Media, August 30 & 31

There is so much in the news about flu right now, so I thought I would try sharing some highlights with you via the blog.

MEDIA MONITORING AUGUST 31, 2009

Lessons from Mexico for next wave of swine flu
Public awareness, rapid treatment and lots of hand-washing key in fight
MEXICO CITY - Mexico is preparing for a second wave of swine flu, looking at what worked and what didn't last spring when it banned everything from dining out to attending school in an effort to control the virus.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/32602176/ns/health-swine_flu/

Swine flu: 10 things you need to know
Get your shots early, wash your hands often — and don’t panic, experts say
ATLANTA - Since it first emerged in April, the global swine flu epidemic has sickened more than 1 million Americans and killed about 500. It's also spread around the world, infecting tens of thousands and killing nearly 2,000.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/32597920/ns/health-swine_flu/

Brazil tops worldwide H1N1 deaths, officials say
(CNN) -- Brazil has confirmed 557 deaths caused by H1N1 flu, the highest total in the world, the nation's Health Ministry says.
http://www.cnn.com/2009/HEALTH/08/28/brazil.flu.deaths/index.html

Learning from (flu) experience
1918 pandemic provides clues for the present
No one knows if this year's headline flu strain is a serious threat to the health of our nation or the human viral equivalent of Y2K. Health-care officials are preparing for the first and not expecting the latter.
http://durangoherald.com/sections/News/2009/08/31/Learning_from_flu_experience/

Return of Swine Flu: What's Ahead for Americans?
WASHINGTON -- The alarm sounded with two sneezy children in California in April. Just five months later, the never-before-seen swine flu has become the world's dominant strain of influenza, and it's putting a shockingly younger face on flu.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/08/31/AR2009083100393.html

Swine flu fears factor in possible school closures
LONDON -- As schools around the world reopen, health authorities are bracing for a major spike in swine flu.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/08/31/AR2009083100820.html


MEDIA MONITORING AUGUST 30, 2009

Swine flu is back, so are questions
Big unknowns as cold weather approaches, school starts
WASHINGTON -- The alarm sounded with two sneezy children in California in April. Just five months later, the never-before-seen swine flu has become the world's dominant strain of influenza, and it's putting a shockingly younger face on flu.
http://www.dailycamera.com/ci_13236526?IADID

Colombian Leader Ill With Swine Flu
BOGOTÁ, Colombia (Reuters) — President Álvaro Uribe has contracted the H1N1 swine flu virus, and doctors are treating him while he works at home, the government announced Sunday.
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/08/31/world/americas/31colombia.html

H1N1 another Y2K?

This from Candace Corley of the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment:

It would be wonderful if H1N1 was another Y2K, and I hope it is.

Regardless, the precautions we are recommending, are good life skills; get your immunizations, wash your hands, adult and pediatric first aid and psychological first aid.

What could be better?

Maybe H1N1 is just a good excuse to be more competent.

We should rename it Life Competency Training.

What should a small-business owner do about flu?

Thanks to Nancy Enyart for these tips for businesspeople:

With the flu season arriving, businesses can improve their employees' attendance by preparing now.

Some very basic steps that businesses can take include:
:: distributing messages encouraging good hygiene (wash your hands often, cover your cough),
:: encouraging people to stay home when they're sick, and
:: setting up flu vaccination clinics at the workplace.

Although the novel H1N1 flu is what is in the news, the annual seasonal flu kills 36,000 every year in the US alone. So, regardless of how severe the novel H1N1 flu turns out to be this year, any steps you take to inform your employees about how to protect themselves from any type of flu will pay off in a healthier, safer workforce.

Breastfeeding can protect your baby during an emergency

CDPHE News Release by Lori Maldonado


Be Prepared – Breastfeed: A Shield That Protects Infants in an Emergency

DENVER—Breastfeeding is not the first thing that comes to mind when thinking about how to prepare for an emergency. However, state nutritionists say breastfeeding is just the shield moms need to protect their infants in a crisis.

“Being prepared for natural or manmade emergencies is not just a global concern, it also is a Colorado concern,” said Jennifer Dellaport, nutritionist and breastfeeding coordinator at the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, “Colorado is prone to incidents that can bring a family’s daily routine and a small town or large city to a halt for long periods of time, such as blizzards, wildfires, snowstorms and tornadoes. Breastfeeding requires no running water and protects babies from contamination or limited water resources,” said Dellaport, referencing isolated incidents of contaminated water and formula recalls that have limited access to a safe food and water supply.

Despite the situation or surroundings, breastfeeding is safe, free, readily available and designed to nourish and hydrate infants.

Breast milk provides optimal nutrition to support an infant’s growth and development and provides protection against respiratory illness and diarrhea, diseases that can be fatal in groups displaced by disasters. “Plus, in a disaster, breastfeeding is calming to both the mother and baby,” said Dellaport.

These messages are part of a national effort to promote World Breastfeeding Week, August 1-7, 2009. This year’s theme, “Be Prepared – Breastfeed: A shield that protects infants in an emergency,” reflects the vital role that breastfeeding plays during emergencies.

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She cited events in Colorado as an example of emergencies where breastfeeding would be helpful:
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In January 2009, wildfires in the Boulder area forced thousands to evacuate their homes.
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In March 2009, a blizzard left more than 400 airline passengers stranded at Denver International Airport.
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A flash flood in Fort Collins displaced families from their homes in August 2007.
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A tornado touched down in Windsor in May 2008, killing one and leaving hundreds without food and shelter.
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In Alamosa, water contaminated by salmonella sickened over 275 people and thousands were without safe water for several weeks.
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H1N1 season has become a pandemic, sickening many Coloradans.

Dellaport provided the following additional facts on breastfeeding:

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Breastfeeding infants for more than six months provides long-term protection against illness and disease.
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Infants who are breastfed always have a source of food.
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Mothers under stress still will produce milk. During emergencies, responding relief organizations are encouraged to support breastfeeding by providing a dedicated space with privacy and knowledgeable counselors to encourage continued breastfeeding.

Even Glamour magazine is focusing on H1N1...

"Are You Starting to Worry About Swine Flu? (There's H1N1 Hysteria Going on in England)"

That's the headline for an article and poll on Glamour magazine's blog at http://www.glamour.com/health-fitness/blogs/vitamin-g/2009/07/poll-are-you-starting-to-worry.html. Take the poll yourself.

(Do review the comments, too. That's the best part of reading on the web.)

For those who don't know, Glamour is a women's magazine, with a median age of 33. They claim a circulation of 2.29 million but a total audience of 12.2 million. Pretty big rag. And interesting that they are interested in flu in addition to fashion.

We are seeing H1N1 slowly creep back into the headlines, with summer camps and the Air Force Academy reporting outbreaks.

My daughter starts school in exactly three weeks. All those little (and not-so-little) germ carriers together could be a mighty force.