Swine Flu and MRSA ST398

Frank Bailey — Tue, 28 Apr 2009 17:57:59 GMT

What if the reason young people are dying in Mexico and not in the US is because in Mexico it is Swine flu plus a bacteria known as MRSA ST398—piggy MRSA?

Tara C. Smith, Ph.D., is Assistant Professor of Epidemiology in the College of Public Health at the University of Iowa, deputy director of the University of Iowa Center for Emerging Infectious Diseases, founder of Iowa Citizens for Science, and posts regularly to her science blog, “Aetiology”

Dr. Smith’s pilot study, published January 23, 2009, found MRSA ST398 in 49% of the swine tested and 45% of the swine workers tested. Although the sample was small, other studies have found similar or higher amounts in the Netherlands and Canada. These results show that colonization of swine by MRSA was very common in one of two swine production systems in the Midwestern U.S. Dr. Smith concluded that MRSA strain ST398 could become an important reservoir for this bacterium.

Although the research is ongoing, we don’t know at this point if the swine in Mexico were also contaminated with MRSA ST398.

I think this is a possible hypothesis: Swine flu virus enters the lungs and allows MRSA ST398 to multiply and give off toxins resulting in death. This is not a case of one, but two microbes working together to cause death in the Mexican workers.

I invite your evidence based comments on my hypothesis.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Frank Bailey

How Cell-Phones Cause Car Accidents

Frank Bailey — Mon, 20 Oct 2008 11:12:00 GMT

A survey of dangerous driver behavior was released in January 2007 by the Nationwide Mutual Insurance Co. The survey found that 73% of drivers talk on cell phones while driving. Although the survey only included 1200 drivers, I believe it is valid based on the people I see talking on phones in Arkansas. The study also found cell phone use was highest among young drivers. That certainly has been our experience.

In our practice we have found young drivers to be especially dangerous. Young drivers think it is cool to be talking on a cell phone and driving. Little do they realize that by doing so, they are just as impaired as a drunk driver.

In a separate study done by the Liberty Mutual Research Institute for Safety and Students Against Destructive Decisions the researchers found that 19% of motorists say they text message while driving. It is hard for me to believe someone can text message while driving. Is that possible?

We now know that motorists who use cell phones while driving are four times as likely to have an accident as motorists who are paying attention to the road.

States are beginning to wake up and pass bans on the use of cell phones while driving based on these studies. About 17 States have passed laws banning or restricting young drivers from using cell phones. California is the most recent.

If you have been injured in an accident, it may make a big difference to the amount of your recovery if the other driver was using a cell phone. Be sure and find out. A trial lawyer can help.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Frank Bailey

Mountain Home Personal Injury Lawyer - Miscellaneous

Swine Flu and MRSA ST398

How Cell-Phones Cause Car Accidents