Question ~ Given, secondary pneumonia is primarily responsible for Mexico's Swine Flu deaths ...

[mzmolly]

might the existing pneumonia vaccine have an impact?

Why has the swine flu engulfing Mexico been deadly there, but not in the United States?

Nearly all those who died in Mexico were between 20 and 40 years old, and they died of severe pneumonia from a flu-like illness believed caused by a unique swine flu virus.

The 11 U.S. victims cover a wider age range, as young as 9 to over 50. All those people either recovered or are recovering; at least two were hospitalized.

"So far we have been quite fortunate," said Dr. Anne Schuchat of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Saturday, just hours before three new U.S. cases were confirmed.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/med_swine_flu_victims;_ylt=Aq6jwunP8o9rXwbCYU3eLmla24cA;_ylu=X3oDMTE2aXM0ZjUxBHBvcwMxBHNlYwN5bi1yLWItbGVmdARzbGsDLXN3aW5lZmx1d29y">LINK

:shrug:

I've tried contacting the CDC with my question but they're uhm, busy today. ;)

[stray cat]

1. If given weeks before a person is sick maybe - most take awhile to be effective

[mzmolly]

4. I'm wondering if it might be an effective prevention given developing a new Swine Flu

vaccine will take time.

[ecstatic]

2. my sister contracted hospital pneumonia after giving birth

Did the people who died in Mexico get pneumonia after checking into a hospital?

[mzmolly]

3. An excellent question. Perhaps the answer might explain why deaths in the U.S.

are not happening in the same numbers?

[aquart]

7. Zero deaths. No deaths from swine flu here.

[mzmolly]

8. That's what I thought.

Thanks for the confirmation. :hi:

[aquart]

16. I'm following the flu on Twitter, you know. It tells me.

[mzmolly]

19. Good idea.

;)

[targetpractice]

10. See my response #6...

The mortality rate is highest in 20-40 year olds with healthy immune systems. In the case of H1N1, a healthy immune system in young adults may be a liability rather than an asset.

The US cases are mostly in children where the symptoms are milder... In Mexico City, young adults who are very ill are showing up at hospitals... It's likely that milder cases in children and the elderly are underreported in Mexico City.

[mzmolly]

20. Seems a very likely possibility.

Thanks for pointing this out.

[ecstatic]

12. Yeah. She went to a horrible hospital

I won't name names. Shortly after she checked out, reports came out that several people had contracted pneumonia but her case wasn't included in the count.

[aquart]

5. I notice this bug is lasting only a few days.

I still wanna know why the Mexican victims are getting pneumonia and we aren't.

[targetpractice]

6. The secondary pneumonia is caused by an uncontrolled immune response...

... to the H1N1 virus. This overreaction by healthy immune systems is called a "cytokine storm" and can damage cells in the lungs... causing fluid to leak into the lungs.

Read more... http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cytokine_storm

[aquart]

9. Yikes. So why aren't we getting it?

Is it possible we're just not as healthy as the Mexicans?

[targetpractice]

13. Only a small number of cases so far (most children).

We haven't reached the same numbers of cases as Mexico City... I think time will tell, but we are lucky to be informed and have access to Tamiflu.

[mzmolly]

18. Thanks for the info. I'm becoming more interested in vitamin D

and how it may be a preventive measure.

http://crofsblogs.typepad.com/h5n1/2009/02/vitamin-d-and-respiratory-diseases.html

[MorningGlow]

22. I'm fascinated by the role vitamin D plays in general health and immune response

My OB/GYN had me tested for D deficiency, and it turned out my D was drastically low. I've been taking prescription D supplements for nearly two months now. She said it could even help me with my PCOS, which would be a godsend, as those suckers are damned painful.

A more immediate result to note: the MG family just got back from Florida, and of course we were susceptible to catching ickies while traveling. Sure enough, Mr. MG came down with a pretty severe cold. MG Jr. ended up with a virus with a mild fever. And I started with the sniffles shortly after Mr. MG got them, and then...they went away.

Swear to gods, I'm the one who usually contracts every illness in the worst way (usually due to lack of sleep while tending to a sick MG Jr.) and this time, while on D supplements...nothin'. I dunno--obviously I need to conduct more research ;) but right now I'm impressed.

[mzmolly]

26. Very interesting.

I hope you'll continue to see benefits. :D

[havocmom]

23. Do you know if those with overactive immune systems might be worse off with this too?

Those of us with auto-immune disorders already have problems due to the system causing problems. Was wondering if this flu will be harder on those of us already dealing with auto-immune disorders. Do you know, have good links for inof on that question.

And thank you for the helpful posts, information you have brought us here on DU.

[targetpractice]

25. I don't know.

I'm not an immunologist and not qualified to speculate. Sorry.

[percussivemadness]

11. how many of the deaths occured

from pig to human transmittal?

Noone seems to be able to answer this...

[Avalux]

14. Pneumovax (pneumonia vaccine) covers one bacterial cause of pneumonia.

Streptococcus pneumoniae. It does not cover viral or other bacterial causes of pneumonia. The word "pneumonia" is a general term meaning inflammation of the lungs. What we are seeing with those dying from secondary pneumonia is probably an autoimmune reaction to the virus.

So no - I don't think the vaccine would make much difference.

[mzmolly]

21. Darn.

Thanks for the clarification. Unfortunately the flu jab isn't thought to be protective either.

http://www.startribune.com/nation/43742912.html?elr=KArksUUUU"CDC: Seasonal flu vaccine appears to offer no protection against swine flu">

[Junkdrawer]

15. And then there's this:

Scientists isolate genes that made 1918 flu lethal
Dec. 29, 2008

by Terry Devitt

By mixing and matching a contemporary flu virus with the "Spanish flu" — a virus that killed between 20 and 50 million people 90 years ago in history's most devastating outbreak of infectious disease — researchers have identified a set of three genes that helped underpin the extraordinary virulence of the 1918 virus.

Writing today (Dec. 29) in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, a team led by University of Wisconsin-Madison virologists Yoshihiro Kawaoka and Tokiko Watanabe identifies genes that gave the 1918 virus the capacity to reproduce in lung tissue, a hallmark of the pathogen that claimed more lives than all the battles of World War I combined.

"Conventional flu viruses replicate mainly in the upper respiratory tract: the mouth, nose and throat. The 1918 virus replicates in the upper respiratory tract, but also in the lungs," causing primary pneumonia among its victims, says Kawaoka, an internationally recognized expert on influenza and a professor of pathobiological sciences in the UW-Madison School of Veterinary Medicine. "We wanted to know why the 1918 flu caused severe pneumonia."

...

http://www.news.wisc.edu/16103

[nadinbrzezinski]

17. This is following the same pattern (in mexico) as 1918

as to why this is worrisome

[havocmom]

24. another link to info on the 'cytokine storm' that causes serious complications

Would some of you knowledgeable medical professionals look at this site and let us know if the information is good. Seems good to me, but I am a layperson and would like the pros to check it out and let us know yea or nay.

http://www.cytokinestorm.com/

[damntexdem]

27. The issue was delay in getting help -- likely lack of access.

Various treatments may be effective if the victims can only be treated in time.