Google Maps Mashup Tracks Swine Flu

@darkstar misses his preview button: I don't buy it at all personally. ALL flu strains are potentially fatal. Not to get all conspiracy on you but I think something else is going on here.

OK, he's no chubby dud.

"Recombinomics, Inc. Founder and President, Henry L Niman earned a PhD at the University of Southern California in 1978. His dissertation focused on feline retroviral expression in tumors in domestic cats.

He took a postdoctoral position at Scripps Clinic and Research Foundation where he developed monoclonal antibody technology. He fused monoclonal antibody and synthetic peptide technologies and accepted a staff position at Scripps.

In 1982, he developed the flu monoclonal antibody, which is widely used throughout the pharmaceutical, biotech, and research industries in epitope tagging techniques. He also produced a broad panel of monoclonal antibodies against synthetic peptides of oncogenes and growth factors. These monoclonal antibodies were distributed worldwide to researchers by the National Cancer Institute. The antibodies identified novel related proteins which correlated with clinical parameters.

This technology was used to form ProgenX, a cancer diagnostic company that became Ligand Pharmaceuticals. Dr Niman subsequently identified protein expression patterns at the University of Pittsburgh. More recently, he became interested in infectious diseases while at Harvard Medical School. He then founded Recombinomics and discovered how viruses rapidly evolve. These latest findings are the subject of recent patent filings."

I guess it's a slow news week.

Compared to the national count for swine flu, there are probably more people walking around Manhattan with TB.

aeronaut

Any confirmation that "Niman" isn't some chubby dud in his basement making things up as he goes?

This would be a great way to avoid the newsanchor hyperventilating that is sure to come, if only we could verify the source.

@darkstar misses his preview button: I'm here in So Cal too. Have been out having fun all weekend and come back to the internet panicking about this crazy Swine Flu. Not cool internet, Not Cool!

bbobjoe

There's only two confirmed cases in Texas, and the markers are nowhere near where they have happened. Cibolo/SCUCISD is just northeast of San Antonio.

VashtiAbderus

@darkstar misses his preview button: Eh, I'm sorta kinda but not really worried.

I live in San Antonio and that seems to be one vector it's tracking towards. Wake me up when we get a couple dozen cases here. I'll head back to my parents ranch and load up on ammo for the coming zombie invasion.

random_texan

@darkstar misses his preview button: Run.

There are a lot of duplicates. For example, the outbreaks in Queens, NY seem to be duplicates of possibly 2 individual reports.

stradric

@darkstar misses his preview button: I'm worried about it.

And I miss my Preview button.

Am I the only one kinda seriously worried about this? I'm only about half a mile from a few of the pink markers.

darkstar misses his preview button

@Condalmo: Source? It's easy to fabricate stuff on the net, but if it's a real site, that's good :D

The Texas State Operations Center is referencing this map in an official situatio report posted yesterday, so I sure hope for their sake that it's accurate!

bmc

Seems inaccurate. I thought Mexico was saying 103 cases as of this morning--that is far less than I count in the map data...

Not to panic anyone or anything.

Thud

dude watch "the happening" with mark walberg. this is what we are in for lol.

craig198

@darkstar misses his preview button: We're not far from the St. Francis outbreak in NYC and I've got a kiddo in public school, so I'm a bit nervous. But we'll fare. Lots of hand washing and mouth covering.

I've been looking at the Google Trends graph for the latest pandemic scares: SARS, Bird Flu, and now Swine Flu. It looks like we're not quite to the Bird flu search hysteria yet:

[trends.google.com]

;)

To help fight swine flu, I'm going to eat as much bacon, pork chops, ribs and bar-B-Q as I can. I'm going to knock it out at the source.

Yay, another fear mongering tactic for people to go inject the government "flu" vaccines into themselves.

@minealone6: I like your thinking..

I suggest cracklin':

From
[thisiswhyyourefat.com]

I have a feeling that this particular strain has been out there for a while. You can only figure out which strain of flu a person has with a blood draw, and until just a few days ago doctors weren't ordering blood draws for people with flu symptoms. I know a few people who got the flu even though they had flu shots this past winter. They are doing blood draws now, and only 1 of the 40 confirmed cases was serious enough to cause hospitalization. That's about the same rate as any flu outbreak, though.

The researchers are probably looking to find out what actually killed the people in Mexico - was it a secondary infection, like the bacterial pneumonia that killed the majority of Spanish Flu victims a century ago?

sean98125

@random_texan: Except for the ammo shortage that is being reported, that sounds like a plan. Wait a sec..., this is sounding too convenient a coincidence.;)

THE WHO HAS JUST RAISED THE ALERT LEVEL TO 4. I think that's the orange level, I can never rememb...

Nedly

LOOK AT THE KEY. Pink markers are SUSPECT Purple markers are CONFIRMED Quite freaking out, there are more people who die of the common cold everyday! Geez.

CalderDawgs

Confirmed in scotland?! Since when did that happen? Last I heard it had only been confirmed somewhere else in europe.

supertod

Everyone today thought I was stupid for worrying about this. But now I realize that this only seems bad because it is new. It's really not that bad. And I have a very strong immune system.

weirdalfan27

Wow... This is a great idea. I remember when the local news station (Denver) had cages of chickens on set on the border to mark when the bird flu entered the state. I know it sounds ridiculous but it's true.

If there were tools like this to track all the major nation/worldwide issues maybe people would finally be able to know the real scope of the issues.

I hate to see how easy the news can get the mass of the population to stay glued to the tube 24/7. With a little speculation and a lot of exaggerated hysteria they can sink people into a state of helpless (albeit profitable) turmoil.

Sorry to rant, but this really bothers me.

BTW, I have never had a flu vacc (fortunately my job doesn't require it), I haven't been sick in 2 years, and I can't remember the last time I had the flu. I hate to think that parma companies are getting filthy rich off medicines that are required by many but don't work as advertised (not to mention the underlying risks involved).

Evan Plaice

Yeah it is looking bad but the non confirmed are so far not showing as with it in cases. Also not all are reported in usa news and things as they should. I would look at news on http://www.zolaenterprises.com just click the news link then click swine flu. There is an updated link at the bottom of the first article.

AnnEscatruck

@d3c509b aka Steve: I just got back from Memphis and I'm already missing Corky's BBQ ribs. mmmmm...

Evan Plaice

@random_texan: Today at class my friends and I where discussing the same topic. We thought of finding a building dtock up on food ,liquor and gunpower and play PS3 till the ends of time...sort of

I'm from Tijuana, Mexico.

In the morning they canceled school on the entire country.

We don't come back until May 6th.

I stayed in school until 3:00pm.

The university is a lonely place now.

I am at home now.

And now: the waiting game.

No need. The anti-viral drugs seem to be effective against this strain.

EltonLupus

Congrats on your immune system. :) But the other issue with this flu is that it's worse cases (and all deaths) are in the 20-50 age range. Meaning that while the actual flu isn't that bad, your immune system will flip out and kill you. So, like the Spanish flu, those that are affected are the healthy ones.

SampattiFlayer

You can learn more about the swine flu here:
[bit.ly]

@Nedly: Damn you, Pete Townsend!!!

PhilFR

@TheFu:

Not to mention more people die each day in car related accidents. STOP no one drive!

powaking

@darkstar misses his preview button: The CDC estimates that about 36,000 people died of flu-related causes each year, on average, during the 1990s in the United States.

So, does 100 cases of swine flu really matter at this point? Also, nobody .... **nobody** in the US has died from this strain.

Relax and stop picking your nose. ;)

TheFu

uhh.. not accurate.. Confirmed cases in Denton and Richardson Texas.

lengis

@CalderDawgs: Well, perhaps these people are performing high risk activities - you know, picking their nose?

TheFu

@darkstar misses his preview button: Relax. Think about the statistics a little. There are more Malaria cases in the USA TODAY than swine flu cases.

The news outlets make money by scaring you with "worst case, what **could** scenarios", not by providing just the facts.

There are 40 confirmed swine flu cased in the USA.
There are were 1800-ish malaria cases in the USA last Friday.

Wash your hands.
Cover your mouth when coughing and sneezing. When others cough or sneeze, don't be in the line of spray.
I'm not changing anything about my life. Work, basketball games, church - still going.

Oh and those masks ... what a joke. There is no proof they do anything to stop the spread of any flu virus.

TheFu

@d3c509b aka Steve: I think you've shown me my new favorite website!

@[www.cdc.gov] In 2002, there were 1,337 cases of malaria in the United States. Malaria has been eradicated in the US and most of these cases were imported.

Way to correct the facts on swine flu with more misleading "facts". Let the malaria paranoia begin!

blue_sheep

@blue_sheep: You are correct - most, if not all the malaria cases were imported.

I'm sorry my initial text was unclear.

BTW, I traveled to 3 different locations in 2008 where malaria was known to exist along with some other nasty infections. I didn't take any anti-malaria medications based on recommendation from a friend who had malaria previously. I did wear 30% deet as recommended by the CDC when I was in high risk activities like hiking in very dense forests. I didn't wear it daily. Deet completely rocks!

TheFu

Looks like there might be one in Orlando, FL ORLANDO, Fla. -- Eyewitness News has learned of Orlando's first confirmed case of swine flu... http://www.wftv.com/news/19311020/detail.html

DallasSilus

Map is not up to date. That 7 year old in Dallas County attended Canyon Creek Elementary School in Richardson, TX. The school is closed for a week.

SubhagyaCadiots

@blue_sheep: malaria was leet in 2002?

acatzr800

What happens when niman get's the flu?! It's like 28 days later!

@blue_sheep: "In 2002, there were 1,337 cases of malaria in the United States." See, now I can't tell if you're joking.

To be perfectly honest, people worrying so much confuses me. The symptoms of swine flu vs. bovine flu are extremely similar. The only way we can differentiate is through serological testing, and treatment is the same either way. It's a virus, so it's extremely difficult to kill off, and medications for the regular flu only treat the symptoms, they don't actually attack the organism responsible for causing the infestation. People in mexico are dying from it because of their lacking healthcare system, not because the virus is anymore deadly or severe. Granted, it seems to spread alot easier, but that's really not grounds for the level of concern people are putting on this. So long as you see a doc, you'll be fine. It's just the flu...

NevilleScrimmer

How can I contact this guy?I have updates for some european regions

LeopoldLeda

Another map: http://idemc.org

ChalmersSwan

@Neville: Are you aware that "just the flu" killed 100 million people in 1918-1919?

Jason

Here is a very interesting interview with Dr. Niman, the creator of this mashup:
[www.wpxi.com]

Bob Twiggs

@PhilFR: Ha!

gpzbc

Is it the same map on every page I visit? I've been tracking the spread at www.swineflutrackingmap.com
They have two different maps there. I just wonder how up to date these could be. Seems like they will be hard to maintain as the virus spreads (like a virus).

Anyone got a better link?

Clu Hendrix

I know there is at least one confirmed case where I life and it isn't showing up on there.

idogis1

If you want to learn more about this virus strain and how it spreads, visit flutrackers.com

TrixRhea

A very good swine flu dashboard is at: http://theairdb.com/swine-flu/heatmap.html I particulary like the fact that you can import both timeline and heatmap as iGoogle gadget.

SusmitaJagan

This look is either not up-to-date or is just an uncontrolled mishap. In Europe we have various confirmed cases not showing up on this map. Reading above comments about misplaced 'balloons' strengthens my opinion this just just show. It's a pity that a nice looking map with incorrect info is being treated as real info - people are gong to act upon it ..... the real risk of our web !

SuvarnarekhaZeikfried

another swine flu help here http://swine-flu-help.blogspot.com/

LaceyLlama