H1N1 (Swine Flu) spreads worldwide= Is declared a Pandemic

[Cryomaniac]

Such panic, this will run its course and fade away.

Or it will become a global pandemic that kills 250 million. Who knows.

The following is the opinion of Cryomaniac, and is not based on any evidence, medical or otherwise, as such it should not under any circumstances be used for any purpose


I'm going to predict that it will be some where between those extremes. Maybe 1000 deaths worldwide, and some mild panic.

[Dionne]

Carnival Cruise Lines just canceled all ports of call in Mexico for the "next few days".

Maybe they are thinking incubation period which is now considered to be 1-4 days.

[Stephanie]

Carnival Cruise Lines just canceled all ports of call in Mexico for the "next few days".

I think that's smart. Cruise lines have had enough problems with that stomach virus that has hit the news over the past few years.

[lurkey]

“Swine Flu Hemagglutinin”: amino acid sequence as ambient music

[HurricaneBill]

I think it will be like how SARS played out.

[cycloneye]

First Confirmed Death in U.S. a Two Year Old Child in Texas

WASHINGTON - After officials confirmed the death of a 23-month-old child in Texas from the new strain of swine flu on Wednesday, President Obama said schools should consider closing if the spread worsens. The toddler is the first fatality from the condition reported outside Mexico.

Officials say the first confirmed death in the U.S. from swine flu was a 23-month-old Mexican child who died in Houston.

Kathy Barton, a spokeswoman for the Houston Health and Human Services Department, said Wednesday that the child had traveled with family from Mexico to Brownsville in south Texas. She says the child became ill in Brownsville and was taken to a Houston hospital and died Monday night.

As for schools, Obama said that closures in some instances may be necessary, especially in cases of confirmed infections.

Obama said it is the recommendation of public health officials "that schools with confirmed cases ... should consider closing if the situation becomes more serious."

Sixty-six infections had been reported in the United States before the report of the toddler's death in Texas.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/30471035/

[HollynLA]

Why do the numbers keep changing? This was the report from WHO yesterday, but the article above says 2500 infected. I think the media is too quick to report things that are not confirmed. Yesterday, there was a report saying two people in CA died from it, but then it turned out to not be the cause of death.

Latest update from the World Health Organization:


28 April 2009



Swine influenza - update 4



28 April 2009--The situation continues to evolve rapidly. As of 19:15 GMT, 28 April 2009, seven countries have officially reported cases of swine influenza A/H1N1 infection. The United States Government has reported 64 laboratory confirmed human cases, with no deaths. Mexico has reported 26 confirmed human cases of infection including seven deaths.

The following countries have reported laboratory confirmed cases with no deaths - Canada (6), New Zealand (3), the United Kingdom (2), Israel (2) and Spain (2).

Further information on the situation will be available on the WHO website on a regular basis.

WHO advises no restriction of regular travel or closure of borders. It is considered prudent for people who are ill to delay international travel and for people developing symptoms following international travel to seek medical attention, in line with guidance from national authorities.

There is also no risk of infection from this virus from consumption of well-cooked pork and pork products. Individuals are advised to wash hands thoroughly with soap and water on a regular basis and should seek medical attention if they develop any symptoms of influenza-like illness

[cycloneye]

Swine Flu Spreads in Europe

Germany and Austria confirmed cases of swine flu Wednesday, becoming the third and fourth European countries hit by the disease. As the United States reported the first swine flu death outside of Mexico, the World Health Organization called an emergency meeting to consider its pandemic alert level.

Germany confirmed three swine flu cases and Austria one, while the number of confirmed cases rose to four in Spain and five in Britain.


http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/30398682/

[Brent]

What is the deal with the Mexico death toll? Had been over 60 and now down to 7, and had been reporting 1,400 infections and now it's down to a couple of dozen? I'm still not convinced this is that bad.

Oh and lovely open borders.

[southerngale]

Why do the numbers keep changing? This was the report from WHO yesterday, but the article above says 2500 infected. I think the media is too quick to report things that are not confirmed. Yesterday, there was a report saying two people in CA died from it, but then it turned out to not be the cause of death.

I definitely agree about the media being too quick to report things, but all I ever heard on Fox News yesterday was that the 2 deaths in California were not confirmed to be swine flu and they were waiting on results. I'm not sure what other news outlets were reporting.
But you're right... the numbers keep changing. The officials need to get it straight, THEN report it.

[cycloneye]

91 Confirmed Cases in U.S. (10 States)

The U.S. now has 91 confirmed cases of the new swine flu in 10 states.

Dr. Richard Besser, the acting chief of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, says thus far only five of those cases needed hospitalization, including a Mexican toddler who became the first death recorded in the U.S., in Texas.

The increase is not surprising. For days, CDC officials have said they expected to confirm more cases — and more severe illnesses — as they intensively hunt down this new virus.

Until now the government had known of outbreaks in just five states. But the new information shows cases in five more: Massachusetts, Michigan, Arizona, Nevada and Indiana.´

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/30471035/

[southerngale]

Texas officials are postponing all high school athletic and academic competition until May 11 because of the swine flu outbreak.

Swine flu prompts UIL to postpone all athletic & academic competitions
April 29, 2009 - 11:13 AM
Scott Lawrence and Jessica Holloway
(Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) - Texas officials are postponing all high school athletic competition until May 11 because of the swine flu outbreak.

The decision will affect all area baseball and softball teams that have qualified for the playoffs as well as area track athletes who've qualified for regionals.

"We're going to meet with the coaches and athletic directors as well as the rest of our administrative staff today and tomorrow to discuss what other activities may need to be re-scheduled. Obviously, we will postpone our UIL activities as the state has requested. We want to be cautious with our students and where they go," Nederland's superintendent Gail Krohn told KFDM News.

Stay with KFDM and CBS News for the latest on the outbreak and reaction to this story. Watch KFDM News at 6 for reaction to the latest developments.

* Beaumont Health Department: (409) 832-4000
* Website - http://cityofbeaumont.com/health_swineflu.htm
* Texas Swine Flu Hotline: (888-777-5320)

The move suspends the baseball season and eliminates the regional track championships, said University Interscholastic League Executive Director Charles Breithaupt. He said UIL officials acted on the recommendation of public health officials.

The state golf and tennis championships are scheduled to begin May 11.

The state track meet, one of the largest high school track and field competitions in the country, remains scheduled for May 13-14. But it will require shuffling the schedule significantly.

All UIL academic competitions are postponed as well.

Tell us your reaction down below. You can also broadcast yourself by sending KFDM a video message. Click here to learn more about sending user video.

[RL3AO]

First suspected case here in Minnesota. Sample is at CDC waiting confirmation.

http://kstp.com/news/stories/S904387.shtml?cat=1

[JonathanBelles]

A Statement just came out from my College (St. Petersburg College) stating that they are watching the Swine Flu and will be sending out updates every couple of days. Interesting message that I didnt expect.

[olddude]

Anyone adding N95 masks to their hurricane preps?

[OpieStorm]

What is the deal with the Mexico death toll? Had been over 60 and now down to 7, and had been reporting 1,400 infections and now it's down to a couple of dozen? I'm still not convinced this is that bad.

Oh and lovely open borders.

The media has really ramped this thing up the past 72 hours. I mean, I know this particular strain of flu should be taken seriously, because it is new, and there is no defense against it...but it seems the media is wanting to cause panic more than awareness. And like others have already pointed out that they are reporting things way too quick and numbers are changing every hour. It's a mess.

Don't know if this has been posted or not but 300 thousand pigs are going to be slaughtered in Egypt as a precaution. Link

[Brent]

What is the deal with the Mexico death toll? Had been over 60 and now down to 7, and had been reporting 1,400 infections and now it's down to a couple of dozen? I'm still not convinced this is that bad.

Oh and lovely open borders.

The media has really ramped this thing up the past 72 hours. I mean, I know this particular strain of flu should be taken seriously, because it is new, and there is no defense against it...but it seems the media is wanting to cause panic more than awareness. And like others have already pointed out that they are reporting things way too quick and numbers are changing every hour. It's a mess.

Don't know if this has been posted or not but 300 thousand pigs are going to be slaughtered in Egypt as a precaution. Link

The media is completely out of control, even moreso than usual. They can't get the story straight and I'm over it already. That being said, I'm glad the Government seems to be on top of this and doing everything they can. The panic and overhype is definitely media-centered(like normal).

WHO just raised the pandemic level to 5 out of 6 which I'm sure will cause more frenzy.

[cycloneye]

World Health Organization Raises Pandemic Alert to 5

The World Health Organization has raised its pandemic alert for swine flu to the second highest level, meaning that it believes a global outbreak of the disease is imminent.

WHO says the phase 5 alert means there is sustained human-to-human spread in at least two countries. It also signals that efforts to produce a vaccine will be ramped up.

WHO has confirmed human cases of swine flu in Mexico, the United States, Canada, Britain, Israel, New Zealand and Spain. Mexico and the U.S. have reported deaths.

WHO Director-General Margaret Chan made the decision Wednesday to raise the alert level from phase 4 — signifying transmission in only one country — after reviewing the latest scientific evidence on the outbreak.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/30398682/

[RL3AO]

I'll trust the experts on this one. The Spanish Flu mortality rate was estimated to be 3 to 5%. If this is say 2% and it infects 200 million people (only 3.5 percent of the global population) the number of deaths would be 400,000.

Note, those are just numbers I made up, but I understand why they are so worried.

[HURAKAN]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/8021547.stm