Mysterious U.S. Swine Flu Probe Widens as Mexico Finds Swine Flu *updated*

Swine flu: two children and man take UK death toll to seven

Three more people, two of them children, have died of swine flu, it was announced today, taking the death toll in the UK to seven.

One of the children, a nine year-old from south London, died at the weekend. The family asked for their privacy to be respected and would not allow any information about the child's health problems to be divulged.

The other two were a man and a child from the Kirklees area of West Yorkshire. All three victims had serious underlying health problems, according to local NHS officials.

Three children have now died. The first, Sameerah Ahmad in Birmingham, was six and suffered from a rare life-threatening disease which impaired her immune system and made her vulnerable to infections. Only one victim so far has been elderly – a 73-year-old man in Scotland. The others were a 19-year-old and a 38-year-old woman, who had recently given birth. All five had serious underlying health problems, according to NHS officials.
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Alberta confirms second death connected to swine flu

The death of an Edmonton area woman with chronic pre-existing medical conditions has been confirmed as the second in Alberta associated with H1N1 flu.

H1N1 virus as viewed through a microscope (CBC)It is not clear what role the H1N1 virus played in the death of the middle-aged woman, health officials said Monday in a release.

"The sad and stark reality is that we expect that we will see other deaths associated with H1N1," said Dr. Andre Corriveau, Alberta's chief medical officer of health, in the release.

Privacy concerns prevent the release of more details surrounding this latest death, the release states.

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Fifth Suffolk resident with swine flu dies

A fifth Suffolk County resident with a confirmed case of swine flu has died, the county's health department said Monday.

The latest victim is a woman from the Town of Babylon, between 55 and 65 years old, "who had multiple underlying medical problems," the county said in a news release.

The woman was hospitalized June 6, diagnosed with the H1N1 virus on June 23 and died Saturday.
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H1N1 Claims Third Life

There's been another death as a result of the H1N1 flu in Saskatchewan.

This time it was child under the age of ten.

A woman in her forties and a man in his seventies succumbed to the virus in the last couple of weeks.

According to Saskatchewan Health, all those who have died had serious underlying health conditions.

There have been 799 cases of the H1N1 flu virus confirmed in Saskatchewan.

H1N1 Virus Claims Another Clark County, Nevada Resident

www.lasvegasnow.com...

Updated: Jul 06, 2009 2:28 PM PDT

LAS VEGAS, Nev. -- A second Clark County resident has died from the H1N1 virus. The 51-year-old man died on July 3. This is the second Southern Nevadan to die.

The Southern Nevada Health District says the man who was hospitalized on June 25 did have an underlying medical condition. There are currently three patients with the virus that are hospitalized; two of those are in serious condition. There are also seven other patients hospitalized who may have the virus but the district is still awaiting resulting on testing.

There have been 110 confirmed cases of the H1N1 or swine flu in Clark County.

Argentines question government as flu spreads
www.alertnet.org...

06 Jul 2009 22:00:56 GMT
Source: Reuters
* Doubts over economic data extend to flu outbreak

* Argentine death toll third-highest in the world

BUENOS AIRES, July 6 (Reuters) - Argentines are questioning the government's handling of an H1N1 flu outbreak that has killed 60 people amid confusion over the number of cases and accusations that officials acted too slowly.

President Cristina Fernandez has sought to halt the spread of the new swine flu strain at the height of the Southern Hemisphere winter by closing schools and letting public sector workers to take time off.

But critics have chided her for going ahead with a congressional election last week and flying to Washington over the weekend to join a diplomatic mission to reinstate the ousted Honduran president while the flu death toll mounts.

"The government's clearly not handling this well," said Leopoldo Fernandez Suarez, an engineer who has sent his two children to Patagonia to get away from the capital and its suburbs where most cases have been reported.

"I don't pay any attention to what they're saying. I don't have any confidence in them," he added.

A two-year controversy over accusations the government is manipulating key economic data for political gain has also fueled doubts about the extent of the outbreak of H1N1, which first emerged in Mexico and the United States earlier this year.

In less than a week, the Argentine death toll has more than doubled to 60, the third-highest confirmed H1N1 toll in a country after the United States and Mexico.

The government has confirmed 2,800 cases of the virus, but the numbers have caused confusion.

A day after Argentina's mid-term vote, Graciela Ocana quit as health minister and some media said she had faced opposition within the government to her proposals to combat the outbreak.

Soon after taking over, her replacement Juan Manzur was quoted as saying the number of unconfirmed cases of H1N1 could be as high as 100,000. It is not a confusing number for health experts, who know that in any flu outbreak not every patient gets tested and that the virus usually infects more than 10 percent of the population.

U.S. health officials, for instance, say at least a million North Americans are likely infected, even though the officially confirmed global toll is 94,512.

But the way the remarks were made fueled confusion and concerns over the official response.

The government has not declared a national emergency because of the flu's spread. Some local officials have declared emergencies, including the mayor of Buenos Aires and several provincial governments, allowing them to make decisions to close public places and access government funds.

On Monday, a group of theater owners said they were closing theaters for 10 days after audiences dropped off sharply.

Fernandez is struggling with 30 percent approval ratings and trying to recover from a setback in last week's election that saw her lose her majority in Congress.

Andrea, a 44-year-old lawyer who did not want to give her last name, cited the government's handling of economic data as a reason why she does not believe Fernandez.

Private economists and analysts say the government overstates economic growth and understates inflation, poverty levels and joblessness for political gain, a charge Fernandez has rejected.

"There is a lot of manipulation and disinformation. It all started with the government statistics," Andrea said. (Writing by Kevin Gray)

Man with H1N1 dies in hospital today Jamaica

The Gleaner Power 106 News has learnt that a 22-year-old man who was diagnosed with the H1N1 virus died at the University Hospital this afternoon.

More on this story shortly.
Source: Gleaner/Power 106 News

Update: First H1N1 death in Jamaica

The Gleaner Power 106 News learnt that a 22-year-old man, who was diagnosed with the H1N1 virus died at the University Hospital this afternoon.

Our news centre has learnt that the man was admitted to the Tony Thwaites Wing at the institution.

Hospital and ministry officials are yet to confirm the death.

However, the Gleaner Power 106 sources said the man who was from St Catherine, had two initial tests which proved negative for the virus.

However, the H1N1 diagnosis was confirmed by a third test.

It is also understood that the young man was also diagnosed with pneumonia.

In the meantime, some staff members at the hospital have expressed fears that hospital staff are not adequately prepared to handle cases of the virus.

However, the Chief Executive Officer at the Hospital, Dr. Trevor McCartney said strict protocols involving measures are in place at the institution to handle cases of the virus.

Up to the end of last week the health ministry reported 32 cases of the virus.

Nine parishes have confirmed cases of the virus.

Meanwhile, the ministry is continuing to urge persons to take the precautionary measures to protect themselves from the virus.

These include washing the hands frequently with soap and water or using an alcohol based sanitizer, covering the mouth and nose when sneezing or coughing.

Persons with flu-like symptoms are being urged to drink lots of fluid and rest, but if the symptoms persist, the ministry said they should contact a doctor, health center or hospital.

[edit on 6-7-2009 by JBA2848]

Swine flu quarantine expanded at San Quentin

SACRAMENTO — A quarantine of San Quentin State Prison inmates has been expanded in response to a possible swine flu epidemic.

Luis Patino, a spokesman for the federal receiver who oversees medical care at the state's prisons, said today that 35 San Quentin prisoners have shown symptoms consistent with the H1N1 virus. The suspected cases have surfaced in several different areas of the prison north of San Francisco that houses California's death row.

As a precaution, officials now have isolated 2,100 of the prison's 5,200 inmates. Last week, when the potential cases were limited to one cell block, 800 prisoners were quarantined.

Patino says the prison still doesn't know if the ill inmates have swine flu and is awaiting confirmation through lab tests.

Eastern Long Island Reports 5th Swine Flu Death

HAUPPAUGE, N.Y (AP) -- A fifth person with a confirmed case of swine flu has died in Long Island's Suffolk County.

County health officials say the latest victim was a woman from the Town of Babylon who was between 55 and 65 years old and had ``multiple underlying medical problems.''

Suffolk Health Commissioner Dr. Humayun Chaudhry says the woman was hospitalized a month ago, was diagnosed with the H1N1 virus on June 23 and died on Saturday.

Suffolk County has reported 136 confirmed cases of swine flu. Most of the people with confirmed cases of the virus have recovered or are recovering.

Nassau County has reported one death from swine flu, a young woman who had just given birth.

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The last line Nassau County has reported one death from swine flu, a young woman who had just given birth. Im not sure if thats new or old.

Incr ease to the 21 human deaths from influenza in the country

SANTIAGO .- The number of deaths in Chile because of the flu AH1N1 increased to 21 according to official figures.

The number of deaths increased after it was confirmed that the deaths of two people, a man and a woman in San Antonio and the city of Tome.

The man of 52 years a native of San Antonio, after suffering a respiratory disease, which complicated their treatment.

"I had a chronic lung disease and was being treated for lymphoma," explained the director of the health service of the cities of Valparaiso and San Antonio, Dagoberto Duarte.

Health Minister Alvaro Erazo, reported that hospital admissions for respiratory diseases in adults increased by 20 percent, while the children had low from week to week.

For its part, the president of the Association of Primary Care Physicians, Camilo Bass, estimated at half a million cases of infection with influenza A in Chile, which contrasts with the official information of 8,000 people confirmed. "We do not have a figure for total cases, but taking into account all that antiviral treatments have been delivered free of charge at clinics and hospitals, and the level of overloading, we believe we have exceeded the 500 thousand cases," said Bass In statements to Radio DNA.

The doctor stressed that primary care was severely overloaded by demand, and because many workers in the system are licensed health.

The president of the Medical College, Pablo Rodriguez, in turn, felt that "it is likely that all the people working today in the health services' becoming infected at some point.

Muere 4ta persona por virus A H1N1 en Costa Rica.

from tweetdeck.

Translated

The 4th person dies by H1N1 virus in Costa Rica.

In general, guidance for control of novel H1N1 flu infection in obstetric settings is consistent with that in other healthcare settings but also includes special considerations for prevention of infection in the newborn. Infants are known to be at higher risk of severe illness from seasonal influenza virus infections. Based on this experience, infants are also considered to be at higher risk for severe illness from novel influenza A (H1N1) virus infection. Because very little is known about prevention of novel H1N1 flu infection in infants, these recommendations are intended to minimize the potential for exposure to novel influenza A (H1N1) viruses when an ill pregnant women delivers her babyow.ly...

QUEENSLAND'S swine flu tally has topped 1,000, with two people in a serious condition in hospital.

Queensland Health says the number of influenza A(H1N1) cases has risen by more than 200 in a day to peak at 1,058 on Monday.

Six Queenslanders with the virus are in hospital, including two in intensive care.

Another two prisoners at Mareeba's Lotus Glen correctional centre in far north Queensland have also tested positive for swine flu.

A total of three have contracted the virus at the Lotus Glen centre.

This follows an outbreak of the virus at the Capricornia Correctional Centre last week

LAS VEGAS—Health officials are reporting a swine flu-related death in Clark County.

The Southern Nevada Health District says a 51-year-old man with an underlying medical condition was hospitalized on June 25 and died on Friday.

Health officials say they cannot release additional details because of patient privacy concerns.

The death appears to be the third in Nevada related to swine flu.

In late June, a 33-year-old Clark County man infected with the swine flu virus died. The man had no underlying heath conditions and had been hospitalized since June 15.

Also last month, health officials reported the death a 70-year-old woman—a New York state resident—who was infected with swine flu

First H1N1 death in Stanislaus County confirmed. 21-year-old woman died on July 1. Story to follow shortly.

From tweetdeck

Woman, 21, becomes first to die from swine flu in Stanislaus County

A 21-year-old woman from Stanislaus County has died from complications of swine flu, health officials said today.

The woman, who had pre-existing medical conditions, died on Wednesday while hospitalized with severe pneumonia, according to the county Health Services Agency. Tests later revealed that she had been infected with the H1N1 virus.

The woman, whose name and town of residence were not released, is the first person in Stanislaus County to die amid the H1N1 pandemic. State health officials said last week that H1N1 influenza is widespread in California, with more than 2,000 reported cases, including 233 hospitalized and 23 deaths.

"We have had numerous tests for H1N1 within our county during the past few weeks," said John Walker, the county's public health officer. "Only four have tested positive, and all four have been within the past three weeks.

"Clearly, virus activity is on the increase within our community. However, this should not be cause for alarm."
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[edit on 6-7-2009 by JBA2848]

GENEVA – The United Nations may need more than $1 billion this year to help poor countries fight the global swine flu epidemic, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said Mondaynews.yahoo.com...

Experts say they’re surprised by the aggressive spread of swine flu in Finland, and they say Finland may see its first major outbreak of the H1N1 influenza this fall. yle.fi...

JOHANNESBURG, July 6 (Xinhua) -- Eleven South African students are infected with A/H1N1 flu following a squash tournament at the University of Johannesburg late last week, taking the total number of cases in the country to 29, the Health Ministry said on Monday.

"The 11 cases, all university students, presented with flu-like symptoms at various medical centers and confirmed positive by the National Institute of Communicable Diseases," said spokesman Fidel Hadebe.

"To date, the total number of cases reported in the country is 29."

Another five students were showing flu-like symptoms but it had not been confirmed that they were suffering from the flu.

"A total of 16 cases have been linked to the university sports event in Gauteng. The majority are males who shared the same residence and were squash players," said Hadebe.

"The patients appear to have mild illness, no complications so far and are being managed in accordance with the World Health Organization and the department of health guidelines."

All the participants at the games had been informed of their possible contact with the disease.

"All the other associated contacts will be followed up and given the necessary advice.

"The participants that attended the games came from different parts of the country and the likelihood of more cases from different provinces is expected," said Hadebe.

Anyone experiencing fever, a sore throat, runny nose, cough or muscle pain within seven days after contact with an infected person must seek medical health, he demanded

HEALTH authorities are tracking down passengers who came to Bahrain on two flights, which arrived carrying passengers with swine flu on Sunday and yesterday. Five of the new cases arrived in Bahrain on Gulf Air flights, of which one is a staff nurse at a Bahrain hospital. Meanwhile, tests were continuing on passengers who arrived in Bahrain on three separate flights over the weekend, all of which were carrying passengers diagnosed with swine flu.www.gulf-daily-news.com...

he H1N1 flu crisis has worsened Tuesday morning with news a baby is the latest suffering from the virus.

The baby is in Starship Hospital in Auckland after developing severe symptoms of the flu.

Meanwhile, clinical testing is underway on a new swine flu vaccine.

The government is hauling in 300,000 doses of a yet-to-be licensed vaccine for our front line health staff but even they won't be able to get it for months.

It is thought licensing will not be complete before December.

Virologist Lance Jennings says there is a risk the vaccine will not be effective if the virus mutates.

Jennings says while we have no way of predicting what the virus will do, there is also no evidence of it mutating yet.

The vaccine is cold comfort for most New Zealanders, as the official number of cases in the country passes the 1000 mark and it is seeing the country's health-line and GPs run off their feet.

As well as the baby in Starship, a man is in intensive care in Gisborne with suspected H1N1 and a 17-year- old woman is in a serious condition in Wellington Hospital.

Both were otherwise healthy.