Rhiza Labs FluTracker Forum

Yes, this is how the game is played. They use confirmed cases, and all other cases are ABSW (anything but swine flu).

But why would they all ignore science so blatantly? It makes them look like fools and arouses suspicion. While it is true that most of the world's population is scientifically illiterate, still some glaring inconsistencies are becoming apparent and that only feeds into the whackadoodlery.

If there was honesty, transparency, intelligence and adherence to science, the world would not be wasting so much time and lives would be saved.

On the one hand you have innumerable WHO and CDC articles stating emphatically for many weeks now that H1N1 is the only global influenza circulating, and then you have these 'official' government fools directly contradicting that.

Actually, the fools are everywhere. In the US they are school administrators who maintain that the 20-50% absenteeism is due to a "perfect storm" of diseases that includes swine flu, but involves other etiologies, including seasonal flu.

An international team of WHO experts is continuing its work in Ukraine, investigating on behalf of the Government an outbreak of pandemic (H1N1) 2009 influenza. Since their arrival five days ago, the nine members of the group have established rigorous investigation procedures that will help pinpoint the characteristics of the virus, in order to recommend immediate action and measures to reduce its impact and ultimately limit its spread.

Nearly half the team is in the western region of Lviv, one of the most affected areas, carrying out analysis and research. The rest have remained in the capital, Kyiv, to help with support activities, such as communication, logistics and coordination.

The Ministry of Health of Ukraine has provided the team in Lviv with clinical notes on more than 100 cases. In addition, these experts have received information on the early fatalities, and interviewed medical staff face to face. By doing this, they hope to be able to confirm that the Ukraine outbreak is similar to pandemic (H1N1) 2009 outbreaks in other countries, particularly by examining factors related to any underlying or chronic health conditions, treatment, and care.

Further, the team’s clinical experts have interviewed health staff in some of the emergency centres in Lviv. After such discussions, one expert said: “Health staff are under enormous pressure, but, contrary to some news reports, they are getting medical supplies and managing as best they can. Morale is high. At the same time, we need to emphasize to health workers the importance of not only protecting patients but also protecting themselves.”

Laboratory networks are integral to any successful response. The WHO team has been able to bring together the country’s laboratory focal points to ensure that procedures for testing and diagnosing pandemic (H1N1) 2009 are streamlined and strengthened.

Making sure the right information gets to the wider public – particularly information on the simple measures that everyone can take to reduce risks – is just one of the tasks of the WHO communications expert. This week, he began working with local partners and United Nations agencies based in Kyiv on a pandemic (H1N1) 2009 publicity drive. This will be one of the biggest Ministry of Health/United Nations health promotion campaigns ever launched in Ukraine. It will include public service announcements (PSAs) for television, radio and the Internet, backed by the distribution of more than 1 million posters, plus an information outreach strategy using trained medical staff to explain what people can do to stop H1N1 pandemic (H1N1) 2009.

http://www.euro.who.int/influenza/AH1N1/20091107_3

There are many things going around besides Swine Flu Dr. Niman. I spoke with my Md and he said while the Swine flu is predominant there are colds, mono, uris going around. I trust him, he is a MD and he knows the difference. At this point in time, there are other things going around and oh the the other was strep.

Please. The only infection that produces absenteeism in schools above 10% is flu. There is NO perfect storm. This is spreading swine flu. Strep is a secondary infection of swine flu and there are MANY mild cases that present as colds, allergies, bronchitis, or other URI's. Your MD is just guessing (no data required).

WHO comments on Nov 1:

On 28 October 2009, the Ministry of Health of Ukraine informed WHO, through its Country Office in Ukraine, about an unusually high level of activity of acute respiratory illness in the western part of the country, associated with an increased number of hospital admissions and fatalities.

On 30 October 2009, the Ministry of Health of Ukraine announced the confirmation of pandemic (H1N1) 2009 virus infection by RT-PCR in eleven out of 30 samples obtained from patients presenting with acute respiratory illness in two of the most affected regions. Tests were performed in two laboratories in Kyiv, including the National Influenza Centre. Confirmatory tests will be performed at one of the WHO Collaborating Centres for Influenza.

The situation is quickly changing with increasingly high levels of acute respiratory illness (ARI)/Influenza-like-illness (ILI) activity being observed in Ternopil, Lviv, Ivano-Frankivsk, and Chernivtsi regions. The higher levels of transmission in these regions corresponds to an increased number of hospital admissions and fatalities associated with severe manifestations of acute respiratory illness.

As of 30 October 2009, over 2,300 individuals have been admitted to hospital, including over 1,100 children. One hundred and thirty one (131) cases have required intensive care, including 32 children. As of 31 October 2009, a total of 38 fatalities associated with severe manifestations of ARI have been registered. Preliminary epidemiological data analysis indicates that severe cases and deaths primarily occur among previously healthy young adults aged 20 – 50 years. Fatal and severe cases are reported to have sought medical attention 5 to 7 days after onset of symptoms.

International experience of the (H1N1) 2009 pandemic to date, especially from the Southern Hemisphere, has shown that poor clinical outcomes are associated with delays in seeking health care and limited access to supportive care. In addition, this virus has also shown its ability to cause rapidly progressive overwhelming lung disease which is very difficult to treat.

Public health measures recommended by the Ministry of Health of Ukraine across the entire country include: social distancing (school closures and cancellation of mass gatherings); enhancement of surveillance activities; increased respiratory hygiene; and continuation of the vaccination campaign against seasonal influenza targeting at risk groups.

The Government of the Ukraine has activated coordination mechanisms to respond to the rapidly evolving situation, including the harmonization of response plans across all administrative levels.

In response to the request from the Minister of Health of Ukraine, WHO is deploying a multi-disciplinary team of experts to assist national authorities in mitigating the impact of the pandemic. The team comprises of the following expertise: health emergencies coordination, case management, epidemiology, laboratory diagnostics, logistics, and media/risk communications.

As per WHO's communication in May 2009, there is no rationale for travel restrictions because such measures will not prevent the spread of the disease.

Travellers can protect themselves and others by following simple recommendations aimed at preventing the spread of infection such as attention to respiratory hygiene. Individuals who are ill should delay travel plans and returning travellers who fall ill should seek appropriate medical care. These recommendations are prudent measures which can limit the spread of many communicable diseases and not only the pandemic (H1N1) 2009 virus.

http://www.who.int/csr/don/2009_11_01/en/index.html

You are the only one that has all the answers. My MD is stupid and does not have a degree. He went to USC but he is not a bright man. Not everything is SWINE FLU

I don't think anyone would disagree that there are other things going around - there always are. The only tracked disease in the USA at epidemic levels though is swine flu and, as your MD said, it is predominant.

Of course not everything is swine flu - just the vast majority. That's what predominant means and that's what your MD said.