The Coughing, Aching, I-Can't-Get-To-Sleep Report

Coffee Brown, MD, University of New Mexico, Talk Radio News

A-H1N1 flu Update #4, 05/04/09

What’s new today?
Dr. Richard Besser, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, says this flu appears to be about as contagious as the more usual varieties.

Jose Angel Cordova, Mexico’s Secretary of Health, believes the epidemic there is beginning to wane. 

According to the World Health Organization, there are a total of 1005 cases in 21 countries: In the U.S. 286 cases in 36 states. In Mexico, 590 cases with 25 deaths for a 4.2 percent mortality, which is half again the rate of the 1918 flu pandemic. The total mortality, if Mexico is not separated would be 2.5 percent, the same as in 1918. However, the mortality rate for those contracting this flu outside of Mexico remains zero.

What about medicines?
The CDC has issued a reminder that aspirin is dangerous for children under 18 years old, especially if flu is suspected, because of the risk of Reye’s Syndrome. Tylenol/acetaminophen, taken as directed, is safe for fever and body aches. It does not shorten the infection, nor does it treat any respiratory symptoms.

The atypical flu is sensitive to the readily available antivirals Zanamivir and Oseltamivir, but resistant to Amantadine and Rimantidine. Patterns of sensitivity to antivirals vary from season to season.

And Travel?
The WHO has no travel advisory in place presently, but the CDC recommends curtailing non-essential travel to Mexico. The University of New Mexico, which maintains strong ties with Mexico, has issued its own travel advisory for staff and students.

While there have been reports that the WHO has elevated its alert status to Phase 6, as of 09:00 EDT their website still lists phase 5. Phase 6 will represent confirmation of local outbreaks in more than one country i.e., person to person transmission will be occurring within the separate countries. It is an expected stage. Note that phases 7 and 8 will describe the tapering off of the contagion.

Can we go back to calling it swine flu?
For the first time, in Canada, a herd of pigs has been shown to be infected, according to Reuters. Neither the CDC nor the WHO has issued any warnings about pork. (But you shouldn’t kiss a pig.)

So ... is it over?
In the U.S., the cycle has not yet begun to decline. Because of the possibility of this variant flu returning in fall and winter, Besser says, the CDC is proceeding with the first steps in the manufacture of a vaccine.

Pelosi and Maloney talk plastic

by Christina Lovato, University of New Mexico-Talk Radio News Service

This morning at a press conference on Capitol Hill, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi addressed the public on the H1N1 flu and the 'Credit Cardholders' Bill of Rights that is being voted on today.

Pelosi said the recent outbreaks of the swine flu are a high concern and advised people to use common sense.

“Wash your hands, wash your hands, wash your hands,” said Pelosi.

Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney (D-NY) also attended the conference and spoke about the 'Credit Cardholders’ Bill of Rights Act of 2009”
saying that it will provide consumers protection from consumer fraud and deception.

Maloney said that the bill will help level the playing field between credit card issuers and consumers and will ban some abuses like raising interest rates on existing balances and double cycle billing where they are charging interest rates or balances that have already been paid.

“This bill will provide 45 days notice if they’re going to raise an interest rate going forward so consumers can move on to another card, putting more competition into the system. It stops many of the tricks and traps of changing the terms and changing the due dates that trap consumers and very importantly, it stops the any time, any reason, the unrelated activity which they then say cause a rate increase and it will help many many consumers,” said Maloney.

Maloney called Molly Gordy, a working mom who lives in Manhattan and has two credit cards, a model consumer.

Gordy who has always paid her credit card bills on time recently received a notice from her card company that the interest rate on her card would increase from 13 percent to 19 percent on her existing balance along with new purchases.

“I called and yelled at the company and asked them ‘Why are they doing this? This is not what I signed up for!’ The customer service representative told me ‘Its because of the tough economy.’ That made me really mad because when I lost my job a few years back they didn’t
lower my rate.”

A week later Gordy says she received another letter from a different division from the same company offering her a new credit card with a zero percent interest on balanced transfers for the next 16 months.

“I had to laugh, well one part of the company is telling me there is no money to lend to me, as an existing customer, another party is offering me free lending as a new customer. In my world we call that bait and switch.... If I make a contract with someone they should not be able to change it just because they can.,” said Gordy.