Top 10 questions from AnnArbor.com readers about the swine flu
22 Comments. Comment Now
Information about the swine flu or H1N1 flu virus seems to be constantly in flux - and many of you have been sending us questions. We took some of your top questions to the Washtenaw County health department.
1. Are the dangers
of swine flu being exaggerated?
Check out our list of the Top 10 questions and answers.
Nurse Kathy Webster injects the H1N1 flu shot vaccine at the first Washtenaw County clinic this week.
Lon Horwedel | AnnArbor.com
A: “From our perspective in public health, we want people to be aware and take it seriously,” said Laura Bauman, an epidemiologist with the county health department. That being said, most people who get sick with this flu will likely feel crummy for a few days and heal on their own the way they would from a typical seasonal flu virus, she said. But some people have complications that can land them in the hospital.
2. So what’s the difference between the swine flu, or novel H1N1 virus, and the typical seasonal flu?
A: “The thing to stress with this virus is it affects a different age group more,” said Susan Cerniglia, a spokeswoman for the county health department. For instance, none of the 14 Washtenaw County residents who have been hospitalized since the end of August were older than 60. In a typical flu season, 90 percent of those hospitalized for complications are older than 65.
The H1N1 flu has many of the typical symptoms a person would experience with the seasonal flu, such as fever, coughing or sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, headaches or body aches, chills and fatigue. But 25 percent to 30 percent of adults experience symptoms like vomiting and diarrhea, in addition to fever and respiratory problems, and some people who get the flu experience a lower-grade fever than typically reported.
3. How many people has this affected locally?
A: Last week, the county said it was receiving reports of flu-like illnesses in local schools similar to the peak of seasonal flu season, which is typically closer to mid-winter than mid-fall.
The state says more than 47,500 cases of flu-like illness were reported in the week of Oct. 18-24, up from about 19,200 the week prior and up from about 7,800 the same week in 2008.
There were 135 hospitalizations statewide associated with any flu strain, and three Michigan deaths were associated with a flu strain that week.
In Washtenaw County, more than 45 cases of lab-confirmed flu cases were reported between Oct. 18-24, up from about 35 the previous week.
Since the end of August, there have been 20 hospitalizations of Washtenaw County residents due to confirmed flu cases - five of which occurred the week of Oct. 18. No deaths have been reported in the county due to complications from the H1N1 flu virus.
4. What is the current availability of
the H1N1 vaccine in our region for the public, and why are there so many unknowns?
A: The county health department learns from the state how much vaccine it will receive on a week-by-week basis. The amount suddenly changed when the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention announced manufacturers had much smaller yields than previously expected.
The amount of vaccine each county gets is based on its population, and Washtenaw County said it received about one-third of what it expected to have by this point, Cerniglia said.
5. Is this vaccine safe? Does this vaccine have the live virus in it? Does this vaccine have the preservative thimerosal in it?
A: This vaccine is prepared exactly the same way as the seasonal flu vaccine and is believed to be as safe as the typical flu vaccine — it is just a strain change. Had the virus showed up two months earlier, it would have just been another part of the typical seasonal flu vaccine, Bauman said.
Like the seasonal flu vaccine, there are two different kinds of vaccines. One involves the killed virus, which is administered in the form of the flu shot. The other involves a weakened strain of the virus, which is administered through the nasal spray vaccine, or FluMist.
Thimerosal is a preservative used to ship multi-dose vials of vaccine to prevent contamination, but it has raised concerns with some parents who believe there's a connection between the chemical and the development of childhood autism. The vaccine administered in the form of the flu shot likely does have some thimerosal in it, while the FluMist does not. Next month, a limited amount of vaccine should be available that doesn't have thimerosal, but it will only be available to children from 6 months old to 36 months old and to pregnant women.
6. My child is in one of the priority groups for receiving the H1N1 flu vaccine. Do I need to go anything different for him or her to receive a shot?
A: Like the typical seasonal flu vaccine, clinical trials this summer showed most children younger than 10 needed to receive a booster vaccine about a month after receiving the initial vaccine to develop immunity, Bauman said. It is hoped the supply of the vaccine will have caught up to demand by that point so children who received their first dose of the vaccine will be able to get that booster shot at their pediatrician’s office.
8. I’m older than 65. Should I try to get the H1N1 vaccine if it becomes available?
A: Right now, the priority groups only include pregnant women, medical workers, children between the ages of 6 months and 5 years, caregivers of children 6 months and younger, and kids ages 5 through 18 with underlying health conditions that could put them at greater risk of complications. The people who seem to getting sick with this and the people who are more likely to have complications from this flu tend to be younger.
9. Does the FluMist work as well as the flu shot?
A. County officials are closely watching studies, including some out of the University of Michigan, that have found the nasal spray vaccine is somewhat less effective at providing immunity against the H1N1 flu. However, Bauman said some studies have found the FluMist appears to be as effective, if not more effective, in children.
10. What are some of the best places to get regular updates?
- The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services started a Web site for information about both the seasonal and novel H1N1 flu viruses at: www.flu.gov
- The Michigan Department of Community Health also has a Web site offering updates and information: http://www.michigan.gov/mdch/0,1607,7-132-2940_2955_22779_53388-213600--,00.html
- Washtenaw’s public health department Web site posts regular updates at: http://www.ewashtenaw.org/government/departments/public_health
- Many local physicians' offices, as well as both the University of Michigan and St. Joseph Mercy Health System, also post information about H1N1 flu.
Get the Ann Arbor RSS Feed
Last URL is correct as written, but the hyperlink is bad.
I wanted to check if those 29 vs 1,223 numbers could possibly be real. I could not confirm it.
(Flag this Post)
Posted Oct 30
The link has now been fixed. Thanks for pointing out the problem.
AnnArbor.com Staff
(Flag this Post)
Posted Oct 30
Question number 8 really isn't answered, and perhaps the answer isn't known at this time. But will the vaccine be offered to 65 and older after this initial round of vaccinations is complete? Or will the vaccinations just go on the way they are...for 64 and younger?
Certainly those over 64 have concerns and there really has not been much information in that regard.
(Flag this Post)
Posted Oct 30
Thank You, Tina.
(Flag this Post)
Posted Oct 30
Think twice before taking the swine flu vaccine. They contain mercury (thimerasol) and squalene (linked to Gulf War syndrome). One obvious reason is that it has NOT gone through long term testing. No one know what the long term side effects will be. Below is the "60-Minutes" program on the 1976 swine flu vaccination. Massive government, media, and big pharma propaganda. This swine flu is no more dangerous than your average flu, yet everyone is going nuts. The WHO has raise the pandemic level to the highest level of 6 and Obama has declared it a national emergency. Unbelievable!!!! The power of propaganda.
http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x9mh9f_swine-flu-1976-propaganda_webcam
(Flag this Post)
Posted Oct 30
Why would I believe a public health official who can't even spell "thiomersal" (sic) correctly? As someone who had a very bad reaction to THIMEROSAL (found in contact lens solution in the 80s), I would urge people to err on the side of caution. If a topical application of THIMEROSAL caused my eyes to swell shut and my hands to break out in a weeping rash, imagine what THIMEROSAL could damage when given in a vaccination.
(Flag this Post)
Posted Oct 30
Right now, those who are not in the highest priority groups are not able to get the vaccine, including those who are older than 65 years old. It's expected there will be more vaccine available by the end of November, but it is still unclear how much of the population will be vaccinated, the county has said. The good news is, many who are older than 65 seem to have immunity to this strain of the flu.
AnnArbor.com Staff
(Flag this Post)
Posted Oct 30
This story has been changed to reflect the spelling of thimerosal used by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
I confirmed the Washtenaw County numbers on the state's Web site, but I have some calls into see what the updated count in the county is to be sure we're looking at the most accurate statistics.
AnnArbor.com Staff
(Flag this Post)
Posted Oct 30
Thimersol in vaccines has been studied to pieces for many years. Its harm is an almost immortal legend, that is certain. No amount of data can kill it, nor will better spelling.
The data about squalene is not too convincing either. We are talking about tiny amounts in both cases.
The most propaganda I have seen concerns fear about vaccines. It comes from people who stand to make money (alternative medicine salesmen), who believe they've been harmed, who are paranoid, or who simply repeat what they've read on the web from those sources.
Here's an interesting question for me: Why do so many fables attach to vaccines? It's astonishing. I guess there may be books written about it. 1) there's money to be made pushing alternative medicines, 2) high chance of coincidence: If your kid dies of SIDs after a shot, you may blame the shot, and you might be rather vocal about it. With millions getting a shot, dozens may die the next day by chance. 3) it's a good venue for conspiracy theories, 4) a serious problem is that randomized case/control studies are almost never done because they would be declared unethical by review boards, 5) any complaint that increases with time (ADD, autism) could be due to increased vaccination (or television or roundup or cellphones), 6) folks like being rebels (me too).
I do see some people are very concerned about H1N1, but I don't think it is because of the government or pharma. I think it is perhaps mostly concern about the possibility of your kids dying, which is a new twist. We can see that is not very many so far, still, I will get vaccine if I can, primarily because I don't wish to help make you or your kids sick or dead. And that's not just about being "nice" - it's about the money too. Morbidity is bad for us all.
To repeat about the numbers given under question 3, the graph I see from the county flu update shows a large (>50%)increase in the school respiratory illness rate last week (nearly 6% of kids) compared to previous week (a bit more than 3%). Where can I find the numbers for "In Washtenaw County, 29 cases of flu-like illness were reported between Oct. 18-24, down from 1,223 the previous week"? That's incredible.
(Flag this Post)
Posted Oct 30
Thanks. It looks strange. The data I described is at http://www.ewashtenaw.org/government/departments/public_health/ph_flusurveillance.html and there are other reports around there, but it's a bit of a maze. Methodological details are a bit lacking too, but I'm picky.
(Flag this Post)
Posted Oct 30
Alternative medicine salesmen? Really? What about about the pharmaceutical companies? I bet they're making money hand over fist with this H1N1 vaccine. I just don't feel comfortable with the statement, "....is believed to be as safe as the typical flu vaccine". So you don't really know? I think I'll take my chances.
(Flag this Post)
Posted Oct 30
This story has been updated to reflect statistics provided directly by the county about lab-confirmed flu cases, rather than state data of reported flu-like illness in Washtenaw County.
In circling back with Laura Bauman, epidemiologist for the county health department, I learned how difficult it is to get exact numbers about how many cases of H1N1 there have been in the county. Instead, respiratory illness rates reported weekly by local schools and the limited number of lab tests used mostly to confirm cases at local hospitals are tools to get the best idea of what kind of flu activity is happening at any given time.
For instance, more than 55 students per 1,000 students in Washtenaw County were reporting respiratory illness at some point last week. The week prior, about 32 student per 1,000 students in the county were reporting respiratory illness.
AnnArbor.com Staff
(Flag this Post)
Posted Oct 30
Rork,
So you think it was okay for our government (including the CDC), media and big pharma to lie to the American people and fool them into taking unnecessary vaccine that resulted in the deaths and injury to 4,000 people? At the same time using tax payer money to enrich big pharma?
Also, if you are so informed, what is causing the huge rise in the autism rate? From 1 in 5,000 in the 1980's to 1 in 100 presently. You don' think it has anything to do with vaccines? Then why, according to United Press International (UPI) is the an autism rate of 1 in 15,000 children in the Amish communities where they are known not to vaccinate their children? Most vaccinations is nothing more than a money making scheme for big pharma.
Is Robert Kennedy Jr. a conspiracy theorist when he claims vaccines are causing autism? You'd have to be pretty naive to believe there is no link between vaccines and autism. And do not drink the kool aid our government is feeding you.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zrIM2hwrLoc
Court rules in favor or injured.
http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x9acro_channel-seven-investigation-the-ris_news
(Flag this Post)
Posted Oct 30
Tina, Thank you for the follow up and the good information.
(Flag this Post)
Posted Oct 30
I can't believe some of you are still trying to perpetuate the myths about vaccines and autism. This has been disproved by study after study after study and yet people still claim whatever they want. Autism is a terrible disease but it is clearly NOT caused by vaccines. Also, if you are worried about thimerosal or if you had an allergic reaction (possible with any drug), there are going to be additional doses of H1N1 vaccine released without the additive. Some was already released early on.
People over 65 are at very little risk from H1N1 not because of immunity but because the lethal effect of the disease seems to come from an over-exuberant response of the body's immune system in younger people. For once, there's a substantial benefit in being older (since we all have a weaker immune system as we age). You should still get the seasonal flu vaccine if older than 65 but H1N1 shouldn't be a big worry for you.
Finally, to those who say swine flu is all propaganda, yes I agree the media is a little out of control. However, H1N1 has killed a lot of otherwise healthy young people which is very, very different from seasonal flu which tends to affect older and sicker adults. Most people will have mild illness, but those who get really sick can die and die quickly. Pregnant women and young children, particularly with respiratory disease, would be strongly advised to get immunized.
(Flag this Post)
Posted Oct 31
Reason,
When the autism rate goes from 1 in 5,000 to 1 in 100 and we find out that many vaccines contain mercury and other toxins, you really have to start thinkiing for yourself and not rely on everything you are told by the establishment. Establishment that stand to lose hundreds of billions to trillions of dollars when the link between vaccines and autism is made. Given this risk, don't you think some of the studies you mention are funded by big pharma? Haven't oil companies and tobacco companies funded research bias toward their interests? Of course. No difference with drug companies. How do you think we got into an illegal war with Iraq? People were fooled by our government, media and the industrial-military-complex into believing Iraq was a danger to us. How rediculous for people in the U.S. to be afraid of a tiny third world country on the opposite side of the world. It is laughable. I would have laughed except over 1,000,000 innocent men, women and little children have died from that obvious lie. So, stop believing everything told to you by the establishment and our government. Wake up!
(Flag this Post)
Posted Oct 31
Ah, yes, the well-known H1N1-Pharma-Big Oil-Tobacco-Iraq war link. So much for a rational discussion about vaccination.
(Flag this Post)
Posted Oct 31
Reason,
In my previous comments, I have provided facts, expert testimony, common sense and evidence of massive propaganda by our government, media and big pharma. I would say that is an attemp on my part to have a rational discussion. What have you provided other than your opinion and accusation?
(Flag this Post)
Posted Oct 31
Reason and GoBlu, we welcome commenting, but encourage you to share the conversation with others. At some point, a back-and-forth between two commenters can sidetrack the discussion and discourage others from joining in. Now that you've addressed each other, we'd ask you to refrain from additional exchanges.
AnnArbor.com Staff
(Flag this Post)
Posted Oct 31
I believe Oakland County and several others have given out approximately 20,000 vaccines and Washtenaw county has given out a few hundred and doesn't have their first large scale program until later this week. If this were really life threatening we'd all be dead. What are we paying these exorbitant taxes for?
(Flag this Post)
Posted Nov 1
"autism vaccine" got me 484 hits to articles on PubMed - try it yourself, and read a few, at least the abstracts (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?db=pubmed&cmd=search&term=autism%20vaccine). Note that some folks may not be able to see the newest papers from home, since it costs money for some journals.
Kids haven't had thimerosal in vaccines since 2001. Autism did not decrease. New theories are needed. There are hundreds of reasons Amish folks might get it less, so that gives hundreds of theories right away.
Out of nearly 500 articles, it's hard to pick one, but
http://www.sciencemag.org/cgi/content/full/325/5937/135-a
(Science, "Resignations Highlight Disagreement On Vaccines in Autism Group") is an easy read. A quote: "Although numerous scientific studies have searched for a link, they have found none." In fact, sickness and death have almost certainly been caused by lessened vaccinations due to the false association - nice going with the good intentions there. Call me naive, but I never considered Mr. Kennedy a grave scientist, and it is possible he was a bit weakminded when it comes to very technical matters. It was a possible association worth checking out, and it has been checked to pieces. Thimerosal is still kept out of childhood vaccines despite there being no proof of danger, just so there is one less false reason to not get some of the standard vaccines.
It's sad that there are hundreds of rumors, all of which must be fought hundreds of times each.
(Flag this Post)
Posted Nov 3
Forgive me in again pointing to journal articles rather than youtube or video reports, but this was a good read:
Gross L (2009) A Broken Trust: Lessons from the Vaccine–Autism Wars. PLoS Biol 7(5).
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19478850
I can't tell for sure, but think you can see that for free. There are rather lively comments too.
Also good:
Baker JP. Am J Public Health. 2008 Feb;98(2):244-53
"Mercury, vaccines, and autism: one controversy, three histories." http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18172138
I'm a bit less confident that is free.
(Flag this Post)
Posted Nov 3