Friday, April 24, 2009

Swine Flu

Mid-decade there were  global alerts for a spreading new flu virus carried by birds. It was this news story that propelled NNVC from 10c to $3.75 in about a six month period.

Here is today's headline story from Drudge Report:




US 'very concerned' about swine flu outbreak

Apr 24 09:32 AM US/Eastern

US medical authorities expressed strong concern Friday about an unprecedented multi-strain swine flu outbreak that has killed at least 60 people in Mexico and infected seven people in the United States.

"It's very obvious that we are very concerned. We've stood up emergency operation centers," Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) spokesman Dave Daigle told AFP.

One major source of concern was that the virus included strains from different types of flu.

"This is the first time that we've seen an avian strain, two swine strains and a human strain," said Daigle, adding that the virus had influenza strains from European and Asian swine, but not from North American swine.

In 11 of 12 reported human cases of swine influenza (H1N1) virus infection in the United States from December 2005 to February 2009, the CDC has documented direct or indirect contact with swine.

But the seven known cases of the previously undetected strain in the United States -- five from California and two from Texas -- did not have contact with pigs. The seven people infected have all recovered from the flu.

"We have determined that this virus is contagious and is spreading from human to human," the CDC said on its website. "However, at this time, we have not determined how easily the virus spreads between people."

Local and state health officials were interviewing not just the people who were infected but the people with whom they had contact, Daigle noted.

Officials were looking for the source of the infection, Daigle said, adding that US health officials were due to receive samples from Mexico that would be tested at a lab at the centers based in Atlanta, Georgia.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has identified swine influenza as a potential source of a human flu pandemic. Pandemics usually occur every 20 years.

"Our experts and others are saying are not saying it's not a matter of whether but when. And we are past due," said Daigle.

Swine flu is caused by type A influenza and does not normally infect humans but cases have been reported among people, especially those exposed to pigs, the CDC said. Most outbreaks take place during the late fall and winter months.

Swine flu symptoms include fever, lethargy, lack of appetite and coughing. Some people who have contracted the virus have also reported runny nose, sore throat, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea, according to the CDC.

Human outbreaks of H1N1 swine influenza virus were recorded in the United States in 1976 and 1988, when two deaths were reported, and in 1986. In 1988, a pregnant woman died after contact with sick pigs, the WHO said.

In recent years, the global focus for a pandemic has shifted to the H5N1 bird flu virus, which has spread from poultry to humans, especially in Asia.

9 comments:

Anonymous said...

um....I'd rather read about whether this move today is taking us long or short.

footfixer said...

Allen, what are your thoughts on the following from NNVC website regarding their financial status: "We currently do not have sufficient cash reserves to achieve all of our budgeted plans for the next twelve months and we may not be able to obtain the necessary financing.

The Company has taken several steps to reduce its operating expenses. We have not renewed certain consulting contracts, which are expected to result in annual savings of $150,000 to $300,000. We have not renewed our lease for laboratory facilities at 4 Research Drive and have constructed and consolidated our laboratory facilities at 135 Wood Street, West Haven, Connecticut, for an anticipated annual savings of approximately $50,000. We have also made several changes which should result in a reduction in our professional fees of approximately $100,000 annually.

As of December 31, 2008 we had a cash and cash equivalent balance of $1,935,742 which can support operations through, approximately, September 30, 2009, at our current projected rate of spending.

However, in addition to current funds allocated to capital costs and staffing, and in accordance with our business plan, we have also budgeted for additional capital costs and staffing costs of approximately $2 million dollars for the upcoming twelve months. If we are unable to obtain this additional financing, our business plan will be delayed"

Thanks and I enjoy your blog.

Doug

A said...

Doug,

Let me first address this generally and not be company specific. When I practiced law I used to write various SEC filings for client companies. What you have brought to light is pretty much boiler plate language that you will find in every developmental stage company's filings. Better to warn of even unexpected contingencies then not to warn at all.

As for NNVC in particular, a communication with the company should alleviate your concerns. They have always made themselves available to me when I have had a question or needed some explanation.

A

A said...

Last I heard, a viricide for a new strain of flu could be ramped up in 3 to 4 weeks. However, NNVC's FluCide-II is a broad spectrum antiviral that targets a common binding site for all Orthomyxoviridae. Swine Flu is from that genus and Flucide-II could be stockpiled for new strains so that the ramp up time would be a problem of logistics rather than discovery. So the critical time frame would be the time needed to get the stockpiled antiviral to the locations of outbreaks and the time needed to distribute the drug across the leading edge of the epidemic.
--posted on iHub by Dr. FG
http://investorshub.advfn.com/boards/read_msg.aspx?message_id=37289561

Anonymous said...

stress test out ???

Anonymous said...

What kind of free blog is this? Where the heck are the updated charts incorporating today's action? Hullooo-ooo?? Time to get off your duff and get cracking Allan. No more nonsense about pig flu! Just what kind of free financial blog is this.....

Yours truly,
Anonymous

Anonymous said...

why don't you donate some money to Allan, Jesus Christ !!!

Anonymous said...

This is the first time that NNVC has been positive since I bought it. Whatever happened, more please.

A said...

Apparently JC tried to leave a donation, but had no paypal account. Left some kind of wafer though......