CDC Briefing on Swine Flu for 4-26-2009
The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) held a briefing this afternoon. Anne Schuchat, M.D., Interim Deputy Director for Science and Public Health Program and Daniel Jernigan, M.D., Ph.D., Medical Epidemiology, Influenza Division were the briefers.
There are 20 laboratory confirmed cases of the swine flu in the United States, from 5 states. 1 patient required hospitalization. All the patients have recovered. Human to human transmission has been confirmed. Patient ages range from 7 to 54.
All the US cases have recovered without antiviral treatment. High fever, sore throat, muscle aches, possible vomiting or diarrhea are the symptoms these patients experienced. The tested viruses are sensitive to Tamiflu and Relenza.
The interventions by the CDC and state and local governments will vary by locality. Listen to your state and local health departments for information for your area. It is important that individuals do some planning, such as what they will do if schools close.
We cannot stop this illness at the border. We cannot contain the virus. The goal is to slow transmission.
We need to prepare for the appearance of additional cases in additional states. Dr. Schuchat fears that we will see deaths in the United States from this illness.
The CDC has 12 samples from Mexico that are positive for swine flu. They also have samples that are positive for seasonal influenza. The illnesses are found in several parts of the country. CDC teams are in Mexico working with their public health authorities.
There is no vaccine for the swine flu at this time. The CDC is building a seed sample of the swine flu virus which would be given to vaccine manufacturers if the decision is made to create a vaccine. Growing the virus is the first challenge. There is new technology available that may speed that process.
The seasonal influenza vaccine component for human H1N1 initially appears to confer no immunity to the swine flu. One hypothesis is that exposure to human H1N1 may confer some immunity but there is not enough data at this time to prove or disprove this guess.
A great deal of science remains to be done. There is not enough data at this time to make very many conclusions. It is premature to suggest that the illness is different in Mexico or that it is affecting only specific age groups.
The normal disease screenings are being conducted at the border. The CDC plans to handout yellow cards to travelers giving signs and symptoms, and instructions to seek treatment if the person becomes ill. It will be up to the travelers to watch for illness and seek care.
Table of contents for Swine flu outbreak 2009
- Swine Flu Outbreak
- WHO Press Release on Swine Flu
- New Swine Flu Cases in Kansas
- Swine Flu Update – 04-26-2009
- Canada Has 6 Cases of Swine Flu
- CDC Briefing on Swine Flu for 4-26-2009
- Swine Flu Update: Early Morning 4-27-2009
- Swine Flu Found in Scotland
- WHO Declares Stage 4 Influenza Pandemic Alert
- New Swine Flu Cases in California
- Swine Flu Report – Early Morning 4-28-2009
- Military Flu Screening IDs Texas Swine Flu Cases
- Swine Flu – Midday 4-28-2009
- Swine Flu – Morning Update 4-29-2009
- 91 Swine Flu Cases in US
- Worldwide Swine Flu Cases from WHO 4-29-2009
- Suspected H1N1 Flu Case Reported at California Marine Base
- Swine Flu Pandemic Alert Level Raised to 5
- WHO Raises Pandemic Alert Level to 5
- Swine Flu Update – Early Morning 4-30-2009
- Swine Flu Involving Marines in California
- Swine Flu Cases in the U.S. 4-30-2009
- Swine Flu Cases in the United States May 2, 2009
- WHO Count of Swine Flu Cases
- U.S. Swine Flu Cases for May 1, 2009
- Mexican Swine Flu Testing Catching Up
- Worldwide Swine Flu Update 5-3-2009
- Swine Flu Update for the United States 5-03-2009
- Swine Flu in Texas
- Swine Flu in California
- Worlwide Swine Flu Update for May 4, 2009
- Worlwide Swine Flu Update for May 5, 2009
- Swine Flu Update for the United States May 6 2009
- Illinois Swine Flu Case Count Leaps
- US Swine Flu Case Count Up 45% May 5, 2009
- Swine Flu H1N1 Update for May 7, 2009
- United States Swine Flu – H1N1 Update for May 9 2009
- Worldwide Swine Flu Update for Early Morning May 11 2009
- United States Swine Flu H1N1 Update May 11 2009
- Swine Flu – H1N1 Update for May 13, 2009
- United States Swine Flu – H1N1 Update May 14 2009
- Swine Flu – H1N1 Update for the United States May 15 2009
- Colds and Influenza
- Swine Flu – H1N1 Update for the United States May 18 2009
- Swine Flu – H1N1 World Report May 19 2009
- Swine Flu – H1N1 in New York May 19 2009
- Swine Flu – Novel H1N1 Update for the United States May 20 2009
- Swine Flu – Novel H1N1 Weekend Summary May 23 2009
- Warning About Swine Flu – H1N1 May 23 2009
- Agencies Hide Swine Flu Cases
- Lost Swine Flu – H1N1 Cases in the United States
- Lost Swine Flu Cases for May 28 2009
- Novel H1N1 or Swine Flu Cases in the United States May 29 2009
- Swine Flu Weekend Update – United States May 30 2009
- Swine Flu or H1N1 in the United States – June 1 2009
- World Swine Flu – Novel H1N1 Cases for June 3 2009
- Swine Flu or H1N1 in the United States for June 3 2009
- World Swine Flu or H1N1 Cases June 5 2009
- Swine Flu or Novel H1N1 Cases in the United States June 5 2009
- Is Swine Flu or Novel H1N1 in Decline in the U.S.?
- New Orleans Mayor Nagin Quarantined In China
- Swine Flu or Novel H1N1 in the United States June 8 2009
- Why Public Health Agencies Lack Funds to Fight Swine Flu
- Pandemic Flu Announcement to Come on Wednesday
- Swine Flu or Novel H1N1 in the United States June 10 2009
- Pandemic! Swine Flu or Novel H1N1 Official Pandemic as of 6 pm GMT
- Swine Flu Parties
- How to prevent catching Swine Flu
This entry was posted on Sunday, April 26th, 2009 at 4:31 pm and is filed under Medicine, Influenza, Medicine, Original writing, Medicine, Pandemic, Original writing, Reporting, Medicine, Swine Flu. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.
