Swine flu medics in dash to dead victim's WA township

AN emergency medical response crew is rushing to the isolated WA indigenous community that was home to the first swine flu sufferer to die in Australia.

The team will land at Kiwirrkurra, more than 600km west of Alice Springs in the Gibson Desert, as doctors and health services warn of the extra risk posed to indigenous communities by the virus.

Public health experts are worried that swine flu is likely to hit Aboriginal communities hard, because many people suffer health conditions that make them vulnerable to the virus.

There has been a lot of criticism here in Australia about the over-reaction to the Swine Flu pandemic. Although the influenza strain may well be "mild" in comparison to other strains of the flu, and indeed other conditions and diseases, it still poses a great risk.

It is new! There is little natural immunity. And, as has been seen here in Australia, poses a real health threat to some members of our community (the young, elderly, infirmed, respiratory illness sufferers etc).

An outbreak of H1N1 A in a remote indigenous community would be disastrous. How it got there, when, why - it really doesn't matter now. Protecting the people of that community and ensuring it doesn't spread is vital. I don't think we have seen the last death.

Whether or not you believe in this global pandemic, or its seriousness, is not the point now. I certainly hope that it doesn't get worse, particularly in these remote areas.

Sylvestor
www.twitter.com/Sylvestor

Filed under  //  Aboriginal   Death   H1N1   Indigenous   Influenza   Pandemic   Swine Flu  
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Posted 8 months ago

World first swine flu vaccine

UPDATE: 4.45pm A SWISS company is today claiming to have made the world's first swine flu vaccine.

Novartis, which has its Australian headquarters in Sydney, announced it had successfully completed cell-based production of the first batch of A(H1N1) vaccine.

``Based on that success, the company expects to be able to achieve rapid production," a Novartis spokesman said.

``The vaccine is in clinical trials now.''

So they have made their vaccine. I am sure it will work, for some, but knowing we (in Aus) are about to head into our Flu season - or we are here now - I would suspect that it wouldn't be long before A(H1N1) or SwineFlu will most likely evolve as it mixes with other nasty flu-bugs.

For the conspiracy-mob out there - perhaps they've had the vaccine all along, but needed the world to hit Level 6 Pandemic before making any moves on disclosure! Testing the waters for biological-attack perhaps?

I await the "War on Influenza"!

Sylvestor
www.twitter.com/Sylvestor

Filed under  //  H1N1   Influenza   Pandemic   Swine Flu   Vaccine  
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Posted 9 months ago

'Swine flu parties' to boost immunity a bad idea, US official says

  • People reportedly holding "swine flu parties"
  • Idea is to catch early less deadly strain
  • Bad idea says health official

A US health official recommends that you cancel plans for that "swine flu party".

A swine flu party is a gathering intended to pass on infection of the A(H1N1) flu virus as protection against a future more virulent strain.

The idea for "swine flu parties", which reportedly first surfaced on specialty internet sites, comes from "chickenpox parties'', where sick children infect healthy ones with the chickenpox virus.

Parents who do this usually oppose vaccinating their children, or want them to have stronger immunity against more virulent strains.

US health officials fear that the unpredictable and potentially deadly A(H1N1) flu virus could mutate and appear as a more virulent, drug-resistant strain later in the year.

However having a "swine flu party'' is "a big mistake'', said Richard Besser, the acting head of the US Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

There truly are way too many stupid people in the world.

Vaccinate your children people!! Properly!! And avoid catching "stupidity" no matter how low the risk of contracting illness is, this is the most rediculous thing I've read this morning...prove me wrong!

Sylvestor
www.twitter.com/Sylvestor

Filed under  //  Flu   H1N1   Idiots   Influenza   SwineFlu   USA   Vaccination  
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Posted 10 months ago

Swine flu outbreak cause found!

 

Authorities believe this is how the disease has been transmitted....beware......

 

 

The humour of my friends at work! Still, good for a laugh.
 

Filed under  //  humour   influenza   swineflu  
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Posted 10 months ago