Human swine flu confirmed in Indiana (no link to Mexico)

[IndianaGreen]

Source: WTHR-TV

Human swine flu confirmed in Indiana

April 28, 2009 03:37 PM EDT

Indianapolis - A case of swine flu has been confirmed in northern Indiana, the Indiana State Department of Health commissioner announced Tuesday.

The flu was detected in a student at Notre Dame in St. Joseph County, Indiana.

Commissioner Dr. Judith Monroe also said the patient had no "readily identifiable link to Mexico," which is currently dealing with over 2,000 cases and 150 deaths from the disease. There are currently less than 100 confirmed cases in the United States, and as of Tuesday, no deaths from the illness had been reported in the US.

Dr. Monroe said the state sent two samples to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. One tested positive for the North American Human Influenza A (H1N1). She said the patient was doing well and only had mild symptoms.

Health and Homeland Security officials briefed Gov. Mitch Daniels Tuesday morning on pre-existing plans intended to prevent a pandemic, a widespread outbreak of the virus. Homeland Security activated its Emergency Operations Center at 8:00 am. The state's emergency command center is now operating to coordinate the response and sharing of critical information.

Read more: http://www.wthr.com/global/story.asp?s=10262684

[uppityperson]

1. huh. k&r

[havocmom]

2. Guessing it has been around for a spell

It took most doctors three years to figure out there was pertussis raging among teens and adults. Many of us guessed it long before doctors in our areas finally made the connection between all the 'coughing until you puke' people and the fact that the vaccine needs boosters which people weren't getting.

[kestrel91316]

3. No. It hasn't been around for a while. Standard flu surveillance testing

would have picked this weirdo bug up. They just haven't figured out how this patient caught it.

Shopping mall, anyone? Movie theater?

[havocmom]

5. you are assuming that everyone who gets a bug gets to a doctor fast

and that every doctor never misses a diagnosis.

That is a lot more assuming than I am willing to do. I KNOW people do not get into doctors much.

[raccoon]

15. Great post.

Gee, wonder why people who have no insurance, make crappy wages, and/or don't get paid for any time taken off wouldn't go to a doctor right away? :sarcasm:

[havocmom]

16. Hells bells, I HAVE good insurance AND get paid sick leave

but it takes WEEKS to get a doctor's appointment where I live. Took weeks to get an appointment when I lived in a large city too. And my observation is many doctors' diagnosis has more to do with the last pharma-rep they most recently saw that the last patient they saw. While us lay people are given to preconceived notions, I have observed doctors are not much different.

You can have great medical benefits in America and STILL not get much health care. And I know most of the professionals in the field work very hard. They probably do figure they are taking care of everyone, because they work so hard. Fact is, medical care in America has more holes than a sieve.

People WITH paid sick leave often have to produce a doctor's note if they are gone more than two or three days. If they can't get in to see a doctor in that time (and in many places, that IS the case) they will just have to go to work sick. I know of some large companies that require a doctor's note from employees for the FIRST day of sick time off they need to take.

We go to work sick in America. If we didn't the homeless numbers would skyrocket. That simple.

[spinbaby]

17. Even if they do go they don't get tested

Most patients who show up with flu-like symptoms don't get tested for flu. Until this week apparently.

[GetTheRightVote]

18. I am right there with you, national health care anyone ?

:kick:

[rainbow4321]

10. It actually may have been

Before the annouincement of swine flu people were tested for flu A or B and testing stopped there. They were given flu meds and sent on their way. Since swine came along, clinics like mine are now taking the next step and sending the positive A samples for further testing to the CDC. Had we been doing that second step all along, there is no telling how far back we would have samples showing swine results. A month or two, three?? No one will know unless they do retroactive tests on samples from back then and the odds of those samples having been saved are slim at best.
Our satellite clinic has had 2 positive for flu A and the samples have been sent off to the CDC. So far at the clinic I am at we've had people feeling crappy but no one testing positive for flu.
I can tell you we all keep our fingers crossed as we wait for the flu results to pop up on screen. So far, so good.

[Mojorabbit]

4. Has the LA press conference started yet?

I read on twitter that there may have been two deaths.

[Myrina]

7. Link:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x3852920

[wizstars]

6. "Human swine" flu? You mean Repiglickins can get sick???

[mrbarber]

8. A link to Mexico hasn't been ruled out....

only that it is not "readily identifiable".

[bloomington-lib]

9. He was a Notre Dame student

so who knows what other students he came in contact with. Spring Break wasn't that long ago.

[AlphaCentauri]

11. Could it be that spring breakers carried the flu to Mexico?

[Delphinus]

13. Now that's an interesting premise.

Will have to think about that. Last night they showed a picture on the news of the little boy they had identified as "patient zero".

[nadinbrzezinski]

12. Once patient to patient is truly established in the States

we will see the WHO up their warning as well

They need MORE data... but it is looking as if it establishing itself in two or more regions

[raccoon]

14. That's not good. nt

[alcibiades_mystery]

19. You had me at human swine

:-)