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.

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[oldandslow]

Originally Posted by kcfanXIII

and i wonder how many threats like this popped up before the "instant information" age. before there had to be 24 hours a day worth of news to report on. we're hearing about a few thousand world wide. once again, WORLD WIDE. i'll take my chances...

there are those that are panicking though. when i was clocking out today, i heard one of the office ladies say "Did you know you can pass swine flu before you even know you have it?" and there was genuine terror behind her voice.

Oh, I don't know...you mean like the kind that wiped out 90% of the American Indian population or the ones that just wiped out 40% of the European population....

This one probably isn't bubonic or small pox or whatever, but someday one will be...

[Ultra Peanut]

Originally Posted by Mr. Krab's

53,000 kids in Texas out of school for awhile because of the swine flu.

It makes up for not getting any snow days!

[DenverChief]

Maine just confirmed 3 cases....11 states

[Pants]

Originally Posted by DenverChief

Maine just confirmed 3 cases....11 states

JFC, it's the ****ing flu, it's inevitable that it will spread to all states including Alaska and Hawaii. That's what the flu does - it spreads and kills a few people. The articles are saying that symptoms are mild, yet here we are - panic-stricken and giving in to fear mongering.

[Brock]

Originally Posted by Metrolike

JFC, it's the ****ing flu, it's inevitable that it will spread to all states including Alaska and Hawaii. That's what the flu does - it spreads and kills a few people. The articles are saying that symptoms are mild, yet here we are - panic-stricken and giving in to fear mongering.

No shit. People are just clawing wildly for things to be worried about these days.

[Ultra Peanut]

The response is pretty hyperbolic, but it's still something that a lot of incredibly proficient people are rightly putting a lot of work into containing. Every single one of these things is an unknown quantity, at least until well after the fact, and prevention is a top priority for any of them.

[007]

I've got yet another head cold. I want to know what the hell this swine flu is and why everytime there is some kind of a flu outbreak they go overboard on the coverage and all but say "you're going to die". How many outbreaks have we had and nothing came of it?

I mean hell, even the president is throwing money we don't have at the "problem" now.

[htismaqe]

Originally Posted by Donger

I don't really understand the laughing about this. This outbreak of H1N1 exists and has spread pretty quickly. And, it has killed. It's apparently a new bug that they've never seen before and we don't have a natural immunity to it.

I'm not about to get naked and run around my neighborhood about it, but it IS real. I suppose over the next few weeks, we'll all see how nasty it is.

It's killed people in a 3rd world country. Just like it always does.

[DenverChief]

Originally Posted by Metrolike

JFC, it's the ****ing flu, it's inevitable that it will spread to all states including Alaska and Hawaii. That's what the flu does - it spreads and kills a few people. The articles are saying that symptoms are mild, yet here we are - panic-stricken and giving in to fear mongering.

hey calm down sally, if you watched the presentation given by the WHO director you might understand where I am coming from...if it were "just the flu" why would they be closing schools and raising alert levels?

[DenverChief]

Originally Posted by htismaqe

It's killed people in a 3rd world country. Just like it always does.

1 death in texas

[Ultra Peanut]

Originally Posted by DenverChief

hey calm down sally, if you watched the presentation given by the WHO director you might understand where I am coming from...if it were "just the flu" why would they be closing schools and raising alert levels?

Just to clarify, the alert level is related to the spread of it rather than its severity.

Originally Posted by DenverChief

1 death in texas

The baby got it in Mexico, as it turns out.

[htismaqe]

Originally Posted by Mr. Krab's

53,000 kids in Texas out of school for awhile because of the swine flu.

I can understand taking precautionary measures, but there were hundreds kids around here staying home before there was ever any confirmed cases NEAR here.

The chicken little-ness of it is ridiculous.

[Brock]

Originally Posted by DenverChief

1 death in texas

From a third world country.

[htismaqe]

Originally Posted by DenverChief

1 death in texas

1) It was an INFANT.

2) Said infant already had a compromised immune system.

3) Apparently, said infant was a MEXICAN CITIZEN who was brought to Texas for treatment.

Please, this is STUPID.

[RJ]

Originally Posted by Brock

No shit. People are just clawing wildly for things to be worried about these days.

Actually, there's no need for "clawing wildly". You can't swing a dead cat these days without hitting something to worry about. Not the least of which is all these damn dead cats.