Update: Influenza-Associated Deaths
Posted: Mon Oct 06, 2014 4:53 pm
just so you can get an idea about supposed flu deaths.................
This is from 2003-04 season but the same thing happens every year
an example of poor record keeping and inaccurate information -
commentary by Dr. Yazbak at the end
Sheri
http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtm ... 1219a1.htm From
Morbidity & Mortality Weekly Report
Update: Influenza-Associated Deaths Reported Among Children Aged <18
Years --- United States, 2003--04 Influenza Season
Since October, 42 influenza-associated deaths among children aged <18
years have been reported to CDC. All patients had influenza virus
infection detected by rapid antigen testing or other laboratory
testing methods. This report describes preliminary findings based on
data provided from multiple states, as of December 17, 2003. To
improve surveillance, CDC has requested that all influenza-associated
deaths of children aged <18 years be reported to CDC through state
health departments.
Among the 42 reported deaths, 20 (48%) patients were male, and 21
(50%) were female; the sex of one patient was not reported.
Twenty-three (55%) of the children were aged <5 years, and 13 (31%)
were aged 6--23 months (Table 1). The median age was 4 years (range:
9 weeks--17 years). Seventeen (40%) of the children had underlying
chronic medical conditions (Table 2); SEE END OF ARTICLE FOR
INSERTION OF THIS INFORMATION OR GO TO WEBSITE TO READ TABLE the
previous medical status for four (10%) children was unknown. Among
the 21 patients who had no underlying chronic medical condition, five
had invasive bacterial co-infections, including three caused by
methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), one by
Streptococcus pneumoniae, and one by Group A streptococcus. Three
children with underlying chronic medical conditions had invasive
bacterial co-infections, including one caused by MRSA, one caused by
Streptococcus pneumoniae, and one caused by Neisseria menigitidis.
Influenza vaccination status was available for only seven patients;
five (aged 1 year, 14 months, 20 months, 3 years, and 8 years) were
not vaccinated; two (aged 21 months and 5 years) received 1 dose of
influenza vaccine; however, their previous vaccination history was
unknown. Influenza A viruses were isolated from 11 (26%) patients; 29
(69%) infections were detected by rapid diagnostic testing or by
direct fluorescent antibody testing of respiratory specimens. In two
(5%) patients, evidence of influenza A virus infection was solely by
immunohistochemical staining (IHC) of postmortem tissue specimens at
CDC (Figure). Five cases that were positive by rapid antigen testing
of respiratory specimens also were tested by IHC; all five also had
influenza A viral antigens detected in bronchial epithelium tissues
obtained at autopsy. CDC continues to work with state health
departments to collect additional information on all cases. [COMMENTS
BY DR. YAZBAK - The lack of information on the vaccination status of
83% of the deceased children is disturbing and indicates a further
lowering of the bar. Positive viral cultures are more definitive
proofs of viral presence. The fact that viral cultures were positive
in only 26% of cases is important. On the other hand, a positive
viral culture is not absolute proof that influenza is the cause of
death; without more details, its significance is hard to determine.
http://www.redflagsweekly.com/conferenc ... n12_2.html ]
Reported by: State and local health departments. Influenza Response
Team, J Wright, DVM, A Likos, MD, N Bhat, MD, EIS officers, CDC.
Editorial Note:
Influenza-associated deaths are not reportable conditions in the
United States, and the average annual number of such deaths is
unknown. However, cases of sudden death associated with influenza in
previously healthy children in the United States have been reported
(1; CDC, unpublished data, 2003). During 1990--1999, approximately 92
influenza-associated respiratory and circulatory deaths were
estimated to have occurred annually among children aged <5 years (2).
However, this estimate was based on mathematical modeling and not on
counting fatalities associated with laboratory-confirmed influenza
virus infection.
Among the 42 reported cases, laboratory-confirmed influenza virus
infection was found in all of the children. Influenza can be
confirmed by various methods, including commercially available rapid
tests, viral culture, direct fluorescent antibody, reverse
transcriptase polymerase chain reaction, IHC of tissues collected
during autopsy (3), and paired serology.
CDC Request for Reports of Influenza-Associated Deaths Among Children
During the 2003--04 influenza season, CDC is requesting that all
influenza-associated deaths among children aged <18 years be reported
to CDC through state health departments. In addition, CDC is
requesting submission of postmortem tissue specimens and autopsy
reports where available. Influenza viral isolates in fatal cases also
should be sent to CDC for antigenic characterization.
To report the influenza-associated death of a child aged <18 years,
state health departments should contact CDC's Influenza Branch,
telephone, 800-232-4636; e-mail, eocinfluenza@ cdc.gov.
Case-reporting and specimen-collection forms will be made available
to state health departments and medical examiners via the Epidemic
Information Exchange, available at
http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/epix/epix.html. When completed, the forms
should be sent with a cover sheet headed ATTN: Fatal Case Reporting
to CDC via fax, 888-232-1322.
References
CDC. Severe morbidity and mortality associated with influenza in
children and young adults---Michigan, 2003. MMWR 2003;52:837--40.
Thompson W, Shay D, Weintraub E, et al. Mortality associated with
influenza and respiratory syncytial virus in the United States. JAMA
2003;289:179--86. Guarner J, Shieh WJ, Dawson J, et al.
Immunohistochemical and in situ hybridization studies of influenza A
virus infection in human lungs. Am J Clin Path 2000;114:227--33.
**Questions or messages regarding errors in formatting should be
addressed to mmwrq@cdc.gov.
Page converted: 12/19/2003
fROM DR. YAZBAK FROM HERE
http://www.redflagsweekly.com/conferenc ... n12_2.html
"One must wonder why in a review of national importance, an effort
was not made to identify the sex of one child and the past history of
four others. The underlying chronic conditions (some children had
more than one) were: Lupus 1, cerebral palsy 2, chromosomal
abnormality 1, hypothyroidism 1, gastroesophageal reflux 1 and
biliary atresia 1. Two children were developmentally delayed and 2
had mental retardation. Three children had asthma, one had received a
heart transplant, 3 had seizure disorders, one had Pierre Robin
Syndrome and the last one had the syndrome of Cornelia de Lange. The
available information is not enough to determine the role of the
influenza infection in the demise of these children. Eight (19%) of
the 42 children had fulminating systemic infections. At least in
these, influenza was not the primary cause of death. [The
immediate cause of death is listed first on a death certificate. To
its right, the physician must enter the interval between onset and
death. In the following three lines, underlying and associated causes
are listed in order of significance with the intervals between onset
and death.]
What may be tragic is the fact that, because of the continuous
bombardment with reports of the "epidemic", some parents, believing
that their children just had the flu, may have waited too long to
seek medical advice for meningitis, septicemia or pneumonia.
Similarly, a busy ER physician seeing a multitude of children brought
by parents concerned about the "major flu epidemic" going on, may
have thought that the child he was sending home, simply had the flu,
like all the others. Symptoms of early bacterial meningitis are
easily mistaken for the flu. This was evident in New Hampshire around
Christmas when an 18-year old co-ed was seen in an Emergency Room,
diagnosed with the flu and discharged without further testing only to
die of meningococcal meningitis a short time later. The cases of the
5 children in the MMWR report, who died of invasive bacterial
illnesses, and who had no underlying condition, should be thoroughly
investigated. The fact that they "tested positive for the flu" may be
etiologically irrelevant.
AND Lastly, the fact that the events that followed vaccination of
seven children were not made available for review is also of concern
Before December 2002, there were 12 reports to the Vaccine Adverse
Events Reporting System (VAERS) of children under 10, who expired
shortly after receiving the inactivated flu vaccine. It is accepted
that only a small percentage of actual reactions are ever reported to
VAERS. In 11 cases, the flu vaccine was the only vaccine
administered. All children had serious underlying chronic illnesses.
Five children died within 24 hours of vaccination and 2 within 72 hours.
for full comments SEE
http://www.redflagsweekly.com/conferenc ... n12_2.html
HYPING VACCINES: AN INVESTIGATION
Chickenpox, Lyme, Rotavirus, And A Highly Revealing Analysis Of Flu Statistics
By RFD Columnist, Dr. F. Edward Yazbak
Sheri Nakken, former R.N., MA, Hahnemannian Homeopath
http://homeopathycures.wordpress.com/ &
http://vaccinationdangers.wordpress.com/
ONLINE/Email classes in Homeopathy; Vaccine Dangers; Childhood
Diseases and Child Health
Next classes start in October
This is from 2003-04 season but the same thing happens every year
an example of poor record keeping and inaccurate information -
commentary by Dr. Yazbak at the end
Sheri
http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtm ... 1219a1.htm From
Morbidity & Mortality Weekly Report
Update: Influenza-Associated Deaths Reported Among Children Aged <18
Years --- United States, 2003--04 Influenza Season
Since October, 42 influenza-associated deaths among children aged <18
years have been reported to CDC. All patients had influenza virus
infection detected by rapid antigen testing or other laboratory
testing methods. This report describes preliminary findings based on
data provided from multiple states, as of December 17, 2003. To
improve surveillance, CDC has requested that all influenza-associated
deaths of children aged <18 years be reported to CDC through state
health departments.
Among the 42 reported deaths, 20 (48%) patients were male, and 21
(50%) were female; the sex of one patient was not reported.
Twenty-three (55%) of the children were aged <5 years, and 13 (31%)
were aged 6--23 months (Table 1). The median age was 4 years (range:
9 weeks--17 years). Seventeen (40%) of the children had underlying
chronic medical conditions (Table 2); SEE END OF ARTICLE FOR
INSERTION OF THIS INFORMATION OR GO TO WEBSITE TO READ TABLE the
previous medical status for four (10%) children was unknown. Among
the 21 patients who had no underlying chronic medical condition, five
had invasive bacterial co-infections, including three caused by
methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), one by
Streptococcus pneumoniae, and one by Group A streptococcus. Three
children with underlying chronic medical conditions had invasive
bacterial co-infections, including one caused by MRSA, one caused by
Streptococcus pneumoniae, and one caused by Neisseria menigitidis.
Influenza vaccination status was available for only seven patients;
five (aged 1 year, 14 months, 20 months, 3 years, and 8 years) were
not vaccinated; two (aged 21 months and 5 years) received 1 dose of
influenza vaccine; however, their previous vaccination history was
unknown. Influenza A viruses were isolated from 11 (26%) patients; 29
(69%) infections were detected by rapid diagnostic testing or by
direct fluorescent antibody testing of respiratory specimens. In two
(5%) patients, evidence of influenza A virus infection was solely by
immunohistochemical staining (IHC) of postmortem tissue specimens at
CDC (Figure). Five cases that were positive by rapid antigen testing
of respiratory specimens also were tested by IHC; all five also had
influenza A viral antigens detected in bronchial epithelium tissues
obtained at autopsy. CDC continues to work with state health
departments to collect additional information on all cases. [COMMENTS
BY DR. YAZBAK - The lack of information on the vaccination status of
83% of the deceased children is disturbing and indicates a further
lowering of the bar. Positive viral cultures are more definitive
proofs of viral presence. The fact that viral cultures were positive
in only 26% of cases is important. On the other hand, a positive
viral culture is not absolute proof that influenza is the cause of
death; without more details, its significance is hard to determine.
http://www.redflagsweekly.com/conferenc ... n12_2.html ]
Reported by: State and local health departments. Influenza Response
Team, J Wright, DVM, A Likos, MD, N Bhat, MD, EIS officers, CDC.
Editorial Note:
Influenza-associated deaths are not reportable conditions in the
United States, and the average annual number of such deaths is
unknown. However, cases of sudden death associated with influenza in
previously healthy children in the United States have been reported
(1; CDC, unpublished data, 2003). During 1990--1999, approximately 92
influenza-associated respiratory and circulatory deaths were
estimated to have occurred annually among children aged <5 years (2).
However, this estimate was based on mathematical modeling and not on
counting fatalities associated with laboratory-confirmed influenza
virus infection.
Among the 42 reported cases, laboratory-confirmed influenza virus
infection was found in all of the children. Influenza can be
confirmed by various methods, including commercially available rapid
tests, viral culture, direct fluorescent antibody, reverse
transcriptase polymerase chain reaction, IHC of tissues collected
during autopsy (3), and paired serology.
CDC Request for Reports of Influenza-Associated Deaths Among Children
During the 2003--04 influenza season, CDC is requesting that all
influenza-associated deaths among children aged <18 years be reported
to CDC through state health departments. In addition, CDC is
requesting submission of postmortem tissue specimens and autopsy
reports where available. Influenza viral isolates in fatal cases also
should be sent to CDC for antigenic characterization.
To report the influenza-associated death of a child aged <18 years,
state health departments should contact CDC's Influenza Branch,
telephone, 800-232-4636; e-mail, eocinfluenza@ cdc.gov.
Case-reporting and specimen-collection forms will be made available
to state health departments and medical examiners via the Epidemic
Information Exchange, available at
http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/epix/epix.html. When completed, the forms
should be sent with a cover sheet headed ATTN: Fatal Case Reporting
to CDC via fax, 888-232-1322.
References
CDC. Severe morbidity and mortality associated with influenza in
children and young adults---Michigan, 2003. MMWR 2003;52:837--40.
Thompson W, Shay D, Weintraub E, et al. Mortality associated with
influenza and respiratory syncytial virus in the United States. JAMA
2003;289:179--86. Guarner J, Shieh WJ, Dawson J, et al.
Immunohistochemical and in situ hybridization studies of influenza A
virus infection in human lungs. Am J Clin Path 2000;114:227--33.
**Questions or messages regarding errors in formatting should be
addressed to mmwrq@cdc.gov.
Page converted: 12/19/2003
fROM DR. YAZBAK FROM HERE
http://www.redflagsweekly.com/conferenc ... n12_2.html
"One must wonder why in a review of national importance, an effort
was not made to identify the sex of one child and the past history of
four others. The underlying chronic conditions (some children had
more than one) were: Lupus 1, cerebral palsy 2, chromosomal
abnormality 1, hypothyroidism 1, gastroesophageal reflux 1 and
biliary atresia 1. Two children were developmentally delayed and 2
had mental retardation. Three children had asthma, one had received a
heart transplant, 3 had seizure disorders, one had Pierre Robin
Syndrome and the last one had the syndrome of Cornelia de Lange. The
available information is not enough to determine the role of the
influenza infection in the demise of these children. Eight (19%) of
the 42 children had fulminating systemic infections. At least in
these, influenza was not the primary cause of death. [The
immediate cause of death is listed first on a death certificate. To
its right, the physician must enter the interval between onset and
death. In the following three lines, underlying and associated causes
are listed in order of significance with the intervals between onset
and death.]
What may be tragic is the fact that, because of the continuous
bombardment with reports of the "epidemic", some parents, believing
that their children just had the flu, may have waited too long to
seek medical advice for meningitis, septicemia or pneumonia.
Similarly, a busy ER physician seeing a multitude of children brought
by parents concerned about the "major flu epidemic" going on, may
have thought that the child he was sending home, simply had the flu,
like all the others. Symptoms of early bacterial meningitis are
easily mistaken for the flu. This was evident in New Hampshire around
Christmas when an 18-year old co-ed was seen in an Emergency Room,
diagnosed with the flu and discharged without further testing only to
die of meningococcal meningitis a short time later. The cases of the
5 children in the MMWR report, who died of invasive bacterial
illnesses, and who had no underlying condition, should be thoroughly
investigated. The fact that they "tested positive for the flu" may be
etiologically irrelevant.
AND Lastly, the fact that the events that followed vaccination of
seven children were not made available for review is also of concern
Before December 2002, there were 12 reports to the Vaccine Adverse
Events Reporting System (VAERS) of children under 10, who expired
shortly after receiving the inactivated flu vaccine. It is accepted
that only a small percentage of actual reactions are ever reported to
VAERS. In 11 cases, the flu vaccine was the only vaccine
administered. All children had serious underlying chronic illnesses.
Five children died within 24 hours of vaccination and 2 within 72 hours.
for full comments SEE
http://www.redflagsweekly.com/conferenc ... n12_2.html
HYPING VACCINES: AN INVESTIGATION
Chickenpox, Lyme, Rotavirus, And A Highly Revealing Analysis Of Flu Statistics
By RFD Columnist, Dr. F. Edward Yazbak
Sheri Nakken, former R.N., MA, Hahnemannian Homeopath
http://homeopathycures.wordpress.com/ &
http://vaccinationdangers.wordpress.com/
ONLINE/Email classes in Homeopathy; Vaccine Dangers; Childhood
Diseases and Child Health
Next classes start in October