he A1N1 swine flu may be the best test possible of what health system works best.

The lab conditions are perfect. The only variable is the method by which health system is paid for and delivered. And we all get to be lab rats.

England, which has had a single-payer system since the early years of the Cold War, is already being hit hard, with an estimated 100,000 new cases in the last week. (Picture from Perez Hilton, who makes any political blogger, left or right, seem like a Rhodes Scholar.)  read more »

India would be able to indigenously develop swine flu vaccine by June next year, Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad told parliament Tuesday.

‘Three companies are working towards developing indigenous vaccine for the swine flu and it is expected that clinical trials would start in January 2010. If all goes well, indigenous vaccine would be available by June 2010,’ Azad said.

In India, three pharmaceutical companies – Serum Institute of India, Bharat Biotech, and Panacea Biotech – are working on developing the vaccine.  read more »

Raipur, Dec 11 (IANS) Six people, including two schoolchildren, have tested positive for swine flu in Chhattisgarh, a health official said Friday.

‘Six out of 36 samples sent for testing to Delhi Dec 5 were found positive,’ Health Secretary Vikas Sheel told IANS. All the six patients are from Raipur.

Chhattisgarh has reported two deaths from influenza A (H1N1) virus since August.

Some Vital Stats
Total Confirmed Cases in India
20929**
Total Deaths in India
663**
Total Confirmed Cases Worldwide
Over 622482*
Total Deaths Worldwide
at least 8768*
Last Updated Date and Time
11/12/2009 11:04 IST

In order to prevent and contain outbreak of Influenza-A H1N1 virus for screening, testing and isolation following guidelines are to be followed: At first all individuals seeking consultations for flu like symptoms should be screened at healthcare facilities both Government and private or examined by a doctor and these will be categorized as under:
Category- A  read more »

special Signs
If you become sick and feel any of the following signals please ask for emergency medical care.

In children, signs that need urgent medical advise include:

abnormal fast breathing or troubled breathing
Being so irritable that the child does not want to be held
Bluish or grey skin color discolration
Not drinking enough fluids
Severe or persistent vomiting
Not waking up or not interacting properly
Flu-like symptoms improve at first but then come back with high fever and more cough

In adults, signals that need urgent medical advise are :  read more »

Know the Difference Between Cold and Flu Symptoms
difference between symptoms of flu and the common cold?
Symptom
Cold
Flu
Fever
Fever is rare with a cold.
Fever is usually present with the flu in up to 80% of all flu cases. A temperature of 100°F or higher for 3 to 4 days is associated with the flu.
Coughing
A hacking, productive (mucus- producing) cough is often present with a cold.
A non-productive (non-mucus producing) cough is usually present with the flu (sometimes referred to as dry cough).
Aches
Slight body aches and pains can be part of a cold.  read more »