CDC Fudges FLU Data

Hoping that more people now see the misreported death rates are a scare tactic.  And interestingly, the CDC has so far lumped ALL respiratory illnesses in a single category so FLU data is not specifically reported based ONLY on FLU deaths.

Figures on flu deaths are misleading, usually too high, CDC says 

In a typical season, about 36,000 deaths are reported, but that number is too high and grossly misleading, analysts say. Depending on the influenza strain, actual rates vary widely from year to year.

By Thomas H. Maugh II, Los Angeles Times

August 27, 2010

Most reports about seasonal influenza cite an average of about 36,000 deaths in a typical season, but that number is too high and grossly misleading, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Thursday.

The actual average is a little more than 23,000, the agency reported in its Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report. But even that figure is misleading, the report added, because the numbers have ranged from as low as 3,300 deaths to nearly 50,000 over the last 30 years. The period in the analysis covers up to 2007 and does not include last year's H1N1 influenza pandemic.

"There is no average flu season," lead author Dr. David Shay of the CDC's National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases said in a news conference. The number of deaths "can vary dramatically" from year to year, he said.

The number of deaths in a given year depends on a variety of factors, including how long the flu season lasts, how many people get sick and who gets sick. But by far, the most important factor is the strain of flu that predominates in a given season.

When an H3N2 strain predominates, the number of deaths typically is about 2.7 times higher than in years when an H1N1 strain predominates. Researchers are not sure why that is, but it occurs at least in part because the H3N2 virus mutates more rapidly.

"Even if you have been sick with it in the past, you are more likely to get a subsequent infection," Shay said. It also tends to make more older people ill.

Shay noted that the 36,000 figure that is frequently quoted was an average for the decade of the 1990s, when H3N2 predominated in most years.

During the 30 years covered by the study, nearly 90% of flu-related deaths occurred in people over the age of 65, about 10% in those ages 19 to 64 and about 1% in those younger than 19. One thing that was dismaying about the recent swine flu outbreak: The majority of deaths linked to it occurred in the two younger age groups.

Shay noted that there is no way to tell before a flu season begins — or even a few weeks into the start of the season — which strain will predominate. "Flu really is unpredictable," he said. The best way to protect yourself, he added, is to follow the CDC's recommendation and get vaccinated every year.

thomas.maugh@latimes.com                                                    latimes.com/health/la-sci-flu-deaths-20100827,0,7767551.story

Excessive pH1N1 Deaths Escalate Pandemic Concerns

"...someone might be skeptical and say, well, normally you tell us 36,000 people died in an average flu season and we've only had 12,000 deaths. So this sounds like a pretty good year."
Read the complete story:
http://www.recombinomics.com/News/04051002/CDC_Death_Problem.html

Key Figure in CDC Vaccine Cover-Up Takes $2Million, Disappears

Central Figure in CDC Vaccine Cover-Up Absconds With $2M
by Robert F. Kennedy Jr

A central figure behind the Center for Disease Control's (CDC) claims disputing the link between vaccines and autism and other neurological disorders has disappeared after officials discovered massive fraud involving the theft of millions in taxpayer dollars. Danish police are investigating Dr. Poul Thorsen, who has vanished along with almost $2 million that he had supposedly spent on research.

Thorsen was a leading member of a Danish research group that wrote several key studies supporting CDC's claims that the MMR vaccine and mercury-laden vaccines were safe for children. Thorsen's 2003 Danish study reported a 20-fold increase in autism in Denmark after that country banned mercury based preservatives in its vaccines. His study concluded that mercury could therefore not be the culprit behind the autism epidemic.

His study has long been criticized as fraudulent since it failed to disclose that the increase was an artifact of new mandates requiring, for the first time, that autism cases be reported on the national registry. This new law and the opening of a clinic dedicated to autism treatment in Copenhagen accounted for the sudden rise in reported cases rather than, as Thorsen seemed to suggest, the removal of mercury from vaccines. Despite this obvious chicanery, CDC has long touted the study as the principal proof that mercury-laced vaccines are safe for infants and young children. Mainstream media, particularly the New York Times, has relied on this study as the basis for its public assurances that it is safe to inject young children with mercury -- a potent neurotoxin -- at concentrations hundreds of times over the U.S. safety limits.

Thorsen, who was a psychiatrist and not a research scientist or toxicologist, parlayed that study into a long-term relationship with CDC. He built a research empire called the North Atlantic Epidemiology Alliances (NANEA) that advertised its close association with the CDC autism team, a relationship that had the agency paying Thorsen and his research staff millions of dollars to churn out research papers, many of them assuring the public on the issue of vaccine safety.

The discovery of Thorsen's fraud came as the result of an investigation by Aarhus University and CDC which discovered that Thorsen had falsified documents and, in violation of university rules, was accepting salaries from both the Danish university and Emory University in Atlanta -- near CDC headquarters -- where he led research efforts to defend the role of vaccines in causing autism and other brain disorders. Thorsen's center has received $14.6 million from CDC since 2002.

Thorsen's partner Kreesten Madsen recently came under fierce criticism after damning e-mails surfaced showing Madsen in cahoots with CDC officials intent on fraudulently cherry picking facts to prove vaccine safety.

Leading independent scientists have accused CDC of concealing the clear link between the dramatic increases in mercury-laced child vaccinations beginning in 1989 and the epidemic of autism, neurological disorders and other illnesses affecting every generation of American children since. Questions about Thorsens's scientific integrity may finally force CDC to rethink the vaccine protocols since most of the other key pro vaccine studies cited by CDC rely on the findings of Thorsen's research group. These include oft referenced research articles published by the Journal of the American Medical Association, the American Journal of Preventive Medicine, the American Academy of Pediatrics, the New England Journal of Medicine and others. The validity of all these studies is now in question.

Citations
1. http://www.cphpost.dk/news/international/89-international/48229-researcher-accused-of-cheating-uni-out-of-millions.html
2. http://www.safeminds.org/news/pressroom/press_releases/20040518_AutismAuthorsNetwork.pdf
3. http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/06/opinion/06sat3.html
4. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/robert-f-kennedy-jr/time-for-cdc-to-come-clea_b_16550.html
5. http://www.ageofautism.com/2010/03/poul-thorsens-mutating-resume.html
6. http://www.rescuepost.com/files/thorsen-aarhus.pdf
7. http://www.cphpost.dk/news/international/89-international/48229-researcher-accused-of-cheating-uni-out-of-millions.html

Corruption at its very best

If you, like so many, beliveve that there is no conflict of interest in what the FDA does in its incestuous involvement with Big PhRMA, then all you have to do is realize the height of corruption as Julie Gerberding comes to Merck, heading up its vaccine division.

This is a very clear example of the government-corporate revolving door policy.

When we have ethics in government, this sort of thing doesn't happen for at least three years follwoing government employment.

And we all know how influential Merck has been at CDC and FDA, especially over the recent boost to its bottom line from swie flu vaccine sales, at a time when Gerberding was still with CDC.  

Dr. Julie Gerberding Named President of Merck Vaccines

WHITEHOUSE STATION, N.J. - (Business Wire) Merck & Co., Inc. (NYSE: MRK) today announced that Dr. Julie Gerberding has been named president of Merck Vaccines, effective January 25, 2010.

Dr. Gerberding led the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) as director from 2002 to 2009. During her tenure at CDC, Dr. Gerberding led the agency during more than 40 emergency response initiatives for health crises including anthrax bioterrorism, food-borne disease outbreaks, and natural disasters, and advised governments around the world on urgent public health issues such as SARS, AIDS, and obesity.

“Vaccines are a cornerstone of Merck's commitment to health and wellness," said Richard T. Clark, chairman and chief executive officer, Merck & Co., Inc. "We are delighted to welcome an expert of Dr. Gerberding's caliber to Merck. As a preeminent authority in public health, infectious diseases and vaccines, Dr. Gerberding is the ideal choice to lead Merck's engagement with organizations around the world that share our commitment to the use of vaccines to prevent disease and save lives."

"I’ve had the privilege in my previous work in academia and in the federal government to be a passionate advocate for public health priorities such as vaccines, which are an imperative component of global health development," said Dr. Gerberding. "I am very excited to be joining Merck where I can help to expand access to vaccines around the world."

Read complete story: http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/printpressstory.php?news=1098689

Yearly influenza vaccinations: a double-edged sword?

Influenza vaccinations
Summary - Yearly vaccination against seasonal influenza viruses is recommended for certain individuals at high risk of complications associated with influenza. It has been recommended in some countries, including the USA, that all children aged 6—59 months are vaccinated against seasonal influenza. However, it has been shown—mainly in animals—that infection with influenza A viruses can induce protective immunity to influenza A viruses of other unrelated subtypes. This so-called heterosubtypic immunity does not provide full protection, but can limit virus replication and reduce morbidity and mortality of the host. This type of immunity might be relevant to human beings when a new subtype of influenza A virus is introduced into the population, such as the new influenza A H1N1 virus responsible for the present influenza pandemic and the highly pathogenic avian influenza H5N1 viruses that are causing an ever increasing number of human infections with high mortality rates. Preventing infection with seasonal influenza viruses by vaccination might prevent the induction of heterosubtypic immunity to pandemic strains, which might be a disadvantage to immunologically naive people—eg, infants.
http://www.thelancet.com/journals/laninf/article/PIIS1473-3099(09)70263-4/fulltext
 
CDC Estimates of 2009 H1N1 Influenza Cases, Hospitalizations and Deaths in the United States, April – October 17, 2009
 
"Ever wonder why reports of the number of H1N1 cases, deaths and hospitalizations are all over the boards? It is because the CDC uses a "statistical modeling" method to estimate total numbers! These are ESTIMATES, and by their own admission, "It may never be possible to validate the accuracy of these figures."
http://cdc.gov/h1n1flu/estimates_2009_h1n1.htm

The Tenth in the FLU Series

UPDATE: 28 July - Startling New Evidence That The 'Swine Flu' Pandemic Is Man-Made

UPDATE: 18 July - Now that the propaganda is in full swing to turn your child's school into a vaccination clinic perhaps you'd like to wonder why HHS is acting to protect the vaccine manufacturer's from lawsuits in case things go wrong.

Just this move alone, following on an almost $2 Billion vaccine purchase of something unproven and by the time it gets to market won't be effective because of viral mutation, gives you a big window for questioning this move and contacting your member of congress to ask just why their constituents are being used as lab rats without informed consent and without protection for their health.
Legal immunity set for swine flu vaccine makers
------------------------------
UPDATE: 15 July - Last evening's news reports on the need you'll have to not be able to rely on just one dose of the rush-to-market and untested "swine flu" vaccine. You'll purportedly require up to three shots in addition to the "regular" flu shot which is announced to be pushed on you in September, ahead of the usual fall "flu" propaganda schedule, usually scheduled in October/November.

Please do your research now in order to protect your health and that of your loved ones, especially the children.

Please see new information added at the end of this article, and thank you.
------------------------------
Here at Natural Health News we've been posting on this topic for some time and there are nine other posts on the site, staring from last fall. Some of the posts contain links to our main URL (leaflady.org) where you'll find much more information.

Look at the recent marketing campaign (propaganda by any other name should smell so sweet) from HHS to get an idea how the plan is to co-opt undiscerning citizens into this insanity - http://www.hhs.gov/

Sebelius has said nothing about the swine flu vaccine, the fact it is made in chicken eggs and how this is a risk to people with chicken and chicken egg allergy (I am one but of course I know how to avoid this and am not the only allergy prone person).

We also know that Tamiflu is useless yet HHS is already spending billions on what may be a useless vaccine and a useless product.

from Newsmax.com
Vaccine May Be More Dangerous Than Swine FluTuesday, July 7, 2009
By: Dr. Russell Blaylock

An outbreak of swine flu occurred in Mexico this spring that eventually affected 4,910 Mexican citizens and resulted in 85 deaths. By the time it spread to the United States, the virus caused only mild cases of flu-like illness.

Thanks to air travel and the failure of public health officials to control travel from Mexico, the virus spread worldwide. Despite predictions of massive numbers of deaths and the arrival of doomsday, the virus has remained a relatively mild disease, something we know happens each year with flu epidemics.

Worldwide, there have only been 311 deaths out of 70,893 cases of swine flu. In the United States, 27,717 cases have resulted in 127 deaths. Every death is a tragedy, but such a low death rate should not be the basis of a draconian government policy.

It is helpful to recall that the Centers for Disease Control with the collusion of the media, constantly tell us that 36,000 people die from the flu each year, a figure that has been shown to be a lie. In this case, we are talking about 300 plus deaths for the entire world.

This virus continues to be an enigma for virologists. In the April 30, 2009 issue of Nature, a virologist was quoted as saying,“Where the hell it got all these genes from we don’t know.” Extensive analysis of the virus found that it contained the original 1918 H1N1 flu virus, the avian flu virus (bird flu), and two new H3N2 virus genes from Eurasia. Debate continues over the possibility that swine flu is a genetically engineered virus.

Naturally, vaccine manufacturers have been in a competitive battle to produce the first vaccine. The main contenders have been Baxter Pharmaceuticals and Novartis Pharmaceuticals, the latter of which recently acquired the scandal-ridden Chiron vaccine company. Both of these companies have had agreements with the World Health Organization to produce a pandemic vaccine.

The Baxter vaccine, called Celvapan, has had fast track approval. It uses a new vero cell technology, which utilizes cultured cells from the African green monkey. This same animal tissue transmits a number of vaccine-contaminating viruses, including the HIV virus.

The Baxter company has been associated with two deadly scandals. The first event occurred in 2006 when hemophiliac components were contaminated with HIV virus and injected in tens of thousands of people, including thousands of children. Baxter continued to release the HIV contaminated vaccine even after the contamination was known.

The second event occurred recently when it was discovered that Baxter had released a seasonal flu vaccine containing the bird flu virus, which would have produced a real world pandemic, to 18 countries. Fortunately, astute lab workers in the Czech Republic discovered the deadly combination and blew the whistle before a worldwide disaster was unleashed.

Despite these two deadly events, WHO maintains an agreement with Baxter Pharmaceuticals to produce the world’s pandemic vaccine.

Novartis, the second contender, also has an agreement with WHO for a pandemic vaccine. Novartis appears to have won the contract, since their vaccine is near completion. What is terrifying is that these pandemic vaccines contain ingredients, called immune adjuvants that a number of studies have shown cause devastating autoimmune disorders, including rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis and lupus.

Animal studies using this adjuvant have found them to be deadly. A study using 14 guinea pigs found that when they were injected with the special adjuvant, only one animal survived. A repeat of the study found the same deadly outcome.

So, what is this deadly ingredient? It is called squalene, a type of oil. The Chiron company, maker of the deadly anthrax vaccine, makes an adjuvant called MF-59 which contains two main ingredients of concern—squalene and gp120. A number of studies have shown that squalene can trigger all of the above-mentioned autoimmune diseases when injected.

The MF-59 adjuvant has been used in several vaccines. These vaccines, including tetanus and diphtheria, are the same vaccines frequently associated with adverse reactions.

I reviewed a number of studies on this adjuvant and found something quite interesting. Several studies done on human test subjects found MF-59 to be a very safe immune adjuvant. But when I checked to see who did these studies, I found—to no surprise—that they were done by the Novartis Pharmaceutical Company and Chiron Pharmaceutical Company, which have merged. They were all published in “prestigious” medical journals. Also, to no surprise, a great number of studies done by independent laboratories and research institutions all found a strong link between MF-59 and autoimmune diseases.

Squalene in vaccines has been strongly linked to the Gulf War Syndrome. On August 1991, Anthony Principi, Secretary of Veterans Affairs admitted that soldiers vaccinated with the anthrax vaccine from 1990 to 1991 had an increased risk of 200 percent in developing the deadly disease amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), also called Lou Gehrig’s disease. The soldiers also suffered from a number of debilitating and life-shortening diseases, such as polyarteritis nodosa, multiple sclerosis (MS), lupus, transverse myelitis (a neurological disorder caused by inflammation of the spinal cord), endocarditis (inflammation of the heart’s inner lining), optic neuritis with blindness and glomerulonephritis (a type of kidney disease).

Because squalene, the main ingredient in MF-59, can induce hyperimmune responses and induce autoimmunity, a real danger exists for prolonged activation of the brain’s immune cells, the microglia. This type of prolonged activation has been strongly associated with such diseases as multiple sclerosis, Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, ALS and possibly vaccine-related encephalitis. It has been shown that activation of the systemic immune system, as occurs with vaccination, rapidly activates the brain’s microglia at the same time, and this brain inflammation can persist for long periods.

So, how would the gp120 get into the brain? Studies of other immune adjuvants using careful tracer techniques have shown that they routinely enter the brain following vaccination. What most people do not know, even the doctors who recommend the vaccines, is that most such studies by pharmaceutical companies observe the patients for only one to two weeks following vaccination—these types of reactions may take months or even years to manifest.

It is obvious that the vaccine manufacturers stand to make billions of dollars in profits from this WHO/government-promoted pandemic. Novartis, the maker of the new pandemic vaccine, recently announced that they would not give free vaccines to impoverished nations—everybody pays.

One must keep in mind that once the vaccine is injected, there is little you can do to protect yourself—at least by conventional medicine. It will mean a lifetime of crippling illness and early death.

There are much safer ways to protect oneself from this flu virus, such as higher doses of vitamin D3, selective immune enhancement using supplements, and a good diet.
© 2009 Newsmax. All rights reserved.

Here is an eleventh opinion - Mandatory Swine Flu Vaccination Alert
and here is a related story

Is there a sinister plot afoot at CDC?

One former President seems to be very annoyed by the very many people who followed the tenet some years ago that they loved their country but could not at all trust the government.

I suppose I fall into that group because too often the government acts against the people and the roles their agencies are too play, while using ingenuous propaganda to convince us otherwise.

It is a daunting task to stay on top of the spin.

I liken the "spin" to be similar to some great photographs of weather abounding at Mt. Rainier this week.

One of my teachers, a woman from the Nootka Tribe on Vancouver Island BC, first taught me about the clouds over Mt. Rainier. She always said that when the clouds (lenticular) form, there is a need to pay attention, as there is something to be learned.

I think the timing of the following comment that tells me the government is not looking out for you during this flu season is a very good example of attending to the signs.

If you aren't oriented scientifially, this - in general - means that the CDC is pulling the wool over your eyes.

Mismatched Flu Antiviral Recommendations in the United StatesRecombinomics Commentary, December 8, 2008
Limited data on antiviral resistance, as well as the uncertainty regarding which influenza virus types or subtypes will circulate during the season, make it impossible to provide an indication of the prevalence of influenza viruses resistance to oseltamivir or the adamantanes (amantadine and rimantadine) nationally or regionally at this time. CDC has solicited a representative sample of viruses from WHO collaborating laboratories in the United States, and more specimens are expected as influenza activity increases.

Based on the level of oseltamivir resistance observed in only one influenza subtype, H1N1, and the persisting high levels of resistance to the adamantanes in H3N2 viruses, CDC continues to recommend the use of oseltamivir and zanamivir for the treatment or prevention of influenza in the United States.

The above comments are from recent CDC weekly reports on influenza. The statement on uncertainty is from the latest (week 48) update, while the statement on antiviral recommendations was in the week 46 report.

However, the antiviral situation in the United States is quite straight forward, and unlikely to change with additional near term data. Resistance to the adamantines is at or near 100% for H3N2, while resistance to oseltamivir (Tamiflu) is at or near 100% for H1N1. Since the vast majority of influenza A in the United States is H1N1 at this time, the current recommendations discourage use of adamantines, when most influenza A is sensitive, and encourage oseltamivir, when most influenza A is resistant, creating a significant mismatch in antiviral recommendations for the United States.

The basis for a prediction of near term stasis is base on results for this season for North America and Europe, where oseltamivir resistance is approximately 100% for H1N1 and adamantine resistance is approximately 100% for H3N2. Although resistance levels in H3N2 has been largely unchanged in recent seasons, the level of oseltamivir resistance (H274Y) has evolved significantly over the past few seasons, but the levels of 100% began to appear in the 2008 season in the southern hemisphere, and now is confirmed in the northern hemisphere for this season.

Initially, H274Y appeared on a number of H1N1 genetic backgrounds in patients not receiving oseltamivir. H274Y was reported in clade 2C (Hong Kong) in the 2005/2006 season in China. It then appeared in clade 1 (New Caledonia) in the United States and England in 2006/2007. Last season it was in clade 2B in the United States and England, but did not initially dominate. A second change, D3548G, which had been in clade 2C and clade 2A (Solomon Island) previously, was acquired by clade 2B via recombination, and this sub-clade, which both H274Y and D354G began to dominate.

In south countries in Europe (Norway, France, Russia) and North America (Canada) levels increased to more than 40% of H1N1 isolates. In the United States the level was closer to 10% because clade 2B and 2C were co-circulating and there was no reported H274Y in clade 2C in the United States. Moreover, most of clade 2B also did not have H274Y.

However, the following flu season in the summer hemisphere, the sub-clade with H274Y and D354G seed the season, and resistance levels rose to 100%, raising concerns that the new 2008/2009 season in the northern hemisphere would also be seeded by the same sub-clade and resistance would also increase to 100%. H1N1 resistance testing Europe and North America have confirmed the increase to 100%.

In the United States this season H274Y levels rose to close to 100% in clade 2B, and initial testing failed to identify clade 2C (which was at 100% adamantine resistance in the US last season). Thus, the levels of antiviral resistance in influenza A are related to the relative levels of H1N1 and H3N2, and at this time H1N1 levels are widespread and account for 80% or more of influenza A isolates in multiple regions.

As a result, the current antiviral recommendations in the United States are mismatched with the levels in co-circulation. The vast majority of influenza A is H1N1 which is oseltamivir resistance and adamantine sensitive, yet use of adamantines are discouraged and oseltamivir is encouraged in current CDC recommendations.

While we don't suggest getting the flu shot, or any shot for that matter, we do encourage good nutrition and the use of some specific herbs or supplements to stay healthy or help you reduce your reaction to flu or colds.

One of our favorites is garlic. And we are happy to note that we have a source for Wild Bears' garlic if you want to grow some in your garden.

In the interim you might get some nice organic garlic cloves, trim off their paper like outer covering and add them to a small jar after cracking them, and fail that jar with your choice of extra virgin olive oil (the kind sold in glass) or raw honey. Chewing up one of these cloves along with the EVOO or honey once or twice a day will do you more good than those shots, until the clouds pass.

P.S. - I am also known to add a shot of hot sauce (for the cayenne) and a bit of apple cider vinegar (ACV) to the mix, for good measure.