"This virus hasn't stopped. It's just begun."

Thu, 2009-05-07 06:22 — JRees

A crash effort to analyze the genes of the swine flu virus has revealed that it first emerged in humans last year — most likely last fall.

Author: Richard Knox
Publication Date: May 7, 2009
Source: NPR Morning Edition

"The consistent range we're getting out is the second half of last year — between June and December," says Oliver Pybus of Oxford University. "The best estimate is the middle of that range, kind of September."

The silver lining of recession: uptick in "Neighboring"

Thu, 2009-05-07 05:56 — JRees

Neighbors are reaching out to talk about crime and economy, helping others through job losses and organizing potlucks.

Author: By Annie Gowen, The Washington Post
Date: 05 May 2009
Published: Seattle Times

WASHINGTON — When Kris Kumaroo founded a new neighborhood association in October, he was driven by a desire to combat recession-era problems such as vacant homes and petty crime.

Swine Flu: Confused About What to Do?

Thu, 2009-05-07 05:28 — JRees

By TARA PARKER-POPE
Published: May 4, 2009
NY Times: Well Blog

Confused about swine flu? It’s no wonder, with all the seemingly mixed messages coming out of health agencies and news organizations.

Last week, the World Health Organization raised the alert level for the virus, whose formal name is H1N1, indicating that a “pandemic is imminent.” Now, health officials report that although the virus is widespread, most cases seem to be mild. People are being told not to panic, but schools in some communities remain closed.

May 6 Trend Update on the H1N1 Flu Outbreak of Spring 2009

Wed, 2009-05-06 06:00 — admin

It appears that the U.S. and Mexico are emerging out of their concern regarding 2009 H1N1 hitting as a rapidly spreading lethal outbreak this spring. We now have over 1000 confirmed cases and very possibly thousands of infections worldwide. These infections will still increase.

Pandemic influenza preparedness in Latin America: analysis of national strategic plans

Tue, 2009-05-05 17:31 — admin

Ana Mensua, Sandra Mounier-Jack and Richard Coker
Communicable Disease Policy Research Group, Health Policy Unit, Department of Public health and Policy, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK.
Health Policy and Planning Advance Access published May 1, 2009
Published by Oxford University Press in association with The London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine
Health Policy and Planning 2009;1–8 doi:10.1093/heapol/czp019

Full text at: http://bit.ly/AsZJI

PAHO Urges Equitable Access to Influenza Vaccines

Tue, 2009-05-05 16:24 — admin

Website; http://new.paho.org/hq/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1300&Itemid=1

Washington, D.C., May 3, 2009 (PAHO/WHO) – Guaranteeing access for developing countries to vaccines, including a possible vaccine for the new A/H1N1 influenza virus, is a major concern of the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), the regional office for the Americas of the World Health Organization (WHO), a PAHO vaccine expert said during a media briefing today.

PAHO H1N1 Flu Briefing

Tue, 2009-05-05 16:21 — admin

PAN AMERICAN HEALTH ORGANIZATION -WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION

News and Public Information * MEDIA ADVISORY

PAHO Briefing Monday May 4 on Influenza Epidemic 2 PM (Eastern time)

WHAT: Briefing on new A/H1N1 influenza outbreaks by Dr. Jon K. Andrus, Pan American Health Organization

WHEN: Monday, May 4, at 14:00 HS (Washington, DC Time)

WHERE: PAHO. 525 23rd St. NW, Washington, DC (Corner 23rd St. & Virginia Ave)

WHO: Dr. Jon K. Andrus, Pan American Health Organization, regional office for the Americas, World Health Organization

Capitalism Beyond the Crisis

Tue, 2009-05-05 16:19 — admin

Amartya Sen, is Lamont University Professor at Harvard. He received the Nobel Prize in Economics in 1998.
His most recent book is Identity and Violence: The Illusion of Destiny. (March 2009)

The New York Review of Books - Volume 56, Number 5 · March 26, 2009

Available online at: http://www.nybooks.com/articles/22490

Pandemic Influenza Planning in the United States from a Health Disparities Perspective

Tue, 2009-05-05 16:16 — admin

Philip Blumenshine,*1 Arthur Reingold,† Susan Egerter,‡ Robin Mockenhaupt,§ Paula Braveman,‡ and James Marks§

*Weill/Cornell Medical College, Ithaca, New York, USA; †University of California, Berkeley, California, USA; ‡University of California, San Francisco, California, USA; and §Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, Princeton, New Jersey, USA
EID Journal Home > Volume 14, Number 5–May 2008
CDC Journal Emerging Infectious Disease

Available online at: http://www.cdc.gov/eid/content/14/5/709.htm

Psychosocial Patterns of the H1N1 Outbreak Tending Toward Relaxed Vigilance

Tue, 2009-05-05 09:59 — admin

Lots of mixed messages this morning about the threat of swine flu. Below are quotes from the latest AP summary story, which reflect the fact that government and political figures appear to believe that the worst is over, while government health officials and scientists are urging caution. A Gallup poll yesterday found 19 percent say they personally worried Sunday about getting swine flu, down from 25 percent Thursday night. And swine flu is no longer getting the amount of coverage it was last week by national news organizations.

Did Mexico over-react on swine flu?

Mon, 2009-05-04 18:35 — admin

As tests suggest the swine flu virus in Mexico may be less virulent than first feared, the BBC's Stephen Gibbs in Mexico City looks at whether the response was an over-reaction.

Pedro Aparicio stocked up on food so his family would not need to go outside. Pedro Aparicio shows me his receipt from the supermarket.
"My wife thinks I spent too much," he says.
Just before the partial shutdown of this country, the primary school teacher stocked up on everything he thinks he, his wife, and their young daughter Naomi will need for the next five days.

East-Meets-West foundation efforts in Vietnam

Mon, 2009-05-04 15:08 — JRees

The East Meets West Foundation recently introduced a model programme to help communities in the central region of Vietnam adapt to climate change.

According to the foundation’s survey, climate change is affecting lives in all 25 communes in Quang Nam province where vulnerable farmers in the coastal, mountainous and lowland areas rely heavily on agriculture and fishing industry.

Most of those interviewed said they often lacked timely information on upcoming disasters and did not have access to Government policies regarding natural disasters preparedness and CC adaptation.

Director of WHO statement on H1N1 situation

Mon, 2009-05-04 14:49 — JRees

"The only thing that can be said with certainty about influenza viruses is that they are entirely unpredictable. No one can say, right now, how the pandemic will evolve."

On the supply of antiviral medication:
"Global manufacturing capacity, though greatly increased, is still not sufficient to produce enough antiviral medication and pandemic vaccines to protect the entire world population in time."

What we know from history:

WHO Chief warns of second flu wave

Mon, 2009-05-04 13:57 — JRees

Margret Chan, head of the World Health Organization warned in a interview with the Financial Times that swine flu may re-emerge stronger than ever even if the current outbreak appears to be declining.

From an article published 3 May, Chan told Britain’s Financial Times that an apparent decline in mortality rates did not mean the pandemic was coming to an end and a second wave may strike ‘with a vengeance.’ If it’s going to happen it would be the biggest of all outbreaks the world has faced in the 21st century,’ the paper quoted her as saying.

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