Comments on: H1N1 Flu Update No. 2: Surprising Numbers

By: Margaret Whiteside

Margaret Whiteside — Mon, 04 Jan 2010 19:44:39 +0000

My daughter had the H1N1 flu shot and got VERY sick. Since I am older and not in the “risk” category, I did not take the shot. I had something the year before which I thought was more like this flu than anything I had in my life. I went to my doctor who said it was not the flu, but did not tests. I coughed for weeks, finally coughing up a “wad” which ended it. No antibiotics, nothing. This was before the big scare of H1N1. I still do not know if I had it, and nothing was known about it at that time. Anyway, I lived to tell about it, and I do think that this has been highly proclaimed to say the least. I guess we WILL have to wait and see, but the cold this year has been enough to wipe out a lot of illnesses, I think.

By: Dr. Gary Huber

Dr. Gary Huber — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 17:04:25 +0000

Hi Bev,
The nasal swab is only able to detect influenza A, it is not able to distinguish whether it’s season flu versus H1N1 influenza A. Your doctor was likely offering a speculative guess as to the H1N1 possibility. As with most cases of flu, the issues passed in a few days and all is well. We will never know which flu bug it was. Glad to hear everyone is well at this time.

By: Mr. Hyde

Mr. Hyde — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 16:39:54 +0000

Just to add a little more perspective to the Australian figures, if you base the percentage on the actual occurrences, you find that the estimated hospitalizations were 172% and the estimated deaths were a whopping 355% of what actually occurred.

By: Dr. Gary Huber

Dr. Gary Huber — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 16:01:55 +0000

Hi Marie,

Thanks for your spirited response; I love to hear from readers with strong conviction and passion. To address your point I do not feel that the public health offices are “damned if they do and damned if they don’t”. They simply have a duty to report all of the relevant information to the public so that we can make an intelligent decision. Withholding information until they decide how to spin it is what drives me crazy. Like the information I presented above, I would have liked the CDC and the media in general to report this information as loudly and as prominently as they reported the “death scare” fear mongering numbers that we have all seen to date. Don’t treat me like sheep, just give me the facts and credit the public with having a brain.

The numbers from the tests were very simple and very clear. Despite scare of overwhelming H1N1 infection in our community, the lab tests to date don’t reflect this as fact and don’t support the “theoretical assumptions” that have been made thus far. Simple.

My reference to this as a hoax is speculation. Just as the vaccine’s industry’s attempt to manufacture an effective vaccine is made on speculation. Just as the media whips this story into a frenzy is based on speculation. I did not call this a hoax. If you read my article I stated that “the media will be referring to this as a hoax”. The media will make a story out of the fact that the H1N1 wasn’t really a story.

As always, we are here to provide information for you so that you can make an informed decision regarding your health. Use the factual information as you see fit. We are not trying to make up your mind (that’s the governments agenda) we are simply here to report information and provide a perspective.

By: Bev

Bev — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 15:49:55 +0000

Both of my kids came down with something. When I asked to have them
tested at the Dr.’s office, they did the 5 minute nasal swab. It came back
positive. Here’s where it’s interesting – the Dr.’s words to me were,
“they’re positive for an A strain of the flu, and I’m just telling everyone
whose results come back positive to just assume it’s the swine flu”.
They were fine in 3-4 days. but was it H1N1????

By: Marie

Marie — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 01:41:03 +0000

While I agree with much of your blog, I don’t agree with all of it. The WHO has an obligation to let people know the imminent dangers to the public worldwide. Frankly all they can do is play with numbers and throw some out there for the public. Same goes for our government and public health departments, they must warn of the possibilities. Basically they are damned if they do or damned if they don’t. Which would you prefer?

I am sure on one hand test show X amount of people who didn’t have either flu, but on the same token there are many people who have flu symptoms that can’t afford to go to the doctor or don’t seek medical care. The numbers can’t be accurate due to all those variables.

The people who look sick enough to be tested for the H1N1 are tested because many of them have other underlying health issues (I know this first hand dealing with it) and it would be negligent to not test someone with several of the same symptoms. That is common sense.

I think due to proper warnings more people are taking vitamins, practicing good hygiene diligently and eating healthy foods. Perhaps this has had an affect on the numbers. To call this H1N1 flu a hoax (next year) is too strong. It also sets people up for future disaster when a deadlier strain attacks and they ignore. Better to be safe than sorry.