Washington State Escalates H5N1 Flu Plans - Captain Trips?

In 2003 Washington State had the nations first case of bovine spongiform encephalopathy — Mad Cow.

The first new shipment of Canadian cattle rolled into the United States yesterday, four days after a federal appeals court ended a 2-year ban instituted because of mad cow disease.

In Washington state, a common destination for Canadian cattle, another Canadian shipper submitted a request to cross the border. Many birds including Geese migrate to Canada and Washington State.

Starting next year, children entering schools and child-care facilities in Washington state will have to be immunized for chickenpox, the State Board of Health unanimously voted yesterday. This makes Washington one of the last states to require the vaccine.

King County health officials are shifting their planning for a flu pandemic into high gear by reaching out to employers and the medical community.

There isn't a correlation between the bovine spongiform, suine H5N1 transfer and the "high incidence of flu-like illness" in the area this year, or is there? Where do you get the "high incidence of flu-like illness" you ask? Read on...

2nd quarter 05 an operating loss was incurred by Molina Health Services (MOH). In a press release, Molina cited higher medical costs coming from increased hospital unit costs in Washington state due to an increased use of outpatient services, in part due to "a high incidence of flu-like illness."

Molina's stunning warning came a day after another managed-care company for low-income patients, Amerigroup Corp., announced a second-quarter profit shortfall, citing cost pressures.

"High incidence of flu-like illnesses", also played a role in Amerigroup's rising costs, raising questions about the prospects for the Medicaid-based managed care companies.

MSNBC Coverage
Molina Tanks 50%

Comments