The fact is that you can find much of the information you need about the H1N1 virus (or human swine flu) on the web through REPUTED sources – like the CDC (US Center for Disease Control) or your local disease control center or health unit.  Ask your doctor about the benefits and risks of taking the shot.

There are also a lot of sites out there that are trying to scare you into NOT taking the shot.

Ultimately YOU need to decide whether you want the shot or not.  You need to evaluate the risks versus the benefits and make an informed decision for you and your family.

Have I taken the shot?  Yes, I have.  I was quite apprehensive about it but in the end decided to take it.  This is also the first time I’ve ever taken a seasonal flu shot.  Don’t let my decision to take the shot affect your decision.

If you know someone that has H1N1 or someone in your family has H1N1 you should speak to your doctor about what precautions to take – in most cases they will be common sense things – like trying to isolate yourself, to washing hands and not touching your face with your hands if they are not clean.

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A recent visitor to the site sent me an excellent resource – an H1N1 human swine flu heat map that will show you where all the recent H1H1 cases have been.

Here is a link to the map: http://www.umapper.com/maps/view/id/30340

Here is the same map, embedded onto this page (the one shown above is a static image):

PLEASE NOTE: This information is provided with no guarantee in accuracy. Please consult your doctor for instruction in treating and avoiding flu and the CDC web site for accurate infection locations and numbers. I am not responsible for illness, injury, or harm incurred as a result of the information in this web site. I am not a doctor and am only relaying this information as it’s been provided to me.

A few other H1N1 mapping resources:

• http://www.swineflutrackingmap.com/
• http://www.swinemap.org

How To Reduce Your Risk of Contracting H1N1 Human Swine Flu Virus

• Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Throw the tissue in the trash after you use it.
• Wash your hands often with soap and water, especially after you cough or sneeze. Alcohol-based hand cleaners are also effective.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth. Germs spread this way.
• Try to avoid close contact with sick people.
• If you get sick with influenza, CDC recommends that you stay home from work or school and limit contact with others to keep from infecting them.

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Canadian Information Source: http://www.cbc.ca/health/story/2009/10/21/h1n1-vaccine-us-uk.html

The story goes on to hilight the need the US has to expand its own manufacturing capacity for vaccines and indeed this needs to be on the forefront of many government officials minds. 

Lieberman told the Senate Homeland Security and Government Affairs Committee he was “not blaming Canada.”

Canada’s response is understandable, he said, but it highlights how the U.S. urgently needs to expand its own manufacturing capacity for vaccines.

There is quite a bit of information out there, some good and some bad – the best source will be your local health organizations and speaking with your doctor.

The vaccine is already being administered in the United States but based on news reports, there may not be enough to go around.

US Information Sources:

• http://www.examiner.com/x-17574-Harford-County-Education-Headlines-Examiner~y2009m10d22-Maryland-school-children-top-the-priority-list-for-H1N1-vaccine–if-they-can-find-it
• http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2009/10/16/eveningnews/main5390834.shtml
• http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-sci-swine-flu17-2009oct17,0,4189877.story

H1N1 (Human Swine Flu) Symptoms

What are the symptoms of H1N1 (swine flu) in humans?

It is important that you learn the symptoms of the H1N1 (swine flu) virus so you can easily recognize it in yourself and others.

To date, the vast majority of H1N1 (swine flu) cases have been mild, with symptoms similar to those of the seasonal flu. Only a small percentage of people have had more serious symptoms and required professional medical attention.

It is important to have a working thermometer at home, as an increase in temperature is a key symptom.

The typical symptoms of H1N1 (swine flu) are:

• a sudden fever of 38°C/100.4°F or above, and
• a sudden cough.

Other symptoms of H1N1 (swine flu) may include:

• headache,
• extreme tiredness, 
• chills,
• fatigue,muscle aches,
• limb or joint pain,
• diarrhea or upset stomach,
• sore throat,
• runny or stuffy nose,
• sneezing, or
• lack of appetite.

Some people with H1N1 (swine flu) have also reported vomiting.

If you or a member of your family has any of the above mentioned symptoms, you may have the H1N1 (swine flu) virus.

Cases have been confirmed in all age groups, but children and younger people are much more likely to be affected. To date, few cases have been confirmed in older adults.

The severity of H1N1 (swine flu) symptoms can vary from mild to severe and may sometimes require hospitalization. Like the seasonal flu, H1N1 (swine flu) may worsen existing chronic medical conditions.

In some cases, severe complications such as pneumonia and respiratory failure can cause death. Death occurs more often in cases of H1N1 (swine flu) from secondary bacterial infection of the lungs.

If you believe that you may have H1N1 (swine flu), the next step is to determine if you are in a high-risk group or have emergency warning signs.

What to do if I show symptoms of H1N1 (swine flu)?

The question of what to do if you show H1N1 symptoms varies greatly from country to country. In England an online questionnaire determines if you have the flu and issues an antiviral medication prescription number that a ‘Flu Friend’ collects from a local collection point. In other counties the procedure varies from driving to the front of the doctor’s office and honking your horn to contacting officials, who will promptly come to treat you and quarantine your home.

We have developed a list of ‘norms’ from national and international centers for disease control of what to do if you think that you are infected with the H1N1 flu virus.

All of the major health agencies stress that, for the vast majority of people, H1N1 (swine flu) is a mild illness. They say that most people recover by staying in bed, drinking plenty of water and taking over-the-counter flu medication.

This seems to contradict the use of an antiviral drug such as Tamiflu, which can help reduce the symptoms and duration of the infection. It is believed that Tamiflu is most effective if you start the medication within the first 48 hours after the onset of symptoms. If you lay in bed treating H1N1 as a mild illness, two days and the effectiveness of antiviral medication can easily pass.

Some people are at more risk of serious illness if they contract the H1N1 (swine flu) virus. These include persons in high-risk groups and persons with emergency warning signs.

If you or someone you know have H1N1 symptoms AND are in a high-risk group OR show emergency warning signs it is important to contact your personal physician or other medical professional immediately to determine your next steps and if you should start taking antiviral medication. The majority of health agencies seem to suggest that the initial contact with your health official should be via telephone.

H1N1 (swine flu) high-risk groups

If you fall into any of the following high-risk groups, contact your personal physician or other medical professional immediately.

• pregnant women,
• children under the age of five,
• persons aged 65 and older,
• persons who have had drug treatment for asthma within the past three years,
• persons with chronic lung disease,
• persons with chronic heart disease,
• persons with chronic kidney disease,
• persons with chronic liver disease,
• persons with chronic neurological disease (neurological disorders include motor neurone disease, multiple sclerosis and Parkinson’s disease),
• persons with immunosuppression (whether caused by disease or treatment)
  and
• persons with diabetes mellitus.

If you show any of the following emergency warning signs, contact your personal physician or other medical professional immediately.

H1N1 (swine flu) emergency warning signs in children

• fast breathing or trouble breathing,
• bluish or grayish skin color,
• not drinking enough fluids, 
• not waking up or not interacting, 
• being so irritable that the child does not want to be held, 
• flu-like symptoms improve but then return with fever and worse cough or fever with a rash

H1N1 (swine flu) emergency warning signs in adults

• difficulty breathing or shortness of breath
• pain or pressure in the chest or abdomen
• sudden dizziness
• Confusion
• Severe or persistent vomiting
• flu-like symptoms improve but then return with fever and worse cough

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http://www.who.int/csr/don/2009_10_02/en/index.html

Geographic spread of influenza activity

Map timeline

Trend of respiratory diseases activity compared to the previous week

Map timeline

Intensity of acute respiratory diseases in the population

Map timeline

Impact on health care services

Map timeline

Laboratory-confirmed cases of pandemic (H1N1) 2009 as officially reported to WHO by States Parties to the IHR (2005) as of 27 September 2009

Map of affected countries and deaths

 Previous Posts on Lose Weight Feel Great for H1N1:

• http://www.lose-weight-feel-great.com/2009/08/26/h1n1-world-statistics-august-26-2009/
• http://www.lose-weight-feel-great.com/2009/07/17/h1n1-swine-flu-statistics/
• http://www.lose-weight-feel-great.com/2009/07/16/h1n1-swine-flu-and-obesity-linked/
• http://www.lose-weight-feel-great.com/2009/07/17/h1n1-swine-flu-statistics/
• http://www.lose-weight-feel-great.com/2009/07/13/obese-exposed-as-swine-flu-collides-with-fat-epidemic/

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Most recently in H1N1 news has been the question of Safety of Pandemic Vaccines.

According to the World Health Organization:

WHO is aware of some media reports that have expressed concern about the safety of vaccines for pandemic influenza. The public needs to be reassured that regulatory procedures in place for the licensing of pandemic vaccines, including procedures for expediting regulatory approval, are rigorous and do not compromise safety or quality controls.

Vaccines are among the most important medical interventions for reducing illness and deaths during a pandemic. However, to have the greatest impact, pandemic vaccines need to be available quickly and in large quantities.

During the 1957 and 1968 pandemics, vaccines arrived too late to be used as an effective mitigation tool during the more severe phases of the pandemics. Influenza vaccines had not yet been developed when the 1918 pandemic swept around the world, eventually killing an estimated 50 million people.

- and -

Also in Europe, some manufacturers have conducted advance studies using a so-called “mock-up” vaccine. Mock-up vaccines contain an active ingredient for an influenza virus that has not circulated recently in human populations and thus mimics the novelty of a pandemic virus. Such advance studies can greatly expedite regulatory approval.

Full link to the news article Safety of Pandemic Vaccines (specifically related to H1N1).

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NOTE: Verify ALL data with your countries respective disease control center. This data is based on information found on the Internet.

H1N1 Symptoms

The symptoms of novel H1N1 flu virus in people are similar to the symptoms of seasonal flu and include fever, cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, body aches, headache, chills and fatigue. A significant number of people who have been infected with novel H1N1 flu virus also have reported diarrhea and vomiting. The high risk groups for novel H1N1 flu are not known at this time, but it’s possible that they may be the same as for seasonal influenza. People at higher risk of serious complications from seasonal flu include people age 65 years and older, children younger than 5 years old, pregnant women, people of any age with chronic medical conditions (such as asthma, diabetes, or heart disease), and people who are immunosuppressed (e.g., taking immunosuppressive medications, infected with HIV).

Emergency Warning Signs

If you become ill and experience any of the following warning signs, seek emergency medical care.

In children, emergency warning signs that need urgent medical attention include:

• Fast breathing or trouble breathing
• Bluish or gray skin color
• Not drinking enough fluids
• Severe or persistent vomiting
• Not waking up or not interacting
• Being so irritable that the child does not want to be held
• Flu-like symptoms improve but then return with fever and worse cough

In adults, emergency warning signs that need urgent medical attention include:

• Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath
• Pain or pressure in the chest or abdomen
• Sudden dizziness
• Confusion
• Severe or persistent vomiting
• Flu-like symptoms improve but then return with fever and worse cough

US Reported Cases of Swine Flu

Source: http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/sick.htm

WHO Worldwide H1N1 Stats

Source: http://www.who.int/csr/don/2009_07_06/en/index.html

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15 July 2009 by Debora MacKenzie

AS IF people struggling with obesity did not have enough to worry about, they now face a new health hazard. According to statistics from the US, overweight people appear more likely to die of swine flu (H1N1).

Most of the people who have died from H1N1 swine flu have had an underlying health problem that weakened their ability to fight off the virus. Among the conditions recognised as increasing the risk from flu are hypertension, diabetes, chronic lung obstruction and coronary disease. Now it may be time to add obesity to the list.

Unpublished figures reported at a recent meeting of the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta, Georgia, show that of 99 people who died in the early stages of the pandemic in the US, 45 per cent were obese. As only 26 per cent of US adults are obese, this suggests that obesity doubles the risk of getting seriously ill with swine flu (H1N1).

The figures surprised most flu researchers. “In 40 years of studying flu, I have never heard anything about obesity,” says virologist John Oxford of Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry, University of London. Obesity specialists, however, say it fits with what they have learned in recent years.

The only study looking directly at flu and obesity was done in 2007 by Melinda Beck and colleagues at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill. It was already known that abdominal fat releases a continuous stream of chemicals that trigger inflammation, an immune response normally aimed at killing invading pathogens and infected cells. So Beck’s team wondered what effect this had on flu. They were especially interested, she says, because runaway inflammation, known as a “cytokine storm”, is what kills most flu victims.

Beck and her team found that overfed, obese mice are nearly seven times as likely to die of ordinary flu as genetically identical lean mice (The Journal of Nutrition, vol 137, p 1236).

The researchers also measured immune chemicals in the mice’s blood. Prior to infection, the obese mice had much higher levels of a hormone called leptin than the normal mice. During the initial stages of infection, they had fewer virus-killing cells and chemicals.

Leptin is released by fat cells and, among other things, triggers immune reactions. Beck thinks that obese mice become desensitised to leptin, making their immune system slow to react. “Our experiments suggest the problem is the fat itself.”

As their flu worsened, the obese mice did mount an immune response, but it was “too little too late”, says Beck. It failed to get rid of the virus and eventually triggered a runaway immune response that escalated until it killed the mice – much as the cytokine storm does in people.

We don’t know if the same series of events happen in obese people with swine flu (H1N1), Beck warns. But it is possible that, as in mice, obesity dampens our ability to fight flu by disrupting the immune response, says Jesse Roth, a diabetes specialist at Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York. “The resting level of inflammation goes up in obesity,” he says. He suspects that this disrupts the body’s immune response to viruses, making a lethal runaway reaction more likely.

During a flu pandemic, it is more important than ever to tackle obesity, Roth says. “It’s amazing how much obesity-related inflammation you can reverse with just a little diet and exercise.” He says a daily half-hour walk and losing about 5 per cent of body weight if you are overweight is enough to reduce inflammation.

David Fedson, a former flu researcher at the University of Virginia in Charlottesville, has long proposed using drugs that damp down inflammation, such as statins, fibrates and glitazones, as an additional way of cutting deaths from flu. These drugs are normally prescribed for obesity-related disorders such as high cholesterol and insulin insensitivity.

The new figures on obesity and swine flu strengthen the case for stockpiling the drugs, given that shortages of vaccine and antiviral drugs are likely, Fedson says. “These drugs are safe and cheap, but they are being ignored by pandemic planners.”

Source: http://www.newscientist.com/article/mg20327175.000-fight-the-flab-to-fend-off-swine-flu.html?DCMP=OTC-rss&nsref=online-news

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People infected with the bug who have a body mass index greater than 40, deemed morbidly obese, suffer respiratory complications that are harder to treat and can be fatal.

Resources

• http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601124&sid=a0DakJmBpgrc
• http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/05/19/AR2009051902609.html
• http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090710/ap_on_he_me/us_med_swine_flu
• http://bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601124&sid=aPUbdh6sLlb0
• http://www.naturalnews.com/026602_pandemic_swine_flu_health.html (registration required to read the full article)
• http://www.gate2biotech.com/origins-of-the-swine-flu-virus/ (added 7/13/09 @ 2:47pm PST)

Mohamed

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