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UPDATE: Swine flu likely to hit Orange County
April 28th, 2009, 9:28 am · 74 Comments · posted by Courtney Perkes
UPDATE: 4 p.m.
Local health officials said swine flu will likely hit Orange County and have ordered a full supply of antiviral drugs in preparation.
While 11 Californians have contracted the flu, there are seven more probable cases that have not yet been confirmed by testing, state officials said Tuesday afternoon.
David Riley, acting director of the Health Care Agency, said that, given the spread of swine flu, he believes there’s a strong likelihood a case will emerge in Orange County, although none have yet.
Riley said the agency requested its full supply of antiviral medicine from the state — 275,000 doses. They already have 3,000 doses.
State health officials expect the outbreak to last for six to eight weeks and the severity could increase.
Additionally, HCA has alerted officials at John Wayne Airport to look out for signs of potentially sick people getting off planes there. And they’re working with the sheriff’s department to monitor inmates coming in and out of the jails and juvenile detention centers to make sure nobody introduces the disease to those populations.
Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has declared a state of emergency, while telling Californians not to panic about swine flu.
His action gives permission for state health agencies to enter into any contracts needed to respond to the outbreak and to expand laboratory testing.
Carnival Cruise Corp. has canceled its cruises to Mexican ports.
Meanwhile, with swine flu causing panic in Mexico, it’s a reminder that regular flu claims American lives every year, particularly among the very young and very old. It’s not too late to get a flu shot, either. The Health Care Agency offers shots at its office in Santa Ana (1725 W. 17th Street) from 7:30 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, and until 7:30 p.m. on Tuesdays. Information: (800) 564-8448
California will receive $23 million in federal stimulus money for childhood immunizations, including flu shots. Last year, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention expanded the flu shot recommendation to include children ages 5 to 18. Previously, it was 6 months to age 4.
- Nationally, during the 2007-08 flu season, 83 children died of influenza type A or B. The CDC does not have the exact number of total deaths because only pediatric deaths are nationally notifiable. However, an estimated 36,000 people die each year from the flu.
- In 2004, 637 Orange County residents of all ages died of influenza or pneumonia. That’s the most recent statistic available.
Related posts:
Updated: 11th swine flu case confirmed in California
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While media is still referring to this flu outbreak as a swine flu, this is a misnomer. According to Reuters, this strain is not infecting pigs and has never been seen in pigs. The threat is person to person transmission. It is also a genetic hybrid containing DNA typical to avian, swine and human viruses, including elements from European and Asian swine viruses. Someone tell me how this could occur in nature without mankinds help.
Also I believe that Baxter will be supplying the vaccines. Aren’t they the same manufacturer who accidently got some of the LIVE bird flu virus in their vaccines? God help us, we have a real problem here.
Someone said this same exact thing to me at work today! You are definitely right Cranky….. God help us…… We’re in big trouble….
@Cranky - Very good point about it possibly being man-made.
Once again, the media gets it wrong. It is a hybrid flu, which appears to have been manufactured in some laboratory. Don’t believe a word the government or media says that this flu. There is something very sinister going on. The truth will be told for those willing to listen.
Jim that’s some scary stuff. I hope it all goes away fast. I sure hope it’s not intentional either. Some sort of terrorist silent killer.
Agreed, zombieism is going to strike soon. Glad I’ve stockpiled a good amount of ammo and firearms (thanks Obama).
I hope you’re not right Hello. If this were some kind of terrorist attack, we are powerless to defend it. Our poor excuse for a leader, Barrack has knocked out our ability to combat terrorism. Did I mention he is a spineless communist?
Wow, our ability to combat terrorism has been wiped out? You mean, antivral drugs have been destroyed? or a vaccine? As to Obama, isn’t it better that he be a spineless communist than one with a spine? Please explain.
your name’s “cant we all getalong” and you’re complaining about the president? wow..
Cancel the damn marchas scheduled for this Friday!!!!
There are MILLIONS of people in California! How putzy can people be. And those masks!!!! They only keep out the Flu Virus sized particles for 30 minutes to 1 hour max. How many of the $5 to $9 masks are you going to really buy? If you wear it longer than an hour it’s not protecting you from anything. Stop acting like we are all from New York and fearful of every airborne shadow that comes along………
To add to Spences’ comments about the effectiveness of masks, it should also be noted that most viruses enter the body through the eyes. So a mask that covers the mouth and nose is virtually useless.
“I say we nuke it from orbit. It’s the only way to be sure.”
Yep, that about sums it up.
I suggest less animal agriculture and consumption of animals and animal related products. I am not saying that everyone should be expected to be vegetarian or the such, however, I think that the “food pyramid” clearly needs revision…
because these clashes in biological consumption and waste are the kind of things that causes mutated virus break outs and the like. People lack education in how to prepare for and prevent the spread of disease, which is profitable to the medical industry unfortunately.
Click my name to find out how you can reduce your family medical and dental expenses without health or dental insurance.
always Micah Carter
Never Trust a Fake Insurance salesperson…….
Get me a mask! MYOB spence or we’ll ship you off to NY.
Thanks EvenNow! I needed that!
Luckily I am immune to all viruses as I am a human in the advanced stages of evolution. I have wings, a third arm, and have advanced skills in tree climbing.
P.S. Nothing good has ever come out of Mexico, except for Pacifico beer
Oh, LGT. I’m with you on the zombie thing. I really do think that zombieism (as you say) is completely a possible threat. I’m not sure if I believe that this flu strain was intentional, but you can’t help to wonder. Every “zombie” characteristic can totally be conjured up by a created disease. Look at rabies. I’m not a scientist, but how hard would it really be to manipulate the rabies virus to effect humans at a rapid pace? That could be transmittable by saliva? By blood? If I, a citizen with a decent education, could think of HOW to do this… what the heck are those “genius” scientists coming up with or capable of? By Zeus, I’m scared.
I have heard from a cast member of dland that in the grand californian hotel there is a boy from mexico who has the flu he is staying on the 6th floor until friday. Why hasn’t that been reported in the news? Kendall Rodriguez
close the borders and start containing the mexicans.
Oh, BTW, talk about border security, May Day is just a few days away and I’m pretty sure these illegal alien activists and its sympathizers will be yelling for AMNESTY RIGHT NOW from Obama, in the midst of the Mexican flu epidemic. Can you imagine legalizing someone who has swine flu and then he transmits the virus to anyone who comes into contact with him???
Anyone see this?
http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2009/04/two-los-angeles-county-deaths-possibly-related-to-swine-flu-coroner-says.html
Squawk! Squawk! flap, flap. One out of every 2.9 milion Californians has the flu and Arnold decides to govern. Any one ever read the Distastor Preparedness plan that Arnold commissioned? Every man, woman and child is on there own in event that something really dire occurs. Thank goodness he’s putting together a rainy day fund with prop 1-A.
This kills folks with healthy immune systems, because its
an immune over-reaction. Young/old die less, actually.
This will certainly feed the immigration wars..
I agree w/ sensitive guy! that’s good stuff. even though I like the occassional tequila
This is stupid. There are 36,000 deaths each year because of the flu. There are no deaths (in the US) from this flu. Where, Mr. Governor, are the other declarations of emergency for the other 36000 deaths ? What an idiot ! Repeal, Recall, Revolt !
Sensitive Guy & bpsqwerty:
You forgot Patron…
See what free trade has done for us? Most of the vaccines are made outside the US.
Out sourcing.
I think Schwarzenegger may have the virus. Has anyone noticed that he has been acting like a Liberal Democrat lately.
I agree as well with sensitive guy…thats good stuff…other then Pacifico and Patron the only thing that Mexico produces is trash and then they drag it all over the US especially here in CALI.
Yeah Minorities like your own tend to try to belittle Cali’s Majority (American Mexicans) all the time. Your hostilities toward Mexicans is pure punk ass aggression. judging from your ridiculous comment your seem to define: the word ignorant.
Its not the Americans we have a problem with. Its the illegals.
Seriously ? all of you ?
Communist?
Terrorist Attack?
Conspiracy Theory?
Nuke them?
Close the borders and contain the Mexicans?
Damn, all of you need a new hobby, besides whining, It’s a Flu.! not anthrax, If you’re sick stay home drink a lot of liquids and rest and then.. it will go away.!!
Stop making everything a political or racial issue, If you’re republican a democrat won, deal with it, if you don’t like Hispanics, Asians, Arabs, you live next to them deal with it, if you don’t like the government or the media, you’re free to move to another country where nobody can bother you.
Obviously Rage1978 is infected. We need to quarantine the perimeter ASAP.
I agree, I also think we should close ALL the borders and wear gass masks, WE WILL DEFEAT SWINE FLU!
I’m so with you Rage1978!
People as a whole are histercal and ignorant. The media hypes this flu up and tells people if you have symptoms to stay home, but for some reason our ERs and doctors’ offices are crammed with crazy patients that all have the “swine flu.” They only seem to hear what they want from the media.
In Mexico, they’re dieing because of the poor healthcare. We do not have that problem in the US.
Get over everybody and stay home and get plenty of liquids.
Mexican is a nationality not race.
thaaaaaaaaaaank you. finally someone with some sense
More tax dollars down the pig trough!
patron is manufactured in the US - Vegas to be exact… not from mexico- good tequila is Coralejo or Tres Generaciones - Cazadores is played out.
-the thirsty traveler
It’s better to act now than later. It’s time to shut down our borders until we get some answers. We cannot take any chances. By the way- I I don’t want the flu and I certainly don’t want the swine flu.
That’s why I say, it’s time to secure the border and let Mexico deal with their own problems. They have the Mexican drug wars to deal with over there, the kidnappings that’s been going on in selected cities close to the border like Phoenix, and now we have the pig flu emanating from Mexico to deal with. What’s next, the cattle flu????
my uncle says its a government created virus that they want to give the areas that are over populated. so the problem takes care of itself. OH uncle if that is true they should give it to all the prisons
Here comes a pig tax
Frankie Civitano, stricken with swine flu, was interviewed on CNN and he reported that he thinks he picked up the virus when he was visiting the nurse’s office to clean up a cut. This just shows that doctors offices waiting rooms and emergency room waiting rooms will be a central point for infection spread. The medical community is backwards if they ask people to show up at the ER. I am waiting to see if health officials have a better solution that will not create a centralized area for spreading infection.
If Mexico is ground zero why are we not restricting travel and entrance into the US? Passive screening, come on. Don’t you watch House? Folks lie, especially sick folks. Would you want to be in Mexico if you were sick? With all the problems I’ve been reading about poor treatment at medical centers, I’m sure folks are coming who should not. We need aggressive screening like they are doing overseas. They only way to control this is to control the spread. And I’m sorry to say, the only way to control the spread is to control travel, aka our boarders.
I so agree with you, I hope this will show our government that we need screening at our borders, and it’s time to look into being more aggresive with who we let come into our country???????
There is news going on about two deaths that could be swine flu.. a la mirada man and a long beach man!
I live in La Mirada.. this is scary!
That’s not confirmed and the coroner even said that he doubts it was the swine flu.
FOLKS THIS IS THE PREAMBLE….
**** is not gonna hit the fan until about september.
Then we shall see what happens, until then stay groovy.
our swine government tells us not to travel, wash our hands, and not to sneeze on other people. is anyone telling the hundreds of thousands of mexicans not to cross the border?
I say, waterboard the swine until we get to the root of the virus!
Now we know why the black helicopters have been quietly outfitted with spray apparatus. If you lsten carefully, late at night, you can hear them coming “whop whop whop, sniff, sniff, cough, whop whop whop”. Piloted by illegal aliens with a goal of total colonization, these are but the advance party for the left-inspired modern-day armageddon that is to come. Soon, my children, soon you will awaken from your state of torpor and fulfill your destin….oh, I have to go. My meds are here.
are you people serious that you think it’s manufactured as a terrorist plot? viruses mutate…they hybridize. it’s what they do. bacteria do it as well…so the next time you eat at del taco and crap your brains out from the dirty bean burrito are you going to blame terrorists for that too?
You must admit the coincidence of Obamas visit right around time of the first cases is?
Zensunni; Why would you let science and reality intrude upon this fantasy land? The next thing we know you’ll be trying to tell us that the plague was an actual disease. I wish that the undocumented immigrants would leave “our” land if for no other reason than to see what boogieman is next conjured up by the xenophobes among us. “It’s those damn short/fat/thin/ugly/pretty/different people that cause the traffic jams/health insurance rate increases/job shortages!” Any progress report on Hannity’s waterboard challenge? I believe that I might even watch Faux news if they would televise it!
Jub the Shrub,
Undocumented immigrants?!?!?!?!
Lets just call them what they really are and always have been, illegal aliens!!!!
All of you sarcastic, snide tweeters deserve the Darwin award.
Going back to how it all started… why do people need to eat pork anyway? I don’t care about what religions/cultures think about pork, but having pig farms just provides a place for this kind of genetic virus re-assortment. Why can’t we just get rid of all the pig farms and settle for chicken and beef. Pig farms should eventually be banned around the world simply for their potential to cause flu pandemics, just like many countries would ban people from creating dog farms to slaughter dogs and sell them for their meat.
Ah, yes, why can’t we settle for chicken… I don’t want to bring up the bird flu or anything but how much thought did you actually give into that statement?
I agree until we know what is going on in Mexico they should heavily screen or close the borders. I have two young children, why should their lives be at risk because we always have to be so darn pc. f*** being pc and lets start taking care of our own people!
Many of the previous “posts” make much sense, especially “cranky”! Odd that the pigs are not being mentioned, as in the bird flu, they killed the chickens…haven’t said anything about eliminating pigs…why? Perhaps they are not the “carriers”?
This is yet another example of the disgusting issues brought upon by Mexico and illegal immigration. As if the crime, overcrowding of schools, gangs, graffiti weren’t enough, we now have another reason to close the borders with Mexico - PERMANENTLY.
Are you people for real?!? Government conspiracy, zombieism, illegal aliens, blah, blah, blah.
Get a life.
Reports coming in from Mexico say one man was turned away from two hospitals and an ambulance service refused to transport someone, because they thought he had the swine flu. With medical service like this you can guarantee thing are going to get worse. If we see Mexican border cities with high rates of the flu, you can expect a lot more people crossing the border for medical attention where they can’t be refused.
Currently Julie, politically correct Napolitano has no plans to close the border or even make any changes at this time. I guess we don’t want to offend anyone.
Actually they say its part bird flu, plus I think I read more than one swine flu strain plus human strains. they seem to think that they some how mixed when someone who maybe was in contact with pigs got the swine flu, maybe while having a different kind and they mixed, or something like that.
According to the CDC, the expected annual fatalities from any type of flu is just under 40,000 in the US annually. So far, we’re at about 50 that are supposedly infected, and zero deaths. I’m all for “getting out in front” of the issue, but isn’t this a little alarmist? Sounds a little bit like “We need to spend 6 trillion dollars to created the most bloated government in the history of mankind, or we’re all DOOMED!!!” I can’t wait for the extra TRILLION dollars they’re going to “need” to spend on this “emergency.”
WOW, screw reality TV… This is pure entertainment
Maybe, just maybe the Mexican gov’t released the flu to try to deal with all of the narco kidnapping and killing that was and is out of control???? This flu sure did get them off the streets. Coincidence????
They need too close all the borders Mex. and canda too. Stop people from coming in and out of the USA. We need to stop so the kids and baby’s and older people. don’t get too.
I was listening to the John and Ken show yesterday and a caller described how his child was prescribed Tamiflu by the doctor, but the he was unable to find any Pharmacy in Orange County that had any in stock. He said the Pharmacies told him that they had plenty in stock but sold out within the last few days. Several other callers also confirmed there weren’t any Pharmacies that had Tamiflu in stock. If true, it would be interesting to find out who is hoarding all the Tamiflu seeing as how Orange County doesn’t have a single confirmed case of the Swine Flu, yet.
I live in Santa Ana CA, and my friends sister has the swine flu.