Illustration by Keith Negley (Photo via CR)

About 66% of chickens tested by Consumer Reports still had dangerous bacteria. The take home message: governments still aren’t doing a good enough job and people have to stay sharp and careful with factory farmed food. You’ve got to cook to at least 165 F (74 C) and you have to prevent raw chicken or its juices from touching any other food.

Chicken Safety: Consumer Reports Investigates: “Each year, salmonella and campylobacter from chicken and other food sources infect 3.4 million Americans, send 25,500 to hospitals, and kill about 500, according to estimates by the national Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. But the problem might be even more widespread: Many people who get sick don’t seek medical care, and many of those who do aren’t screened for foodborne infections, says Donna Rosenbaum, executive director of Safe Tables Our Priority, a national nonprofit food-safety organization. What’s more, the CDC reports that in about 20 percent of salmonella cases and 55 percent of campylobacter cases, the bugs have proved resistant to at least one antibiotic. For that reason, victims who are sick enough to need antibiotics might have to try two or more before finding one that helps.”

(Via Consumer Reports.)

RELATED RESOURCES

When Cookie Dough Can Kill

Killer Bugs in Our Pork

Factory Farming Is Among Top 8 Killers

The Real Deal: Who Created Swine Flu

Swine Flu Kills 68 Lightning Fast

Super Bacteria in Fertilizer Breeding More Super Bugs

Proverbs 19:3 (NLT) People ruin their lives by their own foolishness and then are angry at the Lord.

In 2000, the  American Medical Association said poor diet including obesity and physical inactivity caused 400,000 U.S. deaths — more than 16 percent of all deaths and the  No. 2 killer. That compares with 435,000 for tobacco, or 18 percent, as the top underlying killer. Along with that was Alcohol consumption at 85,000 deaths;(3.5%). Sexual behaviors (20,000) and Illicit use of drugs (17, 000).

I absolutely believe that God can heal. If something goes wrong in your body that is absolutely out of your control I believe that God is the great physician. But what if your health condition is YOUR fault? You have to find a real idiot physician to give you gastric bypass simply because you cant by-pass the dessert. You also will be hard pressed to get on a list for a lung transplant if you’ve been filling the ones the good Lord gave you with smoke for the last 20 years. What’s my point? I’m so glad you asked. As I said before God is the great physician and as such places a burden of responsibility upon us to be stewards over the amazing bodies he’s given us. One of the places I believe Christians open themselves up to mockery from those outside the church is when people find out we’re praying for God to “heal” us of issues that are completely self inflicted. I don’t say these things to shame those that are struggling with these types of issues. I say it to empower you with the realization that you CAN change your situation. If it truly is genetic then get a doctor involved. But let me say one thing about that.. The American heart association says that the rate of obesity has tripled since 1960 among men and doubled among woman. Even for the Darwinist out there they don’t believe genes evolve that fast. What does evolve that fast is our poor lifestyle habits.

At the end of the day why does all this matter? It’s not an issue of vanity but of utility. I think God wants you to live a good, long, FULL life. A life that is marked by energy, creativity and vitality. I want to live to run races with my grand kids and more than that, I can do more for God in 80 years than I can in 60.

Its high time the church leads the charge in the area of healthy living. If you say you follow Christ(can I be blunt)… you shouldn’t be perishing from the things listed at the top of this page. Stop rationalizing, stop justifying, stop delaying and determine to take the resources God’s given you and make healthy lifestyle choices and LIVE.

OH! and a little side note. I wonder what good we could do in the world with the $147,000,000,000 we spend a year on health care issues related to obesity in America.

References:
Ali H. Mokdad, PhD; James S. Marks, MD, MPH; Donna F. Stroup, PhD, MSc; Julie L. Gerberding, MD, MPH. Actual Causes of Death in the United States, 2000. JAMA. 2004;291:1238-1245.

Even visiting Santa takes on a whole new twist during a pandemic…hand sanitizers, more frequent uniform changes and new health practices are showing up at the mall this season.

FORGET COOKIES AND MILK. SANTA WANTS THE SWINE FLU VACCINE

Many of America’s Santas want to be given priority for the vaccine and not just because of those germy kids. There is the element of that not-so-little round belly. Research has suggested obesity could be a risk factor – even for Santa!

The group known as the Amalgamated Order of Real Bearded Santas (I am not kidding here – http://www.aorbsinc.com) recently featured a seminar on H1N1. The group also urged its members to use hand sanitizer and take vitamins to boost their immune systems.

The president of the organization said he also hopes parents will keep sick kids away. “We don’t want any child to go without seeing Santa, but it’s not worth bringing your child to the mall, infecting the Santa and infecting the other children,” Nicholas Trolli said. He recalled a boy who informed him last year that he had a fever and had stayed home from school. But, the child said, his mother thought it was a good day to visit Santa.

Ernest Berger, president of another group called Santa America (http://www.santa-america.org) has asked an Alabama congressman last week to designate Santas a priority group for the swine flu vaccine, like health care workers or caregivers for infants. A spokesman for Republican Rep. Jo Bonner confirmed Berger’s request and said staff members were looking into it.

Berger hopes Santas will use hand sanitizers and encourage children to do the same, without turning the experience into a hygiene lecture. “It’s a delicate balance here. This is not an exercise in health care. This is visiting Santa,” he said.

Berger estimates that about two-thirds of all American Santas are overweight, and about a third are morbidly obese. That raises health concerns because some research has suggested obesity could be a risk factor for severe swine flu. A high proportion of those who have gotten severely ill from swine flu have been obese or extremely obese. But health officials also have said that might be due to heavy people tending to have asthma and other conditions that make them more susceptible.

The 200 or so Santas who volunteer to visit sick or grieving children through Santa America will be washing their suits daily instead of weekly and will not be wearing gloves this year so they can wash their hands frequently, Berger said. Santa John Scheuch said he might suggest to parents that they come back another time if a child is visibly ill.

But it is not just sitting on Santa’s lap that can be dangerous it is all of those kids standing in line in the strollers, sniffling and coughing and hacking. … In the meantime, they’re interacting with other kids in line.  Scheuch, executive director of Santa America, has taken some personal precautions. “I’ve had my H1N1. I’ve had my seasonal flu shot. This is my year for my pneumonia booster,” he said. “I don’t know what else I can do except encapsulate myself in plastic.”

A new feature around many mall Santa Claus areas are hand-sanitizing stations just outside the picket fence. Dr. Jodie Dionne-Odom, New Hampshire’s deputy state epidemiologist, said going gloveless and using gel between each child would be the best option. She cautioned that viruses can live on unwashed hands for two to eight hours. “If your hand was warm and moist, it could live longer,” she said. “It depends on whether you have a glob of mucus on your hand where it’s going to live happily versus a tiny speck. It’s kind of disgusting, but it would depend on what was on your hand.”

http://www.etaiwannews.com/etn/news_content.php?id=1116830&lang=eng_news&cate_img=logo_world&cate_rss=WORLD_eng

TWO DOGS HAVE H1N1 CONFIRMED IN CHINA

Two pet dogs were confirmed to have H1N1 in China.  The animals were diagnosed in Beijing and, while it is possible for pets to transfer viruses to their owners, scientists said there is no evidence to suggest pets are already spreading the illness.

The virus found in dogs in Beijing was a 99-percent match for the flu currently infecting humans, according to the Ministry of Agriculture, which announced the canine infection on Saturday but did not elaborate on the breed.

http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2009-11/30/content_12562856.htm

‘Tis the season to consume a lot of calories, and my tighter fitting, post turkey-day trousers can attest to that fact. Healthcare reform is front and center in the national debate, as well, and the rising epidemic of obesity should play a significant role in the discussion. Why is this issue so important? According to female financial guru, Suze Orman, we are already spending $57 billion more on obesity than cancer. Obesity-related health care costs totaled about $117 billion in 2000, according to the CDC (Center of Disease Control). One study on obesity estimates the problem will cost the United States $344 billion in health costs by 2018.

Although it may be an uncomfortable issue to talk about, this matter has had a direct personal impact on my family, making the problem all the more tangible to me. Regardless of the function of genetics or what lifestyle choices are made, the negative consequences are indisputable.

Take a look at the table of negative outcomes provided by the CDC:

These consequences obviously take a large toll on the individuals, but they also have a massive impact on our healthcare system. And the CDC has the data to backup the severity of this intensifying problem:

“More than one third of U.S. adults—more than 72 million people—and 16% of U.S. children are obese. Since 1980, obesity rates for adults have doubled and rates for children have tripled. Obesity rates among all groups in society—irrespective of age, sex, race, ethnicity, socioeconomic status, education level, or geographic region—have increased markedly.”

Before solutions can be created, the root problems need to be addressed. One of the factors contributing to increased incidence of obesity is our unhealthy dietary habits (myself included). A chart from the New York Times highlights the economic impact of our food choices has been impacted by inflation trends. Over the last 30 years, unhealthy foods (beer, butter, and soda) have become much cheaper than healthy foods (fresh fruits and vegetables), on a relative basis (see chart below). Making a trip to fast food chains has not only become more convenient, but the practice has also become more affordable.

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics (NY Times)

With our work lives stretched even further and stress levels rising, the picture below highlights the relationship between obesity (as measured by the Body Mass Index) and minutes spent per day eating. Our unhealthy, indoor, sedentary lifestyles take away from our healthy eating habits as well. The U.S. is the country with the highest percentage of individuals who are obese and the country that spends the third fewest minutes per day eating (eating more fast food). Seems like a fairly tight correlation.

Data Source: OECD (Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development)

Solutions?

Education / Government: Educational support through cooperation with the government is necessary to spread the word regarding the consequences of obesity. Incentives also need to be integrated into our healthcare system so individuals can responsibly attack obesity head-on.

Behavioral Modification: Healthier diet and exercise lifestyles need to be evangelized. Implementation of economic incentives can possibly improve behavior by lowering insurance premiums in exchange for better health compliance. 

Medications: Research needs to continue so innovative medications can help prevent and control obesity. Arena Pharmaceuticals (ARNA), VIVUS (VVUS), and Orexigen Therapeutics (OREX) are  in the late stages in an attempt of getting their obesity drugs approved by the FDA. There is tremendous profit potential if the proper mix of efficacy and safety can be proven, however the detection of side-effects can potentially derail adoption and approval.

Surgery: Advancements have been introduced through medical technologies as well. Allergan’s (AGN) Lap-Band device is an example of an FDA approved device that effectively wraps around the stomach like a rubber-band to control excessive eating urges.

Obviously this is not an easy problem to deal with, as evidenced by the skyrocketing numbers. Many face inherent genetic hurdles in conquering diabetes, while others may have other health issues that contribute to overweight problems.

With the holidays upon us, I still plan on responsibly splurging on occasion, but I’m praying I will have the discipline to mix in some veggies and a run around the block with my eggnog and turkey leg. In the meantime, perhaps I’ll help support the economy by running to the mall and burning some holiday calories by doing some shopping!

Wade W. Slome, CFA, CFP®

Plan. Invest. Prosper. 

DISCLOSURE: Sidoxia Capital Management (SCM) and some of its clients own certain exchange traded funds and AGN, but at time of publishing had no direct positions in ARNA, VVUS, or OREX. No information accessed through the Investing Caffeine (IC) website constitutes investment, financial, legal, tax or other advice nor is to be relied on in making an investment or other decision. Please read disclosure language on IC “Contact” page.

December 1 marks the twenty-first anniversary of World AIDS Day, an occasion designated as a day of worldwide commemoration and celebration.

According to the World Health Organization, “World AIDS Day on 1 December draws together people from around the world to raise awareness about HIV/AIDS and demonstrate international solidarity in the face of the pandemic.”  The themes of World AIDS day are to spread awareness and promote HIV/AIDS prevention research, treatment, and care worldwide.

The United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS reported that as of December 2008, there were an estimated 33.4 million people living with HIV. An estimated 2.7 million were newly infected with HIV in 2008, and there were 2 million AIDS-related deaths the same year. Sub-Saharan Africa remains the region most heavily affected by HIV, accounting for 67% of HIV infections worldwide in 2008.

According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, every nine-and-a-half minutes, another person in the United States becomes infected with HIV.  This adds up to 56,300 new infections each year.  There are more than 14,000 AIDS-related deaths every year in the United States.  Of the 1.2 million people living with HIV/AIDS in the United States, 1 in 5 is unaware of his or her infection and many may be unknowingly transmitting HIV to others.

Several organizations on campus, including the Black Student Union, Sisterhood, Student Government Association, University Residence Government,
Dowell Health Center, Center for Student Diversity, and Black & Gold Catering, are hosting a series of programs and events to recognize the occasion:

There will be free walk-in HIV testing from 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. in the University Union, room 305.

At 10:30 a.m. and again at 2 p.m., “I Am Because We Are”, a documentary film about the lives of children orphaned by AIDS in the African nation of Malawi, will be shown in the Chesapeake Room in the University Union.  The film was produced by Madonna, and features leading experts such as President Bill Clinton, Archbishop Desmond Tutu, Professor Jeffery Sachs, and and Dr. Paul Farmer.  If you cannot attend either screening, you can watch the documentary on YouTube.

At 12 p.m., Mandela’s HIV/AIDS Initiative: Africa & Beyond, an informative program that will include a Peace Tree Lighting ceremony will take place in the Women’s Center in the University Union, room 313.

At 4 p.m., the Dowell Health Center will host a Sexual Jeopardy game about HIV testing and outreach in the University Union, room 306.

The One World, One Fight, One Meal benefit dinner will be held in the Potomac Lounge at 6 p.m.  The dinner is donation-based, but a $5.00 donation is recommended for those who would like to attend.

2009 World AIDS Day Poster for Towson University

The purpose of World AIDS Day is to remind us of the threat and impact of HIV/AIDS on our world and inspire us to do more to fight back.

Good to be back!

Sorry to all who had been following this blog previously when I seemingly left a while back.  I had a lot of things going on and it just took too much time out of my schedule to be researching constantly and updating daily.  But now I think it is time I come back with a fresh start and I hope it is enjoyable for everyone.  Thank you very much.

Now that the re-introduction is done with let’s get to business; a lot of dis-heartening things have been going on in the US and the world, but surely you know better than I do about what has been happening recently.  Things like ObamaCare, Mr. Obama’s Nobel Prize, the H1N1 virus and more recently: ClimateGate.  Now I won’t go into any detail on these topics (links have been provided, hopefully un-biased, you never can tell) but you can be sure I will in the near future.  That is all the business for today, hope you learn something new.

And in personal news, I am living back in Amarillo again, struggling in much the same way as I was when I lived here previously.  But at least now I am suffering with three great folks I am proud to call my friends.  We all have our quirks and setbacks (as does everyone on the face of the planet) but I love them and wouldn’t trade this situation for any other.  Currently I am working on earning my share of this month’s rent and bills, not doing to well (might start whoring myself) but I am working at Best Buy, trying to earn my way into more hours.  That is all for today.  Take care and God Bless.

World AIDS Day Official Poster (www.worldaidsday.org)

On Tuesday, December 1st, Social Justice Consultants LLC  joins the World in recognizing the impact of HIV/AIDS and the many lives lost to AIDS.

HIV/AIDS is a pandemic and we can no longer keep our heads in the sand. HIV/AIDS impacts all of us. If we look closely, we are touched by HIV/AIDS individually or through a friend, spouse, partner, family member, colleague, classmate, church member, fraternity/sorority member, and the list goes on.

Take time to learn about HIV/AIDS. Visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention HIV/AIDS Website  or the  World AIDS Day Website.

At the very least, know your HIV status. Most locations can provide results within 20 minutes. Visit the HIV Testing Website to locate a HIV Testing Site in your area.  It is in your hands to PROTECT YOUR NEGATIVE STATUS.

Marriage, Committed Relationships, and Monogamy do not provide immunity from HIV. Since we can never be 100% sure what a partner is doing, it is important to protect your negative status. Anyone can get HIV. Learn about safer sex practices and using clean needles to reduce your risk of HIV.

As a person living with HIV, I know first hand the challenges of this disease. If you are negative take steps to protect yourself and test regularly. If you are living with HIV/AIDS be sure to utilize all resources available to you, monitor your T-cells and Viral Load, live healthy, reduce stress, and take care of your physical and mental health.

For the many lives lost to HIV/AIDS we honor you on December 1st. We have come a long way from the early 1980’s but the battle is not over until we find a cure for AIDS.

Remembering the many friends I have lost and the many who walk with me in the Fight Against AIDS.

Jeffry John Aufderheide
vactruth.com
November 30, 2009

Part I

When President Barack H. Obama signed a national pandemic emergency on Friday, October 24th, 2009, the media barely mentioned that “a declaration of emergency for the H1N1” had been signed.  A huge red flag should have gone up: Why was there was no reference to specific act or document? Initially, not even the White House web page had information about the pronouncement. Did Obama’s emergency proclamation, under sections 201 and 301 of the National Emergencies Act, imply that martial law was imminent?[1]

To answer that question, we first must see how the World Health Organization put Obama in such a position. The answer may surprise you.

The Department of Homeland Security(DHS), Federal Emergency Management Agency(FEMA), the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Center for Disease Control (CDC) and United States Northern Command (USNORTHCOM) will be the focus of a future release of this series called “Approved Chaos” that will answer questions about their status, readiness preparations and participation in the H1N1 emergency including:

What happens when a national emergency is declared?
Who is really in charge?,

and most importantly,
What does this H1N1 emergency mean for me?

Moreover, the media portrays the government as a passive participant in the swine flu pandemic. Digging deeper, it appears there is a much different story. The previous bird flu “pandemic” was, in fact, utilized to clear many legal obstacles in orchestrating the current, coordinated effort to establish global controls.

The WHO Sets Up for Control

In 2005, the threat of a killer avian flu pandemic shouted across the airwaves. The media whipped up a complete hysteria over the H5N1 virus. The Trust for America’s Health (TFAH), funded by the Rockefeller Family Fund was a big player in the frenzy.[2] Specifically, they predicted up to 1 million deaths could be caused by the H5N1 bird flu virus.[3]   Remarkably, official WHO reports document that between 2003 and 2009, only 262 people have died worldwide from H5N1 Avian Flu.

For a great review of the pandemic that never occurred, read Dr. Sherri Tenpenny’s book, FOWL: Bird Flu: It’s Not What You Think. Prophetically, it also explains 90 percent of what is happening today with the currently hyped H1N1 pandemic.

The 2005 H5N1 fear tactics worked well. Out of the panic created by TFAH and a long list of similar organizations, the WHO released a global “Pandemic Plan” that was obediently adopted by Americans and the rest of the world. In the United States, the Federal Pandemic Plan was incorporated into what is known as the the National Response Plan, under Homeland Security Presidential Directive 5.

The States Join In

In 2005, following the WHOs lead, the United States released a final draft of a multi-year pandemic planning project. States were required to prepare pandemic plans as a condition of their federal bioterrorism preparedness grants.

A group named Association of State and Territorial Health Officials (ASTHO) assisted in molding the state response plans. ASTHO’s exclusive list of “Corporate Alliance Partners” includes vaccine manufacturing giants such as GlaxoSmithKline, Merck & Co., Henry Schein, Pfizer, Roche, and Sanofi Pasteur.[5] Their participation in the pandemic planning efforts can be seen in a 2002 document entitled, “NATURE’S TERRORIST ATTACK: PANDEMIC INFLUENZA”. [6]

The State emergency response plans were heavily guided by officials at the CDC and HHS. A comprehensive checklist was spoon-fed to state health officials who were maneuvered into compliance by the Federal “mandate”. The DHS and HHS were instructed to withhold federal grants and monies for public health initiatives if states did not act in accordance with government plans. The word ‘ransom’ should come to mind.

Implications of International Health Regulations

We have now come full circle. All forms of government, federal, state and local, have adopted the World Health Organization ’s Pandemic Standard Operating Procedures. A pandemic plan in itself is not the problem. The issue is understanding the WHO’s incremental power grab via International Health Regulations.

Under the guise of preventing the international spread of disease, the Constitution of the WHO allows the World Health Assembly the authority to adopt regulations they see fit to accomplish the stated goal. By example, six diseases were originally identified by International Health Regulations for quarantine. However, in 1969 this number was reduced to three (yellow fever, plague and cholera). [7] With the current media hype surrounding the 1918 pandemic, it is especially surprising the World Health Organization to not include influenza on this list.

If we fast forward in time, major efforts can be seen to modify the scope of the Regulations from 1995 through May of 2005. On May 23rd the World Health Assembly struck gold. The language in the regulations were unified to include, “any specific disease or manner of transmission, but covering illness or medical condition, irrespective of origin or source, that presents or could present significant harm to humans”. [7] When the entire situation is put into context, the timing of a ‘killer’ bird flu pandemic was impeccable.

The International Health Regulations of 2005 were signed into force and effect in 2007. At that critical point, WHO was given authority to ‘direct’ and ‘govern’ activities “that protect the global community from public health risks and emergencies that cross international borders.” [8] The Director-General of the World Health Organization, Margaret Chan, declared a public health emergency of international concern for the first time under International Health Regulations in April, 2009. [9]

The implications of international health regulations and this emergency declaration are far reaching. International Health Regulations are legally binding agreements for all international members of the WHO. This is a major story ignored by the press and not understood by most citizens. The WHO international health regulations by-pass the checks and balances established by the U.S. Constitution and our Founders. George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, and Benjamin Franklin are rolling in their graves.

We have a serious problem as a nation. This scheme was not implemented as the media portrays: benign and harmless. It was devised incrementally by very powerful people with no input from our elected representatives. Never before has there been such an orchestrated effort to give a world organization jurisdiction over our lives in America. The WHO has emerged as the global “H1N1 Mafia” and is accountable to no one.

Part II of this series covers Obama’s H1N1 emergency declaration. Was martial law declared? Stay tuned.

[1] Declaration of a National Emergency with Respect to the 2009 H1N1 Influenza Pandemic. October 24, 2009. URL:  http://www2a.cdc.gov/phlp/docs/2009H1N1%20prc%20rel.pdf

[2] Trust For America’s Health. Year in Review, 2001; 33. URL: http://healthyamericans.org/about/review2001.pdf

[3] Trust For America’s Health. “A Killer Flu?”, June 2005; 19. URL:  http://healthyamericans.org/reports/flu/Flu2005.pdf

[4] School of Public Health and Health Services and the Homeland Security Policy Institute. “The H1N1 Influenza A Virus: A Test Case for a Global Response”, May 2009. URL: http://www.gwumc.edu/sphhs/about/rapidresponse/download/Rapid_SwineFlu_Final.pdf

[5] The Association of State and Territorial Health Officials (ASTHO). “2009 ASTHO Annual Report”, 2009; 28. URL: http://www.astho.org/About/09-Annual-Report/

[6] Association of State and Territorial Health Officials (ASTHO). “Preparedness Planning for State Health Officials: Nature’s Terrorist Attack: Pandemic Influenza”, November 2002. URL: http://www.astho.org/Programs/Infectious-Disease/Emerging-Infectious-Diseases/Pan-ASTHO-Pandemic-Influenza-2002/

[7] World Health Organization. “International Health Regulations, 2nd ed.”, 2005; 8. URL:  http://whqlibdoc.who.int/publications/2008/9789241580410_eng.pdf

[8] World Health Organization. “Ten things you need to do to implement the IHR”. Accessed November 29th, 2009. URL: http://www.who.int/ihr/about/10things/en/

[9] School of Public Health and Health Services and the Homeland Security Policy Institute. “The H1N1 Influenza A Virus: A Test Case for a Global Response”, May 2009; 4. URL:  http://www.gwumc.edu/sphhs/about/rapidresponse/download/Rapid_SwineFlu_Final.pdf

URL to article: http://www.infowars.com/approved-chaos-part-i-how-the-who-is-using-the-swine-flu-to-hogtie-the-us/

Although people are still getting sick and deaths are continuing, the pandemic picture is continuing to improve as the second wave continues its downward trend.  The CDC FluView report is delayed this week due to the Thanksgiving holiday.

• Over 99% of all subtyped influenza A viruses being reported to CDC were 2009 H1N1.
• The proportion of deaths attributed to pneumonia and influenza (P&I) was above the epidemic threshold for the eighth consecutive week.
• Thirty-five influenza-associated pediatric deaths were reported.
  • Twenty-seven of these deaths were associated with 2009 influenza A (H1N1) virus infection, seven were associated with an influenza A virus for which the subtype was undetermined, and one was associated with a seasonal influenza A (H1) virus infection that occurred in March.
• The proportion of outpatient visits for influenza-like illness (ILI) was 4.3% which is above the national baseline of 2.3%. All 10 regions reported ILI above region-specific baseline levels.
• Thirty-two states reported geographically widespread influenza activity.

Hospitalizations and Deaths

From August 30 – November 21, 2009, 29,348 laboratory-confirmed influenza-associated hospitalizations and 1,224 laboratory-confirmed influenza-associated deaths were reported to CDC.

Pediatric Deaths

Thirty-five influenza-associated pediatric deaths were reported to CDC during week 46:

• California, Colorado, Florida [3], Illinois [3], Indiana, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Mexico [8], New York, North Carolina [2], Pennsylvania [2], Rhode Island [2], South Carolina [2], Tennessee, Texas [2], and Washington).
• Twenty-seven of these deaths were associated with 2009 influenza A (H1N1) virus infection, seven were associated with an influenza A virus for which the subtype is undetermined, and one was associated with a seasonal influenza A (H1) virus infection.

Outpatient Surveillance

Nationwide during week 46, 4.3% of patient visits reported through the U.S. Outpatient Influenza-like Illness Surveillance Network (ILINet) were due to influenza-like illness (ILI). This percentage is above the national baseline of 2.3%.

Geographical Spread

A significant shift in the color distribution this week...a lot more orange!

During week 46, the following influenza activity was reported:

• Widespread influenza activity was reported by 32 states (Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, California, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Tennessee, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, and West Virginia).
• Regional influenza activity was reported by Puerto Rico and 17 states (Arkansas, Colorado, Georgia, Hawaii, Iowa, Louisiana, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Carolina, South Dakota, Texas, Washington, and Wisconsin).
• Local influenza activity was reported by the District of Columbia and one state (Wyoming).
• Sporadic influenza activity was reported by Guam and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

http://www.cdc.gov/flu/weekly/

It’s widely believed that when the zombie pandemic hits there will be no vaccine, or medical treatment that can help prevent infection.  This notion leads to wild speculation about how individuals and governments will react in the face of a fast-spreading undead threat.  But in fact, there is already a clear set of guidelines in place for dealing with similar scenarios, created by such esteemed organizations as the US Center for Disease Control and Prevention.

Non-Pharmaceutical Intervention (NPI) is the term experts use for public health strategies of this type.  From mandatory social distancing, to quarantine of exposed population, aggressive NPI procedures have been used repeatedly over the past century, starting with the great Influenza outbreak of 1918-1919 that killed an estimated 100 million people worldwide.

The Texas Department of State Health Services offers an example of the types of measure that will likely be employed:

• Isolation of the ill at home
• Quarantine of household members in homes with an ill person
• Dismissal of students from all schools
• Mandatory stoppage of social and public gatherings
• Cancellation of non-essential work responsibilities
• Relocation of populations to less dense areas

Though these steps may have little or no impact on the spread of zombiism, it’s important to understand what reaction your local, state and federal authorities will likely have.  If not, you run the risk of being escorted from your home by armed soldiers without time to hide, hunker down, or even collect your survival essentials.

Any survival plan should take into account not only the human threat from violent criminals, but also from the wrong and hasty action taken by the very individuals charged with our protection.  Either way, you need to be prepared long before you hear the knock on the door.

“Since the mid-1990s, the prevalence of diabetes has more than doubled among Delawareans,” according to the report.  “Approximately 58,000 Delawareans over the age of 18 currently have diabetes.”

“Obesity is an especially strong risk factor for the development of type 2 diabetes. In recent years, the overweight-obesity prevalence rate in Delaware has increased at an alarming rate,” according to the report. “Currently, 37 percent of Delaware adults 18 and older are overweight; an additional 28 percent are obese.”

The costs of diabetes are very high. The report’s executive summary says that, “In Delaware, health care expenditures stemming from diabetes-related services and care approached $857 million from 2001-2004.”  http://www.dhss.delaware.gov/dph/dpc/files/diabetesburdenrpt09.pdf

The YMCA of Delaware was recently awarded an $80,000 CDC grant through the YMCA of the USA to be the third YMCA in the USA to implement the Diabetes Prevention Program (DPP).   The Diabetes Prevention Program (DPP) demonstrated that a structured diet and physical activity intervention that achieves and maintains modest weight loss for overweight adults with impaired glucose tolerance can significantly reduce the development of diabetes. Although tens of millions of American adults could benefit from access to the DPP lifestyle intervention, there currently is no available model for nationwide dissemination of this highly beneficial and cost-effective approach to diabetes prevention. 

The YMCA is the perfect system for nationwide dissemination.

http://tde.sagepub.com/cgi/content/abstract/33/1/69

According to the Minnesota Department of Health, H1N1 has peaked in Minnesota. This sounds like great news, but it applies only to the second wave (or second outbreak–the first was in March and April) of the virus. The MDH reports that a possible third wave may occur in January or Februrary. That being said, the CDC has downgraded its classification of the flu activity in our fair state from “widespread” to “regional”.

This information comes from the 2009 H1N1 Influenza General Talking Points, which were revised and re-released on November 24th. The document contains a great deal of interesting information. For example, it says that, while flu activity seems to have peeked in Minnesota, MDH “continues to report additional deaths from 2009 H1N1″. The document also says that deaths that are being reported as H1N1 deaths are actually not H1N1 deaths as they occur but “the completion of investigations into possible H1N1 deaths”. What that means is, if MDH reports 10 H1N1 deaths tomorrow, it doesn’t mean that those ten people died today. Rather, it’s more likely that those ten people died several weeks ago, and an investigation confirmed that their deaths were H1N1 related. It’s important to keep that in mind, especially when trying to avoid a panic.

Those of us who focus on elder care need to know that older adults are at a lower risk for H1N1 than pregnant women, children, adolescents, and younger adults. Since senior citizens–that is, people 65 and older–(unless they have underlying health conditions) are at a lower risk for the virus, they are not in the priority groups for the vaccine. They are, however, in the priority group for the vaccine for seasonal flu.

Make sure you download the talking points and read through them, and if you manage a long term care facility or home care agency, make sure you schedule some time to go over these talking points with your staff. And if any of your staff members haven’t been vaccinated, make sure that they get the H1N1 vaccine as soon as possible. It is up to health care providers to stem the spread of H1N1, and if there is a third outbreak in January, we need to be 100% prepared.

On my other blog, I’ve done an overview of the H1N1 virus and vaccine.

Summary:

The “pandemic” H1N1 (aka “swine flu”) is a very serious strain of flu. It is separate from the standard seasonal flu and to be protected for both you have to vaccinate from both. The actual effects are similar to the normal flu, which kills about 36000 people a year. The expected combined deaths of seasonal flu (3 strains) and H1N1 is about 65000 deaths. The H1N1 vaccine has been shown to be as safe and effective as the normal seasonal vaccine that people take yearly.

What does the science say: H1N1

Introduction

I have no intention of promoting the quack H1N1 claims that are floating around the Internet, so I won’t be linking to them. What you will find here is the official information that is available about the disease and the vaccine. As usual, if you are convinced that the government is lying to us about the flu, then you may as well stop reading now, as I am really just summarizing CDC and FDA  data.

As always, I welcome comments on my blog (http://whatdoesthesciencesay.wordpress.com) or to my email address (josh at 40two org). If anything in here seems factually inaccurate to you, please let me know, but cite your sources. I’m truly not interested in what “Mr. Fit” or any number of random Internet flu scare sites have to say unless they have any genuine science to back them up.

Summary

Disclaimer

The H1N1 virus

So what is H1N1 any way?

This virus was originally referred to as “swine flu” because laboratory testing showed that many of the genes in this new virus were very similar to influenza viruses that normally occur in pigs (swine) in North America. But further study has shown that this new virus is very different from what normally circulates in North American pigs. It has two genes from flu viruses that normally circulate in pigs in Europe and Asia and bird (avian) genes and human genes. Scientists call this a “quadruple reassortant” virus.

The symptoms of 2009 H1N1 flu virus in people include fever, cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, body aches, headache, chills and fatigue. Some people may have vomiting and diarrhea. People may be infected with the flu, including 2009 H1N1 and have respiratory symptoms without a fever. Severe illnesses and deaths have occurred as a result of illness associated with this virus.

In seasonal flu, certain people are at “high risk” of serious complications. This includes people 65 years and older, children younger than five years old, pregnant women, and people of any age with certain chronic medical conditions. About 70 percent of people who have been hospitalized with this 2009 H1N1 virus have had one or more medical conditions previously recognized as placing people at “high risk” of serious seasonal flu-related complications. This includes pregnancy, diabetes, heart disease, asthma and kidney disease.

With seasonal flu, we know that seasons vary in terms of timing, duration and severity. Seasonal influenza can cause mild to severe illness, and at times can lead to death. Each year, in the United States, on average 36,000 people die from flu-related complications and more than 200,000 people are hospitalized from flu-related causes. Of those hospitalized, 20,000 are children younger than 5 years old. Over 90% of deaths and about 60 percent of hospitalization occur in people older than 65.

Is anybody really dying from H1N1?

• First, states are not required to report individual seasonal flu cases or deaths of people older than 18 years of age to CDC.
• Second, seasonal influenza is infrequently listed on death certificates of people who die from flu-related complications.
• Third, many seasonal flu-related deaths occur one or two weeks after a person’s initial infection, either because the person may develop a secondary bacterial co-infection (such as a staph infection) or because seasonal influenza can aggravate an existing chronic illness (such as congestive heart failure or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease).
• Also, most people who die from seasonal flu-related complications are not tested for flu, or they seek medical care later in their illness when seasonal influenza can no longer be detected from respiratory samples. Influenza tests are most likely to detect influenza if performed soon after onset of illness.
• For these reasons, many flu-related deaths may not be recorded on death certificates.

The Vaccine

Was the vaccine rushed?

The viruses in the vaccine change each year based on international surveillance and scientists’ estimations about which types and strains of viruses will circulate in a given year. About 2 weeks after vaccination, antibodies that provide protection against influenza virus infection develop in the body.

Is it safe for pregnant women?

The Recommendation

As usual, let’s go straight to the CDC’s statements about pregnant women and the flu vaccine[¹² ]

The studies

No study to date has demonstrated an increased risk of either maternal complications or adverse fetal outcomes associated with inactivated influenza vaccination. Moreover, no scientific evidence exists that thimerosal-containing vaccines are a cause of adverse events among children born to women who received influenza vaccine during pregnancy. In this article, we review the evidentiary basis for the recommendation of vaccination of all women who will be pregnant during the influenza season and safety data of influenza vaccination during pregnancy.

Miscarriages

Further Resources

CDC’s “key facts” about the flu vaccines: http://www.cdc.gov/flu/protect/keyfacts.htm

Atlanta, Georgia (CNN) — As H1N1 cases are rising, so are bacterial pneumonia cases, health officials are finding.

They’re seeing an increase in flu complications leading to pneumonia. At the same time, the flu is at record levels because of the new H1N1 virus, also known as swine flu.

The number of cases is outpacing the typical number of regular flu cases at this time of year. Cases of regular flu usually peak between December and May.

“We’re seeing an increase in serious pneumococcal infectious around the country,” said Dr. Anne Schuchat, who heads the National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Special Coverage: H1N1 — Fighting swine flu

The CDC tracks pneumococcal infections with help from 10 state health departments.

For instance, Denver, Colorado, averages about 20 cases of pneumonia in October during a regular flu season, Schuchat said. But “in October 2009, they had nearly triple that number.”

The Denver area has seen 58 flu-related pneumonia cases, and at least two-thirds of those sickened were aged 20 to 60, she said.

During a regular flu season, most serious cases of flu and flu-related pneumonia occur in people 65 or older. However, people younger than 65 are much more vulnerable to H1N1, because the virus is unlike any other flu their bodies have come in contact with.

A flu infection thins the lining of the respiratory tract, making the lungs more vulnerable to bacteria that can cause pneumonia.

CDC officials are urging high-risk adults to get vaccinations against both pneumonia and H1N1.

Smokers and people with diabetes; chronic heart, lung and liver disease; or HIV are considered high-risk.

Only 25 percent of high-risk adults under age 65 have gotten a pneumonia vaccination, Schuchat said at a news briefing Wednesday.

“It’s a vaccine you pretty much get once as an adult, not every year, the way the flu vaccine works,” she said.

The CDC also announced that 7 million more doses of H1N1 vaccine have been made available since Friday, bringing the total doses available so far to 61.2 million.

CDC officials have studied safety data since H1N1 vaccinations started in early October.

“So far, everything we’ve seen is very reassuring,” Schuchat said. ” … we’re seeing patterns that are pretty much exactly what were seeing with the seasonal flu vaccine.”

Most of the reported side effects include sore arms and tenderness at the injection site.

Health officials are particularly interested in a side effect that can cause a rare neurological illness called Guillain-Barre syndrome, because the last time a large-scale pandemic vaccination program was launched, in 1976, there was an alarming rise in Guillain-Barre cases.

This time, after millions of Americans have been vaccinated, Schuchat said, only 10 potential cases of Guillain-Barre have been reported, which is similar to what health officials see during a regular flu season.

The Mirror, Vol. 13, No. 640

The past weak saw a special anniversary celebration, which is in no calendar of national events: 30 years since NGOs started to work in Cambodia. Nowadays, when the participation of NGOs – foreign and national – is assumed as a regular feature of life in society, it is surely not easy to understand the extraordinary nature that foreign NGOs came to Cambodia in 1979. At that time, the majority of UN member states considered the Cambodian government to be illegal. The so called “Western” countries and the People’s Republic of China agreed on the point that the Khmer Rouge representative continued to legally represent Cambodia at the United Nations until 1990. Seeing this agreement between these two world powers normally not much in agreement, many Third World countries went along with this understanding. Only the socialist countries (except China) and India established diplomatic relations with the government in Phnom Penh after the end of the Khmer Rouge regime. And US citizens, working in Cambodia, even if their salaries did not originate from the USA, had to pay “punitive taxes” in the USA.

30 Years NGOs in Cambodia Celebration

Eva Mysliwiec, now the director of Youth Star Cambodia, who had came to Cambodia in May 1980, spoke at the commemoration, on behalf of the NGO Organizing Committee, about the three decades of NGO partnerships with the people and government of Cambodia, saying,

“It is very moving to look around this room and to see so many people who have contributed to the Cambodia in which we live today. How far we have come since 1979!

I remember well my arrival in May 1980, in a country devastated by war and genocide. I remember vividly my first meeting with Samdech HUN Sen who was then Foreign Minister and 28 years old.”

There were only five NGOs, who had dared to break the boycot of their home governments: the American Friends Service Committee, CIDSE, Church World Service, OXFAM, and World Vision – now, as the Prime Minister announced in his speech, there are 3,207 NGOs and associations, that is 1,933 NGOs and 1,274 other associations. Eva Mysliwiec continued:

“The core of NGO work was focused on massive relief, meeting health needs and restoring agricultural production in order to prevent famine. Because of the embargo imposed by the Western Community and with precious few resources, NGOs found themselves in a unique role where they had to provide massive infrastructure assistance as well… NGO work in the eighties spanned virtually every sector of Cambodian society and economy, from the restoration of urban and rural water supply, to the rehabilitation of infrastructure, the provision of basic agriculture, education and health inputs, etc. – the list is endless.”

But in spite of all this emphasis on practical actions, she said:

“In my view, the most valuable role the NGOs played in the eighties was solidarity: bearing
witness to the suffering of Cambodian people, bearing witness to the unearthing of mass graves, bearing witness to the continuing hardship caused by the embargo and isolation and especially bearing witness to the resilience, ingenuity and determination of people to rebuild their country. They created a bridge between Cambodian people and the people in countries whose governments did not recognize Cambodia.”

This history has to be remembered, when nowadays, sometimes the opinion is expressed that NGOs have one role only: “to provide humanitarian assistance” – quite different from the wide variety of activities NGOs are engaged with in other countries of the world.

All the more it was interesting that also the keynote speaker, Ingrid Srinath, Secretary General of CIVICUS (“Promoting a worldwide community of informed, inspired, committed citizens who are actively engaged in confronting the challenges facing humanity” – with member organizations in 110 countries), described the fundamental task of civil society not just in terms of development or humanitarian project implementations, but located their role in the present situation, after the collapse of many schemes based on an free-market system, where human rights an democratic are more under threat than before.

“In Latin America, Africa, Eurasia and Asia authoritarian governments are being permitted to crack down with impunity on civil society and media freedoms through new, draconian legislative and fiscal controls if they control access to energy resources, investment or markets… Funding for defending these rights, for strengthening civil society architecture and for building solidarity across civil society groups is also much harder to come by as donor resources are stretched by increasing domestic needs and by more immediate humanitarian needs…

“The possibilities of mounting a coherent challenge to the economic paradigm of market fundamentalism and the patent inequity of the institutions of global governance have never been greater. For the first time in history peoples from Michigan to Manila, Madrid to Mali, and Mumbai to Moscow can share the realization that the root causes of their individual problems, and hence their interests, are in fact, identical. From slums to forests, fishing communities to assembly-lines, indigenous peoples to suburbia – the people we so often refer to as ‘ordinary’ are increasingly aware of the connectedness of their causes. It’s up to us as civil society to provide the means for them to mobilize in solidarity with each other. We have unprecedented access to the information, networks and technologies that permit us to support their struggles against tyranny and injustice…

“Speaking in Moscow a few months ago, Barack Obama affirmed that ‘meeting these challenges requires a vibrant civil society; the freedom of people to live as they choose, to speak their minds, to organize peacefully and to have a say in how they are governed; a free press to report the truth; confidence in the rule of law and the equal administration of justice; a government that’s accountable and transparent.’

“We know from experience that active citizenship is the only antidote to this takeover of governance and that investing in the creation, nurturing and protection of civil society rights is the only vaccine. We know, or ought to, that empowering people to defend their own freedoms to exist, engage and express is not only the most sustainable development strategy but the only morally defensible one…

“Despite, or rather because of, our lack of hierarchical command and control structures, our diversity and belief in values-led approaches, civil society is better equipped to grasp, respond to, and evolve collective solutions that require a fundamental shift in world-view than either governments or businesses. And possibly better at displaying the humility required to build the cross-sectoral partnerships without which we cannot possibly resolve these crises…

“Doing so will take more than a business as usual approach from us. It will take each of us as individuals, organizations and alliances setting aside our egos, our brands, our narrow self-interests and our differences to come together in unprecedented levels of collaboration and genuine partnership that focuses on amplifying the voices of those least heard, and of finding common cause across boundaries of nationality, geography and thematic interest.

“If we can aspire to that ideal, we may, just may, address the stupendous challenges before us and even realize the goals you have all dedicated your lives to, whether you approach that goal through the lens of volunteerism or human rights, faith or secularism, charity or human rights – the overarching goal of civil society in all its forms – a world based on equity and justice.”

Such a challenge to reflect, to consider a clear fundamental orientation for the day-to-day work of civil society is important. And it is equally important that civil society communicates clearly to the other sectors of society its claims and commitments. It is important to see what the suggested orientation is: “to struggle against tyranny and injustice, and for equality.”

The address of the Prime Minister dealt, according to reports, a lot with the planned NGO Law. There is some apprehension among the NGO community, because a current draft is not available for public discussion in the community.

Some examples given, why an NGO Law is important – like to prevent terrorist acts planned under the cover of NGOs – were widely not seen as convincing: the intended terrorist attack against the British Embassy had been stopped in time, and the Indonesian terrorist Hambali was arrested – both without an NGO law.

The following reported concern of the Prime Minister is surprising. There are detailed and elaborate forms from the Council for the Development of Cambodia – CDC – where NGOs have to describe source of funding and work plans – on the national level and in the provinces – which serve exactly this purpose since many years ago, though the Prime Minister said now:

“The Royal Government wants to know where NGOs get the money from and how they use it for what. ‘Just this they do not want to tell.’”

Here are obviously some misunderstandings about administrative processes involved. In addition, most donors, providing financial resources to NGO, have requirements for professional auditing, and the results are not secret. Compared to the recent calls by the Prime Minister to curb multiple remuneration payments to government advisers, combined with the repeated calls by the Prime Minister to economize gasoline usage by a better control on the use of public vehicles, allows the assumption that the handling of finance in the NGO world is comparatively well organized and transparent.

What is important, therefore, is the clear statement of the Prime Minister, that the NGO Law will not interfere with the normal activities of NGO: “I guarantee that it is not an action to restrict the freedom of NGOs, please believe me.” Should lower level authorities try to act differently, civil society can appeal to this public promise of the Prime Minister.

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There are many theories about the origins of the pandemic.  Some are pretty crazy, others not so much. This one is from a very well respected Australian virologist.  Although the WHO has dismissed his claims, they are worth a look.  His study was published in the latest issue of Virology Journal.

The virologist who claimed in May that swine flu may have escaped from a laboratory, published his findings today, renewing discussion about the origins of the pandemic virus.   Adrian Gibbs and fellow Australian scientists wrote in Virology Journal that the new H1N1 that was discovered in Mexico might be the product of three strains from three continents that swapped genes in a lab or a vaccine-making plant.  The authors analyzed the genetic makeup of the virus and found its origin could be more simply explained by human involvement than a coincidence of nature.

Their study, published in a free, online journal reviewed by other scientists, follows debate among researchers six months ago, when Gibbs asked the World Health Organization to consider the hypothesis. After reviewing Gibbs’ initial three-page paper, WHO and other organizations concluded the pandemic strain was a naturally occurring virus and not laboratory-derived.  “It is important that the source of the new virus be found if we wish to avoid future pandemics rather than just trying to minimize the consequences after they have emerged,” Gibbs and colleagues John Armstrong and Jean Downie.

While the exact source of the new H1N1 strain is a mystery, their research has “raised many new questions,” they said. The authors compared the genetic blueprints of flu strains stored in the free database Genbank and found the pandemic viruses nearest ancestors circulate in pigs. While migratory birds may have acted as conduit for their convergence, human involvement in bringing them together is “by far the simplest explanation,” said Gibbs.

Gibbs wrote or coauthored more than 250 scientific publications on viruses, mostly pertaining to the plant world, during his 39-year career at the Australian National University, according to biographical information on the university’s Web site.  “Knowing Adrian Gibbs, he will have thought through it pretty logically and come to that conclusion,” Lance Jennings, a clinical virologist with Canterbury Health Laboratories in Christchurch, New Zealand, said in a telephone interview. “It’s up to someone else to try and prove it or disprove it.”

Gibbs and Armstrong are on the emeritus faculty at the Australian National University in Canberra and Downie is affiliated with the Centre for Infectious Diseases and Microbiology Laboratory Services at Sydney’s Westmead Hospital.

http://www.virologyj.com/content/6/1/207

http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601124&sid=ajw2AS.d1wK8#

Photo by Passamanerie

Want to help increase the efficacy of a future vaccine you or a family member may receive?

Check out the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System co-sponsored by the CDC and FDA. If you opted for the H1N1 vaccination and are experiencing side effects; they’ve got your back (or covering their asses, depends how you want to look at it). The carefully assembled web forum allows both health care providers and patients to conveniently report any side effects. If you’re a patient, the best way to ensure precise documentation is to bypass your doctor and first contact VAERS. After you’ve reported your experience, follow-up by contacting your physicians to let them know you’ve gone on record. Because reporting is voluntary, less than 10 percent of physicians complete the follow-through and never contact the Reporting System. The government run agency allows you to contact them via the web, conventional mail, or fax.

Protect yourself; protect your future.

Think You’re Sick? Think Again

With hospital emergency rooms reporting full capacities all over the nation; it might not be where you want to find yourself during a flu outbreak. Wait times have been shown to go anywhere from 8-18 hours for concerns deemed less than emergent by the staff. Give your physician a call and seek their advice before heading over. Of course,  if your life or a loved one’s is in danger, proceed.

[Posted Jun 20, 2005 12:00 AM]

There appears to be no end to this dichotomy of scaring our people to death with all this hype of how dangerous the H1N1 Flu is, while a great many of our intelligent, trained, credentialed medical people not only here, but around the world are saying just the opposite. What is one to believe?  I side with all those medically educated  individuals who know enough about this problem and the products and testing or lack thereof, to have arrived at choices which prevent them from any personal participation for themselves or their families.

Science is science.  Tests have results which lead to evidence.  I try to avoid “hype” – heaven knows we are given far too much of it!  Tho I have posted on this subject very much, it is in the interest of informing people in order to make more informed choices which “protect” their families.  This is after all, what we are all after.   Where does this confusion come from?     More importantly   – WHY?  Whose interests are driving this – dare I say   (?) – - coverup?  What is going on?

CDC: Data show that H1N1 vaccine is safe

By Mike Stobbe
ASSOCIATED PRESS

ATLANTA — There’s no evidence that the H1N1 vaccine is causing serious side effects, U.S. health officials said yesterday, in their first report on the safety of the new vaccine.
Since vaccinations began in early October, the government has been tracking the safety of the swine-flu vaccine. By mid-November, about 22 million Americans had gotten the vaccine, and there were about 3,200 reports of possible side effects, mostly for minor problems such as soreness or swelling from the shot.
Health officials didn’t expect to see serious problems: The H1N1 vaccine is basically the same as the regular winter-flu vaccine. And there were no signs of trouble in the tests conducted in the thousands to find the right dose.
Still, it is “very reassuring” to see that confirmed in the first report, said Dr. Anne Schuchat of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. “The vaccine data so far really suggests this is a safe vaccine.”
The information comes from a voluntary reporting system that patients and doctors can use if they think something went wrong after a vaccination. Of the H1N1 reports, 177 were considered serious, including 11 deaths.
There’s no evidence that those deaths were because of the vaccine, and there was no common underlying medical condition seen in those fatalities, CDC officials said.
Since it was first identified in April, swine flu has sickened an estimated 22 million Americans, hospitalized about 98,000 and killed 4,000. It has proved to be similar to seasonal flu but a bigger threat to children and young adults.
Health officials are increasingly worried about severe cases of bacterial pneumonia seen in nonelderly adults this fall. H1N1 and bacteria can act as a dangerous one-two punch.