May 1, 2009 The Pump Handle

by revere, cross-posted from Effect Measure Just a brief note to remind everyone about the case definitions CDC is using for reporting on swine flu (or whatever name we collectively settle on). In order to make sure numbers are comparable from day to day and place to place we have to decide on criteria for […]

April 30, 2009 The Pump Handle 4Comment

by Kas Joe Biden was on NBC earlier saying, “I would tell members of my family — and I have — I wouldn’t go anywhere in confined places now.” As examples of confined places, he mentions planes and subways. Mr. Vice President, would you ride the train to Delaware tonight?  Say it ain’t so, Joe.  […]

April 30, 2009 The Pump Handle 4Comment

by revere, cross-posted from Effect Measure A student once complained that no horse was too dead for me to stop beating it. Long time readers are familiar with that here. Over the years I have said that the best way to prepare for a pandemic — or any other grave threat to our communities — […]

April 28, 2009 The Pump Handle

The total number of confirmed US swine flu cases continues to rise: it’s currently at 64, with 45 of those cases in New York City. This is something that CDC Acting Director Richard Besser told us to expect. Because samples from flu patients have to be sent to a lab for analysis, there’s a lag […]

April 27, 2009 The Pump Handle

by revere, cross-posted from Effect Measure Usually “What did you expect?” is a rhetorical question, but we have a more serious point to make. Let’s start with the familiar and move on to the less familiar. Many of you are coming here to find the latest news about swine flu. It’s an imprecise term that […]

April 26, 2009 The Pump Handle

The U.S. government has declared a public health emergency over the swine flu. In a White House press briefing, Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano emphasized that this is analogous to the emergencies declared for the recent floods in Minnesota and North Dakota and for the inauguration – it allows resources to be freed up to […]

April 26, 2009 The Pump Handle 16Comment

A new strain of swine flu has been confirmed in 18 deaths in Mexico, and is suspected as the cause of another 63 deaths (for a total of 81) and 1,324 illnesses. Yesterday, 5,289 people showed up at health centers in Mexico’s Federal District (which includes Mexico City) with respiratory symptoms. CDC reports that 11 […]

April 24, 2009 The Pump Handle 1Comment

by revere, cross-posted from Effect Measure As an academic epidemiologist I routinely do NIH funded research involving human subjects. That means my university must adhere to very strict regulations and guidelines for the protection of research subjects. Approval and monitoring of the ethical conduct of research funded by the Department of Health and Human Services […]