On June 17, 2009 the Cook County Department of Public Health reported that an 8 year-old boy from Oak Forest, Illinois died from complications related to H1N1.

The recent deaths bring the total number of swine flu deaths to four in suburban Cook County and 10 in Illinois. The first death in Illinois related to the H1N1 virus was a Chicago resident the weekend of May 23-24, 2009.

As of a June 12, 2009 report by the Illinois Department of Public Health, Cook County has recorded 623 confirmed cases and three probable cases. Chicago has been reported 866 confirmed cases and one probable case.

People with existing medical conditions, such as diabetes, asthma, as well as pregnant women, are at higher risk of developing complications if they contract the H1N1 virus.

Typically, seasonal influenza activity has tapered at this point in the year. However, transmission of the
H1N1 virus appears to be on-going. Most individuals infected with H1N1 have reported mild symptoms
similar to those of seasonal influenza such as fever, cough, sore throat, body aches, headaches with several
reporting diarrhea and vomiting.

Individuals experiencing influenza-like symptoms should stay home for seven days after symptoms begin
or until they have been symptom-free for 24 hours, whichever is longer to prevent spreading the infection
to others.

Individuals who are at a higher risk of serious flu-related complications include pregnant women, children
younger than 5-years-old, people with chronic medical conditions and people 65-years and older. Examples
of chronic medical conditions include diabetes, asthma, heart disease and lung disease. Individuals with
underlying conditions should contact their physician at the onset of illness and not wait for severe illness.

For more information about H1N1 influenza, please visit cookcountypublichealth.org or call 708-
492-2000.

See also …
idph.state.il.us/swine_flu/index.htm

As the “Swine Flu” makes its mark on the world in 2009, people are rapidly putting the illness into perspective. Many companies and individuals are using Google maps as a tool to track the incidents of probable and confirmed cases of Influenza A (H1N1). The maps are especially useful for tracking details concerning how intense and rapidly the outbreak is occurring, where it is occurring and the location of the most severe case, especially those causing death.

View WorldWideHealthMap.com — includes Influenza A(H1N1) in a larger map
An embedded version of the swine flu-tracking map from WorldwideHealthMap.com. Latest news on Influenza A (H1N1) from newsfeeds are also available at WorldwideHealthMap.com/H1N1. WorldwidHealthMap.com contains world, regional and local views of health and disease hotspots. Maps from other important external sources are also available from WorldwideHealthMap.com.

While it appears so far that the strain of the influenza virus is not a particularly virulent strain, it is important that the population is vigilant about the location of the occurrence of illness and any status change regarding the severity of the disease that could be caused by the notorious ability of the influenza virus to mutate into a more severe form. The 1918 Spanish flu first emerged in early summer, then went quiet, only to cause a severe pandemic in the fall. So far the Influenza A (H1N1) virus does not have the markers for virulence that were seen in the 1918 virus, which is estimated to have killed between 20 and 100 million people from March 1918 to June 1920. Recent reports of high mortality among healthy young adults in the 2009 Influenza A (H1N1) or swine flu outbreak has led to speculation that cytokine storms (suspected in the 1918 Spanish Flu) could be responsible for these deaths, but the CDC so far states that there is insufficient data to determine the virulence of the current strain of virus. Cytokine storms present high fever, swelling and redness, extreme fatigue, and nausea, when cytokines, immune system signaling molecules become highly elevated in a runaway positive feedback response of the immune system.

What’s important about a swine flu?
This virus was originally referred to as “swine flu” because laboratory testing showed that many of the genes in this new virus were very similar to influenza viruses that normally occur in pigs in North America. But further study has shown that this new virus is very different from what normally circulates in North American pigs. Influenza A (H1N1) 2009 has two genes from flu viruses that normally circulate in pigs in Europe and Asia and avian genes and human genes. Scientists call this a “quadruple reassortant” virus. Swine flu can be transmitted back and forth from pigs to humans. As of the date of this post, pigs are not known to be infected and special security efforts are being conducted to protect pigs from being infected by humans. Because of better understanding of the genetic makeup of the influenza virus, the 2009 outbreak from Mexico is now called Influenza A (H1N1).

What does the ‘H’ and ‘N’ stand for in Influenza A (H1N1)?
Influenza A virus strains are categorized according to two viral proteins, hemagglutinin (H) and neuraminidase (N). All influenza A viruses contain hemagglutinin and neuraminidase, but the structure of these proteins differs from strain to strain due to rapid genetic mutation in the viral genome. Influenza A virus strains are assigned an H number and an N number based on which forms of these two proteins the strain contains. Hemagglutin is an antigenic glycoprotein that functions to bind the virus to the cell that the virus is infecting. Something that is antigenic, stimulates a response from the immune system. Neuraminidase is an enzyme on the surface of influenza viruses that enables the virus to be released from the host cell. Drugs, such as Tamiflu, are antiviral drugs in that they inhibit neuraminidase in the effort to treat influenza.

How severe is influenza A (H1N1)? … does it kill? … does it make you miserable, and for how long?
Influenza A virus subtype H1N1, also known as A (H1N1), is a subtype of influenzavirus A and the most common cause of influenza (flu) in humans. Some strains of H1N1 are endemic in humans, including the strain(s) responsible for the 1918 flu pandemic which killed 50–100 million people worldwide.

Influenza produces widespread sporadic illness yearly during fall and winter in temperate climates. Epidemics in the US occur about every 2 to 3 yr, most often caused by influenza A viruses. Pandemics caused by new influenza A serotypes may cause particularly severe disease.

Symptoms and Signs
Influenza A (H1N1) is a sickness very similar to regular, seasonal influenza. The incubation period for Influenza A is about 1 to 4 days with an average of about 48 hours. In mild cases of Influenza A, symptoms are similar to those of a common cold (eg, sore throat, rhinorrhea); mild conjunctivitis (redness with eye infection) may also occur. In adults, the sudden onset of chills, fever, prostration, cough, and generalized aches and pains (especially in the back and legs) is common. Headache is prominent, often with photophobia and retrobulbar aching. Respiratory symptoms may be mild at first, with scratchy sore throat, substernal burning, nonproductive cough, and sometimes coryza. Later in the illness, lower respiratory tract illness becomes dominant; cough can be persistent, raspy, and productive. Children may also have prominent nausea, vomiting, or abdominal pain, and infants may present with a sepsis-like syndrome. A significant number of people who have been infected with this virus have reported diarrhea and vomiting. Acute symptoms subside after about 2 to 3 days, but fever may last up to 5 days. Cough, weakness, sweating, and fatigue may persist for several days or even weeks.

Pneumonia is suggested by a worsening cough, purulent or bloody sputum, dyspnea, and rales. Secondary bacterial pneumonia is suggested by persistence or recurrence of fever, cough, and other respiratory symptoms in the 2nd wk.

Encephalitis, myocarditis, and myoglobinuria develop infrequently, usually during recovery, and occur more frequently after influenza A pandemics.

How is it spreading and how contagious is Influenza A (H1N1)?
At the time of this writing, the CDC has declared that it does not know how easily the virus is transmitted from human to human, but the outbreak is intense, beginning in Mexico and first showing in the United States in Guadalupe County, Texas (Brownsville) from a visiting Mexican native and Southern California.

Influenza (Flu) viruses are spread mainly from person to person through coughing or sneezing by people already infected with influenza. People may become infected by touching something with flu viruses already settled on the object, and then touching their mouth, nose or eyes, where infection is likely to occur. Objects, such as clothing, blankets, door knobs, handrails, desktops, tabletops, and health club equipment that harbor infective viruses, are known as fomites.

The high humidity of summer typically leads to the end of the flu season as the virus becomes less likely to spread. In Mexico City and other northern hemisphere locations, the month of May marks the end of the dry season, and experts speculate that the spread of the swine flu or Influenza A (H1N1) may slow down in the northern hemisphere. Dry, heated air is usually associated with people in enclosed places, which are ideal for spreading the “swine flu” virus. Dry, heated air is also rough on membranes of the eyes, nose, mouth and respiratory tract, which makes it easier for the virus infect individuals. The 2009 outbreak comes at the beginning of the flu season for Southern Hemisphere countries such as New Zealand, Australia, South Africa, Argentina, Chile and other parts of South America.

Swine flu or Influenza A (H1N1) is not transmitted by eating pork or pork products. Besides the updated genetic information about the flu virus from the 2009 outbreak from Mexico, the name “Swine flu” is being de-emphasized to protect farmers and marketers of pork and pork products from undeserved ill reputation.

What should I do to keep from getting the flu?
First and most important: wash your hands. Try to stay in good general health. Get plenty of sleep, be physically active, manage your stress, drink plenty of fluids, and eat nutritious food. Try not to touch surfaces that may be contaminated with the flu virus. Most likely, you will contact objects that harbor flu viruses or viruses of the common cold, so take very good care to wash your hands before you eat, or touch your eyes, mouth or nose. For best protection against colds and flu, never touch a public objects with your fingers and subsequently allow yourself to touch food, knives, forks, spoons and drinking glasses where these items, including your fingers, would eventually contact your mouth, eyes or nose. Avoid close contact with people who are sick.

Be careful to use lotion to protect your hands, which can become extra dry, raw and irritated from excessive washing, especially in winter conditions.

Thousands of people die from regular strains of influenza every year; therefore, many people feel that the news media is frightening the public for news sales or that the government is over-reacting (recalling a 1976 government reaction to the swine flu when more deaths were caused by the vaccination than the actual illness). Today’s sophisticated information gathering and reporting techniques need to be adapted to reduce risk and reduce fear. Getting out the proper and latest information about severity, transmission, treatment and the spread of the disease is the best way to maintain a healthy population and economy. Check the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention web page H1N1 Flu (Swine Flu) and You for the latest information on taking care of yourself and your family.

SOURCES:
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention — CDC.GOV
Merck Manuals Online Medical Library

WorldwideHealthMap.com and The Cardinal (Arlingtoncardinal.com) are published by Apriori, Inc. AA-ER.COM.

Illinois residents and officials are waiting confirmation of up to 17 probable swine flu cases as of Thursday.

Five cases in Cook County Wednesday upped to eight on Thursday.

One case in DuPage County Wednesday.

Two cases in Kane County Wednesday upped to six on Thursday.

One case in Lake County Wednesday

One new case in McHenry County Thursday, included a 40-year-old man from the city of McHenry in McHenry County — likely contracted curing a recent trip to Mexico.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention confirmed 109 cases nationwide in New York, New Jersey, Maine, Colorado, Texas, California, South Carolina, Kansas, Massachusetts, Indiana, Ohio, Arizona, Michigan and Nevada.

Including the United States and Mexico, countries affected by Swine Flu H1N1 include Britain, Canada, Spain, Germany, New Zealand, Israel, Switzerland, Austria and the Netherlands.

Starting today, the World Health Organization (WHO) will refer to the new influenza virus as influenza A(H1N1).

APR 29 2009 — A 23-month-old child in from Brownsville, Texas, is the first reported death in the United States from the 2009 swine flu/H1N1outbreak. The child is reported to be a native of Mexico — a member of a family that was visiting from Mexico.

The child from Brownsville, was transported to Houston for treatment and died overnight.

California — confirmed — 11
Indiana — confirmed — 1
Kansas — confirmed — 2
Michigan — probable — 1
New York — confirmed — 45
Ohio — confirmed — 1
Texas — confirmed — 6 — Deaths — 1

California — confirmed — 11
Indiana — confirmed — 1
Kansas — confirmed — 2
Michigan — probable — 1
New York — confirmed — 45
Ohio — confirmed — 1
Texas — confirmed — 6

Information is a sampling of information gathered from multiple sources. Please check CDC.gov and individual state public health departments for official information and official counts. Stats on this page might not balance out on count.

COUNT UPDATES DAILY OR AS NEEDED …

April 28, 2009 update …

———————
California Department of Public Health
Indiana State Department of Public Health
Kansas Department of Public Health and Environment
Michigan Department of Public Health
New York Department of Public Health
Ohio Department of Public Health
Texas Department of State Health Services

In New York, Swine Flu cases are mild and isolated to people associated with St. Francis Preparatory School in Queens. New York officials increased the number of confirmed cases of swine flu in the city to 28 and said at least 100 additional people may have been infected.

St. Francis is the largest private Catholic high school in the country with 2,700 students. The school canceled classes on Monday and Tuesday because of the outbreak

New York State Department of Public Health
nyc.gov/health
Saint Francis Preparatory School — www.sfponline.org

Imperial County–3

San Diego County–4

St. Mel’s Catholic School in the Sacramento suburb of Fair Oaks California was closed while awaiting test results from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

On April 21, 2009 Dr. Mark Horton, director of the California Department of Public Health (CDPH), announced that two cases of swine flu have been reported in California involving a nine-year-old Imperial County girl and a 10-year-old San Diego County boy. Both children became ill with a unique strain of swine flu that has never been identified in the United States. Neither of the patients was hospitalized and both have fully recovered.

California Department of Public Health

Swine Flu Death Report Climbs to 149 in Mexico (April 27, 2009 12:00 noon)

Mexico Health Secretary Jose Angel Cordova says that 1,995 people have been hospitalized with serious cases of pneumonia since the first case of swine flu was reported on April 13. The government does not yet know how many of those cases were swine flu. The suspected death toll from swine flu climbed to 149.

Late Sunday, April 26, 2009 the number of suspected swine flu cases in Mexico had climbed to 1,614, including 103 deaths.

As of Friday, April 24, 2009 the geographical spread of the outbreaks was reported to stand at 13 of the 20 deaths in Mexico City, the rest were spread across Mexico — four in central San Luis Potosi, two up near the U.S. border in Baja California, and one in southern Oaxaca state.

SOURCE: Mexico swine flu deaths spur global epidemic fears

MORE RESOURCES …
twitter.com/cdcemergency
Google.org/flutrends