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Swine Flu hits our BC city.....
Posted by AngieA • 4/30/09 • Subscribe to this Discussion [RSS] • Report This Topic
Topics: comal county, dr. m. gitterle, health department, san antonio, swine flu, texas, virus
Being BlogCatalog is in Texas and we now have confirmed cases in our own BC city, I thought this email I received was worth sharing.
Dr. Marcus Gitterle is listed as Emergency Medicine – Family Practice at Christus Santa Rosa Hospital, in New Braunfels, Texas
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email:
After I returned from a public health meeting yesterday with community leaders and school officials in Comal County, Heather suggested I send an update to everyone, because what we are hearing privately from the CDC and Health Department is so different from what you are hearing in the media. Some of you know some or maybe all of this, but I will just list what facts I know.
- The virus is infectious for about 2 days prior to symptom onset
- Virus sheds more than 7 days after symptom onset (possibly as long as 9 days) (this is unusual)
- Since it is such a novel (new) virus, there is no "herd immunity," so the "attack rate" is very high. This is the percentage of people who come down with a virus if exposed. Almost everyone who is exposed to this virus will become infected, though not all will be symptomatc. That is much higher than seasonal flu, which averages 10-15%. The "clinical attack rate" may be around 40-50%. This is the number of people who show symptoms. This is a huge number. It is hard to convey the seriousness of this.
- The virulence (deadliness) of this virus is as bad here as in Mexico, and there are folks on ventilators here in the US, right now. This has not been in the media, but a 23 month old near here is fighting for his life, and a pregnant woman just south of San Antonio is fighting for her life. In Mexico, these folks might have died already, but here in the US, folks are getting Tamiflu or Relenza quickly, and we have ready access to ventilators. What this means is that within a couple of weeks, regional hospitals will likely become overwhelmed.
- Some of the kids with positive cases in Comal County had more than 70 contacts before diagnosis.
- There are 10-25 times more actual cases (not "possible" cases -- actual), than what is being reported in the media. The way they fudge on reporting this is that it takes 3 days to get the confirmatory nod from the CDC on a given viral culture, but based on epidemiological grounds, we know that there are more than 10 cases for each "confirmed" case right now.
- During the night, we crossed the threshold for the definition of a WHO, Phase 6 global pandemic. This has not happened in any of our lifetimes so far. We are in uncharted territory.
- I expect President Obama will declare an emergency sometime in the next 72-96 hours. This may not happen, but if it doesn't, I will be surprised. When this happens, all public gathering will be cancelled for 10 days.
- I suggest all of us avoid public gatherings. Outdoor activities are not as likely to lead to infection. It is contained areas and close contact that are the biggest risk.
- Tamiflu is running out. There is a national stockpile, but it will have to be carefully managed, as it is not enough to treat the likely number of infections when this is full-blown. I don't think there is a big supply of Relenza, but I do not know those numbers. If I had to choose, I would take Relenza, as I think it gets more drug to the affected tissue than Tamiflu.
- You should avoid going to the ER if you think you have been exposed or are symptomatic. ER's south of here are becoming overwhelmed -- and I mean that -- already. It is coming in waves, but the waves are getting bigger.
- It appears that this flu produces a distinctive "hoarseness" in many victims. The symptoms, in general, match other flu's; namely, sore throat, body aches, headache, cough, and fever. Some have all these symptoms, while others may have only one or two.
- N-Acetyl-Cysteine -- a nutritional supplement available at the health food store or Wimberley Pharmacy, has been shown to prevent or lessen the severity of influenza. I suggest 1200mg, twice a day for adults, and 600mg twice a day in kids over 12. It would be hard to get kids under 12 to take it, but you could try opening the capsules and putting it on yogurt. For 40 pounds and up, 300-600 mg twice a day, for less than 40 pounds, half that.
- Oscillococinum, a homeopathic remedy, has been vindicated as quite effective in a large clinical trial in Europe, with an H1N1 variant. You can buy this at Hill Country Natural Foods, or the Wimberley Pharmacy.
I will try to keep everyone posted if I have any new information. Meanwhile, don't be afraid just avoid infection. The fewer people infected the easier it will be for our public officials to manage it.
Marc
User Comments
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Ok....TonyB, now you can insert the link we all need after this post.
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Im headed to Mexico. -
oh yeah, then for sure you'll have more flees
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nah angie I recently sent him a flea collar
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Krikey. I had no idea it was this serious.-
Yup, sure seems like it.
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Just last night I was speaking to my niece "Katie" who runs one of the biggest child care services here in San Antonio, and I better not mention the name of the center, and she told me that they were thinking of closing them all down. When she said this to me, I was thining.."Oh brother, they are over doing it". But today, I have a total different view on the subject.
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Stay inside, BC crew! -
I'm sceptical...the idea that doctors would be emailing people telling them that US citizens are near death but the media wouldn't be reporting on it? Seems odd...
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I was thinking that also, then again, who knows, the government covers up lots of stuff.
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It could be that the government is trying to stave off a national panic.
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If the government were putting a ban on media coverage they wouldn't be reporting it like they are in the US. It's awful that this infant has died...but not unusual...weak individuals die of regular flu, it happens. This flu will come and go and some people may die but very very few. how many people are there in the US?
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More likely your average reporter is going to think twice about visiting a hospital. Short of a NBC suit their is no protection against this virus. -
What...there's not a single journalist in America who knows any doctors they can call up? come on...it's not a hush up job...
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Am sorry to say that the 23 month old lost their fight for life. They were the first death in the US and the first recorded death outside Mexico.
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I just read on CNN that with Swine flu going pandemic, the likelihood of a far more virulent, more deadly pandemic to follow becomes much higher.
www.cnn.com/2009/HEALTH/04/30/swine.flu.1918.lessons/index.html-
Stop panicking...it'll be fine. Remember SAARS and Bird Flu? The only difference is that it's starting in the the Americas and not Asia...it'll calm down soon.
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*copies link*
This will make a great reference point for my screenplay ... -
I'm not panicking. I just think it's wise to learn from past pandemics. Like I stated in another thread, it may not be swine flu that the CDC and WHO is really concerned about. It's about what may come after when it mutates or becomes medication resistant.
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That's what they were worried about with Bird Flu and SAARS.
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Bird flu and SAARS never hit pandemic level the way this has.
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Well...we don't have any person-to-person infections in other countries...just people who got infected in Mexico and flew to another country. And all of them just have a mild case of the flu and are getting better. The deaths in Mexico are not even all confirmed swine flu. And though the WHO are failing to mention it, you can have a global pandemic without a single person dying...pandemic does not mean mass death.
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Person to person has been confirmed in two countries. Spain is one cant remember the other just now. Hence the move to 5. Closer to home there is a possible person to person in Scotland.
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alright alright
WE'RE ALL GONNA DIE!!! RUN FOR YOUR LIVES!!!!!! -
Good, good.
*writes it all down*
Try to be more spontaneous and to over-act a little.
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Hi Angie and Tony
Australia is nice, this is 10 minutes from where I'm working at the moment
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Yeah. They must have air brushed out the sharks, crocodiles, paralysing box jelly fish, deadly snakes, deadly spiders etc etc
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If you look closely, you can see Spider-Man near the center of that shot.
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Hi Acustic, Great to know your out of the woods and at at great place. NOW....move over, I think Tony and I might come to visit.
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They are not too bad, there is the occassional sharks. Too many people saw that Jaws nonsense. The amount of people who die from that stuff is so few. People will die Eating Mcdonalds, a slow painfull degenerative death.
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Friday, that's not the real spiderman
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Hard to understand how/why you're working...if I were ten minutes from that I'd just...go. Kind of like it was a high-powered magnet. -
Red panda, I should've known. What would he be looking for there, anyway?
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Wow Tony, You are so fortunate.
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Wow, I miss the Aussie beaches. Lucky you!! Say hi to Oz for me. -
sign I miss my beaches none of them in canada well pretend beaches
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According to this web site, this is a bit of a publicity stunt and the good doctor is using fear mongering to push his vitamin company:
www.journal-post.com/2009/04/dr-marcus-gitterles-e-mail.html
Read it and decide for yourselves.-
I hope he loses his license and gets a whopping big fine if that's true!
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Great find. Seems like very effective fear mongering.
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@Gtally,
You night be right, sure looks like it. -
Yeah, the swine flu is not the only thing that's going viral, apparently.
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THANK YOU! for posting that ! Please - no more fear mongering!
this is a great article from the L.A. Times
www.latimes.com/features/health/la-sci-swine-reality30-2009apr30,0,3606923.... -
Yeah!
cough cough cough.... -
but I was just getting the hang of fearing for my life!
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But my screenplay's not done yet!
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ok...I think you and I can help each other, f13...I'll continue the panic, you continue the writing...ready?
aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaarrrrrrrrrrgggggggghhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!!!!!!
I'm too young to die!!!
NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
We're all going to die now! Everyone will be dead!
Lock all the windows and doors! stockpile canned foods! Shoot anyone who comes close!
I DON'T WANT TO DIE!!!!! -
*keeps writing*
I wonder if I can get Scorsese for this ... -
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Yeah really, please get a grip people.
Wash your hands.-
Why? I don't use 'em when sneezing or coughing. I just let the germs fly ...
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and cough into your elbows!
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And other people's elbows, just in case!
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I've started wrapping myself in bubble wrap and spraying Lysol directly into people's faces.
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Thats a great idea
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Tony, I am going to share our conversation with our memebers that took place just a few mins ago....ok?
OK...So...TonyB and I both attend this Krav-Maga class in San Antonio. Tx. and every night its the same thing, a crowded place of sweating people, mostly Mexicans as they are better fighters you know. lol AND I say that in a nice way.
But..Anyway, I "thinking" > sheesh, maybe we shouldn't be going to that class tonight, at least not until we know more.
AND as soon as that went through my heard, TonyB who's office is right next to mine says, out loud ...."Shit, maybe we shouldn't be going to Krav-Maga"? I say: "that's what i was just thinking now. He says: "forget that shit, i am still going".
But me?...hummm I don't know yet, ill let you know if I still attend tonight. lol-
if you guys die...what happens to BC?
yes, I have my priorities straight!
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Im kosher, no worries about swine flu.
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Kosher?, my (_!_)
He was wanting me to email and call his brother in-law (who’s a doctor) and get him to write a few prescription of each one of us here in the office for that drug that Dr. Gitterle speaks about in his article.
LoL
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THEN...Your in charge SiuilARuin
I kind of like that blue rose-
woohoo!
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Well....good to know your priorites are in order
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who wants to be vice president?
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Me! Me! Pick me!
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Ok...we have Gtally.
and
Come to think about it, perhaps we should have a new board of directors?
Ok...who's applying for the job?
I need names and positions.
Who do you recommend or suggest? -
Love telling people what to do, so I'll nominate myself as a Director, but not a bored one. We have to have fun.
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not that I want you all to die or anything...but, you know...it's nice to know that if you do...I'm in charge...
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@Theresa111
I have you down.
@SiuilARuin,
Its a great job -
OK I'm on board! What are the benefits? And does BC's insurance cover pre-existing medical conditions?
cough cough cough cough... -
uh not sure, oh wait, says here that it will cover anything horrible you might have right after 2012.
2012???
hummm...Why does that date sound familiar to me? -
2012 is when the Aztec calendar recommends that we all start taking vitamin supplements from Dr. Marcus Gitterle.
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Cannot say it enough. Wash hands and face in very warm soapy water ... often. Use Lysol or Clorox wipes. Cover mouth whenever you sneeze or cough. Better yet, use your sleeve as a stopgap. This is a decidedly dangerous virus and a serious attitude is best when considering options in keeping ourselves and loved ones safe.
ALERT: PLEASE PASS THE WORD TO CHECK ON ELDERLY NEIGHBORS. Not everyone has someone or family. DO the right thing. THANKS!-
"use your sleeve as a stopgap"
doesn't that negate the washing your hands? -
Not unless you open doors and answer phones with your sleeves.
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I heard it may have hit Pa already.....Philly!-
You might be right TonyBeach
www.wgal.com/health/19325993/detail.html
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Ill check back a little later if there are any more candidates, for the new board of directors.
I better go to that class or ill never hear the end of it.-
yes off you go...if you don't catch the flu this will all have been a waste of time
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Time? Well...looks like you have plenty of that latley.
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Heres an international google map with all the swine flu cases marked. See that one on long island NY (Queens)? I can drive there in 10 minutes.
maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&hl=en&t=p&source=embed&oe=UTF8&msa=0&msid=1...-
I god...one person within a 10 minute drive of you has a flu...it was nice knowing you but you are obviously done for...
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Achoo!!!
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and now I'm done for! noooooooooooo!!!!!!!!!
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@SiuilARuin,
No worries, we need only to sprinkle a little sugar water on you.
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I dont believe too much on this flu, i think there is something weird.
Here is more info:
healthmoneyandloveblog.com/swine-flu -
I think that is not a big issue.
health-care-online-guide.blogspot.com/-
Cool avatar, though it looks like shes on a big green apple.
Hey, wait a min., that link doesn't say anything about swine flu. You cheated.
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VA has two reported cases now. I'm not worried and seriously wish Britney Spears would do something stupid to get the news going in a different direction. -
The H1N1 form of swine flu is one of the descendants of the Spanish flu that caused a devastating pandemic in humans in 1918–1919...
The "Spanish" influenza pandemic of 1918–19 infected one third of the world's population and killed 50 million earthlings...
In 1957, an Asian flu pandemic infected some 45 million Americans and killed 70,000.
From 1968 to 1969, the Hong Kong flu pandemic afflicted 50 million Americans and caused 33,000 deaths...
We must do more than merely wash our hands...The money spent on war should be used to battle the flu virus...Not our fellow human beings... -
I had a feeling it was more serious than the media was letting on--there was just that feel to it.
Sounds like Captain Tripps is paying us a visit. -
Let's Rock it!! -
I think the press media is doing a lot of noise for nothing...
Here is more info:
healthmoneyandloveblog.com/swine-flu -
I would not say that it is for nothing, but they are certainly contributing to unnecessary fear and the continued use of the "Swine Flu" name is doing considerable damage worldwide. With a transition to pandemic status, I can only imagine what other extreme actions some governments will be taking that are disproportionate to the severity of the issue and serve only to advance their own agendas instead of safeguarding their citizens...
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