Outbreak in Mexico...

[Stardrive]

How do you think we get the proteins?

After a long and drawn out world wide monitoring process, a panel of experts on influenza decide which strains and their antigens are going to cause the most problems in the forthcoming flu season.

Generally they pick 3 or 4 strains and their antigenic markers. These strains, which are maintained in viral libraries at CDC and are sent in from all over the world, are inoculated into chicken eggs (which is essentially just a big cell). After the incubation period the eggs are broken, the viruses (lacking their envelopes) are fixed chemically to further inactivate their nucleic acids. After a protein purification process, your left with virus proteins which we use for vaccinations.

Wow, that's interesting.. Thanks !

[Dr. D]

Outbreak in Mexico, U.S. tied to new swine flu

Source of unique virus a mystery; CDC expects more cases.

The unique strain of swine flu found in seven people in California and Texas has been connected to the deadly flu that has broken out in Mexico, killing as many as 61 people.

The strain has never been seen before and is raising fears of a possible pandemic across North America.

The World Health Organization said the virus that killed at least 12 of the victims in Mexico had the same genetic structure as an outbreak discovered in California.

“It is a virus that mutated from pigs and then at some point was transmitted to humans,” Health Minister Jose Angel Cordova said.

It first looked mostly like a swine virus but closer analysis showed it is a never-before-seen mixture of swine, human and avian viruses.

Cordova said additional suspected cases were still being tested. Mexico's Public Health Department put the total number of people sickened at close to 1,000 nationwide.

Cordova said in Mexico the virus has killed only people among the normally less-vulnerable young and mid-adult age range. One possibility is that the most vulnerable segments of the population — infants and the aged — had been vaccinated against other strains, and that those vaccines may be providing some protection.

Mexico canceled classes for millions of children in its sprawling capital city and surrounding area on Friday.

The White House is closely following the outbreak and President Barack Obama has been informed, an administration official said on Friday.

U.S. health officials said they expect to find more cases of the swine flu as they check people who had contact with the California and Texas patients. All of the seven U.S. victims recovered from the flu.

The swine flu's symptoms are like those of the regular flu, mostly involving fever, cough and sore throat, though some of the seven also experienced vomiting and diarrhea.

"We are very, very concerned," WHO spokesman Thomas Abraham said. "We have what appears to be a novel virus and it has spread from human to human." If international spread is confirmed, that meets WHO's criteria for raising the pandemic alert level, he added.

Growing mystery

The U.S. cases are a growing medical mystery because it's unclear how they caught the virus. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said none of the seven people were in contact with pigs, which is how people usually catch swine flu. And only a few were in contact with each other.

Dr. Anne Schuchat, director of the CDC's National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases, said they believe it can spread human-to-human, which is unusual for a swine flu virus.

Still, health officials said it's not a cause for public alarm. Worldwide, seasonal flu kills between 250,000 and 500,000 people in an average year. Plus, testing indicates some mainstream antiviral medications seem to work against the new swine virus.

Health officials have seen mixes of bird, pig and human virus before, but never such an intercontinental combination with more than one pig virus in the mix.

Scientists keep a close eye on flu viruses that emerge from pigs. The animals are considered particularly susceptible to both avian and human viruses and a likely place where the kind of genetic reassortment can take place that might lead to a new form of pandemic flu, said Dr. John Treanor, an infectious disease specialist at the University of Rochester Medical Center.

The virus may be something completely new, or it may have been around for a while but was only detected now because of improved lab testing and disease surveillance, CDC officials said.

The virus was first detected in two children in southern California — a 10-year-old boy in San Diego County and a 9-year-old girl in neighboring Imperial County.

The cases were detected under unusual circumstances. One was seen at a Navy clinic that participates in a specialized disease detection network, and the other was caught through a specialized surveillance system set up in border communities, CDC officials said.

On Thursday, investigators said they had discovered five more cases. That includes a father and his teenage daughter in San Diego County, a 41-year-old woman in Imperial County who was the only person hospitalized, and two 16-year-old boys who are friends and live in Guadalupe County, Texas, near San Antonio.

Puzzling cases

The Texas cases are especially puzzling. One of the California cases — the 10-year-old boy — traveled to Texas early this month, but that was to Dallas, about 270 miles northeast of San Antonio. He did not travel to the San Antonio area, Schuchat said.

The two 16-year-olds had not traveled recently, Texas health officials said.

CDC are not calling it an outbreak, a term that suggests ongoing illnesses. It's not known if anyone is getting sick from the virus right now, CDC officials said.

It's also not known if the seasonal flu vaccine that Americans got last fall and early this year protects against this type of virus. People should wash their hands and take other customary precautions, CDC officials said.

The Mexican government warned people not to shake hands or kiss when greeting or share food, glasses or cutlery for fear of contracting the flu.

Mexico City, one of the world's biggest cities and home to some 20 million people, was quieter than usual on Friday morning. Normally choking traffic was less chaotic in the absence of school buses and parents driving kids to school.

Many people waiting to enter subway stations had their faces covered with surgical masks.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/30386163/

WHO worries Mexico flu deaths could mark pandemic

MEXICO CITY – Mexico closed its schools across its capital Friday after at least 16 otherwise healthy people died and more than 900 others fell ill from what could be a new strain of swine flu. The World Health Organization worried that it could mark the start of a flu pandemic.

Scientists in the U.S. and Mexico were trying to determine if the deaths were due to the same new strain of swine flu that sickened seven people in Texas and California.

The World Health Organization counted at least 57 deaths in Mexico, although it wasn't yet clear if this larger number was due to swine flu.

"We are very, very concerned," WHO spokesman Thomas Abraham said. "We have what appears to be a novel virus and it has spread from human to human." If international spread is confirmed, that meets WHO's criteria for raising the pandemic alert level, he added.

WHO also raised its internal alert system Friday, enabling the agency to divert more money and personnel to dealing with the outbreak. "It's all hands on deck at the moment." Abraham said.

Mexico's Health Secretary, Jose Cordova, said only 16 of the deaths have been confirmed to have been caused by the new strain, through testing at government laboratories. Samples from 44 other people who died were still being tested. The health department put the total number of people sickened at around 943 nationwide.

Cordova said samples also were sent to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, to determine whether it's the same virus infecting seven people in Texas and California. As of now, tests show the flu is a "new, different strain ... that originally came from pigs," he said.

"We certainly have 60 deaths that we can't be sure are from the same virus, but it is probable," Cordova told MVS radio in Mexico City.

Cordova described a chilling new strain that had killed only people among the normally less-vulnerable young and mid-adult age range. One possibility is that the most vulnerable segments of the population — infants and the aged — had been vaccinated against other strains, and that those vaccines may be providing some protection.

But Dr. Anne Schuchat of the CDC said "at this point, we do not have any confirmations of swine influenza in Mexico" of the kind that sickened seven California and Texas residents.

All seven U.S. victims recovered from a strain of the flu that combines pig, bird and human viruses in a way that researchers have not seen before. The swine flu's symptoms are like those of the regular flu, mostly involving fever, cough and sore throat, though some of the seven also experienced vomiting and diarrhea.

Closing the schools across the metropolis of 20 million kept 6.1 million students home from day care centers through high schools, and thousands more were affected as colleges and universities closed down. Parents scrambled to juggle work and family concerns due to what local media said was the first citywide schools closure since Mexico City's devastating 1985 earthquake.

Lillian Molina and other teachers at the Montessori's World preschool scrubbed down their empty classrooms with Clorox, soap and Lysol on Friday between fielding calls from worried parents. While the school has had no known cases among its students, Molina supported the government's decision to shutter classes, especially in preschools.

"It's great they are taking precautions," she said. "I think it's a really good idea."

Authorities advised capital residents not to go to work if they felt ill, and to wear surgical masks if they had to move through crowds. A wider shutdown — perhaps including shutting down government offices — was being considered.

"It is very likely that classes will be suspended for several days," Cordova said. "We will have to evaluate, and let's hope this doesn't happen, the need to restrict activity at workplaces."

Still, U.S. health officials said it's not yet a reason for alarm in the United States. The five in California and two in Texas have all recovered, and testing indicates some common antiviral medications seem to work against the virus.

Schuchat of the CDC said officials believe the new strain can spread human-to-human, which is unusual for a swine flu virus. The CDC is checking people who have been in contact with the seven confirmed U.S. cases, who all became ill between late March and mid-April.

The U.S. cases are a growing medical mystery because it's unclear how they caught the virus. The CDC said none of the seven people were in contact with pigs, which is how people usually catch swine flu. And only a few were in contact with each other.

CDC officials described the virus as having a unique combination of gene segments not seen in people or pigs before. The bug contains human virus, avian virus from North America and pig viruses from North America, Europe and Asia.

Health officials have seen mixes of bird, pig and human virus before, but never such an intercontinental combination with more than one pig virus in the mix.

Scientists keep a close eye on flu viruses that emerge from pigs. The animals are considered particularly susceptible to both avian and human viruses and a likely place where the kind of genetic reassortment can take place that might lead to a new form of pandemic flu, said Dr. John Treanor, an infectious disease specialist at the University of Rochester Medical Center.

The virus may be something completely new, or it may have been around for a while but was only detected now because of improved lab testing and disease surveillance, CDC officials said.

The virus was first detected in two children in southern California — a 10-year-old boy in San Diego County and a 9-year-old girl in neighboring Imperial County.

It's not known if anyone is getting sick from the virus right now, CDC officials said.

It's also not known if the seasonal flu vaccine that Americans got last fall and early this year protects against this type of virus. People should wash their hands and take other customary precautions, CDC officials said.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090424/ap_on_...e/med_swine_flu

Something alittle different to talk about.

I live in Mexico and we are all very confused. A few days ago we were told that there were 157 deaths in Mexico City and two days ago that number magically dropped to 19. Today's report said 25.

Three days ago we were told that there were no cases in the immediate area where I live. Today they reported 24.

A lot of people are suspicious that something else is going on.

[D1CKY D1AMOND]

Well luckily. I'm a vegetarian, but I'm still worried, just not as much.

Because I found out if I catch it. I won't die. According to my Science Teacher, Mr. Rozan. He said a normal flu is more likely dangerous then the Swine Flu.

So I'm not that worried as much.

Actually this is not true.

You can die from the flu whether it's what I call the flu flu or swine flu. You shouldn't be worried to much but it doesn't hurt to be cautious and take measures so you don't get any flu... If you use hand sanitizer make sure it's the 90%+ Isopropyl Alcohol stuff. the 60-70% stuff is useless.

[Fluffybunny]

Well luckily. I'm a vegetarian, but I'm still worried, just not as much.

Because I found out if I catch it. I won't die. According to my Science Teacher, Mr. Rozan. He said a normal flu is more likely dangerous then the Swine Flu.

So I'm not that worried as much.

What does being a vegetarian have to do with it?

[behaviour???]

This is being spread through humans and it was first found in Mexico so their people should take more care within their international tourists and May be they should launch a free medical hjelpline rather than sitting there idle.The measures they have taken so far is to give all institutions a compulsory holiday

Thanks

B???

[el midgetron]

What does being a vegetarian have to do with it?

It means when pigs get sick with this flu they can come to him to be treated.

Edited May 5, 2009 by el midgetron

[Fluffybunny]

It means when pigs get sick with this flu they can come to him to be treated.

It seems like he thinks that you can only get sick from eating pork, or am I missing something?

[el midgetron]

It seems like he thinks that you can only get sick from eating pork, or am I missing something?

Thats correct. Why do you think people are wearing masks? To prevent themselves from eating pork.

[Fluffybunny]

Thats correct. Why do you think people are wearing masks? To prevent themselves from eating pork.

What about pork juice?

[The Worlds Wolf]

wow big jump 290 somethin to 403 in a day and ahalf.

you dont get the freagin virus from eating pork =>.>= just like you dont get H5N1 from eating chicken. you get it from humans because it mutated/evolved in pigs and is now able to pass to humans.

the reason i think the number went down in mexico is because there WAS around 150-160 that died. but alot of those didnt die from the SIV but from other causes. people just got confused about it.

are people afraid not because of its death toll or anything but because of its fast spreading?

[Princess Serenity]

SIV?

They probably aren't sure how many people died and have it. :/ Who knows.

I was thinking this morning. How do we know it'll return this Fall? Because it has "flu" in the name?

[The Worlds Wolf]

they know because its lab reports.... SIV is Swine Influenza Virus. its the short term for the long term. though you could use the strand term which is H1N1 (bird flus was H5N1 but who cares about that) they still dont know much about the virus they have not gotten it fully studied. for all we know right now they could dissapear like Avain Influenza did.

Edited May 6, 2009 by The Worlds Wolf

[Princess Serenity]

they know because its lab reports.... SIV is Swine Influenza Virus. its the short term for the long term. though you could use the strand term which is H1N1 (bird flus was H5N1 but who cares about that) they still dont know much about the virus they have not gotten it fully studied. for all we know right now they could dissapear like Avain Influenza did.

Oh okay.

That's probably why the numbers keep jumping around. =/ They still don't completely know. *Sighs*

[The Worlds Wolf]

the numbers arnt jumping they are going up. its lab reported not a survay

[Princess Serenity]

the numbers arnt jumping they are going up. its lab reported not a survay

I realize that. But the numbers have been jumping around. Since it first appeared.

=.=

[Karlis]

What about pork juice?

Pork Juice, F_Bunny? Get that on the market and next thing you know, you'll be rich.

Karlis

[MARAB0D]

Hmmmm... I got at least 11 sick leaves about to expire. Today bought a kilo of pork belly slices, hope I have a flu and dodge the employer with it. I am even ready to eat them raw, but some say this would be too dangerous. Is it true?

[Conspiracy]

Hmmmm... I got at least 11 sick leaves about to expire. Today bought a kilo of pork belly slices, hope I have a flu and dodge the employer with it. I am even ready to eat them raw, but some say this would be too dangerous. Is it true?

you cant get the disease by eating pork since heating kills influenza cells or virus or whatever, and eating pork raw will just give u food poisoning at the most... i think

[MARAB0D]

you cant get the disease by eating pork since heating kills influenza cells or virus or whatever, and eating pork raw will just give u food poisoning at the most... i think

LOL - I am a Russian originally, so I eat it raw, the next day after it has been salted.The local pigs however are too lean, so amid the fat layers they have too much meat inbetween - and the meat can carry trichinosis, so there are additional risks to the flu

[Enigmatic Ghost]

Damn it! I am going to Live!

Well the Test results are back for my Wife and it is Confirmed she has NO Swine Flu

And I never got tested and in one weeks time have die forty three times, Hacked up three Lungs and a gizzard, I have Friction Rubbed, Ran Under Scolding Hot Water, and Held it over a Flame for an hour and I still cannot get the thermometer to read past 43.8, so I have to do my Honey Do’s and chores around the House. It's No Swine, Avian, Bull-weevil, or Weasel flu, it’s just a missrable, Painful Human flu, so I will be living.

Pavot

Edited May 9, 2009 by Pavot

[Princess Serenity]

That's good. *Hugs Pavot*

Get better you guys. ^^