NPR Series: Swine Flu: The Second Wave https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=112560128 Public health officials are preparing for the swine flu to make a strong comeback in the Northern hemisphere this fall, possibly infecting half the U.S. en Copyright 2024 NPR - For Personal Use Only Story API Shim 1.2.23 Mon, 04 Nov 2024 00:31:40 -0500 https://media.npr.org/images/podcasts/primary/npr_generic_image_300.jpg?s=200 NPR Series: Swine Flu: The Second Wave https://www.npr.org/series/112560128/swine-flu-the-second-wave For Navajos, Desert 'Tea' Fosters Kinship With Heritage And Nature Some Navajo are trying to bring back their traditional food culture, including drinking Navajo "tea." It's brewed with a plant called greenthread that thrives in the mid-summer heat of the Southwest. Tue, 29 Aug 2017 15:40:49 -0400 https://www.npr.org/sections/thesalt/2017/08/29/546817827/for-navajos-desert-tea-fosters-kinship-with-heritage-and-nature https://www.npr.org/sections/thesalt/2017/08/29/546817827/for-navajos-desert-tea-fosters-kinship-with-heritage-and-nature

Some Navajo are trying to bring back their traditional food culture, including drinking Navajo "tea." It's brewed with a plant called greenthread that thrives in the mid-summer heat of the Southwest.

]]> Lela Nargi American Indians Hit Hard By Swine Flu The mortality rate from the virus is four times higher among American Indians and Alaska Natives than any other racial or ethnic group. Officials blame the discrepancy on crowded living conditions, a higher incidence of complications from pre-existing conditions and poor access to health care facilities. Fri, 25 Dec 2009 00:18:00 -0500 https://www.npr.org/2009/12/25/121435388/american-indians-hit-hard-by-swine-flu https://www.npr.org/2009/12/25/121435388/american-indians-hit-hard-by-swine-flu

The mortality rate from the virus is four times higher among American Indians and Alaska Natives than any other racial or ethnic group. Officials blame the discrepancy on crowded living conditions, a higher incidence of complications from pre-existing conditions and poor access to health care facilities.

]]> Laurel Morales U.S. Recalls 800,000 Swine Flu Vaccine After massive efforts to convince the public that it should get vaccinated against the swine flu virus, the government Tuesday recalled 800,000 doses of vaccine targeted to children. The recall, which was based on potency concerns, may lead to fresh worries that the government rushed to get the product on the market too quickly. Tue, 15 Dec 2009 16:00:00 -0500 https://www.npr.org/2009/12/15/121480816/u-s-recalls-800-000-swine-flu-vaccine https://www.npr.org/2009/12/15/121480816/u-s-recalls-800-000-swine-flu-vaccine After massive efforts to convince the public that it should get vaccinated against the swine flu virus, the government Tuesday recalled 800,000 doses of vaccine targeted to children. The recall, which was based on potency concerns, may lead to fresh worries that the government rushed to get the product on the market too quickly.

]]> Joanne Silberner Flu Pandemic Much Milder Than Expected Last spring, experts thought it was possible swine flu would kill 1 out of every 100 people who got the virus. But the death rate so far is around 1 out of every 2,000. The CDC says the number of children who've died is troublesome, however, and worries if people think the threat is over, they'll be less likely to get vaccinated. Tue, 08 Dec 2009 00:58:00 -0500 https://www.npr.org/2009/12/08/121184706/flu-pandemic-much-milder-than-expected https://www.npr.org/2009/12/08/121184706/flu-pandemic-much-milder-than-expected Last spring, experts thought it was possible swine flu would kill 1 out of every 100 people who got the virus. But the death rate so far is around 1 out of every 2,000. The CDC says the number of children who've died is troublesome, however, and worries if people think the threat is over, they'll be less likely to get vaccinated.

]]> Richard Knox Impact Of Swine Flu Examined Where we are in the course of the swine flu epidemic? Has the H1N1 virus behaved as expected? What about the production and distribution of vaccine? Dr. Anne Schuchat, director of the National Center For Immunization and Respiratory Diseases, discusses the severity and impact of swine flu so far. Wed, 25 Nov 2009 16:00:00 -0500 https://www.npr.org/2009/11/25/120846065/impact-of-swine-flu-examined https://www.npr.org/2009/11/25/120846065/impact-of-swine-flu-examined Where we are in the course of the swine flu epidemic? Has the H1N1 virus behaved as expected? What about the production and distribution of vaccine? Dr. Anne Schuchat, director of the National Center For Immunization and Respiratory Diseases, discusses the severity and impact of swine flu so far.

]]> Nationwide Reports Of Flu-Like Illness Health officials have been using this reporting system for 25 years to get a relative idea of where and how influenza is affecting people across the nation. Fri, 20 Nov 2009 16:14:00 -0500 https://www.npr.org/2009/11/20/113885292/nationwide-reports-of-flu-like-illness https://www.npr.org/2009/11/20/113885292/nationwide-reports-of-flu-like-illness

Health officials have been using this reporting system for 25 years to get a relative idea of where and how influenza is affecting people across the nation.

]]> As Yule Approaches, Santas Seek H1N1 Help Holiday season is colliding with swine flu season, and that has Santas concerned. The cheerful Christmas ambassadors come in contact with millions of children each year, and many are being advised to take special precautions. One Santa organization has petitioned a member of Congress to help elevate them to a priority status for the H1N1 vaccine. Ernest Berger, president of the nonprofit volunteer group Santa America, says Santas should be considered seriously for the vaccine because of their close contact with large groups of children. Thu, 19 Nov 2009 16:00:00 -0500 https://www.npr.org/2009/11/19/120583700/as-yule-approaches-santas-seek-h1n1-help https://www.npr.org/2009/11/19/120583700/as-yule-approaches-santas-seek-h1n1-help Holiday season is colliding with swine flu season, and that has Santas concerned. The cheerful Christmas ambassadors come in contact with millions of children each year, and many are being advised to take special precautions. One Santa organization has petitioned a member of Congress to help elevate them to a priority status for the H1N1 vaccine. Ernest Berger, president of the nonprofit volunteer group Santa America, says Santas should be considered seriously for the vaccine because of their close contact with large groups of children.

]]> FDA Reassures Doctors Skeptical Of H1N1 Vaccine Most doctors fully support the H1N1 vaccine, but there are a few who won't back it. Because patients trust their doctors the most for medical decisions, the FDA is trying to assure these doctors of the vaccine's safety. Wed, 18 Nov 2009 00:56:00 -0500 https://www.npr.org/2009/11/18/120498587/fda-reassures-doctors-skeptical-of-h1n1-vaccine https://www.npr.org/2009/11/18/120498587/fda-reassures-doctors-skeptical-of-h1n1-vaccine Most doctors fully support the H1N1 vaccine, but there are a few who won't back it. Because patients trust their doctors the most for medical decisions, the FDA is trying to assure these doctors of the vaccine's safety.

]]> Joanne Silberner Swine Flu Vaccine Access May Depend On Location It appears some states are doing better than others with the availability and distribution of the swine flu vaccine. In California, for example, health officials are reporting that some high-risk people will not have access to the vaccine until 2010. Tue, 17 Nov 2009 16:00:00 -0500 https://www.npr.org/2009/11/17/120510419/swine-flu-vaccine-access-may-depend-on-location https://www.npr.org/2009/11/17/120510419/swine-flu-vaccine-access-may-depend-on-location It appears some states are doing better than others with the availability and distribution of the swine flu vaccine. In California, for example, health officials are reporting that some high-risk people will not have access to the vaccine until 2010.

]]> Sarah Varney Flu Funds Boost Local Health Budgets The federal government has allocated more than $1 billion to help cash-strapped local health departments hire staff to distribute the H1N1 vaccine. The money has allowed some departments to rehire staff they had recently let go. Fri, 13 Nov 2009 00:01:00 -0500 https://www.npr.org/2009/11/13/120353109/flu-funds-boost-local-health-budgets https://www.npr.org/2009/11/13/120353109/flu-funds-boost-local-health-budgets

The federal government has allocated more than $1 billion to help cash-strapped local health departments hire staff to distribute the H1N1 vaccine. The money has allowed some departments to rehire staff they had recently let go.

(Image credit: George Frey)

]]> Kelley Weiss