H5N1 bird flu death confirmed in Alberta, 1st in North America

[CHIMO]

Source: CBC News

Alberta health officials have confirmed an isolated, fatal case of H5N1 or avian influenza, Health Minister Rona Ambrose said Wednesday.

But officials repeatedly emphasized that there is no risk of transmission between humans.

The infected person, an Alberta resident who recently travelled to Beijing, China, died Jan. 3.

The case was confirmed in a lab test last night.



Read more: http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/h5n1-bird-flu-death-confirmed-in-alberta-1st-in-north-america-1.2489160

[riversedge]

1. kick

[mitty14u2]

2. North Texas confirmed 20 flu deaths

HOUSTON, Jan. 7 (Xinhua) -- Health officials confirmed at least 20 people have died from flu, mostly H1N1 influenza, in north Texas this season, U.S. media reported on Tuesday.

The tally was made by health departments in Dallas County, Denton County and Tarrant County, all in north Texas, local media KHOU reported.

Hospitals confirm eight deaths in Dallas County, and another nine positive flu cases have been logged by the medical examiner's office. Denton County reported two deaths. Tarrant County has had one death linked to the flu.

http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/world/2014-01/08/c_133026240.htm

After the Xmas holidays travelers left behind H1N1 influenza.

[CHIMO]

5. H1N1

Is going around. If one did not get their flue shot this year they could be in trouble. The herd immunization this year in Alberta has been less than 25%.

However, H5N1 is another matter. "They" keep saying one doesn't have to worry about person to person transmission. And, bird to person transmission, only in very rare cases and not in North America!

[locks]

3. Edwards CO

A healthy mother of 3 died and 5 are hospitalized in one small town in Colorado

[BodieTown]

4. These Flus Are Dangerous

I urge people to reconsider getting the flu shots.

I caught what is likely H1N1 at Christmas, and it was the worst flu I've ever had. No sleep for 3 nights in a row...could not even lie down due to the horrendous coughing and fever. I did worry about whether or not I would make it, which tells you how serious this thing can be. I'm otherwise reasonably healthy.

I won't go without a flu shot again. I know a lot of people (including yours truly) resist getting the shots each year, but this was too close (to death) for comfort.

[Nonhlanhla]

6. I wish people would take the flu more seriously

I am an asthmatic and I get bronchitis regularly, which is pretty bad in itself. But the sickest I've been in my life was when I got the flu back in 1995, when I was still a young woman. Even bronchitis pales in comparison. I now get my flu shot every year, and I've never had the flu again. It is a dangerous disease, and too many people confuse it with the sniffles or with stomach bugs. Far from it.

[LiberalElite]

7. Fellow asthmatic here -

I never got the flu shot until I was diagnosed with asthma about 25 years ago. Now I get it every year without fail.

[davidpdx]

8. Yikes

I live in South Korea and there are a lot of people (Koreans and Chinese) going back and forth between China. My guess is it won't be long before there's cases here, if there aren't some already.