President Declares National Influenza Vaccination Week

BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, A PROCLAMATION

Since the first United States cases were identified in April of last year, our Nation has witnessed the worldwide spread of the H1N1 influenza virus. To date, tens of millions of Americans have contracted this virus.

While the vast majority of those affected have recovered without incident, an unusually high proportion of children and younger adults have developed serious complications, resulting in hospitalization or even death.

We know that influenza vaccination is the best way to protect ourselves against the flu, and my Administration moved swiftly to respond to this threat by assisting in the development of a vaccine, which is now widely available and has shown to be both safe and effective.

Every American has a role to play in fighting the H1N1 flu. Expectant mothers, children, young adults, and all those under the age of 65 with chronic health conditions are at high risk for H1N1 flu-related complications and should get the vaccine as soon as possible.

Those not at high risk can protect themselves and prevent the virus from spreading to more vulnerable members of their families and communities by getting vaccinated as well.

This week presents a window of opportunity for us to prevent a possible third wave of H1N1 flu in the United States.

I strongly encourage those who have not yet received the H1N1 flu vaccine to do so. Visit flu.gov to find vaccination sites in communities across our country and to stay informed. Together, we can all fight the H1N1 flu and help protect our families, friends, and neighbors.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim the week of January 10-16, 2010, as National Influenza Vaccination Week.

I encourage all Americans to observe this week by getting the H1N1 flu vaccine if they have not yet done so, and by asking their families, friends, and co-workers to do the same.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this eighth day of January, in the year of our Lord two thousand ten, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-fourth.

/s/ BARACK OBAMA

Swine Flu: U.S. President Declares National Emergency

more information to follow…

Delay in Swine Flu Vaccine Makes Epidemic More Dangerous

Health officials have warned the public that stocks of swine flu vaccine will be scarce for at least the next few weeks.

Delays in the production of the swine flu vaccine means that only 28 million to 30 million doses will be distributed throughout the country by the end of the month, not the 40 million-plus the states were expecting. The new count from the CDC makes it likely that many flu-shot clinics will have to postpone their programs.

The delay in producing the H1N1 vaccine also stymies efforts to blunt the rising number of infections. The H1N1 flu has caused widespread illness in 41 states and approximately 6 percent of all visits to the doctor are for flu-like illness. Such levels that are normally not seen until much later in the autumn.

States had ordered 8 million of the 11.4 million doses of swine flu vaccine the government is ready to ship as of Wednesday. About half of the vaccine doses are now available as a shot and the rest as a nasal spray. Those who have priority in getting the scarce vaccine include pregnant women, anyone age 6 months to 24 years, health workers and people younger than 65 years with compromised health.

The CDC’s Dr. Anne Schuchat urged patience, saying eventually manufacturers will make enough vaccine for everyone who wants it.

Across the country shipments of seasonal vaccine aren’t arriving at clinics as quickly as expected either, as manufacturers are falling behind because of the extra work. Approximately 82 million doses of seasonal flu vaccine has been sent, and 114 million will eventually arrive, enough for a typical flu season, Schuchat said.

Swine Flu Kills 43 Children in Less Than Two Months

Eighty-six children have died of H1N1 (swine flu) in the United States since it first appeared last spring, with 43 deaths reported in September and early October alone, says the Center for Disease Control’s Dr. Anne Schuchat.

On Friday the government health authorities said another 11 children had died of the virus just last week.

The CDC said about half of child deaths from the month of September were teenagers.

And across the country, the number of deaths caused by pneumonia and flu-like illnesses have already reached the CDC’s threshold for being considered an epidemic.

“These are very sobering statistics,” says Schuchat.

This new influenza strain differs from the usual winter flu because it has affected more children and the death rate has received increasing attention.

More children have died from H1N1 so far this year than the total number of child deaths in the entire flu season in some past winters.

In addition, unlike the usual winter flu, swine flu can sometimes cause a very serious viral pneumonia in young adults in good health, warns the World Health Organization.

In general, people weakened by the flu are susceptible to bacterial pneumonia, especially among the elderly. But H1N1 can has been going deeper into the lungs in a number of patients who go into respiratory failure within days, said WHO official Dr. Nikki Shindo.

“Do not delay the treatment,” she warned at the end of a three-day meeting of international influenza specialists in Washington.

South Africa: 91 H1N1 Deaths Since June

South Africa’s National Institute for Communicable Diseases says that 91 people have died from the H1N1 virus in the country since June of this year.

So far 12,000 cases of the virus have been confirmed.

Angola Press

Oklahoma: School Closed When 40% of Students Sick

For the third time in recent weeks a school in Oklahoma closed because of “flu-like illnesses.”

Classes have been canceled at the Small White Rock School District in Lincoln County because 40% of the district’s students were out sick on Tuesday.

BartlesvilleLive.com

Tennessee Doctor Calls for Schools to Close

A Tennessee doctor is calling for schools and day care centers to close because of the high number of swine flu patients he is treating.

“I’ve never seen this before. I’ve been in practice 30 years and I’ve never been in a situation like this before, with so many kids coming in with the flu and so sick,” says Dr. Mohammad Koucheki of Crossville, TN, a small town about 70 miles from Chattanooga and Knoxville.

Dr. Koucheki has had to hospitalize seven patients with swine flu this week alone. He has been working 12 hour work days, trying to see every patient he can. He’s worried that soon swine flu patients will overwhelm the emergency room.

Cumberland County School officials say they have no plans to close the school even though 9% of students stayed home on Monday.

http://www.wate.com/Global/story.asp?S=11270364

WHO Warns of Drug-Resistant Flu

The World Health Organization is urging doctors to be alert to the high risk of the emergence of influenza viruses resistant to the antiviral drug oseltamivir (Tamiflu).

The Global Influenza Surveillance Network has detected incidents of H1N1 pandemic viruses that are resistant to antiviral drugs. So far 28 different antiviral-resistant viruses have been identified worldwide.

An article by the World Health Organization stated, “As use of antiviral drugs continues to grow, further reports of drug-resistant viruses are certain to occur.”

http://www.who.int/csr/disease/swineflu/notes/h1n1_antiviral_use_20090925/en/index.html

Swine Flu Widespread at University of Pittsburgh

Cases of swine flu have been reported at all of the University of Pittsburgh’s regional campuses, according to Chancellor Mark Nordenberg. Students have been given instructions to isolate themselves because of the risk of the high-contagious virus spreading even faster. They are also being given face masks to help contain the contagion.

A spokesman for the Allegheny County Health Department said that the H1N1 virus will likely target younger people, unlike the seasonal flu.

The World Health Organization reports that more than 310,000 people worldwide have been infected by swine flu.

http://www.pittnews.com/node/20198