Swine Flu Update | 05/19/2009 11:20 am
Swine Flu Deaths in Recent Days Spark More Fears, Concerns
Amid a cluster of school closings, recent swine-flu deaths in the U.S. have sparked more concerns of the H1N1 pandemic.
The death of a 16-month-old boy, who doctors suspect may have succumbed to swine flu, has sparked a new level of concern about the H1N1 virus.
Jonathan Zamora’s tragic passing on Monday came hours after a 55-year-old assistant principal, also from Queens, died a swine-flu-related death, the New York Daily News reports. Doctors believe Mitchell Weiner, who suffered from gout, contracted the H1N1 virus from an outbreak at his school, Intermediate School 238. Today, 16 schools in New York are closed after 103 students in four schools came down with influenza-like symptoms, according to ABC News.
The World Health Organization announced this morning that 40 countries have 9,830 cases of the H1N1 infections – and 79 deaths. Most casualties occurred in Mexico, which is the epicenter of the outbreak, and five deaths hit the United States.
In other news, drug manufacturers will begin work on a swine-flu vaccine around mid-July that should take months to produce.
On Monday, the general director of the WHO, Dr. Margaret Chan, addressed the public’s concern over the pandemic.
"As we now know, a new influenza virus with great pandemic potential, the new influenza A (H1N1) strain, has emerged from another source on another side of the world," Chan said at the World Health Assembly at Geneva. She added:
Unlike the avian virus, the new H1N1 virus spreads very easily from person to person, spreads rapidly within a country once it establishes itself and is spreading rapidly to new countries. We expect this pattern to continue. Unlike the avian virus, H1N1 presently causes mainly mild illness, with few deaths, outside the outbreak in Mexico. We hope this pattern continues. New diseases are, by definition, poorly understood when they emerge, and this is most especially true when the causative agent is an influenza virus.
Tell us: Are you concerned about the H1N1 virus? What has your experience been thus far with swine flu? Have you or someone you know been affected?
Read more about: Culture, Gout, H1N1, H1N1 virus, Health, Jonathan Zamora, Medicine, Mexico, Mitchell Weiner, News, Society, Swine Flu, Vaccine, World Health Organization
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25 Reader Comments (so far…) Sign In or Register to comment
Both my wife and I had H1N1 symptoms (sequentially, wife first)… all but the vomiting and diarrhea, thank goodness! Very mild for flu, but not something I’d like to repeat. My wife’s symptoms lasted for a week, mine for about 30-hours. I had a "regular" flu shot in October, so maybe that gave me some partial help. Or, it’s just a person-to-person difference.
We did not go to a doctor, since at the time everyone was saying if the symptoms are mild, don’t pester the medical community. My guess is that there are many more cases than are being reported.
I get a flu shot every year, usually at Kroger or Walgreens. But I don’t know if this particular virus would be repelled.
No, fortunately, I do not know of anyone who has the flu, but it made front page news in my paper again. So, I’ll continue to avoid crowded places if I can. I wash my hands a lot anyway, so I’m hoping that will help me avoid it. If this swine flu is world wide and has great pandemic potential, we should all be concerned.
Amazing that the H1N1 got so much press, particularly given the following annual death statistics for the US:
Source: CDC
Good article in the NY Times science section today on the search for the universal flu vaccine.
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/05/19/science/19vacc.html?hpw
Hi, James,
Let me tell you something about tests - in most cases they’re just indicators. You have to look at the whole picture and take the scores and make interpretations in context. I personally don’t send patients out for testing. I’m pretty intuitive and comfortable diagnosing problems without testing. My point is that I’m not up-to-date on testing and inferences to be made from them.
KBIT - The result [93] is not your IQ per se, but rather an estimate of your verbal and nonverbal ability compared to all people between the ages of 4 and 90. The average score on the Bell Curve is somewhere between 85-115. The mean score is 100. But as you pointed out, you’re not good with puzzle-solving, so that could be part of the reason for your score. But again - it’s average. This test is a short one, right? I think they primarily use this test to assess if young kids should be in advanced placement. I wouldn’t give this test another thought. Seriously. If it REALLY bothers you take the Weschler. But YOU know you’re far from being stupid, as do the rest of us on wowowow.
MMPI has been around forever and is a very good authority in detecting psychological problems.
James, I suggest you see a Ph.D. level psychologist [not a student] who is a male* [wouldn’t want her to be some hot looking chick as that would be distracting] and who practices cognitive behavioral psychology. [Ask when you call which treatment modality the psychologist mainly practices.] Get to the bottom of what’s causing the anxiety because it’s possible that the anxiety is causing you to be avoidant and that in itself will make you feel "stuck" and could cause depression. I think you have a fine goal [family, marriage] and will be motivated to work through it and achieve your objectives.
Keep me posted.
Andrea, I can tell you are very sharp at what you do. The psychologist who did the intake interview told me even before the testing that, "I don’t believe you have Asperger’s. You socialize very well." She’s got me scheduled to see a male PhD-level psychologist who she says is "incredible", and has extensive experience with anxiety disorders, etc. That same day, June 9th, I’m slated to see the psychiatrist.
She was concerned that the MMPI indicated a strong suicidal ideation, but I told her I’m not suicidal, just think about heaven and the hereafter a lot (where many of my loved ones are). I am no psychologist, but I can tell, like you, she’s a top-of-the-line professional. I was actually surprised that she, like you, recommended a male shrink. After all, a prime problem for me is extreme anxiety around women to whom I’m attracted. It would’ve seemed to little ol’ me that it would be better to be more exposed to that which I’m so afraid of ("the hot-looking chick" you alluded to) - exposure therapy or systematic desensitization (see, I have done a little homework). But, obviously, I’m wrong if you two - the experts - believe otherwise.
Thanks!
Oh, we want to see you around hot-looking chicks, James, but NOT a FEMALE therapist. You would likely be distracted by her whether she looked like your dream girl or Godzilla; and that would cause anxiety and very likely sabotage the treatment.
First we want the MALE shrink to get your head in gear. He has to get to the root of the problem [should be easy, unless I’m off base here] then little by little he’ll prep you. Just let him direct you. Then, when he thinks you’re ready, he’ll slowly send you out to be around lots of ladies. ["Exposing you to the stimulus."] At least that would be my strategy - it may not be his. Just try to go with his direction. Don’t try to second guess him.
He may ask you to hold off on going to mixed social events unless necessary. It will be short term, IF he suggests doing that. Then you’ll get your training wheels. And then he’ll let you loose little by little. Just trust him.
But do make sure he is a cognitive behavioralist.
MMPI also requires astute interpretation [as do all psych exams] and consideration of all other known facts. From your letters I don’t perceive suicidal ideation. But better to err on the side of caution; let the new psychologist and the psychiatrist be the judge of that.
I’m excited for you. It looks like you’ve got half the battle won. It’s still going to take some hard work on your part but I know you’re up to the challenge.
No mention that the one you will see treats adults.
James, this isn’t intended to be derogatory, but what I noticed when I went through the website is that they’re pretty much focused on neuropsych disorders [e.g., ADHD, dimentia, autism, etc.]. They’re pretty involved with testing - at least that seems to be their focus. They indicate a "concern" for depression, anxiety, etc., but I’m wondering if they mean only as it relates to autism or dementia, etc. I’m wondering if they see many people with your issues.
I don’t know. Then again, I’ve never heard of a guy like me who’s so anxious around women that he hasn’t dated in many years, other than the so-called "love-shy" men postulated by Dr. Gilmartin (pop psychology?). The intake psychologist told me he’s really good in treating anxiety. Just being a new client, I have no idea.
Because I bombed on the Wisconsin Card Sorting Test for cognitive function, I wonder if they think that is indication of a neuropsych disorder. The intake psychologist, Dr. Prohs, told me that she’ll have a report ready by the time of my June 9th appointment.