Deadly New Virus Breaks Out In Mexico

[Prince Cobra]

First, Gas crisis in Europe (and Bulgaria)

Second, World Financial Crisis

Now, World Virus Crisis...


(the earthquakes are not counted)

It's getting absurd.
---------------

Is there any more detailed info on the symptoms and casualty rate?

[a completely inoffensive name]

Pills here!

Grabbing pills!

[Fragony]

First, Gas crisis in Europe (and Bulgaria)

Second, World Financial Crisis

Now, World Virus Crisis...


(the earthquakes are not counted)

It's getting absurd.
---------------

Is there any more detailed info on the symptoms and casualty rate?

DEATH, everybody. And those are just the lucky ones.



7 in mexico 1 in the usa

[woad&fangs]

At first I wasn't real worried about the swine flu. I figured it would be confined to Mexico, the south-west, and a few major cities. I heard that there was a confirmed case in Chicago this morning. I still wasn't too worried. Chicago is a major city with a lot of people going through it on a daily basis.

Apparently there are now confirmed cases in Milwaukee, WI. Granted, Milwaukee is basically a brat and beer loving suburb of Chicago but it was still really creepy to hear that. Before the news broke, one of my friends had plans in Milwaukee over the weekend. I'm really glad she's canceling

[Decker]

The US and Canada's flu response programs from state to state and province to province:
Flu Contingency Plans of US and Canada

The pandemic level rises:

The World Health Organization on Wednesday raised its pandemic alert to 5, its second-highest level, warning of widespread human infection from the swine flu outbreak that originated in Mexico.

Dr. Margaret Chan, the U.N. agency's director-general, said the decision to raise the alert 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 announcement came as the number of confirmed cases increased rapidly across the world.

The WHO and national governments have confirmed 148 cases in nine countries. Most of those cases 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 that government officials call by its technical name, 2009 H1N1.

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. Video Watch CNN's Wolf Blitzer interview Dr. Anne Schuchat of the CDC »

The outbreak has prompted Mexican authorities to order about 35,000 public venues in Mexico City to shut down and restrict restaurants to serving only take-out meals.

All nonessential government offices and private business were ordered to close between May 1-5, with only skeletal staffing allowed when necessary, Mexico's health secretary announced Wednesday.

Mexican officials said it was too soon to determine what kind of economic impact the decision would have on the country.

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. Peru reported its first case late Wednesday.

Yet Chan reiterated the WHO's recommendation not to close borders or restrict trade in response to the outbreak, saying the world "is better prepared for an influenza pandemic than at any time" in history. Video Watch how the U.S. is preparing for the worst »

"We need to maintain a level of calmness so that we will continue to manage this in a rational manner," she said, adding that pork is safe for consumption as long as it is cooked properly.

President Obama downplayed the possibility of closing the U.S. border with Mexico, where the recent occurrence of the deadly virus began, and said he'll be looking to health officials for guidance on how to handle travel between the two countries.

The $1.5 billion Obama requested from Congress to help fight the outbreaks will help health officials monitor and track the virus and replenish the supply of anti-viral drugs, he said. Video Watch President Obama caution Americans on swine flu »

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.

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, signaling 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.

About a quarter of the U.S. stockpile of anti-viral drugs will be distributed to states by Sunday, Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano said. Video Watch how U.S. officials are reacting to the virus »

U.S. officials also are asking scientists whether additional measures to screen for flu symptoms were needed at U.S. ports of entry, she said. Already, customs officers have asked 49 people to submit to tests for the H1N1 virus, she said. Of those tests, 41 have been negatives and the remaining eight have not yet come back.

Researchers in the United States have already taking steps to crack the genetic code of the virus behind the swine flu outbreak in order to produce a vaccine, U.S. officials said Wednesday.

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 »

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.

In the United States, 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.

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.

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.

WHO Raises the pandemic level

[Decker]

The flu hits the Bay Area:

Flu Shuts Bay Area Schools; New Local Cases

Two Bay Area schools will be closed for a week after four students were diagnosed with probable cases of swine flu, while three additional cases may have emerged in Santa Clara County.

The Santa Clara County Department of Health announced three more probable cases of swine flu Wednesday, in additional to a 16-year-old girl previously announced. At least two of the new cases had recently traveled to Mexico.

San Jose's Branham High School will be closed for a week after one of its students tested positive for the swine flu, according to the Campbell Union High School District. It was not clear whether the student is the 16-year-old girl.

School district officials closed the school to limit possible exposure after the student became sick last week. The student -- who was not identified -- was last in school Thursday.

The school is scheduled to reopen on May 6. Seven days is the regular incubation period for the virus, according to the school district.

Santa Clara County officials are still waiting on more than a dozen other samples that are possible swine flu cases.

In Contra Costa County, officials shut down an elementary school in Pittsburg after tests revealed three fourth-graders have probable cases on swine flu.

Barbara Wilson, the superintendent of the Pittsburg Unified School District, said teachers contacted parents Tuesday night to tell them the school will be closed for one week.

Officials say 13 children from Highlands Elementary School either called in sick or were sent home Tuesday with flu-like symptoms. All of the children are in the same fourth-grade class.

Officials say one student in the class was recently visited by a relative from Mexico.

There are two other probable Bay Area cases of swine flu, both in Marin County. A 60-year-old woman and her 20-month-old granddaughter were diagnosed with the Bay Area's first confirmed cases of swine flu, local health officials said Tuesday.

The woman and her granddaughter had recently traveled with other family members to Mexico, where the virus is believed to have originated.

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger declared a state of emergency in response to the virus Tuesday morning.

A state of emergency allows the California Emergency Management Agency to start working with the state Department of Public Health to prevent the disease from spreading, governor's spokesman Jeff Macedo said.

California health authorities have confirmed 14 cases of swine flu statewide and are investigating at least 17 others as probable cases.

The Pentagon says a Marine based in Southern California has been confirmed to be ill with swine flu and is under quarantine, along with his roommate.

A Marine spokesman at the Pentagon, Maj. David Nevers, said Wednesday the sick Marine is doing well and his condition continues to improve.

Nevers said approximately 30 others who had been in contact with the sick Marine at the Twentynine Palms base will be held in quarantine for five days as well as to see whether they show symptoms.

Dr. Gil Chavez of the state health department said Wednesday that seven of the confirmed cases were in San Diego County and five were in Imperial County. Sacramento and San Bernardino counties had one each.

Chavez says state officials are investigating 17 probable cases in eight counties. Riverside County, with four, has the highest number of suspected swine flu cases.

He described the cases in California so far as mild. Of all confirmed and probable cases, only three have required hospitalization.

California Department of Public Health Chief Deputy Director Dr. Bonnie Sorensen said Tuesday that swine flu and regular flu produce practically the same symptoms -- a fever of at least 100 degrees and a cough or sore throat -- there is no red flag that a person has the virus.

Residents are urged to see a doctor if such symptoms are noticed. Health officials have said the illness appears to be treatable.
The South Bay

And apparently it's also in Richmond

[CountArach]

Mexico shuts down economy

The Mexican Government has called for non-essential parts of the economy to shut down for five days from tomorrow to help combat the swine flu outbreak.

Mexico's Health Minister Jose Angel Cordova has raised the country's confirmed number of flu cases to 99, including eight confirmed dead, but says another 17 people are believed to have died from the disease.

Mr Cordova said food, medical and transportation sectors would not be affected by the partial shutdown of the economy.

Banking and other financial services will also be allowed to operate although some government activities will be shut down.

[Decker]

Mexico shuts down economy

Woooow....

This morning US President Barack Obama said there were no plans to close America's border with Mexico.

"It would be akin to closing the barn door after the horses are out because we already have cases here in the United States," he said.

So we just sit and watch as a potentially deadly new flu is given the green light to run amok? If that is true, and what would happen say, if this passes "harmlessly" and the real thing comes along?

[Seamus Fermanagh]

Enough with the facebook folks, or open a new thread for it on its own.

[Decker]

I wonder if this is because of the different medical abilities or what but I find it interesting that here in the US we have 91 confirmed cases while Mexico appears to only have 26 (that's 65 fewer than us atm). I wonder then, how many people actually and truly have this "flu" in Mexico.
BBC Timeline of the spread of the Flu

Here is the official website from the WHO (World Health Organization) that is devoted to the "Swine Flu":Swine Influenza Website - WHO

[Banquo's Ghost]

The discussions on anti-Semitism have been moved to a new thread.

Please let's keep on topic.

Thank you kindly.

[||Lz3||]

I wonder if this is because of the different medical abilities or what but I find it interesting that here in the US we have 91 confirmed cases while Mexico appears to only have 26 (that's 65 fewer than us atm). I wonder then, how many people actually and truly have this "flu" in Mexico.
BBC Timeline of the spread of the Flu

Here is the official website from the WHO (World Health Organization) that is devoted to the "Swine Flu":Swine Influenza Website - WHO

As of now, laboratories in Mexico are not capable of recognizing the swine flu. Those 26 confirmed cases are the samples that were sent to the US for identification.


As for the "closing the economy", those mesures have only been taken in the DF (federal district, the capitol) and several other states. It's not nationwide.

[Decker]

As of now, laboratories in Mexico are not capable of recognizing the swine flu. Those 26 confirmed cases are the samples that were sent to the US for identification.

That's what I figured

As for the "closing the economy", those measures have only been taken in the DF (federal district, the capitol) and several other states. It's not nationwide.

And yeah I read that...

[Prince Cobra]

DEATH, everybody. And those are just the lucky ones.



7 in mexico 1 in the usa

Hmm, I was left with the impression abou 10 per cent of the infected died. Once I am back from Uni, I will make a little research...

[Thermal]

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/in...0135310AABaZwe


But in seriousness, I believe, just like the bird flu this is all over exaggerated, apparently victims are responding well to tamiflu vaccination, there, sorted already.


Media has a habit of making things seem worse than they actually are .

[||Lz3||]

Well it seems that appropriate labs have been set. Now it seems (IIRC) that the toll is 160 confirmed cases and 7 confirmed deaths caused by the flu.

Anyways, have any of you heard about the conspiracy theories?

[Thermal]

Well it seems that appropriate labs have been set. Now it seems (IIRC) that the toll is 160 confirmed cases and 7 confirmed deaths caused by the flu.

Anyways, have any of you heard about the conspiracy theories?

No, but I've heard Egypt are slaughtering all there pigs and they don't even have any cases of it yet?

How stupid! and how sad for the pigs.

[shlin28]

No, but I've heard Egypt are slaughtering all there pigs and they don't even have any cases of it yet?

How stupid! and how sad for the pigs.

Considering there are only 20,000-ish pigs in Egypt, culling the pig population is an ideal way for the Egyptian government to appear to do something yet actually not doing much (although human-to-human transference is much more dangerous IMO).

[rvg]

No, but I've heard Egypt are slaughtering all there pigs and they don't even have any cases of it yet?

How stupid! and how sad for the pigs.

it's probably just an excuse to clamp down on the local christians. To take away their bacon literally and figuratively.

[Rhyfelwyr]

Hmm, a secondary school just a few miles from where I lived has been closed down for 2 weeks, that is bound to cause chaos during the exam period. Scotland seems to be quite the hotspot for this flu.

[Thermal]

Hmm, a secondary school just a few miles from where I lived has been closed down for 2 weeks, that is bound to cause chaos during the exam period. Scotland seems to be quite the hotspot for this flu.

I only heard of it 2 days ago, are they sure they have it or is it just precautionary?

[shlin28]

I think one of the students travelled to Mexico and got infected. (I think so anyway... or am I getting confused with another case in England?)

[Lemur]

You know how this sort of thing gets started ...

[Hosakawa Tito]

Survivors of this flu seem to be displaying curious side effects...

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

[Husar]

Well, from what I heard on the radio, health officials are not as much afraid of the current virus itself but the fact that more human infections mean there is a higher chance that the virus actually mutates into a human killer virus.

[||Lz3||]

Gentlemen, go get your shotguns.


The virus is mutating and is turning people into zombies.

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

There has been a small outbreak of “zombism” in London due to mutation of the H1N1 virus into new strain: H1Z1.
Similar to a scare originally found in Cambodia back in 2005, victims of a new strain of the swine flu virus H1N1 have been reported in London.
After death, this virus is able to restart the heart of it’s victim for up to two hours after the initial demise of the person where the individual behaves in extremely violent ways from what is believe to be a combination of brain damage and a chemical released into blood during “resurrection.”
The World Health Organization (WHO) has raised the alert to phase six [has it?, I don't really remember], its highest level, and advised governments to activate pandemic contingency plans.
In Mexico, the epicentre of the outbreak, President Felipe Calderon urged people to stay at home over the next five days.


There are many cases elsewhere - including the US, Canada, Latin America, Europe, Israel, and New Zealand.
BBC health correspondent Mark McGrith says the raising of the WHO alert on Wednesday suggests a global epidemic, or pandemic, is imminent.
In the latest developments:

• The Netherlands confirms its first case of zombie swine flu, in a three-year-old boy recently returned from Mexico. After passing away early this morning, he rose from the dead and lunged at his mother.
• Ghana has become the latest country to ban pork imports as a precaution against swine flu, though no cases have been found in the West African country
• China's health minister says that the country's scientists have developed a "sensitive and fast" test for spotting swine flu in conjunction with US scientists and the WHO. The country has recorded no incidence of the flu yet. There methods, however, have been uneffective in spotting the H1Z1 strain.

SHould this be on "news of the weird" thread?

[Husar]

More like the News of The Onion thread.

[Dâriûsh]

Considering there are only 20,000-ish pigs in Egypt, culling the pig population is an ideal way for the Egyptian government to appear to do something yet actually not doing much (although human-to-human transference is much more dangerous IMO).

More like 300,000 pigs.

BBC: Egyptian pig farmers have clashed with police in Cairo, as they tried to stop their animals being slaughtered.

The Egyptian authorities will probably take the pigs into some dark dungeon and torture them before killing them. Old habits die hard.

[Jolt]

Gentlemen, go get your shotguns.


The virus is mutating and is turning people into zombies.

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

There has been a small outbreak of “zombism” in London due to mutation of the H1N1 virus into new strain: H1Z1.
Similar to a scare originally found in Cambodia back in 2005, victims of a new strain of the swine flu virus H1N1 have been reported in London.
After death, this virus is able to restart the heart of it’s victim for up to two hours after the initial demise of the person where the individual behaves in extremely violent ways from what is believe to be a combination of brain damage and a chemical released into blood during “resurrection.”
The World Health Organization (WHO) has raised the alert to phase six [has it?, I don't really remember], its highest level, and advised governments to activate pandemic contingency plans.
In Mexico, the epicentre of the outbreak, President Felipe Calderon urged people to stay at home over the next five days.


There are many cases elsewhere - including the US, Canada, Latin America, Europe, Israel, and New Zealand.
BBC health correspondent Mark McGrith says the raising of the WHO alert on Wednesday suggests a global epidemic, or pandemic, is imminent.
In the latest developments:

• The Netherlands confirms its first case of zombie swine flu, in a three-year-old boy recently returned from Mexico. After passing away early this morning, he rose from the dead and lunged at his mother.
• Ghana has become the latest country to ban pork imports as a precaution against swine flu, though no cases have been found in the West African country
• China's health minister says that the country's scientists have developed a "sensitive and fast" test for spotting swine flu in conjunction with US scientists and the WHO. The country has recorded no incidence of the flu yet. There methods, however, have been uneffective in spotting the H1Z1 strain.

SHould this be on "news of the weird" thread?

So this is how Left 4 Dead starts.

[Hooahguy]

So this is how Left 4 Dead starts.

let me get my shotgun...