New Study: 1918 flu survivors seem immune to swine flu

[Rwilmer]

Re: New Study: 1918 flu survivors seem immune to swine flu

1918 was a H1N1 swine/human recombinant. The survivors were infected with the 1918 strain and have HIGH titers (over 1000) still (in samples collected a few years ago).

Is there anything that can be done Dr. Niman besides vaccines and antivirals to keep pandemic h1n1 cfr down?

 

[HenryN]

Re: New Study: 1918 flu survivors seem immune to swine flu

Is there anything that can be done Dr. Niman besides vaccines and antivirals to keep pandemic h1n1 cfr down?

Sounds like a worldwide crash diet might help.

 

[Rwilmer]

Re: New Study: 1918 flu survivors seem immune to swine flu

Oh, you mean thinner people will fare better?

 

[the doctor]

Re: New Study: 1918 flu survivors seem immune to swine flu

Not to pre-empt Dr. N, the answer in my opinion is no.

We had the chance to create a pan-influenza vaccine such as one based on the M2 protein.

Dr. Osterholmn warned us all and called many years ago for an influenza vaccine Manhattan project but he was not paid attention to by the PTB.

Now we find ourselves in an influenza pandemic with very little hope of an efficacious vaccine available before December, and then for only a small percentage of the population.

The novel strain has obtained 274 and is fit to some degree or another. Based on the cockroach theory, this PM is probably much more widespread than we think.

If it acquires 627 for the mammalian upper respiratory system as well which seems likely during is visit to the South this flu season, then it will reproduce much more virulently in humans and be Tamiflu resistant. Forget Relenza. There is very little around and it can not be scaled up quickly enough to do much good at this late date.

I too agree with Dr. N, that the novel strain has the potential to cause a 1918-style pandemic but disagree in that it is not following the same path.

In the end though, it will make little difference what path it follows if the result is the same.

Grattan Woodson, MD

 

[zimagail]

Re: New Study: 1918 flu survivors seem immune to swine flu

Regarding what can be done to offer protection. The medical authorities here in Argentina are advising breastfeeding to offer infants some immunity if their mother's become ill. I was wondering if the breastfed offspring of 1918 flu survivors might have any long term immunity such as their parents? Dr. Niman? Dr. Woodson?

 

[HenryN]

Re: New Study: 1918 flu survivors seem immune to swine flu

Oh, you mean thinner people will fare better?

The study out of Toronto noted that the more severely affected and fatal cases frequently had a high BMI. My guess if the excess weight causes breathing difficulties, then swine H1N1 infections can have disasterous effects. This likely applies to many conditions that cause breathing difficulties, but extremely high BMI's are probably among the conditions that can be improved over the near term.

 

[the doctor]

Re: New Study: 1918 flu survivors seem immune to swine flu

Regarding what can be done to offer protection. The medical authorities here in Argentina are advising breastfeeding to offer infants some immunity if their mother's become ill. I was wondering if the breastfed offspring of 1918 flu survivors might have any long term immunity such as their parents? Dr. Niman? Dr. Woodson?

What might help is for the mothers to supplement with high levels of vitamin D3 on the order of 5,000iu daily taken in the morning. This is enough to provide both her and her baby with adequate serum levels of 25 OH vit D3 (>50ng/ml).

While above the US RDA of 400iu, this is a very safe dose for almost everyone and well within physiologic limits.

Most new mothers are vitamin D deficient and their breast milk is too. The only way to give the mother and child immune healthy levels of this vitamin during winter is to supplement with vitamin D.

Grattan Woodson, MD