It is believed that cytokine storms were responsible for many of the deaths during the 1918 influenza pandemic, which killed a disproportionate number of young adults.[1] In this case, a healthy immune system may have been a liability rather than an asset. Preliminary research results from Hong Kong also indicated this as the probable reason for many deaths during the SARS epidemic in 2003.[6] Human deaths from the bird flu H5N1 usually involve cytokine storms as well.[7] Recent reports of high mortality among healthy young adults in the 2009 swine flu outbreak has led to speculation that cytokine storms could be responsible for these deaths.[8] However, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have indicated that symptoms reported from this strain so far are similar to those of normal seasonal flu,[9] with the CDC stating that there is "insufficient information to date about clinical complications of this variant of swine-origin influenza A (H1N1) virus infection."[9]
Officials are confused because the person who died did not match the other victims-- no underlying conditions, etc. It could have been a cytokine storm due to sudden mutation of the virus-- that would be bad, yes-- but it could also be that she had an undiagnosed heart or lung problem that led to the flu becoming much more severe for her. (They can't say much yet because one wrong word could set off a panic amongst those who've been waiting for their own little disaster flick.)
lychee:
It could have been a cytokine storm due to sudden mutation of the virus
So far the UK has 1600 official cases and one death. The real number of cases is probably higher - there will be under-reporting because the illness is mild.
But assuming the 1600 cases are accurate, that's a case fatality rate of less than 0.1% - which would still make H1N1 much less dangerous than a typical annual flu round.
That is good news for me! I've had a flu since Monday and now it is pretty full blown. I just called the U.S. Center for Disease Control to see if and when I should go get it checked out. They told me that they have run out of the H1N1 test, but that I should go get a prescription for tamiflu. Problem is, it's been more than 48 hours since symptoms kicked in, so tamiflu won't help at this point.
Since I hardly go out these days, the only place I can think I caught it was at the zoo last Saturday where there were lots of people.
In any case, I'm having my father go to the clinic to get a prescription for tamiflu, since he is not showing any symptoms of it, but better to minimize any chance that he contracts it from me. Truth unfolds in time through a communal process.
I take silly amounts of Ester C, especially when I'm feeling very tired and run down, and its ability to minimise or eliminate symptoms remains impressive.
But really, so far with this strain all of the data suggests that the chances of life-threatening reactions are incredibly tiny, and much lower than other everyday dangers.
Yeah, I'm not too worried about this flu getting out of hand in my case (though last night I had a pretty bad fever). But I am worried about giving this to my father. He is 68, gets very sick whenever he catches anything, and he has a long awaited and planned for vacation coming up in July, which would be horrible to spoil with the flu. Truth unfolds in time through a communal process.
A useful dose for Vit D is 10-25ug/day. It's almost impossible to overdose on D - you'd need to eat an entire 90 capsule pack every day for a couple of months - so this is a safe basic intake.
You could try if you have symptoms and they're showing signs of getting serious.
I take silly amounts of Ester C,
how much, several grams per day?
it is a great infection fighter. ~"When an inner situation is not made conscious, it appears outside as fate." Karl Jung~
linus pauling is surely proud of you.
wonderful stuff, if only it were used as generously as antibiotics.. ~"When an inner situation is not made conscious, it appears outside as fate." Karl Jung~
I agree that it's probably pessimistic, but I'm trying to find out what the real figure is. If no healthy adult ever dies from regular flu, then one or two deaths from this new strain might be a very serious sign. If a few do (or rather, for a precise comparison, a few who seemed beforehand to have no serious problem), then this indicates that H1N1 is not very dangerous at this point (just like the 1918 flu...).
