Swine Flu Facts - What the Media's Not Saying

Here's what one Doctor In Texas has to say about the swine flu in a conversation with me.

Marc is a medical Doctor down in the San Marcos/New Braunfields (Texas) area and sent this out. Marc is a very intelligent and "with it" guy, he worked as a botanist for Pfizer in South America...then decided to become a doctor. I hope it helps answer some questions and it does have some good suggestions for alternative medications etc.

"After I returned from a public health meeting yesterday with community leaders and school officials in Comal County, Heather suggested I send an update to everyone, because what we are hearing privately from the CDC and Health Department is so different from what you are hearing in the media. Some of you know some or maybe all of this, but I will just list what facts I know.

- The virus is infectious for about 2 days prior to symptom onset

- Virus sheds more than 7 days after symptom onset (possibly as long as 9 days) (this is unusual)

- Since it is such a novel (new) virus, there is no "herd immunity," so the "attack rate" is
very high.

This is the percentage of people who come down with a virus if exposed. Almost everyone who is exposed to this virus will become infected, though not all will be symptomatc. That is much higher than seasonal flu, which averages 10-15%. The "clinical attack rate" may be around 40-50%. This is the number of people who show symptoms. This is a huge number. It is hard to convey the
seriousness of this.

- The virulence (deadliness) of this virus is as bad here as in Mexico, and there are folks on ventilators here in the US, right now.

This has not been in the media, but a 23 month old near here is fighting for his life, and a pregnant woman just south of San Antonio is fighting for her life. In Mexico, these folks might have died already, but here in the US, folks are getting Tamiflu or Relenza quickly, and we have ready access to ventilators. What this means is that within a couple of weeks, regional hospitals will likely become overwhelmed.

- Some of the kids with positive cases in Comal County had more than 70 contacts before diagnosis.

- There are 10-25 times more actual cases (not "possible" cases - actual), than what is being
reported in the media.

The way they fudge on reporting this is that it takes 3 days to get the confirmatory nod from the CDC on a given viral culture, but based on epidemiological grounds, we know that there are more than 10 cases for each "confirmed" case right now.

- During the night, we crossed the threshold for the definition of a WHO, Phase 6 global pandemic. This has not happened in any of our lifetimes so far. We are in uncharted territory.

- I expect President Obama will declare an emergency sometime in the next 72-96 hours. This may not happen, but if it doesn't, I will be surprised. When this happens, all public gathering will be cancelled for 10 days.

- I suggest all of us avoid public gatherings. Outdoor activities are not as likely to lead to infection. It is
contained areas and close contact that are the biggest risk.

- Tamiflu is running out. There is a national stockpile, but it will have to be carefully managed, as it is not
enough to treat the likely number of infections when this is full-blown.

I don't think there is a big supply of Relenza, but I do not know those numbers. If I had to choose, I would take Relenza, as I think it gets more drug to the affected tissue than Tamiflu.

- You should avoid going to the ER if you think you have been exposed or are symptomatic. ER's south of here are becoming overwhelmed - and I mean that - already. It is coming in waves, but the waves are getting bigger.

- It appears that this flu produces a distinctive "hoarseness" in many victims. The symptoms, in
general, match other flu's; namely, sore throat, body aches, headache, cough, and fever. Some have all these symptoms, while others may have only one or two.

- N-Acetyl-Cysteine - a nutritional supplement available at the health food store or Wimberley Pharmacy, has been shown to prevent or lessen the severity of influenza. I suggest 1200mg, twice a day for adults, and 600mg twice a day in kids over 12. It would be hard to get kids under 12 to take it, but you could try opening the capsules and putting it on yogurt. For 40 pounds and up, 300-600 mg twice
a day, for less than 40 pounds, half that.

- Oscillococinum, a homeopathic remedy, has been vindicated as quite effective in a large clinical trial in Europe, with an H1N1 variant. You can buy this at Hill Country Natural Foods, or the Wimberley Pharmacy.

I will try to keep everyone posted if I have any new information.

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No Swine Flu Vaccine? - Try Immune Boosting Foods and Other Strategies

You can't turn on the television and not hear about the swine flu. A vaccine may be months away; besides, there are still some who prefer not to be vaccinated.

The idea behind vaccines is to confer immunity to a specific virus. Since this is not an option, why not take steps to improve general immunity. We hear that half of Europe died during the Bubonic Plague in the 14th century. That means that the other half didn't die-better immunity.

We use language like, "I caught a cold," or "I caught the flu". It makes it sound like the virus has moves like LeBron James. It fakes left, spins right and slam dunks into you. But we know that even in a pandemic, not everyone gets sick.

So you want to enhance your immune system as much as possible. First do all the things your mother told you: wash your hands before eating, eat a good diet, and get plenty of rest. Stress really puts a strain on the immune system and can increase your chances of getting sick. Researchers from the University of Florida and the University of Iowa and reported in the Journal of Psychosomatic Medicine (May, 2001). According to the article, those who reported having a lot of pain and stress were more likely to become sick that those who claimed to have only a little pain and stress. It is reasonable to expect that other stressful procedures may hamper immune function.

Diet is very important. Sugar and refined flour products stress the immune system. Similarly, hydrogenated oils and deep-fried foods should be avoided. Fresh, brightly colored produce will help to boost your immune system. Fresh produce is high in vitamin C. The bright color in plant foods is from carotenes and bioflavonoids. These are powerful antioxidants that will help to protect your cells. The carotenes are precursors to vitamin A.

Also, supplementation often helps with immunity: Vitamin C is antiviral and antioxidant. It protects your cells from chemical stress and from viruses. Vitamin A is a much neglected immune support nutrient. Research shows that chemical exposure, and bacterial and viral exposure reduces vitamin A levels (get professional help before taking vitamin A, because too much of it can be toxic). Arabinogalactan can be purchased as a powder. They exist in high amounts in herbs that boost the immune system like: Echinacea purpurea, Baptisia tinctoria, Thuja occidentalis, Angelica acutiloba and Curcuma longa. In short, it is found in herbs that boost the immune system.

The idea is to improve your body's infrastructure. Fortify your immune system and the chances of getting sick decrease.

Dr. Paul Varnas, DC, DACBN is a practicing Chiropractor and Natural Health provider in the Chicago, Illinois area. Dr. Varnas is also a published author, entrepreneur and public speaker promoting the benefits of natural healthcare and whole body wellness throughout the country. His Whole Health America organization provides a variety of information and value added services to natural care practitioners everywhere.

For more information on Dr. Paul Varnas, please call 630-993-0007, or visit http://www.wholehealthweb.com

Tags: swine flu news, swine flu, swine flu vaccine, swine flu symptoms

Swine Flu - Symptoms and Prevention

Swine flu -- it's all over the media. What is it? What can I do? And how worried should I be? These are the questions I ask myself, especially as a mother. At some level, we all know that becoming riddled with fear doesn't help. So let's take action where we can. Be cautious where necessary and get the relevant information we need.

Let's first define swine flu. The name itself is horrible -- a visual image of filthy pigs wallowing in murky muck. And that image isn't too far off from its origins. So maybe the swine aren't bathing in muddy waters but this type of influenza is a contagious respiratory virus that affects pigs.

So why is it spreading to more humans now? In the past there have been limited instances where the virus has spread to people, but it had never gone beyond three people. As of right now, scientists aren't sure how some cases have occurred without any contact to pigs.

What are the symptoms? They're similar to flu-like symptoms: high fever and chills, lethargy, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea, lack of appetite, coughing, sore throat, runny nose, body aches, and headaches.

How does it spread? The same way the flu does. A person is put at risk two ways: If an infected person coughs or sneezes on them, or if they touch something that has the flu virus on it and then they touch their mouth, nose or eyes. However, what makes it sometimes difficult to prevent is that an infected person can pass the virus along even before any symptoms develop. But there are precautions that we can take.

What precautions can we take to help prevent the spread of the virus?

• Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Throw the Kleenex into the garbage.
• Wash, wash, wash. Wash your hands often with soap and water, especially after you cough or sneeze and before eating. Hand sanitizers that are alcohol-based can also effective.
• Germs spread by touching your eyes, nose or mouth so avoid this.
• If you think you're sick, avoid any close contact such as hugging, kissing and even shaking hands.

Watch for signs and symptoms in you and members of your family. The first few days are when the virus is most contagious so keep your children home if these symptoms exhibit themselves or stay home from work.

Can swine flu be fatal? We've already heard of some fatalities but we also need to think of statistics -- mainly stratified statistics. These deaths -- like many flu deaths -- are most likely people with already compromised immune systems, such as infants and the elderly. If we look at the statistics in a generally healthy population, the numbers may be virtually nil.

Are there any vaccines or medicines available to treat the swine flu? As of now, there aren't any vaccines available but we can still take those preventative measure listed above. And if infected, the CDC recommends anti-viral medications so that the virus can't reproduce inside the body.

Let's live in the present and use wisdom with our choices, eliminating fear and encouraging awareness.

Jaycee Fox writes on subjects with the goal of achieving a healthy and balanced life.
Jaycee is also a fiction writer where she aims to incorporate relevant messages into her stories.
She has a Bachelors in Psychology and a Masters degree in Statistics. Jaycee runs a resource site for women -- all about balanced living -- at http://www.jayceeliving.com

Tags: swine flu, swine flu prevention, swine flu symptoms

The New Swine Flu - Why Are Younger Adults Dying?

Up to this point most deaths from the new swine flu have occurred in Mexico, striking indiscriminately at young and old. What alarms health officials is the ability of this flu to kill seemingly healthy young adults, which is a prerequisite for a pandemic. I have received a number of questions from concerned individuals wondering if boosting their immune system would make them more susceptible to a problem, a question I will cover in detail.

First, let's put what we do know in perspective. Many of the Mexicans who have died are lower income individuals living in unsanitary and crowded conditions which are ideal breeding grounds for germs. It has been reported that they cannot afford to take time off work to seek medical care. Their diets are often lacking in key nutrients that would help the immune system behave normally. Nevertheless, there is still serious and legitimate concern that young adults can be killed by this flu.

The first death in the U.S. occurred in a 23-month-old Mexican infant who was in Texas at the time of outbreak. What has concerned health authorities here is that they were unable to save the child despite the use of anti-viral drugs, breathing assistance, and the best care that could be mustered.

The flu pandemic of 1918, also a swine flu, struck many young adults. Only recently did scientists figure out that this earlier swine flu was able to hijack the host's own immune response and ramp up the inflammatory aspect of that immune response and thereby increase its level of attack in a healthy person.

It is important to understand that your immune system is not just one type of response, it is many. If you get the flu you absolutely must have the energy and nutrition to be able to make antibodies. The speed and efficiency you can do this will determine the severity of infection and your odds of survival.

For example, in cases where humans contracted the bird flu in Asia, if they began making enough antibodies to the infection by day 7 they lived, if they didn't start mounting an effective response by day 9 they died. This pattern appears similar to the current reports of people dying in Mexico - by the 9th day of a significant battle it is too late unless your own immune system has kicked into gear. In this context you must have the nutritional horsepower to fuel antibody production or you could be in for a very unpleasant experience.

Another aspect of your immune response is its initial inflammatory reaction - which is of course normal. This is one aspect of immunity that occurs before antibodies are made, and is part of the process that leads to antibodies being made. It is possible for a younger or healthier person to have a more exaggerated inflammation response than an elderly person, infant, or person with compromised immunity. In this scenario, inflammatory cytokines may become their own problem - think of this as a "cytokine storm." This was the case with the similar flu in 1918.

This problem does not mean that you should not attempt to naturally boost your immune system. It does mean that you should use nutrients as part of your immune support protocol that reduce inflammation so as to help "put a lid" on how much inflammation is generated. The single best nutrient for this is quercetin, which has been proven to help prevent the flu. However, there are many nutrients that are anti-inflammatory in nature and any of them would be helpful, including the fresh fruit and vegetables that should be part of your diet.

It is also important to understand that a younger adult who is stressed out, not sleeping enough, eating poorly, is too anxious or wound up, and is in a general trend of wear and tear has already primed the inflammatory pump. This means that a flu entering into such a person is much more likely to have a magnified inflammatory response because this person's anti-inflammatory and relaxation reserves are already running on empty.

During the time of a potential flu pandemic the last thing you want to do is let yourself get worn down. Besides lifestyle management, any nutrients that help you sleep better, feel calmer, or manage stress better will also help your immune system not hyper-react to a problem.

While this may seem like common sense, there are many people out there who are generally healthy but are running their bodies into the ground trying to get things done. This is definitely a time to re-evaluate your priorities as doing so can put you into a high risk category if this flu begins to spread.

In my recent article, Tips for the Flu Season, I have given a thorough review of nutrition that can help you effectively boost and support your own immune system. You need to be able to make immune troops on demand, have them well armed, while at the same time minimizing the inflammatory aspect of fighting a bug. Of course, if you do develop a problem seek medical care.

What you need to know - Swine Flu Podcast & Articles
Byron J. Richards, Founder/Director of Wellness Resources, Inc, is a Board-Certified Clinical Nutritionist and a world renowned natural health expert. Richards is the first to explain the relevance of leptin and its link to solving obesity.

Tags: swine flu, h1n1 virus, swine flu news, swine flu treatments

Swine Flu: First U.S Citizen Dies From Swine Flu

This week should have been a joyous time for Judy Trunnell, a 33-year-old schoolteacher who had just given birth to a healthy baby girl.

But the friends and relatives whose cars lined the quiet street in front of her home in a quiet subdivision Tuesday instead were mourning her, the first American with swine flu to die.

"We're grieving now," said a woman with tear-streaked eyes who declined to give her name.

In Maryland, her cousin told WMAR-TV in Baltimore that Trunnell had died after spending two weeks in the hospital. She slipped into a coma, and her baby was delivered by Cesarean section, Mario Zamora said.

"She was just a beautiful person, warm at heart. She worked with disabled children as a teacher," Zamora said. "Those that knew her will always remember her."

Texas health officials stopped short of saying that swine flu caused Trunnell's death. State health department spokeswoman Carrie Williams said the schoolteacher had "chronic underlying health conditions" but wouldn't give any more details.

She died early Tuesday after being hospitalized since April 19, said Leonel Lopez, Cameron County epidemiologist.

Trunnell's death came as life in the areas hardest hit by the outbreak began returning to normal. In Mexico, where the current strain is thought to have originated, stores, restaurants and factories were officially allowed to reopen Tuesday. And U.S. health officials withdrew their recommendation that schools with suspected swine flu cases shut down for two weeks.

The only other swine flu death in the U.S. was that of a Mexico City toddler who also had other health problems and had been visiting relatives in Brownsville, near Harlingen. He died last week at a Houston children's hospital.

There have been 29 other confirmed swine flu deaths, all in Mexico. Hundreds of cases of the disease have been confirmed in several countries, but mostly in Mexico and the U.S.

Trunnell was from Harlingen, a city of about 63,000 near the U.S.-Mexico border, and taught in the Mercedes Independent School District about 15 miles west of her hometown.

She was first seen by a physician April 14 and was hospitalized on the April 19. Zamora said she had complained of difficulty breathing and was put on life support.

Doctors knew she had a flu when she came in, but did not know what kind, Lopez said. The area is undergoing a Type A influenza epidemic right now, and swine flu is one variety of that, he said. She was confirmed to have swine flu shortly before she died, he said.

Dr. Joseph McCormick, regional dean of the University of Texas School of Public Health's Brownsville campus, said the woman was extremely ill when she was hospitalized.

Mercedes school district officials announced that it would close its schools for the rest of the week and reopen Monday.

Associated Press writers Alicia A. Caldwell in El Paso and Jamie Stengle in Dallas contributed to this report.

Tags: swine flu, swine flu death, judy trunnell, swine flu texas

Swine Flu: Six Tips For the Prevention of Swine Flu

The swine flu news is catching on the spotlight everyday in newspaper. With the current economy situation, this form of influenza spreading is definitely hitting more woes on the already bleak scene.

What is swine flu? According to the Wikipedia, it is a respiratory disease affecting pigs that is caused by type A influenza virus. But the underlying virus strain, H1N1, has mutated and now contains genetic material from swine, avian and human strains. Some scientists say that it is wrong to label it swine flu because of this mix. So just how deadly is it? This is the first time such a strain has surfaced, which means it is unclear how lethal it is. While there have been more than 100 deaths in Mexico, the victims in the United States have recovered. Also, most of those infected had no contact with live pigs, which indicates that people-to-people transmission is taking place rapidly. Like regular flu, swine flu spreads by touching infected objects and then touching the mouth or nose, and through coughing or sneezing. Note that It does not spread like the Sars virus, i.e. when a patient is most infectious four or five days after symptoms show, the swine flu virus can be transmitted by an infected person even before he shows any symptoms. One in three does not have symptoms at all. Because of this, it is possible for an infected person to cross into countries. This means it can spread and become a pandemic. No joke on this as when outbreak occurs, most people will have no immunity to the virus and many people will die. Economic and social disruption will be great.

Currently, health authorities said two drugs commonly used to treat flu - oseltamivir (Tamiflu) and zanamirvir (relenza), seem to be effective at treating cases that have occurred so far. But the drugs must be given at an early stage. An infected person should recover if treated within 48 hours with antiviral drugs. The best way to contain the spread until it dies down is to see a doctor when symptoms show up and to practice good personal hygiene.

As a mother of two, I am really concern if the virus would reach schools which my children attend. I have tried to gather all information on the web and compiling it here to help all especially parents understand this type of influenza strain here. First of all, protect yourself and your loved ones by knowing the symptoms of Swine Flu:

• High fever (above 38°C)
• Chills, body aches, sore throat
• Cough
• Runny Nose
• Headache
• Patients may experience breathlessness a few days later

See a doctor immediately if you have any symptoms above.

Having said all these, what can you do to prevent Swine Flu? I have 6 Tips for you

• Maintain high personal hygiene standards. Cover your nose and mouth when coughing or sneezing, and wash hands immediately after; use a tissue when possible and dispose of it promptly. Wash hands frequently and thoroughly with soap and water. Wash your hands frequently with soap and water to reduce the risk of the virus spreading from your hands to your face or to other people. Educate your children to observe all these points.
• Avoid crowded areas and maintain good ventilation to reduce contact with viruses.
• Wear a mask that covers your nose and mouth if you are caring for someone with a flu-like illness, or if you are ill yourself. This will reduce the risk of transmission.
• Avoid visiting patients in hospitals. Their immune systems are already weak. Avoid contact with person having symptoms of influenza.
• Monitor temperature regularly and see doctors immediately if you suspect you're suffering from fever or flu. If you leave the house, wear a mask.
• Maintain good body resistance through a balanced diet, regular exercise and sufficient rest; as well as minimizing stress and smoking.

We should exercise social responsibility to prevent the spread of this virus. If you are back from trips to affected countries like Mexico.

• Be responsible. Place yourself on self quarantine. You should stay at home and avoid crowded places for at least seven days, even if you do not have flu symptoms. You should know within this seven days period if you have the virus.
• If you suspect you have swine flu, see a doctor immediately and inform the doctor that you have recently been to areas with cases of swine flu.
• Don't take Tamiflu. You should not take Tamiflu when you are healthly. Taking Tamiflu when you are healthy will hurt your chances of being cured if you are sick, as it causes the virus to be resistant to the medication. Tamiflu is not a vaccine.

This is an article by Lucy Casily.
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Tags: swine flu, swine flu masks, swine flu prevention, swine flu treatments

Swine Flu: Allergies and Asthma Concerns

People with Allergies and Asthma must be extremely careful about contacting Swine Flu due to their lowered Immune System Response that they have. I have been warning my clients to take special precautions about this epidemic due to their lowered Immune System Response to illnesses. It is important that they contact their Doctor immediately if they feel they have been in contact with someone with Swine Flu. Most of my clients are already telling me they are avoiding physical contact with other people temporarily such as not shaking hands.

According to the CDC, it is a lung virus that causes symptoms such as coughing and sneezing, and can also bring on muscle and joint aches, headaches, and even diarrhea and vomiting. Some of these symptoms are very similar to my clients who have Fibromyalgia. The symptoms of Fibromyalgia are muscle and joint aches and headaches. It is important that they understand they might have Swine Flu besides the Fibromyalgia.

Fibromyalgia symptoms can make You hurt all over and feel exhausted. The Doctors have a hard time diagnosing this illness because there is no specific test to identify it yet. We can only wait till Drug Companies develop some type of test in the future. The sad part is, your Doctor can't find anything specifically wrong with you. If this sounds familiar, you could have Fibromyalgia. My clients describe it as a chronic condition with widespread pain in your muscles, ligaments and tendons, as well as fatigue and multiple tender points that are sore to any pressure.

Swine Flu is presently affecting people in Mexico, New Zealand and the United States. There are reported cases in California, Kansas and Texas and New York. There are a few reported case in Europe that are being monitored. Individuals with Asthma and Allergies should take special precautions to avoid individuals with flu like symptoms temporarily till the epidemic passes due to their lowered Immune System Response.

I remember the Swine Flu Epidemic in 1976 when we were told to get vaccinations for it. That really dates me. All of us, my wife and three daughters got the vaccinations then. We never did get it so I guess it worked at that time. The same fears that are in the news today, such "public health emergency of international concern","Pandemic Threat" and "Fears of a Lethal Pandemic" were in the news in 1976 also. I guess if we live long enough there probably be another Swine Flu Epidemic in another 30 years.

In conclusion, people with Asthma and Allergies should take special precautions to avoid contact with Swine Flu due to their lowered Immune System Response. Some of the symptoms of Fibromyalgia are similar to flu-like symptoms and need to be monitored by a Doctor if you feel you have contacted Swine Flu. This is not in any way medical advice, if you feel that you have any of the above symptoms, contact your Doctor immediately for treatment.

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Tags: swine flu, h1n1 virus, allergies, asthma

Swine Flu Updates: Avoiding The Swine Flu

Although this new strain of swine flu that is currently making rounds in Mexico and around the world is simply another strain of influenza, due to its ability to easily affect anyone it comes in contact with caution should be taken to avoid becoming sick with swine flu. If you have children, are particularly susceptible to colds and flu, or have any kind of immune problems then you should certainly do everything you can to no come down with swine flu.

Here are a few things you can do to keep from getting the swine flu:

1) Avoid public places: schools, churches, and public transportation are places where people are in continuous close contact, making it the perfect place for illnesses like the swine flu to multiply.

2) Wash and disinfect: wash your hands anytime you come into contact with someone else, as well as before and after you eat. Buy some Lysol disinfectant and use it on your doorknobs, counters and anywhere you touch regularly.

3) Avoid sick people: stay away from anyone who is showing flu symptoms such as coughing, sneezing or fever.

4) Stay home: while this may not be an option for most people, the more you avoid contact with others the better chance you have of not picking up the flu. Try heading to public places (like the grocery store) when they are less busy, and take this opportunity to catch up on some housework or home improvement.

5) Be prepared: pick up some Tamiflu and enough food to last a few days, including lots of juice in case you get sick. Locate your nearest emergency center and pay attention to public announcements about the swine flu.

6) Get a mask: wearing an approved filter mask can prevent the transmission of the swine flu from one person to another. Consider getting one to wear if you need to head out to a public area where the flu can spread easily.

For most people who get the swine flu they will simply have a few days of flu like symptoms, however it is important to keep an eye out for more serious symptoms such as a high fever, difficulty breathing or loss of consciousness. With some precautions we can avoid the spread of swine flu.

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Tags: swine flu, swine flu treatments, swine flu prevention, h1n1 virus