Experts call for end of vaccination program 12/05/09 7:45am

Experts call for end of vaccination program

Article:

With H1N1 poised to enter history as the least deadly of four global flu pandemics, some experts are calling for an end to Canada's mass vaccination program.

Nature is already achieving what we would hope to achieve by vaccinating, they say.

H1N1's "reproductive number" -- the number of people each infected person passes the virus to -- was above one when the epidemic began, which led to the explosive initial increase in cases.

Now it is less than one, because many people have become immune, and each old case is making less than one new case. When the reproductive number falls below one, the epidemic can't sustain itself, and fades away.

The drop in cases suggests Canada has hit the critical fraction of the population that needs to be vaccinated to control the pandemic, says Dr. David Fisman, a University of Toronto expert in infectious disease dynamics.

Fisman can't understand the rational for continuing mass vaccinations. He said that for a virus as contagious as H1N1, less than 30 per cent of the population needed vaccination to reach a critical level of immunity.

"I'm sure that the vaccine has prevented some deaths. I'm sure that there are people who are alive right now who would not have been alive if we hadn't vaccinated," he says. But the pandemic was already peaking, and then subsiding before the vaccination was rolling out in force.

"That's nobody's fault, that's just how long it took to make a vaccine against a brand new virus. Those were the cards we were dealt," says Fisman, an associate professor of infectious diseases epidemiology at the university.

Despite that view, Canada's top doctor this week pleaded with Canadians to get vaccinated if they have not already done so. Chief public health officer David Butler-Jones said that, while 30 per cent of the population is now immune to H1N1, either because they have been vaccinated or because they have already been infected, "millions" of people are still at risk of infection.

Someone vaccinated today may be protected against infection two weeks from now, "if there is still enough of (H1N1) kicking around," Fisman says. But the benefit diminishes the further into the future we go, and he says other public health programs have suffered as staff and resources were redeployed to the H1N1 campaign. In some jurisdictions, breastfeeding support programs, sexually transmitted disease clinics and other usual activities were cancelled or postponed as public health was forced to bear the brunt of delivering the largest immunization program in Canada's history.

"At this point, in terms of saying everybody must get vaccinated because there is a pandemic abroad, it's kind of done," Fisman says.

H1N1 will likely fade away with a death rate lower than that for regular seasonal flu.

When the World Health Organization declared the pandemic in June, officials warned the rogue virus threatened all of humanity. The reality is so far proving strikingly different from what was expected.

The world agency, and Canada, had done their pandemic planning with a different flu virus in mind. They spent five years watching H5N1, or "bird flu," which kills up to 60 per cent of those it infects.

We got off lucky when the real pandemic hit, WHO says, but the public doesn't always understand that.

"Adjusting public perceptions to suit a far less lethal virus has been problematic," WHO said in a statement Thursday, issued in response to media reports that ties with the drug industry among expert advisers may have influenced WHO's policy decisions related to H1N1.

"Given the discrepancy between what was expected and what has happened, a search for ulterior motives on the part of WHO and its scientific advisers is understandable, though without justification.

"WHO has consistently assessed the impact of the current influenza pandemic as moderate. WHO has consistently reminded the medical community, public and the media that the overwhelming majority of patients experience mild influenza-like illness and recover fully within a week, even without any form of medical treatment." But some critics say WHO set itself up for blame.

"They had been talking for years about the possibility of some kind of reprise of the 1918 pandemic," says Philip Alcabes, author of Dread: How Fear and Fantasy Have Fueled Epidemics from the Black Death to the Avian Flu. "A huge amount of money and person power was devoted to preparing" for the next outbreak, he says.

But, "there was never any evidence, not from Day 1, and not anytime since, that this strain of flu was going to be a particularly dangerous strain, either in terms of its capacity to make people sick or its capacity to kill people," says Alcabes, associate professor in urban public health at Hunter College's School of Health Sciences in the City University of New York.

Hungary - 50 to 70 Thousand Sick - 1.7 Million Vaccinated - No Death Estimates 11/01/09 11:31am

Hungary - 50 to 70 Thousand Sick - 1.7 Million Vaccinated - No Death Estimates

Article:

So far, 1.7 million were vaccinated against influenza in the new Hungary, the number of those who have undergone the disease, estimated at 50-70 thousand - said the national chief medical officer Ferenc Falus in Budapest on Tuesday, a press conference. Gál János, a Semmelweis Egyetem Aneszteziológiai és Intenzív Terápiás Klinikájának igazgatója a kedd reggel elhunyt kismamával kapcsolatban elmondta, az elvégzett vizsgálatok igazolták szervezetében az új vírust, ami a súlyos tüdőgyulladást, majd a halálát okozó vese- és szívelégtelenséget okozta. John Gal, the Semmelweis University of Anesthesia and Intensive Care Clinic director died Tuesday morning in connection with kismamával said the tests demonstrated the organization of the new virus, which is a serious pneumonia, and cause of death due to heart failure and kidney. Hozzátette: a 21 éves nő hathónapos magzatát sem sikerült megmenteni. He added that the 21-year-old female offspring of six months could not be saved.

A főorvos ismertetése szerint a hathónapos várandós nőt múlt héten csütörtökön magas lázzal és influenzaszerű tünetekkel szállították kórházba. The chief medical officer described as a six-month pregnant woman on Thursday last week with high fever and flu-like symptoms transported to the hospital. Az intenzív terápiát azonnal megkezdték, géppel segítették légzését, azonban a tüdőszövet annyira roncsolódott, hogy egy úgynevezett oxigenizátor segítségét vették igénybe, hogy lélegeztetni tudják. The intensive therapy started immediately machine-assisted breathing, however, the lung roncsolódott so that a so-called oxigenizátor assistance was used, that can be ventilated. Péntekre az állapota stabilizálódott és vasárnap lekapcsolták a külső oxigenizátorról, mert a tüdeje regenerálódott annyira, hogy már erre a berendezésre nem volt szükség. Stable condition on Friday and Sunday have turned off the external oxigenizátorról, because the lungs were recovered enough to have this equipment was not necessary. Hétfőn állapota válságosra fordult, mert a vírus megtámadta a szívét és a veséjét, keringése összeomlott, leállt a veséje. On Monday, the state turned to a crisis, because the virus attacked his heart and kidneys, circulatory collapse, the kidneys shut down. A kismamánál sürgős császármetszést hajtottak végre hétfő délután, azonban a gyerek halva született. The kismamánál emergency caesarean section was carried out on Monday afternoon, but the still-born child.

A főorvos professzor megjegyezte: ez a betegség rendkívül gyors és súlyos lefolyású volt, mint fogalmazott, ilyennel még nem találkoztak. The chief medical officer Professor observed that the disease was very rapid and severe course, as formulated, is not done so yet met. Kiemelte: könnyebben gyógyítható az oltás miatti szövődményekkel kezelt beteg, mint az, akit az új vírus szövődményeivel kerül kórházba. Stressed that the vaccine is easily cured with complications due to patients, such as who the new virus complications are admitted to hospital. A főorvos úgy tudja, a kismama környezetében mindenki be volt oltva. The chief physician can be, all in the context of the mother was grafted.

Falus Ferenc úgy fogalmazott, "tűrhetetlen, hogy egy gyógyítható, megelőzhető betegséget nem előzünk meg. Ettől féltünk, hogy egy egészséges fiatalt elveszíthetünk, mert nem védekeztünk." Ferenc Falus had this to say, "intolerable that a curable, preventable diseases are not prevented. I was afraid to be lost in a healthy young people, because they are not defended." Elmondta, a Szegeden kezelt kismama állapota kritikus, a győri kórházban fekvőé pedig súlyos, életveszélyes, a Budapesten kezelt 21 hetes anya állapota stabil, de életveszélyes. He said the critical state of maternity treatment in Szeged, Győr, the hospital landscape and severe life-threatening, the 21-week treatment in Budapest mother are stable, but life-threatening. Őt is géppel kell lélegeztetni. He can be mechanically ventilated. Falus Ferenc tudomása szerint hat várandóst kezelnek intenzív osztályon. Ferenc Falus aware that six pregnant women are treated as an intensive care unit.

Hungary's Epidemic - Little Information out - Also Emails from Someone Inside Hungary - 12/01/09 7:50am

Hungary's Epidemic - Little Information out - Also Emails from Someone Inside Hungary

There has been little information coming out of Hungary. Someone from inside Hungary has been emailing me with information, I will insert 2 of the emails here.
It seems Hungary is in an Epidemic situation that is the same type problem the Ukraine has been having.

I found one article this morning about a doctor on a ventilator in Hungary from the virus.

Flu-stricken doctor on life support

A doctor in southern Hungary was on a ventilator in a Szeged hospital last week after contracting swine flu. The woman, who worked shifts at a hospital in nearby Makó, had not received an influenza inoculation, the news website Délmagyarorszag.hu reported last Tuesday. Meanwhile, the winter flu continued to tighten its grip on the nation. In the week to last Wednesday, 34,000 people presented at their local GP’s surgeries exhibiting the symptoms of influenza. Recent figures from the Health Ministry suggest that roughly one in three of those with flu symptoms had contracted the new A(H1N1) viral strain known as swine flu. Meanwhile, visiting bans were imposed at more hospitals across the country as influenza spread. Last Tuesday alone, all hospitals in Szeged and Pécs were closed to visitors in a bid to protect high risk patients. “Many more people would have got the anti-flu vaccine if certain figures in the medical and political communities had not launched a counter-campaign,” Health Minister Tamás Székely told the right-wing daily Magyar Nemzet last week. The opposition has repeatedly blamed the government for failing to ensure widespread inoculation despite Hungary being among the first countries to develop a vaccine to the new virus. Widespread negative reports about the ineffectiveness or potential risks attached to the virus have been blamed for the reluctance of many to get themselves vaccinated.

Notice they are blaming the Swine Flu Epidemic on people Not getting the vaccine.

Emails to me- from Inside Hungary:

Little Update

Interesting...We have three serious cases of hospitalized PREGNANT women. Officials say they can not save them. They beat around the bush saying ..."We found traces of A-H1N1 virus in their LUNGS. We know what that means. D225G. This is the mutated form. We know that A-H1N1 is a mild virus so that can not be the cause of these poor souls pass away. It is 7.17 in the morning. We had an amazing clear sky yesterday evening. Even this morning we had a beautiful sunrise up until now....We have mega-chemtrail-attacks already....They do not want us to get a minute of healing sunshine. F&%$!!!!!!!!! For two F*&%ING WEEKS FOR NOW WE HAD THE THICKEST FOG EVER!!!!!!!!!! and they steal the smallest bit of heal every time they can.
I think I should file charges. This is clear evidence. I lost my temper. I AM SO FED UP!!!!

Another email, from same person in Hungary:

Good morning Lady

A little update for today.

I do not know what is going on in this country anymore. The gov. is creating absolute chaos in understanding the spread (increase/decrease) of the virus/plague.
We have the new plague. The first one was registered a few days ago when a teacher fell sick and was not released from the hospial since. No trace of her yet. I just heard a short quote from the health dept. saying "No vitamins can cure A-H1N1".
I think he meant the new string of the virus. The D225G.
Today they open ALL vaccine centres (tents) to start the big, hyped up shot-outs.
EVEN the police will help them with vaccine transports to be brought to theses spots !!! C'mon.....

Anyways...something scary happend.
Yesterday we had a shooting at a university. A studdent shot some students killing one. Two hours after the police high rank officials said we must size all weapons from civilians with problems. ????? WHAT ?????

They want to disarm civilians I guess. Was this a psy-op.? A little pretext?

I do not know but things just started to get excited.....And I honor God to give me a chance to live now, this plain....We must stop these bastards.

I will be watching what happens there - will Hungary use the shooting at the University to take away guns?

Epidemic continues mow down Ukrainians 11/21/09 1:06pm

Epidemic continues mow down Ukrainians

Article:

The number of deaths from influenza and acute respiratory viral infections has increased up to 354 people, 12 people died during the previous day, said the Ministry of Health of Ukraine. According to authorities, 1 mn 540,514 cases are registered in the country, 88,744 people are hospitalized, RBC-Ukraine reports.

The epidemiological threshold is exceeded in the Vinnytsa, Volyn, Dnipropetrivsk, Zhytomyr, Kyiv, Kirovohrad, Luhansk, Lviv, Rivne, Khmelnytsky, Cherkasy, Chernihiv, Chernivtsi Regions, as well as in Kyiv.

"If people reject vaccinations (and this trend is quickly progressing), in the future we may face challenges far greater and more terrible than the current influenza epidemic," - noted the children's infectious diseases doctor in Lviv Kateryna Markelova.

"In recent years, the belief in the vaccine has been greatly reduced. Traditionally a child is being vaccinated in maternity hospital. And now there is a very serious problem that parents have begun to decline vaccinations already in maternity hospitals," - said Markelova.

She stressed that the prevention of infectious diseases such as tuberculosis, tetanus, diphtheria, whooping cough, measles, rubella, mumps, meningitis by means of vaccine must be made at a very high level.

The Kyiv city state administration intends to abolish quarantine in kindergartens, schools and higher educational institutions beginning from November 25. This was reported by the press service of the Kyiv City State Administration.

Experts believe that the drug Tamiflu is not a panacea against influenza, and it does not help in many cases, expert Nadia Zholobok claimed.

“Tamiflu is not the drug, which helps. It does not help in many cases. But on the other hand, it slows down the reproduction of the virus, "- she said on Thursday at a press conference in Kyiv.

According to her, those doses that are recommended, do not give full protection, i.e, they do not stop propagation of viruses, reports Interfax-Ukraine. "The idea is to increase the dose. However, increasing the dose is an increase in side effects," - said Nadia Zholobok.

this article says Tamiflu is Not working, which is being reported in other areas too at this time.

Bulgaria declares flu epidemic at an end 11/20/09 10:45

Bulgaria declares flu epidemic at an end

Article:

Bulgaria’s Health Ministry said on November 20 2009 that the influenza epidemic declared two weeks earlier was deemed officially at an end because the rate of infection had dropped to 190 in 10 000 people.

However, in areas where rates of infection continued to be high, local committees could order further measures.

The official end of the epidemic means that routine medical procedures including scheduled operations, medical check-ups and immunisations could resume, the ministry said.

During the time that the epidemic was declared, schools in Bulgaria closed from November 9 to 13.

On November 20, Bulgarian-language mass-circulation daily 24 Chassa quoted Health Minister Bozhidar Nanev as saying that 23 people in Bulgaria had died of flu. The rate of infection was decreasing, Nanev was quoted as saying.

He said that there were 177 flu patients, 511 pneumonia patients and 51 people with flu complications in hospitals.

Nanev praised Bulgaria’s medical establishment as having responded appropriately and professionally to the flu epidemic.

The announcement of the lifting of the flu epidemic, which deemed by health authorities to be a variety separate from A (H1N1), coincided with two new reports of deaths from A (H1N1) in Bulgaria.

In Razgrad, a 17-year-old boy died in hospital, having been admitted after five days of attempted self-treatment at home, Bulgarian news agency Focus reported on November 20.

A day earlier, a woman in Bourgas who had been pregnant died of complications related to A (H1N1), Focus said. The baby had been removed from the woman, the hospital said.

Hungary Declares Epidemic 11/20/09 10:15am

Hungary Declares Epidemic

Article:

Hungarian health authorities declared a flu epidemic on November 17, saying the number of patients reporting flu symptoms to doctors had reached 22 100 the week before.

The number of patients reporting flu symptoms increased by 30 per cent over the past week, said Agnes Csohan, a senior official at the National Epidemiology Centre.

The threshold for declaring an epidemic in Hungary is a weekly 20 000 cases.

Ferenc Falus, Hungary's chief medical officer said that out of 340 samples taken last week, 115 had tested positive for the H1N1 virus.

All-Ukrainian Medical Associations Statement to Politicians 11/13/09 6:43am

All-Ukrainian Medical Associations Statement to Politicians

Press Release from Ukraine Health Minister Website -

Article:

All-Ukrainian Medical Associations, whose members are some 20 thousand doctors, politicians turned to the statement, which expressed concern about interference in the highly specialized medical topics. В заяві, наданій прес-службі МОЗ, зокрема, зазначається: In a statement provided to the press service of Ministry of Health, in particular, that:

ЗАЯВА STATEMENT
Всеукраїнського Лікарського Товариства (ВУЛТ) Ukrainian Medical Associations (VULT)

Всеукраїнське Лікарське Товариство глибоко стурбоване коментарями та заявами багатьох політиків стосовно ситуації навколо епідемії грипу та гострих респіраторних вірусних інфекцій в Україні. All-Ukrainian Medical Associations is deeply concerned about the comments and statements of many politicians on the situation surrounding the epidemic of influenza and acute respiratory viral infections in Ukraine. Втручаючись в лікувально-профілактичний процес, та, намагаючись підмінити лікарів, даючи низькоякісну інформацію і нефахові коментарі, вони погіршують ситуацію. Intruding into a treatment process, and trying to replace doctors, giving low-quality information and nefahovi comments, they worsen the situation. Непрофесійні дії створюють ажіотаж і вносять паніку в суспільство. Unprofessional actions create excitement and bring havoc to society.

Шановні політики! Dear politicians! Займайтесь своєю справою! Mind your own business! Пам'ятайте, що ваші дилетантські висловлювання можуть згубити не одне людське життя! Remember that your dilettante expression can not destroy one human life! Використання задля власного піару теми здоров'я людей є щонайменше аморальним! Using the theme for their own PR people's health is at least immoral!

Дорогі співвітчизники! Dear compatriots!

З питань визначення профілактичних заходів та лікування захворювань, звертайтесь виключно до спеціалістів. For the definition of preventive measures and treatment, consult only to specialists. Пам'ятайте, від вашого своєчасного звернення до лікаря залежить безпека, здоров'я і життя Вас та Ваших близьких. Remember from your doctor to timely treatment depends on the safety, health and life you and your family. Лише союз лікаря і пацієнта є запорукою перемоги над хворобою! Only the union of the patient and doctor is the key to victory over the disease!

Прес-служба МОЗ за інформацією президента ВУЛТ О. Мусія Press Service of the Ministry of Health for information VULT President A. Musa

Swine Flu Epidemic Declared In Serbia 11/12/09 9:26am

Swine Flu Epidemic Declared In Serbia

Very Short Article: (will look for more information)

Serbia's health ministry has proclaimed a swine flu epidemic in the Balkan country.

The emergency declaration means that mass public gatherings can legally be banned, schools can be shut down and visits to patients in the hospitals barred.

The health ministry says swine flu recently spiked in Serbia, with 258 proven cases and seven deaths.

EC Providing Assistance to Ukraine due to Epidemic 11/7/09 9:15pm

The European Commission is providing assistance to Ukraine due to the Epidemic gripping the nation.

From Article:

President Viktor Yushchenko had a phone conversation with the European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso, according to the president's press office.

Yushchenko informed Barroso on the measures taken to fight the flu epidemic and asked the EU to provide any possible aid to Ukraine in combating the spread of the virus.

Mr. Barroso assured Mr. Yushchenko of the solidarity of the European Union with Ukraine and confirmed the willingness to provide appropriate assistance, expressing hope that the complex epidemiological situation in Ukraine will be solved soon.

A group of experts from the European Commission will arrived in Ukraine in order to coordinate the European Union's efforts in the provision of assistance in fighting the epidemic of flu and acute respiratory illnesses.

The group includes five experts, including two doctors and three experts in coordinating interaction during emergency situations