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This next report is primarily one of H1N1 being reported in Saudi Arabia, where the individual is recovering.

What I find to be highly perplexing is the comment alledgedly attributed to what the WHO has said in relation to H1N1 swine flu.

Does this mean the the WHO is making overt attempts to skew information and downplay reporting of H1N1.

Just what are these people up to.

Perhaps it is approaching the time when we must question the relevance of not just the WHO, but also the UN to which the WHO is a depertment of.

Most of the nations of the world have by treaty given up their individual sovereign status to the UN to oversee the best interests of various aspects of how we individually govern the oversight of certain aspects of our lives.

However, if this forgoing of individual nations sovereign rights is not being handled appropriately then perhaps its time to assign the same treatment that was handed down to the League of Nations and to disband the UN as not representing the worlds nations in an appropriate manner as happened in much the same way as the League of Nations did almost a century ago.

They too were heading to "A new World Order" more or less way back then and were disbanded because of it.

This is unacceptable and needs to be addressed immediately, the UN is insinuating itself into areas that it has no business in.

I speak of the corrupt IPCC and all the damage it has done with man made global warming junk and concocted science, meddling with internet censorship and now interfeering with the second amendment rights of the citizens of the United States.

I probably shouldnt be commenting on these more or less unrelated topics, except that they do have a common thread and that is the UN and how it is medling where it doesent belong.

Back to the article, note what is underlined!

12/31/2012 5:20:51 AM

Lab tests proved issued by the Ministry of Health wounded citizen swine flu Spaana after it was suspected his condition, last Friday, during the review ambulance and emergency department in Yarmouk Hospital the Bani Kinana Brigade in Irbid, according to a medical source.

The source said that seventy developed symptoms, summoned admitted to hospital and isolated, pointing out that he is subject to necessary medical treatments.

The source added that the patient's condition is gradually improving, he's no threat to his life and fully recovering.

The source pointed to the availability of treatment Rilaniza in the ministry and its different sectors and believes free to patients, and to refrain from advertising these injuries due to request the World Health Organization, so that this type of flu is classified seasonal flu and flu vaccine seasonal protects human infection, as well to the availability of the necessary treatment for it.

Link here...

[link to arabsnews.net]

Ok, now Ive got my back up.

Earlier today I posted an article congratulating Health Authorities in Jordan for finally stepping up to the mark and showing a more responsible attitude and application of effort with their public health responsibilities.

Now we see this article and I would again draw attention to the underlined passage in the previous post as well.

This "Doctor", Dr. Abdul Hakim Kahlani general manager diseases and epidemics in the Ministry of Health, is nothing less than a bloody dangerous crook.

He is actively hiding deaths of people under his care and he is deliberately spreading spin and inaccurate and missguiding information regarding health reporting matters.

I said before with his handling of what had become known as the new novel coronavirus that initially energed in a Jordanian hospital and killed several people there before vectoring to Saudi Arabia where it went on to kill more people.

Had this crook done his job then, some lives might have been saved, and now he is actively covering up more deaths under his watch.

I cannot speak loudly enough not can I more vehemently condem his actions sufficiently to describe the absolute contempt that this *@#+@& deserves, and I will not apolagize for this outburst.

I truely hope this animal burns in hell.

arkay.

Amid severe government discreetly: the death of five cases of swine flu

Sunday, 30 - December -2012 - 11:47:10

Died 3 weeks ago 5 people affected with swine flu (H1N1) in the capital.

Dr. Abdul Hakim Kahlani general manager diseases and epidemics in the Ministry of Health that the subject does not require concern.

Acknowledging Kahlani death situation before 3 days, after medical tests proved medical reason, and said that the previous four cases, who died in a hospital in the capital (private hospital) suspected that they died due to this disease.

Dr. Abdul Hakim Kahlani confirmed according to the newspaper source and a 5 deaths .

He said this does not represent an epidemic because the epidemic must be from the same region, while these cases belong to the 4 provinces, and therefore no need for any concern a disease like any other disease ) but Kahlani called on citizens to take precautions and prevention intense these days and the use of masks and the necessary means of prevention.

Link here...

[link to sahafah.net]

Folks, I am so disgusted with the news above that I am not proceeding further today.

I want as many people to see what I have written in the two previous posts and the best way I can think for that to happen is to not clutter this thread more today with more posts.

Ill return after everyone has has a good chance to read the above.

Your comments, as always are most welcome.

cheers

arkay.

KARMA PIN

I've found the same thing odd.

Normally the news pumps the fear of the flu EVERY year: especially bird flu, swine flu, etc.

So why are we not hearing about it everywhere this time?

bizarre, imo!

Just for those in the States, they have been working with and successfully created a strain of Avian Flu (H5N1) that can transfer between mammals/humans easily at a Med School/University.

The Flu pandemic of the early 1900s will happen again surely, but thankfully we've got all resources ready for the inevitable vaccine for it. It's currently being grown in baby chicken eggs and will easily be changed to match the genetic alterations in the future.

Thank you so much for you active support MzTreeChick.

While I was and remain unspeakably disgusted with that animal of a person who is the Minister for Health in Jordan, I was also very concerned that my outburst may have been offensive to our devoted readers here and was considerably insecure regarding that concern.

Your reassurance is very much appreciated and to be honest quite unexpected as well.

It is unfortunate that we dont have greater power to do more about this animal with regard to offering help and assistance to the poor people of Jordan that he is so disgustingly missrepresenting and whose lives he is actually threatening on a daily basis.

I personally feel a very deep compassion for these people and can only hope that this pathetic excuse for a man is removed from his position of influence and eventually be subjected to the same treatment that he has promoted.

arkay.

More cases of H1N1 swine flu are being reported in India, where there seems to be a steady spread of this strain over other strains, so far this year.

Patient tests positive for swine flu at PGI
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, January 2
A case of swine flu was confirmed at the PGIMER on Wednesday. The 23-year-old patient, a resident of Saharanpur in UP, was admitted to the hospital last week.

Besides, two patients, one from Patiala and another from Ambala, have been suspected to have contracted the H1N1 virus. Both the patients were admitted to the PGIMER last week.

Last year, a number of H1N1 cases were reported in Pune (226) and the virus claimed a total of 38 lives across India.

Link here...

[link to www.tribuneindia.com]

Back to the USA and a look at the real flu figures provided by the CDC.

US flu activity continues to rise sharply
-----------------------------------------
Influenza activity continued its sharp rise through the last week of 2012, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said today [4 Jan 2012]. "Reports of influenza-like-illness (ILI) are nearing what have been peak levels during moderately severe seasons," said Joe Bresee, MD, chief of epidemiology and prevention in the CDC's flu division, in a CDC statement [ [link to www.cdc.gov] today.

The percentage of outpatient visits for ILI reported to the CDC's ILI network reached 5.6 percent for the week ending 29 Dec 2012 (week 52), up from 4.2 percent the week before and well above the national baseline of 2.2 percent. In the last moderately severe flu season, 2007-08, ILI activity peaked at 6.4 percent, in late February. By comparison, that marker reached 8.0 percent during the peak of the 2009 pandemic in October, according to CDC data.

As outlined in the agency's weekly FluView update, 31.6 percent of 9363 lab-tested respiratory specimens during week 52 were positive for flu, up from 29.6 percent the week before. That number approached 60 percent in midwestern states [see [link to www.cdc.gov]

41 states reported geographically widespread flu activity, 7 had regional activity, and one reported sporadic activity. During the previous week, 31 states reported widespread flu activity. The H3N2 strain -- typically associated with more-severe seasons -- continued to dominate, constituting 1209 (98 percent) of 1234 influenza A viruses that were subtyped, with the other 2 percent being pandemic 2009 H1N1.

Link here...

[link to www.promedmail.org]

In the top left menu under the heading...

05 Jan 2013 Influenza (03): USA, Europe, increasing incidence

And flu reports for Europe are as follows.

Summary - week 52/2012 [24-30 Dec 2012]
---------------------------------------
Influenza-like illness (ILI) and acute respiratory infection (ARI) consultation rates continue to rise, following a west-to-east progression across the WHO European Region. For the 2nd week, reporting of influenza surveillance data was incomplete, due to the holiday period. Countries mainly in the western part of the Region reported co-circulation of influenza A(H1N1)pdm09, A(H3N2), and type B viruses. The proportion of A(H1N1)pdm09 is considerably higher in comparison with the same time period last season. The number of reported of hospitalizations due to severe acute respiratory infection (SARI) remains low, with no cases being associated with influenza detection.

In week 52/2012, the reported number of specimens testing positive for influenza, along with the number of samples tested, was relatively low, due to suboptimal reporting by countries in the eastern part of the Region during the holiday period. Overall, a total of 844 specimens tested positive for influenza in week 52/2012: 593 were type A and 251 were type B. Of the influenza A viruses, 194 were subtyped: 55 as A(H3N2) and 139 as A(H1N1)pdm09.

Since week 40/2012 [1-7 Oct 2012], influenza A and influenza B viruses had been detected in comparable proportions. The prevalence of influenza A(H1N1)pdm09 increased in week 52, however; 4068 influenza viruses from sentinel and non-sentinel sources have been typed: 2454 (60 percent) were influenza A and 1614 (40 percent) influenza B. Of the influenza A viruses 1293 were subtyped: 655 (51 percent) as A(H3N2) and 638 (49 percent) as A(H1N1)pdm09.

The proportion of A(H1N1)pdm09 cases is significantly higher than in the same period last season, when these cases, from sentinel and non-sentinel sources, represented less than 5 percent of total detections.

In week 52/2012, Denmark, the Czech Republic, Germany, and Turkey reported influenza A as the dominant virus type, while Ireland, Luxembourg, and Spain reported influenza B as dominant. France and Switzerland reported influenza A and B as co-dominant. It is still too early to assess which influenza viruses will dominate this season as the number of detections remains relatively low[/b]

Link here...

[link to www.promedmail.org]

In the top left menu under the heading...

05 Jan 2013 Influenza (03): USA, Europe, increasing incidence

Under the lead line...

No cause for alarm over H5N1 outbreak in Indonesia-Rosnah.

date: the 5th of January 2013.

This next article which seems to have been presented in such a way that I cannot copy and paste the permitted portion to this thread, goes on to attempt to significantly downplay the very serious state of affairs that H5N1 is presenting in this region.

I strongly suggest that readers follow the link and read for themselves the attitudes that prevail in this region and as a consequence have their people in a state of poor awarenes of the dangers that both they and the world at large faces from this region all because of these innappropriate messages from their authorities.

A clear example of the damage that these pooly thought out reassurances have had is the fact that this virus has spread throughout all but two of their thirty six? Indonesian regions.

This would probably not have happened if a more cautions and stronger warnings had been issued for these communities.

Link here...

[link to www.bernama.com]

Not a lot to report today, but I did spot this article.

Its about corruption surrounding government officials in Jakarta.

The people concerned were directly dealing with the H5N1 bird flu menace that has been dogging this nation so massively and for so long.

I continue to believe that this is probably still just the tip of the iceberg as far as dealing or perhaps their state of denial, with H5N1 avian influenza in their region.

If readers follow the link you will also notice a large contigency of related articles on the same page linked to.

KPK Detains Ex-Health Ministry Director in Bird Flu Vaccine Case
Rizky Amelia&#8232; | January 07, 2013

The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) detained the Ministry of Health’s former director for medical services Ratna Dewi Umar on Monday, almost three years after she was named a suspect in an embezzlement scandal that cost the state some Rp 12 billion ($1.2 million) in losses.

Ratna stands accused of marking up the costs of medical equipment in 2007 that was needed in case of a widespread outbreak of the H5N1 bird flu virus. The ministry had set up a H5N1 division at its crisis response center to deal with a possible outbreak as the nation stared down a serious threat.

The center was being funded at the height of Indonesia’s bird flu epidemic. The virus had killed more than 100 people in Indonesia by the end of 2007. The nation remains the hardest hit by the H5N1 virus and is home to 159 of the 359 human fatalities reported worldwide to the World Health Organization.

Link here...

[link to www.thejakartaglobe.com]

It appears that the Highly Pathenogenic Avian Influenza H7N3 that caused so much damage to Mexico's poultry farming a few months ago has again re-surfaced with two fresh outbreaks being dealt with.

Mexico outbreak of avian flu in the culling of 300,000 birds
2013-01-10 17:06 Source: China News

According to foreign reports, the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) 9, Mexico reported the country's two farms outbreak of highly pathogenic avian flu, authorities have culled nearly 300,000 birds, the epidemic under control.

According to the Mexican Ministry of Agriculture report submitted to the OIE, the outbreak of bird flu in two farms in central Aguascalientes state, a total of 740 poultry infected death.

BEIJING, Jan. 10, according to foreign reports, the World Animal Health Organization (OIE) 9 said the report on the country's two farms in Mexico outbreak of highly pathogenic avian flu have been culled nearly 300,000 poultry birds and the outbreak under control.

According to the Mexican Ministry of Agriculture report submitted to the OIE, the outbreak of bird flu in two farms in central Aguascalientes state, a total of 740 poultry infected death.

Reportedly triggered the outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza virus H7N3, rather than another H5N1 highly pathogenic avian influenza virus caused the death of hundreds of people since it was first discovered in 1997.

Link here...

[link to news.ouhua.info]

H1N1 Swine Flu is being reported as the dominant strain of influenza in Northern Beijing where there has been 2 reported deaths from this strain already this year.

Influenza A (H1N1) has become a seasonal flu in northern Beijing 2 people dead

Deng Haihua said, According to statistics, from April 2012 to December cumulative number of reported cases of the outbreak of influenza-like illness in more than 10 cases of a total of 45 cases, including 29 cases of influenza A H3N2, B-3 from the (H1N1) from 3.

December 1 last year to January 6 of this year, the country reported a total of 360 cases of H1N1 flu deaths in Beijing report of two cases.

Link here...

[link to news.youth.cn]

World Health Organization, Influenza statistics for North America and Canada are now available for the last week of 2012 and the first week of 2013, and are as follows.

These stats note a total of 16 fatalities being reported in the last 2 weeks of 2012.

North America
-------------
Influenza activity in North America has increased sharply since the last report with Canada and the United States both reporting widespread transmission of influenza. Influenza activity in Canada continued to rise with increases in all indicators in the last 2 weeks.
The influenza-like illness (ILI) consultation rate increased from 4 percent at the time of the previous report to 6.6 percent, with the highest rate observed in children less than 5 years old, followed by 5-19 year olds. The percentage of samples that tested positive for influenza also increased from 17.8 percent to 31.1 percent. In the last 2 weeks, 127 new influenza outbreaks were reported: 87 in long-term-care facilities, 9 in hospitals, 1 in a school, and 30 in other facilities or communities. This represents a marked increase from the previous report of 22 outbreaks. 241 laboratory confirmed influenza associated hospitalizations were reported in 5 provinces; 97 percent (236/241) were influenza A, of which, half (117/236) were sub-typed. Of those with subtype information, 97.5 percent (114/117) were influenza A(H3N2) and 1.5 percent (3/117) were A(H1N1)pdm09. Just over half of these cases (51 percent, 123/241) were aged 65 years or older. 16 influenza associated deaths were reported in the last 2 weeks of 2012; all with influenza A. Influenza A continued to predominate in Canada, with very few detections of influenza B. Of the respiratory specimens that were positive for influenza in the previous reporting week, 97.7 percent (4525/4632) were positive for influenza A, and 2.3 percent (107/4632) for influenza B. Of the influenza A viruses that were sub-typed, 97.4 percent (1164/1195) were A(H3N2) and 2.6 percent (31/1195) were A(H1N1)pdm09. Since the start of the season, the National Microbiology Laboratory has antigenically characterized 177 influenza viruses (136 A(H3N2), 17 A(H1N1)pdm09, and 24 influenza B). The 136 influenza A(H3N2) viruses were antigenically similar to the vaccine virus A/Victoria/361/2011. The 17 A(H1N1)pdm09 viruses were antigenically similar to the vaccine virus A/California/07/09. Among the influenza B viruses, 20 were antigenically similar to the vaccine virus B/Wisconsin/01/2010 (Yamagata lineage) and 4 were similar to B/Brisbane/60/2008 (Victoria lineage; component of the previous 2011-2012 seasonal influenza vaccine). None of the viral samples tested were resistant to the neuraminidase inhibitors oseltamivir (n=128) or zanamivir (n=127).

In the USA, the majority of influenza viruses detected were A(H3N2), however influenza B accounted for a larger proportion than in Canada. Of the 2961 influenza positive specimens in the last week of 2012, 79 percent were influenza A and 21 percent were influenza B. Of the influenza A viruses with sub-type information, 98 percent were A(H3N2). Since 1 October 2012, the CDC has antigenically characterized 413 influenza viruses. All 17 A(H1N1)pdm09 viruses tested were characterized as A/California/7/2009-like and 99.3 percent of the 279 A(H3N2) influenza viruses tested were A/Victoria/361/2011-like. Of the 115 influenza B viruses characterized 69 percent were B/Wisconsin/1/2010-like of the Yamagata lineage, the B virus component of this season's trivalent influenza vaccine, and 31 percent were of the Victoria lineage.
Since 1 Oct [2012], none of the 526 A(H3N2), 39 A(H1N1)pdm09, or 226 B viruses have been resistant to neuraminidase inhibitors.

No new human infections of novel influenza A virus were reported in the last week. A total of 312 infections with variant influenza viruses have been reported from 11 states since July 2012.

Link here...

[link to www.promedmail.org]

In the menu on the left under the heading...

07 Jan 2013 Influenza (04): WHO update

World Health Organization Influenza statistics are also available for the last week of December 2012, noting that the holiday season has interferred with normal reporting processes.

Also of note is the significant difference of influenza types being identified in comparison to the United States.

H1N1 Swine flu was the dominant strain in the European experience, for which there has been no explaination or comment offered on this difference, which could be seen as unique, especially in light of H3N2 being the predominant strain in the US.

Europe
------
Influenza activity in the Europe has increased, mainly in the northern and western part of the continent. Growing numbers of countries in different parts of the region reported increasing detections of influenza viruses, though overall reporting was reduced due to the holiday season. The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) announced the start of the influenza season from the last week of November [2012] for the countries of the European Union and the European Economic Area (EU/EEA).

In EU/EEA countries, 25.3 percent of clinical samples were positive for influenza virus, a slight reduction from the previous week. The distribution of viruses types and subtypes in Europe was notably different from that observed in North America. Throughout Europe, since the beginning of the season, influenza A accounted for about 60 percent of influenza viruses detected and influenza B, 40 percent. However in contrast to North America, of the influenza A viruses that were subtyped, 51 percent (655/1293) were A(H3N2) and 49 percent (638/1293) were A(H1N1)pdm09. In the last week of December [2012], influenza A(H1N1)pdm09 increased in proportion, relative to A(H3N2), making up 72 percent (139/194) of influenza A viruses from sentinel sources with subtype information in that week.

In the last week of December 2012, 4 countries (France, Italy, the Netherlands, and Norway) reported medium intensity transmission. Previously this season, only France and Luxembourg had reported medium activity 2 weeks ago, and no countries had reported medium activity before that. The geographic spread of influenza activity was reported as widespread by Belgium, Denmark, France, Norway, and the UK (England), regional by Italy, the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom (Scotland), and sporadic by Estonia, Greece, Lithuania, and Spain. Prior to the last 2 weeks, no countries had reported widespread activity.

Sentinel SARI hospitalization rates that were positive for influenza also increased with 42 laboratory-confirmed cases in 4 countries (Belgium, France, Ireland, and the United Kingdom).

Since the end of September [2012], 7 countries (Denmark, England, Germany, Latvia, Portugal, Romania, and Switzerland) have antigenically characterized 81 influenza viruses; 6 were A(H1N1)pdm09 A/California/7/2009 (H1N1)-like, 52 A(H3N2) A/Victoria/361/2011-like, 15 B/Wisconsin/1/2010-like (Yamagata lineage, and 8 B/Brisbane/60/2008-like (Victoria lineage). None of the 28 A(H1N1)pdm09, 37 A(H3N2), and 16 B viruses tested in that period were resistant to the neuraminidase inhibitors, oseltamivir and zanamivir.

Link here...

[link to www.promedmail.org]

In the left menu under the heading...

07 Jan 2013 Influenza (04): WHO update

Back to Jordan, where they are reporting 66 cases of H1N1 swine flu of which there are 11 new cases all spread throughout their various hospitals.

From all these infections there has so far been 1 fatality reported.

Rising number of swine flu cases to 66 in Jordan

The number of cases certainly infected with swine flu "H1N1" to 66 cases after recording 11 new cases in Jordan.

The newspaper said the "constitution" of Jordan on Tuesday morning, citing the Jordanian Health Minister Dr. Abdul Latif Wreikat "The number of injuries has risen to 66 cases so until yesterday evening," Monday "after recording 11 new cases."


The newspaper pointed out that the infected cases and distributed according to the minister on 43 wounded in hospitals and the Ministry of Health and 7 injuries in the Royal Medical Services and 6 injuries in the private sector hospitals and 9 cases in the King Hussein Cancer Center and one at the University of Jordan Hospital

Alluding to record the condition of one death due to the disease.

Link here...

[link to www.26sep.net]

This next article apperas to be signalling a severe outbreak of H1N1 swine flu in the Chec. Republic which is reporting 30 Influenza infections with five reported deaths.

Czech exposed to influenza A H1N1 virus flu outbreak threat 2013-01-08 15:43 2013-01-08 15:43

Prague, January 8 (yellow band), Czech Ministry of Health warned that the Czech Republic is facing the threat of the H1N1 influenza virus, the coming weeks may outbreaks.

A spokeswoman of the Ministry of Health, told the media over the past seven days, the Czech Republic has 30 severe influenza patients hospitalized, five of them was pronounced dead.

Link here...

[link to world.cnr.cn]

For the truth handle we must...

Im sure that this article will raise a few eyebrows in the US.

Avian Influenza Found in New York Live Bird Market; Japan and Taiwan Halt Poultry Exports from New York
--------------------
USDA's National Veterinary Services Laboratories (NVSL) has confirmed H5N1 (presumably low pathogenic) from a live bird market in New York. According to USDA's agreement with Taiwan, FSIS has been notified to amend the FSIS Export Library to state that the export of poultry meat and meat products from the State of New York to Taiwan is prohibited effective immediately.

Break...

Avian influenza (AI), commonly known as "bird flu," is caused by a virus that can infect domesticated and wild birds, including chickens, turkeys, pheasants, quail, ducks, geese, and guinea fowl. AI virus strains are classified into 2 groups by pathogenicity, or the ability of the virus to produce disease, in domestic chickens. Highly pathogenic (HPAI) virus strains are extremely infectious, often fatal to domestic poultry, and can spread rapidly from flock-to-flock. Low pathogenic (LPAI) virus strains occur naturally in wild birds without causing illness, but some are capable of mutating into HPAI viruses. It is believed to be this capacity to mutate that causes other countries to ban the poultry products.

Link here...

[link to www.promedmail.org]

Under the heading in the left menu...

12 Jan 2013 Avian influenza H5N1, LPAI - USA: (NY) poultry, RFI

Sadly we see this report of Pediatric deaths due to influenza so far this year in the US.

US Pediatric Flu Deaths Jump To 33
Recombinomics Commentary 14:00
January 11, 2013


KS (1 ), TX (1 )

The above data from the reportable disease page of the week 1 MMWR indicate today’s week 1 FluView will report two additional pediatric deaths raising the seasonal total to 20. However, media reports and state lab reports describe a sharp rise in recent pediatric deaths, raising the seasonal total to 33 (see list below).

Most of those not reported in the week 1 FluView are lab confirmed, and the delay in reporting these cases in the FluView may be linked to the recent holidays. In addition, a small sub-set of the cases are not in the FluView because of an absence of lab testing.

Link here...

[link to www.recombinomics.com]

The number of H1N1 swine flu cases being reported in Jordan continues to increase.

Previously they had reported a single death from this virus, but regrettably there has been a second person now being reported as succumbing to the virus.


Amman, Jan 13 (Petra) -- A woman in her forties died at an Amman hospital becoming the second victim of an outbreak of Swine Flu in the Kingdom, Health Minister Abdullatif Wreikat announced on Sunday.

He said in a statement that the woman was last Sunday admitted to a private hospital for a lung infection and lab tests revealed that she had contracted the H1N1 virus.

The minister said medical staff initially suspected she had H1N1 and was given the necessary treatment but she died on Friday.

He said 75 H1N1 cases had been reported countrywide. A man in his twenties died on January 6 of multiple congenital disorders after he was infected with the deadly virus.

Link here...

[link to www.petra.gov.jo]

One must congratulate the Chinese for their organized and pro-active management of health issues such as flu outbreaks.

Here we observe the carefully thought out management of early outbreaks in their schools, where they have closed 20 as a result of simple student observations taken at morning assemblies and where kids are presenting with symptoms of H1N1 swine flu, which is predominant in the region.

Shaanxi: A stream of cases over 20 schools must be closed

2013-01-13 14:12:28 Published: 2013-01-13 14:12:28

Source: Xinhua News Agency &#20998;&#20139;&#21040;&#65306; Share:

Xinhua News Agency, Xi'an, January 13 (Reporter Xu Zuhua) -

Since winter Seasonal Influenza A (H1N1) clustered cases in individual counties (districts) schools in Shaanxi Province, Shaanxi Province Department of Education before the province's schools to do a good job of influenza clear in the prevention and control of emergency notification, the school in good morning check at the same time, the epidemic cases reached more than 20 school must be closed.

Link here...

[link to www.sn.xinhuanet.com]

I might have grabed a little more of this article than copyright guidelines suggest, however I have done this in order to keep this excellent piece of reporting in context, which I believe remains within the intent of those guidelines.

I acknowledge the journalist Helen Branswell for her excellent piece of research and journalism.

Here we see some very timely and pertinent questions and revelations being examined in relation to this years extreme flu season in the US and reasons why the flu vaccination has been somewhat less effective than it had been designed for.

The article also signals the need for caution by health authorities in their promoting so rigidly the effectiveness and necessity for having flu vaccinations in light of such poor possible outcomes.

Definately some food for thought and good reason to reflect on certain mandatory actions that have been seen emerging against what essentially is an over reaction to this problem.

I find the statement, "public health officials should not overstate its importance", to be highly pertinent and I would pose the question.

Just why have those public health officials been so sensitized and pro-active in their overtly enthusiastic and seemingly inappropriate promotion and insistance of vaccinations?

Perhaps the answer might lie at the feet of BIG Pharma and their various methods of promotions and perhaps less obvious manipulations of these people, with the obvious goal of the persuit of profit!

Please dont get me wrong here, I am not pro nor am I against good vaccination programs, as Ive previously attempted to make quite clear.

BUT...

I do think that it absolutely essential that each and every vaccination must be essential.

Flu vaccinations are by their nature an annual thing.

And as most vaccines do contain substances that carry risks with them as well as other products that have cumulative properties associaded with them, we must absolutely be certain that each and every vaccination is absolutely essential to receive and we should never just simply accept these substances being introduced into our bodies as routine as they are never that.

The matter should always be a sensible risk/ benefit equation, and that is and should be a consideration that is unique to each and every person as individual as each person also is.

Flu studies suggest vaccine 'match' not super predictor of effectiveness

Helen Branswell, Sunday, January 13, 2013 7:10 PM

An early U.S. assessment of how well this year's influenza vaccine is doing at preventing illness in those who are vaccinated suggests this year's shot reduces one's risk of being infected with influenza A — in other words H3N2 or H1N1 — by about 55 per cent and influenza B by 70 per cent.

TORONTO - From the start of this year's influenza season, public health officials assured people the flu vaccine was a good 'match' for circulating strains of the virus, which suggests it should offer good protection this winter.

But an early assessment of how well the vaccine is doing at preventing illness in those who are vaccinated suggests this year's shot reduces one's risk of being infected with influenza A — in other words H3N2 or H1N1 — by about 55 per cent and influenza B by 70 per cent. (Those are U.S. estimates; a corresponding Canadian analysis is underway.)

Those figures raise two related questions: Is that the best currently designed flu vaccines can do, even when the strains in the vaccine are closely related to those making people sick? And does the concept of a good match carry as much weight as has been suggested?

The answer to the first question, flu experts admit with some reluctance, is likely yes.

And a growing chorus within the flu community is also suggesting that a good match doesn't necessarily guarantee better protection. The welcome flip side is the awareness that a bad match doesn't mean the vaccine is waste of time.

"The more we've peeled back this onion called the match, the more we realize we have many questions about it that we can't answer," says Dr. Michael Osterholm, who last year published a major report on influenza vaccine and its shortcomings.

The report is an argument for redesigning flu vaccine to produce more effective products. Among its recommendations is the suggestion that until the relationship between vaccine effectiveness and vaccine virus match is cleared up, public health officials should not overstate its importance.

Link here...

[link to www.globaltoronto.com]

Today, Monday the 14th of January 2013, we have this article reporting on the growing impact of H1N1 swine flu in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip.

Official: Swine flu death toll rises to 15 in West Bank
Published yesterday 19:51RAMALLAH (Ma'an) -- Fifteen people have died in the West Bank after contracting the Swine Flu virus, a Palestinian Authority health ministry official said Sunday.

Tareef Ashour announced that a woman died from the H1N1 virus on Sunday, bringing the death toll to 15 people. There have been 511 cases of Swine Flu in the West Bank and 19 in the Gaza Strip, he added.

Link here...

[link to www.maannews.net]

A case of mixed messages!

Here we see an article reporting on the curent increasing numbers of H1N1 swine flu in Sweden, but included in the article are figures of vaccination resultant narcelepsy cases which would appear to defeat the call for vaccinations.

Last week over 100 people were infected with swine flu in Sweden, double the the week before. This season so far, 67 patients have been admitted to hospital with swine flu, of these, eight have had to go into intensive care. Most of those who have been hospitalized have been between 15 and 64 years old.

Break...

The vaccine used is the same Pandemrix type used in the 2009 outbreak, which caused narcolepsy among children.

After receiving the Pandemrix swine flu vaccination in 2009, 177 cases of narcolepsi were reported in Sweden, according to TT.

Link here...

[link to sverigesradio.se]

There has been a new outbreak of H5N1 being reported in Bhutan, where free range domestic poultry have had to be destroyed.

An outbreak of highly pathogenic H5N1 avian flu in backyard free-ranging flocks in Bhutan has killed 18 poultry and led to 952 more being culled, according to a Jan 11 report to the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE).

Link here...

[link to hisz.rsoe.hu]

The new H3N2v influenza virus that recently emerged in the US has been studied for its future pandemic potential.

Modeling study finds low pandemic risk from variant H3N2
Novel swine-origin variant H3N2 influenza (H3N2v) does not currently pose a substantial pandemic risk, according to Canadian flu experts, but that could change over time, according to a study in PLoS One. The scientists estimated potential epidemic attack rates (ARs) based on age-specific estimates of serosusceptibility and social interactions. They used a contact network model established for Greater Vancouver to estimate ARs for H3N2v, pandemic 2009 H1N1, and a former seasonal H3N2 strain.

Link here...

[link to www.cidrap.umn.edu]

Sadly the number of reported pediatric deaths in the US from this seasons influenza season is expected to rise to very significant numbers, partly because this particular seasons vaccine strain wasnt well matched, leaving its effectiveness down to meerly 55% for Influenza A.

Early expectations are pointing to eventual pediatric deaths to rival those of the 2003-4 flu season.

So far this season there have been 38 reported pediatric deaths.

Twenty influenza-associated pediatric deaths had been reported to CDC as of January 5. It’s likely that more deaths will be reported since influenza activity will probably continue in the United States for several more weeks. During 2003-04 and 2007-08 – two seasons with comparable patterns in influenza-like-illness --reported pediatric deaths were 153 and 88 respectively for the entire season.

The above comments are from the CDC’s update information for pediatricians. The historic numbers help put the current season into perspective. The 153 reported deaths in the 2003-04 seasons led to regulations in the United States which made lab confirmed influenza flu deaths reportable. Although the reported deaths, continue to grossly underestimate the actual number of deaths because many cases are not tested and therefore not reported, the numbers do allow for comparisons between seasons.

Link here...

[link to www.recombinomics.com]

Egypt has reported another outbreak of H5N1 avian influenza that has been detected in both ducks and poultry.

GENERAL INFO
Disease Event ID Reporting date Observation date
174255 10/01/2013 06/01/2013

LOCATION
Region Admin 1 (Country) Locality Lat/Long Quality of Coordinates
Africa Al Gharbiyah (gharbia) (Egypt) Mahlet Ellaban 30.902/30.773 Centroid Locality

DISEASE
Status DISEASE Serotype Source
Confirmed Highly pathogenic avian influenza H5N1 National authorities
OverlaysDisease Event
Admin 1 Level (GAUL)
Global Poultry Density
Production Systems
World Rivers
Base LayerCountries/Territories (GAUL)



SPECIES AFFECTED
An.Type An.Class Species At Risk Cases Deaths Destroyed Slaughtered
Domestic Birds duck 10 10
Domestic Birds chicken 50 50

LABORATORIES
Disease Tested Species Test Result Result Date Reference Laboratory
Highly pathogenic avian influenza duck RRT-PCR (real-time reverse transcriptase PCR) Positive 10/01/2013
Highly pathogenic avian influenza chicken RRT-PCR (real-time reverse transcriptase PCR) Positive 10/01/2013

Link here...

[link to empres-i.fao.org]