Pandemic nears, U.S resident dies of the swine flu

A 33 Year old U.S man has died from the Swine flu virus today keeping th world health organization on their toes.

The H1N1 virus now has infected 1,516 patients in 22 countries with all confirmed cases. The world Health Organization has been brought to the brink today of declaring a worldwide pandemic after this latest death in th U.S. Currently disease trackers are closely monitoring 57 cases in Spain and 27 in the U.K. to determine whether there’s evidence the virus has established itself outside the U.S., Canada and Mexico. At this stage it seems impossible to contain the outbreak any further and is likely to get worse before it gets better.

Mexico re-opens as swine flu is contained

Althought many experts are saying the Swine flu or H1N1 threat is far from over, Mexico city is re-opening its businesses and schools over the next few days.

So far in mexico the flu has killed 22 people and infected 568 causing the shutdown of hundreds of businesses and schools. As the threat eases for now the city will open back up, to the relief of many struggling local businesses.

Swine Flu Threat Eases

The number of suspected deaths from swine flu in Mexico has been cut by 75 to 101, indicating the outbreak may not be as bad as initially feared.

The country has ordered a five-day shutdown in a bid to contain the virus.

US President Barack Obama is calling for continued vigilance but says the virus that has travelled across the border also appears weaker.

World Health Officials tell Governments to Prepare for Pandemic

The swine flu, now also known as the 2009 H1N1 flu, outbreak turning into a Pandemic now appears inevitable. 10 states in the U.S now have confirmed cases of the virus. U.S officials have announced plans to speed up plans for a vaccine for the influenza strain.

Of the 92 confirmed cases, 51 are in New York; 16 in Texas; 15 in California; two each in Massachusetts, Michigan and Kansas and one case in Arizona, Nevada, Indiana and Ohio.

The biggest question now is, "how severe will this pandemic be?"

Threat Level raised to 5

The World Health Organisation tonight raised its global epidemic threat level to phase five. The next phase, six, is a full-blown pandemic, characterised by outbreaks in at least two regions of the world.

Five people in the UK were now confirmed as having been infected with swine flu. They included three people who returned on the same charter flight from Cancun in Mexico: a 12-year-old girl from Torbay and a couple from Polmont in Scotland who had been on honeymoon.

The Latest map of the spread

Is there a Vaccine for Swine Flu?

Millions around the world have been asking if there is a vaccine against the swine flu.

No vaccine exists to protect humans from the current swine flu, but the federal government is taking initial steps to prepare for potential production of a swine flu vaccine. The seasonal flu vaccine available this year is not believed to be effective at warding off swine flu, and it's unlikely that people vaccinated against the 1976 swine flu strain are protected against this new strain.

Today the Swine Flu has spread once again

Todays overview

*In Australia, 111 suspected cases are being investigated but none have been confirmed.

*In Mexico another 1,600 people are under observation and all restaurants in Mexico City have now been ordered to close.

*The number of confirmed swine flu cases in the US has risen to more than 60.
In California, health authorities have ruled out swine flu being the cause of two recent deaths in Los Angele




Pink markers are suspect
Purple markers are confirmed or probable
Deaths lack a dot in marker
Yellow markers are negative

All About Swine Flu

What is Swine Flu?

Swine influenza (also swine flu) refers to influenza caused by any virus of the family Orthomyxoviridae, that is endemic to pig (swine) populations. Strains endemic in swine are called swine influenza virus (SIV), and all known strains of SIV are classified as Influenzavirus A (common) or Influenzavirus C (rare).Influenzavirus B has not been reported in swine. All three clades, Influenzavirus A, B, and C, are endemic in humans.

People who work with poultry and swine, especially people with intense exposures, are at risk of infection from these animals if the animals carry a strain that is also able to infect humans. SIV can mutate into a form that allows it to pass from human to human. The strain responsible for the 2009 swine flu outbreak is believed to have undergone this mutation.

In humans, the symptoms of swine flu are similar to those of influenza and of influenza-like illness in general.



What are the symptoms?



According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), in humans the symptoms of swine flu are similar to those of influenza and of influenza-like illness in general. Symptoms include fever, cough, sore throat, body aches, headache, chills and fatigue. A few more patients than usual have also reported diarrhea and vomiting.

Because these symptoms are not specific to swine flu, a differential diagnosis of probable swine flu requires not only symptoms but also a high likelihood of swine flu due to the person's recent history. For example, during the 2009 swine flu outbreak in the United States, CDC advised physicians to "consider swine influenza infection in the differential diagnosis of patients with acute febrile respiratory illness who have either been in contact with persons with confirmed swine flu, or who were in one of the five U.S. states that have reported swine flu cases or in Mexico during the 7 days preceding their illness onset." A diagnosis of confirmed swine flu requires laboratory testing of a respiratory sample (a simple nose and throat swab).

How to protect yourself and your family

Recommendations to prevent infection by the virus consist of the standard personal precautions against influenza. This includes frequent washing of hands with soap and water or with alcohol-based hand sanitizers, especially after being out in public. People should avoid touching their mouth, nose or eyes with their hands unless they've washed their hands. If people do cough, they should either cough into a tissue and throw it in the garbage immediately, cough into their elbow, or, if they cough in their hand, they should wash their hands immediately

Treatment

The CDC recommends the use of Tamiflu (oseltamivir) or Relenza (zanamivir) for the treatment and/or prevention of infection with swine influenza viruses. The virus isolates that have been tested from the US and Mexico are however resistant to amantadine and rimantadine.[31] If a person gets sick, antiviral drugs can make the illness milder and make the patient feel better faster. They may also prevent serious flu complications. For treatment, antiviral drugs work best if started soon after getting sick (within 2 days of symptoms).

Up to date map of spreading infection