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Flu-like Symptoms? Diagnosis Needed

Flu-like Symptoms? Diagnosis Needed

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Maybe I spent too much time wallowing in viral topics for my dissertation, but I’m gradually getting a little concerned. I’m trying to disentangle coincidence, influenza, and another virus with “flu-like symptoms.”

The flu virus is spreading fast in the Southeast, with Georgia, Alabama and Florida reporting the highest activity, the CDC says. See the CDC weekly flu map.

James Brown died early Christmas morning. Phyllis Brown (widow of DeKalb County Sheriff-elect Derwin Brown, who was shot down in his driveway on the orders of his political opponent) has died – at 52 – with “flu-like symptoms.” (By the way, isn’t that odd? Brown-Brown? I’m assuming that the king of soul and the woman who wouldn’t give up aren’t related – anyone know for sure?).

Late last week, Ben (6) was sent home from school on the last day with a temp of 104. The doctor’s offices were completely mobbed with sick children (and adults) and we were there for hours. He’s still sick, and both John and I are heading in the same direction. Several friends and their children – same thing. I’m taking extra precautions and we’re got a semi-quarantine going here. I’m walking around disinfecting doorknobs and trying not to be obsessive.

Ben tested negative for both influenza and strep throat. We were told that it was an unidentified virus with “flu-like symptoms.” It started with high fever and a sore throat, and moved into dry coughing and sinus congestion. I’ve got albuterol on hand if he starts wheezing, but I’m concerned because he doesn’t get sick very often – and when he does, he doesn’t get high fevers like this.

Where is the diagnosis for what seems to be a somewhat dangerous and pervasive non-flu virus? Is anyone tracking this? Are the flu-like symptoms disguising another possible epidemic? These are the things that keep me up at night. I can’t find any regional stats at the CDC web site. Comment if you have any information.

Spray-on Viruses

Spray-on Viruses

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The FDA has approved a spray-on cocktail of six viruses for ready-to-eat meat (they say “meat and poultry,” but last time I checked, meat from chickens and turkeys was still meat).

The purified bacteriophages are designed to eat up the Listeria monocytogenes bacterium.

The bacterium can cause a serious infection called listeriosis, primarily in pregnant women, newborns and adults with weakened immune systems. In the United States, an estimated 2,500 people become seriously ill with listeriosis each year, according to the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Of those, 500 die.

Perhaps newborns and pregnant women and people with compomised immune systems should simply avoid Oscar Weiners? Or is that too much to expect? I remember being careful about this kind of thing when I was pregnant. Hey, wasn’t listeriosis the reason my hubby was supposed to clean out the kitty litter box? Are you telling me that cat feces are in those slices of bologna?

Consumers will not be aware which meat and poultry products have been treated with the spray, Mr. Zajac said. The Department of Agriculture will regulate the actual use of the product.

Oh, that gives me so much confidence, that does. I think I would still prefer a label saying so, so that people could make a choice. And regulation by the current Department of Agriculture is a joke. Maybe if they were doing their job for American consumers, we wouldn’t actually need spray-on viral coated food?

Intralytix, based in Baltimore, first petitioned the food agency in 2002 to allow the viruses to be used as an additive. It has since licensed the product to a multinational company, which intends to market it worldwide, Mr. Vazzana said.

They name the developer, but not the distributor. Not good. This “multi-national” company – who is it? Where is HQ?

Well, I’ve been waiting to see viruses used for good. I just wasn’t expecting to see the food supply as an early application. It’s probably a good idea in some ways, but there is some potential for things to go wrong. Seems like an easy target for bioterrorism to me. Also, I’m not sure why they would need six different kinds of viral bacteriophages. Why not just have one? Which viruses are they using, and what side effects might there be? What if the viruses themselves are contaminated, or what if conditions promote mutations? Then what?

Treatments that use bacteriophages to attack harmful bacteria have been a part of folk medicine for hundreds of years in India and for decades in the former Soviet Union.

I somehow don’t see folk medicine practitioners spraying viruses on food, do you?
What exactly were they doing in India and the former USSR? It would be good to know.