Swine Flu Skepticism

Source: (Reuters Health)

By Kate Kelland

LONDON (Reuters) - European scientists and health authorities are facing angry questions about why H1N1 flu has not caused death and destruction on the scale first feared, and they need to respond deftly to ensure public support.

Accusations are flying in British and French media that the pandemic has been "hyped" by medical researchers to further their own cause, boost research grants and line the pockets of drug companies.

Britain's Independent newspaper this week asked "Pandemic? What Pandemic?"

In their response, scientists are walking a fine line.

They say that although the virus is mild, it can still kill, and that the relatively low fatalities in Europe are in part the result of official response to their advice.

On suggestions of "hyping" the threat to boost research funding, they point out that while we know enough to start to protect the vulnerable, we need to know a lot more to conquer the virus, and funding for new research and drugs is vital to be equipped for future pandemics.

H1N1 is hitting a younger population -- adults in their 20s and 30s and children -- and the global death count so far is more than 6,000, according to the WHO.

While seasonal flu attacks about 20 percent of the population in an average year, experts estimate that even in Britain -- the worst-hit country in Europe so far -- fewer than 10 percent of people have had H1N1 swine flu.

Fred Hayden, influenza research co-ordinator at the Wellcome Trust and a former World Health Organization (WHO) expert, said early planning is paying off, but added:

"I wouldn't characterize this as a "mild" pandemic at all. We are seeing some very unfortunate loss of life. I think it a bit early to make that judgment."

Yet the word "mild" is used so often to describe H1N1's impact in most people that it is prompting skeptical publics to ask what all the fuss is about. Why they should care? And why take a vaccine?

France's Le Parisien newspaper ran the headline: "Swine flu: why the French distrust the vaccine" and noted a gap between the predicted impact of H1N1 and the less dramatic reality.

"Although some 30-odd people have died....the disease is not really frightening," it said. "Dangerous liaisons between certain experts, the labs and the government, the obscurity of the contracts between the state and the pharma firms have added to the doubt."

SCENARIO REVISED DOWN

In Britain, health authorities' original worst-case scenario -- which said as many as 65,000 could die from H1N1 -- has twice been revised down and the prediction is now for around 1,000 deaths, way below the average annual toll of 4,000 to 8,000 deaths from seasonal winter flu.

A group of eminent scientists who called a media briefing in London this week to announce 7.5 million pounds ($12.4 million) of new funding for British research into H1N1 found their plans hijacked by reporters asking why the pandemic was so weak.

Scientists say the truth is they can't win.

The WHO has been urging countries to prepare for a flu pandemic since 1997, when H5N1 avian flu infected 18 people in Hong Kong and was stopped only after a mass slaughter of birds. The re-emergence of H5N1 in China and South Korea in 2003 fueled the urgency to get ready.

Now that it has arrived, the apparently low impact of the H1N1 pandemic so far may show that the planning is paying off, the Wellcome Trust's Hayden said.

British officials repeatedly said the nation was well-prepared for a flu pandemic. It had high stocks of antivirals and orders for enough vaccines to cover its population in place very early.

Hayden said comparisons with earlier flu pandemics like the one in 1918, which killed an estimated 230,000 people in Britain and up to 50 million worldwide, were skewed by the fact that there were so few effective treatments at that time.

"We didn't have antivirals then, and we didn't have antibiotics for the high frequency of bacterial complications," he said. "We have these kinds of interventions now and they are making a difference."

At the funding briefing, Peter Openshaw, director of the center for respiratory infection at Imperial College London, dismissed suggestions that scientists were enjoying the fruits of a pandemic in the form of big grants to keep them in work.

"This is not something that we are licking our lips and welcoming," he said. "But there is certainly an enormous outbreak of scientific information that has greatly enriched our understanding of flu."

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H1N1 - Weighing the Risks

There's an excellent article I just posted on our website written by one of my naturopath colleagues on Weighing the Risks of H1N1. Go to our home page, scroll to the red NEW and click on Weighing the Risks.

Yours in health,
Pamela

More Information on H1N1 and the Vaccine

Link to Naturopathic Dr. Katia Bailetti's information on H1N1(Swine) Flu:

http://www.doctormom.me/vaccine_resources.htm

Some Research Based Insights on H1N1

Squalene or any other adjuvant (aluminum) supposedly is not in the current vaccine according to CDC. However, it, or some other adjuvant may be added in the future to make the vaccine more efficient especially in kids under 9 years of age.

The flu vaccine in 1987 caused 25 deaths and lots of cases of Guillain Barré Syndrome (GBS) beyond the regular rate (possibly due to squalene) – against one death due to H1N1.

Vaccine efficacy is not known as there have not been any studies; Norvatis is using efficiency studies from regular seasonal flu vaccines as the production process is exactly the same. However, there are some new production processes under way involving insect and animal cell cultures rather than egg, to see if the vaccine production can be accelerated – no studies what so ever on those processes.

According to Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews of 50 to 64 studies of healthy children, healthy adults and elderly living in nursing homes respectively, regular seasonal flu shots were effective in preventing the flu in 33% (children), 6% (adults), and insignificant in elderly. Several studies showed either aggravation or no prevention of aggravation in asthmatic kids.


According to recent CDC statement and the summary report from Australia, where the flu season has ended without the expected epidemic, actual flu cases and deaths from flu are the same or less than regular seasonal flu. They stopped testing for H1N1 in July so there really is no way of knowing how many cases have actually been H1N1 and how many cases of flu-like symptoms were due to the regular flu virus. A recent CBS news study evaluated state wide records (when they were still testing for H1N1) and the actual percentage of H1N1 out of all flu-like illness ranged between 2 and 19%. (CDC statements still falsely reflect the opinion that over 90% of all flu is due to H1N1)

Remember that the H1N1 virus has two genes that have to be turned for it to turn into a devastating epidemic – the infective one and the virulent one; so far there is only evidence that the infective gene is turned on. This virus is different in that it affects young children and middle aged adults in uncharacteristic seasonal waves. Understand that getting sick with a good fever exercises your immune system and provides long term immunity against this virus which is important in case it comes back with the second gene (the virulence one) turned on down the road.

Yours in health,
Pamela

H1N1 and Fever Phobia

One mistake I think most parents and even many doctors make is to rush to suppress a fever, perhaps because it gives the false sense that you are getting your child better. You are not, what you are doing is interfering with the immune system’s effort to fight the virus and in effect making your child worse. I think particularly with H1N1 that using fever reducing medication is a mistake. The fever helps the immune system fight the virus, if you suppress the fever you help the virus. Fevers are rarely ever dangerous to the person, even high ones provided they are for short periods of time (less than a day) so long as you keep the person hydrated. If the person is prone to febrile seizures that's the one exception. A high fever can be a sign of meningitis so should be taken seriously and certainly shouldn't be ignored, but the fever itself is not the problem and lowering the immune system's defence mechanism is not improving your child’s health and is counterproductive.

My best advice: avoid fever reducing medication, don't ignore the fever though, see your doctor any time you are concerned and keep yourself and your children healthy – eat well, avoid sugar and processed foods, sleep well, reduce stress and exercise outdoors daily in moderation.

This blog information is not intended to take the place of medical advice. If you are concerned, see your doctor.

H1N1 Vaccine - Mercury and Squalene

FAQ - I Heard The Mercury in the Vaccine is Only About the Same as in a Can of Tuna, Does that Mean it's Safe?  

I think that part of the problem with the mercury is that it is a cumulative thing. Children get it in some vaccines still, we are all exposed through air and water pollution and there is some in our food supply.   Women of childbearing age are advised to not consume tuna at all, so clearly the amount in a can of tuna can be of concern for an adult and therefore certainly would be a concern for a child. 

FAQ - What Else is in the H1N1 Flu Vaccine? 

I have heard that there is also something called squalene in the adult version which is an adjuvant, something that makes the body react stronger to the vaccine.  Apparently squalene can possibly provoke auto-immune conditions. I have seen one young girl who developed severe rheumatoid arthritis immediately after the HPV vaccine but these adverse reactions are not being reported. Her parents were told by doctors at Sick Kids that the vaccine and the Rheumatoid Arthritis were unrelated.  How many other severe adverse effects are being ignored so that the consumer gets a false impression of safety of these vaccines?

H1N1 - Vaccine or no vaccine?

It's been a frightening week what with the recent death of a young Etobicoke boy from H1N1.  I've been inundated with questions about whether to get the vaccine or not.  I wish I had a crystal ball and could provide definitive answers, I'm afraid I don't.  The best advice I can give is to do what you are doing and read and educate yourself about all the possible benefits and risks and make an informed decision where you feel that you can live with the consequences either way.  Given that it's a brand new vaccine, we don't know much about side effects or efficacy, we do know that it contains mercury and squalene.

What I would recommend is being vigilant, if you suspect you or your child may have H1N1, proceed to the nearest emergency room ASAP and push for appropriate testing and treatment. Be suspicious if you or your child have a fever, cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, body aches, headache, chills and fatigue. Fever and cough are particularly important. Some people may have vomiting and diarrhea. People may be infected with the flu, including 2009 H1N1 and have respiratory symptoms without a fever.

For naturopathic flu prevention and treatment my colleague Dr. Daniel Chong has written some excellent, very well researched blog posts, so rather than re-invent the wheel I'll refer you to him. One thing I will point out from his articles is that echinacea is NOT appropriate for treating H1N1. Please read what Dr. Chong has to say:

http://nalukainaturalhealth.blogspot.com/

I think the scariest part is not knowing what to do.  By educating yourself and those around you on how to stay healthy, I hope to empower you and alleviate some of the fear and anxiety.