Swine Flu Stories This Week

It has emerged in Serbia that two former senior health officials have been arrested over accusations of profiting from the swine flu vaccines when the outbreak emerged a few years ago in this story courtesy of BusinessWeek. It seems that this private company quickly saw an opportunity and milked it for all its worth, hyper-inflating the vaccine prices. We reported back in July that Scientists were working on a breathalyzer for swine flu. well it looks like the development and process has been faster than expected and now to improve upon this breathalyzer, you can read more about the 'breathalyzer' for swine flu halitosis and how it works here.
Also, this article from the Hong Kong asserts that Experts were wrong on swine flu - this story came out of a conference that was held by international fly experts in Asia this week.

Swine Flu Vaccine Worth 250 million Euros is Set to be destroyed

Read about this latest Swine Flu story here:
http://www.thelocal.de/national/20110817-37007.html

Swine Flu Breathe Test

A Breathe test to detect Swine Flu is being developed according to the Mail On Sunday:
http://www.mailonsunday.co.uk/health/article-2015046/Swine-flu-breath-test-vaccine-need-pandemic.html

Maintaining a healthy lifestyle

Often we are more susceptible to diseases and flu when our body systems are on low functioning power and our immunity is weaker than usual. We all know the basics on maintaining a fit and healthy lifestyle - but it's not always possible to fit exercise with a balanced and nutritious diet given the fast pace of our modern lives. So what's the solution? The first step is taking a serious evaluation of what we're doing in our daily lives that could be putting our health at risks. For some it may be gorging on junk food at least 2 or 3 times a week. For others, it may be being tied to an office desk from 9-5. Then the next stage is to look at solutions to reduce these unhealthy habbits.

If you're in the latter category, perhaps take breaks more regularly walk around the office, or if there's a gym nearby go to the gym at lunch - even if its only for 30 minutes. An intense 30 minute workout is sometimes better than an hour 30 drawn out workout. If you know your diet is unhealthy and unbalanced - take immediate action. Substitute McDonalds for homemade sandwiches and fruit. Reduce the amount of junk food consumption to once or twice a week maximum. Be strict with yourself.

Its only through changing your lifestyle that you can improve the state of your health, and ensure your less susceptible to succumbing to illnesses like swine flu.

Swine Flu still claiming lives

Googling the following phrases 'swine flu' in Google News and quite a substantial amount of links will show up for cases where victims have succumbed to the virus and ultimately in worst case scenarios being mistreated for something else, such as the case of a punk rocker in the UK, who fell ill from swine flu but because of his appearance paramedics thought it was a drug overdose. From the Daily Fail:
Daily Fail Swine Flu article

This kind of news article, whilst unpleasant to read, is perhaps testament to the fact that swine flu has disappeared to the back of peoples' minds.

What about Swine Flu Now?

So with no news stories for about 6 months now in regards to swine flu, it seems that swine flu has well and truly died down. This is not to say I'll simply close this blog down though, as I still believe by keeping up to date with the news and posting relevant articles we can still help to keep this in the public consciousness, and in case the influenza ever comes back in perhaps a more virulent form we shall remember what we learnt from the H1N1 outbreak in 2009.

I found this interesting press release from the Ministry of Health in New Zealand echoing the fact that swine flu cases are now below baseline levels and there's no cause for concern at the moment: http://www.nzdoctor.co.nz/un-doctored/2010/september-2010/30/pandemic-influenza-h1n1-2009-(swine-flu)---update-210-.aspx

If you hear of any other news stories related to swine flu or similar influenzas you're welcome to share them here.

Still cases of swine flu going on

Just when we thought we'd seen the back of this pesky flu, another case in India today:

http://www.duniyalive.com/?p=121205

My guess is that we'll still see odd cases like these popping up in areas that swine flu has already hit. But at least, now we have the benefit of hindsight on how to contain such cases quickly and stop it infecting others.

Swine Flu Resources

The Direct gov. website is still providing useful information for people who think they have swine flu: http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Swineflu/DG_177831

There's some useful links for detecting early and also the swine flu leaflet containing further information available in 15 languages.

It's good to see that this page hasnt been taken down by the Direct gov. website, as there are still reports of people being diagnosed with swine flu.

Haiti Earthquake Appeal

So there's already a lot of good charitable events and ways people can help the people of Haiti, but in case you're still wondering in what way you can contribute and help in some way the efforts of the diasaster recovery there, then I'm providing a link which lets you donate to the Red Cross - a very reputable British humanitarian organization. It's a sad way to start of the year with this kind of post, (I was hoping to recap on last year and how the swine flu pandemic broke out and then eventually died down, but now this seems trivial). Thanks for reading this.

Help the people of Haiti
Please make your donation today to the Red Cross.

Happy New Year!

Well as the first blog post of 2010, it seems only fitting to do the obligatory Happy New Year Post. 2009 was one in which we all witnessed the fear - spread largely by the media, of the pandemic outbreak that broke in april 2009. But the tail end of 2009 saw it dying down, and fears softened by the release of a general vaccination widely available and initially dispensed to vulnerable groups. 2010 will probably still have some media coverage here and then, so I shall endeveaour to keep the blog running, with some updated information as and when it's released. But, let's hope that I don't need to write about a new outbreak of swine flu in 2010.

Thanks for following, and continue to post me your comments and ideas for the blog.

Happy New Year.

Swine Flu takes a back seat to climate change

With the climate talks taking place in Copenhagen this week, people will be noticing how this will now dominate the news headlines, and swine flu takes a backseat. Although, it can be argued for the last few weeks and months, the news and media about swine flu has died down even before this conference. It just shows, how quickly news stories that linger around for months can come and go, and how quickly news stories can change. However, this week is still going to be interesting to see what actual progress is made. So far not a mention on the news has been made about how climate change might be affecting outbreaks of new diseases and viruses, which I think is a worthwhile point. Indeed, it's a valid point, that if there was no climate change, would we have experiences outbreaks like bird and swine flu. I'shall be watching with close attention to see what dialogues take place, and what proposals are put forward. It always seems we do too little and it comes too late, let's hope it's not the same with climate change.

Many people still "ducking" swine fly shots in US

There's an interesting article from the US, about swine fly shots, and despite them being readily available, many people still have issues about taking the immunization shots:

http://www.fayobserver.com/Articles/2009/11/30/955252

Christmas looks to be swine-quiet

With many countries and local health care authorities making adequate provisions for the festive holidays, it remains to be seen if there will be another panic that either the swine flu outbreak has mutated and broken out again, or that there will be a shortage of vaccinations in some countries, regions. It seems as though, swine flu is still on the minds of a lot of people, although in Taiwan i have noticed less people wear face masks, although its still very much on the consciousness of the Taiwanese, and you still see parents making their children wear them on the way to school and definitely there's still a lot of people wearing them on the underground.

In other countries, many governments are still advising their populace to carry out better Hygeinic practices and go to a doctor if they start to feel ill with flu like symptoms. It's also comforting to see that even poorer countries being able to stock pile vaccination shots for their most vulnerable groups.

Swine Flu - Over by Christmas?

An interesting article by Wales Online, following research in Wales and medical professionals have been quoted as saying that the peak of swine flu has fallen and we could well be on our way to see swine flu fizzle out by Christmas. However, with the winter temperatures well and truly drawing in on us, we should still remain on heightened alert as it stands to reason that the vulnerable groups are going to be susceptible to normal seasonal flus and this will weaken their immunity to the H1N1 virus. Many people are expecting the second wave of the swine flu virus to hit, as seen with previous pandemics and outbreaks. However, in wales alone in the coming the month there is expected to be over 750,000 swine flu vaccinations. So the message is clear from health professionals and the government alike, we should still remain cautious and not get complacement that the swine flu virus has been eradicated, and there could at anytime be a second wave.

Vaccination shortages in Canada

Seems they've had some trouble in Canada with their swine flu vaccine provisions, leading to large line-ups and some disappointed people. It has beset Canada's health campaign against the H1N1 virus. Even though the huge pharmaceutical company Glaxo Smith Kline forewarned health authorities in Ottawa that switching to the production of this vaccine would slow down production little was done to compensate for this. Thus, Glaxo now have been ordered to manufacture a further 400,000 doses of the vaccine this week. The reason why the slowdown has occurred is that Glaxo switch from making a more adjuvenated version of the vaccine to a slimline vaccine catering especially batches for children and young women. However, production is expected to go into overdrive this week, and the health authorities in Ottawa are not expecting any more hiccups.

Cases such as in Ottawa, Canada, highlight how very rushed the whole process of releasing the h1n1 vaccine seems to have been compared to the trials of drug compounds that are rigorously tested before they can be released on the market. However, saying this we are constantly told this new vaccine is just a simple modification of the seasonal flu vaccine we've had for a few years now. Again time will tell just how successful the vaccine has been in preventing deaths from this flu.

Vaccinations in the UK start rolling out

A mass vaccination program has begun now in the UK, with risks groups encouraged to get the vaccinations first. As of today pregnant woman, people with asthma, people over the age of 65, diabetes sufferers and people suffering from cancer will be able to go to surgeries to get the vaccine. Also, health workers on the NHS are being encouraged to get the vaccine (many were reluctant to take the seasonal flu vaccination, so it will be interesting to see if more people take this vaccine). Since the outbreak of the H1N1 virus, nearly 400,000 worldwide have confirmed laboratory cases of the swine flu virus. More than 4,700 people have died from h1n1. Other European countries following suite include France which started last week, Germany this week, Ireland in early November and Spain in mid-November.

Swine Flu Survival Guide

Even though the vaccinations are slowly arriving, the rest of us have to be content with following measures to avoid contracting the swine flu virus. I recommend you download the following Ebook from this trusted seller. It's not only an Ebook with all the information you could ever want to guard against swine flu, it also features bonus health related Ebooks which make for essential reading. Tremendous value for money:

Swine Flu Ebook Offer

Swine Flu vaccinations and their availability

With the swine flu vaccinations slowly making itself available in some countries, the availability or lack of availability should I see in some states in the US and countries in Europe has proved somewhat frustrating especially to those considered as vulnerable to the h1n1 virus. However, local authorities do show signs of getting their act together and slowly but surely the vaccination has made its way to many states and countries in the US and UK. However, for the rest of the world, it seems it's very dependent on the respective government and their health budget and how many supplies they've ordered. Of course, some countries have been largely unaffected by the pandemic and so only emergency vaccinations may be on hand. However, most governments have realized this far that its essential to give young mothers, children and the elderly the vaccinations first and for people with swine flu like symptoms to be administered to hospital as soon as possible. Some concerns are still ever present about the rushed nature of this vaccination and its release onto the global market, the Times reported in June that the Europeans Medicine Agency stated that: "The vaccines are authorised with a detailed risk management plan”.

How about where you are, is there ready access to the vaccines? Are these vaccinations free under your health care system, or do you have to pay for them?

Once swine flu is over

It seems as though peoples' worries about swine flu are slowly easing with the introduction in several countries of the vaccination, which is very similar to the seasonal vaccination flu, and us hearing about less and less cases of the h1n1 virus. But once, the spread of the disease has been fully controlled and there are no more cases does that mean we should go back to our old ways and let our guards down? Who's to say that the virus won't return in a deadlier form, bringing more deaths. The threat still remains that the virus might mutate and the pandemic will come back. So it's necessary for us to still maintain good hygienic practices and wash our hands on a regular basis. If anything the swine flu pandemic has provided many restaurants and public places better practices when it comes to providing their patrons with anti-bacteria gels and sanitizing gels, Thus, safe guarding us not only from swine flu, but also bacteria and germs that may be passed from our hands to our food.

US orders 250 million doses of swine flu vaccine

With many hospitals in the U.S. piling up on swine flu vaccinations, still many are concerned about the potential side-effects and if the vaccination is really necessary. The swine flu vaccination, actually doesn't differ too much from the current seasonal flu vaccination readily available, many doctors have stated it's just a slight variation of it and therefore it's just as tested as other vaccinations that have come onto the market. The pandemic has shown that people most at risk of contracting the virus are the elderly and children, however it's precisely these two groups that are hesitant to take the vaccine as they fear that there will be adverse side-effects from it and/or it will make them worse. But I think, as people slowly come round to the idea that this vaccination is ultimately safer than not having the vaccination hopefully it will have a viral effect and people will realize prevention is always better than cure.