Flu Bulletin recommends that you download a free desktop application to keep up on changing news and alerts. You can find many of these free applications on you local government home page in your city. Some TV stations also offer versions of this program, below we have sample pictures of the desktop alerts available in our location.

   

Below is one website that you can download a desktop version, we still believe that you will get more information out of a local application, if your city does offer a desktop application you can try this link.

 CLICK HERE

Desktop Alert Application is a FREE small, simple application which you can download and install on your Windows-based personal computer. Once installed and connected to the Internet, you will receive current temperature and severe weather warnings directly on your computer screen, as well as other features such as local and national weather.

This PC based emergency alert system will improve public notification of local, state and national emergency warnings. It will provide rapid notification of severe weather from the National Weather Service, state Amber Alerts for missing children and emergencies issued through the U.S. Department of Homeland Security or local officials.

The application can either run fully open on your desktop or as a minimized application showing the current temperature in your system tray. The system will sit idle in a personal computer until an alert is issued. When an emergency is declared, it will sound a warning through the PC, followed by a pop-up screen explaining the type of emergency. The user can reduce the screen after receiving the alert, but updated information will scroll across the bottom of the screen.

Desktop Alert Application Features

• Current Temperature Display on Your Computer
• Various Other Weather Current Conditions
• Severe Weather Alerts 
• Notification of Local Public Safety Alerts
• Notification of Breaking News
• Notification of AMBER Alerts
• Current Homeland Security Level
• National and Local Zoomable Weather Maps
• Your Personal
• It’s Absolutely FREE!!

The World Health Organization raised its pandemic alert level to 5, signaling that the swine flu virus is becoming increasingly adept at spreading between humans. That signals governments they should ready their pandemic preparedness plans and increase detection systems for potential cases.

With an elevated pandemic alert level, WHO might also issue travel advisories, warning against nonessential travel to regions battling outbreaks, trade restrictions, the cancellation of public events or border closures.

In the 2009 revision of the phase descriptions, WHO has retained the use of a six-phased approach for easy incorporation of new recommendations and approaches into existing national preparedness and response plans. The grouping and description of pandemic phases have been revised to make them easier to understand, more precise, and based upon observable phenomena.

Phases 1–3 correlate with preparedness, including capacity development and response planning activities, while Phases 4–6 clearly signal the need for response and mitigation efforts. Furthermore, periods after the first pandemic wave are elaborated to facilitate post pandemic recovery activities. In nature, influenza viruses circulate continuously among animals, especially birds. Even though such viruses might theoretically develop into pandemic viruses,

Phase 1 - No viruses circulating among animals have been reported to cause infections in humans.

Phase 2 -An animal influenza virus circulating among domesticated or wild animals is known to have caused infection in humans, and is therefore considered a potential pandemic threat.

Phase 3 - An animal or human-animal influenza reassortant virus has caused sporadic cases or small clusters of disease in people, but has notresulted in human-to-human transmission sufficient to sustain community-level outbreaks. Limited human-to-human transmission may occur under some circumstances, for example, when there is close contact between an infected person and an unprotected caregiver. However, limited transmission under such restricted circumstances does not indicate that the virus has gained the level of transmissibility among humans necessary to cause a pandemic.

Phase 4 - Is characterized by verified human-to-human transmission of an animal or human-animal influenza reassortant virus able to cause “community-level outbreaks.” The ability to cause sustained disease outbreaks in a community marks a significant upwards shift in the risk for a pandemic. Any country that suspects or has verified such an event should urgently consult with WHO so that the situation can be jointly assessed and a decision made by the affected country if implementation of a rapid pandemic containment operation is warranted. Phase 4 indicates a significant increase in risk of a pandemic but does not necessarily mean that a pandemic is a forgone conclusion.

Phase 5 - Is characterized by human-to-human spread of the virus into at least two countries in one WHO region. While most countries will not be affected at this stage, the declaration of Phase 5 is a strong signal that a pandemic is imminent and that the time to finalize the organization, communication, and implementation of the planned mitigation measures is short.

Phase 6 - The pandemic phase, is characterized by community level outbreaks in at least one other country in a different WHO region in addition to the criteria defined Phase 5. Designation of this phase will indicate that a global pandemic is under way. During the post-peak period, pandemic disease levels in most countries with adequate surveillance will have dropped below peak observed levels. The post-peak period signifies that pandemic activity appears to be decreasing; however, it is uncertain if additional waves will occur and countries will need to be prepared for a second wave. Previous pandemics have been characterized by waves of activity spread over months.

Once the level of disease activity drops, a critical communications task will be to balance this information with the possibility of another wave. Pandemic waves can be separated by months and an immediate “at-ease” signal may be premature. In the post-pandemic period, influenza disease activity will have returned to levels normally seen for seasonal influenza.

It is expected that the pandemic virus will behave as a seasonal influenza A virus. At this stage, it is important to maintain surveillance and update pandemic preparedness and response plans accordingly. An intensive phase of recovery and evaluation may be required.

6 Phases Courtesy of Who 

If you are worried about the spread of any type of flu virus or are wondering how to take care of yourself and your family you can follow these steps to prevent the spread of germs that cause respiratory illnesses such as swine flu.

Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Throw the tissue in the trash after you use it.

Wash your hands often with soap and water, especially after you cough or sneeze. Alcohol-based hand cleaners are also effective.

If you become ill with influenza-like symptoms, including fever, body aches, runny nose, sore throat, nausea, or vomiting or diarrhea, contact your health care provider, particularly if you are worried about your symptoms. Your health care provider will determine whether influenza testing or treatment is needed.

If you get sick with influenza, CDC recommends that you stay home from work or school and limit contact with others to keep from infecting them.

Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth. Germs spread this way.

Avoid touching door handles, shopping carts, public phones, or any other high use public fixture that might have been used by someone with the flu.

Carry wipes with you to clean the possible contaminated fixtures before touching them.

Avoid going to highly populated locations if you do not need to.  Such as the grocery store, malls, public restrooms, any event where you maybe in close proximity to others.

For more information about swine flu and pandemic outbreaks, visit www.cdc.gov/swineflu/ or http://www.pandemicflu.gov/.

Phase 4 is characterized by verified human-to-human transmission of an animal or human-animal influenza reassortant virus able to cause “community-level outbreaks.” The ability to cause sustained disease outbreaks in a community marks a significant upwards shift in the risk for a pandemic.

The human swine flu outbreak continues to grow in the United States and internationally. Today reports additional cases of confirmed swine influenza and a number of hospitalizations of swine flu patients. Internationally, the situation is more serious also, with additional countries reporting confirmed cases of swine flu. In response to the intensifying outbreak, pandemic alert level has been raised to Phase 4. A Phase 4 alert is characterized by confirmed person to person spread of a new influenza virus. The increase in the pandemic alert phase indicates that the likelihood of a pandemic has increased.

The Great American Smoke Out
 

Communities all over the nation will take part in the American Cancer Society’s Great American Smoke out. During this event, the consequences of tobacco use will be publicized and smokers are challenged to quit using tobacco for at least 24 hours. Read Full Article

 Flu Joke

This was a cute little joke I got from someone in an email, although Influenza is nothing to joke about we thought you might find this funny. Read Full Article

Each year the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and vaccine manufacturers try to predict which strains are most likely to cause flu epidemics for the next year Read Full Article

The Flu kills thousands of people in the United Kingdom (UK) every year. Among those in the risk group are poultry workers who are currently being urged to get a free flu shot. Read Full Article

A Japanese Family Sues

A Japanese family whose son died after taking Tamiflu is to sue the country’s Pharmaceutical and Medical Devices Agency. The 17-year-old died when he ran out of his home in his bare feet and was run over by a truck about two hours after taking Tamiflu. Read Full Article

If you have heart disease, you should get an annual flu shot. Studies have shown that death from the flu (influenza) is more common among people with cardiovascular disease than among people with any other chronic condition. Read Full Article

Asthma And Flu Shots

Adults with asthma are at high risk of developing complications after contracting the influenza virus, yet most adults with asthma do not receive an annual flu vaccination. Only one-third of all asthmatic adults and one-fifth of asthmatic adults younger than 50 years of age receive the flu vaccine annually. Read Full Article

People with diabetes are in a high risk group for Influenza. It can leave them open to health problems and increased risk of complications such as pneumonia and bronchitis.  Read Full Article

Pregnant moms are often overlooked as needing flu shots. After all, so many other things are restricted during pregnancy, including certain medications and foods.  Read Full Article