In the news today: What's happening with H1N1 flu
As holiday travelers gear up for Thanksgiving festivities that may include crowding in airplanes or around the table, Michigan health officials are urging individuals to show extra caution in preventing the spread of the H1N1 or swine flu virus.
“It is the basics we’re talking about, but it’s amazing how far the basics really go if people really follow them,” said Greg Holzman, chief medical officer for the state health department.
The recommendations came as the state reported a total of 54 deaths related to the H1N1 flu since April, with an additional 13 deaths during the week ending Nov. 14. That would not include a Washtenaw County resident who died of flu-related complications Nov. 15.
The majority of those deaths occurred in people ages 18 to 65.
To put that in perspective, a typical flu season in Michigan would have on average about 1,200 flu-related deaths, Michigan Department of Community Health spokesman James McCurtis said.
To those who are concerned about traveling, health officials are recommending they:
- Wash their hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds or at least take along alcohol-based sanitizer to use when necessary.
- Avoid touching their eyes, nose and mouth.
- Practice cough etiquette - cover both coughs and sneezes to help slow the spread of infection.
- Perhaps the toughest recommendation: Don’t travel if you’re sick.
Those who are ill and still need to travel should consider wearing a face mask to protect others from the droplets expelled from coughs and sneezes. They also should dispose of tissues properly, wash their hands often and try to distance themselves from other individuals by at least 6 feet when possible, officials said.
And those who are at increased risk for complications from the flu who have not yet gotten the vaccine - which takes between eight days and two weeks to gain immune response from - should talk to their health provider before traveling. Health providers may suggest using either a face mask or respirator for protection.
Sanitizer while shopping
As travelers are being urged to follow certain health etiquette guidelines to reduce the spread of H1N1, one local mall is trying to help Black Friday shoppers reduce their chances of getting sick, AnnArbor.com reported today.
Hand sanitizer stations with waterless hand sanitizer will be installed by the time shoppers cram in for Black Friday. It’s part of a move by Briarwood Mall’s owner, Simon Property Group, to address concerns about the spread of H1N1 infection in crowded shopping areas at all of its 385 properties.
H1N1 response highlights flaws in state preparedness plan
The response to the H1N1 flu pandemic, and the process of getting the vaccine out to the state’s residents, revealed flaws in Michigan’s preparedness plan, an analysis in the Lansing State Journal said over the weekend.
The problems highlighted in the response include rationing vaccines to counties based on population, vaccine shortages, communicating guidelines and getting out up-to-date clinic information.
Nasal version of the H1N1 vaccine.
Mark Bialek | For AnnArbor.com
Attorney general investigates Tamiflu price
The Michigan Attorney General’s Office is investigating why such large price differences exist for a liquid form of Tamiflu, a scarce form of the antiviral used to treat children with the H1N1 flu virus.
In an undercover survey, the price for the form of the antiviral range from $28 at Lansing Community Pharmacy to $140 at a Grand Rapids’ CVS store for a 30-milligram dose, the Detroit Free Press reported today.
Pharmacies told the Free Press many variants can determine the price of a drug. The attorney general’s office is encouraging Michigan residents who believe they were charged too much to contact the consumer protection division at 877-765-8388 or visit www.michigan.gov/ag.
Tina Reed covers health and the environment for AnnArbor.com. You can reach her at tinareed@annarbor.com, call her at 734-623-2535 or find her on Twitter @TreedinAA.
Comments
Rork Kuick
Tue, Nov 24, 2009 : 11:54 a.m.
I don't think CDC was misleading, and think novel H1N1 may actually have been undercounted earlier this year. See the report below. By not answering I assume that GoBlu thinks H1N1 is in fact rather common now. By the mercury jab, GoBlu might be saying they think thimerosal causes autism (perhaps they wisely fail to spell it out) which is almost surely false. In fact I don't think any unbiased people thinks thimerosal does squat anymore, and GoBlu knows that, but can't help repeating something vague to scare you. I find the Council of Advisors on Science and Technology report (see http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/estimates_2009_h1n1.htm) to still be very good, though very rushed and now outdated (made Aug 7). Eric Lander and Harold Varmus and others on that committee are unlikely to cave to politicians under any sort of pressure - that's part of why they were picked. I find that (estimated) 100,000 hospitalizations, and 4000 deaths (just so far, also on that web page) in the US to be less than their worst-case scenarios, but bad enough, and that their fears that novel H1N1 would be more virulent than now appears were not crazy, given statistics from southern hemisphere over summer. Instead of complaining that the predictions were not perfect (and we'd be really mad if they were underestimates, and have some conspiracy theory for that no doubt), I am just relieved, and the report itself admits the degree of uncertainty. I see tens of billions have shrunk to just billions now - getting more honest at least.
Rork Kuick
Tue, Nov 24, 2009 : 8:19 a.m.
GoBlu: that recycled report you point to is about over-counting in, what, July? Are they even trying to be honest about when they are talking about? Are you suggesting that novel H1N1 is not widespread now? Say something specific on occasion.
KJMClark
Tue, Nov 24, 2009 : 7:08 a.m.
GoBlu, if you don't want to read these articles, don't read them. We have better things to do than wade past your pointless tirades. And Graz, I agree with you. However, this flu is slightly worse than typical flu because it is causing more infections than regular flu and hitting in unusual seasons. The peak of the usual season isn't until January. Four more months than usual, and a possible much higher peak infection rate, with the same fatality rate, is likely to have much higher fatality. I'm concerned people think that since the charts show this H1N1 has "peaked" in cases, it's all downhill from here. It's more likely that we've seen the first of two or three peaks, with the biggest one yet to come.
Graz
Tue, Nov 24, 2009 : 6:20 a.m.
The premise that H1N1 is a non-event is false. It is an event because it sickens, causes permenant injury and possibly even death. Granted, it's statistics rival those of most other strains of flu, but it is a serious illness. The only problem I see with the news coverage of it is that there should be resources devoted to the other strains of flu and people should be made aware that even those "regular" flus can cause death. Although some alternative news sources can be and are correct, many alternate news sites are gaining only because some of their "investigative reporting" makes some incredible leaps to some equally incredible conclusions and some folks will believe these conclusions because they feed into their personal view of things.
LGChelsea
Tue, Nov 24, 2009 : 12:18 a.m.
GoBlu--I suggest that you go back to getting your news from Glenn Beck and Rush Limbaugh. They'll probably make you feel better.