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Re: WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION Raise Pandemic Alert Level
The UN's World Health Organization has raised the alert over swine flu to level five - one short of a full-blown global epidemic, or pandemic.
A phase five alert means human-to-human transmission in at least two countries.
The move comes after a 23-month-old Mexican child died in Texas - the first death from swine flu outside Mexico, where the outbreak originated.
In Spain, officials confirmed the first case of swine flu in a person who has not travelled to Mexico.
Announcing the latest alert level after an emergency WHO meeting in Geneva, Director General Margaret Chan urged all countries to activate their pandemic plans, including heightened surveillance and infection-control measures.
She said action should be undertaken with "increased urgency".
She added: "It really is the whole of humanity that is under threat in a pandemic."
The Mexican boy fell ill during a visit to relatives in southern Texas earlier this month.
He was transferred to a hospital in Houston, where he died on Monday night.
Speaking in Washington, President Barack Obama offered his condolences and said the federal government was doing the utmost to contain the virus.
He also urged local public-health bodies to be vigilant and said schools with confirmed cases "should consider closing".
Officials put the number of suspected deaths from swine flu in Mexico at 159.
Texas Governor Rick Perry said closing the US border with Mexico was an option, but added that taking that step now would be "a little premature".
Spanish Case
Since the virus emerged last week, it has also spread to Canada, Europe, Israel, and New Zealand.
Several countries have restricted travel to Mexico and many tour operators have cancelled holidays.
France will ask the European Union on Thursday to suspend all flights going to Mexico because of the flu outbreak, Health Minister Roselyne Bachelot said.
In Spain, the government said the first person to contract swine flu without having travelled to Mexico was the boyfriend of a young woman who had recently returned from there.
Spanish Health Minister Trinidad Jimenez said such cases were to be expected.
In total, the number of confirmed cases in Spain rose from two to 10 on Wednesday. None of the patients is seriously ill.
In Mexico, the search for the source of the outbreak continues, with the focus on the vicinity of a pig farm in the eastern part of the country.
The Mexican government is urging against jumping to conclusions and is suggesting the possibility remains that the virus originated outside the country.
Schools across Mexico have closed, public gatherings are restricted and archaeological sites have been placed off-limits.
Source: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/8025931.stm
Re: WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION Raise Pandemic Alert Level
CONFIRMED CASES
Mexico: 159 suspected deaths - seven confirmed cases
US: one death, at least 91 confirmed cases
Canada: 13 confirmed cases
UK: 5 confirmed cases
Spain: 10 confirmed cases
Germany, New Zealand: 3 confirmed cases each
Israel: 2 confirmed cases
Austria: 1 case
SYMPTOMS - WHAT TO DO
Swine flu symptoms are similar to those produced by ordinary seasonal flu - fever, cough, sore throat, body aches, chills and fatigue
If you have flu symptoms and recently visited affected areas of Mexico, you should seek medical advice
If you suspect you are infected, you should stay at home and take advice by telephone initially, in order to minimise the risk of infection
Re: WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION Raise Pandemic Alert Level
This is scary stuff.
If this turns into a full blown pandemic and Americans start dropping like flies, Obama needs to be impeached for his incompetent handling of the crisis. The moment this was spotted here, the main border crossings should have been closed and all travel between the two countries stopped. Instead, travel between the countries remained the same, he said it wasn't a "cause for concern", and our Homeland Security secretary pretty much laughed it off.
They aren't laughing anymore.
Its just another round of Bush-Katrina-fiddle while Rome burns bullshit. These people who pass themselves off as "leaders" in this age disgust me.
Re: WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION Raise Pandemic Alert Level
do we know where in mexico that this shit originated?
They've supposedly found "patient zero", a 5 year old boy in La Gloria, Mexico. He didn't die. There is supposedly a pig farm there, and of course a bunch of people had the normal flu in that region, but this boy had the swine flu. I'm assuming they think it may have mutated in that environment, which is why they think he is the first.
I don't think they'll ever truly pinpoint the initial outbreak because they are speculating it may have been around for several months.
Re: WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION Raise Pandemic Alert Level
I'm sorry, but this stuff isn't really that scary. It's more of a media thing right now than anything.
Those deaths don't equal how many people die of the regular flu each year, and yet we don't shut down our border to that.
Similar things happened with bird flu that are happening with swine flu.
Re: WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION Raise Pandemic Alert Level
I'm sorry, but this stuff isn't really that scary. It's more of a media thing right now than anything.
Under the right conditions, this shit could swarm the globe in a matter of days/weeks. Its certainly a scary thing, unless you don't think that pandemic in the early 20th century that killed around 20% of the world's population was scary.
Almost nothing is known about it, no vaccine, and they don't even know how many people have truly died from it. Its highly contagious and our borders are wide open.
Other countries that still have something resembling a brain are taking swift action. Certain U.S. products are not being allowed into their country, and the next step is preventing all travelers from this country from going there. Other countries see the potential nightmare brewing, while in this country are leaders laugh it off while americana watches American Idol and listens to their Ipods while ironically labeling the virus "media hype".
Those deaths don't equal how many people die of the regular flu each year, and yet we don't shut down our border to that.
Yeah, and the regular flu isn't unknown and doesn't have the potential to kill millions or billions of people in one big swoop.
ANYTHING that has the potential of wiping out a large portion of the world's population is most certainly a major threat.
This virus is attacking strong immune systems, meaning its affecting mainly young and healthy people.
Similar things happened with bird flu that are happening with swine flu.
Yeah and bird flu is a catastrophe waiting to happen as well. Its why when it shows up in Asia, they slaughter anything with a wing on it even though it wreaks havoc on their economies.
It amazes me how so many people aren't taking this seriously,
- Communist China
- Rep: 130
Re: WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION Raise Pandemic Alert Level
Dude, I hear sharks are coming to get us too! This summer they're finally going to be organized!
Re: WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION Raise Pandemic Alert Level
So 200 people in the entire world, full of billions, have come down with it.
Wow, what a pandemic. I'm so scared.
SARS II folks.
Every pandemic starts with a single death. Millions don't take a dirt nap at once.
If we're lucky, it is a SARS type situation and quickly goes away on its own. Hell, even full blown pandemics go away on their own. There are so many unknowns in these situations that people have to be cautious.
