CDC Confirms Swine Flu Cases At Queens School

[video at site]

By: NY1 News

Mayor Bloomberg says the Centers for Disease Control has confirmed eight cases of swine flu at a Queens high school after dozens of students reported mild flu-like symptoms this past week.

The mayor made the remarks during a press conference this afternoon and says the city is closely monitoring the outbreak.

St. Francis Prep in Fresh Meadows will remain closed tomorrow.

Officials say all of the students reported mild symptoms and none were taken to the hospital.

Despite the illnesses, St. Francis went ahead with its 25-year and 50-year reunions last night. Those in attendance say there was some concern about whether to show up.

"It was definitely a controversy on whether or not we were going to attend. Half of us have decided to come and half of us decided not to come so in a way that's sort of sad," said St. Francis Alumnus Diana Brobmann.

The city's health department was also investigating a possible outbreak at a Bronx day care facility, where 30 children got sick. Five of the six samples sent out for testing, however, came back negative.

Department officials say they haven't seen any recent city-wide increases in flu-like symptoms, but that they are monitoring the situation every 12 hours to make sure more people aren't getting sick.

Health Commissioner Thomas Frieden is urging anyone who feels sick to stay home, but says the city is ready for any emergency.

"The city is very well prepared. We have been preparing for years at every level. We've been preparing with detection, so we can track whether a pandemic or other serious problem comes, and if so where it is, what the characteristics are," said Frieden.

Governor David Paterson has directed the state Department of Health to monitor and respond to possible cases of swine flu. He says 1,500 treatment courses of the antiviral Tamiflu have been sent to New York City.

Tamiflu is believed to be effective in treating serious cases of swine flu.

The state Department of Health has set up a 24-hour hotline to answer questions about swine flu and can be reached at 1-800-808-1987.

Swine Flu Outbreak Caused By New Variant of Old Bug (Update3)

By John Lauerman and Jason Gale

April 26 (Bloomberg) -- International health officials are wrestling with how to respond to a swine flu from Mexico that’s infecting people, causing a range of illnesses, and even death.

The World Health Organization called the outbreak a “public health emergency of international concern” yesterday, and as many as 81 deaths in Mexico were linked to the virus, normally transmitted among pigs. Eleven cases in California, Kansas and Texas, all of them mild, have been connected as well. At least eight students in New York are being tested for whether they match the Mexico strain, while 10 students in New Zealand are “highly likely” to have swine flu, officials said.

Fears of a lethal pandemic lie in the nature of flu germs, which mutate readily and can become virulent by exchanging genes with related influenza viruses. While the H5N1 bird virus that spread across Asia in the last few years, killing millions of fowl and several hundred people, never gained genes to spread easily among humans, the Mexican swine flu already has, said Malik Peiris, a microbiologist from the University of Hong Kong.

“The concern is that this virus has the ability to transmit from humans to humans because a number of the cases who got infection have had no direct exposure to swine,” said Peiris, who has studied the SARS and avian flu viruses. “That is certainly a cause for concern.”

Health officials said they are trying to determine how the virus gained its ability to infect and spread among humans.

Swine-Flu Emergency

Mexican President Felipe Calderon declared a swine-flu emergency, giving him powers to order quarantines and suspend public events in the nation, where 1,324 patients are hospitalized with flu-like symptoms.

Authorities closed schools until May 6 in Mexico City and the states of Mexico and San Luis Potosi, where infections have been concentrated, and canceled most public and official activities.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, an Atlanta-based agency, is leading the search for more cases than the 11 it has confirmed as of yesterday.

The latest U.S. tally includes two adults residing at the same address in Dickinson County, Kansas. Neither of the patients was hospitalized, the state’s health department said in a statement on its Web site yesterday. One is still ill and being treated, and one is recovering, it said. One of the patients had recently traveled to Mexico, flying in and out of Wichita, according to the statement.

New Zealand Students

Ten New Zealand high school students who returned from Mexico are “highly likely” to have swine flu, Health Minister Tony Ryall said today in a phone interview.

The students don’t have “severe” symptoms and most already appear to be recovering, Ryall said. The students and their families are being isolated in their homes, and the families are being treated with Roche Holding AG’s Tamiflu, Ryall said.

Japan began screening for fever in travelers returning from Mexico fevers, the country’s health ministry said in a statement yesterday. A British Airways Plc crewmember was hospitalized in north London with suspected swine flu after arriving yesterday on a flight from Mexico City. Tests showed he doesn’t have the bug, Agence France-Presse said, citing a hospital spokesman.

France is investigating two suspected cases of swine flu in travelers recently returned from Mexico, AFP said, citing a senior health official. A spokeswoman for the Health Ministry declined to comment when contacted by Bloomberg News.

Pandemic Threat

Outbreaks in Mexico and the U.S. warrant an urgent assessment of its potential to spark the first influenza pandemic in 41 years, the WHO said yesterday. The Geneva-based United Nations agency held an emergency meeting and found that more evidence is needed to determine whether the level of pandemic alert should be increased, it said.

The WHO’s pandemic threat level, a six-stage measure, is currently at 3. Evidence of increased human-to-human spread of a new virus would move it to level 4, according to the WHO Web site.

Health officials in the U.S. are asking both doctors and patients to be on the lookout for suspicious cases of flu. The lung virus normally causes symptoms such as coughing and sneezing, and can also bring on muscle and joint aches, headaches, and even diarrhea and vomiting, according to the CDC.

At a time when scientists can tailor drugs to match a patient’s genetic profile and people live longer than ever, the flu, first described by Hippocrates 2,400 years ago, still has the power to make millions bed-bound for a week and kill the very young, the elderly and those weakened by chronic disease.

The CDC estimates the germ is linked to more than 30,000 U.S. deaths annually.

New Viruses

In most cases, adults can resist succumbing to flu viruses that are identical or very similar to those they’ve been exposed to before. “New” viruses that the human immune system hasn’t seen earlier are the most dangerous, because they can overwhelm the body’s defenses.

Flu germs are classified by two proteins, one known by the letter H, for hemagglutinin, and the other N, for neuraminidase. The Mexican swine flu is an H1N1 flu, the same subtype that caused the pandemic of 1918. Many less-dangerous descendants of that virus are seasonal H1N1 viruses circulating worldwide today, scientists said.

The dominant form of flu circulating in the U.S. in the most recent flu season was an H1N1, said Frederick Hayden, professor of clinical virology at the University of Virginia Health Sciences Center in Charlottesville. That suggests that people who got this year’s flu vaccine, which gave protection against the H1N1 virus, might also have some protection against the swine flu, he said.

1976 Swine Flu

“We need to take the (blood) of individuals who got last season’s vaccine and see whether there’s any evidence of cross- reactivity for this new strain,” he said in a telephone interview. “We need to do the same thing with patients who have had recent infection with the human H1N1 strain.”

The CDC is conducting studies now that might show whether seasonal vaccination might protect people against swine flu. It’s also possible that people who were vaccinated in the 1976 swine flu outbreak, which many flu experts believed was the beginning of a pandemic at the time, are protected, he said.

Vaccine makers are taking the initial steps toward making shots against swine flu. Baxter International Inc., a maker of both seasonal and pandemic vaccines, has requested samples of the swine virus for laboratory testing, said Christopher Bona, a spokesman for Deerfield, Illinois-based Baxter. GlaxoSmithKline Plc, based in London, has had conversations with WHO’s flu division that’s responsible for distributing flu virus samples to drugmakers, said Deborah Alspach, a spokeswoman.

Other companies that make flu vaccine include Novartis AG, of Basel, Switzerland, and Sanofi-Aventis SA, of Paris.

Roche’s Tamiflu

Roche Holding AG, of Basel, has an ample supply of Tamiflu, which can reduce the symptoms of swine flu. Roche has donated a “Rapid Response Stockpile” of 5 million treatment courses to the WHO that’s on 24-hour stand-by to be sent around the world, said Terence Hurley, a spokesman for the company. No request has been made to deploy the stockpile, he said in an email.

Glaxo also has ample supplies of its inhaled Relenza antiviral, which also appears to be effective against the swine flu in CDC tests, Alspach said.

The virus has already evaded the first line of defense that health officials had hoped to use against a pandemic. International flu experts preparing for a pandemic had planned to contain the initial outbreak of a new, lethal strain of flu. The swine flu virus has already spread so far in Mexico and the U.S. that the containment strategy is out of the question, said Anne Schuchat, interim deputy director for science and public health programs at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Atlanta-based U.S. agency.

“We don’t think we can contain the spread of this virus,” she said yesterday in a conference call with reporters.

To contact the reporter on this story: John Lauerman in Boston at jlauerman@bloomberg.net; Jason Gale in Singapore at j.gale@bloomberg.net

Last Updated: April 26, 2009 06:03 EDT

Swine flu forces US to declare public health emergency

- Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napilotano on Sunday stated that the US is declaring a public health emergency. This is a standard operating procedure to allow the government easier access to flu test and medications."

http://www.necn.com/Boston/Health/2009/04/26/Swine-flu-forces-US-to-declare/1240768157.html

"An update on the ongoing investigation will be available at http://www.cdc.gov/flu/swine/investigation.htm. This page will be updated daily at 3 p.m. ET until further notice."

Swine flu fears prompt quarantine plans, pork bans

Apr 26, 9:54 AM EDT By FRANK JORDANS Associated Press Writer

GENEVA (AP) -- Countries planned quarantines, tightened rules on pork imports and tested airline passengers for fevers as global health officials tried Sunday to come up with uniform ways to battle a deadly strain of swine flu. Nations from New Zealand to France reported new suspected cases. World Health Organization Director-General Margaret Chan held teleconferences with staff and flu experts around the world but stopped short of recommending specific measures to stop the disease, urging governments to step up their surveillance of suspicious outbreaks. Governments including China, Russia and Taiwan began planning to put anyone with symptoms of the deadly virus under quarantine. Others were increasing their screening of pigs and pork imports from the Americas or banning them outright despite health officials' reassurances that it was safe to eat thoroughly cooked pork. Some nations issued travel warnings for Mexico. Chan called the outbreak a public health emergency of "pandemic potential" because the virus can pass from human to human. Her agency was considering whether to issue nonbinding recommendations on travel and trade restrictions, and even border closures. It is up to governments to decide whether to follow the advice. "Countries are encouraged to do anything that they feel would be a precautionary measure," WHO spokeswoman Aphaluck Bhatiasevi said. "All countries need to enhance their monitoring." New Zealand said that 10 students who took a school trip to Mexico "likely" had swine flu. Israel said a man who had recently visited Mexico had been hospitalized while authorities try to determine whether he had the disease. French Health Ministry officials said four possible cases of swine flu are currently under investigation, including a family of three in the northern Nord region and a woman in the Paris region. The four recently returned from Mexico. Tests on two separate cases of suspected swine flu proved negative, they said. Spain's Health Ministry said three people who just returned from Mexico were under observation in hospitals in the northern Basque region, in southeastern Albacete and the Mediterranean port city of Valencia. Mexico closed schools, museums, libraries and theaters in a bid to contain the outbreak after hundreds were sickened there. In the U.S., there have been at least 11 confirmed cases of swine flu in California, Texas and Kansas. Patients have ranged in age from 9 to over 50. At least two were hospitalized. All recovered or are recovering. New York health officials said more than 100 students at the St. Francis Preparatory School, in Queens, recently began suffering a fever, sore throat and aches and pains. Some of their relatives also have been ill. Some St. Francis students had recently traveled to Mexico, The New York Times and New York Post reported Sunday. Preliminary tests of samples taken from sick students' noses and throats confirmed that at least eight had a non-human strain of influenza type A, indicating probable cases of swine flu, city health officials said. The exact subtypes were still unknown, and the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention was conducting further tests. Hong Kong and Taiwan said visitors who came back from flu-affected areas with fevers would be quarantined. China said anyone experiencing flu-like symptoms within two weeks of arrival an affected area had to report to authorities. A Russian health agency said any passenger from North America running a fever would be quarantined until cause of the fever is determined. Tokyo's Narita airport installed a device to test the temperatures of passengers arriving from Mexico. Indonesia increased surveillance at all entry points for travelers with flu-like symptoms - using devices at airports that were put in place years ago to monitor for severe acute respiratory syndrome, or SARS, and bird flu. It said it was ready to quarantine suspected victims if necessary. Hong Kong and South Korea warned against travel to the Mexican capital and three affected provinces. Italy's health ministry also advised citizens to postpone travel to affected areas. Symptoms of the flu-like illness include a fever of more than 100 degrees Fahrenheit (37.8 degrees Celsius), body aches, coughing, a sore throat, respiratory congestion and, in some cases, vomiting and diarrhea. At least 81 people have died from severe pneumonia caused by the disease in Mexico, according to the WHO. The virus is usually contracted through direct contact with pigs, but Joseph Domenech, chief of animal health service at U.N. Food and Agriculture Agency in Rome, said all indications were that the virus is being spread through human-to-human transmission. No vaccine specifically protects against swine flu, and it is unclear how much protection current human flu vaccines might offer. Russia banned the import of meat products from Mexico, California, Texans and Kansas. South Korea said it would increase the number of its influenza virus checks on pork products from Mexico and the U.S. Serbia on Saturday banned all imports of pork from North America, despite reassurances from the FAO that pigs appear not to be the immediate source of infection. Italy's agriculture lobby, Coldiretti, warned against panic reaction, noting that farmers lost hundreds of millions of euros (dollars) because of consumers boycotts during the 2001 mad cow scare and the 2005 bird flu outbreak. Japanese Agriculture Minister Shigeru Ishiba appeared on TV to calm consumers, saying it was safe to eat pork. In Egypt, health authorities were examining about 350,000 pigs being raised in Cairo and other provinces for swine flu. The WHO's pandemic alert level is currently at to phase 3. The organization said the level could be raised to phase 4 if the virus shows sustained ability to pass from human to human. Phase 5 would be reached if the virus is found in at least two countries in the same region. "The declaration of phase 5 is a strong signal that a pandemic is imminent and that the time to finalize the organization, communication, and implementation of the planned mitigation measures is short," WHO said. Phase 6 would indicate a full-scale global pandemic.

Experts to advise WHO on pandemic alert phase

Sun Apr 26, 2009 8:24am EDT

GENEVA, April 26 (Reuters) - International experts will convene on Tuesday to advise the World Health Organisation (WHO) whether to raise the current pandemic alert level due to the new flu virus in Mexico and the United States, a WHO spokesman said.

"We need more epidemiological evidence from Mexico before the experts would be in a position to advise on a pandemic change," WHO spokesman Gregory Hartl told Reuters on Sunday.

"An advisory body will recommend whether or not the director-general should up (raise) the phase. They are meeting again on Tuesday," he said.

A new type of swine flu has killed up to 81 people in Mexico and infected around a dozen in the United States. The current pandemic alert level is 3 on a scale of 1 (low risk of human cases) to 6 (efficient, sustained transmission between humans).

White House to hold special briefing on swine flu 26 Apr 2009 13:01:48 GMT

This will be at 12;30 EST
Source: Reuters

WASHINGTON, April 26 (Reuters) - U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano and other administration officials will address a special White House briefing on the swine flu outbreak on Sunday, the White House said in a statement.

The White House said Napolitano would be joined at the 12:30 p.m. EDT (1630 GMT) briefing by Dr. Richard Besser, acting director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and John Brenna, assistant to the president for Homeland Security.

The officials will give an update on the flu outbreak in the United States and the government's response, the statement said.

Swine flu claims 81 lives in Mexico City, first suspected Israeli case

April 26, 2009, 1:12 PM (GMT+02:00)

Public buildings, schools, and places of entertainment have been closed down for Mexico City's 20 million inhabitants after 81 deaths were recorded from person-to-person infected swine fever. Nearly 1,400 suspected cases have been admitted to hospital. New Zealand health minister says ten students who returned from Mexico are "likely" victims. The World Health Organization has put all countries on the alert for a potential world pandemic as it investigates the new, unfamiliar strain of flu and seeks and seeks counter-measures.

In New York City, eight high school students at the St. Francis Preparatory School in Queens have contracted the virus among a group of 100 who visited Mexico. Elsewhere in the US, 7 people have been infected with the strain in California, two in Texas and two in Kansas. No suspected cases have been reported in Israel but its health authorities - like those in other countries – have advised people showing flu symptoms of high fever, coughing, sore throat, nausea and vomiting, to report to their doctors, especially if they returned from Mexico within the last week.

At least some of the cases investigated show a new version of the H1N1 swine influenza sub-strain, a combination of swine, fowl and human flu rarely encountered before in humans. It spreads mainly through coughs and sneezes. The Mexican victims who have died so far are usually young adults or teens. There is currently no vaccine for the new strain, but some Israeli experts report tentatively that people who received regular anti-flu vaccinations this last winter may develop lighter symptoms than those he did not.
Some experts recommend trying the Tamiflu vaccine against bird flu. Mexican health authorities suspect the deadly H1N1 reached Mexico from the Far East, possibly through California.
hattip JWB

WHO avian influenza monitoring Kafr Sheikh

6 Sunday, April 26, 2009 - 11:26



The emergence of two cases positive
for
bird flu last week, province of Kafr el-Sheikh


. Been developed province of Kafr el-Sheikh at the center of attention after the emergence of these cases, the affirmative for the bird flu last week, where a delegation from the World Health Organization visited the Kafr El-Sheikh to make sure that the efforts of the Ministry of Health and the province of Kafr el-Sheikh in the face of the disease and control of the positive spots appeared that such cases .

Has been issued, Major General Ahmed Abdeen, the governor of Kafr El-Sheikh instructed the Under-Secretary of the Department of Veterinary Medicine to maintain the transition to the homes of positive cases infected Kulain status and take necessary action to prevent the spread of the disease elsewhere infected with the same focus, as well as the collection of all existing bird species, and immediately executed so as not to be a source of transmission to others.

This came after the emergence of the affirmative case for bird flu last week, province of Kafr el-Sheikh, which recorded a 64 case of a woman named Saadiya Abdel-Latif (34 years) were booked for treatment for a period of 10 days of hospital fevers Kafr el-Sheikh, who died yesterday because of the serious complications of the disease.

The second case, No. 66 at the level of the Republic of the girl child Manar Ibrahim Zidan (a year and a half) from the village center Kulain Chaabas Amir, which was transferred to a hospital for its Tamiflu drug under intensive surveillance and treatment
And after exposure to infected birds with avian flu.

A Pakistani, among those killed by flu

A Pakistani, among those killed by flu
The INER reported 15 deaths from the epidemic in National Institute of Respiratory Diseases
Sunday April 26 2009

A Pakistani was the first foreigner to have died in Mexico, the victim of swine influenza.

To his family, a group of about eight people, samples were taken for analysis and were given treatment with the antiviral oseltamivir.

Sources from the Ministry of Health confirmed the death of Pakistan, which is part of the 20 deceased persons to whom it was found that the contracted swine influenza.

According to data collected by El Universal, Pakistani, which is not provided the name, joined the National Institute of Respiratory Diseases (INER) on April 16.

The Health Department detected its first case of swine influenza and released three days before the April 17 first epidemiological alert for an outbreak of atypical seasonal influenza.

The alien died on Sunday April 19. His relatives were summoned to proportional one days after the medication and prevent the spread of the virus.

INER in the 15 patients died, one at 11:30 am yesterday by a virus whose name did not clarify the institute's director, Edgar Mondragon Armijo.

In a brief press conference, Mondragón Armijo said that patients have the H1N1 strain, which is defined by, and might think it's pork. "

Are placed 24 patients diagnosed with influenza, 10 of them seriously that they even have assisted mechanical ventilation.

Mondragón Armijo explained that only provide antivirals to patients and relatives of the deceased.

The admission to this hospital is controlled by armed police. In the area of respiratory emergencies only allows access to the patient and a companion.

Whether internal to the patient, the relatives are not allowed in the waiting room. They settled in a camellón where they have eaten their food and even spend the night.

INER to have channeled some patients who are suspected to have influenza, but the families do not receive data from the state of health.

A couple of 23 years died yesterday, the latest victim, joined by a "severe pneumonia" last April 20.

The doctor told his family that he died of a heart and a strange virus is not detected. "

On Friday they had warned him that there were fewer than 24 hours of life.

The elementary teacher Mariana Solis, a carrier of the flu, took two hours to give the antiviral oseltamivir.

Just Friday night she was diagnosed with influenza, because in a previous query in the ISSSTE told she had flu. Every week taught a group of 25 minors.
hattip Helblindi

World Health Organization warns ..

WHO: Avian flu pigs will be transferred to humans

Sunday, April 26, 2009 - 14:15

World Health Organization warned of the emergence of swine influenza virus in Egypt, described it as "an urgent need in the field of public health," asserting that the pigs are the principal mediator in the transmission of the virus from birds to humans and some of them.

أ Swine flu epidemic disease severely affects mainly pigs, and influenza caused by a virus that category (a), the world has witnessed the spread of the disease in pigs, causing a high state of terror after the lethality of a large number of people in Mexico, and the spread of the disease, in particular, in the autumn and winter seasons However, it can be deployed at other times of the year, according to the international organization.

The organization said that there are several strains of swine flu, like the flu that affect humans, into the nature of the virus on a continuous basis, and usually this type of swine flu does not infect humans, but that many cases recorded in Mexico, mostly among people with communication PIGS directly, and the World Health Organization confirmed that some cases represent a new kind of death is not known by the swine flu carries genetic qualities different from those that were injured by humans in different regions in Europe and Asia.

Virus among humans a manner similar to the spread of seasonal influenza, or through coughing and sneezing, and World Health Organization has expressed concern, but pointed out that it is still too early to change the level of preparedness for a pandemic.

The organization said that he will be vaccinated pigs in North America routinely against the virus, but so far there is no vaccine to combat this custom, if the virus infected people, saying only that it can not be used for vaccines against viruses, seasonal flu virus in pigs of these cases.

Suspected cases of bird flu children Kenawy

الأحد، 26 أبريل 2009 - 15:14 Sunday, April 26, 2009 - 15:14

تم أخذ عينة من المريض وإرسالها إلى المعامل المركزية بالقاهرة Sample was taken from the patient and sent to labs central Cairo

كتبت هند المغربى Written by India Morocco

احتجز مستشفى حميات قنا اليوم الأحد، حالة للاشتباه فى إصابتها بمرض أنفلونزا الطيور، حيث دخل الطفل على ناصر (5 سنوات) إلى المستشفى فى حالة إعياء شديد يعانى من ارتفاع فى درجة الحرارة والسعال الشديد وأعراض مشابهة للمرض، وتبين أنه مخالط لطيور مصابة تربى بمنزلهم نفق عدد منها الفترة الماضية. Hospital admitted Qena held on Sunday, in case of suspicion of being infected with bird flu, where the child's income on Nasser (5 years) to the hospital in case of severe fatigue suffering from high temperature, cough and severe symptoms similar to the disease, indicating that Mkhalt of the infected birds died at their home grown number of the last period.

تم أخذ عينة من المريض وإرسالها إلى المعامل المركزية بالقاهرة للتأكد من إصابته بالمرض من عدمه. Sample was taken from the patient and sent to labs central Cairo in order to ensure a disease or not.

Two women escape from a hospital fevers Kafr Al Zayat

After being held on suspicion of bird flu influenza

الأحد، 26 أبريل 2009 - 13:01 Sunday, April 26, 2009 - 13:01

Two women escape from a hospital fevers Kafr Al Zayat

. Two women managed to escape from the fevers of Kafr Al-Zayat Hospital after being held on suspicion of bird flu virus.

. The roar and Fadia Mohammed الشرقاوى were able to escape from the hospital, having been introduced on Monday after it had been taking blood samples and their melancholy hours.

Doctors were surprised to escape the hospital and the two women had informed the Security Directorate and Commissioner of the status of Kafr Al-Zayat escape from the hospital two women, despite their under intensive treatment and put under observation until the laboratory reports to the central Ministry of Health, illness, or not.

Swine flu out of control and fear of mixing of bird plague

GMT 0:15:00 2009 Sunday, April 26 London life

أحمد مغربي Moroccan Ahmed Nothing is worse than the global economic crisis these days, only the probability of catastrophic virus Immiscible pigs «H 1 to 1» now hit Mexico and the United States, with the plague of influenza virus «1 is the HTML 5» which has been moving between poultry and humans. As they lead to a wave of avian influenza may have exceeded those that followed the First World War, Vhsdt the lives of millions of people! The frightening prospect of the other in the loose pigs, the current wave of avian influenza control, because of the strength of component causes. After identification of the genetic composition of the virus which leads the current wave of «swine flu», non-officials «monitoring centers diseases» (CD C) in the state of the dialect of Atlanta, and found to be HIV «hybrid» mixes elements of the influenza viruses in the pigs, birds and humans, and they are now more pessimistic about the current wave of avian pigs. It is believed that he claimed 68 people in Mexico, where 1004 people infected, and 8 persons in the neighboring state of Texas, none of them has died. Said Dr. Richard Bresser centers «CD C»: «We have grown our doubts, that the virus was highly erratic, making the epidemic is not expected». He pointed out that the «CD C» do not know the speed at which HIV is transmitted among humans. In the current wave, raised serious concerns from the presence of viral elements of water, bird flu, because it is a repository of the types of the virus «er».Affects the digestive apparatus, and not respiratory, Trm with excrement in the lakes and water meadows, prairies and farms. If the coincidence that the «mixed» two types of influenza in the living cell, they produce a kind of severe influenza virus infection. This has caused waves in the mixing and B in humans have occurred first in 1957, and took the name «Asian influenza». The second named «Hong Kong flu» year 1968 when deployed. The waves hit in 1997 China, the Netherlands and China in 2003.The waves that «exceptional» scientifically, because the viruses Immiscible an exceptional event in itself, as it contains the genetic overcome barriers that separate natural species from each other. Not infected with human animal, however, exceptional. Because this exception is associated with the emergence of an unusual virus, and therefore has no immunity against the people, it is in the fierce waves. And called «WHO» to an emergency international meeting to discuss the viral wave. And warned of the growing spread between humans. . Did not stop its flights in the continent of America. Mexico shut schools and museums, and public events were suspended. وIt is known that the virus causes influenza in pigs annually. And the isolation of the first year, 1930. There are 4 types of it, at least, does not affect Alepeshraadp, but may often exist in the contact, such as pigs and cattle breeders and butchers Tannic leather and others. Repeatedly recorded casualties, as well as transmission from one person to another. Recorded «CD C» 1 - 2 human cases of HIV each year. And between 2005 and early this year, there were 12 human cases in the United States. ولم يمت أياً منها. None of them did not die. In 1976, the mandate of Anti_r «New Jersey», and wounded 200 people. Some suffered minor respiratory illnesses, and recorded in a single death. In 1988, the U.S. died from the impact of pneumonia caused by infected swine virus. And time, found many casualties, the Knht not only suffer minor symptoms. As well as Dr. Gil Chavez, Director of «status of infectious diseases», Ministry of Public Health in California, is seen to the fact that most of those who died from the disease between the ages of 25 and 45 years as a sign of «a cause for concern», such as the flu tends to spread between the traditional the elderly and young children. The vaccine given to pigs to reduce the spread of the virus between herds. Does not give flu vaccines to vulnerable people from becoming infected pigs only partially, but ease of moving them. The U.S. health authorities advised people living with drug use «oseltamivir» and «zanamivir», also known my «Tamiflu» and »Relenza». The swine flu-like symptoms in humans regular influenza, but more severe, and may be associated with vomiting and diarrhea. The patient is contagious for as long as the virus has the symptoms, as well as for a week afterwards. However, children and adolescents may be transported for a longer period of infection. He urged the Mexican Minister of Health José Angel Cordoba to avoid rallies and wearing masks, but there's no guarantee that the flu vaccine will help to eradicate the new strain. In a similar context, he advised Arnold Schwarzenegger, Governor of the State of California, people take steps in line with the «common sense» in order to avoid the flu, such as covering the nose and mouth when sneezing, washing hands frequently with soap and water, and others. In Geneva (AFP), said Director-General of WHO Margaret Chan, the appearance of «a new virus» from the swine flu spread to humans is a «dangerous situation», and »can not be expected» consequences and must be monitored closely Chan said in a press conference by telephone, said the evolution of this virus «can not be expected».

Warden Message from Embassy of U.S. in Mexico

PUBLIC ANNOUNCEMENTS
WARDEN MESSAGE

The U.S. Embassy in Mexico advises that as a precaution, Mexican authorities closed all schools in the Federal District and in the State of Mexico on April 24, 2009 as the Mexican Secretariat of Health announced hundreds of cases of flu in the country, some of which may be the H1N1 strain of “swine flu”. Some other public institutions, such as museums and government offices, are also closed. Exact numbers of the people infected with the various strains of flu are unavailable. The U.S. Embassy has no additional information about closures.

The U.S. Embassy reminds U.S. citizens in Mexico that most cases of influenza are not “swine flu”; any specific questions or concerns about flu or other illnesses should be directed to a medical professional. Although the U.S. Embassy cannot give medical advice or provide medical services to the public, a list of hospitals and doctors can be found on our website at the following link:

http://mexico.usembassy.gov/sacs_medical_info.html (Spanish)

http://mexico.usembassy.gov/eng/eacs_medical_info.html (English)

At this time the Mexican Secretariat of Health urges people to avoid large crowds, shaking hands, kissing people as a greeting, or using the subway. Maintaining a distance of at least six feet from other persons may decrease the risk of exposure. In addition, the following prevention tips are from the Center for Disease Control (CDC) website:

1. Avoid close contact.

Avoid close contact with people who are sick. When you are sick, keep your distance from others to protect them from getting sick too.

2. Stay home when you are sick.

If possible, stay home from work, school, and errands when you are sick. You will help prevent others from catching your illness.

3. Cover your mouth and nose.

Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when coughing or sneezing. It may prevent those around you from getting sick.

4. Clean your hands.

Washing your hands often will help protect you from germs.

5. Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth.

Germs are often spread when a person touches something that is contaminated with germs and then touches his or her eyes, nose, or mouth.

6. Practice other good health habits.

Get plenty of sleep, be physically active, manage your stress, drink plenty of fluids, and eat nutritious food.

For additional information, please consult the CDC website at www.cdc.gov, or the website of the World Health Organization at www.who.int. The U.S. Embassy will also post additional information as it becomes available at: www.usembassy-mexico.gov.

American Citizens Services
U.S. Embassy Mexico City
Paseo de la Reforma #305
Col Cuauhtemoc; Mexico, D. F., Mexico CP 06500
Tel: (011)(52)(55) 5080-2000

Hours: 8:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. & 3:00 to 5:00 p.m. For after-hours, emergencies only, call (011)(52)(55) 5080-2000, ext. “0”, and ask to speak to the Duty Officer. E-mail: ACSMexicoCity@state.gov; website: mexico.usembassy.gov

WARDEN MESSAGE

Update on Flu Outbreak in Mexico The U.S. Embassy in Mexico Suspends all Visa and Non-Emergency American Citizen Services for the Week of April 27 – 30, 2009 April 25, 2009

The governments of the United States and Mexico are working closely together to contain the current outbreak of H1N1 influenza. In accordance with measures announced by the City of Mexico to limit the congregation of large crowds, the U.S. Embassy in Mexico City will suspend all non-essential consular services from Monday, April 27, 2009 through Thursday, April 30, 2009. On Friday May 1st the Embassy is closed for a local holiday. From Monday, April 27 to Thursday, April 30th, consular services for U.S. citizens will be limited to citizenship applications (passports and consular reports of birth abroad, or CRBA) and emergency assistance only. Notarial and other routine services will not be available; anyone with passport or CRBA appointments is encouraged but not required to reschedule to a later date. Additionally, the Federal Benefits Unit is requesting all persons to postpone interviews on Social Security claims. The Visa Unit will also suspend normal operations during this week. The Embassy will reschedule all visa applications which have been made for the week of April 27th. Our call center will call or e-mail applicants to reschedule appointments. Alternatively, applicants may re-schedule visa appointments without being charged by calling 01-800-719-2525. If there is an emergency visa issue please email visas_mexico@state.gov. Finally, the Benjamin Franklin Library will be closed to the public next week. These are precautionary measures only, taken to best assure the well-being of our clients and staff. The United States has imposed no additional constraints or limitations on travel between the United States and Mexico. Travelers are encouraged to comply with suggestions by Mexican public health officials and to be alert to good health and sanitation practices. The U.S. Embassy reminds U.S. citizens in Mexico that most cases of influenza are not “swine flu”; any specific questions or concerns about flu or other illnesses should be directed to a medical professional. Mexico City medical authorities urge people to avoid hospitals and clinics unless they have a medical emergency, since hospitals are centers of infection; instead, those with health concerns are encouraged to stay home and call their physicians to avoid potential exposure. Although the U.S. Embassy cannot give medical advice or provide medical services to the public, a list of hospitals and doctors can be found on our website at the following links: http://mexico.usembassy.gov/sacs_medical_info.html (Spanish) http://mexico.usembassy.gov/eng/eacs_medical_info.html (English) At this time the Mexican Secretariat of Health urges people to avoid large crowds, shaking hands, kissing people as a greeting, or using the subway. Maintaining a distance of at least six feet from other persons may decrease the risk of exposure. In addition, the following prevention tips are from the Center for Disease Control (CDC) website: 1. Avoid close contact. Avoid close contact with people who are sick. When you are sick, keep your distance from others to protect them from getting sick too. 2. Stay home when you are sick. If possible, stay home from work, school, and errands when you are sick. You will help prevent others from catching your illness. 3. Cover your mouth and nose. Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when coughing or sneezing. It may prevent those around you from getting sick. 4. Clean your hands. Washing your hands often will help protect you from germs. 5. Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth. Germs are often spread when a person touches something that is contaminated with germs and then touches his or her eyes, nose, or mouth. 6. Practice other good health habits. Get plenty of sleep, be physically active, manage your stress, drink plenty of fluids, and eat nutritious food. For additional information, please consult the State Department’s website at www.travel.state.gov, the CDC website at www.cdc.gov, or the website of the World Health Organization at www.who.int. The U.S.-based call center for U.S. citizens can be reached from 8:00 am – 8:00 pm Eastern Daylight Time, M-F, at 1-888-407-4747, or if calling from outside the U.S., at (202) 501-4444. The U.S. Embassy will also post additional information as it becomes available at: mexico.usembassy.gov. American Citizens Services U.S. Embassy Mexico City Paseo de la Reforma #305 Col Cuauhtemoc; Mexico, D. F., Mexico CP 06500 Tel: (011)(52)(55) 5080-2000 Hours: 8:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. & 3:00 to 5:00 p.m. For after-hours, emergencies only, call (011)(52)(55) 5080-2000, ext. “0”, and ask to speak to the Duty Officer. E-mail: ACSMexicoCity@state.gov; website: mexico.usembassy.gov

Meningitis outbreak reported in Miami

April 25, 2009
MIAMI, April 25 (UPI) -- Health officials in Miami announced an apparent outbreak of meningitis this week that has killed four people and sickened 12.

Dr. Vincent Conte of the Miami-Dade Health Department said that the victims were infected with an unusual and unusually virulent strain of the disease, W135. The Miami Herald reported. Only about 3 percent of meningitis cases around the world are caused by that strain of virus.

The pattern of the outbreak is puzzling, Conte said, because those infected with the disease are scattered around Dade County. He said that the cluster is the first in the United States involving the W135 strain.

Conte said that epidemiologists are trying to track the contacts of "patient zero," who became sick in December and has since recovered.

Meningitis is an infection of the fluid in the spinal cord and around the brain. The virus spreads through close person-to-person contact, including kissing, and through handling things that have been touched by an infected person.

Swine flu: false steward for British Airways

26 avril 2009

LONDON - A steward of the airline British Airways, hospitalized Saturday in London on his return from Mexico City to symptoms resembling those of influenza, has not contracted the fever, swine, announced Sunday morning, a spokesman for the Northwick Park Hospital.

"I can confirm that he is not swine fever. All tests came back negative," said this source.

A spokesperson for BA stated Saturday that the steward had made the connecting flight BA242 Mexico arrived at Heathrow that day in London at 13.00 GMT.

The Agency for Health Protection (HPA) has stressed that this examination as a precaution ", adding that at this stage there were no confirmed cases of person with the flu swine in Great Britain as well as in the rest of Europe.

Minister: 10 NZ students back from Mexico likely have swine flu

WELLINGTON, April 26 (Xinhua) -- New Zealand Health Minister Tony Ryall confirmed on Sunday that there were 10 positive influenza results from testing carried out on 13 students from Auckland's Rangitoto College who returned from Mexico on Saturday.

Ministry of Health officials said there was no guarantee that these students had swine influenza but considered it likely.

All precautions were being taken to allow for this.

"However, I am also informed none of the affected patients are considered seriously ill, and most in fact seem to be on the road to recovery," Ryall said in a statement on Sunday evening.

The 10 students had tested positive for Influenza A.

The results would be sent to the World Health Organization laboratory in Melbourne to ascertain whether it was the H1N1 swine influenza, he said.

He did not know when the results would be known, but said given the global situation they would be treated with considerable urgency.

He encouraged other passengers on NZ1, the flight from Los Angeles the Rangitoto College students returned on, to consult with their family doctors or other health professional if they develop flu-like symptoms.

-snip-

Indonesia on Swine Flu Outbreak

[great big snip of general info about the swine flu outbreak]

Indonesia Anticipation

In the meantime, the Department of Health RI, reminded all the Indonesian community in order to not suspect each American citizen who came to Indonesia, because of the incident in the USA only in several areas then.

"We might not suspect everyone of America. Because if they came to Indonesia with the condition for the fever, to be uncertain they were affected by pig flu," ordered Director Eradication of the Source Animal Illness (P2B2) the Department of the Health, Dr Rita Kusriastuti, Msc, when being contacted by SH, on Saturday (25/4).

Nevertheless, in each airport entrance and the seaport was prepared the hot detector. For that was detected was experiencing hot the body, immediately be quarantined in the clinic and was asked by his symptoms. Moreover, Indonesia also anticipated the other illness available in Indonesia, like ebola, yellow fever.

"If pig flu, this just was early, but because of his case in the USA, become big his echo," continued Rita. He explained, pig flu was respiratory disease to the pig that was caused by the A virus and the extraordinary incident of influenza of the type virus (KLB) to the pig. The matter of the case of pig flu of striking the humankind, was not yet known whether could spread from humankind to humankind. Same like the case of bird flu, although having affected humankind, was still not known whether having the spread from humankind to humankind.
hat-tip dbg

Jalisco takes action over swine flu as suspected cases in Mexico exceed 1300

[Jalisco is on the Pacific coast and doesn't share a border with any state which has reported cases up until now.]

Written by Michael Forbes

Saturday, 25 April 2009

Health officials in Jalisco say they have identified 18 people in the state with flu-like symptoms who may be infected with the swine flu virus.

All but one are isolated in their homes, where they are receiving medical attention, officials said at a press conference Saturday.

Only one person, a 47-year-old male from the neighboring state of Nayarit, is being treated in a private hospital.

Doctors are awaiting the results of tests to see if any of the 18 are infected with the swine flu strain.

Since Friday, state health department staff have been monitoring passengers arriving at the Guadalajara bus stations and airport, as well the Puerto Vallarta airport. Nearly all workers at the local bus station and airport are now wearing face masks, since the virus can most likely be transmitted via coughing.

Speaking at a press conference in Mexico City on Saturday, Mexican Health Secretary Jose Angel Cordova said the outbreak "still hasn't spread across the entire country" and that reports of flu cases from some states have proven to be erroneous.

Cordova said the cases are restricted to Mexico City, and the states of Estado de Mexico, San Luis Potosi, Baja California and Oaxaca.

More than 1,300 people are suspected of having the swine flu in Mexico, 80 of whom have died. Only 20 deaths, however, have been confirmed as being from swine flu.



Cordova said the first swine flu case in Mexico was identified in Oaxaca on April 13. But despite all the information at their disposal, as late as April 21 health authorities had not issued a public alert over the outbreak. At first, the health secretary explained, deaths in San Luis Potosi and Mexicali were put down to a prolongation of seasonal winter flu. In a press conference on April 17, the federal agency informed the media of "unusual behavior" of seasonal flu, with a three-fold increase over cases compared to this time last year.
hat-tip AndyM

Ministry of Health identified three suspected cases of swine flu in Chile

25/04/2009

The Health Ministry reported Saturday that the presence of cases of three people suspected of being infected in our country with the swine flu, a disease that has left dozens of deaths in Mexico (where it originated), and that led to the World World Health Organization (WHO) to declare a state of emergency of international public health.

"There are three cases under consideration, which are in the Coyhaique Regional Hospital, the Hospital" (Charles) Van Buren "in Valparaiso, and the Chest Hospital," the minister said Alvaro Erazo.

The secretary of state said that "two of these cases have an initial negative test, an immunofluorescence with an examination which is not throwing the event corresponding to a case of H1N1," and there is a third case is still under study .

Erazo was, finally, a plea for "peace of the population," to ensure "the health services of the country are working 24 hours a day."

On the imminent arrival of the Mexican team Chivas de Guadalajara, which face Everton on Wednesday for Copa Libertadores, the owner of Health said that the players will be subjected to the same analysis of the other passengers, including passage through a scanner and measurement of body temperature, which in the case of more than 39 degrees, will transfer to a health center to conduct a medical checkup.

hat-tip AndyM

The Director General of Health: "Two suspected cases of swine flu in France"

26 avr. 2009

Professor Didier Houssin, Director General for Health and inter-delegate to the fight against avian influenza was the guest on Sunday Morning RTL. "Currently, we have identified two suspects, two people who returned from Mexico and had a fever and are currently under investigation. There is one who is in the Bordeaux region and one in the Marseille region "said Didier Houssin. "We'll be facing in the coming days to numbers that are added, people returning from this area, and who, why, have to ask the question (of the disease, ie). So that is why the monitoring device will be sampling "he explained.
hat-tip: lila

Recombinomics: Likely Swine Flu In Auckland New Zealand Students

Commentary

Recombinomics Commentary 09:23
April 26, 2009

Three teachers and 22 senior students at Rangitoto College, New Zealand's largest secondary school, on Auckland's North Shore, yesterday returned to Auckland on a flight from Los Angeles, after a three week trip to Mexico.

One student was believed to be in hospital.

The above comments described a likely cluster of H1N1 swine flu in New Zealand (see updated map). The students have symptoms and one appears to be hospitalized.

This cluster is similar to high school students from Queens, New York (see updated map), who also returned from a trip to Mexico. Eight students tested positive for influenza A, and results on tests for swine H1N1 are expected on Sunday.

A Mexico connection was also made for the first confirmed cases in Kansas, who developed symptoms after a business trip to Mexico.
Mexico appears to be the epicenter of the outbreak, with reports of 1300 pneumonia cases and over 80 deaths. Sequence analysis of the virus from the United States and Mexico indicate the virus is the same. However, there are small regional differences. The CDC has promptly released sequences from California and Texas (see list below), and these differences allow the Texas isolates to be distinguished from the California isolates, and the California isolates also formed distinct subgroups.

The prompt release of these sequences by the CDC is commendable, and more releases are expected. These sequences will help determine differences in the more severe cases, or differences that appear as the virus spreads across the globe.

Virus Collection date
A/California/06/2009 41F 2009-04-16
A/California/09/2009 7M 2009-04-15
A/Texas/05/2009 16M 2009-04-15
A/Texas/04/2009 16M 2009-04-14
A/California/07/2009 54M 2009-04-09
A/California/04/2009 10M 2009-04-01
A/California/05/2009 9F 2009-03-30

Media Links

NY state health dept monitors probable swine flu

1 hr 31 mins ago

NEW YORK – New York Gov. David Paterson has directed the state Department of Health to monitor and respond to probable cases of swine flu.

Paterson directed the department on Saturday to mobilize its infectious-disease, epidemiology, laboratory and disaster preparedness workers after New York City health officials reported at least eight high school students were likely sickened by swine flu.

City health officials have said they don't know whether the students have the same strain of the virus that has killed people in Mexico.

Paterson says 1,500 treatment courses of the antiviral Tamiflu have been sent to New York City.

Eleven cases of swine flu are confirmed in Kansas, Texas and California.

Asia on alert after swine flu outbreak

1 hr 32 mins ago

TOKYO – Asian health authorities were on alert Sunday, with some checking passengers and pork products from Mexico, as the World Health Organization declared the deadly swine flu outbreak a public health emergency of "pandemic potential."

Japan's biggest international airport stepped up health surveillance, while the Philippines said it may quarantine passengers with fevers who have been to Mexico. Health authorities in Thailand and Hong Kong said they were closely monitoring the situation.

China said anyone experiencing flu-like symptoms within two weeks of arriving in the country from swine-flu affected territories was required to report to authorities.

Malaysia and other Asian nations said they were awaiting further advice from WHO, whose Director-General Margaret Chan said Saturday the North American outbreak of a never-before-seen virus was a very serious situation with "pandemic potential."

-snip-

At Tokyo's Narita airport — among the world's busiest with more than 96,000 people using it daily — officials installed a device at the arrival gate for flights from Mexico to measure the temperatures of passengers.

"We are increasing health surveillance following the outbreak of swine flu," said Akira Yukitoki, an official at the airport's quarantine station. He said more than 160 passengers arriving from Mexico on Saturday were screened by the thermographic machine. No one complained of fever or severe coughing.

The airport also plans to put up special signs for passengers going to Mexico, urging them to "wear masks, wash hands and gargle," Yukitoki said.

"What we have to do now is to see ... whether all cases in Mexico are epidemiologically linked," said Hong Kong's Undersecretary for Food and Health Gabriel Leung. He refused to say whether Hong Kong would implement checks on people arriving from Mexico.

Asia has grappled in recent years with the H5N1 bird flu virus, which has killed at least 257 people worldwide since late 2003, according to WHO. Nearly 45 percent of the global bird flu deaths have occurred in Indonesia, with 115 fatalities.

Scientists have warned for years about the potential for a pandemic caused by viruses that mix genetic material from humans and animals.

No vaccine specifically protects against swine flu, and it is unclear how much protection current human flu vaccines might offer.

New Zealand quarantines 25 amid swine flu alert

1 hr 23 mins ago

WELLINGTON, New Zealand – Twenty-five students and teachers in New Zealand, some with flu-like symptoms, were quarantined and tested for swine flu after returning from a trip to Mexico, officials said Sunday, as Asia stepped up surveillance for the deadly virus.

At least 81 people have died from severe pneumonia caused by a flu-like illness in Mexico, according to the World Health Organization, which declared the virus a public health emergency of "pandemic potential."

The group from New Zealand's largest high school returned to the northern city of Auckland on Saturday on a flight from Los Angeles. Thirteen students and one teacher were unwell and one student had to be hospitalized, said Auckland Regional Public Health Services director Dr. Julia Peters.

Health Ministry spokesman Michael Flyger said some had symptoms of an influenza-like illness and the test results were expected later Sunday.

At this stage other passengers on the flight were not being sought and the next step would depend on what the tests showed, he said.

Mexico has closed schools, museums, libraries and theaters in a bid to contain the outbreak, which may have sickened about 1,000 people there.

Some of those who died are confirmed to have a unique version of the A/H1N1 flu virus that is a combination of bird, pig and human viruses, WHO said.

U.S. authorities said 11 people were infected with swine flu, and all recovered or are recovering and at least two were hospitalized.

-snip-