The scenario inside a café during peak hours is very much like that of a school classroom or even more congested sometime. Customers, mostly of school age, are seated side by side and converse with each other especially if they are playing the same game. Some people stand behind those seated and also talk with those using the computers. It is the physical contact and being together in a confined place especially air-conditioned areas where the same air circulates that our people are advised to avoid as much as possible. This is exactly a scene that our health authorities say could cause influenza A (H1N1) to spread fast. A distance of six (6) feet from one another is is believed to be the precaution that must be observed for people to be safe when someone they have been with was found positive of the virus.

The first case of a student found positive of A (H1N1) virus caused the school to close for a number days equivalent to the quarantine period for the disease. While this precaution could really help the campaign to prevent the spread of the disease, the negative effect to children’s education would still be there aside from the fear of catching the dreaded disease.

To prevent the spread of influenza A (H1N1), frequent washing of hands with soap and water is advised. I wonder how many among the cafés nowadays have the facilities to have their customers wash their hands before and after they use the computers. We must take note that the keyboards are the most likely medium where the virus could be transferred from one customer to another. How sanitized are your keyboards before a customer sit and use them? Do you clean them again after customers logged out and new customers log-in?

Another step that must be taken to prevent the spread of influenza A (H1N1) is to trace all the people that came in contact with a patient found positive of the virus. It should be easy for the schools to do so because they have a roster of names of their students. What do we have in a café? While you or your shop tender may know the regular customers of your café, how will you know when did they last play or use your computers? Who were they with in those days? These are important data needed when one of your customers got sick with influenza A (H1N1). Knowing who were with him in your café will help in tracing or identifying the persons who may also get the virus.

I remember the time when we were negotiating for the provisions of our local ordinance regarding truancy. Our local legislators wanted the café to maintain a logbook of the daily time-in time-out of customers in order to check if some students of minor age entered the establishment instead of going to school. The café owners objected and the provision was deleted from the ordinance. The customers’ logbook, whether manually or digitally done, would have serve the purpose of tracing the would-be influenza A (H1N1) patients. How would like to implement something similar before the situation becomes pandemic?

www.shcri.com — On the morning of September 14th, 2009, Hualan Biological Engineering Inc. declared that its clinical research on A (H1N1) influenza vaccine had been completed.

According to the clinical research of Hualan, 21 days after the first vaccine injection of 15 mcg, HI antibody levels of children, teenagers, adults and old people come up to 74.53%, 97.14%, 97.14% and 79.05% respectively; 21 days after the second injection, the antibody levels are improved to 99.01%, 100.00%, 97.96% and 96.08% respectively. Immunogenicity is in accordance with the standard of EU and America. Security research shows that the adverse effect rate is no higher than that of seasonal influenza vaccines.

China Ministry of Health claims to produce 13 million doses of vaccines before the end of September, 2009, covering 1% of Chinese population. The scale of Chinese A (H1N1) influenza vaccine market must exceed RMB 260 million. On September 4th, Sinovac Biotech Co., Ltd. and Hualan Biological Engineering Inc. were required by China Ministry of Industry and Information Technology to initially produce 3.3 million doses and 4 million doses respectively.

It is estimated that purchasing and stockpiling price of A (H1N1) influenza vaccines will be quite low. But the net profit rate will not be lower than common influenza vaccines, which is estimated to be about 60%. Price of Chinese common influenza vaccines is between RMB 20 and RMB 30 respectively.

Since autumn, spread of A (H1N1) influenza is been accelerated. According to the notice of China Ministry of Health on September 16th, 1,118 newly confirmed cases of A (H1N1) influenza appeared in Chinese mainland from 3 pm on September 14th to 3 pm on September 16th. 8 were offshore carriers and 1,110 were infected in mainland China. By September 16th, 10,221 confirmed cases were reported in 31 regions of Chinese mainland, including 6,098 cured ones.

Considering the acceleration of influenza spread, national purchasing and stockpiling volume of vaccines will be increased.

On August 21st, 2009, Minister of China Ministry of Health predicted that production of Chinese A (H1N1) influenza vaccines would cover 5% of Chinese population by the end of 2009. As there are 1.3 billion people in China, the first purchasing and stockpiling volume will be 65 million doses. It is regarded as the bottom line of vaccine production in 2009. If each dose is priced at RMB 20, the market scale will be RMB 1.3 billion at least in 2009.

Compared with other countries, Chinese population coverage ratio of A (H1N1) influenza vaccines is quite low (60% in America and 42% in Japan). Therefore, purchasing and stockpiling volume of vaccines will be improved to serve more people in China. It is predicted that the volume will be improved to over 1.3 trillion doses in 2009.

Four companies including Hualan have been authorized to produce A (H1N1) influenza vaccines. Another 6 companies are under examination and their production applications will be authorized soon. Clinical research on A (H1N1) influenza vaccine by Hualan has been completed. Productivity will be further enhanced.

Source: China Research and Intelligence

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China Research and Intelligence

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Swine influenza also known as the pig or hog flu is a disease of the pigs spread through any one of the several strains of the influenza virus. The virus known as SIV or Swine Influenza Virus has many sub-types of its strain. These are known as H1N1, H1N2, H3N2, H2N3 and H3N1.

The virus gets transmitted from pigs to human beings and gets assimilated in the human blood to create antibodies. Swine flu is common among the pigs that are human-bred world over but it does not always cause influenza or sickness in humans. Many from the pig population die through the virulent swine flu and even vaccinations are injected to protect the home-bred pigs that are bred in huge quantities.

The symptoms of Swine flu are similar to the normal influenza in human beings, therefore detection in some cases take some time. Though his strain of the swine flu virus is not as dangerous as a few others, it is deadly enough to kill a person if not detected early. Some of the symptoms of Swine flu in human beings include chills, coughs, body aches, diarrhoea, headache, sore throat, temperature, vomiting and tiredness.

To protect yourself from the H1N1 virus you should maintain some personal protection and precaution like you should try to maintain health and fitness and get enough of sleep, try to manage stress and do exercise, eat a well balanced diet with plenty of fibre and liquids. You should most importantly be careful in public and not get in touch with sick people and should wash your hands regularly with antiseptic soap or alcoholic hand sanitizers.

Besides, there are other precautions to be kept in mind if you or your friend gets infected like you should cover your mouth while sneezing, clean all surfaces since sometimes small droplets containing the influenza virus can remain behind and also to maintain minimal social contact. The virus also can be stubbed by vaccinating the pigs in the pig farms properly.The farmers who look after them and remain in regular direct or indirect contact with the pigs are more susceptible to acquire the virus and should therefore maintain certain measures like smoking the area and wearing gloves since they are the ones who come in contact with the infected pigs on a daily basis and may lead to human to human transmission of the virus.

The H1N1 virus had spread to many countries and had taken many lives in the past from 1976 to 2009 and will continue to do so in future since the virus can mutate and remain dormant for several years to again emerge in the form of a different strain. Pigs can be infected by both human and avian influenza strains which in turn create new strains. The best way is to ensure your own protection by being aware of the influenza virus and its workings. You can gain information from online health care information. A health guide can also bail you out, if you are confused about the Swine flu and its virus.

Peoples-Health.com is a health information site where you can find information on several diseases like allergies, blood disorders, cancer, children’s health, digestive disorder, liver diseases etc. and tips on dieting, nutrition and improving lifestyle has been provided.

Influenza, Bird Flu and homeopathy – can it provide a different perspective?

Off course putting 160000 turkeys in a shed is a healthy, pleasant experience for them particularly as we provide all their medication in their food – and anyone who thinks differently is obviously not scientifically trained – it must be the wild birds causing the epidemic as they come into all sorts of unnatural substances like fresh air and sunlight! And we should all dip into our pockets and reimburse Bernard for his terrible loss of profits and his altruistic willingness to kill all his pet birds (sorry cull – I think it means they send them to a farm for a holiday!).

If you agree with all of the above do not bother to read on but just send donations to the ‘Seroxat is good for young people’ fund. However if you are concerned we might be being told a tiny white lie then read on.

Why do we suffer from Influenza and cold viruses?

Without breathable air, we cannot survive for more than a few minutes. Air enters through the nose and mouth, throat and bronchials and into the lungs. The upper respiratory system warms, humidifies and to some extent purifies the air entering the body (e.g. by removing dust particles with nasal hairs). This system can be damaged by pollution and invaded by bacteria and viruses, which stimulate the moist membranes to produce extra mucus as protection. This mucus can quickly develop into catarrh. Colds coughs and sinusitis show varying degrees of discharge that can affect the ear, nose and throat in acute situations and these can develop into chronic conditions (especially with suppressive treatment).

Influenza (flu)

Influenza and cold viruses are actually different but people often confuse them as most of the symptoms are similar. There is generally an infection of the lungs and airways, causing a fever, runny nose, sore throat, cough, headache, muscle aches, and a general feeling of illness. There are two types of influenza virus, type A and type B, and many different strains within each type. The illnesses produced by the different types and strains are similar. The strain of influenza virus causing outbreaks is always changing, so every year the influenza virus is a little different from the previous years.

The key difference is that Influenza is caused by a different virus and produces symptoms that are more severe. Also, influenza affects cells much deeper down in the respiratory tract. Influenza virus is spread by inh aling droplets that have been coughed or sneezed out by an infected person or by having direct contact with an infected person’s secretions.

Every year, throughout the world, widespread outbreaks of influenza occur during late autumn or early winter. Influenza occurs in epidemics, in which many people get sick all at once. In each epidemic, usually only one strain of influenza virus is responsible for the disease. Strains are often named after the first location (for example, Hong Kong flu) or animal (for example, swine flu) in which it was found. The current panic is Bird Flu.

Like humans and other species, birds are susceptible to flu. There are many types of bird, or avian, flu. The most contagious strains, which are usually fatal in birds, are H5 and H7. There are nine different types of H5. The nine all take different forms – some are highly pathogenic, while some are pretty harmless. The type currently causing concern is the “highly pathogenic” Asian strain of the H5N1 virus. Scientists have discovered four different subtypes of H5N1, and there could well be more. However, all are deadly to birds, and can cause disease – and death – in humans.

However, it is important to stress that H5N1 is overwhelmingly a disease that affects birds – and not humans. It is true that humans have been infected, but almost all have been poultry workers who have come into intimate contact with birds. H5N1 cannot pass easily from human to human.

Allopaths generally assume that people who have respiratory disorders are suffering from infections which are caused by viruses, bacteria or they may be suffering from external irritants such as dust or fumes that inflame the mucus membranes of the respiratory system. They tend not to take into consideration the patient’s emotional state, diet or levels of toxicity nor look at hereditary influences.

The treatment given is firstly suppressive in nature (using anti biotic, anti virals, anti inflammatory, decongestants) or secondly through surgery (e.g. tonsillectomy) to remove the inflamed part. (Unless you are one the bootiful birds from Norfolk in which case they remove the head – oops – sorry I meant perform a culling operation)

Standard medical Treatment: There is no allopathic treatment for influenza so treatment is based on prevention in the form of the influenza vaccination which contains inactivated (killed) influenza virus or pieces of the virus.

Modern vaccines are designed to protect against three different strains of influenza virus. Different vaccines may be given every year to keep up with changes in the virus. Allopaths try to predict the strain of virus that will attack each year based on the strain of virus that predominated during the previous flu season and the strain causing disease in other parts of the world. They will also use several antiviral drugs to prevent infection with influenza virus. They may prescribe these drugs when a person has had recent exposure to someone with influenza. In addition, these drugs are used during epidemics of influenza to protect unvaccinated people who are at high risk of complications of influenza (older people and people with chronic illnesses).

The current allopathic advice on vaccinations (which is promoted by most governments) ignores the dangers of vaccinations, avoids mentioning any long term side effects and is basically an extremely one sided and distorted approach to the whole debate on prevention. The virus itself changes enough that vaccines are quite ineffective (but extremely profitable for the drug companies).

There is some evidence that the prevention programmes are creating the very problem they are designed to stop – there is obviously an economic incentive for the pharmaceutical companies to promote both panic and therefore pressure on governments. Unfortunately these suppressive acts often merely add to the problems the patient may already have. So is there an alternative?

Migratory wildfowl, notably wild ducks, are natural carriers of the viruses, but are unlikely to actually develop an infection. (There might be a message here – we all come into contact with bacteria and viruses all the time but only a small proportion are susceptible to them as our natural body defences protect us if we are basically healthy.

Thinking the unthinkable – is it completey bonkers to suspect that

a) as virus are found in birds (and us) all the time

b) that they continually mutate

c) stress lowers the immune system which protects us

we could conclude that Bird flu is a product of factory farming rather than an external foreign threat that attacks our luverly cuddly bootiful turkeys?

Can homeopathy provide a different perspective?

Homeopathy is an energetic medicine that comes from a completely different perspective to the so called ’scientific’ medical based one.

From an energetic perspective dysfunction of the lung energy can lead to upper respiratory disorders such as:

· Common Cold/ coughs/ sore throat/ fullness in the chest/ Influenza

· Nose disorders/Rhinitis/ Sinusitis/Nasal Polyps

· Coryza /Catarrh

· Adenoid glands

· Tonsillitis

· Epiglottises

· Laryngitis

· Pharyngitis

· Croup

· Skin disorders (associated with weak lungs)

Homeopaths see all of these during their practice. They are able to distinguish clearly between ‘acute’ cases caused by flu and common colds, through to more chronic symptoms leading all the way up to potential life threatening situations.

The energetic view of disorders of the lungs (Upper & Lower respiratory disorders) is that they manifest on the external surfaces of the body. The symptoms will vary according to the depth to which they descend. From this perspective the causative factors are not organisms (microbes, viruses), but changes in the energetic balance, usually as a result of climatic factors, emotional states and dietary indiscretions, pollutants or hereditary influences etc. Lung disorders are seen as emotionally linked to grief/sadness at one end of the spectrum and courage/righteousness at the other.

(Off course Bernard’s turkeys are all happy little turkeys so none of this applies to them – anyway whoever heard of an animal having feelings – what scientific nonsense – humans are completely and utterly different from animals and birds aren’t we?)

Homeopaths place the emphasis on:

· the climatic factors

· susceptibility from a miasmatic perspective

· toxicity

· Emotional factors.

People with acute upper respiratory tract infections that have their symptoms suppressed by drug therapy or who have such conditions as part of their general state of health (e.g. chronic bronchitis from smoking) may develop lower respiratory disorders. In practice you will see many people who have developed lower respiratory tract disease following suppressive treatment of upper respiratory tract disease. If the patient’s constitutional energy is strong, the problem is held in the superficial levels of the upper respiratory tract, the bowels or the skin and should not descend into the lower respiratory system.

www.shcri.com — During April to May, it was reported in successive on Chinese media that the price of the pork was equal to the price of the cabbage in Beijing and the price and sales volumes of the pork were all cut down in Shanghai. Although the swine influenza had been renamed to the influenza H1N1 type A in the end of April and the related departments, such as Ministry of Health of PRC, ensured again and again that it is safe to eat pork, the price of the pork was dropping in Chinese market. Recently, all the reports On Chinese media seem to indicate that the chief cause that led to the reduction in the price of the pork was the influenza H1N1 type A.

As a matter of fact, the decline of the pork price started from the latter half of 2008, which failed to change during the holiday consumption, such as spring festival. In the last third of March 2009 and before the outbreak of influenza H1N1 type A, the retail price of the pork in Shanghai had reached the largest reduction rate in the single day in Chinese market. The price of the streaky pork was decreased by 6.3% on 25th March. From April to March 2009, the prices of the pork continued to dropping in the medium and large cities in China.

In accordance with the pig industry trends from 2008 in China, even though there was no influence from the influenza H1N1 type A, the price of the pork would continue to fall till the end of the second quarter of 2009. In the second quarter of 2009, the volumes of the slaughter pigs in China showed the increasing tendency. The supplies of the slaughter pigs still exceeded the demands in the third quarter of 2009 in China.

The influenza H1N1 type A speeded up the cyclical process of the pig industry in China slightly. Generally speaking, each cycle of the pig industry was three year, the price showing the increases in 18 months and the declines in 18 months. The pig industry was depressed in 2005 and 2006. From 2007 to April 2008, the price of the pork was increased sharply. In 2008, the overall slaughter pigs in China were half compared with 2007, which were one time in 2009.

As the weather becomes hotter and hotter, the slack consumption season of the pork is coming and there is still decline space for the pork price within short time.

The major reason for the reduction in the price of the pork from the latter half of 2008 was that Chinese government had issued a series of policies to support the pig industry from 2007. The most well-known policy was that each sow could receive 100Yuan supplements. Meanwhile, the government made protection price for the pigs, namely, the price of the pork per kilogram was no less than the price of six kilograms corns, and the series policies making the pig raisers increase enthusiasm in the pig industry and stabilize the increases of the pork price. Besides, various capitals had involved in the pig industry in China, including Goldman Sachs, Deutsche Bank and China National Cereals, Oils and Foodstuffs Corp, quickly the pork supplies surplus in Chinese market.

As a whole, the price of the pork showed the cyclical fluctuation from the latter half of 2008 in China, which was amplified. It is inevitable to fluctuate cyclically and this round of fluctuation was amplified, which mainly attributed to both supplies and demands. For the supplies, the investments are increased as well as the pig quantities. For the demands, with the influences of international financial crisis, the expected incomes are poor; the upgrade of the food consumption structures stagnates, resulting in the reduction in the consumption volumes of the pork. The sharp rising supplies but dropping demands will lead to reduction in the price inevitably.

The root cause for the violent fluctuation of the pork price in China lies in that Chinese breeding industry is short of market adjustment mechanism. Due to the low concentration of Chinese breeding industry and the passive position of Chinese pig raisers, the price of the pork in Chinese market largely depend on the government intervention. The related departments of Chinese government are mature in choosing and applying the production increase measures (taking the measure of supplements), but unable to stabilize the yields and propel the balances between the supplies and demands. The government only can restrain the increasing price through certain measures, but can not do anything towards the too low price.

Source: China Research and Intelligence

Get more information, please visit http://shcri.com/reportdetail.asp?id=167

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Eileen Gu

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Email:eileen@shcri.com

The recent flu crisis associated with the spread of the H1N1 influenza virus has prompted many people to take extra precautions to protect themselves from infection, particularly in areas where cases of the virus have been confirmed. The influenza A (H1N1) virus is being carefully monitored by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), which continues to publish up to date information to help educate the public and minimize the spread of the virus.

Preventing transmission from person to person to the degree possible is an overreaching goal in controlling the spread of the H1N1 virus as well as other illnesses. The influenza virus is believed to be spread through respiratory drops from an infected person, which are often released through coughing and sneezing. Another person can contract the virus when these droplets enter his or her nose or mouth, or by touching a surface that has been contaminated and then touching the eyes, nose or mouth. While we cannot prevent the virus with 100% certainty, here are a few of the recommendations the CDC has published on its website for helping reduce the chance that you will contract the virus:

• Wash your hands with soap for 15-20 seconds often.
• Practice a healthy lifestyle including getting enough sleep, eating a healthy diet, being physically active and avoiding stress.
• Do not touch your nose, eyes or mouth.
• Avoid close contact with those who are ill.
• Consider wearing an FDA approved facemask when entering crowded situations in areas where the virus has been confirmed.
• Consider using an N95 or higher respirator when close contact with an infected person is necessary.

Many of the precautions that are recommended to reduce the chance of contracting influenza viruses are the same as the recommendations for preventing any contagious illness. The disposable medical supplies such as facemasks and respirators recommended by the CDC are widely available to consumers. Surgical masks are designed to help reduce the chance of spreading an infection, while N95 respirators are designed to help prevent the wearer from contracting the virus. When it is necessary to be around or take care of a person who is infected with the influenza virus, the CDC recommends considering wearing an N95 respirator to reduce your chance of contracting the virus.

The Centers for Disease Control has provided a plethora of information to help the public take appropriate actions regarding the flu crisis. Please visit the CDC website for the most up to date information.