BEIJING - Sixty-five Oregon students were in quarantine in Beijing, China, after one of them tested positive for swine flu, a NBC News producer in Beijing said on Sunday.
Separately, Britain's Foreign Office said that China placed 52 visiting British students in quarantine after four of the group were hospitalized with suspected swine flu, according to the BBC.
The British and American students had been in contact, the BBC reported.
Medford school trip
School officials from Medford, Oregon, said a student traveling in China had tested positive for the disease and been confined in a hospital despite showing no symptoms, The Associated Press reported earlier.
St. Mary's school principal Frank Phillips told the AP that the positive test also triggered the quarantine of the entire school group of 65 students and seven chaperones, the AP said. The group was traveling in China on a three-week language and culture camp sponsored by the Chinese government.
Phillips said the groups was quarantined at a hospital and has missed several planned tours, but he says that if no signs of fevers were found by Chinese health officials, the group would be able to continue its planned program in China.
NBC's producer in Beijing reported that the Oregan students would be held for four days and should be released on July 22. One of those being held was Nicholas Phillips, son of the school's principal, he said.
Travel warning
A spokeswoman from the U.S. Embassy in Beijing told msnbc.com she could not confirm whether the Oregon students were indeed being held in the city.
The U.S. State Department has issued travel advisories warning of China's swine flu policy but does not release information on specific cases or numbers because of privacy concerns, Susan Stevenson, a press attache at the embassy, told msnbc.com.
About 1,800 American citizens have been held in quarantine since China's new procedures were put in place in May, and there had been around 200 cases of the virus, she said.
Sunday, July 19, 2009
More UK swine flu pupils in China
Another four British school pupils have been confirmed as having swine flu after being taken to hospital in Beijing.
Four other British and four US pupils from the same trip have been diagnosed, and more than 100 of their classmates and teachers quarantined in a hotel
Quentin Sommerville reports from Beijing
Four other British and four US pupils from the same trip have been diagnosed, and more than 100 of their classmates and teachers quarantined in a hotel
Quentin Sommerville reports from Beijing
Got swine flu? Tweet it.
When students return to school this fall, school nurses will once again chase after them with hand sanitizer. Familiar posters about sneezing into elbows will plaster the hallways. But when it comes to managing a potential swine flu outbreak in high schools, county health officials are going beyond cartoon admonitions.
"We're going to start the 'Don't Let the Flu Get You' page on Facebook," said Joy Alexiou, head of the Santa Clara County Public Health Department's flu prevention campaign. "Students know best how to talk to each other. We just want to give them the tools and information so they're communicating the correct information."
The county will use the Facebook page, as well as posts to MySpace and Twitter, to get health updates out as quickly as possible. It'll also equip students with T-shirts and details about a swine flu prevention video contest, counting on the wisdom that knowledge sinks deeper into students' heads if it comes from their peers.
The teen-centered strategy responds to one of swine flu's quirks: Unlike the seasonal flu, which mostly affects the elderly, this strain primarily befalls the young. To date, the county has 120 confirmed cases of the H1N1 virus, or swine flu, with 75 percent of those cases occurring in people under 24 years old. At least 32 of those cases resulted in hospitalizations; one 44-year-old Santa Clara County woman with a history of medical problems died from swine flu complications three weeks ago.
Statewide, there have been 3,168 swine flu cases, 441 hospitalizations and 55 deaths. Health officials say that deaths from swine flu are not surprising, since even in a normal year, the seasonal flu kills about 36,000 Americans. Most deaths are caused by respiratory infections, such as pneumonia.
Santa Clara County is borrowing its strategy from the federal government, which was quick to tap into social media tools during the spring swine flu scare, producing podcasts on hand washing, Twitter feeds with the latest infection numbers, and eCards on managing swine flu symptoms.
Experts believe the flu will resurface in greater numbers this fall, but are unclear if the strain — which has been relatively mild so far — will mutate and cause more severe illness. The county is still waiting to hear when a vaccine will be available, and deciding how to distribute it.
Officials see the social networks as the fastest, most direct way of communicating updates, and hope they will keep information flowing back from students, too.
"We know that with kids social networking is their life," said Karen Fuqua, manager of community development for the San Jose Unified School District. "They'll be telling county health what's going on at their schools."
The strategy will also help reach parents of high school students, an elusive group, Fuqua said. With elementary school kids, "backpack mail" has been a reliable way of communicating with parents. But parents can't rely on teens offering their bags for inspection, then discussing the contents over an after-school snack.
Both county and federal health departments are asking the public to translate their medical advisories into a pop culture format.
Public service announcements starring bad actors with bad haircuts fall flat with discriminating teenagers, stimulating sarcasm and not much more. But offer teens $2,500 to produce a video that educates and entertains their peers, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention hopes the message will spread on YouTube faster than the virus could in a school locker room.
This month, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services called for 15-, 30- or 60-second videos that make hand washing seem as appealing as "Gossip Girl.'' Entries must be posted to YouTube by Aug. 17. Details can be found at www.pandemicflu.gov/psa/index.html. Santa Clara County will host its own contest for high school students in the fall — with much more modest prizes for the winners.
Melinda Landau, head of health services for San Jose schools, wondered how accurate medical information will remain as teens send it through Internet channels.
"It will be interesting to see how kids forward it to friends," she said, noting the false reports circulating this past spring as swine flu shuttered schools. "If they put their own spin on it, well, we'll have some rumor control problems."
But, Alexiou said, the social networking sites will be good for that, too. "If we hear about a rumor or misinformation, then we can share the right info with our fans," she said. "We can correct with some audiences as soon as we hear about it."
"We're going to start the 'Don't Let the Flu Get You' page on Facebook," said Joy Alexiou, head of the Santa Clara County Public Health Department's flu prevention campaign. "Students know best how to talk to each other. We just want to give them the tools and information so they're communicating the correct information."
The county will use the Facebook page, as well as posts to MySpace and Twitter, to get health updates out as quickly as possible. It'll also equip students with T-shirts and details about a swine flu prevention video contest, counting on the wisdom that knowledge sinks deeper into students' heads if it comes from their peers.
The teen-centered strategy responds to one of swine flu's quirks: Unlike the seasonal flu, which mostly affects the elderly, this strain primarily befalls the young. To date, the county has 120 confirmed cases of the H1N1 virus, or swine flu, with 75 percent of those cases occurring in people under 24 years old. At least 32 of those cases resulted in hospitalizations; one 44-year-old Santa Clara County woman with a history of medical problems died from swine flu complications three weeks ago.
Statewide, there have been 3,168 swine flu cases, 441 hospitalizations and 55 deaths. Health officials say that deaths from swine flu are not surprising, since even in a normal year, the seasonal flu kills about 36,000 Americans. Most deaths are caused by respiratory infections, such as pneumonia.
Santa Clara County is borrowing its strategy from the federal government, which was quick to tap into social media tools during the spring swine flu scare, producing podcasts on hand washing, Twitter feeds with the latest infection numbers, and eCards on managing swine flu symptoms.
Experts believe the flu will resurface in greater numbers this fall, but are unclear if the strain — which has been relatively mild so far — will mutate and cause more severe illness. The county is still waiting to hear when a vaccine will be available, and deciding how to distribute it.
Officials see the social networks as the fastest, most direct way of communicating updates, and hope they will keep information flowing back from students, too.
"We know that with kids social networking is their life," said Karen Fuqua, manager of community development for the San Jose Unified School District. "They'll be telling county health what's going on at their schools."
The strategy will also help reach parents of high school students, an elusive group, Fuqua said. With elementary school kids, "backpack mail" has been a reliable way of communicating with parents. But parents can't rely on teens offering their bags for inspection, then discussing the contents over an after-school snack.
Both county and federal health departments are asking the public to translate their medical advisories into a pop culture format.
Public service announcements starring bad actors with bad haircuts fall flat with discriminating teenagers, stimulating sarcasm and not much more. But offer teens $2,500 to produce a video that educates and entertains their peers, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention hopes the message will spread on YouTube faster than the virus could in a school locker room.
This month, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services called for 15-, 30- or 60-second videos that make hand washing seem as appealing as "Gossip Girl.'' Entries must be posted to YouTube by Aug. 17. Details can be found at www.pandemicflu.gov/psa/index.html. Santa Clara County will host its own contest for high school students in the fall — with much more modest prizes for the winners.
Melinda Landau, head of health services for San Jose schools, wondered how accurate medical information will remain as teens send it through Internet channels.
"It will be interesting to see how kids forward it to friends," she said, noting the false reports circulating this past spring as swine flu shuttered schools. "If they put their own spin on it, well, we'll have some rumor control problems."
But, Alexiou said, the social networking sites will be good for that, too. "If we hear about a rumor or misinformation, then we can share the right info with our fans," she said. "We can correct with some audiences as soon as we hear about it."
Legal immunity set for swine flu vaccine makers
ATLANTA - The last time the government embarked on a major vaccine campaign against a new swine flu, thousands filed claims contending they suffered side effects from the shots. This time, the government has already taken steps to head that off.
Vaccine makers and federal officials will be immune from lawsuits that result from any new swine flu vaccine, under a document signed by Secretary of Health and Human Services Kathleen Sebelius, government health officials said Friday.
Since the 1980s, the government has protected vaccine makers against lawsuits over the use of childhood vaccines. Instead, a federal court handles claims and decides who will be paid from a special fund.
Vaccine makers and federal officials will be immune from lawsuits that result from any new swine flu vaccine, under a document signed by Secretary of Health and Human Services Kathleen Sebelius, government health officials said Friday.
Since the 1980s, the government has protected vaccine makers against lawsuits over the use of childhood vaccines. Instead, a federal court handles claims and decides who will be paid from a special fund.
Swine Flu: Why You Should Still Be Worried
In the U.S., the H1N1 virus has sickened tens of thousands and closed summer camps at a time when there should be little or no flu activity.
Even as the WHO and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention continue to raise awareness of this potentially deadly disease, which appears to be killing both sick and healthy individuals, the topic has virtually disappeared from the headlines.
“Complacency is a major concern,” said Dr. Anne Schuchat, director for National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases at the CDC.
“This virus is a new one, and on top of that, we really still don’t know how it’s going to behave,” Schuchat said during a media conference call Friday. “There are special efforts that have been undertaken by health agencies, but individuals also need to be ready, to be thinking ahead and have steps in place should a family member get sick or a workplace close down or a situation arise that requires working from home.”
Over the next six to 12 weeks, there are several concerns that national health officials are preparing for:
1. Figuring out how the virus will react and spread once students return to schools, especially inner city schools, which typically struggle with overcrowding issues.
2. Overseeing the completion of a vaccine and getting it to the individuals who need it most.
3. Determining how the virus will behave as it spreads and mutates.
Schools
School districts across the U.S. struggle every fall with outbreaks of typically non-flu respiratory viruses, which are easily spread through germs on surfaces and doorknobs, as well as passed from student to student through sneezing, coughing, and sharing drinks and food.
Seasonal influenza usually begins to spread through schools in the late fall and early winter, but this probably will not be the case with swine flu, which behaves differently than seasonal influenza – by oddly thriving in warm and humid conditions.
“This year we’re seeing the H1N1 virus circulating through summer camps and military units, so I’m expecting we may see an increase in cases once school starts, but we don’t definitely know that,” Schuchat said. “We are concerned that there will be challenges in the fall. It is the kind of thing we want to be ready for and not surprised by.”
Schuchat said national and state health officials are working closely together on updating their guidance for schools and similar institutions with regard to swine flu outbreaks.
“We still believe that the best place for kids is in schools, where they can be nourished receiving a healthy breakfast and lunch and learning,” she said. “But we also believe the best place for a sick kid is at home being cared for. So we’re working on putting strong plans in place on communication and preparedness on the local and state levels.”
Vaccine
Companies such as Baxter, GlaxoSmithKline and Novartis are working to ready a swine flu vaccine for October. Earlier this week, concerns were raised that the U.S. may not receive all the vaccine it needs because it only manufactures about 20 percent of its own supply. The other 80 percent is produced in foreign countries, which will also need ample supplies of the vaccine.
But Schuchat downplayed those concerns, saying the U.S. has contracts in place with manufacturers around the world that guarantee it will receive adequate vaccine.
But, will the vaccine be effective?
In a typical year, the seasonal flu vaccine is about 70 to 90 percent effective, depending on how closely the vaccine matches the strains circulating and on the population the vaccine is used in. In other words, a vaccine is not going to be as effective in a person with a compromised immune system or someone who is considered at high risk for the virus.
Scientists typically spend months researching the strains of seasonal flu virus that are circulating the globe in order to pick out the three strains that it puts into the annual vaccine.
Because swine flu is new and mutating – for example, in Argentina the virus appears to have mutated to where it can now easily spread from humans to pigs – scientists have their work cut out for them when it comes to determining what strains of the H1N1 swine flu virus to include in the vaccine.
“Unfortunately, right now, we do not know how effective it will be in different populations,” Schuchat said. “We will be looking back at how well it worked, taking into account whether it worked as well as expected, better than expected or worse than expected. Unfortunately, that’s something we’re not able to do until after the fact.”
Virus Behavior
World and U.S. health officials have already determined that swine flu behaves differently than seasonal flu in a number of ways. First, it’s able to spread in hot and humid weather, which is not usually the case for the seasonal flu virus.
Second, the infection appears to be more severe in young people and less severe in the elderly than the typical seasonal flu. Schuchat said in some countries, elderly people, usually at high-risk for influenza, appear to be immune to swine flu – possibly because of the similarities between swine flu and the 1918 flu pandemic, which some of the world’s elderly survived and may be resistant to.
“We are particularly concerned about pregnant women; we’re seeing fatalities and life-threatening illnesses that have occurred in pregnant women in the Southern Hemisphere,” Schuchat said. “We are expecting pregnant women to get a recommendation to get the H1N1 vaccine to reduce the risk of complications from influenza. We know many pregnant women don’t like to take any drugs, but this is one instance where you need to be much more concerned about your health than the baby’s health.”
“We’re in a very active stage of preparing for the [coming months],” she continued. “We’re working with the private sector. We want individuals and families to be preparing. Influenza in general is unpredictable, and we don’t know what to expect in the weeks and months ahead.”
Even as the WHO and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention continue to raise awareness of this potentially deadly disease, which appears to be killing both sick and healthy individuals, the topic has virtually disappeared from the headlines.
“Complacency is a major concern,” said Dr. Anne Schuchat, director for National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases at the CDC.
“This virus is a new one, and on top of that, we really still don’t know how it’s going to behave,” Schuchat said during a media conference call Friday. “There are special efforts that have been undertaken by health agencies, but individuals also need to be ready, to be thinking ahead and have steps in place should a family member get sick or a workplace close down or a situation arise that requires working from home.”
Over the next six to 12 weeks, there are several concerns that national health officials are preparing for:
1. Figuring out how the virus will react and spread once students return to schools, especially inner city schools, which typically struggle with overcrowding issues.
2. Overseeing the completion of a vaccine and getting it to the individuals who need it most.
3. Determining how the virus will behave as it spreads and mutates.
Schools
School districts across the U.S. struggle every fall with outbreaks of typically non-flu respiratory viruses, which are easily spread through germs on surfaces and doorknobs, as well as passed from student to student through sneezing, coughing, and sharing drinks and food.
Seasonal influenza usually begins to spread through schools in the late fall and early winter, but this probably will not be the case with swine flu, which behaves differently than seasonal influenza – by oddly thriving in warm and humid conditions.
“This year we’re seeing the H1N1 virus circulating through summer camps and military units, so I’m expecting we may see an increase in cases once school starts, but we don’t definitely know that,” Schuchat said. “We are concerned that there will be challenges in the fall. It is the kind of thing we want to be ready for and not surprised by.”
Schuchat said national and state health officials are working closely together on updating their guidance for schools and similar institutions with regard to swine flu outbreaks.
“We still believe that the best place for kids is in schools, where they can be nourished receiving a healthy breakfast and lunch and learning,” she said. “But we also believe the best place for a sick kid is at home being cared for. So we’re working on putting strong plans in place on communication and preparedness on the local and state levels.”
Vaccine
Companies such as Baxter, GlaxoSmithKline and Novartis are working to ready a swine flu vaccine for October. Earlier this week, concerns were raised that the U.S. may not receive all the vaccine it needs because it only manufactures about 20 percent of its own supply. The other 80 percent is produced in foreign countries, which will also need ample supplies of the vaccine.
But Schuchat downplayed those concerns, saying the U.S. has contracts in place with manufacturers around the world that guarantee it will receive adequate vaccine.
But, will the vaccine be effective?
In a typical year, the seasonal flu vaccine is about 70 to 90 percent effective, depending on how closely the vaccine matches the strains circulating and on the population the vaccine is used in. In other words, a vaccine is not going to be as effective in a person with a compromised immune system or someone who is considered at high risk for the virus.
Scientists typically spend months researching the strains of seasonal flu virus that are circulating the globe in order to pick out the three strains that it puts into the annual vaccine.
Because swine flu is new and mutating – for example, in Argentina the virus appears to have mutated to where it can now easily spread from humans to pigs – scientists have their work cut out for them when it comes to determining what strains of the H1N1 swine flu virus to include in the vaccine.
“Unfortunately, right now, we do not know how effective it will be in different populations,” Schuchat said. “We will be looking back at how well it worked, taking into account whether it worked as well as expected, better than expected or worse than expected. Unfortunately, that’s something we’re not able to do until after the fact.”
Virus Behavior
World and U.S. health officials have already determined that swine flu behaves differently than seasonal flu in a number of ways. First, it’s able to spread in hot and humid weather, which is not usually the case for the seasonal flu virus.
Second, the infection appears to be more severe in young people and less severe in the elderly than the typical seasonal flu. Schuchat said in some countries, elderly people, usually at high-risk for influenza, appear to be immune to swine flu – possibly because of the similarities between swine flu and the 1918 flu pandemic, which some of the world’s elderly survived and may be resistant to.
“We are particularly concerned about pregnant women; we’re seeing fatalities and life-threatening illnesses that have occurred in pregnant women in the Southern Hemisphere,” Schuchat said. “We are expecting pregnant women to get a recommendation to get the H1N1 vaccine to reduce the risk of complications from influenza. We know many pregnant women don’t like to take any drugs, but this is one instance where you need to be much more concerned about your health than the baby’s health.”
“We’re in a very active stage of preparing for the [coming months],” she continued. “We’re working with the private sector. We want individuals and families to be preparing. Influenza in general is unpredictable, and we don’t know what to expect in the weeks and months ahead.”
Baby of woman with swine flu dies at Wellington Regional Medical Center
WELLINGTON — The baby girl of a woman with swine flu died this morning at Wellington Regional Medical Center after doctors were forced to deliver the child prematurely.
The mother, Aubrey Opdyke, remained in critical condition. Doctors put Opdyke into a coma to give the baby, named Parker Christine, as much oxygen as possible while her mother fought the H1N1 swine flu virus. Doctors decided to deliver the baby today, about 14 weeks before its due date, but the child died, a hospital spokeswoman said. No other details were available.
Opdyke's husband, Bryan, named the baby after his wife was put in the coma. He chose the name Parker because his wife liked the sound of it before she fell ill. They had already picked the middle name Christine in honor of Bryan's mother.
Bryan Opdyke had said doctors might be forced to deliver the baby if his wife's oxygen levels crashed or if the baby began to struggle. They had hoped to wait until at least 28 weeks, if forced to deliver early.
The number of confirmed swine flu cases in South Florida is surging. It's a relatively mild illness for most people, but pregnant women, children, diabetics and people with heart and lung conditions are more likely to develop complications.
Health officials confirmed two weeks ago another pregnant woman was the first Palm Beach County swine flu victim. She died at age 25 on June 27. Doctors were able to save her baby.
Pregnant women represent about 1 percent of the U.S. population, but so far they've represented about 8 percent of those suffering from severe swine flu complications, officials at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta said.
The mother, Aubrey Opdyke, remained in critical condition. Doctors put Opdyke into a coma to give the baby, named Parker Christine, as much oxygen as possible while her mother fought the H1N1 swine flu virus. Doctors decided to deliver the baby today, about 14 weeks before its due date, but the child died, a hospital spokeswoman said. No other details were available.
Opdyke's husband, Bryan, named the baby after his wife was put in the coma. He chose the name Parker because his wife liked the sound of it before she fell ill. They had already picked the middle name Christine in honor of Bryan's mother.
Bryan Opdyke had said doctors might be forced to deliver the baby if his wife's oxygen levels crashed or if the baby began to struggle. They had hoped to wait until at least 28 weeks, if forced to deliver early.
The number of confirmed swine flu cases in South Florida is surging. It's a relatively mild illness for most people, but pregnant women, children, diabetics and people with heart and lung conditions are more likely to develop complications.
Health officials confirmed two weeks ago another pregnant woman was the first Palm Beach County swine flu victim. She died at age 25 on June 27. Doctors were able to save her baby.
Pregnant women represent about 1 percent of the U.S. population, but so far they've represented about 8 percent of those suffering from severe swine flu complications, officials at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta said.
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