Deadly Swine Flu Outbreak

[Sundae]

I was watching Sky News last night (bad move anyway) and they were interviewing people coming back from Mexico. Two of them mentioned that they were told when boarding the flight that they would all be quarantined and subjected to a health check on departure. They weren't, they were just allowed to disembark as normal.

Hmmm, I think - why use that comment from those particular people? Oh I see - the rest of the piece was about how the Government is not taking the outbreak seriously. How the passengers disembarking were rightly concerned (yeah, I'm sure all the tired passengers really wanted to be waiting around for hours to find out they are currently fine). Cue clip of Japanese airport with returning travellers being treated like ET, all shrink wrap and polythene tunnels. That's doing it properly apparently.

Stupid spin-frenzy-storm-hungry Sky News.

Then again, stupid Government, who are sending a leaflet re Swine Flu to every house in the UK. What a waste of bleedin money.

I like those decorated masks though.
If I had been quick enough I'd have put some like that on eBay, would have made a killing!

[LabRat]

Ever wonder what happens between the Q-tip and the test result?

Wonder no more, dwellars!

UHL explains 'What happens to my test for swine flu?'

As health care professionals across the state of Iowa test for swine influenza A, people may be wondering, "Who conducts the testing for swine flu and how are positives determined?"

The central hub for such testing in Iowa is the University Hygienic Laboratory, which is the state's public health and environmental lab. The Hygienic Laboratory was established by Iowa law and serves all 99 Iowa counties.

When suspected swine flu specimens are brought to the Hygienic Lab, located just north of Iowa City, the scientists and support staff follow these steps:

--Specimens are processed and prepared for analysis and assigned a bar-coded label for data entry.

--Once the specimens are in the virology section of the lab, scientists look for the influenza A virus.

--Once testing is complete, laboratory analysts verify results. Specimens received by the Hygienic Laboratory in the morning are generally ready for reporting by the end of the day.

--If the novel strain of influenza is suspected to be present, the specimen is sent on for confirmatory testing, which is currently being conducted at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in Atlanta.

--In the coming days, the Hygienic Laboratory expects to receive testing kits from the CDC so that confirmatory testing can be conducted in Iowa.

--If the CDC (and later the Hygienic Laboratory) confirms a positive for the novel strain of swine flu, CDC notifies the Hygienic Laboratory, which in turn notifies the Iowa Department of Public Health and the physician who ordered the test.

"In this process, it's important to remember that not every person who goes to the doctor not feeling well is tested for swine flu," said Christopher Atchison, director of the Hygienic Laboratory. "Physicians will determine if patients meet CDC criteria for testing before they collect specimens and send them to us. Besides the swine flu, regular seasonal influenza is still being detected by the lab."

Atchison said the Hygienic Laboratory is anticipating a surge in testing from this outbreak of a new strain of swine flu. Since the outbreak began, the laboratory has distributed approximately 1,900 specimen collection tubes to health care providers across the state.

"Health care providers are preparing for the onslaught of testing," said Michael Pentella, Ph.D., associate director of infectious disease testing at the Hygienic Laboratory. "Their efforts are very important."

STORY SOURCE: University Hygienic Laboratory, 102 Research Park, H101 OH, Iowa City, Iowa 52242-5002

[LabRat]

Along with the above article, this was in my email today as well.

Dear Members of the University of Iowa community:

As you've likely heard, the Iowa Department of Public Health announced Wednesday that the University Hygienic Laboratory has identified two probable cases of H1N1 influenza (sometimes referred to as "swine flu") within the state, both involving southeast Iowa residents or visitors. One person who may have been infected with the flu attended a conference in Coralville.

Neither person has required hospitalization, and the Johnson County Department of Public Health is not recommending post-exposure prophylaxis (preventive treatment with antiviral medications) for people who may have come in contact with the Coralville visitor.

"sometimes referred as swine flu"

Originally Posted by Kitsune

Oh, god, that is so wrong.

...but it might suddenly end up in the breakrooms at my office later today.

Oh noes, I have contracted Bacon Lung!

[Pie]

Well, last week I had popcorn lung...

[Crimson Ghost]

Can you still catch 'swine flu' even if you keep a kosher table?

NTTAWWT.....

[xoxoxoBruce]

Originally Posted by capnhowdy

23 Month old child dies from swine flu in Texas town.

This link has some interesting stuff.

Yeah, a Mexican kid that crossed into Texas for treatment, presumably with family or some other exposed adult(s). Thanks a lot.

[Kitsune]

We must remain vigilant! Please, be sure to check your symptoms. http://doihaveswineflu.org/

[capnhowdy]

Originally Posted by xoxoxoBruce

Yeah, a Mexican kid that crossed into Texas for treatment, presumably with family or some other exposed adult(s). Thanks a lot.

I rest my case/point about the flood of illegals from a previous post in this thread.

[capnhowdy]

old commercials about swine flu

[Nirvana]

[TheMercenary]

[TheMercenary]

A guide for parents.

http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/parents.htm

[Aliantha]

Apparently 'Swine Flu' may not be as deadly as first suggested.

That's good news.

[Kitsune]

See you in the fall, bitches!