Flu, More Flu, and Swine Flu/H1N1

[Guest guest]

Just a soft warning that there seems to be a very recent but significant

upswing in Texas and specifically in the Dallas area. Be aware in your

own area. It's not even normal flu season but what has been normal about

this year. Flu shots are out but not H1N1 flu shots yet. We just had our

first local H1N1 flu death and she was a 52 year old woman with

underlying medical conditions. The number of cases of swine flu isn't

known as Dallas county stopped accepting lab samples to evaluate in May.

TCU reported 78 new cases on campus in the last two days (rose from 10

cases to 88). Now, they may be reporting all flu as suspected H1N1 flu,

but this time of year that may be a good guess. Get to a doctor quickly.

It's not deadly if you do. It may be deadly if you don't. Tamiflu does

work on it at this time. Antiviral medications are most effective if

taken within the first two days of contracting the virus.

[Guest guest]

It seems to be spreading rapidly through many colleges. So, now is

probably a good time for an update on the vaccine.

The vaccine is currently in clinical trials at either locations,

typically with around 160 participants each. According to the report I

read, they hope to know my did to late September how many doses will be

required and what dosages for different age groups.

A couple of other notes. Anyone with egg allergies could not take it as

it is manufactured using chicken eggs. Contrary to what you often hear

there is no living virus in the shot so it cannot give you the flu. This

is also not the first time people have been vaccinated against swine

flu. They were during the 1976 outbreak. At that time the only major

complication was a 1 in 100,000 chance of developing Guillaine-Barre

syndrome.

So, just a little update on the process. Oh, too late now, but

volunteering for the study paid $600. Participants were not informed in

advance, but just found that out at their orientation meeting.

>

> From: brucemoreland brucemoreland@...

> Subject: Flu, More Flu, and Swine Flu/H1N1

> To: Breathe-Support

> Date: Thursday, August 27, 2009, 11:30 PM

>

>

> Just a soft warning that there seems to be a very recent but

significant

> upswing in Texas and specifically in the Dallas area. Be aware in your

> own area. It's not even normal flu season but what has been normal

about

> this year. Flu shots are out but not H1N1 flu shots yet. We just had

our

> first local H1N1 flu death and she was a 52 year old woman with

> underlying medical conditions. The number of cases of swine flu isn't

> known as Dallas county stopped accepting lab samples to evaluate in

May.

> TCU reported 78 new cases on campus in the last two days (rose from 10

> cases to 88). Now, they may be reporting all flu as suspected H1N1

flu,

> but this time of year that may be a good guess. Get to a doctor

quickly.

> It's not deadly if you do. It may be deadly if you don't. Tamiflu does

> work on it at this time. Antiviral medications are most effective if

> taken within the first two days of contracting the virus.

>