Quick H7N9 Notes: Crof’s Links & The Return Of Scott McPherson’s Blog

 

 

# 7056

 

Crof over at Crofsblog  has put together a terrific set of links for searching H7N9, along with the `core’ people to follow on emerging infectious diseases.  Follow the link to read:

 

Following H7N9 on your own

Amazing how one upstart little virus can hijack my blog. I'm about to try catching up on some of the many other stories I usually cover, but I realize some visitors are even more H7N9-obsessed than I (which is saying something). So if you're that kind of person, and really don't want to scroll through reports on all the other ills that flesh is heir to, here's a basic list of H7N9 resources.

 

Additionally, I’m pleased to announce that after a prolonged sabbatical, Scott McPherson is getting his feet wet again, and has posted a blog on the emergence of H7N9.

 

All eyes on China as novel influenza virus emerges

Posted on Tuesday, April 2, 2013 at 09:03AM by The world woke up Easter Sunday to some pretty unsettling news.  No, it was not about that twit in North Korea.  The news came out of China, and it hit hard enough for me to start blogging again.

 

China is the source of a novel H7N9 influenza virus.  And the virus is infecting, and killing, humans.

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Referral: Scott McPherson’s Computerworld Blog

 

 

# 4470

 

 

My good buddy, fellow Floridian, and flu blogger Scott McPherson is also deservedly recognized as one of the top IT guys in the nation, and serves as the CIO of the Florida House of Representatives.

 

As such, he occasionally blogs on IT issues for Computerworld.  Today, he melds two of his areas of expertise into a single blog entitled:

 

April 5, 2010 - 10:32 A.M.

Don't write off H1N1 pandemic... yet

 

You may have noticed an upswing in media reporting on swine flu, or H1N1, cases.  This upswing is in relation to the sudden upswing in human cases of swine flu in the southern states of Georgia, South Carolina and Alabama.

 

The truth is that H1N1 cases are on the upswing in many states.  This could be due to several factors, including the beginning of the predicted "third wave" of pandemic influenza.  Or it could be the fact that influenza "smoulders," and we have a few little patches of fire that need to be put out.

 

One day, the third wave will occur.  It might be the start now, or it could be later in 2010.  Or it could be even in 2011.  No one knows for certain.

 

In Georgia, after a period of weeks of inactivity, hospitalizations from H1N1 have spiked.  And so have deaths.  There were more hospitalizations in two weeks from H1N1 in Georgia than in October, 2009, when the pandemic's second wave hit its stride.

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And just to prove that when Scott is on a roll, he can multitask like a duel core processor, he’s posted a new blog on his own site today as well.

 

CIDRAP report reminds us that H1N1 was/is worse than we thought

Over at Computerworld, I have just delivered my first blog in over six months!  And you thought I blogged slowly over here!

Anyway, I want you to go over there and read it, because I am not supposed to post their blog over here, and vice versa. 

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Both blogs are well worth reading.

 

The report Scott writes about today is one I briefly covered before I began my recent trek cross the half the country.  You can read my coverage in Study: Years Of Life Lost Due To 2009 Pandemic.

Referral: The Return Of Scott McPherson

 

 

# 4246

 

 

In this age of full disclosure, I must admit that fellow Floridian and Blogger Scott McPherson is a buddy of mine.   And while I wouldn’t want him to hear about it, I would also secretly admit that I enjoy his writing style immensely.  

 

But Scott is also a thinker, and he has access to other thinkers in the world of influenza.  And so cloaked within his whimsical prose you will often find nuggets of insight. 

 

Again, don’t tell him I said so. 

 

Today, after too long an absence, Scott returns with a blog that parlays Mr. Potatohead, the spread of H1N1 though the hinterlands of rural China, and the eventual evolution of the virus.

 

I won’t spoil it by saying more.  Except, Welcome Back Scott.

Swine flu pandemic over? Far from over.

GAO: Avoiding A Net Loss During A Pandemic

 

(UPDATED)

 

# 3898

 

This is something my good buddy, and fellow blogger, Scott McPherson has written about several times:

 

Whether the Internet will handle the load if millions of people are stuck at home during a pandemic.

Scott is the CIO of the Florida House of Representatives, and eminently qualified to opine on this issue.  But more on that in a bit. 

 

First, the GAO (Government Accountability Office) has just published a study, entitled:

 

Influenza Pandemic: Key Securities Market Participants Are Making Progress, but Agencies Could Do More to Address Potential Internet Congestion and Encourage Readiness

GAO-10-8 October 26, 2009

Highlights Page (PDF)  

Full Report (PDF, 77 pages)   

Recommendations (HTML)

 

 

I’ve reproduced excerpts from the summary below.  

 

Summary

Concerns exist that a more severe pandemic outbreak than 2009's could cause large numbers of people staying home to increase their Internet use and overwhelm Internet providers' network capacities. Such network congestion could prevent staff from broker-dealers and other securities market participants from teleworking during a pandemic.

 

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is responsible for ensuring that critical telecommunications infrastructure is protected. GAO was asked to examine a pandemic's impact on Internet congestion and what actions can be and are being taken to address it, the adequacy of securities market organizations' pandemic plans, and the Securities and Exchange Commission's (SEC) oversight of these efforts. GAO reviewed relevant studies, regulatory guidance and examinations, interviewed telecommunications providers and financial market participants, and analyzed pandemic plans for seven critical market organizations.

 

Increased demand during a severe pandemic could exceed the capacities of Internet providers' access networks for residential users and interfere with teleworkers in the securities market and other sectors, according to a DHS study and providers.

 

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For those wishing a 1 page summary, download the Highlights Page (PDF).

 

 

For those who want to learn more, but are not masochistic enough to try to wade through 77 pages of a GAO report, you might consider reading Scott McPherson’s excellent 5-Part series on why Telecommuting Will Probably Fail In A Pandemic.

 

Why telecommuting will probably fail in a pandemic, Vol. 1

Why telecommuting will probably fail in a pandemic, Vol. 2

The ampersand that ate San Francisco; or, Why telecommuting will probably fail during a pandemic, Vol. 3

Why telecommuting will probably fail in a pandemic, Vol. 4

Why telecommuting will probably fail in a pandemic, Vol. 5

 

UPDATE:  No sooner did I post this blog when I discovered that Scott has written Vol. 6 to this series.  I fear the only way to stop him will be for his predictions about the net to come to pass.  

 

But I digress . . . read it while you can:

 

Why telecommuting will probably fail in a pandemic, Vol. 6: the GAO weighs in