Swine flu pandemic moving closer

[izzix]

Breaking News

Pandemic warnings as swine flu spreads to Africa

Tuesday, June 2 08:42 pm
AFP

http://uk.news.yahoo.com/18/20090602/th ... ffa79.html

A swine flu pandemic is looming closer with the virus showing early signs of spreading outside the Americas, a WHO official said Tuesday, as Africa reported its first case and Australia's tally soared to nearly 500. Skip related content
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* UK swine flu toll rises to 381
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* Related Hot Topic: Swine Flu

Have your say: Swine Flu

"Globally we believe that we are at phase five but are getting closer to phase six," said Keiji Fukuda, World Health Organisation assistant director-general, referring to the agency's six-level pandemic alert system.

Phase five signals that a pandemic is imminent while the world would be in a full-fledged pandemic -- marking global spread -- at phase six.

"It is clear that the virus continues to spread internationally. We know there are a number of countries that appear to be in transition moving from travel-related cases to established, more established, community-type spread," he added.

A criteria for the WHO to move the alert to phase six would be established community spread in a country outside the first region in which the disease was initially reported, in this case, outside the Americas.

"However, we still are waiting for really widespread community activity in these countries. So I think it's fair to say that they are in transition and are not quite there yet, that's why we are not in phase six yet," Fukuda said.

But he stressed that countries like Britain, Spain, Japan, Chile and Australia were showing larger numbers of A(H1N1) influenza infections, "with some early spread into communities."

Other than geographical spread, member states have asked WHO to integrate an assessment of the disease's severity into its criteria for moving up the alert scale and declaring a pandemic.

Some 18,965 cases of infections including 117 deaths have been reported to the WHO by 64 countries around the world since the virus emerged in the United States and Mexico in April.

The renewed warning came as Canada reported its third swine flu death; two people were hospitalised in Scotland in intensive care, and Egypt and the tiny European duchy of Luxembourg confirmed their first cases of the A(H1N1) virus.

The Egyptian case, the first in Africa, involved a 12-year-old girl with joint US and Egyptian nationality who was quarantined by health workers at Cairo airport on Monday after she showed symptoms of the disease.

Spain, the first European country to confirm a case of swine flu, on Tuesday reported 13 new confirmed cases at three schools in the Madrid region, one of them a kindergarten, bringing to 15 the total number of children affected.

The WHO said on Monday there are 178 confirmed cases of the disease in Spain.

France on Tuesday reported its first locally transmitted case and said the number of confirmed infections had risen to 42.

The health minister of Australia's Victoria state Daniel Andrews said Tuesday 89 new cases had been identified overnight, taking its total to 395.

The national count in Australia now stands at 496, the fourth largest worldwide and the biggest in the Asia-Pacific region.

Australia had only one case of swine flu just a fortnight ago but the numbers have grown exponentially since the controversial move to let infected passengers leave a luxury cruise-liner last week.

On Tuesday, Carnival Australia warned that another of its vessels had been turned away from the French Pacific territory of New Caledonia because of possible flu cases among its passengers

[izzix]

[quote]

Breaking News

Kung Fu Star David Carradine Found Dead
Australia swine flu count soars near 900: official

4 hours 30 mins ago
AFP

http://uk.news.yahoo.com/18/20090604/th ... b91f1.html

Australia's swine flu tally rocketed by more than a third on Thursday to nearly 900 as officials scrambled to contain the rapidly spreading virus. Skip related content
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Pharmacy assitant puts on a mask as prevention for swine flu in the Melbourne Airport Enlarge photo

The latest official figures revealed 876 confirmed cases of A(H1N1) influenza in the world's fourth most affected country -- up from 633 a day earlier and single figures just a fortnight ago.

Other Australian states ordered children returning from flu hotspot Victoria to be quarantined, earning the wrath of Melbourne officials.

"Swine flu is an international and national phenomenon and that's the fact of the matter," Victoria premier John Brumby said.

"Frankly I thought the statements made by particularly the New South Wales government were just silly and extreme."

The island state of Tasmania on Wednesday joined Queensland, New South Wales and South Australia in ordering that children arriving from Victoria be quarantined for up to seven days to reduce the threat of swine flu.

"The exclusion will apply for seven days from departure from Victoria," said Tasmania's Director of Public Health Chrissie Pickin.

"It applies to all children returning from Victoria and other affected areas, whether or not they have a flu-like illness," she said.

Victoria, which has 752 cases or about 86 percent of the national total, raised its alert level on Wednesday and has shuttered 14 schools.

State Health Minister Daniel Andrews insisted his government's moves to limit the spread of the disease were working, despite the large number of infections.

"There is no doubt, and the experts have told us, that without the things already put in place, many, many more people -- much faster -- would have had H1N1," he said.

Swine flu has now spread to 66 countries with 19,273 people known to have been infected since the disease was first uncovered in April, the World Health Organization said Wednesday.


[/quote]

[rick]

Well, it looks like it will be around for some time. At least, since the initial panic, the motality rate seems to be pretty normal for flu (i.e. less than 1 per 1,000 cases).

[bumper]

Man that spread fast. This makes me a bit nervous I can't rercall a year I didn't get the flu even got it last year after getting the shots. So if it's around I assume I will be down for a month to kick it. If anyone heres the shots are available please post it

[izzix]

WHO consults on spread of swine flu

3 hours ago
http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/ar ... 3GlUbJsF3g
GENEVA (AFP) — The WHO consulted countries worst hit by swine flu Wednesday to assess if there was "undisputable" evidence of local spread of the virus, amid a sharp rise in confirmed infections in Chile.

"I can confirm that the DG (director-general) is consulting with the ministries of health of seven or eight of the most affected countries to try to see if there is undisputable evidence of community spread," WHO spokeswoman Fadela Chaib told AFP.

Countries reporting the highest number of infections include Australia, Britain, Canada, Japan, Mexico and the United States.

According to the WHO's latest tally of flu cases published Wednesday, Chile reported 1,283 more infections, including one new death, bringing its total caseload to 1,694.

Chaib described the consultation as an "important meeting" and that the WHO is looking for firm evidence of community spread before any decision can be made on whether to declare a fully-fledged pandemic.

Since the A(H1N1) virus was first discovered in April, some 74 countries have reported 27,737 cases including 141 deaths to the health agency.

Britain added 109 new infections, bringing its total to 666, while Australia's total reached 1,224, including 173 new cases.

Japan also reported 75 new cases to the WHO, bringing its total to 485.

Under the WHO's guidelines, one key criteria for declaring a pandemic would be established community spread in a country outside the first region in which the disease was initially reported, in this case, outside the Americas.

Experts are therefore watching developments in Australia, Britain, Chile and Japan very carefully.

Keiji Fukuda, WHO assistant director-general on Tuesday noted that in Australia, there was now a "great deal of activity in Victoria at the community level.

"We are getting very very close" to a pandemic, he assessed.

The WHO has so far left its six-level pandemic alert scale unchanged at phase five, signalling that a pandemic is "imminent."

A source close to the organisation told AFP that the WHO would not announce a phase change Wednesday, but added that it could do so in the coming days.

WHO chief Margaret Chan, who would make such an announcement if any, is scheduled to head to Rome Thursday for a preparatory meeting on the G8 summit in July.

However, the source said she could "change her schedule" if necessary.

Copyright © 2009 AFP.

[beer monkey]

Britain added 109 new infections, bringing its total to 666,

I must say that particular total figure is a little worrying....


But What does a world famous Rock Group know about swine flu pandemics anyway...

[bumper]

H1N1 VIRUS AT BANGKOK SCHOOL
Flu suspends classes
By Pongphon Sarnsamak

The Nation
Published on June 11, 2009

Infected boy hadn't been abroad; 13 classmates have developed feverAds by Google

A Bangkok school will today be partially closed for three days after an 11-year-old boy came down with type-A (H1N1) influenza in what is the second known case of local infection. Thirteen of his classmates have also developed fevers.

"The number of confirmed cases of swine flu in Thailand is now expected to rise daily," Dr Prat Boonyawongewirot, permanent secretary for the Public Health Ministry, said yesterday.


In the tourist city of Pattaya, authorities were asked to help control the spread of the new flu after two Taiwanese visitors were suspected to have contracted the virus while staying there.


A Hong Kong man holidaying on the resort-island of Phuket from last Thursday to Monday was also reported as falling sick with the virus upon returning home.


Deputy Public Health Minister Manit Nopamornbodi said the Bangkok student, whose name was withheld, had no record of travelling abroad.


As of yesterday, the number of patients infected by type-A inluenza in Thailand had risen to 16, excluding suspected cases of foreign visitors who are no longer in the country.


The new virus, which has spread to more than 70 countries with over 20,000 victims confirmed, has also worried the tourist trade.


Deputy Pattaya mayor Veerawat Khakhay said the Tourism Ministry should urgently inform Taiwan's authorities about the latest measures adopted by the Public Health Ministry here to prevent the disease from fanning out.


Some Taiwanese tour companies are planning to cancel their programmes as a result of the latest news, he said.


"We have to boost the confidence of visitors, or else their numbers will drop further," he said.


Over 1,000 foreign visitors are due to attend an international conference in Pattaya shortly, he said.


Deputy Health Minister Manit said three sixth-grade classes of the school, located in Bangkok's Dusit district. would be suspended after it was found that 13 of the sick student's classmates had also developed fevers.


The partial closure will last until Saturday.


Students with flu symptoms were told to stay home and take medication.


The Public Health Ministry has sent its surveillance and rapid-response team to monitor the students.


"Teachers will be asked to report symptoms by phone for the duration of the three days," he said.


Public Health Minister Witthaya Kaewparadai said the 11-year-old boy is receiving medical treatment for the influenza in hospital.


"This case is the first of its kind for Thailand and is different from other cases as this boy has no record of travelling abroad. All other patients went abroad and were infected from there," he said.


Dr Passakorn Akarasewee, director of Disease Control Department's Bureau of Epidemiology, said the 11-year-old boy was the second case of domestic infection.


The first transmission of |the new flu within the country was when a 19-year-old boy caught the flu virus from his mother after she returned from the US.


Prat, the permanent secretary for public health, said |the state of the influenza pandemic would change when cases were reported among people with no overseas travel history.

[beer monkey]

Now pattaya....

www.reuters.com

BANGKOK, June 11 (Reuters) - Thailand reported a sharp jump in confirmed H1N1 cases on Thursday, with most of the new infections found in the seaside tourist town of Pattaya.

"We found 30 cases today, 21 of which were found in Pattaya," Health Minister Witthaya Kaewparadai said in a statement.

The latest infections bring the total number of cases to 46, none of which have been fatal.

All but one case, a British man who was detected at Bangkok's international airport, are Thais.

Authorities began testing suspect cases in Pattaya, 150 km (90 miles) east of Bangkok, after three students from Taiwan tested positive for H1N1 on their return from a holiday in the resort town, the ministry said.

[jingjai]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090611/ap_ ... _swine_flu

WHO: Swine flu pandemic has begun, 1st in 41 years

BY MARIA CHENG and FRANK JORDANS, Associated Press Writer Maria Cheng And Frank Jordans, Associated Press Writer – 15 mins ago

GENEVA – The World Health Organization told its member nations it was declaring a swine flu pandemic Thursday — the first global flu epidemic in 41 years — as infections climbed in the United States, Europe, Australia, South America and elsewhere.

In a statement sent to health officials, WHO said it decided to raise the pandemic warning level from phase 5 to 6 — its highest alert — after holding an emergency meeting with its flu experts.

WHO chief Dr. Margaret Chan was expected to make a formal announcement on the pandemic later Thursday.

The long-awaited pandemic decision is scientific confirmation that a new flu virus has emerged and is quickly circling the globe. It will trigger drugmakers to speed up production of a swine flu vaccine and prompt governments to devote more money toward efforts to contain the virus.

"At this early stage, the pandemic can be characterized globally as being moderate in severity," WHO said in the statement, urging nations not to close borders or restrict travel and trade.

WHO also told countries it was in "close dialogue" with flu vaccine makers and it believed the firms would work "to ensure the largest possible supply of pandemic vaccine in the months to come."

Flu vaccine makers like GlaxoSmithKline PLC and Sanofi-Aventis have been working since last month on a swine flu vaccine. GlaxoSmithKline spokesman Stephen Rea said the company was ready to start making swine flu vaccine in large quantities once it finished its regular flu vaccine production in July.

On Wednesday, WHO said 74 countries had reported nearly 27,737 cases of swine flu, including 141 deaths. The agency has stressed that most cases have been mild and required no treatment, but the fear is that a rash of new infections could overwhelm hospitals and health authorities — especially in poorer countries.

Still, about half of the people who have died from swine flu, also known by its scientific name H1N1, were previously young and healthy — people who are not usually susceptible to flu.

Swine flu is also continuing to spread during the start of summer in the northern hemisphere. Normally, flu viruses disappear with warm weather, but swine flu is proving to be resilient.

The last pandemic — the Hong Kong flu of 1968 — killed about 1 million people. Ordinary flu kills about 250,000 to 500,000 people each year.

Many health experts say WHO's pandemic declaration could have come weeks earlier but the agency became bogged down by politics. In May, several countries urged WHO not to declare a pandemic, fearing it would cause social and economic turmoil.

"This is WHO finally catching up with the facts," said Michael Osterholm, a flu expert at the University of Minnesota who has advised the U.S. government on pandemic preparations.

Despite WHO's hopes, raising the epidemic alert to the highest level will almost certainly spark some panic about spread of swine flu.

Fear has already gripped Argentina, where thousands worried about swine flu flooded into hospitals this week, bringing emergency health services in Buenos Aires, the capital, to the brink of collapse. Last month, a bus arriving in Argentina from Chile was stoned by people who thought a passenger on it had swine flu. Chile has the most swine flu cases in South America.

In Hong Kong on Thursday, the government ordered all kindergartens and primary schools closed for two weeks after a dozen students tested positive for swine flu — a move that some health experts would consider an overreaction.

In the United States, where there have been more than 13,000 cases and at least 27 deaths from swine flu, officials at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said the move would not change how the U.S. tackled swine flu.

"Our actions in the past month have been as if there was a pandemic in this country," Glen Nowak, a CDC spokesman, said Thursday.

The U.S. government has already taken steps like increasing availability of flu-fighting medicines and authorizing $1 billion for the development of a new vaccine against the novel virus. In addition, new cases seem to be declining in many parts of the country, U.S. health officials say, as North America moves out of its traditional winter flu season.

Still, Osterholm said Thursday's decision was a wake-up call for the world.

"I think a lot of people think we're done with swine flu, but you can't fall asleep at the wheel," he said. "We don't know what's going to happen in the next 6 to 12 months."

AP Medical Writer Maria Cheng reported from London. AP Medical Writer Mike Stobbe in Atlanta and reporters Jill Lawless in London, Dikky Sinn in Hong Kong, Vincente L. Panetta in Buenos Aires and Bradley S. Klapper in Geneva also contributed to this report.

[bumper]

Thats a bit scarey does this men we need to get two injections this year?

I get flu every year so I'm a bit concerned. Got the flu shot last year from Palo got the flu anyway. My guess is they didn't give the current injection, but the one from year before that had not been used. Absolutley worthless.

[aznyron]

Git I have never gotten a flu shot and I have not gotten the flu JMHO I think it has to do were you go and what you eat & drink if your resistance is low you will get it and drinking alcohol & smoking will bring
down your ability to fight it. / I found when I was working in a Casino after my retirement I use to get sick from the crowded room and breathing in smoking and other people germs after I quit I did not get sick any more just my opinion

[bumper]

Good Point, mine would fall under the category of smoking. Won't be stopping yuo think I;'m nuts now yuo should see me goign through that. Quit for on year wantred one just as bad at the end of a year as I did the fuirst day. Exwife finally brought me cigareetes, she just couldn't take it anymore. Terrible habit, but no other addiction that I know of like it.

So I guess its two shots for me

[bumper]

I checked the Thai newspapers to try to verify this couldn't find it, so accuarate notr accurate I don't know.

Thailand orders suspension of entertainment services in Pattaya to curb A/H1N1

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Thailand orders suspension of entertainment services in Pattaya to curb A/H1N1 outbreak
Editor: An

BANGKOK, June 11 (Xinhua) -- Thailand's Public Health Ministry on Thursday ordered service suspension of 17 entertainment places in resort town Pattaya in a central province of Chonburi in a bid to curb the A/H1N1 flu virus outbreak, the Thai News Agency reported.

The order of the temporary closure has followed the earlier announcement by the Ministry that now totally there are 21 confirmed A/H1N1 flu patients in Chonburi, the destination of tourists around the world.

Also, some 420,000 pills of antiviral Camiflu have been distributed to Chonburi's provincial public health office, said Somchai Chakraphan, director-general of the Disease Control Department, the Health Ministry, the website by Thai-language newspaper Krungthep Turakij reported.

The provincial public health office will later re-distribute them to hotels and risk-affected areas, he said.

On May 12, the Health Ministry announced the country's first two confirmed A/H1N1 flu cases, and by June 10 the country has totally 46 confirmed A/H1N1 flu patients.

According to the World Health Organization, Thailand ranked 33rd as the country that has been hit by the deadly new virus.

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