Statin drugs shown to reduce death rate from flu

The very latest report from Vanderbilt University and the CDC is that common statin drugs
used to reduce cholesterol, also cut the mortality rate from H1N1 by half.

Statins reduce inflamation in the body and that is considered the likely reason.

http://www.cidrap.umn.edu/cidrap/content/influenza/swineflu/news/oct2909idsa2.html

John McCormick

When Pigs Fly - What if Bird Flu and Swine Flu Combine

See my news stories on Newsblaze.com

When Pigs Fly - The Real Threat From Influenza

Bird Flu is deadly but hard to catch. Swine Flu is easy to catch but not very dangerous. What would happen if the two got together? That is the scary threat facing every one this winter.

http://newsblaze.com/story/20090903135823mcco.nb/topstory.html

Preparing Schools and Businesses for Influenza

The Flu: DO Update Prepare, DON'T Panic. The most important step you can take to manage both swine flu and seasonal flu this winter (in northern areas) is to plan ahead and make basic preperations before the first person coughs.

http://newsblaze.com/story/20090903100013mcco.nb/topstory.html

Bird Flu causes neurologic damage, may lead to later parkinson's

A study reported in the national academy of sciences says
H5N1 is likely to cause neurologic damage which can
trigger nerve diseases.

http://newsblaze.com/story/20090819150124mcco.nb/topstory.html

--
John

Reclast and Aredia may fight H1N1 and H5N1 flus

Reuters is reporting that pamidronate and zoledronate,
(Novartis brand names Aredia and Reclast) may be
effective in treating the flu, including H1N1 and H5N1.
These are osteoporosis drugs.
http://www.reuters.com/article/healthNews/idUSTRE57D1SJ20090814

Swine Flu Hoaxes, lies, and misstatements do masks work? do hand sanitizers do anything?

Swine Flu Hoaxes, lies, and misstatements
http://newsblaze.com/story/20090430064911mcco.nb/topstory.html

--
John

Certified Reuters Insight Expert Consultant
www.newmedicineonline.com
www.uraniumtoday.com
www.helpdotcom.com
www.countrycraftstore.com
www.15767.com

Some of my recent newsblaze.com stories
Economist Always Tell the Truth? Trust Me
http://newsblaze.com/story/20090315113354mcco.nb/topstory.html
Mattress Money?
The Silhouettes in October 1957: 'Get a Job'
http://newsblaze.com/story/20090316104929mcco.nb/topstory.html
Easter Egg Hunt Goes to the Dogs in Indiana Pennsylvania
http://newsblaze.com/story/20090413100027mcco.nb/topstory.html
Gas and Oil Companies Fail to Prepare for Next Energy Crisis
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H1N1 Swine Flu updates from my newsblaze stories

Swine Flu Threat - NOT the Feared H5N1 Bird Flu
http://newsblaze.com/story/20090425073754mcco.nb/topstory.html

Swine Flu - Prevention
http://newsblaze.com/story/20090425164857mcco.nb/topstory.html

Swine Flu Confirmed in Europe
http://newsblaze.com/story/20090427110701mcco.nb/topstory.html

Why Does Swine Flu Kill Healthy People?
http://newsblaze.com/story/20090427092841mcco.nb/topstory.html

Swine Flu Update – CDC Community Guidelines
http://newsblaze.com/story/20090427074802mcco.nb/topstory.html

Early reports say H5N1 vaccine may be close

Several preliminary reports
including
http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=444888&publicationSubCategoryId=200
say that researchers
are about to announce in
the Journal of Immunology that a BirdFlu
vaccine based on a modified
smallpox vaccine is very promising.

--
John

Certified Reuters Insight Expert Consultant
www.newmedicineonline.com

Drug Makes Bird Flu Less Deadly

As with many infections, it isn't
 the flu virus that kills in bird flu cases,
it is the body's reaction to the virus,
i.e. the immune system which,
in attempting to fight the virus kills the patient.

That is why young, healty individuals
are more likely to die from bird flu.

See http://health.usnews.com/articles/health/healthday/2009/01/23/drug-impedes-bodys-deadly-reaction--to-flu-virus.html

for information about a new discovery
about a drug
sphingosine analog AAL-R
which reduces the
cytokine "storm" which is the actuall killer.

The bird flu (H5N1 infection) hasn't hit
the world yet but it only takes one mutation
step to turn this into something which
can kill 100 million or more people.

The flu pandemic during WWI killed 50-100 million
and, despite opinion to the contrary,
doctors have few weapons to attack
virus infections - we are in little better
shape (public health wise) now
than we were in 1918.

--
John

H5N1 Strain Kills 19-year-old in China

For those who have fogotten,
Bird Flu (specifically the H5N1 strain)
is a major threat to the world's population.
The last major pandemic in WWI
killed about 100 million and there
is really no better treatment today
if/when a pandemic strikes.

About the only good treatment is supportive
- that is, putting patients on breathing
assistance, but in a pandemic there will
only be a few machines to share out
among each 1,000 patients.
Bird Flu is most dangerous to
the young with strong immune systems.
For the latest information on the situation
in China and Viet Nam, see
http://www.who.int/csr/disease/avian_influenza/en/

China has reported that a young woman recently
contracted and died from Bird Flu
after buying and cooking some ducks.

WHO report:

"The Ministry of Health in China has reported
a new case of human infection with the
H5N1 avian influenza virus. The case is a

19-year old female from Chaoyang District,
Beijing. She developed symptoms on
24 Dec 2008, was hospitalized, and
died on 5 January 2009.

The case was confirmed by the
national laboratory. The case had
contact with poultry prior to her illness.

All contacts have been placed under
medical observation. All remain healthy to date.

Of the 31 cases confirmed to date
in China, 21 have been fatal."

Tamiflu is the best anti-viral treatment
and isn't especially effective.

--
John

Certified Reuters Insight Expert Consultant
www.newmedicineonline.com