CDC Says It is Still Counting Hospitalizations and Deaths Due to Swine Flu - Is Reuters Wrong??

[St Michael]

CDC stops swine flu death count at 300
Fri Jul 24, 2009 11:06am EDT

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - More than 300 people have died from the new pandemic swine flu virus, U.S. health officials said on Friday, but they said the virus was so widespread they were ceasing the official count.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said 43,771 cases of H1N1 influenza had been officially confirmed, with 302 deaths.

The pandemic spread globally in less than two months and has infected people in 160 countries, killing 800 people, the World Health Organization said. The WHO numbers do not include the latest CDC count.

Health experts say millions have likely been infected worldwide, but doctors can only test a fraction of suspected cases. Flu tests are expensive and unreliable and confirming H1N1 swine flu is difficult.

Health officials are now working with companies to test and make a vaccine against H1N1 to be delivered alongside seasonal influenza vaccines.

(Editing by Mohammad Zargham)

[Jeremy]

Re: CDC stops swine flu death count at 300

I understand not being able to count the official number of cases. There are too many.

But it is disconcerting, to say the least, that they would stop counting the number of deaths.

[Commonground]

Re: CDC stops swine flu death count at 300

Guess they won't be giving a "ball park figure" either?

[prepdeb]

Re: CDC stops swine flu death count at 300

I am so disappointed.
If our dedicated part time trackers can do the job, one would expect the professionals to be capable.
Surely, with all the time and money that has been spent on pandemic planning, they have developed software and methods.

As a taxpayer, can I request a refund for my share of the pandemic planning money? Only kidding, of course.

[Chance]

Re: CDC stops swine flu death count at 300

Talk about putting your head in the sand! If we don't count it, it doesn't exist!

[Shiloh]

Re: CDC stops swine flu death count at 300

If this is true, I am certain someone will get the info under the Freedom of Information Act.
Besides, they are behind in their count.

[wotan]

Re: CDC stops swine flu death count at 300

I am so disappointed.
If our dedicated part time trackers can do the job, one would expect the professionals to be capable.
Surely, with all the time and money that has been spent on pandemic planning, they have developed software and methods.

As a taxpayer, can I request a refund for my share of the pandemic planning money? Only kidding, of course.

Exactly, as a taxpayer, I expect them to do their job.

[HenryN]

Re: CDC stops swine flu death count at 300

Talk about putting your head in the sand! If we don't count it, it doesn't exist!

The CDC will DEFINITELY count, but will not publish numbers.

[St Michael]

Re: CDC stops swine flu death count at 300

Mark your calendars, folks.

We've passed a turning point, and in retrospect we'll look back at this headline as one of the most important bellwether events of this pandemic.

[wotan]

Re: CDC stops swine flu death count at 300

The CDC will DEFINITELY count, but will not publish numbers.

If they don't publish, the media won't report. If the media won't report, the public won't know it is still going on. Therefore, the vast bulk of the (US) population won't think they need to be worried. It's not even on the edge of the radar, it just went completely off the scope.

[Pirante]

Re: CDC stops swine flu death count at 300

I is once again, only a part of the continuing increase in information reduction. As things worsen, they gradually step down their reporting in various areas, on various subjects.

Ignorance may not be strength per se, but it does prevent panic.

This has all been very well planned in advance I'm sure. I mean, think about it, if the CDC had stated that they were stopping death counts say... 3 or 4 weeks after the pandemic started, how do you think the public would have reacted? Now, with most of the public believing the worst is over and that they have no reason to worry. They hear the CDC's very weak explanation and think "well i guess that makes sense" Because with all of the lack of information, to them wide spread no longer means serious. After all... its no worse than the seasonal flu.... right?

[HenryN]

Re: CDC stops swine flu death count at 300

I is once again, only a part of the continuing increase in information reduction. As things worsen, they gradually step down their reporting in various areas, on various subjects.

Ignorance may not be strength per se, but it does prevent panic.

This has all been very well planned in advance I'm sure. I mean, think about it, if the CDC had stated that they were stopping death counts say... 3 or 4 weeks after the pandemic started, how do you think the public would have reacted? Now, with most of the public believing the worst is over and that they have no reason to worry. They hear the CDC's very weak explanation and think "well i guess that makes sense" Because with all of the lack of information, to them wide spread no longer means serious. After all... its no worse than the seasonal flu.... right?

Yes, the data dearth is planned and the public is well into a "see no evil, hear no evil , speak no evil" mode.

[theforeigner]

Re: CDC stops swine flu death count at 300

This is outrageous !!!

The people have a right to know how this pandemic develop, it concerns our lives.

This is a VERY dark and sad day.

Isen?t there somthing in the law saying that the people have the LEGAL right to get the information when an illness is of a nature that is a serious threath to the people???
I belive there is, and my suggestion is that somone who knows how sue the Institution/goverment who refuse to publishe H1N1 death tolls to make them publish the death figures.

Anyone know of somone who is capable of doing that?

[St Michael]

Re: CDC stops swine flu death count at 300

This is outrageous !!!

The people have a right to know how this pandemic develop, it concerns our lives.

This is a VERY dark and sad day.

Isen?t there somthing in the law saying that the people have the LEGAL right to get the information when an illness is of a nature that is a serious threath to the people???

I belive there is, and my suggestion is that somone who knows how sue the Institution/goverment who refuse to publishe H1N1 death tolls to make them publish the death figures.

Anyone know of somone who is capable of doing that?

In the US, it depends on whether the government declares a state of emergency over the pandemic. Up till that point, FOIA (Freedom of Information Act) requests should be honored. After that point, the government doesn't have to do anything at the request or demand of the public that it deems contrary to the exigencies of the state of emergency.

Of course, FOIA requests take a lot of time to file and fulfill, making them a moot point in a rapidly evolving pandemic.

[Laidback Al]

Re: CDC stops swine flu death count at 300

The indignation in this thread is appropriate. It is an affront to Americans and to everyone else around the world who are carefully watching the progress of this pandemic.

FluTrackers members are currently tracking H1N1 deaths in the USA (and other countries as well). We will continue to track and post information on individual deaths regardless of actions by the CDC. The members and posters here are some of the best flutrackers from around the globe and we will keep posting information on H1N1 deaths on the site until the pandemic has passed or we are overrun and inundated by the worldwide body count.