If you are having a severe reaction, the CDC said you may experience high fever or behavior changes, difficulty breathing, hoarseness or wheezing, swelling around the eyes or lips, hives, paleness, weakness, a fast heart beat or dizziness. The CDC recommends seeking medical attention immediately if you spot any of the above symptoms.
The Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS) is a national vaccine safety surveillance program co-sponsored by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). VAERS is a post-marketing safety surveillance program, collecting information about adverse events (possible side effects) that occur after the administration of vaccines licensed for use in the United States. Their site is: vaers.hhs.gov

Also, for those in the USA, you can find out where to get a flu shot via the www.flushotsusa.com website and register your children depending where you live.

The software giant Microsoft has a good idea, it is software teachers can use to help keep the students engaged should they indeed have to stay home.

And with the recent news that vaccines are in much shorter supply (both quantity and later than expected, it seems likely that many schools and universities will indeed be closing the doors.

The World Health Organization is warning that the annual production of H1N1 vaccines is expected to fall short of the 4.9 billion doses that it had earlier forecast would be made.

WHO writes on their website, “Current supplies of pandemic vaccine are inadequate for a world population in which virtually everyone is susceptible to infection by a new and readily contagious virus.

Given that current demand outstrips supply, these donations, together with the doses pledged by manufacturers, will help increase supplies of pandemic vaccines to populations that would otherwise not have access.”

[Link: who.int/mediacentre/]

Below is a link to the Microsoft idea which is a good idea from Microsoft for a few reasons. For example, it is a very practical idea for both teachers and students. It gives both some time and strategy to think though the process of teaching during possible closures to schools. An added benefit: parents are relieved at the idea their kids have something practical to do when they are stuck at home.

From a marketing idea, since the concept is of course to use Microsoft software to implement the teaching, it is really good. Not everyone is going to rush out to buy software from Microsoft, but what with anger over Vista and new Office which certainly hurt Microsofts image, this plan is a step in the right direction, at least for countries / teachers / students with the money to have a computer and be online.

“We’re concerned for the students and families impacted by the H1N1 virus and understand this could be a difficult time for students worried about their health and that they could fall behind in their studies,” said Anthony Salcito, vice president of Worldwide Public Sector Education at Microsoft. “We are happy to be able to provide affordable and accessible technology solutions that educators and students can use to mitigate any disruptions in the classroom due to a possible outbreak of the H1N1 flu virus.”

More information is available at microsoft.com/education/h1n1. (and microsoft.com/press)

YouTube H1N1 vaccine shortages expected:

Tamiflu

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/health/Swine_flu/article6828915.ece

Note: As of 23 August, the WHO (World Health Organization) estimated over 209438 cases and at least 2185 deaths. (Given that countries are no longer required to test and report individual cases, the number of cases reported actually understates the real number of cases.)

31 August » Advice on when flu needs TLC or a doctor’s care
The Associated Press
WASHINGTON ” When is swine flu just miserable and when do you need a doctor? If it’s hard to breathe, that’s an emergency. It’s the not-so-obvious cases …

30 August » Mexico May Top 1 Million Swine-Flu Cases, Cordova Tells Reforma
Bloomberg
29 (Bloomberg) — Mexico’s swine-flu infections could surpass 1 million during the country’s winter season, Reforma newspaper reported, citing Health …

29 August » Swine flu fears factor in possible school closures
Newsday
Multiple confirmed cases of swine flu have been reported at the private university. (AP Photo/Mike Fuentes) LONDON (AP) — As schools around the world reopen …

28 August » Swine flu: Are blacks and Latinos at higher risk?
Los Angeles Times
… suffer from higher rates of asthma, diabetes and other medical conditions that make them more susceptible to the new virus, commonly known as swine flu. …

27 August » Nation Digest: CDC Urges Calm After Release of Swine Flu Death …
Washington Post
Government health officials are urging people not to panic over estimates of 90000 people dying of swine flu this fall. “Everything we’ve seen in the US and …

26 August » Survey: Swine flu doesn’t change washing habits
Chicago Tribune
AP MILWAUKEE – A new survey says many people haven’t changed their hand washing habits in light of the swine flu outbreak. The survey was done by the …

25 August » cdc’s Advice to Parents: Swine Flu Shots for All
Washington Post
By Delece Smith-Barrow The first swine flu precaution that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention suggests for parents: As soon as a vaccine is …

24 August » Swine flu may boost German Qiagen H2 sales -paper
Reuters
DE) expects sales of its swine flu tests to rise further if there is a flu wave in the coming months, after demand jumped sharply in the second quarter, …

23 August » Swine Flu Campaign Waits on Vaccine
Washington Post
By Rob Stein Government health officials are mobilizing to launch a massive swine flu vaccination campaign this fall that is unprecedented in its scope …

22 August » Chile confirms swine flu in turkeys
San Jose Mercury News
By Federico Quilodran AP SANTIAGO, Chile — Chile said Friday that tests show swine flu has jumped to birds, opening a new chapter in the global epidemic. …

21 August » WHO Warns of ‘Second or Third’ Wave of Swine Flu Cases, AFP Says
Bloomberg
21 (Bloomberg) — Governments around the world need to prepare for a likely second wave of swine flu cases, Agence France-Presse said, citing World Health …

20 August » Officials may recommend 3 flu shots
Los Angeles Times
Two would be for swine flu, or H1N1, the other for the seasonal strain. Employers are warned to brace for workers’ absences. By Rong-Gong Lin II and Kim …

19 August » Swine flu battle moves to cyberspace
Canada.com
“But if the current swine flu pandemic gets bad and schools close in the fall, there are going to be a lot of teenagers sitting at home with not much to do, …

18 August » Swine flu precautions lead to chaos at Cairo airport
USA Today
… when dozens of passengers hoping to perform a pilgrimage to the holy city of Mecca were stopped by new measures to prevent the spread of swine flu. …

17 August » Tropical weather…California fires…Swine flu prep
9&10 News
WASHINGTON (AP) — Schools across the country concerned about the next swine flu outbreak are preparing for what could be the most widespread school …

16 August »  Link between swine flu jab and deadly syndrome will be probed
Telegraph.co.uk
Neurologists have been ordered to monitor whether new swine flu vaccinations could trigger a deadly nerve disease. By Laura Donnelly, Health Correspondent …

15 August » Tami-flu resistant swine flu in King County
Examiner.com
The health department announced that two patients with a Tamiflu-resistant swine flu are being treated in King County. Both patients did not know each other …

14 August » Diarrhea, Tuberculosis Kill as Swine Flu Takes Focus in India
Bloomberg
Don’t be alarmed by swine flu, authorities say. Mumbai and New Delhi residents rushed to purchase face masks after India recorded its first swine flu death …

13 August » Swine Flu Hits Bollywood
Wall Street Journal
As swine flu cases in India multiply, the government is warning people against visiting public spaces like movie theatres. Whether the year’s most awaited …

12 August » Costa Rican president sick with swine flu
CNN International
(CNN) — Costa Rican President Oscar Arias has been diagnosed with the H1N1 virus, commonly known as the swine flu, the government said in a televised …

11 August » Ordinary people and the ordinary flu
Jakarta Post
… flu in 1918 and the 2009 flu pandemic), H2N2 (which caused the Asian Flu in 1957), H3N2 (which caused the Hong Kong Flu in 1968), H5N1 (the current bird …

10 August » Swine flu vaccine ‘safe and effective’
Belfast Telegraph
It is giving the first doses the green light based on data from a previous ‘mock up’ vaccine of H5N1 bird flu, as both will have the same basic ingredients. …

09 August » Look at the past, plan for the future: Flu forum focuses on …
Temple Daily Telegram
The state had been planning for the bird flu, the H5N1 strain because it had been seen in other parts of the world for the past few years, Lakey said. …

08 August » Swine flu science update: 8 August 2009
SciDev.net
Although H5N1 bird flu led to increased diagnostic and surveillance capacity in some countries, many still have no capacity and surveillance efforts cover …

07 August » Needed: Law with teeth in age of H1N1
Times of India
The Epidemic Diseases Act, 1897, does not even mention present-day threats such as the H5N1 avian influenza virus or HIV that causes AIDS, because they …

06 August » Khanh Hoa reports Vietnam’s first H1N1 death
Thanh Nien Daily
On July 31, the institute confirmed she had contracted the H1N1 virus and tested negative for the H5N1 virus, commonly known as bird flu. …

05 August » Aphios Awarded NIH Grant for CFI Virus and Pathogen Inactivation …
Business Wire (press release)
The recent outbreaks of potentially pandemic strains of influenza such as the H1N1 swine flu and the H5N1 bird flu, the worldwide AIDS epidemic, …

04 August » Predictive Programming: TV Movie Shows Riots, Quarantines and Mass …
Prison Planet.com
The sensationalized movie, follows an American businessman who represents the first human to human transfer of the H5N1 Avian flu virus in Hong Kong. …

03 August » H1N1, H5N1 & the Common Cold: Panic & Paranoia
Bru Direct
H5N1 (if anyone still remembers it at all)aka Bird Flu was very dangerous, due to its kill rate of over 60%. That was worth the media hype. …

02 August » Swine Flu: Bringing the Pandemic Out of the Box
The Faster Times
There have been 436 reported cases of H5N1 infections in humans; amongst these 262 deaths have occurred 5 . Fortunately the H5N1 bird flu virus strain has …

01 August »  How the world caught the flu
Irish Times
In 1997 the first human case of avian or bird flu (H5N1) cropped up, and human infections started to build around 2004 and 2005. But, while the H1N1 virus …

WHO Flag

Dr. Margaret Chan of the World Heath Organization (WHO) has officially raised the status of H1N1 Swine Flu to six, the highest level.

Dr. Chan said there are two main concerns now:

a) a second wave of the flu is to be expected, probably within the next 6 to 9 months, and

b) in developing countries who have not yet come into their influenza season, that they may not be able to cope well with H1N1 when it arrives.

The virus which is currently called Swine Flu is still a somewhat mild version, meaning it is more severe than normal flu but not yet killing too many people.

Influenza viruses are notorious for quickly changing their behaviour and because of that the concern is that it could mutate into something much more severe.

The last Pandemic was in 1968 when Hong Kong Flu killed some 50,000 people.

Almost 30,000 have been infected by the H1N1 virus in some 74 countries according to the WHO.

Much more news on Twitter.

Cases of Swine Flu have surged since the weekend in Japan forcing authorities to close schools and kindergardens as a precaution for the teenager-hit crowd.

Meanwhile the WHO (World Health Organization) says that making swine flu vaccine is harder than thought and will not be available until mid-July.

The WHO says 40 countries are now infected with H1N1 and have officially reported 8480 cases of influenza A(H1N1) infection.

Bird Flu also keeps in headline news as Reuters reports a 4-year-old Egyptian girl has died after contracting the highly pathogenic H5N1 bird flu virus, Egypt’s state news agency MENA said on Monday. Fears continue that the two could mix creating a potent virus deadly to humans. While it is expected that the flu virus will die down until later in the year, it is still an unknown as to what exactly will happen.

Currently the USA leads in cases of Swine flu (4714) followed by Mexico (3103), Canada (496), Japan (176), Spain (103) and the UK (101).

Dr Smith: Each and every year, the flu spreads around the planet. It starts China and then travels, often not noticed in the Northern hemisphere (where most of the world’s population live) until Autumn or Spring.

Q: When and where do swine flu outbreaks occur?

WHO: Outbreaks in pigs occur year round, usually in the autumn and winter in temperate zones. Since international health regulations were implemented in 2007, WHO has been notified of swine influenza cases from the United States and Spain.

Governments do not have to notify international animal health authorities about swine flu outbreaks, therefore its international distribution in animals is not well known. The disease is considered endemic in the United States. Outbreaks in pigs are also known to have occurred in North America, South America, Europe (including the UK, Sweden, and Italy), Africa (Kenya) and in parts of eastern Asia including China and Japan.

Q: This super-virus we’re looking at now is said to be a cross between a pig flu, a human flu and also the bird flu, which has been deadly too. Does this make it even more dangerous?

Dr Smith: Flu is broken down into a number of different types: there’s flu A, flu B and flu C. Flu A is the bird form and, of course, humans also have a flu A. Then we further categorise it according to the surface molecules, the H (for Haemagglutinin) and the N on the surface.

This new strain is a H1N1 virus, which we know circulates in humans, pigs and birds. It’s possible that the pig initially got some of its flu from a bird and then co-mixed that with the human form to produce this hybrid, which is why you can find elements of all three.

It is very much early days and the big focus now, through infection control organisations like the Centres for Disease and Prevention (CDP) and the WHO, will be to interrogate this virus at a molecular level.

In other words, look at the genetic make-up, sequence the virus, and once they’ve got the genetic sequence you can begin to unpick where it’s come from, what its origins are, and therefore begin to build the story as to what its likely outcome will be.

WHO: Swine flu viruses are most commonly of the H1N1 subtype but other subtypes g (H1N2, H3N1 and H3N) are also circulating. The H3N2 swine virus was thought to have been originally introduced into pigs by humans.

An influenza virus containing genes from a number of sources is called a “reassortant” virus. Swine flu viruses are normally species specific and only infect pigs, but sometimes they cross the species barrier to cause disease in humans.

This interview was with the World Health Organization and Dr. Christopher Smith, Virologist at Cambridge University and the author of The Naked Scientists Science Radio Show Podcast

As we know, the 1976 scare was just that, the epidemic never came. However, it raises an interesting question about vaccination in 2009. Should health officials go ahead and call the public to vaccinate? If they do, the upcoming seasonal flu in the autumn will possibly require a second vaccination. While it may be possible to manufacture enough vaccine for one flu round, it probably is not possible to manufacture enough vaccine to cover both the Swine Flu and the normal, upcoming flu season ahead of us. And health officials do not want to try to concoct vaccines which are untested and which may result in the catastrophy of 1976.

In Other News:

Facebook is weighing in with its own Swine Flu discussion. See the photos here: http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=106392&id=20531316728

* Several countries are beginning to debate where and when schools may be closed down to halt a possible spread of Swine Flu. Since infection can happen between 1 and 5 days before any symptoms show up, it is a hard choice to make.

* Schweinegerippe in Deutschland bestätigt aber Erste Zweifel an Gefährlichkeit der Schweinegrippe: http://www.spiegel.de/

* CAIRO (AP) — Egypt began slaughtering the roughly 300,000 pigs in the country Wednesday as a precautionary measure against the spread of swine flu even though no cases have been reported here yet, the Health Ministry said.

* Virus’s Arrival Is Reported on Four Continents: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB124090884691363061.html

* Lingo Watch: From Swine Flu to H1N1 Virus (so as not to disrupt the sale of pork)

“We are very, very concerned,” World Health Organization spokesman Thomas Abraham said. “We have what appears to be a novel virus and it has spread from human to human…”

At this time, CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) recommends the use of oseltamivir or zanamivir for the treatment of infection with swine influenza viruses. The H1N1 viruses are resistant to amantadine and rimantadine but not to oseltamivir or zanamivir. It is not anticipated that the seasonal influenza vaccine will provide protection against the swine flu H1N1 viruses.

There are everyday actions people can take to stay healthy against Swine Flu.

* Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Throw the tissue in the trash after you use it.
* Wash your hands often with soap and water, especially after you cough or sneeze. Alcohol-based hands cleaners are also effective.
* Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth. Germs spread that way.

Try to avoid close contact with sick people.

* Influenza is thought to spread mainly person-to-person through coughing or sneezing of infected people.
* If you get sick, it is recommended that you stay home from work or school and limit contact with others to keep from infecting them.

To survive swine flu or any influenza, a strong immune system is a must. Smoking, drinking, drug abuse and lack of sleep weaken your immune system. Eat right, get plenty of exercise and rest properly. Abuses of any kind are going to weaken your bodies natural defense mechanisms.

Symptoms of Swine flu are similar to normal influenza and include breathing problems, fever, fatigue, vomiting and diarrhea. You should consult a doctor if you suspect you have the flu. And as you might know, most countries have been stock-piling anti-flu virals for some time now. It is expected (certainly hoped) that Tamiflu and Relenza will be able to fight against A (H1N1).