A new End of the world scare!
From the BBC:
[url]http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/8019566.stm [/url]
National public health bodies are co-ordinating their work to prevent the spread of a new swine flu virus, the World Health Organization says.
Mexico has reported 71 deaths but "we don't know how many are new swine flu infections," Dr Keiji Fukuda said.
Mexican authorities have taken drastic measures to contain the virus.
The latest cases to be confirmed were among New York students but "there is no need for Americans to panic," White House spokesman Robert Gibbs said.
The World Health Organization (WHO) says the situation remains serious but "the picture is evolving".
The US cases of infections had not had contact with pigs, the WHO said.
"We think this will continue to spread but we working aggressively" to contain the virus, said Dr Richard Besser, acting director of the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
He said the US was working with Mexico to establish more laboratory facilities to help confirm the existence of the virus in individual cases.
The latest cases to be confirmed are eight New York students.
The other US cases confirmed are seven in California, two in Texas, two in Kansas and one in Ohio.
H1N1 is the same strain that causes seasonal flu outbreaks in humans, but the newly detected version contains genetic material from versions of flu which usually affect pigs and birds.
The respiratory virus - which infects pigs but only sporadically humans - is spread mainly through coughs and sneezes.
The WHO has warned the virus has the potential to become a pandemic, and has urged all governments to step up surveillance.
Several countries in Asia and Latin America have begun screening airport passengers for symptoms.
Suspected outbreaks
Although all of the deaths so far have been in Mexico, the flu is spreading in the United States and suspected cases have been detected elsewhere:
The next few days and weeks will be crucial.
One possibly hopeful sign is that of the eight cases in the US there has been only one hospitalisation, and no deaths.
So it may turn out that there is some other kind of infection at work in Mexico, as well as the new flu virus.
* Ten New Zealand students are among a group which travelled to Mexico have tested positive for influenza A - making it "likely", though not definite, that they are infected with swine flu, said Health Minister Tony Ryall
* In France, a top health official told Le Parisien newspaper there were unconfirmed suspicions that two individuals who had just returned from Mexico may be carrying the virus
* Spain's health ministry says three people who returned from a trip from Mexico with flu symptoms are in isolation and being tested
* In Israel, medics are testing a 26-year-old man who has been taken to hospital with flu-like symptoms after returning from a trip to Mexico
Mexico shutdown
The Mexican government, which has faced criticism for what some see as a slow reaction to this outbreak, is now taking an increasingly hard line to try to contain the virus, says the BBC's Stephen Gibbs in Mexico City.
Public buildings have been closed and hundreds of public events suspended.
There is a sense of chaos in hospitals and we do not know what to do
BBC reader Antonio Chavez, Mexico City
Schools in and around Mexico City have been closed until 6 May, and some 70% of bars and restaurants in the capital have been temporarily closed.
People are being strongly urged to avoid shaking hands, and the US embassy has advised visitors to the country to keep at least six feet (1.8m) from other people.
Mexico's Health Secretary, Jose Cordova, said a total of 1,324 people had been admitted to hospital with suspected symptoms since 13 April and were being tested for the virus.
"In that same period, 81 deaths were recorded probably linked to the virus but only in 20 cases we have the laboratory tests to confirm it," he said.
Mexico's President Felipe Calderon has announced emergency measures to deal with the situation.
They include powers to isolate individuals suspected of having the virus without fear of legal repercussions.
From the BBC:
[url]http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/8019566.stm [/url]
National public health bodies are co-ordinating their work to prevent the spread of a new swine flu virus, the World Health Organization says.
Mexico has reported 71 deaths but "we don't know how many are new swine flu infections," Dr Keiji Fukuda said.
Mexican authorities have taken drastic measures to contain the virus.
The latest cases to be confirmed were among New York students but "there is no need for Americans to panic," White House spokesman Robert Gibbs said.
The World Health Organization (WHO) says the situation remains serious but "the picture is evolving".
The US cases of infections had not had contact with pigs, the WHO said.
"We think this will continue to spread but we working aggressively" to contain the virus, said Dr Richard Besser, acting director of the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
He said the US was working with Mexico to establish more laboratory facilities to help confirm the existence of the virus in individual cases.
The latest cases to be confirmed are eight New York students.
The other US cases confirmed are seven in California, two in Texas, two in Kansas and one in Ohio.
H1N1 is the same strain that causes seasonal flu outbreaks in humans, but the newly detected version contains genetic material from versions of flu which usually affect pigs and birds.
The respiratory virus - which infects pigs but only sporadically humans - is spread mainly through coughs and sneezes.
The WHO has warned the virus has the potential to become a pandemic, and has urged all governments to step up surveillance.
Several countries in Asia and Latin America have begun screening airport passengers for symptoms.
Suspected outbreaks
Although all of the deaths so far have been in Mexico, the flu is spreading in the United States and suspected cases have been detected elsewhere:
The next few days and weeks will be crucial.
One possibly hopeful sign is that of the eight cases in the US there has been only one hospitalisation, and no deaths.
So it may turn out that there is some other kind of infection at work in Mexico, as well as the new flu virus.
* Ten New Zealand students are among a group which travelled to Mexico have tested positive for influenza A - making it "likely", though not definite, that they are infected with swine flu, said Health Minister Tony Ryall
* In France, a top health official told Le Parisien newspaper there were unconfirmed suspicions that two individuals who had just returned from Mexico may be carrying the virus
* Spain's health ministry says three people who returned from a trip from Mexico with flu symptoms are in isolation and being tested
* In Israel, medics are testing a 26-year-old man who has been taken to hospital with flu-like symptoms after returning from a trip to Mexico
Mexico shutdown
The Mexican government, which has faced criticism for what some see as a slow reaction to this outbreak, is now taking an increasingly hard line to try to contain the virus, says the BBC's Stephen Gibbs in Mexico City.
Public buildings have been closed and hundreds of public events suspended.
There is a sense of chaos in hospitals and we do not know what to do
BBC reader Antonio Chavez, Mexico City
Schools in and around Mexico City have been closed until 6 May, and some 70% of bars and restaurants in the capital have been temporarily closed.
People are being strongly urged to avoid shaking hands, and the US embassy has advised visitors to the country to keep at least six feet (1.8m) from other people.
Mexico's Health Secretary, Jose Cordova, said a total of 1,324 people had been admitted to hospital with suspected symptoms since 13 April and were being tested for the virus.
"In that same period, 81 deaths were recorded probably linked to the virus but only in 20 cases we have the laboratory tests to confirm it," he said.
Mexico's President Felipe Calderon has announced emergency measures to deal with the situation.
They include powers to isolate individuals suspected of having the virus without fear of legal repercussions.
