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

[cycloneye]

We will have to stay alert for this flu.See what you have to look for in terms of the symptoms at the information below.

(CNN) -- [b]The United States government declared a public health emergency Sunday as the number of identified cases of swine flu in the nation rose to 20.


1 of 3 The declaration is part of a "standard operating procedure" that will make available additional government resources to combat the virus, Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano said at the White House.

Additional cases of swine flu are expected to be reported in the coming days, added Dr. Richard Besser, acting director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

No one has died in the U.S. from swine flu, officials said Sunday.

In New York City, Mayor Michael Bloomberg said eight students at St. Francis Prepatory School in Queens have tested positive for swine flu. More than 100 students at the school were absent with flu-like symptoms last week, he said.

State public health officials in Ohio confirmed one case of swine flu on Sunday. There have been seven confirmed cases in California, two in Kansas, and two in Texas, Besser said.

The World Health Organization advised all countries to be on the lookout for "unusual" outbreaks of flu, after an emergency meeting Saturday as the seriousness of the outbreak became clear.

By Sunday, 81 deaths in Mexico had been deemed "likely linked" to swine flu. Viral testing has confirmed 20 cases, said Dr. Jose A. Cordova Villalobos, Mexico's health secretary.

In Mexico City, the massive downtown Cathedral of Mexico City was open but Masses were not scheduled. Dozens of worshippers put on masks and went inside the church anyway to pray on their own.

Canada confirmed its first cases of swine flu on Sunday, with four people said to have the virus in the eastern province of Nova Scotia, health officials said.

Dr. Robert Strang, Nova Scotia's chief public health officer, said the cases were among students who had recently traveled to Mexico.

Strang said the people affected were only "mildly ill," and all are recovering. He said people who had recently been traveling should call their doctor and stay home if they suffer flu-like symptoms.

The H1N1 strain of swine flu is usually associated with pigs. When the flu spreads person-to-person, instead of from animals to humans, it can continue to mutate, making it a tougher strain that is harder to treat or fight off.

Symptoms of swine flu include fever, lethargy, lack of appetite, coughing, runny nose, sore throat, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea, according to the CDC.
[/b]
http://edition.cnn.com/2009/HEALTH/04/2 ... index.html

[lurkey]

You forgot to add that it most of the victims were in the 18-40 year old age group. . . same as the last great pandemic, the Spanish flu 1918 . .

Swine flu map from Google., ,

*goes to dig out copy of The Stand*

[cycloneye]

You forgot to add that it most of the victims were in the 18-40 year old age group. . . same as the last great pandemic, the Spanish flu 1918 . .

Swine flu map from Google., ,

*goes to dig out copy of The Stand*

Yes,thank you for adding that important information.

[Derek Ortt]

if we were real serious about preventing this from spreading, we would stop worrying about offending others and totally seal our borders and quarantine those who are infected

our actions clearly demonstrate a lack of concern

[Cookiely]

When the President shakes hands with someone and the next day he dies from pneumonia. doesn't that sound wierd. The outbreak started the 13th and Obama was in Mexico on the 16th. Maybe this was a cover up for murder. Why is the outbreak more deadly in Mexico than in the US? Did it already mutate? Why is the CDC so sure that its too late to be contained?

[Brent]

I'm just wondering why it's been so much worse in Mexico. Honestly, and maybe this is naive, but I'm not that concerned about an epidemic here. All the cases(which it's still a very small number, 20 vs. 1,400 in Mexico and 80+ deaths), while they are spread out across the country, have been very minor. Why is that? I know we have better healthcare but the cases here most of them haven't even been sick enough to see a doctor and have already fully recovered.

Also I was wondering about if we're really concerned about an epidemic why are we not even considering closing the borders?

[lurkey]

Additional information:

The "swine" flu appears to be a combination of swine, avian, and human flus. Pigs (or swine) can catch all three variations. The swine serves as incubators and the flu viii can combine and mutate. The virus is passed on the human population. . . This particular flu appears to similar to a human flu virus common to North America, thus the apparent non-resistance to Tamiflu. (please note, there is a lot of innuendo going around about thegenetic origin of the avian and swine flus involved,hence the smart aleck remark regarding The Stand.

Regarding the president: Hand sanitizer. . .. seriously. . . politicians use tons of it. . .

Brent: again better sanitary habits (washing of hands, usage of Kleenex, availability of hand sanitizer)

one more thing: eating pork products (bacon, sausage, hot dogs, ham, or Carolina barbecue) will not cause you to get sick with this flu or any other swine flu. .. . . .

[DESTRUCTION5]

Additional information:

The "swine" flu appears to be a combination of swine, avian, and human flus. Pigs (or swine) can catch all three variations. The swine serves as incubators and the flu viii can combine and mutate. The virus is passed on the human population. . . This particular flu appears to similar to a human flu virus common to North America, thus the apparent non-resistance to Tamiflu. (please note, there is a lot of innuendo going around about thegenetic origin of the avian and swine flus involved,hence the smart aleck remark regarding The Stand.

Regarding the president: Hand sanitizer. . .. seriously. . . politicians use tons of it. . .

Brent: again better sanitary habits (washing of hands, usage of Kleenex, availability of hand sanitizer)

Bring some of that sanitizer in chat tonight lurkey...Im gonna need it...LOL

[Cookiely]

Did anyone listen to General Honore on cnn concerning the virus? Did he say that it came from a laboratory?

[Stephanie]

I'm just wondering why it's been so much worse in Mexico. Honestly, and maybe this is naive, but I'm not that concerned about an epidemic here. All the cases(which it's still a very small number, 20 vs. 1,400 in Mexico and 80+ deaths), while they are spread out across the country, have been very minor. Why is that? I know we have better healthcare but the cases here most of them haven't even been sick enough to see a doctor and have already fully recovered.

Also I was wondering about if we're really concerned about an epidemic why are we not even considering closing the borders?

I'd like to know where the people from the US that contracted this flu were visiting in Mexico. That is the main way it has come into the US. There have been a lot of "Spring Breakers" down in Mexico right around this time. That is how one couple from Kansas contracted it and the same with a group of students from NYC.

[cycloneye]

I'd like to know where the people from the US that contracted this flu were visiting in Mexico.

Steph,the students were in Cancun.

Students began falling ill after a group of friends returned April 19 from Mexico, where they spent six days lounging around the beach and pool during the day and hanging out in Cancun at night.

Esti Lamonaca, an 18-year-old senior who made the Cancun trip, could hardly speak Sunday because her voice was so hoarse. She spent several days battling a fever of nearly 103 (39.5 Celsius) and was wearing a mask to prevent the virus from spreading.

"I haven't been out of my house since Wednesday and am just hoping to make a full recovery soon," Lamonaca said. "I am glad school is closed because it supposedly is very contagious and I don't want this to spread like it has in Mexico."

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

[Miss Mary]

I work with a lady who's in her early 60s. She's been sick on and off since February. She's missed a lot of work but we have an understanding boss. Her internist has seen her a total of 3 times and he has said it's walking pneumonia.

But she's never really gotten over this infection. Not 100%.

Now I'm starting to wonder. We've all wanted her to get a second opinion. But she won't. Why she has this allegiance to this doctor (he misdiagnosed her in the beginning) is a mystery to the rest of us. Maybe she's afraid to learn it's more serious (cancer?).

She has come to work looking very gray, like death warmed over. Not recently. This has been going on for almost 3 months.

At this point I'd be freaking out, demanding all sorts of tests. All she's had are chest xrays. I'd want to rule out so many concerns.

This Swine Flu is nothing to take lightly.

[lurkey]

I work with a lady who's in her early 60s. She's been sick on and off since February. She's missed a lot of work but we have an understanding boss. Her internist has seen her a total of 3 times and he has said it's walking pneumonia.

But she's never really gotten over this infection. Not 100%.

Now I'm starting to wonder. We've all wanted her to get a second opinion. But she won't. Why she has this allegiance to this doctor (he misdiagnosed her in the beginning) is a mystery to the rest of us. Maybe she's afraid to learn it's more serious (cancer?).

She has come to work looking very gray, like death warmed over. Not recently. This has been going on for almost 3 months.

At this point I'd be freaking out, demanding all sorts of tests. All she's had are chest xrays. I'd want to rule out so many concerns.

This Swine Flu is nothing to take lightly.

It isn't the swine flu. At the earliest, it entered the human population in late March or early April. She should get a second opinion . . . walking pneumonia/bronchitis is nasty, but she should have recovered if the doctor had been prescribing antibiotics to her. . at this point

[Aslkahuna]

Closing the borders now would be like locking the Barn Door after the horse has run away. The virus is already in the US so in country containment procedures are what's needed now.

Steve

[Derek Ortt]

closing the borders would, however, keep others from entering the country with the virus. We may have 100 carriers now. Much easier to contain using the domestic containment procedures than if we let in 10,000 carriers

won't happen though... but wont get into why as it would involve a political rant

[lurkey]

Global Disease Alert Map

Timeline of the Mexican Swine Flu

[MGC]

Closing the borders won't do a thing.....cat is out of the bag. This should spread fairly quickly. Hopefully the US health care system will prevent many deaths. I talked to my 80 yo Mom today and told her to stay home and not go to Wal Mart untill this passes......MGC

[Miss Mary]

I work with a lady who's in her early 60s. She's been sick on and off since February. She's missed a lot of work but we have an understanding boss. Her internist has seen her a total of 3 times and he has said it's walking pneumonia.

But she's never really gotten over this infection. Not 100%.

Now I'm starting to wonder. We've all wanted her to get a second opinion. But she won't. Why she has this allegiance to this doctor (he misdiagnosed her in the beginning) is a mystery to the rest of us. Maybe she's afraid to learn it's more serious (cancer?).

She has come to work looking very gray, like death warmed over. Not recently. This has been going on for almost 3 months.

At this point I'd be freaking out, demanding all sorts of tests. All she's had are chest xrays. I'd want to rule out so many concerns.

This Swine Flu is nothing to take lightly.

It isn't the swine flu. At the earliest, it entered the human population in late March or early April. She should get a second opinion . . . walking pneumonia/bronchitis is nasty, but she should have recovered if the doctor had been prescribing antibiotics to her. . at this point

She's recovered to a point. But then seems to get sick yet again. We're all worried about her. Trouble is she and her husband babysit their grandkids a lot (and do all the after school running to and from extra curricular activities) so her daughter and son-in-law can work full time. They also take these grandkids camping over the summer. Very hands on grandparents, usually young at heart and energetic. So she's trying to keep up with all of this and we keep seeing her walk into work each day exhausted. When this swine flu started, several of us have wondered if she could have it. But she won't get a second opinion. She's been on meds. A few times we thought she should have been in the hospital.

[lurkey]

good tweets to follow on Twitter on the #swineflu

@mpoppel (of @BreakingNews) and @Veratect. Or @CDCemergency

[RL3AO]

Almost 150 suspected deaths in Mexico. 28 confirmed cases in New York.