Mexico swine flu deaths spur global epidemic fears

[Astrojewels]

Yes, I know someone who had to wait 4 days to see the doctor, why? Because they are booked out as people panic and go get their injections! The fear is working.

Hope your feeling better Richard and DT.

[eMERGe]

Health Departments are telling k-12 schools that if even one person in that school has this flu they should close immediately

[Anu-021413]

No traces of other viruses in this version of swine flu eh? Try again HCF news.


http://www.healthline.com/blogs/healthli...-know.html


"Why is Swine Flu in The News?
The number of fatalities in Mexico coupled with reported cases in the US, Canada and New Zealand brought the outbreak to the attention of health officials and the media. Also of concern is the fact that the strain in Mexico is attacking healthy young people, a trait usually associated with pandemic flu bugs.

What is Swine Flu?
Swine flu is just what it sounds like…a strain of flu that effects pigs and usually remains just that. Sometimes a strain of swine flu will mutate and is contracted by humans. This strain appears to be a mixture of swine, avian and human viruses and mutated viruses concern health officials due to their resistance to existing vaccines. A high fever, consistent cough, sore throat and possibly vomiting and diarrhea are the most common symptoms of swine flu, but those symptoms can be caused by countless other conditions as well. If you or someone you’ve been in close contact with has recently returned from Mexico and your flu-like symptoms persist, contact your doctor. Only a lab test can identify swine flu.

No vaccine for swine flu exists currently, but the Center for Disease Control has begun the steps needed to create one, in case that becomes necessary. This season’s flu shot does not offer protection to this virus."

[Astrojewels]

No vaccine for swine flu exists currently, but the Center for Disease Control has begun the steps needed to create one, in case that becomes necessary. This season’s flu shot does not offer protection to this virus."

And I am sure before we know it, the scientists will amazingly create a vaccine for this flu, geez there good! But first the entire world must panic. Oh and the other coincidence is the heat seeking technology that they are using at the airports!

[GertrudaRose]

The bit about the hoarseness could come in handy.

[Breaking News Breaking News]

Now pigs have swine flu too - first cases identified in Canada

By Daily Mail Reporter
Last updated at 2:33 AM on 03rd May 2009

A strain of swine flu has been identified in pigs for the first time since the human outbreak of the virus which has killed more than 100 people.

Officials in the Canadian province of Alberta have put a number of the animals into quarantine after making the discovery.

There had been no previous signs of pigs contracting the infection, even in Mexico where the outbreak started and has been at its most severe.
Pigs in Mexico

Cases of swine flu have been diagnosed in pigs for the first time since the deadly outbreak started

The condition is known as swine flu because it is a form of influenza usually found in the animals.

Canadian officials said the infection was believed to have been transmitted by a farm worker who had recently been to Mexico.

They said there was no danger posed by eating pig products.

The latest development came as 20 British tourists were told they would be quarantined in a Hong Kong hotel after a guest was diagnosed with swine flu.

The World Health Organisation yesterday said there had been no sustained spread of the sickness outside North America but predicted a pandemic was imminent.

In Mexico officials reduced the suspected death toll by 75 to 101.

Chinese officials have been screening passengers on flights from Mexico. They have quarantined 20 Britons and hundreds of other guests at a Hong Kong hotel following a suspected case

The British tourists caught up in the Hong Kong alert were yesterday quarantined for seven days by police.

Armed officers wearing protective suits and masks blocked the entrance to their hotel in the popular Wanchai district and, amid angry scenes, stopped people leaving.

Guests accused the Chinese authorities of overreacting and demanded to be let out – but were forced to retreat to their rooms.

The area around the £100-a-night Metropark Hotel was sealed off on Friday night and nearby shops closed down after a 25-year-old Mexican guest was confirmed as the city’s first case.

‘The situation is becoming increasingly tense,’ said 45-year-old businessman Kevin Ireland. ‘There is one young British woman here who has been crying incessantly about being quarantined.’

Another guest, Juliet Keys, who had planned to leave today, added: ‘It just feels surreal because you are trapped.’

The Britons are among 340 people who have been ordered to remain in quarantine. Health officials were last night carrying out tests on guests and those found to be feverish were being moved to hospital isolation units.

Health officials said the sickness had not spread significantly outside North America. In Mexico City residents have been wearing facemasks to try to avoid infection

In the past 24 hours the number of confirmed cases worldwide has risen from 365 to more than 700. And it emerged last night that the total could jump to several thousand by this time next week.

Infectious diseases expert Professor Ajit Lalvani of Imperial College, London, said: ‘The rate of increase is great and we could expect doubling every few days. But because it’s a new virus, we’re not exactly sure.’

Two Britons have contracted swine flu from people within the UK and health chiefs are awaiting the results of more than 600 tests as the total number of victims hit 15.

A girl of six from Oxfordshire, recently returned from Mexico, is the latest confirmed victim – the youngest Briton. And leading virologist Professor John Oxford, who advises the Government, warned: ‘The clock is now ticking and pandemic flu modelling tells us we may expect a lull before the virus takes hold in 50 days.’

The first person to contract swine flu in England – Barry Greatorex, 43, from Chipping Sodbury, Gloucestershire – said yesterday he was recovering and that his family were not showing symptoms.

Barry Greatorex, the first person to contract swine flu in Britain, has been recovering well

Meanwhile, a British Airways steward complained about the way the airline’s employees had been treated by bosses over the crisis. He said after arriving in Mexico City last Monday he and other crew  were left for three days before BA contacted them with advice.

‘We were all very tense and glued to the news, some were in tears,’ he said. ‘On the return journey, my cabin manager said that a more senior manager in Heathrow had said crew shouldn’t wear masks. They didn’t say why. I guess it would alarm passengers if we wore our masks.’

BA said: ‘We are briefing all staff before they travel to Mexico and offering general health advice. We do not have a policy of offering masks to our staff because medical advisers say it is not necessary.’

The World Health Organisation said a pandemic was imminent despite the fact there had not yet been a sustained spread of swine flu outside North America.

Michael Ryan, WHO director of global alert and response, said it remained probable the alert level would be raised from its current level of 5 to the top of the 6-stage scale.

Mr Ryan said: ''At the present time I would still propose that a pandemic is imminent, because we are seeing the disease spread.'

Britain's  efforts to check  air passengers for swine flu appear to be less stringent than those of other countries.

Only passengers who display flu-like symptoms onboard are treated upon arrival to the UK. Everyone else is simply given an advice booklet. But in some cases the booklets are not reaching passengers.

Professor Ajit Lalvani, chair in infectious diseases at Imperial College, London, said: ‘When I passed through passport control at London from India, leaflets were left in piles near the immigration counters. Many were not picking them up. It would be far more effective if they were handed out directly.’

In contrast, Japan, Indonesia, Cambodia, China, Singapore and Australia use thermal screening systems at airports.

In India all passengers from infected areas are screened and in Russia passengers’ temperatures are taken.

Passengers from Mexico, left, were screened at Shanghai and one case of swine flu was detected.

Find this story at www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1176796/Now-pigs-swine-flu--cases-identified-Canada.html

[Iam_That_Iam]

I think the Swine Flu scare is part of the Stimulus Package deal.... :D

[DreamTime]

Weird thing happened on my way home from Wisconsin. I leave from this small train depot that is usually empty (no Amtrak employees work there), and they have a sidewalk around the building so that you do not have to go through it if you choose not to. Well, this time when I went home (it was not like this when I arrived, 2 weeks before) there were 4 cops blocking off the sidewalk, making everyone go through the building. When we got in the building, there were another 5 cops in there, 3 of them wearing blue rubber gloves and checking purses and luggage. Then they took an alcohol swap and wiped down the handles and tops of the suitcases and then put the swaps into this machine. After it was cleared, then we were allowed to go out to the train. The only thing I can think of is that they were testing to make sure no one had the Swine Flu and carried it onto the trains. But it was strange that they has so many cops there for such a tiny, unmanned station.

[Astrojewels]

DT,

A ‘pandemic’ provides enough fear for people to accept this type of control without questioning, people are scared to get sick and die, so they just let the authorities do what they want, you should have asked them what are they doing, and what are they doing it for! when they find a ‘vaccination’ they will still keep these ‘control methods’ in place, I have money on the Australian scientists for the vaccination that already exists, not sure why but the Aussies seem to get a lot of glory for this type of thing. Mmmm have to work on that answer. glad your home safe.

[karen]

Hi DT,

Welcome back and Happy Mother's Day to you and AJ!

Here in Manhattan, we've got the sirens and light show - the cops racing crosstown (20-50 cars) as a "show of force" since 2001.  Since the Madrid and London subway and train bombings, we have cops setting up tables and checking backpacks and luggage at "random" subway stations.  I say random, because it's usually at rush hour and usually at the most crowded stations. Last week, I enter one of these stations (I usually avoid subways at rush hour, but had to get downtown fast) as I walk down the steps into the station I see 4 cops with their table. I had 2 huge shoulder bags, but I was in a daze so I didn't panic. I smiled at them and walked past them to the turnstile. They said nothing. :)

When the swine flu thing started, my thought was that it doesn't exist in my world. I felt so distant from the TV news and radio reports. My only concern was travel restrictions.