Why Vaccine Makers Can't Keep Up with the H1N1 Virus

"The CDC just can't seem to get its predictions right when it comes to H1N1 vaccine delivery. In July, the organization said 120 million doses would be available to Americans by mid-October. In August, they reduced the estimate to 45 million doses. Now in mid-October it's down again to between 28 and 30 million, with some states ordering 10 times the amount actually distributed."

HHS' Sebelius: Ample flu vaccine will be available

"Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius said Monday the swine flu vaccine 'is coming out the door as fast as it comes off the production line.'

But at the same time, she acknowledged delays in getting a sufficient supply for all those demanding it.

'We were relying on the manufacturers to give us their numbers and as soon as we got numbers we put them out to the public. It does appear now that those numbers were overly rosy,' Sebelius said in one interview. 'We do have a vaccine that works,' she said. Sebelius said the immune response is working faster than officials anticipated."

Natural Remedy For Swine Flu (H1N1 Virus)

Ever since the out break of swine flu people have started looking for all types of remedies to prevent this dreaded disease. Naturally people have also looked up to ayurveda the oldest system of medicine to prevent this disease. Although there is no mention of swine flu in ayurvedic texts but signs similar to swine flu have been laid out in it. Let us find out exactly how ayurveda can help keep this flu at bay.

In ayurveda flu symptoms include fever, body ache, soreness in the throat, feeling cold, debility which are similar to H1NI virus symptoms. It is believed that flu is a result of decreased immunity levels which weakens body's mechanism to fight against foreign attacks. So to treat swine flu ayurveda mentions some herbs which can help body boost its immune system and help fight any foreign micro organisms.

Herbs That Can Help Prevent Swine Flu
There are certain time tested herbs in ayurveda which can be effective in preventing flu they include neem, ginger, pepper and elderberry extract. Once the body becomes strong internally after the intake of these herbs then herbs like Echinacea and triphala are given to completely remove any symptoms one might have of flu.

Importance of Echinacea
Echinacea is a very important herb in ayurveda to treat any type of flu. It is used as a natural antibiotic, treats infections, increases body's resistance against diseases and helps in purification of blood. Other things like vitamin c and zinc oxide are also helpful in fighting against flu symptoms.

Overall Analysis
Looking at the above list of herbs it is clearly indicated that if you have any flu symptoms you should act as soon as possible, there is no need to panic as flu is completely curable but prevention is better than cure so if you have a weak digestive system try to strengthen it by adding spices like turmeric and coriander in your food and avoid junk and canned foods. Taking appropriate rest will also help.

Prevention is better than cure visit our website to buy natural swine flu remedy to protect your body against swine flu http://www.herbalhealthhealing.com

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Mexico Planning For Homegrown Swine Flu Vaccine

"Grappling with low supplies of swine flu vaccines, President Felipe Calderon persuaded drug makers this week to sell him 30 million doses, while 1,000 Mexicans lined up for an experimental vaccine they hope can speed up supplies.

Meanwhile, French drug maker Sanofi-Aventis announced plans to open a manufacturing plant in Mexico that will produce 25 million flu vaccine doses a year starting in 2012.

Officials are eager to get the plant off the ground, Mexican Health Secretary Jose Angel Cordova told reporters Thursday."

Amid problems, U.S. scrambles to parcel out H1N1 vaccine

"The federal government's unprecedented campaign to protect the nation against the swine flu pandemic has gotten off to a sputtering start, frustrating parents, pregnant women and others anxious to get immunized against the new virus.

With only a fraction of the tens of millions of doses of vaccine that authorities predicted would be available arriving in states, cities and towns, public health officials who spent months planning for a massive immunization program are instead scrambling to parcel out their limited supply of nasal sprays and shots.

As the number of children, teens and young adults who are falling ill, being hospitalized and in rare cases dying rises, some health departments and doctors are being flooded with calls from worried, sometimes angry patients."

Swine Flu Cases Overestimated?

"If you've been diagnosed 'probable' or 'presumed' 2009 H1N1 or 'swine flu' in recent months, you may be surprised to know this: odds are you didn’t have H1N1 flu.

In fact, you probably didn’t have flu at all. That's according to state-by-state test results obtained in a three-month-long CBS News investigation.

The ramifications of this finding are important. According to the Center for Disease Control, CDC, and Britain's National Health Service, once you have H1N1 flu, you're immune from future outbreaks of the same virus. Those who think they've had H1N1 flu -- but haven't -- might mistakenly presume they're immune. As a result, they might skip taking a vaccine that could help them, and expose themselves to others with H1N1 flu under the mistaken belief they won't catch it. Parents might not keep sick children home from school, mistakenly believing they've already had H1N1 flu."

New info shows swine flu still hardest on young

"Swine flu continues to be most dangerous to kids and younger adults and is largely bypassing the elderly, according to the latest and most solid government health information.

Health officials on Tuesday released figures for swine flu hospitalizations and deaths for the seven weeks since the beginning of September. The information comes from 28 states.

It showed more than half of all hospitalizations were people 24 and younger; more than a quarter were ages 5 to 18 years.

'Essentially, this is still a young person's disease,' said Dr. Anne Schuchat of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Swine flu deaths were concentrated in young and middle-aged adults. A third of all deaths were people ages 25 through 49; another third were 50 to 64."

July 4 swine flu outbreak shows pattern of virus

"More than 100 new cadets at the U.S. Air Force Academy got infected with swine flu at a July 4 barbecue and fireworks display but quick isolation measures got it under control within two weeks, researchers reported on Tuesday.

The outbreak provided a unique opportunity to study the virus closely and Dr. Catherine Takacs Witkop and colleagues say they discovered some surprising things. Among them:

* Nearly a quarter, or 24 percent, of patients still had virus in their noses seven days after getting sick, including 19 percent who had been well for at least 24 hours

* Tamiflu, the drug used to treat influenza, did not help any of the previously healthy young men and women get better any quicker."

What is Swine Flu - H1N1 Virus?

Swine flu, now called H1N1 influenza A, is a type of flu virus. It is a new strain of flu that has just recently been affecting people. It is not caught from pigs or by eating pork. It is a human influenza virus and is being spread by people. It is thought to be a combination of three different flu viruses - swine flu, bird flu and human flu. The new strain is extremely contagious and is quickly spreading across the globe.

H1N1 is different from other strains of influenza. This particular strain of influenza has not been previously exposed to humans before so there are no built up immunities to it. This is what makes it so serious. At the current time there is no preventative drug that you can take in order to avoid getting it. That is why people who are elderly, very young or those who have compromised immune systems must be extremely careful to avoid getting the flu.

Just how dangerous it will be remains to be seen. We are just beginning to see the start of the cases in the United States. It is thought to have originated in Mexico but has since spread globally. The worst cases of it seem to be in Mexico, likely because many people were unaware of the dangers of the flu and did not seek immediate medical treatment.

It was renamed H1N1 influenza A to avoid people making a connection to pigs. This is similar in some ways to the flu that hit the world decades ago. However it is proving to be more serious. The outbreak is becoming serious because nobody has any immunity to this particular strain of influenza. It is estimated that approximately 1 in 4 people who come into contact with swine flu with contract it.

The swine flu has similar symptoms to standard seasonal flu bugs. Swine flu is characterized by a high fever at first and extreme fatigue along with muscle aches. There are also typical cold symptoms that accompany the swine flu including a cough and a sore throat and stuffy nose. Some people additionally have reported nausea or vomiting and diarrhea. The severity of the symptoms is what leads most doctors to consider a diagnosis of swine flu.

Anyone who has the symptoms should seek medical attention right away. Those who get immediate treatment are most likely going to make a full recovery. Doctors take a nose and throat swab sample to send to the lab for testing. The results will be returned within several days. The treatment is a drug called Tamiflu. The doctor will prescribe Tamiflu if it is needed. Most people will get over the swine flu within just a few days. Once you have had swine flu your body will have an immunity from this particular strain in the future.

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How Long Does Swine Flu Last?

Many people wonder how long swine flu lasts but as with many other disease it does depend upon the strength of the attack and whether other symptoms are present.

Essentially, just remember that swine flu is treatable and the earlier you get a diagnosis the better. Isn't it better to seek the opinion of a medical professional as early as possible rather than wait a few more days? If it is swine influenza you have caught it early, if it's not, then nothing lost. The visible basic swine flu symptoms can come and go in a matter of 5 days. However, for victims of the flu who have other complications and symptoms it can take up to 3 weeks or even longer in the very worst cases.

Worth noting is that swine flu if treated early and is free of other health problems (like unrelated respiratory disease) can be cured with regular medications which will also boost your immune system and make it less likely you will suffer a future attack. Although it must be said that since the flu affects various systems in one's body, some parts of the diseases consequence is not yet fully understood. And as ironic as it may sound, the more cases we see the quicker full treatments will become available - as each case has the potential to advance our knowledge of the disease.

Despite the contraction of swine flu being dangerous to health and indeed life, as stated previously it is treatable. It follows then that at the first sign of symptoms you must seek medical advice.

To learn more about the symptoms of swine flu and how long it lasts for you need to check this out, Swine Flu Facts It really is a book you should read, it's a no holds barred on the facts - facts you must know!

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Stress and Swine Flu - Why Reducing Stress May Be a Key Step You Must Take to Avoid Swine Flu

Stress and Swine Flu - Why Reducing Stress May Be a Key Step You Must Take to Avoid Swine Flu
By Elisabeth Kuhn

Are you stressed about the swine flu or the h1n1 flu? Or are you just stressed about whatever is going on in your life? It doesn't matter. Stress and swine flu are a bad mix. Read on to find out why and what you can do about it.

Stress weakens your immune system. And encountering a flu virus with such an impairment is making you a sitting duck. Don't sit still for that. You can lower your stress and increase your immune system's ability to fight incoming germs.

And even if you do get the swine flu, a strengthened immune system will have many benefits. Especially if you get it. Because it will help you fight off the virus and incapacitate it sooner rather than later. Not only that, but a stronger immune system may prevent opportunistic secondary infections that could take what otherwise might just be a nuisance and make it potentially deadly.

Of course there are many things you can do to strengthen your resistance to illness. You can make sure you're well rested. You can eat well and exercise. You can lead a happy life.

But you know what? Some of these are difficult to do when you are too stressed. You may find you're not sleeping well when you worry about things. And your support system can get tired of your worrywart ways and might start to avoid you or become much less supportive.

So dealing with the stress in your life can really be a key part of bolstering your immune system, and in turn, for avoiding the H1N1 swine flu. After all, that way it will be better at fighting off the swine flu -- or any other kind of flu for that matter.

So what can you do about your stress? Pick some of your favorite stress management strategies and use them on a daily basis. Here are a few tips to get you started:

Start by doing some deep breathing. Get some exercise on a regular basis. Listen to soothing music. Talk to your friends and family, and get regular hugs. And stop worrying about the swine flu.

And then pick up some information on stress management strategies, select a few things you're willing to do on a regular basis, and then do them.

And for more tips, download Elisabeth Kuhn's free stress tips report at FreeStressTipsReport.com, and visit her self-help blog for more resources for Body, Health, Spirit, and Prosperity.

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The Canadian Press: Lots of rest, good diet could help prevent infection with swine flu

"Here are a few tips to help prevent infection with H1N1 influenza and to lessen the impact if you do get sick:

-Get lots of rest. Eat a well-balanced, nutritious diet. Vitamin supplements, especially vitamins A, C and D, can help boost the immune system. Exercise regularly.

'Anything that helps our immune systems stay robust helps prevent us getting infected with any disease,' says Dr. Bonnie Henry, an infectious disease expert at the B.C. Centre for Disease Control. 'So the whole healthy lifestyle does help prevent you from getting sicker and in some cases can prevent you getting sick in the first place.'

-Do not smoke. Tobacco use makes a person more vulnerable to respiratory infections, including influenza.

-Wash hands with soap and water frequently. Use alcohol-based gel if soap and water are not available.

-Avoiding crowded environments like theatres, malls and public transit, if possible, could help prevent exposure to swine flu."

Picture of Health: Swine flu vaccine fears persist; workplaces defend against virus - Your daily dose of information on better living - baltimoresun.com

"Two recent stories about the swine flu pandemic reflect persistent fears about the vaccine and reveal how work places are gearing up to protect their employees from the virus.

First off: the worries. For weeks, it's become a mantra of public health officials and infectious disease experts: the swine flu vaccine is safe. Make sure you get one.

Nevertheless, parents are still very uneasy about the vaccine. A recent article by our colleague Meredith Cohn found parents who fear the inoculation hasn't been thoroughly tested and others who worry about giving their small children too many vaccines. Others are bewildered by the onslaught of information about the virus and the development of the vaccine. An Associated Press poll last week found that a third of parents oppose giving their children the vaccine. At a dinner party I attended Saturday night, I heard the same fears repeated by moms."

Where to Get Flu Shot Is Big Worry of Season

"In Alabama, Minnesota and Ohio, health care and emergency medical service workers have been given priority for swine flu immunization. Here in Illinois, and in parts of California and Indiana, young children and their families are first in line.

And across the country, state and local health hot lines are jammed and message boards are lighting up with one question: When can I get my vaccination?

As a small fraction — some 2.4 million doses — of the nasal spray version of the new swine flu vaccine began arriving last week at local health departments, plans for limited distribution were being formulated on the fly or dusted off from earlier in the decade, when fears of an avian flu pandemic sparked a rush of emergency preparedness."

Limited Supply of H1N1 Vaccine Available in SC

"There is only a limited supply of the H1N1 vaccine currently available to the public in South Carolina.

According to DHEC, it will be a while before the vaccine is widely available for public consumption.

Last week, the state received the first shipments of the nasal version of the vaccine.

DHEC spokesman Jim Beasley says the state received roughly 26,000 doses that are being distributed throughout the state.

However, most of those doses are being reserved for healthcare workers and people in high risk groups."

NIH to Launch 2009 H1N1 Influenza Vaccine Trial in People with Asthma

"The National Institutes of Health is preparing to launch the first government-sponsored clinical trial to determine what dose of the 2009 H1N1 influenza vaccine is needed to induce a protective immune response in people with asthma, especially those with severe disease.

The study is cosponsored by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) and the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI), both part of NIH."

WHO Reporting 31 Strains of the H1N1 Virus Resistant to Tamiflu

"The World Health Organization (WHO) is reporting 31 strains of the H1N1 virus which have mutated and are now resistant to the anti-viral drug Tamiflu (oseltamivir). Since the outbreak of the current H1N1 pandemic Tamiflu has been at the front line of defense. Tamiflu is an antiviral drug which is capable of preventing someone from catching H1N1, (if taken within the first 48 hours after an individual has been exposed), reducing the duration and severity of the illness, and decreasing the risk of passing H1N1 on to others. Many health care workers have been taking Tamiflu to prevent catching H1N1 themselves."

Egypt Developing Own H1N1 Flu Vaccine For 2011

"Egypt is developing its own vaccine against H1N1 swine flu for production in 2011 and, in the meantime, will import vaccines to inoculate school children and key public workers, the health minister said.

Experts fear a flu pandemic could have a devastating impact on Egypt, a country of 77 million people who mostly live in the densely packed Nile Valley. Many are in Cairo's crowded slums.

Egypt, already hard hit by the more deadly H5N1 bird flu virus, has found about 1,030 cases of H1N1 flu, widely known as swine flu, and three people have died from the virus, Health Minister Hatem el-Gabali said late on Sunday."

Report: H1N1 virus symptoms may be more severe - NewsChannel 9 WSYR

"A new report suggests the symptoms from the H1N1 virus may be more severe than previously thought.

Breathing problems are the big concern, and are being reported among the sickest flu patients in Mexico and Canada.

Many of the critically ill patients in both countries were obese, although their death rates weren't higher than others.

Many in both countries also were younger than those typically hard hit by seasonal flu, as has been found in the United States."

Swine flu research: H1N1 mostly affects younger patients, can turn critical quickly - Wellness - TIME.com

"A collection of studies to be published in the November 4 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association offer insights into the H1N1 flu strain that has now caused the deaths of at least 4,500 people worldwide, and which World Health Organization officials estimate will continue to be classified as a pandemic for several years. A breakdown of the major findings:

Critical illness caused by H1N1 sets in quickly: A study of 128 Canadian patients with confirmed or probable cases of swine flu found that, critical illness—including organ failure, plummeting levels of oxygen in the blood and the need for mechanical respiratory assistance—tends to set in shortly after initial hospitalization. Most patients included in the study experienced symptoms of the H1N1 flu virus for about four days before going to the hospital, but upon admission generally deteriorated into critical condition within one to two days."