NOVEMBER MEETING
7:00 p.m. Monday, November 16th
Southwest Church of Christ
8900 Manchaca Rd.
(Rear Entrance)


9/09-11/09 National Apple Months


11/27/09 - Sinkie Day

PROGRAM NOTES

Laura Tabony, an epidemiologist with the Texas Department of State Health Services, will talk about seasonal influenza and the ongoing outbreak of novel H1N1 flu, including a brief overview of the epidemiology of the virus and control measures. Seasonal influenza vaccine is currently available. First doses of H1N1 vaccine are targeted for those currently at highest risk from this strain (those 6 months to 24 years, caregivers of infants < 6 months, pregnant women, adults 25 – 64 with underlying medical conditions, and health care workers). As the H1N1 vaccine supply increases, it will be directed to the general population. To locate either vaccine, check with your physician, call 211, or check online at www.211Texas.org. Flu vaccinations are the best way to protect yourself and others from flu.

Wash hands frequently Cover coughs and sneezes
Stay home if you’re sick
 
NOVEMBER IS ELECTION MONTH

According to our by-laws the positions of President, Secretary, and Newsletter Editor are to be elected for next year for two year terms.
Please bring your ideas for nominees (along with yourselves) to the November meeting.

COVNA still has no Vice-President. If willing to serve, contact any officer listed at right. Could this be you?

2009 COVNA BOARD

Mark Tilley
Floyd Clark (temporary)
Dan Anderson
Hal Ferguson
Doug Tabony
Doug DuBois
Floyd Clark
President (280-2572)
Vice President (282-8245)
Secretary (282-1932)
Treasurer (282-0601)
Newsletter (280-4080)
ANC Delegate (292-9323)
Past President (282-8245)
 

To join the COVNA Email List, click below and
send an email with your name(s) to Doug at

tabonyproductions@austin.rr.com
Now 100+ households strong!

Find out the latest neighborhood news and developments.
Receive recommendations for service providers.

2009 MEETING SCHEDULE

February 16th
April 20th
June 20 - Picnic
September 21st
November 16th
Dec Party - (TBA)
 

Advertise in the COVNA Newsletter
Only $10.00/month. Reaches over 400 homes & Online at COVNA.org
Email Hal Ferguson at: hferguson3@yahoo.com

AUSTIN HISTORY MUSEUM

Have you ever wanted to delve into the history of Austin? An incredible set of archives lies at your fingertips in the Austin History Center located at 810 Guadalupe, open Tues-Sat 10 am-6 pm/Sun 12 pm-6 pm.

Housing more than one million items, the Austin History Center makes available to the public both primary research materials and published items. We have an extensive body of books, photographs, maps, newspapers, personal and family archives, and ephemera documenting Austin's history from before its founding in 1839 to the present. All of these items are organized into the following
collection units:

General Collection: This collection encompasses more traditional library materials—books, local government documents, periodicals, and maps.

Clippings Files: These files contain news clippings, pamphlets, ephemera, and other documents, and are a good place to begin your research on a person, place, or topic.

Maps: We have cataloged and made available for viewing more than one thousand maps of Austin and Travis County from the mid-1800s to the present. are specific to the Austin area.
Periodicals: Over three thousand titles of current and defunct magazines, newspapers, and government publications are available here at the Center.

Manuscript Archives: Here are mostly primary research materials--records and papers of City and County departments, families, civic organizations, and businesses. These materials fill more than 3,000 linear feet of shelf space.

Architectural Archives: We have over 35,000 architectural drawings and documents from over 150 local architectural firms.

Recordings Collection: We have recordings of oral histories, music of local musicians, video tapes and DVDs of City Council and commission meetings, local news broadcasts, and much more.

Photographic Collection: More than one million photographic images visually document the people, events, architecture, topography, and social customs of the area.

Reference Databases and Indexes: Most of the Austin Public Library Internet databases are available at the Austin History Center. In addition, we have demographic and news databases that are specific to the Austin area.

For more information call 974-7480 or visit www.ci.austin.tx.us/library/ahc/collect.htm.


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FEAR OF DISEASE NOT "NEW" NEWS

Senators Are Excused Until February 24
Members Who Remain Declare Flight Is Absurd and Entirely Uncalled for.

February 1913

Fear of meningitis, which had caused the death of two of its members, caused the legislature to disband yesterday. The legislators who remained in Austin last night declared the stampede unwarranted and predicted that before the middle of this week many members will be returning. They expressed regret at the circumstances, which has put a stop to work at a time when the legislature was fairly swamped with matters requiring early consideration. That the flight of the lawmakers was an absurd exhibition of unreasoning fear, was the salient point of their remarks.

"Owing to the fact of the death of two members of the house and after examination showing that Judge J. C. Hunt of Randle county is afflicted with meningitis, and after consultation with the governor and attorney general, the speaker excuses every member of the house except the representatives from Travis county until March 3, at 9 o'clock, subject to a change by telegram to each member of the house. The speaker will remain and with one representative of Travis county will adjourn the house from day to day. In case conditions do not improve a longer excuse will of course be given by the speaker."

Grips set in the aisles and overcoats piled on desks when the house assembled yesterday were tokens of the fear which has made cold the hearts of those but a few days ago determined to remain here for months in order to secure such legislation as they deemed needed.

Appalled by the spectre of threatened death, most of the lawmakers yesterday had but one desire - to get away, and at once. Merger bills, constitutional amendments, road laws, factional differences and "crying needs' were forgotten. There was but one "paramount issue.". For once the legislature was a unit, having one mind and that mind dominated by fear - a fear unreasoning and not to be removed.

Members of the house this morning walked to their desks with arms held stiffly, one shoulder held higher than the other. They had taken "a shot" of meningitis serum, and some were worried about the consequences. In the last three days there has been a rush to take the serum. Even the serum, however, could not allay the fear of the members.

Monday the house will likely have three members. One of the Travis county men will rise in his seat and say: "Mr. Speaker, I move the house now stand adjourned until tomorrow afternoon at 2 o'clock." Without a quorum that is all that can be done. It can not, however, adjourn to March 3. Therefore this procedure will continue from day to day, the "house' of three members meeting every afternoon to adjourn for another day.


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2009 INFLUENZA

Seasonal Flu
Every year 5% to 20% of the population in the US is infected with influenza, more than 200,00 of these people are hospitalized, and an average of 36,000 people die from influenza-related causes. (http://www.cdc.gov/Flu/keyfacts.htm) Sentinel reporting, syndromic surveillance, and statistical models are used to estimate the burden of flu because there are far too many cases for case-based reporting. There are three main types of influenza viruses: A, B, and C. Influenza types A and B cause epidemics nearly every year. Influenza A viruses are divided into subtypes, based on differences in two surface proteins: hemagglutinin (H) and neuraminidase (N). During an influenza flu season, usually one or more influenza A subtypes and B viruses circulate at the same time. Seasonal influenza generally begins between October and January each year and peaks in January or February.

Vaccine Production
In addition to sentinel reporting, sentinel sites send isolates for typing throughout the year. The results of this testing are used to predict which strains will be prevalent during the coming flu season and to decide what to include in the vaccine. Each year, the seasonal influenza vaccine contains three influenza viruses – one influenza A (H3N2) virus, one regular seasonal influenza A (H1N1) virus (not the 2009 H1N1 virus), and one influenza B virus. The production process takes place during the few months between deciding which stains to include and the beginning of the flu season. In the US, an advisory committee convened by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) makes the final decision about vaccine strains in February. Manufacturers grow vaccine strains based on these recommendations. Although the same process is used each year, there are variations in how different viruses grow and this can cause production to take longer some years. Manufacturing capacity is driven by vaccine demand in previous years. During 2009 two separate vaccines have had to be produced, the usual trivalent seasonal flu vaccine and vaccine for the novel influenza A strain. http://www.cdc.gov/Flu/professionals/vaccination/virusqa.htm


Novel Infuenza Pandemic

By definition, a novel virus is a virus that has never previously infected humans, or hasn't infected humans for a long time, so it's likely that almost no one will have immunity to protect them against it. Therefore, anyone exposed to the virus--young or old, healthy or weak--could become infected and get sick. If the novel virus is related to a virus that circulated long ago, older people might have some level of immunity. It is possible that the novel virus may be especially dangerous to some age groups that are not usually at risk of severe illness or death from annual influenza (such as healthy young adults). Such widespread vulnerability makes a pandemic possible and allows it to have a potentially devastating impact.

In April 2009, a novel strain of influenza was identified. The outbreak was first observed in Mexico and had probably been epidemic for several months when the first 2 cases in the US were identified in California followed by cases in Texas. It has spread rapidly through the US and much of the wolrd. Initially this strain was reffered to as swine flu because it contains genetic components of swine flu origin. The virus contains genetic components of human, swine, and avian strains and is currently refered to as 2009 H1N1 influenza.

The graph below shows the estimated rate by age group of 2009 H1N1 cases per 100,000 people reported to CDC in the US from April 15 to July 24, 2009. This epidemiological data supports laboratory serology studies that indicate that older people may have pre-existing immunity to the novel H1N1 flu virus. This age distribution is very different from what is normally seen for seasonal flu, where older people are more heavily impacted.
Novel H1N1 Confirmed and Probable Case Rate in the United States, By Age Group


Most people infected with this virus in the United States have had mild disease, but there are some patients, even among previously healthy young persons, who rapidly develop severe pneumonia, typically 3 to 5 days after initial onset of symptoms. Deterioration can be very rapid, with many patients progressing to respiratory failure within 24 hours, requiring intensive care and ventilation support. Individuals aged 6 months to 24 years of age, pregnant women, and people aged 25 to 64 years of age with chronic diseases like asthma, diabetes, or heart disease are at higher risk for complications from this infection. The first available 2009 H1N1 vaccine is targeted for persons with these risk factors.

In previous years, it has been rare to see 2 or more influenza-related pediatric deaths in the US prior to December or January. This year, pediatric deaths due to 2009 H1N1 flu began to be reported in May. (See graph below, MMWR week 1 is the first week, of the year with 4 or more days and the last week of the year is 52 or 53. The bars are coded blue and green for seasonal or undifferentiated influenza and pink or yellow for 2009 H1N1 flu.)

In Texas the total number of pediatric deaths for 2007 and 2008 were 13 and 9 respectively. There have been 29 pediatric deaths due to H1N1 flu reported so far, with 11 deaths in September and 10 in October.

We don’t know how the pandemic outbreak will play out and what its role will be during the coming more traditional flu season. Flu activity is currently widespread in almost every state including Texas, but regional epidemiologists have reported that there are signs that the number of cases is currently going down.

Influenza Prevention Measures
• Get both flu shots
.... o Where to get a flu shot
.....o Seasonal flu is available now
.....o Pandemic H1N1 influenza distribution will continue through November and is currently available for those in high risk groups
..............Pregnant women
............. Children 6 months through 4 years of age
............. Children 5 years through 18 years of age with high-risk health conditions
..............Health care workers who provide direct patient care
..............Close contacts of those 6 months or younger
Cover your coughs and sneezes
....o Cough into your sleeve, or
....o Cover your cough with a tissue, then dispose of the tissue and wash or sanitize your hands.
Wash your hands
....o Frequently
....o Before touching your face or eyes
•Stay home if you are sick with symptoms of flu or other infectious diseases

 

River City Pest Control

Barkley Garner
282-2460
8704 Oak Ledge Dr, Austin TX 78748

Insect Control
Nuisance Animal Control


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