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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[kaplin42]

Originally Posted by [B

Pioli Zombie[/B];5727620]

Do you not see that it has already started. We are letting a zombie post on this site. Damn they move fast. They may actually be the 28 days later variety.

[Chief Pote]

DON'T DO THIS!!

[kcfanXIII]

Originally Posted by kaplin42

Do you not see that it has already started. We are letting a zombie post on this site. Damn they move fast. They may actually be the 28 days later variety.

with over 2000 post since january, i'd say for sure he's the 28 days later variety. NLD zombies couldn't post that much if they'd been here since 2005.

[kaplin42]

Originally Posted by kcfanXIII

with over 2000 post since january, i'd say for sure he's the 28 days later variety. NLD zombies couldn't post that much if they'd been here since 2005.

DAMMIT DAMMIT DAMMIT!

We are so screwed.

Game over man, game over.

[kcfanXIII]

Originally Posted by kaplin42

DAMMIT DAMMIT DAMMIT!

We are so screwed.

Game over man, game over.

we had a good ride though, humanity. oh well, at least we'll all be zombies and won't be effected by the swine flu.

[kaplin42]

Originally Posted by kcfanXIII

we had a good ride though, humanity. oh well, at least we'll all be zombies and won't be effected by the swine flu.

Way to keep a positive attitude.

[kcfanXIII]

Originally Posted by kaplin42

Way to keep a positive attitude.

well, if i started worrying, i'd give myself an ulcer. and i'd probably voice my opinion on here enough to sway all 10k posters of the ultimate threat that the 28 days later zombies pose. then everyone will have ulcers. and with those numbers, the WHO would have to declare a pandemic of ulcers, and we'd never here the end of it. once again on the bright side, i could call myself patient zero...

[Otter]

Originally Posted by kcfanXIII

we had a good ride though, humanity. oh well, at least we'll all be zombies and won't be effected by the swine flu.

That's when it's my turn to shine.

[Delano]

Time to start our own chapter of the Zombie Hunters Allegiance Program.

[beach tribe]

I'm coming down with something right now. It is pretty freaky. I'm coughing, and achy. It would surely be a rough way to go.

[kcfanXIII]

Originally Posted by beach tribe

I'm coming down with something right now. It is pretty freaky. I'm coughing, and achy. It would surely be a rough way to go.

i woke up this am constipated. sometime around 4ish, i threw up. when i woke back up, y throat was pretty sore. but i feel fine now. got me out of working in the rain though. i was for sure i was turning into a zombie.

[kaplin42]

Originally Posted by Otter

In the Subway with the night vision comes to mind. That was cool.

Donger - not really laughing at as in it's not serious. Just nothing can do about but wait and see and laughing about it makes it easier.

I had missed this yesterday somehow.

Yeah the subway scene was messed up. But personally I was thinking in the lab when the father kisses his wife, and then goes bat shit crazy. Yeah, that scene was jacked up.

[kaplin42]

Originally Posted by Delano

Time to start our own chapter of the Zombie Hunters Allegiance Program.

Im in. I have my Zombie Survival Guide as well.

[kaplin42]

Originally Posted by kcfanXIII

i woke up this am constipated. sometime around 4ish, i threw up. when i woke back up, y throat was pretty sore. but i feel fine now. got me out of working in the rain though. i was for sure i was turning into a zombie.

Don't worry man. If you turned, I would do you the favor of putting you out of your misery.

[kaplin42]

Zombie Zombie Zombie