US : ‘Swine flu’ strain returns; dramatic rise in deaths of young adults, children

Article via Washington Post, excerpt :

" The H1N1 virus responsible for the 2009 global pandemic is back. State health officials from across the country say the resurgence is resulting in a dramatic rise in flu deaths in young and middle-aged adults and in children this season.

While the reported death tolls so far are only a fraction of what they were four years ago, they are significantly higher than last year. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said the flu has been killing at epidemic levels since mid-January."

Lawyer: 6 clients say they were injected as kids with malaria at Austrian clinic

Via The Washington Post, excerpt :

" VIENNA — The number of people claiming they were injected with the parasite causing malaria at a Vienna psychiatric ward while teenagers grew to seven Thursday, with the lawyer representing six of them saying their accounts, given separately, are credible because they are similar."

Swine flu spikes in Mexico after hiatus, but government says cases are within normal range

Via The Washington Post, excerpt :

" Swine flu is back in Mexico, the epicenter of a world pandemic three years ago that panicked people around the globe.

The country registered more cases of all types of flu and more incidents of the H1N1 strain, originally called swine flu, in January than in all of 2011, federal health officials said Tuesday."

US : Va. officials warn of possible measles exposure on train

Via The Washington Post :

" A foreign visitor to Northern Virginia had the measles, and state health officials issued an alert Sunday for anyone who was on the train on which the visitor arrived.

A Health Department spokeswoman said the visitor took Amtrak’s Northeast regional train No. 171 Wednesday from Philadelphia. Maribeth Brew­ster, the department’s risk communications manager, said passengers could have been exposed and should check their vaccination status.

Measles, which is highly contagious, can be spread through coughing and sneezing and by contact with nasal, oral or throat secretions from an infected person.

Passengers who develop symptoms should check with their health-care providers. Early symptoms include fever and cough; a rash comes later. Symptoms from Aug. 17 exposure could develop until Sept. 7, Brewster said."