called "All-Flu"

-- Glandular of Thymus -- http://www.seacoastvitamins.com/health_ ... le=2916001

-- Glandular of Spleen -- http://www.mothernature.com/shop/detail.cfm/sku/46774

Yes, I'm seeing lots of speculation about the role of vitamin D and flu. but there's probably no reason to be spooked about this one. For 99% of the people who catch it, it is not of any particular risk. I'd be more worried for those who are preggers, buggy.

Remember last spring when several weeks would pass between deaths from the new flu? Well, this swine flu has been living up to its reputation for ease of transmission. High infection rates have resulted in 19 pediatric deaths in the last WEEK, in other words, 19 deaths of those under 18 years of age in one week. It's infecting so fast that I have to wonder if it will run through the population before there's even time to get people vaccinated against it.

http://www.vancouverite.com/2009/10/10/ ... -one-week/

Swine Flu spreads across U.S. like wildfire, 19 kids die in one week
Tagged with: Swine Flu Swine Flu and pediatric deaths Swine Flu hospitalization and child deaths U.S. Swine Flu figures U.S. Swine Flu latest deaths



Swine Flu is spreading like wildfire with the map changing substantially in just one week. Click to enlarge.

By Salim Jiwa

ATLANTA – Swine Flu continues to take its toll on children and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control, CDC, is reporting that 19 more children died in a one-week period.

Of the total 19 pediatric deaths reported to the CDC from across the U.S. 16 tested positive for Swine Flu while three were suffering from unsubtyped Influenza A. But the CDC said the three unsubtyped deaths were also most likely from Swine Flu H1N1 novel virus.

CDC said the 19 child deaths were reported between Sept. 27 and Oct. 3 as influenza and pneumonia rates escalated across the U.S.

The 19 child deaths from Swine Flu in one week is considered very high based on the fact that the total prior to the latest figure being added was 57 since April. The total child deaths now stand at 76.

“The proportion of death attributed to pneumonia and influenza based on the 122 Cities Report has increased and now exceeds what is normally expected at this time of year,” said the CDC in its latest weekly report released Friday.

“In addition, 19 flu-related pediatric deaths were reported this week; 16 of these deaths were confirmed 2009 H1N1 and 3 were unsubtyped influenza A and likely to be 2009 H1N1,” it said.

“A total of 76 laboratory confirmed 2009 H1N1 pediatric deaths have been reported to CDC since April,” it said.

Doctor visits went up across the U.S. for influenza like illness (ILI) and are “higher than levels expected for this time of the year.”

“Total influenza hospitalization rates for laboratory-confirmed influenza are higher than expected for this time of year for adults and children,” it said.

“And for children 5-17 and adults 18-49 years of age, hospitalization rates from April – October 2009 exceed average flu season rates (for October through April),” the report said.

Experts have not answered the question of whether new policies that advocate keeping schools open despite Swine Flu infections have resulted in the higher rates of deaths among children.

Statistics already show that infants have a far higher rate of hospitalizations from Swine Flu. The rate of 3.3 per 10,000 is far higher for infants aged 0 to 23 months than any other age group by a factor of 2 per 10,000.

“Thirty-seven 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, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, South Dakota, Texas, Tennessee, Virginia, Washington, and Wyoming.”

“Any reports of widespread influenza activity in September and October are very unusual,” said the CDC.

“Almost all of the influenza viruses identified so far are 2009 H1N1 influenza A viruses,” the CDC said.

“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,” it said.

From August 30 to Oct. 3, influenza and pneumonia syndrome has resulted in 12,384 hospitalizations and 1544 deaths.

Confirmed influenza cases (most H1N1) requiring hospitalizations were 3,874 with 240 deaths.

The CDC is no longer separating its figures for Swine Flu and since it states that almost all cases of influenza are related to H1N1, it would be fair to conclude that Swine Flu is responsible for most of the illness.

Copyright 2009, Vancouverite News Service.®

Does it seem like there are different strains at work here?

Every time that I hear or read about a number of children who died from contracting H1N1, I notice that there is always a missing piece of information that is helpful for us to know:

did the kids who died receive either a seasonal flu vaccination or a H1H1 one beforehand?

Given this story from Canada, it would be helpful to know if any of them died after receiving either of the two vaccines.

http://www.cbc.ca/health/story/2009/09/ ... sonal.html

But for some strange reason, they don't think that it's important for us to know that.

Eerie.

Alaya asked:

Does it seem like there are different strains at work here

I kind of doubt it. Although the docs aren't testing much at all any more, they do test the ones who need to be hospitalized, and for those people the tests are almost all coming back as this H1N1--not quite 100%, but pretty close.

'Mythbusters' Swine Flu PSA:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dCzbw4or19g

Alaya wrote:Does it seem like there are different strains at work here?

This is kind of a silly question. Of course there are. Did all the other flu strains on the planet take the year off? Considering that the swine flue is in most cases just like all the other flu viruses, doesn't it make more sense that this whole thing is just a scheme to sell vaccines that make us sicker?

so, my employer is going to force me to go on record as accepting or rejecting the vaccine, which is nicer than what's going on in similar situations in New York. but can I get some clarification on the TYPEs of swine flu vaccine out there. There seems to be a nasally inhaled version and two types of injection... correct? My vague feeling is that the inhalant type is reasonably safe? Where are people on the take it don't take it scale on this?

As I think was mentioned in previous pages, this flu IS crowding out the other ones. That does happen with new strains, has happened before, will likely happen again in the future. So, no it's not a silly question.

justdrew wrote:so, my employer is going to force me to go on record as accepting or rejecting the vaccine, which is nicer than what's going on in similar situations in New York. but can I get some clarification on the TYPEs of swine flu vaccine out there. There seems to be a nasally inhaled version and two types of injection... correct? My vague feeling is that the inhalant type is reasonably safe? Where are people on the take it don't take it scale on this?

If you're not in the high-risk populations, and don't have a pregnant wife or kids, why take it? The known risk I have heard of is from the injection and is related to:

Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) (French pronunciation: [ɡiˈlɛ̃ baˈʁe];[1][2] in English, pronounced /ˈɡiːlæn ˈbɑreɪ/,[3] /ɡiːˈlæn bəˈreɪ/,[4] etc.[5]) is an acute inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (AIDP), an autoimmune disorder affecting the peripheral nervous system, usually triggered by an acute infectious process. It is included in the wider group of peripheral neuropathies. There are several types of GBS, but unless otherwise stated, GBS refers to the most common form, AIDP. GBS is rare and has an incidence of 1 or 2 people per 100,000.[6] It is frequently severe and usually exhibits as an ascending paralysis noted by weakness in the legs that spreads to the upper limbs and the face along with complete loss of deep tendon reflexes. With prompt treatment by plasmapheresis or intravenous immunoglobulins and supportive care, the majority of patients will regain full functional capacity. However, death may occur if severe pulmonary complications and autonomic nervous system problems are present.[7] Guillain-Barre is one of the leading causes of non-trauma-induced paralysis in the world.

See a few posts back where I posted info I got from a naturopathic doc on using food and supplements.

My vague feeling is that the inhalant type is reasonably safe?

People who work in certain healthcare fields, such as those who work with people who are getting chemo or with pregnant women, aren't allowed to get the nasal mist, because the live virus is used to make the mist, and it's my understanding that it can actually infect other people.

The nasal mist uses a chemically-weakened, modified live virus.

The injection uses killed virus particles.

I don't think you will have a choice on which injection, justdrew, just between nasal and injection. And, unless you are in the first tiers of people who are slated to get the vaccinations, you may not be able to get yours until as late as January.

Here's the list of groups who will get the vaccine, as it comes available. First on the list gets first batch, then proceeds through the list, group by group, until everyone who wants vaccination gets one.

Health care and emergency medical workers who are involved with direct patient contact (so that they can stay healthy to take care of those who are sick)

Pregnant women

People who live with or care for children younger than 6 months of age,

Health care and emergency services personnel,

Persons aged 6 months through 24 years of age,

Persons aged 25 through 64 years with medical conditions putting them at higher risk for influenza related complications.

2009 H1N1: There are two formulations of the 2009 H1N1 vaccine: The live, attenuated intranasal (LAIV) and the inactivated injectable vaccine. XXXXX received its first shipment of LAIV H1N1 vaccine this week. We will offer these 800 doses to pediatric ambulatory clinic patients > 2 years of age. The vaccine will be offered in pediatric and family practice primary care clinics starting tomorrow, Oct. 8.

XXXXX has no additional information on when future shipments of H1N1 vaccine will arrive.

I don't normally get the seasonal vaccine, and have only had a bad flu once in the last 7-8 years, so I think I'll continue skipping that one. Probably will pass on the h1n1 as well. I'm now mostly worried that this is going to put me on a list. I'll be at most one step removed from direct pediatric ambulatory contact though, so maybe it would be best to get it. Still, I think if I do come down with anything some tamiflu would handle it in my case. but at this stage, I'd be mildly surprised if I haven't already had some degree of exposure to the virus.