New Swine Flu Strain Gives CDC Pandemic Concerns

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msnbc.com news services

The unique strain of swine flu found in seven people in California and Texas has been connected to the deadly flu that has broken out in Mexico, killing as many as 61 people.
The strain has never been seen before and is raising fears of a possible pandemic across North America.
The World Health Organization said the virus that killed at least 12 of the victims in Mexico had the same genetic structure as an outbreak discovered in California.

“It is a virus that mutated from pigs and then at some point was transmitted to humans,” Health Minister Jose Angel Cordova said.

It first looked mostly like a swine virus but closer analysis showed it is a never-before-seen mixture of swine, human and avian viruses.
Cordova said additional suspected cases were still being tested. Mexico's Public Health Department put the total number of people sickened at close to 1,000 nationwide.
Cordova said in Mexico the virus has killed only people among the normally less-vulnerable young and mid-adult age range. One possibility is that the most vulnerable segments of the population — infants and the aged — had been vaccinated against other strains, and that those vaccines may be providing some protection.
Mexico canceled classes for millions of children in its sprawling capital city and surrounding area on Friday. 
The White House is closely following the outbreak and President Barack Obama has been informed, an administration official said on Friday.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/30386163/ 

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AlaskaMAn Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Resident Shaman Joined: 22 March 2005 Location: Alaska Online Status: Offline Posts: 17595	Quote Reply Topic: New Swine Flu Strain Gives CDC Pandemic Concerns Posted: 24 April 2009 at 2:09pm
	msnbc.com news services The unique strain of swine flu found in seven people in California and Texas has been connected to the deadly flu that has broken out in Mexico, killing as many as 61 people. The strain has never been seen before and is raising fears of a possible pandemic across North America. The World Health Organization said the virus that killed at least 12 of the victims in Mexico had the same genetic structure as an outbreak discovered in California. “It is a virus that mutated from pigs and then at some point was transmitted to humans,” Health Minister Jose Angel Cordova said. It first looked mostly like a swine virus but closer analysis showed it is a never-before-seen mixture of swine, human and avian viruses. Cordova said additional suspected cases were still being tested. Mexico's Public Health Department put the total number of people sickened at close to 1,000 nationwide. Cordova said in Mexico the virus has killed only people among the normally less-vulnerable young and mid-adult age range. One possibility is that the most vulnerable segments of the population — infants and the aged — had been vaccinated against other strains, and that those vaccines may be providing some protection. Mexico canceled classes for millions of children in its sprawling capital city and surrounding area on Friday. The White House is closely following the outbreak and President Barack Obama has been informed, an administration official said on Friday. http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/30386163/
	Remember You Don't Stop Laughing Because You Grow Old, You Grow Old Because You Stop Laughing! Rob Interior Alaska

PrairieFarmer Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Reliable Friend Joined: 04 October 2006 Location: D. of C. Online Status: Offline Posts: 6959	Quote Reply Posted: 24 April 2009 at 2:41pm
	I still have my stockpile of Tamiflu from the last pandemic scare.
	Trevor Never get a guy named Lizard to set up and maintain a website for you.

AlaskaMAn Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Resident Shaman Joined: 22 March 2005 Location: Alaska Online Status: Offline Posts: 17595	Quote Reply Posted: 24 April 2009 at 3:02pm
	They keep putting this stuff out there don't they? I'm waiting for the PIG-BOY mutants from Sienfeld to attack.
	Remember You Don't Stop Laughing Because You Grow Old, You Grow Old Because You Stop Laughing! Rob Interior Alaska

Growing Boy Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Old Pal Joined: 10 July 2008 Location: East Texas Online Status: Online Posts: 2288	Quote Reply Posted: 24 April 2009 at 3:19pm
	Always some little bug out there trying to get us. Always considered it interesting that virus's have geneticly more in common with plants than with animals. I guess we're just good compost.
	It's not,how much you love-it's how much you are loved. The Wizard of Oz.

jayBC Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: 20 October 2008 Online Status: Offline Posts: 1034	Quote Reply Posted: 24 April 2009 at 3:35pm
	It's a fun flu that is killing healthy adults in the midranges, just like the 1918 Pandemic. Right now they suspect that's because of immunisation programs for the young, the elderly and the immune compromised, but I won't be too surprised if with more research, they find it uses the host's healthy immune system to kill.

AlaskaMAn Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Resident Shaman Joined: 22 March 2005 Location: Alaska Online Status: Offline Posts: 17595	Quote Reply Posted: 24 April 2009 at 3:44pm
	Eat, drink and be merry for tomorrow we die.
	Remember You Don't Stop Laughing Because You Grow Old, You Grow Old Because You Stop Laughing! Rob Interior Alaska

Growing Boy Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Old Pal Joined: 10 July 2008 Location: East Texas Online Status: Online Posts: 2288	Quote Reply Posted: 24 April 2009 at 3:48pm
	Just what I plan on doing in a couple hours. Have to put off the dying part. Going to town tomorrow.
	It's not,how much you love-it's how much you are loved. The Wizard of Oz.

AlaskaMAn Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Resident Shaman Joined: 22 March 2005 Location: Alaska Online Status: Offline Posts: 17595	Quote Reply Posted: 24 April 2009 at 3:50pm
	I have band rehearsal tonight and T/M so I can't turn into Pig Boy yet.
	Remember You Don't Stop Laughing Because You Grow Old, You Grow Old Because You Stop Laughing! Rob Interior Alaska

ontheedge Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Old Pal Joined: 29 August 2006 Location: Texas Online Status: Offline Posts: 1485	Quote Reply Posted: 25 April 2009 at 1:02am
	Hmmm.. I wonder if now is a good time to get the kids a flu shot, just in case it might help with this strain of flu...
	Finally, LIVE from Red Rock Farm on Ghosthill! It's been almost two years but we made it!

willowbean Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Old Pal Joined: 13 February 2007 Location: Black Hills SD Online Status: Offline Posts: 4254	Quote Reply Posted: 25 April 2009 at 11:28am
	Well, since the "normal" flu kills more than 30,000 people in the US each year, I guess I have to say I'm concerned but not overly excited about the whole thing (my information is from the government CDC site). I DO, however, stay away from people as much as I can and wash my hands often. I don't take antibiotics unless the infection is profound, as I let my body do its best to get rid of such things on its own.
	"Nothing is ever easy." ~Zeddicus Z'ul Zorander "I'm beginning to suspect that I might not be a neat freak." ~Yakman (Chris)