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Swine Flu: Two Week Rebound?

In the last few days, two of my friends who’ve had swine flu have been talking about a “swine flu rebound”. To make a long story short, it seems that a good number of people who have had swine flu experience a reappearance of symptoms a couple of weeks after they thought they were better. One friend thought it might be linked to folks over-exerting themselves. I can understand that — when I’m sick, I suddenly get the urge to go out and do things and be social… specifically because I know I can’t or shouldn’t be doing those things. … Continue reading →

First Swine Flu Case Confirmed in Family Pet

Despite all the worry about swine flu (H1N1) over the last few months, I’ve been confident that four-legged family members were safe from the disease. Until now. Government officials released information on Wednesday, November 11 about a cat from Iowa — thought to be the first confirmed case of swine flu in a feline. The thirteen year old cat exhibited the following symptoms: lethargy, loss of appetite, difficulty breathing. The vet who treated the cat described the symptoms as flu-like. Testing by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the Iowa State University College of Veterinary Medicine in Ames confirmed that … Continue reading →

Having Trouble Finding a Flu Shot?

While I was out running errands on Saturday, I noticed a sign on the door of the local Rite Aid pharmacy: all flu shot clinics are canceled. It went on to suggest other places where people might be able to find a seasonal flu or swine flu vaccine. It seems like demand for the flu shots is high, and suppliers aren’t able to keep up just yet. More than one friend has mentioned hitting the flu shot clinics and being turned away (in some cases, it’s happened more than once). Part of the problem is that swine flu vaccine manufacturers … Continue reading →

Swine Flu Vaccine and Side Effects

As promised, October has arrived with the first batches of the swine flu vaccine. The World Health Organization rolled out the first doses of the vaccine in China, soon to be followed by Australia, the United States, and parts of Europe. Four out of the thirty-nine thousand people vaccinated in China reported mild side effects. That works out to approximately one in every ten thousand people getting the shot — not surprising, according to WHO officials. When large numbers of people are getting a vaccine, side effects are to be expected. Once the swine flu vaccine hits the United States, … Continue reading →

Swine Flu Vaccine For Everybody… but Seniors

The swine flu vaccine is coming soon — the first doses will be available the first week of October. But doctors are telling seniors to hold off on getting a swine flu vaccine. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimate that three point four million doses of swine flu vaccine will be available the first week of October — in nasal spray form. Shots will soon follow, for a total of nearly 200 million doses of swine flu vaccine available by the end of 2009. Once the distribution is in full swing, you can expect to see twenty … Continue reading →

What to Expect From the Swine Flu this Fall and Winter

Swine flu has been in the news this year, starting with an April outbreak. The disease stuck around for the summer — a time when most strains of flu go away. Now health experts are predicting a surge in cases as schools reopen. One report suggests that between a third and a half of the U.S. population will contract swine flu, and October is probably the earliest we’ll see a swine flu vaccine. The normal seasonal flu vaccine does not include protection against swine flu. The World Health Organization says that as much as one third of the world’s population … Continue reading →

U.S. Drugstores Are Starting the Flu Shot Early

Flu season is quickly approaching for those of us in the Northern Hemisphere. While many chain drugstores typically offer flu shots during the fall, this year the flu shots are out early. CVS is offering flu shots a few weeks earlier than usual — they told the Associated Press that normally the flu shot campaign starts three to four weeks later. Walgreens started giving flu shots on October 1st last year — but is making flu shots available as of September 1st this year. Some Rite Aid stores are already giving flu vaccines. Drugstore chains are expecting higher demand for … Continue reading →

Swine Flu and Your Student

As if parents didn’t have enough to worry about getting their kids ready for a new school year, a just released report warns that the swine flu could claim 100,000 Americans lives—-many of them children–this flu season. Government health officials released their swine flu battle plan for U.S. schools earlier this month, and now they are suggesting parents come up with their own strategies to keep their kids safe. If you have no clue how to devise a simple, yet effective plan to ward off N1H1 virus symptoms, then consider the tips offered by doctors: WASH THOSE HANDS According to … Continue reading →

Schools and Swine Flu

The first day of school is right around the corner for most American school children, and while parents are stocking up on pencils, glue and notebooks, the government is concentrating on potential swine flu outbreaks. Yesterday government health officials issued new recommendations regarding swine flu and school closings. The good news: Most schools should be able to stay open even if swine flu outbreaks occur this fall. The bad news: The vaccine against the H1N1 virus won’t be ready until October at the earliest. So what does this mean for your student? According to health officials, decisions about whether to … Continue reading →

Will the Swine Flu Shot Be Ready by October?

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We’re not done with swine flu yet… or maybe swine flu isn’t done with us. As of the beginning of June, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control are reporting more than 8,500 probable and confirmed cases of swine flu in the United States; the World Health Organization puts the global number of cases just over twenty thousand. The virus has been confirmed in sixty-six different countries. More than one hundred people have died at the time of writing. But we may see a swine flu vaccine in the United States as early as October — right around the start of … Continue reading →