WHO Alert Raised to Phase 5 for Swine Flu (H1N1)

Latest from WHO:
30 April 2009 -- From today, WHO will refer to the new influenza virus as influenza A(H1N1).

From the CDC:
In response to an intensifying outbreak in the United States and internationally caused by a new influenza virus of swine origin, the World Health Organization raised the worldwide pandemic alert level to Phase 5 on April 29, 2009.

A Phase 5 alert is a “strong signal that a pandemic is imminent and that the time to finalize the organization, communication, and implementation of the planned mitigation measures is short.”

The United States Government has declared a public health emergency in the United States.

The swine influenza A (H1N1) virus is susceptible to the prescription antiviral drugs oseltamivir and zanamivir.

From Reuters:
Mexico began shutting down all non-essential work and services on Thursday to slow the spread of a new flu strain as officials urged increased worldwide precautions against an imminent pandemic.

The World Health Organization said it would remain for now at its current alert level -- one step below full pandemic -- and that it would no longer refer to the H1N1 virus as "swine flu" to appease beleaguered meat producers.

New confirmed flu cases were reported in the United States, Canada and Europe.

Almost all infections outside of Mexico have been mild, only a handful of patients have required hospital treatment, and most global markets have shrugged off concerns.

Q&A On Swine Flu by BBC

SWINE FLU - THE BASICS

- Symptoms usually similar to seasonal flu - but deaths recorded in Mexico

- It is a new version of the H1N1 strain which caused the 1918 flu pandemic

- Too early to say whether it will lead to a pandemic

- Current treatments do work, but there is no vaccine

- Good personal hygiene, such as washing hands, covering nose when sneezing advised


How dangerous is it?
Symptoms of swine flu in humans appear to be similar to those produced by standard, seasonal flu.
These include fever, cough, sore throat, body aches, chills and fatigue.
It is worth remembering that seasonal flu often poses a serious threat to public health: each year it kills 250,000 - 500,000 around the world.

So far, most cases of swine flu around the world appear to be mild, albeit with diarrhoea more common than is found with seasonal flu.

But lives have been lost in Mexico, and a single death - of a Mexican child - has been confirmed in the US.


WHO Pandemic Alert Phases

Phase 1: No infections in humans are being caused by viruses circulating in animals.

Phase 2: Animal flu virus causes infection in humans, and is a potential pandemic threat.

Phase 3: Flu causes sporadic cases in people, but no significant human-to-human transmission.

Phase 4: Human-to-human transmission and community-level outbreaks.

Phase 5: Human-to-human transmission in at least two countries. Strong signal pandemic imminent.

Phase 6: Virus spreads to another country in a different region. Global pandemic under way.

Post-peak: Pandemic activity appears to be decreasing though second wave possible.

Post-pandemic: activity returns to normal, seasonal flu levels.

For full article, please visit: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/8021958.stm

Google Maps Track Swine Flu

Found this in one of the twitter feeds I'm following on Swine Flu.

http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&hl=en&t=p&msa=0&msid=106484775090296685271.0004681a37b713f6b5950&ll=32.639375,-110.390625&spn=15.738151,25.488281&source=embed

updated: new tracker at: http://flutracker.rhizalabs.com/

Developments On Swine Flu Worldwide from Associated Press on 28 Apr 2009
Key developments on swine flu outbreaks, according to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, World Health Organization, and government officials:

-Deaths: 152, all in Mexico, 20 confirmed as swine flu and rest suspected.

-Sickened: 1,995 people in Mexico got pneumonia but swine flu not yet confirmed. 51 confirmed in U.S., including 28 at one New York City school.

- Elsewhere, six confirmed in Canada; two confirmed in Scotland and seven suspected; 11 confirmed and 43 suspected in New Zealand; two confirmed and 25 suspected in Spain; two confirmed in Israel; one suspected in South Korea; one suspected in France; 13 being tested in Sweden; 12 being tested in Denmark; five awaiting test results in Norway.

-Worldwide: WHO raises alert to Phase 4 of 6, noting disease spreads easily but isn't pandemic.

http://www.thestate.com/breaking/story/766146.html