Vegetarian diet safe at all ages November 10, 2009
Posted by benkaziebenkazie in Food, nutrition, public health.Tags: AMA, American College of Pediatricians, American Dietetic Association, cancer, childhood, childhood nutrition, children, diabetes, diabetes news, diet, diet news, dietary, dietary choice, dietician, Environment, health news, heart disease, illness, lacto ovo vegetarian, Los Angeles Times, meat, meatless, medical news, medicine news, news, nutrition education, obesity, pediatricians, pediatrics, pesco vegetarians, pollo vegetarian, preschoolers, research, semi vegearian, toddlers, vegan, vegetarian, vegetarian diet
add a comment
It is increasingly clear that vegetarian diets, whether exclusive, or predominantly so, are becoming more common. It is also clear that they are essentially healthy diets in every respect, political ideology aside. What has been of concern is the impact of vegetarian diets on children. It appears that with some thought and planning, even a strict vegan diet can supply young children with all the nutrition needed for healthy growth and maturation. Certainly, this view was not always the case. Also, it is not likely that extreme vegetarianism will become the pre-dominant dietary choice – at least not in the near future. However, it is reassuring to know that vegetarian choices are good not only for adults who so choose, but also for parents who may choose this for their children. So eat those veggies, follow some common sense guidelines regarding essential nutrients, and choose the diet that best fits your dietary preferences . . . ben kazie md
It’s hard to pin down just how many people are eating vegetarian diets. For one thing, definitions vary. Some people call themselves vegetarian even if they occasionally eat fish or chicken, while others have stricter views. For another, statistics vary depending on how surveys are done. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has estimated that about 1.5% of adults followed a vegetarian diet in 2007, about the same number as in 2002. In 1994, the group estimated that 1% of American adults were true vegetarians, eating diets free of meat, fish and seafood. Today, about 3% of American adults (between 6 – 8 million people) avoid those foods, according to the vegetarian group’s 2009 poll of more than 2,000 people. There are also a growing number of people — kids included — who still eat meat but are eating less of it and choosing more typical vegetarian foods instead. Sales of processed vegetarian products, such as soy milk, soy yogurt and vegetarian breakfast sausages, totaled about $1.4 billion in 2008, according to the market research firm Mintel, up 15% from 2003. Close to one-third of adults say they ate a soy-based meat substitute in the last year, Mintel reports.
Vegetarian kids – http://www.latimes.com/features/health/la-he-vegetarian-kids9-2009nov09,0,4323261.story?track=rss
Parents of preschoolers and school-age children often wonder whether a vegetarian diet is appropriate for their youngsters. Well-planned vegetarian diets — even a vegan diet — can supply all the nutrients that children require for their growth and energy needs. Parents should pay special attention to children’s calcium and iron intake. If your child doesn’t eat any meat, poultry, fish, eggs and dairy foods, be sure to find good food sources of protein, vitamin B12, vitamin D and zinc.
Is a Vegetarian Diet OK for Kids? – http://www.eatright.org/cps/rde/xchg/ada/hs.xsl/home_16835_ENU_HTML.htm
It is the position of the American Dietetic Association that appropriately planned vegetarian diets, including total vegetarian or vegan diets, are healthful, nutritionally adequate, and may provide health benefits in the prevention and treatment of certain diseases. Well-planned vegetarian diets are appropriate for individuals during all stages of the life cycle, including pregnancy, lactation, infancy, childhood, and adolescence, and for athletes. A vegetarian diet is defined as one that does not include meat (including fowl) or seafood, or products containing those foods. This article reviews the current data related to key nutrients for vegetarians including protein, n-3 fatty acids, iron, zinc, iodine, calcium, and vitamins D and B-12. A vegetarian diet can meet current recommendations for all of these nutrients.
Vegetarian Diets – http://www.eatright.org/cps/rde/xchg/ada/hs.xsl/advocacy_933_ENU_HTML.htm
www.blogsurfer.us
www.bloglines.com www.blogburst.com www.blogcatalog.com www.clusty.com www.reddit.com
www.digg.com www.wikio.com www.propeller.com www.mashable.com www.bing.com
Rapid H1N1 tests often fail to detect virus November 10, 2009
Posted by benkaziebenkazie in Swine Flu, medicine, public health.Tags: AMA, California, CDC, childhood, children, disease causation, disease prevention, disease transmisson, disease treatment, doctors, drug use, false negative tests, false negatives, flu, flu drugs, flu medications, flu news, flu testing, flu treatment, flu vaccines, flu virus, flu viruses, H1N1, H1N1 Flu, H1N1 remedies, H1N1 tests, health, health news, health policy, illness, infectious disease, influenza, JAMA, lab tests, medical news, medical tests, medicine news, news, Novel H1N1 Flu, office testing, pandemic, prevention, rapid H1N1 tests, research, Swine Flu, Tamiflu, tests, USA Today, vaccine, vaccines, virus
add a comment
Since H1N1 is overall a milder flu than even the seasonal flu, the need for rapid identification of cases is likely less important, except in specific cases (as referenced below). Although, milder overall, H1N1 continues to affect young people more so and the death rate among that group is much higher than normally seen with the seasonal flu. Rapid detection tests for H1N1 in doctor’s offices are proving to be only modestly accurate with over one third of cases that were positive for H1N1 testing falsely negative. This means that 1 in 3 persons tested were told, based on a negative test result, that they did not have swine flu, when in fact they did. The implications for this are obvious, as persons who feel they do not have swine flu may be more lax in taking precautions to prevent transmission to other family members or persons they have incidental contact with. Careful attention to hygiene, especially hand washing, remains among the most important measures we can take to prevent transmission to ourselves or others of flu viruses. Additionally, any person with a flu like illness, during this unusual year, should be more vigilant than ever in making sure that they are not the cause of additional cases . . . ben kazie md
Although still used in doctors’ offices and emergency departments, “rapid influenza diagnostic tests” actually do a fairly poor job of sniffing out H1N1, a growing body of evidence shows. Scientists reported last week in The Journalof the American Medical Association that one-third of California patients hospitalized with H1N1 flu had a negative rapid test, which looks for influenza A virus in a sample swabbed from the nose and gives results in a half-hour or less. However, a different test that uses the more sophisticated polymerase chain reaction – or PCR – technology, which can take a single piece of DNA and generate thousands to millions of copies, confirmed they had influenza A or H1N1 – an A strain – in particular.
‘Rapid influenza tests’ often fail to detect H1N1 – http://www.usatoday.com/news/health/2009-11-09-flurapidtests09_ST_N.htm
The recent appearance and worldwide spread of novel influenza A (H1N1) virus (1,2) has highlighted the need to evaluate commercially available, widely used, rapid influenza diagnostic tests (RIDTs) for their ability to detect these viral antigens in respiratory clinical specimens. As an initial assessment, CDC conducted an evaluation of multiple RIDTs. Sixty-five clinical respiratory specimens collected during April–May 2009* that had previously tested positive either for novel influenza A (H1N1) or for seasonal influenza A (H1N1) or A (H3N2) viruses by real-time reverse transcription–polymerase chain reaction (rRT-PCR) assay were used in the evaluation. The results showed that, although the RIDTs were capable of detecting novel A (H1N1) virus from respiratory specimens containing high levels of virus (as indicated by low cycle threshold [Ct] values), the overall sensitivity was low (40%–69%) among all specimens tested and declined substantially as virus levels decreased (and Ct values increased). These findings indicate that, although a positive RIDT result can be used in making treatment decisions, a negative result does not rule out infection with novel influenza A (H1N1) virus. Patients with illnesses compatible with novel influenza A (H1N1) virus infection but with negative RIDT results should be treated empirically based on the level of clinical suspicion, underlying medical conditions, severity of illness, and risk for complications. If a more definitive determination of infection with influenza virus is required, testing with rRT-PCR or virus isolation should be performed. Additional evaluations of the accuracy of RIDTs in detecting novel influenza A (H1N1) virus should be conducted.
Evaluation of Rapid Influenza Diagnostic Tests for Detection of Novel Influenza A (H1N1) Virus — United States, 2009 – http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm5830a2.htm
Most patients with clinical illness consistent with uncomplicated influenza who reside in an area where influenza viruses are circulating do not require diagnostic influenza testing for clinical management. Patients who should be considered for influenza diagnostic testing include:
- Hospitalized patients with suspected influenza
- Patients for whom a diagnosis of influenza will inform decisions regarding clinical care, infection control, or management of close contacts.
- Patients who died of an acute illness in which influenza was suspected.
Interim Recommendations for Clinical Use of Influenza Diagnostic Tests During the 2009-10 Influenza Season – http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/guidance/diagnostic_tests.htm
Results During the study period (April 23 and August 11, 2009) there were 1088 cases of hospitalization or death due to pandemic 2009 influenza A(H1N1) infection reported in California. The median age was 27 years (range, <1-92 years) and 68% (741/1088) had risk factors for seasonal influenza complications. 66% of those with chest radiographs performed had infiltrates and 31% required intensive care. Rapid antigen tests were falsely negative in 34% of cases evaluated. Secondary bacterial infection was identified in 4%. 21% received no antiviral treatment. Overall fatality was 11% and was highest (18%-20%) in persons aged 50 years or older. The most common causes of death were viral pneumonia and acute respiratory distress syndrome.
Conclusions In the first 16 weeks of the current pandemic, the median age of hospitalized infected cases was younger than is common with seasonal influenza. Infants had the highest hospitalization rates and persons aged 50 years or older had the highest mortality rates once hospitalized. Most cases had established risk factors for complications of seasonal influenza.
Factors Associated With Death or Hospitalization Due to Pandemic 2009 Influenza A(H1N1) Infection in California – http://jama.ama-assn.org/cgi/content/abstract/302/17/1896
www.blogsurfer.us
www.bloglines.com www.blogcatalog.com www.blogburst.com www.clusty.com
www.propeller.com www.digg.com www.wikio.com www.redditt.com www.alexa.com
CDC survey: 1 in 10 Americans not getting enough sleep November 9, 2009
Posted by benkaziebenkazie in Anxiety and Stress, Elderly and Seniors, depression, obesity, public health.Tags: AARP, AMA, American College of Emergency Medicine, American Medical Association, anxiety, CDC, Centers for Disease Control, disease causation, disease prevention, health, health effects of sleep, health impact of lack of sleep, health news, illness, insomnia, insomniacs, lack of sleep, medical news, medicine news, news, obesity, prevention, public health, public health news, side-effects, sleep, sleep apnea, sleep deprivation, sleep disorders, sleep effects, sleep habits, sleep news, sleeping, sleepless, sleeplessness, stress
1 comment so far
The negative effects of sleep deprivation are well known and become more detailed all the time. Lack of sleep or ongoing poor quality sleep has been implicated in a wide array of disorders such as obesity, high blood pressure, sexual dysfunction, social and psychological problems. It appears that nationally, inadequate sleep is a widespread health problem. It is perceived by Americans ranging from state to state to differing degrees, however, overall it appears that as few as 33% of adults feel they do get enough sleep nightly. That leaves tens of millions feeling that they do not. The stresses of modern life replete with time demands and overfilled schedules is in large measure responsible for this epidemic. Add in lack of exercise, poor dietary habits and possible abuse of legal drugs (caffeine, alcohol and tobacco) as well as use of illegal substances and the stage is set for a less than satisfactory sleep experience. Experts feel that 7-8 hours of quality sleep are necessary for adults to experience optimal health. So assess your sleep situation and take measures to correct any factors that may keep “counting sheep” far longer than you wish to . . . ben kazie md
Sleepless in Seattle? Hardly. West Virginia is where people are really staying awake, according to the first government study to monitor state-by-state differences in sleeplessness.
West Virginians’ lack of sleep was about double the national rate, perhaps a side effect of health problems, like obesity, experts said.
Getting enough sleep? They aren’t in West Virginia – http://www.usatoday.com/news/health/2009-10-29-sleepless-states_N.htm
Only one-third of adults say they are getting enough sleep every night, a new U.S. government report shows. Some 50 – 70 million American adults suffer from sleep and wakefulness disorders, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Not getting enough sleep has been tied to mental distress, depression, anxiety, obesity, hypertension, diabetes, high cholesterol and certain risk behaviors including cigarette smoking, physical inactivity and heavy drinking.
Millions of Americans Don’t Get Enough Sleep – http://healthday.com/Article.asp?AID=632575
In what states do people report getting sufficient sleep or, conversely, being sleep deprived? Thanks to the Centers for Disease Control, we now have an answer to that question. The CDC studied the responses of more than 400.000 people in all 50 states, the District of Columbia and three U.S. territories to a survey given in 2008. People were asked if they had insufficient rest or sleep in the preceding 30 days. Because of the differences between what young adults consider sufficient sleep compared with, say their parents, the researchers adjusted the results for age. They found that North Dakotans had the fewest complaints about insufficient sleep with only 7.4 percent of them reporting too little sleep or rest in the prior 30 days.
North Dakotans Get Best Sleep, West Virginians Worst – http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2009/10/north_dakotans_get_best_sleep.html
The importance of chronic sleep insufficiency is under-recognized as a public health problem, despite being associated with numerous physical and mental health problems, injury, loss of productivity, and mortality (1,2). Approximately 29% of U.S. adults report sleeping <7 hours per night (3) and 50–70 million have chronic sleep and wakefulness disorders (1). A CDC analysis of 2006 data from the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) in four states showed that an estimated 10.1% of adults reported receiving insufficient rest or sleep on all days during the preceding 30 days (4). To examine the prevalence of insufficient rest or sleep in all states, CDC analyzed BRFSS data for all 50 states, the District of Columbia (DC), and three U.S. territories (Guam, Puerto Rico, and U.S. Virgin Islands) in 2008. This report summarizes the results, which showed that among 403,981 respondents, 30.7% reported no days of insufficient rest or sleep and 11.1% reported insufficient rest or sleep every day during the preceding 30 days. Females (12.4%) were more likely than males (9.9%) and non-Hispanic blacks (13.3%) were more likely than other racial/ethnic groups to report insufficient rest or sleep. State estimates of 30 days of insufficient rest or sleep ranged from 7.4% in North Dakota to 19.3% in West Virginia. Health-care providers should consider adding an assessment of chronic rest or sleep insufficiency to routine office visits so they can make needed interventions or referrals to sleep specialists.
Perceived Insufficient Rest or Sleep Among Adults-United States, 2008 – http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm5842a2.htm
www.blogsurfer.us
www.bloglines.com www.blogcatalog.com www.blogburst.com www.clusty.com
www.propeller.com www.digg.com www.wikio.com www.redditt.com www.alexa.com
New ultrasound treatment may help heal chronic wounds November 6, 2009
Posted by benkaziebenkazie in Complications, Devices, Minimally Invasive Therapies, diabetes.Tags: ACC, ACS, AMA, American College of Emergency Medicine, American College of Surgeons, American Medical Association, bone, cardiovascular disease, Celleration, chronic wounds, diabetes, diabetes news, diabetic ulcers, foot ulcers, Forbes, healing, health news, high frequency energy waves, infections, ischemia, ischemic wounds, leg ulcers, low blood flow, medical news, medical technology, medical technology news, medicine news, MIST THERAPY, necrosis, news, orthopedics, poor circulation, poor healing, skin, skin grafts, skin ulcers, slow healing, Technology news, ultrasound, vascular, vascular ulcers, venous stasis ulcers, wound care, wound healing technolgies, wound management, wound treatment, wounds
add a comment
Chronic wounds are among the most difficult medical problems faced by physicians. A variety of age old techniques ranging from basic local care, to exotic creams and tinctures, to various surgical procedures both simple and complex may be involved in caring for and hopefully resolving a chronic, slow to heal wound. In the United States, where we have large populations with chronic cardiovascular disease and diabetes, chronic wounds are a challenge to the healer, the system and the economy. Any advance in technique which may potential aid in the healing of these wounds is welcomed. It seems that with the new therapy outlined below, there may be some additional help on the way. Chronic leg wounds, such as venous stasis ulcer and foot wounds secondary to diabetic infections are among the most notorious of the slow healers. The greatest risk in these cases is the that the wound, not responding, grows or becomes infected resulting in eventual amputation. Often times, the amputation is actually a slow process with the patient looses a foot, then a lower limb, then the entire limb. As always, the best treatment is prevention and patient and their doctors need to be vigilant in regard to any wound that is slow to heal . . . ben kazie md
Ultrasound is said to heal chronic wounds that don’t respond to other treatments
The treatment, called Mist Therapy, was developed by Celleration of Eden Prairie, Minn. It generated $10 million in sales last year for the ten-year-old company. Mist and biologically engineered skin grafts represent a new generation of what’s known as active wound healing technologies, aimed at the 6 million people suffering from chronic wounds. Mist is energy rather than a drug,” says Celleration’s technology chief, Kevin Nickels. Using a device that looks like a plant mister, physical therapists spray on the wound saline droplets that carry ultrasound energy produced by the device. Ultrasound is a high-frequency wave energy that, just like audible sound, travels more easily through water than air. Ultrasound dilates blood vessels and increases the flow of infection-fighting white blood cells and antibiotics. The energy also stimulates new blood vessel formation, which raises circulation, a crucial part of the healing process. It penetrates below the wound, where its high frequency vibrations destroy bacterial walls to fight infections.
Healing Power – http://www.forbes.com/forbes/2009/1116/health-wounds-medical-celleration-healing-power.html
Celleration, Inc – http://www.celleration.com/
MIST Therapy System – http://www.celleration.com/mist_therapy_system.html
MIST Therapy System – Acoustic Pressure Wound Therapy – http://www.celleration.com
/pdf/ML-66057_E_MIST_Therapy_Large_Sales_Presentation.pdf
Ultrasound Therapy for Recalcitrant Diabetic Foot Ulcers – Ostomy/Wound Management 2005;51(8):24-39 – http://www.celleration.com/pdf/Ennis_Ultrasound.pdf
Diabetic Complications and Amputations Prevention – http://www.footphysicians.com/footankleinfo/diabetic-amputations.htm
www.blogsurfer.us
www.bloglines.com www.blogcatalog.com www.blogburst.com www.clusty.com
www.propeller.com www.digg.com www.wikio.com www.redditt.com www.alexa.com
Sebelius, administration blamed for dearth of H1N1 vaccines November 5, 2009
Posted by benkaziebenkazie in Swine Flu, medicine, public health.Tags: AMA, American College of Emergency Medicine, American College of Pediatricians, American Medical Association, CDC, complications of Swine Flu, disease prevention, disease treatment, flu, flu vaccines, H1N1, H1N1 Flu, health, health news, health officials, health threats, illness, immunization, medical news, medicine news, news, Novel H1N1 Flu, pandemic, pandemic news, President Obama, prevention, research, Sebelius, Secretary Kathleen Sebelius, Swine Flu, swine flu deaths, swine flu immunization, Swine flu news, vaccine, vaccine availability, vaccine distribution, vaccine producers, vaccine production, vaccine shortages, vaccines, virus
add a comment
Indeed, one cannot blame the President or Administration for every aspect of the recent swine flu vaccine saga. To be sure there are technologic hurdles that have had to be overcome and remain a source of difficulty. Specifically this relates to the decades old technique of producing vaccine from virus incubated in chicken eggs. H1N1 has proven to be a slow grower in this old tech medium, despite it’s ability to spread rapidly among the human population. The slow growth of the virus in this technique has caused estimates of vaccine availability and quantity to be grossly over-promised and overstated. This has of course resulted in expected criticism from many quarters, both medical and political.
Additionally, it seems that with the shortage of vaccine, a robust enough effort to attack the most likely vectors of spread – school age children – could not be fully mustered resulting in the now familiar instruction: pregnant women first, everybody else to the back of the line. Also, the distribution process, being coordinated by the CDC and feds has seen major issues in terms of availability of vaccine. All in all, there is much greater demand than availability for vaccine. As for producers, the United States, thanks to its aggressive legal system and lack of tort reform, has in essence driven almost all vaccine manufacturers out of the US. Therefore, we are also reliant upon foreign vaccine manufacturers to a extent rivaled only by our foreign reliance on oil. Limitations on liability while not the only issue, would go long way toward enticing vaccine producers to relocate to the United States. Until some of these things change, we can expect this scenario to occur again and again in an ever more populated and interconnected world, where the rapid spread of viruses is easier than ever . . . ben kazie md
The moment a novel strain of swine flu emerged in Mexico last spring, President Obama instructed his top advisers that his administration would not be caught flat-footed in the event of a deadly pandemic. Now, despite months of planning and preparation, a vaccine shortage is threatening to undermine public confidence in government, creating a very public test of Mr. Obama’s competence.
The shortage, caused by delays in the vaccine manufacturing process, has put the president in exactly the situation he sought to avoid — one in which questions are being raised about the government’s response.
Shortage of Vaccine Poses Political Test for Obama – http://www.nytimes.com/glogin?URI=http://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/29/us/politics/29shortage.html
The Obama administration gave its most aggressive defense of the government’s swine flu vaccine campaign, with top officials saying Wednesday that despite shortages, the program has been more successful than expected in some ways and that millions of doses are quickly becoming available. While acknowledging that many Americans have been frustrated by their inability to get the shot, two Cabinet members held a briefing for reporters to ask the public for their patience, saying the program is expected to speed up quickly.
Top officials defend flu vaccination campaign – http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/10/28/AR2009102803822.html?hpid=topnews
Across Massachusetts, pregnant women have been swamping physician phone lines looking for H1N1 vaccine, often with no luck. Earlier this week from East Coast to West, lines snaked around blocks outside clinics offering the shots. And in Indianapolis, a health clinic dispensed all its shots in an hour and had to turn people away. This is what happens when you fail to follow an old business maxim, which says success results when you under-promise and over-deliver. Seems the federal government got it backwards.
For starters, the myriad federal agencies involved — perhaps there are too many, adding to disarray — need to keep closer tabs on vaccine production. Nicole Lurie, a top HHS official, says that despite weekly conference calls with vaccine-makers, she was surprised to learn around Columbus Day that three of them were having problems that would delay delivery. Her account raises the issue of why the government, a huge customer awaiting a vital product, didn’t have better intelligence about production levels.
The H1N1 pandemic also highlights how the nation is too reliant on foreign vaccine producers. Only one of the five vaccine makers is based in the USA, and most of the production occurs overseas. CSL Ltd., an Australian producer, met its own country’s needs first. Overseas demands on foreign companies could prove fatal to Americans in a future pandemic. More production on U.S. soil and a faster move to modern cell-based production, which doesn’t rely on eggs, are feasible solutions. The first cell-based plant is set to open in North Carolina next month, but it won’t be producing vaccine until 2011.
View on H1N1: Government over-promises, under-delivers on flu shots – http://blogs.usatoday.com/oped/2009/10/debate-on-h1n1-our-view-government-overpromises-underdelivers-on-flu-shots.html
Dr. Anthony S. Fauci was talking with fellow federal officials in September, a month before swine flu vaccinations were to begin, when it became clear they had a bigger problem than they feared with supplies.
As we got closer and closer, they said, ‘Oh, my God, we’re not going to make it,’ ” Dr. Fauci, the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, said in an interview
A Nation Battling Flu, and Short Vaccine Supplies – http://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/26/health/26flu.html?pagewanted=all
www.blogsurfer.us
www.bloglines.com www.blogcatalog.com www.blogburst.com www.clusty.com
www.propeller.com www.digg.com www.wikio.com www.redditt.com www.alexa.com
CDC estimates for spring’s swine flu outbreak in the millions October 31, 2009
Posted by benkaziebenkazie in Complications, Swine Flu, public health.Tags: asthma deaths, CDC, childhood, children, disease prevention, disease transmisson, disease treatment, doctors, early death, FDA, flu, flu deaths, flu prevention, flu shots, flu vaccines, H1N1, H1N1 Flu, H1N1 flu news, H1N1 news, H1N1 remedies, health, health news, hospitals, illness, infections, infectious disease, influenza, medical news, medicine news, news, Novel H1N1 Flu, pandemic, pediatrics, physicians, premature death, prevention, research, seasonal flu, Swine Flu, swine flu deaths, Tamiflu, vaccine, vaccine availability, vaccine distribution, vaccine production, vaccine shortages, vaccines, virus
2 comments
H1N1 continues to be a major concern to all Americans. The CDC has now confirmed what most American’s already know – the numbers of persons affected is large and widespread. The data just released indicates that in the spring of 2009 as many as 5 million + individuals were infected with the swine flu virus. Official estimates for the fall are not in, but clearly are in the many millions. In another troubling bit of news, the death rate for children who require hospitalization from swine flu is just this past week, higher than for an entire year with the usual seasonal flu. Accordingly, some officials are now rethinking vaccination strategies arguing that many more school age children should be vaccinated. This is now in line with what a number of experts felt should have been the course from the beginning. In any event, there are still major shortages of vaccine for those that need to be and want to be vaccinated. Also, Tamiflu is in short supply in some areas, particularly in a liquid form which is most suitable for the treatment of young children who become ill. Early treatment is also considered important for those who become ill to prevent complications and the need for hospitalization. As present, physicians continue to counsel good common sense: avoid those who are infected, get vaccinated when vaccine is available (especially if an individual is in a high risk group), practice diligent hygiene and hand washing, and seek medical attention promptly if you are ill. Delays can cause more serious complications and lead to death, particularly in children . . . ben kazie md
There were 1.8 million to 5.7 million cases of swine flu in the country during the epidemic’s first spring wave, according to a new estimate from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released Thursday. From 9,000 to 21,000 people were hospitalized as a result, and up to 800 died from April to July, when it largely faded out, according to the estimates, which were conducted by the C.D.C. and the Harvard School of Public Health and published online in the journal Emerging Infectious Diseases. Researchers have not yet made similar calculations for the fall season, so CDC officials will say only that ‘many millions’ of people have now been infected.
Swine Flu Hit Millions in Spring, Agency Says – http://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/30/health/30cdc.html?_r=1&scp=2&sq=%2b%22Centers+for+Disease+Control%22&st=nyt
CDC gives new swine flu numbers – http://www.latimes.com/features/health/la-sci-swine-flu30-2009oct30,0,6865331.story
October 30th CDC briefing on H1N1 flu and vaccine distribution – http://www.flu.gov/live/
Tracking how flu evolves _ it has sticky tricks – http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5jVZeORscGcbvFihgSIKSOB0jm8XQD9BKTGH80
www.blogsurfer.us
www.bloglines.com www.blogcatalog.com www.blogburst.com www.clusty.com
www.propeller.com www.digg.com www.wikio.com www.redditt.com www.alexa.com
More pregnant women getting vaccine October 27, 2009
Posted by benkaziebenkazie in Swine Flu, pregnancy, public health, women.Tags: CBS, CDC, disease prevention, disease treatment, doctors, early death, Environment, FDA, females, flu, flu news, flu shots, flu vaccines, gestation, H1N1, H1N1 Flu, H1N1 flu news, H1N1 news, health, health news, high risk persons, ICU, illness, medical news, medicine news, news, Novel H1N1 Flu, pandemic, pregnancy, prevention, Swine Flu, vaccine, vaccines, virus, women
add a comment
Understandably, expectant mothers are concerned about everything they ingest, wishing to limit any potentially damaging exposures to their unborn child. Clearly, there are conflicting emotions among pregnant women concerning vaccines, especially among the heightened concern over the effects of H1N1 flu on pregnant women. Initial studies on safety and effectiveness of the swine flu vaccine began on July 22, 2009. To date we know that a robust immune response does occur and acute side effects appear to be mild and minimal. Still, mid and long term effects are not known as the current study groups are at most 3 months into their followup. Each woman should consult with her obstetrician and make an informed decision. Certainly, if expectant mothers do decide to get the vaccine, they should get the “flu shot”— a vaccine that is made with killed flu virus. This one is given with a needle, usually in the arm. The other type of flu vaccine—a nasal spray—is not approved for pregnant women . . . ben kazie md
The CBS Evening News reported that federal health officials admitted today their projected timetable for producing the vaccine was way off. Among those being urged to get the vaccine are pregnant women. 100 pregnant women have been admitted to the ICU across the country with complications of H1N1, 28 have died. Traditionally, only about 15% of pregnant women choose to get a regular flu shot and that’s because of concerns that they have, understandably so, about putting anything in their body. More pregnant patients are coming in wanting to be vaccinated against H1N1 and for them fear of this virus is greater than any concerns they might have about the vaccine.
Pregnancy a Key Risk Factor for H1N1 Flu – http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2009/10/26/eveningnews/main5422642.shtml?tag=cbsnewsTwoColUpperPromoArea
Key Facts About 2009 H1N1 Flu Vaccine – http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/vaccination/vaccine_keyfacts.htm
2009 H1N1 Influenza Shots and Pregnant Women: Questions and Answers for Patients – http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/vaccination/pregnant_qa.htm
Clinical Trials of 2009 H1N1 Influenza Vaccines Conducted by the NIAID-Supported Vaccine and Treatment Evaluation Units – http://www3.niaid.nih.gov/news/QA/vteuH1N1qa.htm
www.blogsurfer.us
www.condron.us
www.bloglines.com www.blogcatalog.com www.blogburst.com www.clusty.com www.propeller.com www.digg.com www.wikio.com www.redditt.com www.alexa.com
Administration acknowledges H1N1 vaccine delays October 27, 2009
Posted by benkaziebenkazie in Swine Flu, medicine, public health.Tags: prevention, disease prevention, virus, research, disease causation, illness, disease treatment, news, health, H1N1 Flu, Swine Flu, Novel H1N1 Flu, CDC, flu, pandemic, FDA, POTUS, President, Secretary of HHS, H1N1, vaccine, vaccines, flu vaccines, health news, H1N1 news, H1N1 flu news, Administration, government, President of the United States, vaccine production, vaccine distribution, vaccine availability, vaccine shortages, eggs, Sebelius, Secretary Kathleen Sebelius, HHS Secretar Katleen Sebelius
add a comment
A “perfect storm” of old vaccine production technology, government directed distribution shortfalls, over optimistic estimates of vaccine dose availability, increasing numbers of H1N1 cases, and widespread publicity leading to increased public concern and fear have led to great anxiety over the shortage of swine flu vaccine. To be sure, some of the issues are certainly beyond the control of any company or individual. Still, more emphasis on traditional public health measures is needed to help stem the tide of spread of H1N1 and to limit its overall effects on the population, especially those most at risk. Also of concern is the questionable initial vaccine strategy which did not focus on school age children, their teachers and parents, since it appears that school age children are the primary source of spread of this virus.
It may well be that the involvement of the government via CDC has been more of a hindrance to distribution than a help. This of course raises concerns about any government involvement in actual delivery of health services, which is certainly a hot topic amidst the current health reform debate. As in noted on the CDC website:
2009 H1N1 vaccine distribution is a health department managed process similar to the process for the Vaccines for Children (VFC) Program. The distribution process for 2009 H1N1 vaccine builds on the existing mechanism for shipping vaccine to VFC providers. Vaccine orders are submitted by Project Area health departments on behalf of vaccine providers. These orders are transmitted to CDC and are processed and forwarded to CDC’s contractor for centralized distribution. The contractor, in turn, ships vaccine directly to the end user. The centralized distribution contract for the VFC program has been supplemented to provide for 2009 H1N1 vaccine distribution and distribution of ancillary supply kits.
Unfortunately, the above paragraph smacks of bureaucratic jargon and may reveal at least one area of concern both in terms of vaccine distribution as well as federal intervention directly in the care process . . . ben kazie md
Administration officials sought Monday to explain why so much less H1N1 flu vaccine is available than had been promised, blaming the manufacturers and the vagaries of science for nationwide shortages. Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius promised that, despite delays, there would eventually be enough swine flu vaccine for all Americans and that the vaccine is coming out the door as fast as it comes off the production line. The secretary appeared on three morning television news programs to deliver the assurance. Slow growth of the vaccine in eggs and different production problems at the five companies making the vaccine mean the country will have only about 30 million doses by the end of this month. Public anxiety has surged as the swine flu sweeps across the country and doctors and clinics are forced to turn away many people. Confusion and frustration at immunization sites have increased the pressure on government officials and executives of the vaccine manufacturers to explain why optimistic pronouncements this summer about the vaccine’s availability ended up so far off the mark.
Why such a shortage of swine flu vaccine? – http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/10/26/AR2009102603487.html
Assurances on Swine Flu Vaccine – http://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/27/health/27brfs-ASSURANCESON_BRF.html?_r=1
Allocation and Distribution of H1N1 Vaccine – http://www.cdc.gov/H1N1flu/vaccination/statelocal/centralized_distribution_qa.htm
www.blogsurfer.us
www.condron.us
www.bloglines.com www.blogcatalog.com www.blogburst.com www.clusty.com www.propeller.com www.digg.com www.wikio.com www.redditt.com www.alexa.com
