by Larry EderAs I have been inundated by coaches, athletic directors who were concerned about the Swine Flu, or H1N1, I have been trying to keep up with the information. I suggest that you put on your RSS feed the following: www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu.
Note that while we are hearing anecdotally, about track & field conference meets being canceled, we still suggest that decisions for such cancellations be done under the local jurisdiction.
Local cases of H1-N1 seem to be the reasons being used to close down schools, sporting events, events where groups of young, healthy 14-22 year olds-young adults now seem to be the target group-congregate. Please make sure that you have consulted a local medical professional about the situation as well before making decisions.
For coaches, please print this out and give it to your team-a nice page from the CDC:
http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/sick.htm
The Transcript of the WHO live daily conference on H1-N1, courtesy of NPR, is below: (We encourage you to sign up for the NPR health podcasts-tremendous resources! )
To get to NPR’s coverage: http://www.npr.org/blogs/health/index.html?sc=nl&cc=progserv-20090501
Keiji Fukuda, from the WHO, said that since 10 AM CDT ” yesterday, there has been an increase of 405 cases and 4 deaths around the world.” Please note, that nearly all of the cases are happening in North America. The latest counts from WHO is 1,490 ‘laboratory cases’ and 30 deaths.
Fukuda addresses the issue of why younger, usually healthy, people seem to be getting the virus more than the usual “at risk” populations.
“Among the possible explanations: Young adults may have been more likely to travel through affected areas in recent months. Also, there may be something about the older population that is making it more resistant. Finally, Fukuda says, it is not unusual for younger populations to get hit by a flu virus earlier than other parts of the population.”
Question: If the virus has most recently caused relatively mild cases of the flu, why are authorities so concerned about it?
Fukuda explains that because this virus is a strain that has not been circulating for many years (as “seasonal” flus have been), “the levels of serious illness and the levels of death can be higher than we see with regular seasonal influenza.” One reason: People have not built up immunity.
“That’s why we are jumping on this,” he adds.
For those who get the flu now, “it would be expected that they would be protected more” if it returns this fall or winter, Fukuda says. ” But infection with influenza viruses does not give you protection for a long time.” A few years at most, Fukuda adds.
As Fukuda has been speaking, Reuters is reporting this:
“The United States now has 403 confirmed cases of the new H1N1 flu, in 38 states, but only one death, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported on Tuesday.”
A Mexican reporter asks: Have all the cases around the world been connected to Mexico?
“I don’t believe that all travel-related cases are related just to Mexico,” Fukuda says. And he notes that at least one case appears to be related to travel through the United States.
When is it appropriate to institute quarantines?
“If you are very early in the spread of a disease, you may use quarantine to try to limit the spread of a disease,” Fukuda says.
“Another reason … is that if you know that people have been in close contact with somebody who is sick and you have a highly contagious disease. … It’s a good way of identifying those who need treatment.”
Authorities still have to determine how much of any vaccines to manufacture thsi year to battle both seasonal flus and the swine flu strain, Fukuda says. One thing that’s for certain: “There’s not enough vaccine capacity to instantly make vaccine for the entire world’s population.”
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Here are comments from NPR health: (Comments from Dick Knox):
Incubation Period–it is thought that most people get sick within five days of regular flu. However, it may be six to eight days for people to incubate the new H1-N1 flu.
No evidence that people traveling on airplanes were getting the flu on airplanes. Plenty of people came back from spring break without catching H1-N1.
Most cases, 60 percent are in people who are under 18. Older children and young adults, which is different from seasonal flu. Normal flus hit older folks. This was much like the flu pandemic of 1918, but it is too early to tell.
We can not tell if the disease has anything to do with factory swine farms or small farms. Flu viruses are legendary for surprising researchers. We must continue to observe.
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Please note the following are the beliefs of the blogger, after having spoken to medical professionals:
a. Continue to institute, force proper hygiene-washing hands a dozen times a day, especially after coughing.
b. Shower and put on dry, clean clothes after workouts. Walking around in cold, wet clothes after workouts just breaks down your body’s ability to protect itself.
c. As your athletes are reaching top shape, common sense must prevail. Hydrate, eat well, sleep well, and stay away from large groups.
d. In canceling events, it is suggested that, besides the AD, coach, a medical professional is enlisted. Obviously, the life of young person is worth much more than canceling a track meet, so it is better to be careful, just make sure that your decisions are informed by modern medical information, not rumors.
e. If one of your athletes has a fever for more than two days, with temperature over 101 degrees, complains of muscle pain, get them to a doctor immediately. This is not a game.
For more on the H1-N1 virus, please check: www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu.
