I received this today and then I looked up this doctor on google. He is indeed an ER doctor in Texas and the media in Texas have been all over him, his office and the hospital for the email that he sent to friends and family.

Here is the site link...the first part is the rebutal to the media regarding his email. Further down is the acutal email.
If this is true then they are getting ready to implement quarantine.
What do you thinnk?

http://www.journal-post.com/2009/04...les-e-mail.html 

page not found 

try this link -

http://www.journal-post.com/2009/04...les-e-mail.html 

The article seems to have been removed from the site. Must be getting too many hits or something. I'm pretty sure it is the same thing someone posted in the US SF thread last night, and I read the entire thing then, twice. I copied the one pertinent sentence at the time. I wish now I had copied it all since from what I remember, it really didnt contain anything we here didnt already know, other than for some hear-say and speculation by the doctor.

The only mention of quarantine in the entire piece was this one sentence: "Public health stated that one family member identified or suspected to have contracted the flu it will require the whole family to be ‘quarantined’ in their own home until enough time has passed for the remaining household to have contracted it or be considered infection free ( 7 to 10 days per person)."

"Public health" ? exactly what is that? "stated"? Who said it? An official or a mail room clerk? Where and when was this said? The word 'quarantined' in the piece had single quotes around it, so did that mean an actual enforced quarantine, or voluntary staying home? Since this is supposed to be in peoples' own homes, this would have to be a request since if this gets extensive, How would it be enforced? There would be no way to put 24hr armed guards at each and every home across the US that contained a suspected sick person. This sounds like what they are already requesting people to do - if you are sick, stay home.

The whole thing sounds like one guy who is going a bit over-board upon hearing about a developing pandemic. Physicians are human beings too, they also hear rumors and they can also over-react to information, verified or not. They also are not always correct in their appraisal of situations. Just my opinion. 

__________________ 
.

Living well is the best revenge. 

okay I have the actual article... I saved it...here it is.

This poor doctor has been over run by the media and has retracted some of his earlier statements.

Original Article

This is an interesting email that is starting to pop up around the internet. It was sent out yesterday, April 29th, by a doctor in New Braunfels, TX to his patients. The doctor claims that the H1N1 Swine Flu far worse than reported.


Marcus Gitterle, MD: (Director of Longevity Research) Doctor Gitterle is an Emergency Room Physician in Texas, owns a dietary supplement company, and has studied the science of human life-extension for many years. He is involved in developing bio-diesel infrastructure on a local level, has recently built a home powered solely by photovoltaics and tirelessly researches methods of improving health and prolonging life.




I found this on PFI (Personnel Force Innovation?)

Some interesting Info from a local Wimberley Doctor.

Subject: Flu Update from Dr. Gitterle

After I returned from a public health meeting yesterday with community leaders and school officials in Comal County and Hays County, Heather suggested I send an update to my patients in the area, because what we are hearing privately from the CDC and Health Department is different from what you are hearing in the media. Some of you know some of this, but I will just list what facts I know.

- The virus is infectious for about 2 days prior to symptom onset

- Virus spreads more than 7 days after symptom onset (possibly as long as 9 days) (this is more unusual than ordinary flu)

- Since it is such a novel (new) virus, there is no "herd immunity," so the "attack rate" is very high. This is the percentage of people who come down with a virus if exposed. Almost everyone who is exposed to this virus will become infected, though not all will be symptomatic. That is much higher than seasonal flu, which averages 10-15%. The "clinical attack rate" estimation from CDC and WHO may be around 40-50%. This is the number of people who show symptoms. This is a huge number. It is hard to convey the seriousness of this to those outside of the medical fields.

- The virulence (deadliness) of this virus is as bad here as in Mexico, and there are folks on ventilators here in the US, right now. This has not been in the media, but a 23 month old in Houston is fighting for his life, and a pregnant woman just south of San Antonio is fighting for her life. In Mexico, these folks might have died already, but here in the US, folks are getting Tamiflu or Relenza quickly, and we have ready access to ventilators. What this means is that within a couple of weeks, regional hospitals will likely become overwhelmed.

- Some of the kids with positive cases in Comal County have had more than 70 contacts before diagnosis as a minimum figure.

- There are 10-25 times more actual cases (not "possible" cases -- ACTUAL), than what is being reported in the media. The way they fudge on reporting this is that it takes 3 days to get the confirmatory nod from the CDC on a given viral culture, but based on epidemiological grounds, we know that there are more than 10 cases for each "confirmed" case right now.

- During the night, we crossed the threshold for the definition of a WHO, Phase 6 global pandemic. This has not happened in any of our lifetimes so far. We are in uncharted territory.

- They are advising President Obama to declare an emergency sometime in the next 72-96 hours. This may not happen, but if it doesn't, I will be surprised. When this happens, all public gathering will be cancelled for 10 days minimum.

- I suggest all of us avoid public gatherings. Outdoor activities are not as likely to lead to infection. It is contained areas and close contact that are the biggest risk.

- I suggest all of us avoid public gatherings. Outdoor activities are not as likely to lead to infection. It is contained areas and close contact that are the biggest risk.

- Tamiflu is running out. There is a national stockpile, but it will have to be carefully managed for law enforcement and first responders as it is not enough to treat the likely number of infections when this is full-blown. I don't think there is a big supply of Relenza, but I do not know those numbers. If I had to choose, I would take Relenza, as I think it gets more drug to the affected tissue than Tamiflu.

- You should avoid going to the ER if you think you have been exposed or are symptomatic. ER's south of here are becoming overwhelmed today-- and I mean that -- already. It is coming in waves, but the waves are getting bigger.

- It appears that this flu produces a distinctive "hoarseness" in many victims. The symptoms, in general, match other flu's; namely, sore throat, body aches, headache, cough, and fever. What is not too common in regular flu cycles is vomiting and diarrhea which seems to be associated with this, further dehydrating victims. Some have all these symptoms, while others may have only one or two.

- N-Acetyl-Cysteine -- a nutritional supplement available at the health food store or Wimberley Pharmacy, has been shown to prevent or lessen the severity of influenza. I suggest 1200mg, twice a day for adults, and 600mg twice a day in kids over 12. It would be hard to get kids under 12 to take it, but you could try opening the capsules and putting it on yogurt. For 40 pounds and up, 300-600 mg twice a day, for less than 40 pounds, half that.

- Oscillococinum, a homeopathic remedy, has been vindicated as quite effective in a large clinical trial in Europe, with an H1N1 variant. You can buy this at Hill Country Natural Foods, or the Wimberley Pharmacy.

If any of my patients become ill, or suspect infection, call the office, do not come without calling and DO NOT go to the ER. If one member in a family is identified all would be given the Tamiflu or Relenza (that is normal course of action) if there is enough distributed to fill prescriptions. Public health stated that one family member identified or suspected to have contracted the flu it will require the whole family to be ‘quarantined’ in their own home until enough time has passed for the remaining household to have contracted it or be considered infection free ( 7 to 10 days per person). As another suggestion, if any member of the family is on routine medication- fill those prescriptions now. Have plenty fluids, Motrin, soups, etc available and make contingency plans in case your family is affected.

Dr. Marcus Gitterle
New Braunfels, TX 

The PFI referenced in the link is PandemicFluInformation.com. Check out the site. Very helpful. 

I may be mistaken, but I thought when I originally saw a screen shot of this letter it said it had been written on April 25 versus April 29.

I think everything in the letter is pretty much correct based on the perspective of April 25, though I think he used the word "quarantine" when the real CDC recommendation is for "isolation", which implies that it's not actively enforced and which is exactly what is happening today. For example, I just learned that I am now classified as a person suspected of having swine flu and have been asked to stay home from work until my cough is completely gone, and to limit any doctor visits to a clinic established specifically for flu patients.

IMHO, none of this is unexpected or particularly significant. As I understand it, this doctor also owns a company that sells health supplements, which may or may not be relevant to his suggested remedies mentioned in his letter.


MomCares 

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__________________ 
Being happy doesn't mean everything is perfect.
It means you decide to see beyond the imperfections.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Live each day as if there is World enough and Time~
Arubi 

He does recommend some remedies...but those are ones you can get in your own health food store. I don't think it was a scare email to buy 'his' suppliments.

NONE of this whole flu deal makes sense to me. I have been an ER nurse for 15 years and NEVER have we had families go into isolation because one member was sick with flu. They keep saying this is mild like regular season flu....but yet, schools are closing over 400, isolation, movement of the strategic tamiflu stockpile....why are we doing that for less than 200 cases of "mild" like a "regular seasonal flu"???? Those things never ever happen in our country where 36 K die yearly from regular flu.

So how does this make any sense at all! 

Very, very good observation! One has to wonder.... 

We have not had a pandemic for over 30 years and with all the talk of bird flu the past few years, people were primed for action. People also did not know how bad this was going to be so they took what were considered necessary precautions at the time, as they should have. If they hadnt and this proved to be worse than it seems to be, they would have been greatly citicized for doing less. It would have been criminal if many had gotten sick or died simply from inaction.

'They' have only been saying this is mild the past few days, and that really hasnt been proven yet. Prior to that, the reports were of people getting sick in Mexico with a significant and increasing numbers of deaths - that is what they were acting on. And I am glad they did. It is what should have been done. And if Swine Flu turns out to be mild, we are all lucky. They can make more tamiflu.


I also dont think the doc was trying to sell his stuff. He just made his statements before we knew what we think we know now. I think he was over-reacting and believing rumors as we are all prone to do. I would imagine what he is saying now to his patients would be far different than a number of days ago. 

__________________ 
.

Living well is the best revenge. 

Some of the "unconfirmed but probable" cases of this flu in Washington State are in serious condition in the hospitals. These are teens who were in good health before they got hit with this. 

See and that is what scares me about this. I don't think we can totally rely on the info we are given because from the precautions taken and the few stories that have leaked out from the media - there are people who are not in Mexico that are "seriously" ill.

That is why I don't want to just believe that this is a "mild" flu. I mean could it be possible that there are no official reports of those who are very sick because they don't want people to panic? 

Here is a link to an article that confirms that:

http://www.kpax.com/Global/story.asp?S=10286475 

Dr. Gitterle's blog is located here:
http://urbanlegends.about.com/gi/dy...quarespace.com/

He does not refute the basic information contained in his email, but does say that it was edited to add personal information. He also says that he and his family have been overwhelmed by phone calls etc. since the email went public, and basically asks that his privacy be respected. Here is one of his of his posts:

Friday, May 1, 2009 at 01:41PM

When a private email, intended only for close friends and family, "went viral," the consequences were serious for me and my family. Most significantly, those who edited my email, adding personal contact information and my full name, as well as adding suggestions that "my patients should call me," have caused a hardship for my busy hospital, my wonderful employer (whom I feel to be the best, most quality oriented Emergency Medicine group in the world), and for me, as a busy ER doctor trying to take care of very sick people (sick with very common things, like heart problems and strokes). I would be justified by responding in anger, but I will not. I think my original message was widely copied because it was simple, brief and to the point, and it was written from the perspective of an ER doctor who is also a husband, and father.

Had I been writing for a wider audience, I would have provided a lot more perspective, to prevent misunderstandings, such as the incorrect notion that I felt anyone (officially or in the media) was intentionally obfuscating things. I didn't and I don't. I simply know for a fact that this is an emotion laden subject, and it is frankly a bit hard for professionals, let alone lay-persons, to understand the terms and distinctions involved, so important misunderstanding, I felt, were occuring. I don't think it inappropriate to provide that perspective to friends. In the future, if I send such a message to friends and family, I will certainly be careful to enjoin folks against forwarding it, if it could be a source of controversy or misunderstanding.

In the midst of the hundreds of calls, blog entries and emails about "the email," what stands out is the outpouring of support from so many regular folks, as well as from colleagues -- often in far-flung places -- who sympathize with what has gone on this week for me and my family. I am touched, and appreciative. I would also like to thank my very good friend, Joe Vitale (blog.mrfire.com). He put things in perspective, and helped me see the blessing in all this, and be thankful that my message, though not intended for public consumption, was found to be of help by him and others (he had been a recipient of the original email). Finally, though Alex Jones did not ask me before reading my email, I know he is a journalist, and he thought it was relevent to his audience; I bear him no animosity (though a call or email before reading it on the air would have been nice :-).

Ironically, I had planned to register this domain weeks ago to blog about confusing health issues, from a perspective that neither oversimplifies, nor gets lost in minutiae. I never thought I would put it to use under circumstances like this. In an effort to continue that theme of clarifying complex health topics from a practical perspective, and to be topical with respect to current events, I will be reposting some information on the use of nutritional supplements to bolster the immune system, as soon as time permits. There is a lot of hype surrounding this subject, while some of the well-tested "evidence based," valid information gets lost in all the marketing noise. And, I will try to post anything I feel is objective, rational information that might help us, as citizens, to partner with public officials in minimizing the impact of the pandemic.

I implore everyone to refrain from attempting to contact me by phone. If you would like to email me, I have posted my email address below. I am not seeing patients outside the ER at this time. I wish I could offer specific and direct help and advice to every concerned person, but there are probably 10,000 people right now who want that direct advice, and only one of me.

Again, any contact needs to be via email.
Author[Your Name Here] | Comment8 Comments | Share ArticleShare Article
Friday
01May
Fraudulent, Edited Email Going Around
DateFriday, May 1, 2009 at 08:24AM

An email has been circulating the globe with my name on it. Unfortunately, that email is a very modified version of an email I sent to close friends and family, and it contains additions and modifications that I did not write. Many are using it in support of their own diverse agendas. If you heard my email read on the Alex Jones Show, know that it may not be what I wrote, and it was done without my knowledge or permission. I am justifiably upset, but here should be only one agenda right now, and that is appropriately responding to this public health situation. To contact me, do not call my hospital, or anyone else I am affiliated with. Please email me, as directed below.

Cordially,

Marcus L. Gitterle, MD
Author[Your Name Here] | Comment9 Comments | Share ArticleShare Article
Friday
01May
To Contact Dr. Gitterle
DateFriday, May 1, 2009 at 08:22AM

Please email me at mgitterle (at) gmail (dot) com
Author[Your Name Here] | Comment3 Comments | Share ArticleShare Article 

What a bad piece of work. My comments in bold (as short as possible).

- The virus is infectious for about 2 days prior to symptom onset
May be. Not clear yet

- Virus spreads more than 7 days after symptom onset (possibly as long as 9 days) (this is more unusual than ordinary flu)
Not "more unusual", even seasonal flu does that occasionally, too early to tell

- The virulence (deadliness) of this virus is as bad here as in Mexico, and there are folks on ventilators here in the US, right now. This has not been in the media, but a 23 month old in Houston is fighting for his life, and a pregnant woman just south of San Antonio is fighting for her life.
Pregnant women and very young ones are at a higher risk for serious complications, so that is nothing unusual for flu

- There are 10-25 times more actual cases (not "possible" cases -- ACTUAL), than what is being reported in the media.
That might be true, as the general rule is take it times ten as good guess in many similar instances. But up to 25 % is his speculation and he puts it up as if were a known fact.

- During the night, we crossed the threshold for the definition of a WHO, Phase 6 global pandemic. This has not happened in any of our lifetimes so far. We are in uncharted territory.
True regarding the uncharted territory, but dramatizing.
Phase 6 now is a judgement call, unfortunately it needs time (or testing which boils down to the same at the moment) to say that with confidence.

- Tamiflu is running out.
Not at all.

- If I had to choose, I would take Relenza, as I think it gets more drug to the affected tissue than Tamiflu.
Not true. Relenza does not work systemic and flu is a systemic disease. A doc should know that. Relenza is great if taken early, in a later course of a serious flu it has no chance to reach vital organs in sufficient quantities (as there is a portion possibly absorbed from the lungs, but not enough). Again, I have not yet met a doc who does not know that simple big difference between Relenza and Tamiflu. I like Relenza much more, but both have their place

- It appears that this flu produces a distinctive "hoarseness" in many victims. The symptoms, in general, match other flu's; namely, sore throat, body aches, headache, cough, and fever. What is not too common in regular flu cycles is vomiting and diarrhea which seems to be associated with this,
Diarrhea is a much more common symptom than people think, just rarely mentioned. Particularly in younger patients it can be the first and most prominent symptom. How do I know? I know the person who did that little personal test (tested all little ones that came in with diarrhea - no other symptoms - and voila found lots of seasonal flu)

- Oscillococinum, a homeopathic remedy, has been vindicated as quite effective in a large clinical trial in Europe, with an H1N1 variant. You can buy this at Hill Country Natural Foods, or the Wimberley Pharmacy.
Utter bullshit and criminal to suggest that as a flu cure. If he talks about the twenty million dollar duck that is really hilarious, I guess it works even better against H5N1 then, after all most ducks do not from it. If he talks about the 1989 study, good riddance as it was not flu but influenza like syndroms and that was the conclusion: The result cannot be explained given our present state of knowledge, but it calls for further rigorously designed clinical studies. It will not do any harm or interact in any way that is for sure, so nothing against a few drops of water or sugar pills on top of proper therapy, but to suggest it as a cure shows a serious lack of ethics, at least for a doc.

That 7-10 days for each person in a family is also nonsense. 

?? the article does not mention cases in serious conditions. 

"The latest was Lakes High School in Lakewood this morning because three students were taken to Madigan Army Medical Center last night with flu symptoms. Two are in intensive care in serious condition." 

This article from the San Antonio Lightning Newspaper claims to show a copy of the original email from Dr. Gitterle:

http://www.sanantoniolightning.com/gitterle.html