White House to detail govt response to swine flu 12:30 p.m. EDT.

[seemslikeadream]

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5hxNSbTBv3oDBbiqGXWiQvAK-0nkQD97Q5M0O0

WASHINGTON (AP) — The White House plans a briefing Sunday afternoon to discuss swine flu and the government's response.

The officials who will discuss the situation include Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano and the acting director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Dr. Richard Besser.

So far, there have been at least 11 confirmed cases of swine flu in California, Texas and Kansas. Patients have ranged in age from 9 to over 50. At least two were hospitalized.

A deadly swine flu strain in Mexico has killed up to 81 people and likely sickened 1,324 since April 13.

President Barack Obama's Homeland Security Council is monitoring the outbreak, along with the State Department and the CDC.

The White House briefing is set for 12:30 p.m. EDT.


http://www.guardian.co.uk/news/blog/2009/apr/26/swine-flu-mexico
Previous Blog home Swine flu: panic spreads worldwide

[tanyev]

1. Working on a Sunday?

*swoon*

[Botany]

2. A 6.1% death rate

Is this an higher than a normal flu outbreak?

[seemslikeadream]

4. I'm not sure but I am sure someone will be here to answer that question shortly

:hi:

[TahitiNut]

10. It's my understanding that upwards of 30,000 people die annually from flu in the U.S.

Influenza is a perpetual killer.

[seemslikeadream]

3. Flu: how the latest strain spread around the world

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/interactive/2009/apr/26/swine-flu-outbreak-mexico-pandemic

[Psychic Consortium]

5. Once again, we see what real leadership looks like.

And what it means to be a public servant who
actually works for the public.

[seemslikeadream]

6. Swine flu H1N1: evolution of a virus

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/apr/26/flu-pandemic-flu


The influenza strain that has struck Mexico and the United States involves, in many cases, a never-before-seen strain of the H1N1 virus. The flu virus is notorious for its ability to mutate and evolve new features that allows it to escape the immune defence systems of its victims. The appearance of new flu strains is therefore a perennial problem for doctors and scientists.

And experts warned last night that it may be too late to contain the new outbreak, given how widespread the known cases are. If the confirmed deaths are the first signs of a pandemic, then cases are probably incubating around the world by now, said Dr Michael Osterholm, a flu expert at the University of Minnesota.

.....

No vaccine specifically protects against swine flu and it is unclear how much protection current generic vaccines might offer. A version genetically matched to the new swine flu virus has been created by the US Centres for Disease Control, said Dr Richard Besser, the agency's acting director. However, it could take months to create enough supplies for mass vaccination programmes - if governments decide vaccine production is necessary.

Two drugs, Tamiflu and Relenza, seem effective against the new strain. Roche, the maker of Tamiflu, said it was prepared to immediately deploy a stockpile of the drug if requested. Both drugs must be taken early, within a few days of the onset of symptoms, to be most effective.

[seemslikeadream]

7. Americans told to wear masks as swine flu spreads round globe

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/health/article6173927.ece

Doctors in America are advising worried patients to buy painters’ masks as a precaution against the global outbreak of swine flu that appears to have spread from Mexico to the United States, New Zealand and possibly Europe.

With the worldwide death toll standing at about 81 and with about 1,300 people infected, authorities across the globe are torn between the desire to slow down a potential flu pandemic and the need to avoid bringing major cities on every continent to an economic standstill.

As of today, the US was still allowing people to cross the border from Mexico – where it is thought the swine flu emerged last week – although customs officials at the San Ysidro and Otay Mesa border crossings were given protective masks. It is thought that eight people in US border towns have gone down with swine flu, along with others in Kansas and New York.


http://uk.reuters.com/article/UKNews1/idUKTRE53P13720090426
Experts to advise WHO on pandemic alert phase

GENEVA (Reuters) - International experts will convene on Tuesday to advise the World Health Organisation (WHO) whether to raise the current pandemic alert level due to the new flu virus in Mexico and the United States, a WHO spokesman said.

"We need more epidemiological evidence from Mexico before the experts would be in a position to advise on a pandemic change," WHO spokesman Gregory Hartl told Reuters on Sunday.

"An advisory body will recommend whether or not the director-general should up (raise) the phase. They are meeting again on Tuesday," he said.

A new type of swine flu has killed up to 81 people in Mexico and infected around a dozen in the United States.

The current pandemic alert level is 3 on a scale of 1 (low risk of human cases) to 6 (efficient, sustained transmission between humans).

About 15 international experts held a teleconference on Saturday to advise WHO director-general Margaret Chan on measures to take to combat the outbreaks.

[seemslikeadream]

8. Swine Flu Shuts Down Mexico City

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=103502336

Weekend Edition Sunday, April 26, 2009 · Mexican officials say swine flu is probably the common link in at least 81 deaths in the country. The government has shut down schools in Mexico City and the surrounding area until next week. Meanwhile, officials in the U.S. and New Zealand are investigating whether the illness has spread into those countries. NPR's Jason Beaubien gives the latest update.

[seemslikeadream]

9. Health Officials Confirm: Midwest Couple Has Swine Flu

http://chicagoist.com/2009/04/26/health_officials_confirm_midwest_co.php

Kansas State's health officer confirmed yesterday that a married Kansas couple has contracted a mild case of swine flu - a virus that has killed 81 people in Mexico and infected at least 1,300 others there.

On April 16 the Kansas man flew to Mexico for a four-day business trip. He became ill after he arrived back in the U.S.; his wife got sick a few days later. Kansas state officials are trying to figure out how many people traveled with the man to Mexico and how many people the couple came into contact with before their diagnosis. The couple has agreed to be isolated until further treatment.

Swine flu is a respiratory illness usually marked by similar symptoms as influenza, including runny nose, sore throat, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea. This strain of the virus, which is usually found in pigs, is highly contagious among humans and can be spread by coughing and sneezing of infected persons.

The Kansas couple brings the U.S. swine flu count up to 11. Seven cases were confirmed in California, two in Texas and it is believed eight New York students may also have contracted the virus. Four drugs are approved in the U.S. to treat the flu



http://www.examiner.com/x-5092-Denver-Family-Health-Examiner~y2009m4d26-New-York-students-confirmed-to-have-swine-flu

NEW YORK – New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg says that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has confirmed that students at a city high school were infected with swine flu.

New York officials previously had said they were eight "probable" cases, but tests later confirmed that it was indeed swine flu. Bloomberg stressed that the cases were mild and many are recovering.

The city is awaiting the tests of additional samples to see if more St. Francis Preparatory School students were infected.

About 100 students complained of flu-like symptoms at the school. Some students went to Cancun on a spring break trip two weeks ago.


Swine flu confirmed in NYC high school students

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11. WHO Fukuda: No Evidence Swine Flu Is Bioterrorism Attack

http://www.nasdaq.com/aspx/stock-market-news-story.aspx?storyid=200904261235dowjonesdjonline000047&title=who-fukudano-evidence-swine-flu-is-bioterrorism-attack
By Katharina Bart, Dow Jones Newswires


ZURICH -(Dow Jones)- The World Health Organization said Sunday there is no evidence an outbreak of swine flu in Mexico represents an act of bioterrorism.

"There are no signs we are dealing with purposeful actions," Dr. Keiji Fukuda, the WHO's temporary assistant director-general for Health Security and the Environment, said on a media call.

Fukuda was responding to a question about U.S. President Barack Obama's recent visit to Mexico, where at least 81 people have died from severe pneumonia caused by the flu-like illness in Mexico, according to the WHO.

Company Web site: http://www.who.int