| Increase in H1N1 Cases in The Ukraine
May Suggest Deadlier Flu Wave Imminent
The number of influenza related cases in the Ukraine have dramatically
risen, reversing a downturn which may represent a deadlier flu
wave in that region and possibly the entire Northern Hemisphere
in 2010.
The are now 2,690,563 cases of flu and acute respiratory illness
(ARI) and 156,272 hospitalized in the Ukraine. Deaths have passed
to 500 mark, but the above numbers show a major jump in cases,
which are 143,961 higher than two days ago. Donetsk increased
16,352 to 225,476 and Dnipropetrovsk increased 15,236 to 297,971.
This new wave suggests similar results will be seen in the region,
setting the stage for a major peak throughout the northern hemisphere
in early 2010.
In addition, media reports said that over 200 fatalities have
been H1N1 lab confirmed. The fatal cases should lead to a rapid
increase in additional viral sequences reported from Ukraine.
Ukraine
and Norway
have recently experienced an outbreak of a severe flu strain,
similar to H1N1, but
far more lethal. This virus has been known to cause bleeding
of the lungs, and contains some similarities to the flu of 1918
- namely in the receptors to which the virus binds.
Lung hemorrhaging is being caused by the same mutation that has
been reported in China, Norway, France, and the Ukraine as having
a receptor binding domain of D225G. In the United States, there
has been reports of fatalities in patients with hemorrhaged lungs
and confirmed cases of the mutation have been found in both Illinois
and Utah suggesting the upgraded viral strain is active in the
U.S.
Reference Source 220, 242, 244
December 16, 2009
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