Live Blog from the Anchor Desk 05/01/09
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Tonight on AC360°, we'll have the latest on the swine flu outbreak. Plus, the Supreme Court shake-up. Justice David Souter making it official today that's he'll be retiring when this current session ends in June. Tonight, we'll look at the possible contenders to replace him.
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Anderson Cooper goes beyond the headlines to tell stories from many points of view, so you can make up your own mind about the news. Tune in weeknights at 8 and 10 ET on CNN.
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No more Little Miss "Opposite Marriage", please. I don't care about her fake vs. real parts.
Miss California just needs to go away already.
implants here, implants there. everyone wants barbie boobs (no offense to anyone). mine end up under my armpits, and they are just fine that way, thanks.
are the n-95 masks made for construction and found in hardware stores equally effective in protection from the flu as the n-95 surgical/medical masks?
@Miss J – you are correct. It was a 23 month old baby that died in the US from the swine flu however, the baby was visiting from Mexico.
The real deal is far from the reality
Maybe Ms. California will sue the pageant when her breast implants leak.
For Dr.Gupta,
Is it possible for this virus ( and possibly others) to be transmitted via 2nd hand smoke (exhaled) ?
If so, shouldn't we consider a ban on public smoking?
Hi everyone! I am quite surprised that the method used to create vaccines as Tom was reporting is 50 years old. Plus if it takes at least 6 months to develop a vaccine, it might be too little too late. The virus has long spread.
I think we over reacted to the swin flu. The reagular flu kills more in a year
Good one Anderson! "Surgically speaking" I'll bet Ms. Prejean wishes she would have kept her mouth shut!
Are there statistics on Americans who get sick in Mexico and stay there versus those who get sick after having left. Is the recovery rate for Americans the same all around?
if someone is allergic to eggs how are they going to get a vaccine for the H1N1 influenza?
Is it really a surprise that a beauty pageant contestant
had plastic surgery ?
@Isabel & Jen in Mex Yes it's good to hear things are all right in Puerto Vallarta, though sounds like there are various views swirling around there.
Question for Jeffery Toobin. Why couldn't Democrats accept the idea that they might be surprised by whomever President Obama nominates to the Supreme Court to fill Justice Souter's seat?
Question for Dr. Gupta. How long do you think we will be under this level five red alert? Do you think we will be under theWHO will bump up the warning to a full red alert, level six?
@John and @Dodie
If the vaccine can be created in a lab, why couldn't the illness be created there as well?? And how did a Euro-Asian swine get into this????? Plz check this out. This is more important than finding out who is patient zero, or is the Smithfield Co. at fault??
Each year the flu seems to mutate to a stronger strain. Flu shots are given every year yet most of the time those shots are out dated and have no effect on the current strain. What causes these mutations and how can they be prevented?
Was the woman from Mexico, who was the first Us death, here legally?
I thought she was from Mexico and got sick in Mexico.
I believe the only US death was the little toddler from Mexico who had come to Texas for treatment.
Anderson, Why do we not simply distribute a dose of Tamiflu to every US household? Many people even in these times are not bothering to wash their hands. It's very upsetting to see the cavalier approach to the flu in the DC area at least.
Dr Gupta: you are always a voice of wisdom and logic. I am glad you stayed with CNN instead of disapearing into the goverment!
As usual another interesting report by Gary! With the cartels and swine flu I hope Gary is keeping himself safe!
"sickness & death" well that's pretty clear. Not good to hear, but very clear. Thanks Tom, for the unvarnished truth. They can't make vaccines fast enough, so...what? That's the big question
Are you immune if you have had H1N1? I think our family had this at the beginning of the month. Can we be tested retroactively ? Also , how can one get Tamiflu in time if we are told to stay home if our symptoms are mild? My Doctor will not send prescriptions without an office visit? Bit of a catch 22.
Thanks, Sherry
Knoxville ,Tn
@ Jimmy Legg, to fortify your point, I wen out to buy a surgical mask, each cost 99 cents and it's not even an individual wrapped too ( a dollar for what looks like a bare pleated pulp with elastic band? ..i'll stick to my handkerchief.
Thanks Anderson and Team 360 for the segment on the drug cartels in Mexico - we need to remain aware of things situation and not let this H1N1 virus block out other important news stories.
@ Marcelo Barros
I also am in Brazil, in RJ.
AC360 is an excellent program for news! It is the possibility that we have of a vision of a TV newscast different from what is done in Brazil, which is also very good.
Are these new mutated strains the result of our poisoning our planet?
Erica: It'd be nice if the appointment of new SCOTUS could be non-political, but I've already heard grumbling from conservatives.
Personally, I've thought that the remaining liberal justices have hung on thus far to avoid being replaced by conservatives. However, overall, I think a balance of liberals and conservatives is an important mix. Sure, I'm more liberal-leaning in my views, but I think that the Supreme Court should reflect ALL views and not just my own.
It is a modern conundrum that the ancient inccubator – eggs – are still used to try and replicate the hi-tech vaccines created to fight disease. You'd hink they come up with something better.
I live dangerously, I don't do flu vaccinations.
How do you get a vaccine out of an egg ?
Isn't giving preference to someone for the next U.S. Supreme Court Justice position based upon their race and gender the same as discriminating against someone else because of their race or gender? Sounds discriminatory to me.
Was the woman from Mexico, who was the first Us death, here legally?
We have a big desination wedding scheduled in Cancun on May 18th. My conern is for my 1 year old and 8 year old grand daughters. Does Dr. Gupta recommend we cancel the wedding in Cancun?
@ John
I agree with you regarding created in a lab
Please - no more on Miss California - I quit watching beauty contests years ago and after this train wreck, I remember why.
On swine flu, in that it has a bird component, can it be carried from place to place by birds, especially migrating birds? Is encouraging birds to gather at feeding stations problematic?
Mike in Bethesda
With the technology available today, why are we still using chicken eggs to produce vaccines?
I wish we would speed up coming up with an alternative to growing these inside eggs, because as it stands, people who are allergic to eggs cannot have these vaccines.
Tamiflu is supposed to help us fight the swine flu. It seems like it is given to almost everybody that has it or is in contact with sick people. My question is: Do people who get sick and are on Tamiflu or Relenza develpoe antibodies to the disease? Can they get sick again with the same virus? Two years age my daughter got the same flu twice within a month because she was put on Tamiflu the first time.
I think it is a very important problem nobody even mentions.
I understand China is very close to a vaccine. They were working on one when Avian flu was a problem.
I don't trust the Mexican government's reports. Should I?
If the H1N1 virus mutates, will the vaccine be effective ?
With the swine flu being composed of 4 components (2 swine, 1 avian and 1 human) what's the possibility of this 'never seen before' virus having been created in a lab?
Question: I'd like advice on traveling to another country at this time.
I'm not concerned about the flying. I'm concerned about being sick in another country without access to US medical care and my doctor.
Is it better to postpone the travel for pleasure until things have settled down and more is known?
Thank you.
I think pageants are pretty stupid but give Miss California credit. We need more people in this country who have the integrity at least to speak their minds, even if the point of view is one we disagree with.
I am glad that this flu is creating an unprecedented awareness of reality. People transmit disease with carelessness and uncleanliness. I still see people leaving the restroom without washing hands. I simply avoid them by giving them a three foot buffer.
I am not panicking about the swine flu, I am just prepared and will take precautions. I have plenty of n95 3m masks, gloves, anitbacterial gel and soap. I am shocked that some people are dismissing this potential pandemic...if everyone follows the good hygeine we will all get through this.
Dear AC,
You weren't kidding when you said the Mexican authorities arrested thousands. I was in Tijuana last week eating tacos in the middle of the red light district (in front of Club Chicago) and saw truckload(s) of people got arrested by policia.
I'm already sick of hearing about Carrie and her breast implants.