2009-2010 Swine Flu Season Headlines  SWINE FLU UPDATES In an effort to track the potentially dangerous Swine Flu outbreak, we offer a series of brief reports collected from various local and national news sources to keep you informed on the latest developments. Watch these pages in the days and weeks ahead for viable information designed to help you and your family cope with this new health crisis. H1N1 VACCINE AVAILABLE TO GENERAL PUBLIC (12/11/09) The state's H1N1 flu vaccine supply is now open to everyone. The Texas Department of State Health announced today that health providers should allow the general population to get the shot or spray instead of only high-priority groups of patients, such as pregnant women. The health department has shifted policy because supply is catching up with demand. People wanting to get the vaccine can go to TexasFlu.org to find a flu vaccinator. SWINE FLU NUMBERS WORRY OFFICIALS H1N1 update from CDC for 12 November 2009 Most alarming in the most recent report from the Center For Disease Control is a report on the number of pediatric deaths. Today the CDC announced that 540 children have died from this H1N1 pandemic influenza. Dr. Anne Schuchat, director of National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases led today's CDC conference. Last Friday, 129 children had been reported with laboratory confirmed H1N1 influenza. Since then, additional reports have been registered regarding pediatric deaths from laboratory confirmed influenza where typing information was not available. "We know that a number of the deaths that we're seeing are occurring outside the hospital where testing is not possible. We know that not every patient with influenza gets a diagnosis of flu," stated Dr. Schuchat. As in the case of bacterial pneumonia following a flu illness, the case may or may not be recognized as flu. The CDC does not think that anything has changed. Dr. Schuchat continued, "We think our 540 number is a better estimate for the big picture out there. We think individual reports we're getting through the national pediatric death notification system are vitally important. That system gives us additional detail about underlying diseases that children have, about issues like the bacterial pneumonia problem. With that system we make sure our guidelines are right and on track. We do think for influenza it's virtually impossible to find every case with a lab test. So the estimation method we are using now we believe gives a bigger picture, a probably more accurate picture of the full scope of the pandemic." Anne Schuchat: "Influenza is serious. Vaccination is the best effort to protect one's self or family. These efforts give a bigger picture of what's going on and reaffirm the priority recommendations we've given. We focus vaccination on younger people because they are disproportionately affected with the virus. Things haven't really changed from last week to this week; with you just feel we're finally able to update the public on how big a toll this virus is having so far." Immunization efforts for this supply continue to be focused on the target population: priority groups, pregnant women, health care workers, children up to age 24, adults 65 with chronic conditions, and parents with small children, and children under six years of age. November is National Diabetes month. Diabetes is a common condition, and those with diabetes are at increased risk of severe illness from any flu. "There is much that people with diabetes can do to improve their health, particularly in light of the H1N1 influenza challenges," stated Dr. Schuchat, who urged those with diabetes to pay special attention with flu. "And when people with diabetes get flu, it can be more difficult for them to manage their blood sugar. They can suffer high or low blood sugar. People with diabetes account for about 12% of all of the hospitalizations we've seen from the H1N1 influenza virus. If we focus in on adults, 19% of those people who have been hospitalized have diabetes."  SIX MORE VALLEY RESIDENTS DIE FROM SWINE FLU Six more deaths in the Valley caused by the H-1-N-1 flu virus have been reported. State health officials report on the agency's web site that last month, a woman from Cameron County, and three women, a man, and a boy from Hidalgo County, died after contracting the swine flu virus. They bring to 7 the number of H-1-N-1 deaths in the Valley. A Harlingen woman was the first to succumb to the virus back in May. Statewide, 21 people have now died from H-1-N-1. The state health department website also says Hidalgo County has, by far, the most reported cases of H-1-N-1 in the state -- 1-thousand-115. Cameron County reports 335 cases, Starr County has 36, and Willacy County 16.  TWO MORE SWINE FLU DEATHS IN VALLEY Two more Valley residents have died after contracting the H1N1 flu. The state health department is confirming the two patients from Hidalgo County had contracted the H-1-N-1 virus. The patients were a woman in her 30's and a boy in his teens. Officials are still waiting, though, for test results to determine if underlying health conditions may have played a role in their deaths. They are the first swine flu deaths in Hidalgo County, and bring the Valley's swine flu death toll to three. State health officials, though, say that number is consistent with expectations, and with the number of deaths which occur during a seasonal flu outbreak. Experts say, however, the swine flu appears to be hitting younger people the hardest -- people who may have not yet gotten the flu and have not built up some immunity to the virus  SWINE FLU REACHES PANDEMIC LEVEL By LOGAN HAWKES Port Isabel-South Padre PRESS For the first time since the 1960s, the World Health Organization (WHO) has declared a global flu pandemic effective immediately. Worldwide, there are now nearly 30,000 cases of swine flu and 141 people have died from it.    With WHO's declaration this week that the virus has reached global pandemic levels, Texas health officials say the rest of the world finally is catching up with what the Lone Star State has been doing for more than a month.    Being the first state to have confirmed cases helped launch Texas into preparation mode amid the outbreak of H1N1 "swine" flu in April, says Emily Palmer of the Texas Department of State Health Services.    "The fact that they raised the pandemic level to six came as no surprise to anyone," she said. "Probably since early May we've been in response to pandemic mode. It (swine flu) occurred here first in this country and Texas had some of the early cases. We were on the early end of that and they're (WHO) catching up with what we've been doing for a month or more    Since the state has been dealing with the disease for more than six weeks, there has been time to plan staffing, equipment and funding to fight it she says.    There have been 1,883 cases and six deaths in Texas, making it the second-most active state in the country for the disease. Hidalgo and Cameron counties lead the swine flu count in Texas. Hidalgo County has confirmed 406 H1N1 cases while Cameron County is reporting 261 confirmed cases.    “On the basis of available evidence and these expert assessments of the evidence, the scientific criteria for an influenza pandemic have been met. I have therefore decided to raise the level of influenza pandemic alert from phase 5 to phase 6,” reported World Health Organization director-general, Margaret Chan during a press conference Thursday.    Dr. Thomas Frieden, the new head of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, said in Atlanta that he does not expect widespread public anxiety in the United States as a result of the declaration, noting it came nearly two months after the virus was identified.    For many weeks, U.S. health officials have been treating it as a pandemic, increasing the availability of anti-viral flu medicines and pouring money into a possible vaccination program. And scientists have grown to understand that the virus is generally not much more severe than the seasonal flu.    "That helps to tamp down any fears that may be excessive," Frieden said at a news conference - his first as CDC director.    But the virus can still be deadly and may change into a more frightening form in the near future, and so people should not be complacent, he added.  CAMERON COUNTY NOW HAS  NEAR 200 SWINE FLU CASES The number of H1N1 flu cases in Cameron County has risen 135 confirmed cases, with nearly 200 cases reported including suspected cases.  The new numbers were released by the Texas Department of State Health Services. The totals for Hidalgo County as of last Friday number 134 confirmed and 55 probablecases for a total of 189. Starr County's total has increased to 23 cases, including seven probable and 16 confirmed. In Willacy County, the total of three cases remains the same. Statewide there are now 1,364 cases, including 326 probable and 1,046 confirmed cases.  Husband Of Flu Victim Denies "Underlying Health Conditions" The husband of the Harlingen woman who died after contracting swine flu, is denying she had pre-existing medical conditions.  Steven Trunnell telling C-N-N's "Larry King Live" last night his wife was "a healthy pregnant woman" who'd never been diagnosed with major medical complications.  Judy Trunnell was hospitalized April 19th, slipped into a coma, and died a little more than two weeks later.  State health department officials said after her death the 33-year-old school teacher had "chronic underlying health conditions", including asthma and rheumatoid arthritis.  But in last night's interview with Larry King, Steven Trunnell called that "absolutely false."  Willacy County Records First Flu Swine Victims You can now add Willacy County on the list of those with confirmed cases of swine flu.  The Texas Department of Health Services reporting three Willacy County residents have come down with the H-1-N-1 virus.  That brings the total number of swine flu cases in the four-county Rio Grande Valley to 112.  That number includes 7 more cases confirmed in Hidalgo County, bringing that county's total to 37.  61 cases have been reported in Cameron County.  11 in Starr County.  One Valley resident has died as a result of the virus -- 33-year-old Judy Trunnell of Harlingen. Corpus Christi Man Becomes 5th Swine Flu Death The Nueces County Medical Examiner ruled Friday that a 33-year-old man died on May 6 in part from the H1N1 flu virus. Carlos Garnica, 33, died at a local hospital's emergency room May 6 of viral pneumonia, according to Nueces County Medical Examiner's Office officials. Garnica's death is one of five swine flu related deaths in the United States.  MORE SWINE FLU CONFIRMED IN CAMERON COUNTY By LOGAN HAWKES A third case of swine flu has shown up in Cameron County. The Texas Department of Health Services confirmed the case over the weekend, but there is no information yet as to the gender or age of the patient who tested positive for the H-1-N-1 virus. Of the other two patients who've contracted swine flu, a 23-month-old boy is still being treated in a San Antonio hospital, three weeks after becoming ill. And a 33-year-old Harlingen woman died last Tuesday. Doctors say Judy Trunnell had asthma and rheumatoid arthritis, which were exacerbated by the virus. There have been three other confirmed cases of swine flu in the Valley -- one in Hidalgo County and two in Starr County. Meanwhile, swine flu fears continue to brew in Brownsville. State health officials have notified Brownsville school officials of nine more students who've tested probable for having the swine flu virus. The students attend seven different elementary, middle, and high school campuses. However, the notifications are not expected to postpone the scheduled re-opening of the schools Tuesday. Officials shut the district down last week after getting word of the first two suspected swine flu cases.  DESPITE COVERAGE, SWINE FLU MAJOR PROBLEM By LOGAN HAWKES Port Isabel-South Padre PRESS In spite of fewer swine flu stories in the news in recent days, state health officials are warning the outbreak of H1N1 flu continues to be problematic all across the nation, especially in the Rio Grande Valley.    According to the Texas Department of State Health Services' web site, Cameron County now has 193 cases of the H1N1 flu virus. Hidalgo County is reporting 259 cases. Starr County has 16 cases, and there are seven confirmed cases in Willacy County.    Texas Department of State Health Services Commissioner Dr. David Lakey urged students out of school and their parents to continue to take precautions to reduce the risk of spreading the virus.    "The virus continues to circulate," Lakey said. "We need to continue to take those personal steps to keep from getting or spreading H1N1 flu." Lakey said everyone should: Stay home if you have influenza-like symptoms or other symptoms of respiratory illness. Cough or sneeze into the crook of your elbow or into a tissue and properly dispose of the tissue. Wash hands frequently and thoroughly with soap and warm water or use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer. Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth to reduce the risk that germs on your fingers enter your body.    Symptoms of H1N1 flu usually include high fever with a cough, sore throat or both. Some with H1N1 flu also have reported extreme tiredness, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea.  FLU DEATH NUMBERS UP, NOBODY'S TALKING? http://schemas.microsoft.com/office/word/2003/wordml013fBy LOGAN HAWKES Port Isabel-South Padre PRESS An alarming statistic has emerged from the Texas Department of Health Services (DSHS) that may have gone unnoticed by all but Internet news activists. Deep inside the DSHS Web site is an updated list of H1N1 (commonly called swine flu) cases in Texas. In the July 8-dated report, the Rio Grande Valley now has 1,460 confirmed cases of H1N1 this year, including six new deaths. DSHS is reporting 4,464 cases of H1N1 flu in Texas, including 4,463 in Texas residents from 120 of the state's 254 counties. That means the Rio Grande Valley has reported nearly 31-percent of all H1N1 cases within the state. Overall, the Valley has recorded 7 of the 21 deaths from swine flu in Texas this year. The six newly reported deaths apparently all occurred during June. Since the nation's first H1N1 case was reported earlier this year (in Texas), public health officials have downplayed the threat of the flu. Officials in both the Austin office and the Harlingen regional office of DSHS have warned that the current outbreak of swine flu appears no more dangerous to the public than the average yearly run of seasonal flu. And in spite of a `pandemic warning' from the World Health Organization, Texas officials appear unconcerned over what some have termed a serious threat to public health as a result of this new flu strain. Of further concern perhaps is the lack of communication from DSHS about the latest H1N1 flu information. When questioned why the state department of health did not publically announce the most recent deaths and cases of flu in the Valley, officials say they not routinely track flu information, and suggest they do not release information about individual medical cases. Earlier this year a number of school districts across the state closed as a result of swine flu fears and DSHS is suggesting those closings may have been unnecessary if not premature. In addition, DSHS officials are quick to point out that all H1N1 deaths in Texas have been underscored by “pre-existing health conditions” of the people who died from the flu, a statement that has been publically disputed by family members of some of the victims. When calls were made to the Harlingen regional office of DSHS, the PRESS was referred to DSHS officials in Austin. Several phone calls to that office remain unanswered. Officials at the Center for Disease Control (CDC) in Atlanta, while cautious about raising an alarm over H1N1, have expressed concern over the growing numbers of cases reported “at a time when seasonal flu cases should be subsiding”. Both state and national health officials are expressing concern that when cooler weather returns, H1N1 may intensify.