WHO raises pandemic alert to second-highest level

[DenverChief]

I know there is another thread on this but this article addresses some of the questions that have been raised in other thread as to why the big deal

GENEVA, Switzerland (CNN) -- The World Health Organization raised its pandemic alert to 5, its second-highest level Wednesday, indicating the outbreak of swine flu that originated in Mexico is nearing widespread human infection.

Dr. Margaret Chan, the U.N. agency's director-general, said the decision mean to raise the alert to 5 on its 6-point scale indicated that all countries should "immediately" activate pandemic preparedness plans.

"This change to a higher phase of alert is a signal to governments, to ministries of health and other ministries, to the pharm industry and the business community that certain actions now should be taken with increased urgency and at an accelerated pace," Chan said.

The annoucement came as the number of people infected with swine flu increased rapidly across the world, and health officials scrambled to get more information about the virus -- which has no vaccine.

Germany and Austria became the latest European countries to report swine flu on Wednesday, while the number of cases increased in the United Kingdom and Spain.

The WHO and national governments have confirmed 148 cases of swine flu in 11 countries. Most of those are in the United States, where the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has confirmed 91 cases.

The figures include seven deaths in Mexico and one in the United States. More than 2,700 other patients worldwide are believed to be suffering from the virus, known scientifically as H1N1.

The WHO's "Phases of Pandemic Alert," which has been in existence for five years, characterizes phase 5 as a human-to-human spread of the virus into at least two countries in one WHO region, which signals that a pandemic is imminent.

The highest level, phase 6, is defined by community-level outbreaks in at least one other country in a different WHO region, according to the agency.

"The question now is how severe will the pandemic be, especially now at the start," Chan said. "It is important for us to take this very seriously and take vigilance as the virus evolves."

The Pentagon is planning for a task force that would help with transportation, logistics and distributing medical supplies in the event of a pandemic, a spokesman said.

The U.S. government is distributing 25 percent of its stockpile of antiviral medications Tamiflu and Relenza to all states, Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano said Wednesday. Health officials stress that the medications are effective only if taken in the early stages of the infection. Learn more about swine flu and how to treat it »

Researchers also are conducting a complete genetic sequencing of the H1N1 virus as the federal government considers more effective methods of combating the swine flu outbreak, a health official told a Senate committee Wednesday.

The 91 confirmed cases in the United States includes the country's first swine flu fatality: a 22-month-old child visiting from Mexico who died Monday at a Houston, Texas, hospital.

A U.S. Marine in California is the military's first suspected case of swine flu, and three military family members in San Diego have confirmed cases, the CDC said.

As a precaution, the military is banning travel to Mexico for nonessential personnel.

The first cases of the virus were detected in Mexico, where health officials suspect swine flu in more than 150 other deaths and roughly 2,500 illnesses. Only 26 cases have so far been confirmed, including the seven fatal cases.

The deadly outbreak has prompted authorities to order about 35,000 public venues in Mexico City to shut down or serve only takeout meals as health officials tried to contain spreading of the virus. iReport.com: "Regular life" in Mexico with masks

Mexican officials also said they believe they may have found "patient zero" -- the first case of the global outbreak -- in the small mountain village of La Gloria.

Edgar Hernandez, 5, survived the earliest documented case of swine flu. He lives near a pig farm, though experts have not established a connection between that and his illness.

Edgar has managed to bounce back from his symptoms and playfully credits ice cream for helping him feel better.

President Obama called on schools with confirmed or possible swine flu cases to "consider temporarily closing so that we can be as safe as possible."

At least 74 elementary, junior high and high schools have closed across the country due to confirmed or probable cases of swine flu, the Department of Education said Wednesday.

Another 30 schools have closed as a precautionary measure, Department of Education spokesman Massie Ritsch said.

Researchers do not know how the virus is jumping relatively easily from person to person, or why it's affecting what should be society's healthiest demographic. Many of the victims who have died in Mexico have been young and otherwise healthy.

Governments around the world are scrambling to prevent further outbreak.

Some countries, such as China and Russia, have banned pork imports from the United States and Mexico, though the WHO said the disease is not transmitted through eating or preparing pig meat. Several other countries, such as Japan and Indonesia, are using thermographic devices to test the temperature of passengers arriving from Mexico.

Egypt reportedly is considering culling all pigs although there have been no reported cases of swine flu there.

Swine influenza, or flu, is a contagious respiratory disease that affects pigs.

When the flu spreads person to person, instead of from animals to humans, it can continue to mutate, making it harder to treat or fight, because people have no natural immunity

Symptoms include fever, runny nose, sore throat, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea.

Common seasonal flu kills 250,000 to 500,000 people every year worldwide, far more than the current outbreak of swine flu. But there is a vaccine for seasonal flu.

Visit msnbc.com for 5799DB !important;" href="http://www.msnbc.msn.com">Breaking News, 5799DB !important;">World News, and 5799DB !important;">News about the Economy

[MOhillbilly]

The Antichrist his work is done. The dead are the only lucky ones.

[kcfanXIII]

i'd do it for you too

[WilliamTheIrish]

Originally Posted by DenverChief

ok so this advanced medical technology we have should have been able to treat it right?

JFC. This line of thinking is so incredibly far off base. Just monumentally stupid.

By this line of thinking, nobody should ever die.

[tomahawk kid]

My wife is just over 5 months pregnant, so I'm a bit nervous about this BS......

[MOhillbilly]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2cRvIRCzrIY


live undead

[Otter]

Originally Posted by Mr. Plow

Honestly, I came down with the flu today. After reading some of this, it kind of unnerving.

Straight from the "Zombie Survival Guide" - you were probably bitten sometime in your sleep.

The symptoms occur in the following order. The time line may be several hours off, depending on the number and location of the bites, and the size and resilience of the victim.

Hour 1: Pain and discoloration of the infected area. Immediate clotting of the wound.

Hour 5: Fever between 99 °F. and 103 °F. Chills, slight dementia, vomiting, and acute pain in the joints.

Hour 8: Numbing of extremities and infected area, increased fever from 103 °F to 106 °F. Increased dementia and loss of muscular coordination.

Hour 11: Paralysis in the lower body, overall numbness, and slowed heart rate.

Hour 16: Coma.

Hour 20: Cardiac arrest and cessation of brain activity.

Hour 23: Reanimation.

God's speed my fellow CPer.

[blazzin311]

It was once said that a black man would be president "when pigs fly" indeed 100 days into Obama's presidency...... Swine flu.





"Life is tough...it's even tougher if you're stupid"
John Wayne

[MOhillbilly]

Originally Posted by blazzin311

It was once said that a black man would be president "when pigs fly" indeed 100 days into Obama's presidency...... Swine flu.





"Life is tough...it's even tougher if you're stupid"
John Wayne

hes half white doncha know.

[1ChiefsDan]

For the Denver area people:

Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment
For Immediate
Release Wednesday,
April 30, 2009

Colorado Reports First Confirmed Cases of Swine Flu in State
DENVER - Today the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment reported the first two confirmed cases of swine flu in the state. One case is a female in her 30s from Arapahoe county who returned from a Mexico cruise a several day stay in lace w:st="on">San Diegolace>. She was not hospitalized and is recovering. The other case is a male in his 40s from lace w:st="on">Douglaslace> county who works as a baggage handler at DIA. He was hospitalized for three days and will be released today to recover at home.
“As I said on Sunday and Monday, we fully expected to identify lace w:st="on">Coloradolace> cases of swine flu,” said Ned Calonge, the state’s Chief Medical Officer at the department. “This doesn’t change the state’s approach to the swine flu outbreak.
“It’s important to understand that at this time, in the United States, the swine flu is acting just like seasonal flu. It is a relatively mild disease. We continue to ask all individuals with mild flu-like illness to stay home. This is regardless of travel history. Children and adolescents with fever should not go to day care or school. Adults with fever should not go to work until their symptoms resolve. Individuals with severe illness, such as difficulty breathing, should contact their health care provider.”
The symptoms of swine flu in people are similar to the symptoms of seasonal flu in humans and may include: Fever greater than 100°F, sore throat, cough, stuffy nose, chills, headache and body aches, and
fatigue. Some people have reported diarrhea and vomiting associated with swine flu.
The department advises those who experience influenza symptoms need to stay home for seven days after onset of symptoms, or at least 24 hours after the symptoms have resolved, whichever is longer.
The state health department also encourages people to take these personal precautions to decrease their chances of getting the flu:
· Wash hands frequently
· Cover your sneezes and coughs
· Avoid others with respiratory illnesses
The case from DIA reminds us that there are potential exposures in public places, and here, frequent hand washing or the use of hand sanitizers can protect people and prevent the spread of illness. “There are other lab specimens from patients in the pipeline that may confirm additional cases of swine flu in the days and weeks to come,” added Calonge. “If there is evidence of a cluster of swine flu cases that would warrant protective public health measures, we are prepared to employ social distancing measures that would help protect people from coming in contact with individuals who may be contagious.”
Again, this is a rapidly evolving situation and the state health department is asking people to be alert for changes in our guidance, available on our web site, http://www.cdphe.state.co.us/, as we learn more.