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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[DenverChief]

Originally Posted by htismaqe

anti-viral drugs don't CURE a viral infection, they prevent the spread of infection. Once you're infected with a virus, the only course of action is to let it run it's course.

Furthermore, infants and the elderly die from the flu ALL THE TIME. Not from the infection itself but from COMPLICATIONS - mainly dehydration.

I understand that, all I have been saying all along is we don't know yet....yes it could be no big deal....but to scoff at something that has only been in the know for 1 week, well a bit premature if you ask me...and just FYI anti-viral drugs do work after infection but must be taken within the first several days of infection to work

[007]

Originally Posted by DenverChief

from the FLU?? I mean we have all these anti-viral drugs and....sheesh...I'm not panicking I just like being well informed some people here are acting as if nothing is wrong at all

babies and elderly die from the flu all the time. It's a fact of life. Even as advanced as our medical system is, they can't save everybody.

[Pants]

Originally Posted by DenverChief

...and just FYI anti-viral drugs do work after infection but must be taken within the first several days of infection to work

They can work. It's not a 100% thing, not even close.

[htismaqe]

Originally Posted by DenverChief

I understand that, all I have been saying all along is we don't know yet....yes it could be no big deal....but to scoff at something that has only been in the know for 1 week, well a bit premature if you ask me...and just FYI anti-viral drugs do work after infection but must be taken within the first several days of infection to work

Anti-viral drugs prevent spread of infection. If taken after infection, they slow the progression of the disease and/or lessen the symptoms. There's no "antibiotic" for viruses.

And I'm not scoffing at the disease, I'm scoffing at the reaction to it. The swine flu is not armageddon. We should be FAR MORE concerned with the fact that our government can't seem to prevent us from being infected with salmonella every 6 months. Salmonella is FAR more deadly than the flu.

[ToxSocks]

All this swine flu talk has me avoiding mexicans at all costs. I'm sitting around a bunch of them right now, they're probably all infected. Dirty little bastards. God knows how many of them just came from mexico.
I agree that the media is doing nothing but trying to strike fear, I think that's obvious. I hate the dirty little media bastards 2.

Oh god, am I getting a soar throat?
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[WoodDraw]

Originally Posted by htismaqe

I didn't say anything about preexisting conditions. Infants have underdeveloped immune systems when they're healthy.

You said "compromised immune system" which I'd say is different than underdeveloped. But, I agree.

[ToxSocks]

Ah shit, a mexican just sat down across from me on the trolley. The dark dirty type. I should get off at the next stop
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[DenverChief]

Originally Posted by Metrolike

They can work. It's not a 100% thing, not even close.

nothing is 100%

[htismaqe]

Originally Posted by WoodDraw

You said "compromised immune system" which I'd say is different than underdeveloped. But, I agree.

Yeah, I wasn't meaning to say "compromised" as in they had an auto-immune disease or a bacterial infection causing them to have a lowered immune response, but rather that infants have a lowered immune response inherently because they're not fully developed.

[Otter]

Originally Posted by htismaqe

Infants in this country will likely die of the swine flu, just like the die of the regular flu. This is because they have underdeveloped immune systems and are less able to tolerate the symptoms, like high fever and dehydration. Infants and the elderly are ALWAYS at risk with the flu, and this strain isn't any worse in that aspect than any other.

Furthermore, it's highly likely that the child was already very, very sick by the time they got here. Our advanced technology can do alot of things, but it can't raise the dead.

It's the baby zombies that are going to be toughest to shoot. Not only because they're a smaller target either. The good news is that they could only reach your brain if your laying down taking a nap.

[ToxSocks]

So how long do u think it will take before we reach lvl 6? Ima say by monday.
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[Pants]

Originally Posted by Otter

It's the baby zombies that are going to be toughest to shoot. Not only because they're a smaller target either. The good news is that they could only reach your brain if your laying down taking a nap.

To be fair, they can always bite through your ankles, defooting you in the process at which point you fall down and get your brains eaten.

You - 0.
Baby Zombie - 1.

[ToxSocks]

Ahh, that mexican guy just yawned. Maybe this flu is part of the mexican plot to retake cali. I bet they've put all of there infected onto boats and they're on there way right now.
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[RJ]

Originally Posted by Guru

You would be wrong. Especially on private schools.

My daughter goes to a private school. They have 7 days left. Schools let out early in the southwest, it's hot by May.

[htismaqe]

Originally Posted by Otter

It's the baby zombies that are going to be toughest to shoot. Not only because they're a smaller target either. The good news is that they could only reach your brain if your laying down taking a nap.