As noted previously, for the clearest, best-informed information on the Mexico influenza outbreak, we don’t listen to or read the mainstream media, we get it from a worldwide network of doctors and researchers. Here’s the latest from ProMed:

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[1] Some questions
Date: Tue 28 Apr 2009
From: Roger Morris

Some questions
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For those of us who are involved in international work on influenza epidemiology and control and responding to the many media enquiries, there is a very large information gap in relation to diagnosis and epidemiology of the Mexican influenza. What is known of the genetic structure of this virus? It has been called a swine flu, but no evidence has been put forward to allow this statement to be evaluated. I have received information that it is a reassortant, which has genetic components from 4 different sources, but nothing official has been released on this. Where does it fit phylogenetically? Is there any genetic variation of significance among the isolates investigated? Would this help to explain the difference in severity of disease between Mexico and other countries?

It is also stated that it should be diagnosed by RT-PCR, without clarifying which PCR. I have received information that the standard PCR for H1 does not reliably detect this virus. Is this true? What is an appropriate series of diagnostic steps for samples from suspect cases? Could we have an authoritative statement on these issues from one of the laboratories, which has been working with the virus?
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Professor Roger Morris
Emeritus Professor of Animal Health
Massey University EpiCentre, PN623
New Zealand

[The genome sequences of several US isolates are now available at GenBank: see . – Moderator CP]

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[2] New Zealand
Date: Tue 28 Apr 2009
Source: Ministry of Health, New Zealand, Media Release [edited]

Results of H1N1 (swine flu) testing
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Director of Public Health, Dr Mark Jacobs announced tonight [28 Apr 2009] that results from some of the Rangitoto College party who tested positive to influenza A on Sunday [25 Apr 2009], have also tested positive for swine flu H1N1.

Results from 3 of the samples were received earlier this evening [28 Apr 2009] from the World Health Organization regional laboratory in Melbourne and all tested positive for the same strain of swine flu. Testing continues on a 4th sample.

[…]

“Currently, women’s annual earnings are 78 percent of men’s earnings – or for every dollar a man earns, you earn 78 cents. Last year the figure was 77 cents – women gained one cent. Women face a wage gap at every educational level. Women of color are impacted even more. African-American women earned 30 percent less and Latinas earned 42 percent less than did men as a whole.”

— Marjorie Broward, American Association of University Women, commenting on Equal Pay Day, April 28, 2009 *

* I would have posted this yesterday but I was busy trying to earn my 78 percent.

One of the men pictured does not have his mouth open

What passes for Republican leadership these days is hurt and angry that Sen. Arlen Specter (D – Penn.) got out alive.

Michael Steele: “I hope Arlen Specter’s party change outrages you. …He told us all to go jump in the lake today,” Steele wrote in a fundraising e-mail sent to Republicans Tuesday. Facing the prospect of a primary loss because of “his left-wing voting record,” said Steele, Specter had “peddled his services–and his vote–to the leftist Obama Democrats who aim to remake America with their leftist plan.”

Rush Limbaugh: “A lot of people say, ‘Well, Specter, take [Sen. John] McCain with you. And his daughter [Meghan]. Take McCain and his daughter with you if you’re gonna…” he told listeners, dissolving in laughter. “…..It’s ultimately good. You’re weeding out people who aren’t really Republicans,” he said.

Newt Gingrich: Arlen Specter’s decision to leave the Republican Party in name as he left it in spirit over the stimulus vote is further proof that high taxes, big spending and big government are unacceptable to Republican voters.

Arlen Specter: “I don’t have to say anything to them. They’ve said it to me,” Specter said, when asked in a Capitol corridor about abandoning the Republicans…”I now find my political philosophy more in line with Democrats than Republicans.”