H1N1 flu vaccine: strategies questioned
In a six-hour meeting yesterday, Sunday, August 23, at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Trevose, Bucks County, Pennsylvania, the H1N1 flu vaccine was discussed. The main question was how to approach the public: “full throttle” and “go slow” options were debated. The meeting included watching videos about pandemics, vaccines, and the brief history of H1N1.
The vaccine would be taken on a voluntary basis regardless of the panel’s decision, but how educating the public, the benefits or risks of the vaccine, and possible mandating of the vaccine seems to be what most of the panel members are concerned with.
Prevention of H1N1 by handwashing did not seem to be a topic of conversation.
This meeting is one of ten that are occurring across the US. To read the full article, click here.
US waits to react to flu discovery in Canadian pigs
As a backlog of state and federal lab test results reached the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the total number of confirmed cases of H1N1 in the US climbed to 244 in 34 states, the Associated Press reported this weekend.
The Globe and Mail reported numbers from the World Health Organization, stating, “Canada, for its part, has tallied 101 cases in seven provinces.”
When news broke that a Canadian swine herd was found suffering from a flu thought to be H1N1, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) issued a statement assuring that, “this detection does not change the situation here in the United States.”
The statement continued:
“Today's discovery will not impact our borders or trading with Canada. As prescribed by the World Organization for Animal Health guidelines, any trade restrictions must be based on science so at this time, we are awaiting confirmatory test results before considering any action."
Additionally, while the CDC works on a H1N1 vaccine for humans, the USDA announced it is trying to develop a vaccine for swine. But that’s just standard protocol when a new virus appears.
It seems they’re taking no rash action until there’s evidence to suggest it’s necessary. That sounds like a wise use of resources to me.
The World Health Organization is similarly waiting for evidence before sounding the alert to a pandemic. As reported by the New York Times,
“The World Health Organization announced an increase in the number of confirmed cases of swine flu on Saturday, but said there was no evidence of sustained spread in communities outside North America, which would fit the definition of a pandemic.”
“Dr. Michael J. Ryan, the director of the World Health Organization global alert and response team, said in a teleconference from Geneva, ‘We have to expect that Phase 6 (the level of a pandemic) will be reached. We have to hope that it is not.’”
The public should be made aware of existing risks and what's being done to manage them. But, there is no good reason to waste resources pretending to manage imaginary risks.
Act on what you know and seek out what you don't--for the good of the public.
Spanish soccer star Sisi sidelined with hepatitis A
It’s Oscar time and I can’t wait to see which celebrities have to get vaccinated for hepatitis A this year after the parties. But until Sunday, soccer seems to be the source of reminders to get vaccinated against hepatitis A, which is transmitted via human poop.
RC Recreativo de Huelva are set to be without Spain Under-21 midfielder Sisi (right) for at least the next six weeks after the 22-year-old was diagnosed with hepatitis A.
Sisi is not the first U21 international to contract hepatitis A this year. Germany's Ashkan Dejagah was diagnosed with the same condition in early February and his club – VfL Wolfsburg – are resigned to losing him for a "very long time".
Get vaccinated for hepatitis A or you'll rue the day
Real Genius was a 1985 fluff film notable for some witty banter, bunny slippers, and that actor Val Kilmer, in the role of science whiz Chris Knight, once had a sense of humor. Like this scene, right:
Dr. Dodd: Why is that toy on your head?
Chris Knight: Because if I wear it any place else, it chafes.
And I wish I’d remembered this classic when Amy was pregnant. I had so many opportunities to use it:
Chris Knight: Do you mind if I name my first child after you? "Dipshit Knight" has a nice ring to it.
I was struck with nostalgia when I read the headline in Canada’s North Bay Nugget this morning, Victim rues not getting vaccinated.
I looked at Amy and said, “You’ll rue the day. Who talks like that? Where’s that line from?”
“I don’t know.”
Then I used a tool my students finally taught me to use a few years ago. It’s called Google. And there it was:
[Kent opens his dorm room door to find his car inside]
Chris Knight: Hey Kent... That's your car.
Mitch: Kent, you know you're not supposed to park that on campus.
Kent: You've gone too far this time, Knight.
Chris Knight: [whiny, scared voice] I had help!
[points to Mitch]
Kent: You, huh? Well you won't get away with this. Doctor Hathaway's gonna hear all about this. You'll rue the day!
Chris Knight: "Rue the day?" Who talks like that?
And rather than rue the day, get vaccinated for hepatitis A before going to the Dominican Republic. Or you may cause a health scare where you bartend.
The North Bay Parry Sound District Health Unit announced Wednesday there was one case of hepatitis A in the city. Officials advised patrons who had visited the bar Nov. 26, Dec. 3, 4, 10 or 11 to watch for symptoms associated with the virus and contact their health-care providers.
And some more of the witty 1985 banter:
Chris Knight: Sir, let me take this moment to compliment you on your fashion sense, particularly your slippers.
Kent: Uh, I'll catch up with you guys. I have to go to the bathroom.
Chris Knight: Okay, Kent, but I don't think that's going to help your confidence any, do you?
Professor Hathaway: I want to see more of you around the lab.
Chris Knight: Fine. I'll gain weight.
Chris Knight: Kent puts his name on his license plate.
Mitch: My mom does the same thing to my underwear.
Chris Knight: Your mom puts license plates in your underwear? How do you sit?
Talladega Shake-N-Bake
Is NASCAR a source of infectious disease? Sure, with 200,000 -- 300,000 people hanging out in the same area for the weekend.The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports that Democrats who advised aides studying public health preparedness at mass gatherings to get immunized for hepatitis A, hepatitis B, diphtheria, tetanus and influenza before going to the UAW-Ford 500 in Talladega last weekend and the Bank of America 500 this weekend northeast of Charlotte, N.C. are now being taunted by Republicans.
Linda Daves, the chairwoman of the North Carolina Republican Party, said,
"Democrats should know that there is no preventive measure yet designed to ward off the blue-collar values and patriotism that NASCAR fans represent. If they aren't careful, they just might catch some of it."
Republican Rep. Tim Walberg, whose district includes the Michigan International Speedway, said Democrats must not understand the term "rubbin' is racing," adding,
"To suggest that vaccines are needed to attend NASCAR races is insulting to millions of hardworking Americans who love their country and the smell of burnt rubber."
Shake-N-Bake.
