Posted on 11/18/2009 3:02:11 PM PST by Mother Abigail
Health Ministry: Flu, respiratory diseases claim 344 lives in Ukraine
Yesterday at 20:36 | Interfax-Ukraine The current flu epidemic and other acute respiratory diseases in Ukraine has claimed 344 lives by Wednesday evening, the Health Ministry said.
It said 18 people had died of such diseases in the previous 24 hours.
The ministry said 1.502 million people had contracted such illnesses since the epidemic broke out and that 44,781 had fallen ill in the past 24 hours.
A total of 83,904 people have been hospitalized since the start of the epidemic, and 54,407 of them have been discharged from the hospital by Wednesday evening.
The ministry also said 2,878 people had been hospitalized for the previous 24 hours.
The ministry has published no separate statistics on cases of A/H1N1 influenza or swine flu.
Swine flu and panic in Ukraine
Alanna Shaikh - November 18, 2009 - 12:58 am
Health
There are a lot of rumors coming out of Ukraine right now about a new form of swine flu, a brand new illness, or some kind of virulent pneumonia. I suspect it’s no more than swine flu with complications, but it’s causing some major panic in Kiev.
Britain’s Daily Express newspaper has the terrified tabloid version. They report that “A cocktail of three flu viruses are reported to have mutated into a single pneumonic plague, which it is believed may be far more dangerous than swine flu. The death toll has reached 189 and more than 1 million people have been infected.” The New York Times has a slightly more nuanced report. They identify the mystery illness as swine flu and quote a WHO official who says that “Early findings are that serious cases mounted because the sick avoided hospitalization until their illness was dangerously advanced, stockpiles of Tamiflu were locked in centralized locations and the supply of ventilators fell short.”
I suspect that the WHO and the New York Times have it right. There are a lot of barriers to access to health care in Ukraine, under-the-table payments being one of the biggest. I can well imagine people refusing to go to a doctor until their lungs were past saving. Avian Flu diary agrees, attributing the unusual severity to viral hemorrhagic pneumonia as a complication of swine flu. They also have an enlightening comment at the bottom of their post from a commenter in Ukraine watching the situation unfold.
Secrecy is not helping the government of Ukraine here. In a nation with a history of cover-ups – Chernobyl being the most famous – the population is quick to panic when they sense that they’re not getting the real story. Getting the real story out as fast as possible and backing it up with access to medical care – is the only way to stop the panic.
http://www.undispatch.com/node/9160
Ukraine Dead Increase to 328 - Still No Sequences
Recombinomics Commentary 19:17
November 17, 2009
1,457,564 Influenza/ARI
83,526 Hospitalized
328 Deaths
The above numbers are in the latest update from the Ukraine Health Department and include 13 more deaths.* Although the number of deaths has decline slightly from the prior two days, the increase in cases and hospitalizations suggest the decline in deaths may be temporary.* The largest increase in cases was again in Kiev (5522 to 109,676) and two other eastern oblast (see map) had daily increases of more than 4000 cases (Dnipropetrovsk and Denetsk).* The steady rise in deaths continues to increase concerns over an H1N1 genetic change leading to an increase in lung disease such as those described earlier.
WHO came out with a situation update which provided little specific information beyond earlier reports that the H1N1 did not have large changes.* However, the new update did indicate that WHO regional centers in London and Atlanta were still investigating isolates, suggesting there have been sequences changes that are not fully characterized.
Recently released swine H1N1 from other locations have included receptor binding domain changes at position 225 (D225E, D225N, D225G) as well as 226 (Q226R) raising concerns that similar changes in Ukraine cold lead to the high frequency of fatal lung infections (Q226R has been seen previously in human H5N1 as well as H3 isolates from swine, ducks, and seals).* The new update did not address receptor binding domain changes or other SNPs that could have significant effects on the pathogenicity of the virus.
Therefore, the release of sequences and comments on receptor binding domain changes would be useful
http://www.recombinomics.com/News/11170902/Ukraine_328.html
Swine Flu Continues To Spread In Moldova
November 18, 2009
CHISINAU — Moldovan health officials say the number of confirmed swine flu cases has risen to nearly 900, with 250 new cases recorded over the weekend, RFE/RL’s Moldovan Service reports.
On November 14, a 31-year old woman in the town of Falesti died of swine flu, raising the death toll from the virus to seven. The textile factory where the latest victim worked was closed and its 500 employees are undergoing medical tests.
Most schools in Moldova reopened today after one or two weeks of “medical” holidays caused by the outbreak of swine flu. Five colleges and high schools in the capital, Chisinau, remain closed until further notice.
Each of them has reported more than 10 cases of swine flu.
Most of Moldova borders western Ukraine, where the largest outbreak of swine flu in Europe has occurred.
http://www.rferl.org/content/Swine_Flu_Continues_To_Spread_In_Moldova_/1881827.html
RME plane airlifts anti-flu medicine to Ukraine
18. November 2009. | 09:09
Source: Itar-Tass
A RME transport plane Il-76 has airlifted a humanitarian cargo with the anti-flu medicine “Arbidol” to Kiev on Tuesday.
A RME transport plane Il-76 has airlifted a humanitarian cargo with the anti-flu medicine “Arbidol” to Kiev on Tuesday.
The cargo consists of 200,000 packages of this medicine intended for combating the epidemic of pandemic flu.
The Russian government has allocated more than 22 million rubles for the purchase of the medicine.
Representatives of the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry and the Ministry of Health, charge de affaires of the Russian Federation to Ukraine Vsevolod Loskutov met the plane at the airport Borispol. Prime Minister Yulia Timoshenko also came to the airport but couldn’t wait until the arrival of the plane the flight of which was delayed. She had to leave the airport due to the lack of spare time.
http://www.emportal.rs/en/news/region/104686.html
World Health Organization finally releases Ukraine update, says no changes
Wednesday, November 18, 2009 - 08:42
According to the WHO the Pneumonic plague in the Ukraine is H1N1 and that there are no significant changes and they stress about taking the vaccine. According to them they sampled 34 samples
Full statement:
Preliminary tests reveal no significant changes in the pandemic (H1N1) 2009 virus based on investigations of samples taken from patients in Ukraine. Analysis are being performed by two WHO influenza collaborating centres as part of the global influenza surveillance network.
Preliminary genetic sequencing shows that the virus is similar to the virus used for production of the pandemic influenza vaccine, reconfirming the vaccine’s efficacy at this time.
Additional questions about the pandemic virus circulating in Ukraine will be answered as more data is available.
WHO commends the government of Ukraine for its open sharing of samples to inform global monitoring of the virus for signs of change.
A total of 34 samples were analyzed independently by the WHO Collaborating Centre for Reference and Research on Influenza, Mill Hill in London, UK, and the WHO Collaborating Centre for the Surveillance, Epidemiology and Control of Influenza in Atlanta, Georgia, USA.
I have been reading a lot of information on this because the plague scares the crap out of me. From what I gather, the reason it is so deadly is that this virus, like the 1918 virus creates a Cytokine storm which is where you overproduce antibodies to fight the virus and you essentially drown from ruptured blood vessels in the lining of the lungs. The reason it kills healthier people is because they are the ones with the stronger antibodies. To make it worse in the Ukraine, they do not require a prescription for antibiotics and so people are going in and buying antibiotics which is killing them!
Of course, I do find it kind of wierd about that MOSSAD microbiologist guy that the FBI and SWAT team was called into an 8 hour standoff, took robots, EMP bombs and everything else to get him out of the car for “threatening the White House”. That was in August and his court date isn’t until January 2010? Not only that, he is in the Patton Mental Hospital, the California state mental institution. Oh, and get this... all that for a MISDEMEANER! Seriously, that is all he is charged with but he is being held until JANUARY! And he had made it to the Federal building parking lot to deliver papers that showed that Baxter pharmicutical was planning to release a bioweapon IN THE UKRAINE. Interesting that here a few months later...
34 samples out of 1.5 million?
But, But, But this was the ‘plague’...LOL
Whoa, check this out! Also, a link to a nurse who lives in the Ukraine, the W.H.O. is the one insisting this is the swine flu and pushing the vaccine. However doctors there are insisting it’s not ALL and feel frustrated at trying to get past the WHO on figuring out how to help people when they just want to push the vaccine.
Capital City of Ukraine newspaper:
http://www.kyivpost.com/news/ukraine/detail/53105/
Ukrainian authorities hide the true information about swine flu in the country. Number of registered flu and ARVI accidents grew up in 2.5 times – Tymoshenko said. But it is not the real situation. Real number of victims is much higher. Doctors say, that more than 1000 people has already died of flu in Ukraine. Some hours ago the Prime Minister of Ukraine Yulia Tymoshenko has informed, that the number of registered flu and ARVI cases in Ukraine in November, 8-10 has grown up again more than in 2.5 times. Experts suppose about more than 2 million flu diseased.
“The number of registered flu and ARVI accidents has increased in 2.5-3 times during the period from 8 to 10 of November. It is about that epidemic is not coming down”, noticed Tymoshenko, but people don’t believe her.
Say, do either of you know if the UKRAINE H1N1 thread is still ongoing? I've been so busy I absolutely have no idea. If it is still active, can you provide a link in this thread to it?
THANKS lots!
The non-plague “plague”.
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/2278371/replies?c=6726
That's rich: blaming the Ukrainians for Chernobyl.
SHOCK! Epidemic of pneumonic plague in Ukraine? (updated at 05:39 pm)
Ukraine Flu Outbreak Lessons Eyed Locally
By SHELLEY HANSON POSTED: November 19, 2009
A local doctor says lessons can be learned from Ukraine’s experience with the swine, or H1N1, flu virus.
According to the World Health Organization, Ukraine’s Health Ministry has recorded 250,000 flu-like cases of illness as of Nov. 2, with 70 deaths due to respiratory illness. WHO researchers have identified H1N1 as the main virus causing the high rates of illness in the country.
The group also noted this week the virus has not mutated, and it is “similar to the virus used for production of” the swine flu vaccine.
Dr. William Mercer, Wheeling-Ohio County health officer, said there may be some lessons learned from the Ukraine. The country only has the seasonal flu vaccine available for its people, which is not effective against the H1N1 virus.
“They have no swine flu vaccine. It may show what can happen. ... Our health care system is much better here,” Mercer said.
He noted the more people who are vaccinated, the better, as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is estimating half of the United States’ population will become infected with H1N1. To date, about 22 million have had the disease, he added.
“That’s still a lot of people to get sick,” Mercer said, estimating the swine flu will be around for the next one to two years.
The CDC said during the first week of November, the number of people seeking a doctor’s care for flu-like illnesses decreased. Whether inoculating people has already had an impact on the number of illnesses would be difficult to determine, as during any flu season there are often peaks of illness, Mercer said.
“This is the second week of national decreases in influenza-like illness after four consecutive weeks of sharp increases. ... While influenza-like illness declined overall nationally, visits to doctors for influenza-like illness remain higher than what is seen during the peak of many regular flu seasons,’’ the CDC states.
http://www.theintelligencer.net/page/content.detail/id/531128.html?nav=515
And now for a completely different conclusion:
MA
______________________________________________________
Ukraine virus : H1N1 and Parainfluenza makes a deadly combination as Ukraine flu outbreak worsens
November 19, 7:22 AMLA Health Technology ExaminerVictoria
Ukraine President Learns about Preparedness for Ukraine Flu Outbreak
The Ukraine virus, now responsible for the deaths of over 344 people in a brief span of time, is being tested at the World Health Organization, as well as laboratories in Britain. In the meantime, according to Swineflu.org, a doctor has identified the Ukraine flu outbreak as a combination of Novel A (H1N1) swine flu and parainfluenza.
What is parainfluenza?
Parainfluenza viruses are a group of viruses that cause upper respiratory infections, which may manifest as a simple cold, or as something as serious as croup in infants or bronchitis. Symptoms may include cracking and wheezing noises while breathing.
What is the Ukraine flu virus?
According to Dr. Victor Bachinsky, M.D., who is the coroner for theUkraine’s Chernivtsi Region,
“The virus is a Mixture of H1N1 and Parainfluenza.”
There has not yet been any confirmation of Dr. Bachinsky’s conclusions regarding the Ukraine virus outbreak.
Ukraine flu outbreak
The Ukraine flu outbreak has taken a heavy toll on the people of the Ukraine. Although estimates of the dead and infected differ depending on the source, all sources agree that the death toll is rising quickly. The WHO has reported that the Ukraine virus is “similar” to H1N1, but results have not yet returned from British Labs.
Thank you SO very much for the ping to this easily understandable article; I simply haven't had the time to stay current with the situation in Ukraine.
The second wave of swine flu in Ukraine is expected on New Year’s holidays
The situation over swine flu in Ukraine was stabilizing during last week. According to the official data of the Ministry of health protection there have been 1.4 million flu diseased people. Now we can see the decrease of disease level.
We can see that about 90 000 people diseased on November, 10, 70 000 – on November, 11, 61 000 – on November, 12 etc. Thus 17 000 people diseased on November, 15.
The decrease of number of diseased people is explained by specialists by the fact that people quit to apply to hospitals. Besides quarantine measures at schools and kindergartens brought good results.
But in spite of positive situation in general epidemiologists forecast the possibility of the second A/H1N1 virus invasion at the end of this year. So the New Year’s holidays is going to be dangerous.
The amount of disinformation on this outbreak is amazing. It is always best to be patient and let the truth percolate.
MA
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