Swine flu deaths climb to 59 in Britain

The number of deaths from swine flu in Britain has climbed to 59 but infection rates have continued to fall through the summer, according to the Department of Health.

The latest figures released today show the disease on the wane during the holidays with about 260 people still being treated in hospital, fewer than last week. Of those, 30 were in intensive care.

There were an estimated 11,000 people diagnosed with H1N1 flu in England last week, the cases spread uniformly across the country, and representing a sharp decline from the 25,000 cases recorded during the previous week.

After an unusual mid-summer spike in infections, pandemic flu could now be conforming to the normal pattern of seasonal flu which traditionally delivers peak rates of illness during the winter.

Health officials expect a second wave of infections to start building up again in the autumn, though when that will occur, and whether it will be chiefly due to the return of schools or the arrival of colder weather, remains unknown.

Sir Liam Donaldson, the chief medical officer, confirmed that there were no national plans to keep schools closed at the start of term. But he added: "If we get a big surge during the autumn it may be that individual schools will close."

One of the odder aspects of the latest data is that only 10% of those who sought help from a GP or the National Pandemic Flu helpline and subsequently took a swab test actually showed signs of infection.

Health experts said they were not surprised by the low proportion. The estimate of 11,000 new cases takes into account both the observation that not all those seeking medical help were ill and also that many who become infected never contact a doctor.

The government's Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (Sage) is assessing the latest fatality and infection rates – which are far lower than initially feared – to develop planning for the severity of the outbreak.

Commenting on the need for a revision, Justin McCracken, chief executive of the Health Protection Agency, said: "It's always best to plan for the worst, not the best."

The number of deaths did show a significant increase last week, rising from 44 to 54 in England. Almost half of those, 25, died in London. With five additional deaths in Scotland, the UK total now stands at 59 deaths.

Donaldson said he could not speculate on the timing of the second wave of swine flu but hoped it would follow the pattern of the 1968-70 pandemic which hit around Christmas time – a progession that would provide the UK with sufficient time to vaccinate as many people as possible, and possibly avoid a second peak altogether.

The chief medical officer said the full picture on how swine flu had affected the UK, including the number of excess deaths, would not be known until after the pandemic had passed.

The UK had taken a much more aggressive policy initially towards tackling the disease than many other countries, he said, enforcing school closures, providing antiviral drugs for contacts of swine flu victims, and checking flight lists to track down further potential contacts.

The development of the pandemic in Australia has been worrying health officials, with as many as 30% of those admitted to hospital being treated in intensive care.

Although infection in the UK appears to be subsiding in the warmer summer weather, Donaldson said it was "exceptional" to have so many flu victims in hospital at this time of year.

Of the 54 people who have died in England, 15% were under 15, a third were aged between 16 and 44, and 29% were over 65.

Of the same group of fatalities, 21% were recorded as having previously been healthy. More than half had severe prior conditions such as leukaemia.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/aug/20/swine-flu-deaths-britain

Symptoms of swine flu

It is important that as swine flu spreads, you know the symptoms of the disease so you can recognise it in yourself and others at an early stage.

Please read this page and consider your symptoms carefully before using the National Pandemic Flu Service mentioned below.

So far, most swine flu cases have been mild, with symptoms similar to those of seasonal flu. Only a small number of people have had more serious symptoms.

If you or a member of your family has any of the following symptoms and a temperature of 38°C or above, you may have swine flu.

The typical symptoms are:

* a sudden fever (a high body temperature of 38°C/100.4°F or above), and
* a sudden cough.

Other symptoms may include:

* headache,
* tiredness,
* chills,
* aching muscles,
* limb or joint pain,
* diarrhoea or stomach upset,
* sore throat,
* runny nose,
* sneezing, or
* loss of appetite.
http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/Pandemic-flu/Pages/Symptoms.aspx

Tips on Flu/ Swine Flu

The following measures may be undertaken to avoid the spread:

1. TULSI HERB - SHYAMA TULASI - BLACK (BASIL LEAVES)-------consume orally and make herbal tea. DRINK IN THE MORNING AND EVENING. Keep a plant in the house to keep away the virus.
2. Massaging feet with mustard oil at night before retiring to bed. Keep the feet warm. Wear cotton socks in the feet so as not to catch cold or cough.
3. SALINE WATER - 5 drops of lukewarm Saline water in each nostril 3-4 times a day.
4. Drink the juice of 2 Gooseberries ( green amla) everyday
5. Eat more onion, lemon, ginger and garlic with food.
6. One drop of lukewarm mustard oil in each nostril morning and evening to lubricate the nasal passage.

GENERAL PRECAUTIONS

* Frequently wash hands and blow the nose.
* Drink plenty of water. Eat nutritious food.. Avoid fast/ junk food.
* Dont mix with people having cough, running nose, sneezing and fever.
* Cover your mouth and nose with a handkerchief while sneezing or coughing
* Cleanliness in the house and due care to hygeine.

Novel H1N1 Vaccination Recommendations

With the new H1N1 virus continuing to cause illness, hospitalizations and deaths in the US during the normally flu-free summer months and some uncertainty about what the upcoming flu season might bring, CDC's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices has taken an important step in preparations for a voluntary novel H1N1 vaccination effort to counter a possibly severe upcoming flu season. On July 29, ACIP met to consider who should receive novel H1N1 vaccine when it becomes available.

Novel H1N1 Vaccine

Every flu season has the potential to cause a lot of illness, doctor’s visits, hospitalizations and deaths. CDC is concerned that the new H1N1 flu virus could result in a particularly severe flu season this year. Vaccines are the best tool we have to prevent influenza. CDC hopes that people will start to go out and get vaccinated against seasonal influenza as soon as vaccines become available at their doctor’s offices and in their communities (this may be as early as August for some). The seasonal flu vaccine is unlikely to provide protection against novel H1N1 influenza. However a novel H1N1 vaccine is currently in production and may be ready for the public in the fall. The novel H1N1 vaccine is not intended to replace the seasonal flu vaccine – it is intended to be used along-side seasonal flu vaccine.

CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), a panel made up of medical and public health experts, met July 29, 2009, to make recommendations on who should receive the new H1N1 vaccine when it becomes available. While some issues are still unknown, such as how severe the virus will be during the fall and winter months, the ACIP considered several factors, including current disease patterns, populations most at-risk for severe illness based on current trends in illness, hospitalizations and deaths, how much vaccine is expected to be available, and the timing of vaccine availability.

The groups recommended to receive the novel H1N1 influenza vaccine include:

* Pregnant women because they are at higher risk of complications and can potentially provide protection to infants who cannot be vaccinated;

* Household contacts and caregivers for children younger than 6 months of age because younger infants are at higher risk of influenza-related complications and cannot be vaccinated. Vaccination of those in close contact with infants less than 6 months old might help protect infants by “cocooning” them from the virus;

* Healthcare and emergency medical services personnel because infections among healthcare workers have been reported and this can be a potential source of infection for vulnerable patients. Also, increased absenteeism in this population could reduce healthcare system capacity;

* All people from 6 months through 24 years of age

o Children from 6 months through 18 years of age because we have seen many cases of novel H1N1 influenza in children and they are in close contact with each other in school and day care settings, which increases the likelihood of disease spread, and
o Young adults 19 through 24 years of age because we have seen many cases of novel H1N1 influenza in these healthy young adults and they often live, work, and study in close proximity, and they are a frequently mobile population; and,

* Persons aged 25 through 64 years who have health conditions associated with higher risk of medical complications from influenza.

We do not expect that there will be a shortage of novel H1N1 vaccine, but flu vaccine availability and demand can be unpredictable and there is some possibility that initially, the vaccine will be available in limited quantities. So, the ACIP also made recommendations regarding which people within the groups listed above should be prioritized if the vaccine is initially available in extremely limited quantities. For more information see the CDC press release CDC Advisors Make Recommendations for Use of Vaccine Against Novel H1N1.

Once the demand for vaccine for the prioritized groups has been met at the local level, programs and providers should also begin vaccinating everyone from the ages of 25 through 64 years. Current studies indicate that the risk for infection among persons age 65 or older is less than the risk for younger age groups. However, once vaccine demand among younger age groups has been met, programs and providers should offer vaccination to people 65 or older.
http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/vaccination/acip.htm

Indian natural herb Tulsi to fight back swine flu

Ayurveda, the traditional 'science of life', has a remedy for diseases when every other stream of medicine fails. Now, at a time when swine flu is spreading like wildfire across the world, Ayurveda has the remedy in the form of the miraculous herb, the basil leaves commonly known as Tulsi.

Tulsi, the purest and most sublime plant, has been known and worshipped in India for more than five millennia for its remarkable healing properties. Considered as an 'Elixir of Life', this wonder herb has now been claimed to keep the deadly swine flu at bay and help fast recovery in afflicted persons.

"The anti-flu property of Tulsi has been discovered by medical experts across the world quite recently. Tulsi improves the body's overall defence mechanism including its ability to fight viral diseases. It was successfully used in combating Japanese Encephalitis and the same theory applies to swine flu," Dr U K Tiwari, a herbal medicine practitioner says.

Apart from acting as a preventive medicine in case of swine flu, Tulsi can help the patient recover faster.

"Even when a person has already contracted swine flu, Tulsi can help in speeding up the recovery process and also help in strengthening the immune system of the body," he claims.

Dr Bhupesh Patel, a lecturer at Gujarat Ayurved University, Jamnagar is also of the view that Tulsi can play an important role in controlling swine flu.

"Tulsi can control swine flu and it should be taken in fresh form. Juice or paste of at least 20-25 medium sized leaves should be consumed twice a day on an empty stomach." This increases the resistance of the body and, thereby, reduces the chances of inviting swine flu," believes Patel.

As its name suggests, Tulsi has again proved to be the 'the incomparable' medicine - this time, in the prevention and cure of swine flu.

The symptoms of the H1N1 flu virus in people are similar to the symptoms of seasonal flu and include fever, cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, body aches, headache, chills and fatigue. A significant number of people who have been infected with novel H1N1 flu virus also have reported diarrhea and vomiting. The high risk groups for novel H1N1 flu are not known at this time, but it's possible that they may be the same as for seasonal influenza. However, Please consult a practitioner in case of any such symptoms. Doctors have strictly advised against self medication.

http://in.news.yahoo.com/242/20090812/1512/tls-indian-natural-herb-tulsi-to-fight-b_1.html

Tips To Avoid Swine Flu

1. Wash your hands frequently

Use the antibacterial soaps to cleanse your hands. Wash them often, at least 15 seconds and rinse with running water.

2. Get enough sleep

Try to get 8 hours of good sleep every night to keep your immune system in top flu-fighting shape.

3. Drink sufficient water

Drink 8 to 10 glasses of water each day to flush toxins from your system and maintain good moisture and mucous production in your sinuses.

4. Boost your immune system

Keeping your body strong, nourished, and ready to fight infection is important in flu prevention. So stick with whole grains, colorful vegetables, and vitamin-rich fruits.

5. Keep informed

The government is taking necessary steps to prevent the pandemic and periodically release guidelines to keep the pandemic away. Please make sure to keep up to date on the information and act in a calm manner.