Disease Proof : Disease Proof : Health & Nutrition News & Commentary : Dr. Joel Fuhrman

Swine flu has everyone freaked! I guess the news that piggy flu hit all 50 states and was declared the first pandemic of the 21st century scared people silly. That’s why some officials at the U.S. Health and Human Services Department envision a scenario where vaccinating kids in school is logical. What a pay day for drug companies! Here are Dr. Fuhrman’s thoughts on this:

We don't know yet if this swine flu is really a significant risk enough to our country and the world to generate and distribute a vaccine for it in this time frame. It may even be gone by then.

But for sure, it has generated a great marketing opportunity for the drug companies and vaccine manufacturers and it is likely that as large numbers of children and adults become vaccinated, the people harmed from the inoculations will likely be greater than those harmed by the flu.

We have to wait and see how virulent and potentially dangerous this turns out to be. For now, it has not developed into anything that warrants such a dramatic intervention.

Via DiscoveryNews.

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German officials say the H1N1 swine flu virus has begun to mutate and could potentially morph into a more aggressive variant. Currently, Germany has the third highest rate of infection in Europe, with 275 confirmed cases. In the United States, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports 27,717 cases of swine flu, with 127 deaths; via Reuters.

Last week, H1N1 showed up in a couple of new places. In Brazil, a man returning from Mexico was diagnosed with swine flu and three children at a Georgia summer camp came down with the virus. And to make matters worse, experts believe the flu will come back stronger in the fall.

But swine flu has already made its mark. The World Health Organization declared swine flu as the first international pandemic of the 21st century, and warned it could become unstoppable.

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Oh that nutty swine flu is at it again! In Brazil, scientists claim they have discovered a new strain of swine flu. It was diagnosed in a 26-year old man who had been hospitalized with flu symptoms following a trip to Mexico, where it’s believed the H1N1 outbreak began. However, officials aren’t sure if this new strain is more dangerous than the original virus; via HealthDay News.

And be careful when shipping your kids off to summer camp. Three children at a Georgia camp have contracted swine flu. One child was hospitalized briefly with mild symptoms and another 60 campers and few staffers were being quarantined and treated just in case; CNN reports.

It’s getting repetitive to say, but the best defense against flu viruses—even swine and bird flu—is excellent nutrition and good hygiene, like frequent hand washing. Try chanting oink-oink too.

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On Friday, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared swine flu (or H1N1) as an international pandemic, urging world governments to prepare for a lengthy battle with a potentially unstoppable new flu virus. Swine flu is already in all 50 U.S. states and countries like Canada, Australia, Chile and the United Kingdom. Scientists worry swine flu could mix with bird flu or other seasonal flu viruses and current vaccinations—such as Tamiflu—are ineffective; Reuters reports.

Last year, experts at the WHO stated 11% of flu viruses in the United States and 25% of flu viruses in Europe are resistant to antiviral drugs. So far, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention there have been 17,855 cases of swine flu and 45 deaths the United States.

To help protect against swine flu—as well as other serious strains of flu, such bird flu—Dr. Fuhrman recommends superior nutrition and good hygiene, like washing your hands frequently.

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As of Monday June 1st the CDC reports there are now confirmed cases of swine flu in all 50 states. To date, Alaska has the fewest with 1 case, Wyoming with 2 and both Vermont and West Virginia with 3. The CDC says the total number of cases in the U.S. is 10,053, but the actual figure could be as high as 200,000, due to unreported or less severe symptoms; via HealthDay News.

If you’re betting on the flu, take the over. Just last week the number of cases was 7,927 and the high figure was only 100,000. Quick, call your bookie! With vaccines only working against 11% of flu strains, except those numbers to jump even further by next week.

And experts predict the swine flu pandemic will reach the U.K. by the fall. Currently, there have been 225 confirmed cases of H1N1 in England, followed by Scotland with 17.

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During a news conference this Tuesday the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention warned that influenza outbreaks usually come in waves and, like the 1918 Spanish flu pandemic, swine flu might be much worse this fall. Currently, officials estimate there have been 7,927 confirmed and probable cases of swine flu in the United States, with 11 deaths, but all victims had underlying health problems prior to being infected; HealthDay News reports.

Kind of a big jump, only a couple weeks ago the number was 4,700 cases, but many experts suspect it could be a lot higher, as high as 100,000, since not all cases are severe. A little scary because most Americans aren’t healthy and today’s flu vaccines are pretty much worthless.

And last year, a report by the World Health Organization and the CDC determined 25% of flu viruses in Europe and 11% of flu viruses in the United States are resistant to antiviral drugs.

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Officials confirm there have been 4,700 confirmed cases of swine flu in the United States, but now experts at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention claim the actual number may have hit 100,000 nationwide. Not all incidences are severe, with many cases appearing to be mild. States hit hardest are Illinois with 638 infections, Wisconsin 613, Texas 506 and California with 504 and deaths have been reported in Arizona, Texas, Washington and now New York; HealthDay News reports.

The swine flu is frightening. While it may not be the big one, Dr. Fuhrman insists a flu epidemic is likely—at some point—because most Americans are unhealthy and flu vaccines don’t work. Instead, a better defense is a healthy-immune system bolstering diet and good hygiene, like hand washing.

In related pig news, Japan insists cloned meat, including swine, is safe to eat. And some scientists suggest pigs may easily transmit deadly bacteria, like Staphylococcus, to humans.

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Oink-oink, the swine flu is here! So far the virus has killed 149 people in Mexico and has spread to the U.S., Canada and Europe. Many fear this could mark the start of a pandemic. Swine flu is a variant of the human form of influenza and current seasonal flu vaccines do not protect against it. Swine flu, technically called H1N1, spreads very quickly and drug makers may not be able to develop a vaccine quick enough; Reuters reports.

And last year, the CDC claimed some strains of flu are actually becoming resistant to the drug Tamiflu. Luckily, like avian flu, protecting yourself against pig flu is easy. Practice good hygiene, wash your hands and eat plenty of nutritious foods like green vegetables and fruit, which bolster your immune system. Now, just to be sure I asked Dr. Fuhrman:

Swine flu is coming, a widespread flu attack can't stay away forever and there are no vaccines or drugs that are effective. You must protect yourself with excellent nutrition and proper hygiene. Don’t touch your face in public places and not until you have washed your hands. And wash children’s hands and face when they first get home from school.

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This is ironic. I’m both exhausted and sniffley today. A new study in the Archives of Internal Medicine claims people who sleep for less than 7 hours every night may get more colds. Researchers examined healthy men and women between 2000 and 2004 and found participants who didn’t get enough sleep were more likely to develop a cold after being exposed to a cold virus, backing up previous studies suggesting sleep deprivation may impair immune system function; Newswise reports.

Crap! I better go buy some tissues. Now, not getting enough sleep is no joke. Other research has associated lack of sleep with heart problems and obesity and 40 million Americans aren’t getting enough sleep. That means there are a lot of sleepy fat people running around with bad hearts. Eek!

And another way to avoid a cold, and even the flu, is practicing good hygiene, like washing your hands.

Via Vitamin G.

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Children’s cold medicine has drawn heavy fire lately. Health officials are concerned over the possible health risks. In fact, last month, Canadian health officials urged parents not to give kids over-the-counter cold remedies, even the U.S. Food and Drug Administration considered banning children’s cold medicine. 

And yesterday, researchers in Chest revealed Vicks VapoRub, a popular cold remedy, triggers respiratory distress in children younger than 2, when incorrectly applied under the nose, causing airways to swell and fill with mucus. This reaction is normal in adults, but infants and toddlers’ have narrower airways, putting them at risk. But researchers are quick to point out. Vicks clearly states their product should never go under the nose of children under the age of 2. And while not tested, generics could pose the same danger; Reuters reports.

Oddly enough, many of these cold remedies may not even work in little kids, placebo works just as well.

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