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