The Global Flu Summit in Mexico, from July 1-3, there is a very important conference and Wednesday's high-level meeting in Cancun brings together about 80 specialists, including the health ministers of 13 countries and WHO Director-General Margaret Chan.
With winter in full flow in the southern hemisphere and still several months away in the north, the rush for vaccines and drugs will be central topics of discussion.
The meeting was organized by Mexico, the United States and Canada, with the support of WHO and the Pan-American Health Organization (PAHO).
The meeting was to officially start Thursday, with an opening ceremony led by Mexican President Felipe Calderon.
The health ministers of Mexico, the United States, Canada, China, India, Japan, Spain, Britain, Sweden, Costa Rica, Chile, Nigeria and Egypt were expected in Cancun, along with representatives of seven international organizations.
The Public will soon find out the new Public Health Communications of many countries, specifically from Mexico, US, Canada and Quebec.
Two days ago Quebec Health Minister kickstart the communications by Publicly recommending to be Carefull with Mass Gatherings.
This is the nest step of Recommendations for the Public as we will find out soon.
First came the resignation of the Health Minister of Argentina.
Argentina: "We are facing a grave problem here"
Via the New York Times: Argentines Question Vote During Flu Outbreak
Excerpt from Crofsblog
As Argentina struggled Wednesday to control a deadly outbreak of swine flu, some health officials criticized the government’s decision to go ahead with national congressional elections last weekend.
The officials said canceling the elections would have allowed the country to focus on the epidemic and to declare a state of emergency, ensuring that authorities could begin to stop public gatherings.
Several of the officials, including some who advised the government on the epidemic, said publicly that the country’s former health minister, Graciela Ocaña, who resigned on Monday, had recommended postponing the vote.
The the Quebec Health Minister said on National Interview; Carefull with Mass Gathering
Excerpt, with my rough translation:
The Minister of Health of Quebec, Yves Bolduc, is concerned about the propagation of the A(H1N1) flu and advise people with underlying conditions to avoid Summer Public Gatherings.
Minister Bolduc endorse completly the recommendation made via Health Canada. He said that people with underlying conditions whose immune system is already weak are more susceptible to catch the H1N1 influenza.
Preleminary datas of Health Canada shows that the majority of infected people in Canada are less than 20 years old. “It is because of these grave cases, although still in low numbers that we must remain vigilant”, said Dr David Butler Jones of Public Health Canada.
The most vulnerable people are pregnant women, in each pandemic they are the ones that dies the most because of their pregnancy and its effect on their body.
cf: Flu cluster of pregnant women reported in San Francisco
San Francisco officials reported what they believe may be the first publicized cluster of novel H1N1 infections in pregnant women, KPIX, a northern California television station, reported on Jun 29.
You then have immune-compromised people who are more susceptible to catch the H1N1 and have worst side effects from this infections.
People infected with MRSA are vulnerable to complications when co-infected with H1N1.
Buffalo teen dies of H1N1 with secondary MRSA infection
A 15-year-old boy in Buffalo, N.Y., died Jun 19 of novel H1N1 flu that was complicated by a methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infection, the Buffalo News reported today. A few children die each year of seasonal flu with secondary MRSA infections, and the CDC has been watching to see if similar coinfections occur with the new virus. Meanwhile, a 9-year-old boy in Buffalo is currently in critical condition with H1N1 and MRSA infections, the story said.
Novel H1N1 flu can cause severe respiratory illness
Novel H1N1 influenza can cause severe respiratory illness, profound lung damage, and death even in patients with no underlying conditions to make them vulnerable, a team of physicians from Mexico report in a rush article published online today by the New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM).
Asthma is considered as an underlying conditions that could lead to severe illness from an H1N1 infection.
Asthma leads risk factors in NYC novel flu hospitalizations
The New York City Department of Health (NYCDH) yesterday detailed risk factors that were present among the 152 residents who were hospitalized for novel influenza. At least 85% had one or more underlying health condition. The most common ones were asthma (41%), being younger than 2 years old (18%), having a compromised immune system (13%), and heart disease (12%). Pregnancy, diabetes, and chronic organ system disorders were also reported among those who were hospitalized.
Groups at high risk for complications
According to the CDC, at this time, the same age and risk groups who are at higher risk for seasonal influenza complications should also be considered at higher risk for novel H1N1 influenza complications. These include the following groups:
Children less than 5 years old
Persons aged 50 years or older
Children and adolescents (age 6 months to 18 years) who are receiving long-term aspirin therapy and who might be at risk for experiencing Reye syndrome after influenza virus infection
Pregnant women (on May 12, 2009, the CDC issued a report on severe H1N1 infection in three pregnant women [see References: CDC 2009: Novel influenza A (H1N1) virus infections in three pregnant women—United States, April—May 2009])
Adults and children who have chronic pulmonary, cardiovascular, hepatic, hematological, neurologic, neuromuscular, or metabolic disorders
Adults and children who have immunosuppression (including immunosuppression caused by medications or by HIV)
Residents of nursing homes and other chronic-care facilities.
Clinical guidance for management of certain high-risk patients can be found on the CDC Swine Flu H1N1 Guidance Web page.
The CDC, (Center for Diseases Control in Atlanta) advise the following on their website
What You Can Do to Stay Healthy
Stay informed. This website will be updated regularly as information becomes available.
Influenza is thought to spread mainly person-to-person through coughing or sneezing of infected people.
Take everyday actions to stay healthy.
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 hands cleaners are also effective.
Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth. Germs spread that way.
Stay home if you get sick.
CDC recommends that you stay home from work or school and limit contact with others to keep from infecting them.
Follow public health advice regarding school closures, avoiding crowds and other social distancing measures.
Find healthy ways to deal with stress and anxiety.
Call 1-800-CDC-INFO for more information.
From CIDRAP
Center for Infectious Disease Research & Policy
Academic Health Center
University of Minnesota
Experts stress need for personal, community preparedness
Could swine flu tip the world into deflation? Oxford Economics PDF
What more do we need to say to convince you to become aware of what is going on and to get into a preparedness mode?
A visit to Achak Cafe?
Snowy Owl