| Author |
 Topic  |
|
S.ravi
Advanced Member
India
4205 Posts |
 Posted - 05/03/2009 : 20:05:36
|
The World Health Organization says countries must not lower their guard in the response to the swine flu outbreak.
Almost 900 cases had been confirmed across five continents, the WHO said, and authorities had to remain vigilant.
Viruses increased and decreased in activity, it said, and it was too early to tell whether the outbreak had peaked where it emerged in Mexico.
The warning came after health officials in Mexico said that cases of the virus appeared to be declining.
In Mexico, just over 100 people are thought to have died from the swine flu strain, although only 19 cases have been confirmed.
CONFIRMED CASES
Mexico: 101 suspected deaths - 19 confirmed
US: One death, 226 confirmed cases
New Zealand: 4 confirmed cases
Canada: 85 confirmed cases
Spain: 40 confirmed cases
UK: 16 confirmed cases
Germany: 6 confirmed cases
Israel: 3 confirmed cases
France: 2 confirmed cases
Netherlands, Switzerland, Austria, Denmark, Hong Kong, South Korea, Italy, Irish Republic, Costa Rica, Colombia: 1 confirmed case
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Countries with confirmed cases of secondary transmission:
Mexico, US, Canada, Spain, Germany, UK
Mapping the outbreak
Clashes erupt over Egypt pig cull
Did Mexico over-react to flu?
But on Sunday Health Minister Jose Angel Cordova said that the virus appeared to have peaked between 23-28 April.
"The evolution of the epidemic is now in its declining phase," he told a news conference.
The WHO said authorities should remain on alert.
The current "round of activity" might have peaked, WHO official Gregory Hartl said, but that did not mean it was over.
"There is a high possibility that this virus will come back, especially in colder periods," he said.
Health experts in the US, meanwhile, say swine flu could soon be present throughout their country, as cases have been confirmed in more than half of all states.
Outside Mexico, the effects of the virus do not appear to be severe.
In other developments:
• El Salvador says it has confirmed its first two cases of the virus, AFP reports, citing the country's health minister
• Egypt says it will continue slaughtering pigs as a precaution against swine flu, following clashes on Sunday with farmers that left 12 people injured
• A number of Mexicans remain under quarantine in cities in China, triggering a diplomatic row
'Widespread'
Late on Sunday - before the apparent confirmation from El Salvador - the WHO said it had found 898 cases of the virus across 18 countries.
Person-to-person transmission has been confirmed in six countries.
In the US, the number of confirmed cases rose from 160 to 226. Officials said this was because the results of lab tests were now coming through, rather than because of a new surge in cases.
But an expert from America's Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said the virus was fairly widespread.
"Virtually all of the United States probably has this virus circulating now," Dr Anne Schuchat said. "That doesn't mean that everybody's infected, but within the communities, the virus has arrived."
She said she expected cases to become more severe and to lead to deaths. She stressed that this in itself would not be unusual as every year 36,000 people die in the US after contracting seasonal flu.
WHO food safety scientist Peter Ben Embarek, meanwhile, said increased surveillance was necessary after the virus was found to have infected pigs in Canada.
But he said there was no recommendation to cull animals, and pork remained safe to eat.
"From a consumer point of view there is no risk from consuming cooked pork products," he said.
|
 |
|
|
S.ravi
Advanced Member
India
4205 Posts |
Posted - 05/04/2009 : 10:47:21
|
4 May 2009 16:27 UK
Mexico to begin lifting flu curbs
LatestQ&AOutbreak mapUK situationMeasures
Eateries in Mexico City have been restricted to offering takeaway food Restaurants and cafes in Mexico City are to reopen on Wednesday after the country recorded a fall in new cases of the swine flu virus.
Libraries, museums and churches are to follow suit a day later but cinemas, theatres and bars are to remain closed, the mayor's office said.
Government officials are meeting to discuss when schools and businesses across the country can resume work.
A total of 1,025 cases of the virus have been reported in 20 countries.
The UN says it has seen no evidence of a spread at community level in Europe and Asia - a development that would trigger the highest level of alert.
Dr Keiji Fukuda, deputy chief of the World Health Organization, told reporters it was essential that surveillance remained strong worldwide.
CONFIRMED CASES
Mexico: 101 suspected deaths - 26 confirmed
US: One death, 226 confirmed cases
New Zealand: 6 confirmed cases
Canada: 101 confirmed cases
Spain: 54 confirmed cases
UK: 27 confirmed cases
Germany: 8 confirmed cases
Israel: 3 confirmed cases
France: 4 confirmed cases
Italy: 4 confirmed cases
El Salvador: 2 confirmed cases
Netherlands, Switzerland, Austria, Denmark, Hong Kong, South Korea, Irish Republic, Costa Rica, Colombia, Portugal: 1 confirmed case
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Countries with confirmed cases of secondary transmission:
Mexico, US, Canada, Spain, Germany, UK
Mapping the outbreak
Did Mexico over-react to flu?
Surveillance has to be strong everywhere, Dr Fukuda said.
"Right now we really just don't know how this will go."
Secondary transmission, ie to persons who have not visited Mexico, has been confirmed in six countries.
The virus is suspected of claiming 101 lives in Mexico though the number of confirmed cases there is 26, its health minister said on Monday.
In other developments
• Of nine new confirmed cases of swine flu in the UK, seven appear to have been acquired from people who had not been to Mexico; total confirmed cases stood at 27
• About 250 recruits and personnel at an army camp in the western Swiss canton of Fribourg were placed under quarantine after two recruits reported having flu symptoms
'Phase of decline'
Mexico's shutdown is credited with stemming the spread of the virus but it badly affected the country's economy.
SYMPTOMS - WHAT TO DO
Swine flu symptoms are similar to those produced by ordinary seasonal flu - fever, cough, sore throat, body aches, chills and fatigue
If you have flu symptoms and recently visited affected areas of Mexico, you should seek medical advice
If you suspect you are infected, you should stay at home and take advice by telephone initially, in order to minimise the risk of infection
Q&A: Advice about swine flu
President Felipe Calderon went on national TV on Sunday night to say a nationwide shutdown and an aggressive information campaign appeared to have helped curtail the outbreak in Mexico.
"We have succeeded in detaining or at least slowing the spread of the virus precisely because the measures have been the correct ones," he said.
Swine flu has been confirmed as the cause of 26 deaths in Mexico and 701 people have been infected, Health Minister Jose Angel Cordova said on Monday.
Earlier, he had said the epidemic was "in its phase of decline", having peaked between 23 and 28 April.
Ban Ki-moon called for global co-ordination on swine flu
Talking about the possible reopening of schools, he warned it would "not happen just like that". "There will have to be training, preparations for teachers and parents," he told reporters.
Inhabitants of the capital interviewed by Reuters news agency on Sunday spoke of their frustration at the upset caused by the restrictions.
"They should open everything back up so we can work," said Alberto Vazquez, 28, who washes cars for a living.
"These last days have been hard on us. If we don't work, we don't eat."
'Not Spanish Flu'
Mexico has criticised China for placing in quarantine up to 70 Mexicans, even though they showed no sign of having contracted swine flu.
Mexico's ambassador to Beijing helped deliver food for quarantined Mexicans
It said it was sending a plane to Beijing to pick up the Mexicans as China denied it was being discriminatory.
WHO chief Margaret Chan sought to ease concern that swine flu, or H1N1, might develop into a pandemic similar to the Spanish Flu which killed tens of millions at the end of World War I.
"[There is] no indication that we are facing a situation similar to that in 1918," she told reporters on Monday.
UN chief Ban Ki-moon said the WHO did not plan to raise its pandemic alert to the highest level if the outbreak continued in its current pattern.
In the US, the number of confirmed swine flu cases has risen from 160 to 226, over 30 states. Officials said this was because the results of lab tests were now coming through, rather than because of a new surge in cases.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Have you been affected by swine flu? Are you under quarantine? You can send your experiences using the form below:
A selection of your comments may be published, displaying your name and location unless you state otherwise in the box below.
|
|
|
|
S.ravi
Advanced Member
India
4205 Posts |
Posted - 05/04/2009 : 10:49:10
|
Ministry of Health and Family Welfare
Update on influenza A (HINI) as on 4th May 2009
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
17:28 IST
World Health Organization has reported 985 laboratory confirmed cases of influenza A/H1N1 infection with 26 deaths from twenty countries. There are 226 laboratory confirmed human cases in USA with one death. Mexico has reported 590 cases including 25 deaths. The other countries which have reported laboratory confirmed cases with no deaths are: Austria (1), Canada (85), Hong Kong (Special Administrative Region of China) (1), Costa Rica (1) Columbia (1) Denmark (1), El Salvador (2), France (2), Germany (8), Ireland (1), Israel (3), Italy (1), Netherlands (1), New Zealand (4), Republic of Korea (1) Spain (40), Switzerland (1) and United Kingdom (15).
Health screening of passengers coming from affected countries is continuing in 21 International airports at Ahmedabad, Amritsar, Bangalore, Calicut, Chennai, Cochin, Coimbatore, Delhi, Varanasi, Goa, Hyderabad, Jaipur, Kolkata, Lucknow, Mangalore, Mumbai, Nagpur, Pune, Srinagar, Trichy and Trivandrum. A total of 41,498 passengers have been screened. Around 8353 passengers were from affected countries. 172 doctors and 82 paramedics have been deployed to man 61 counters at the above airports. Four passengers have been referred to identified health facility (two at Delhi and two at Cochin). So far a total of 12 samples have been tested negative. Three samples are under test.
Cabinet Secretary held a video conference with Chief Secretaries of 17 States and reviewed the preparedness of the States.
Director General of Health Services held a meeting with Director of Health Services of States/ Union Territories and discussed technical aspects including surveillance at Airports, ports and community; laboratory support; sample collection and transportation, clinical management, risk communication etc.
As of now, no case has been reported in India. The situation is being monitored.
************
|
|
|
|
S.ravi
Advanced Member
India
4205 Posts |
Posted - 05/04/2009 : 10:56:01
|
NASA-developed AiroCide may help to prevent swine flu
Mumbai (PTI): An air management system developed by NASA scientists to increase the shelf life of food for astronauts could become an effective tool to prevent swine influenza also.
The technology called AiroCide, an effective indoor environment manager, has shown to reduce infection load in hospitals drastically.
It is now available in India also, the Indian company Great White Technology, which has bought the rights said.
The technology uses a process called 'Enconditioning' (environment conditioning) developed by NASA years back when they were mandated with creating an Air Management System which has the capability of annihilating almost every kind of known virus, micro-organism or pathogens so that they could lengthen the life of plants and produce.
"Apart from preventing the build-up of ethylene, this state-of-the-art Enconditioning System has the capability of annihilating almost every kind of known virus, micro-organism or pathogens," managing director of Great White Technology Dharmesh Keshwani told PTI.
Deadly gases like Anthrax too cannot escape its preventive prowess and now, as has been discovered, neither can the Swine Flu Virus, he said .
The company launched the product in India in March and already demonstrated the US FDA approved technology in Bombay Hospital and Wockhardt hospital, he said.
AiroCide Enconditioners are the world's only technology that can actually prevent the spread of this deadly virus and ensure an environment that is safe to live-in for humans and animals alike, said Keshwani explaining how simple the technology to manage.
He said it is easily installed like a plasma television and the air from the room is sucked through the fan and passes through a reaction chamber which holds the patented technology.
The device comes in various sizes depending upon the application and air covered, Keshwani said. The devices can manage 3,000 cubic feet of air per machine to 20,000 cubic feet of air per machine, he said.
When asked about the cost, a device handling 5,000 cubic feet air will cost around Rs one lakh, he said.
"It annihilates completely any micro-organism irrespective of their size and our partners in US have already dispatched these devices to Mexico where the outbreak of swine flu first noted.
Over 30,000 AiroCides have been installed across the globe and more than 1000 units in India in just a period of two months, Keshwani claimed.
"We have already 30 distributors across the country and in Delhi we will be undertaking pilot projects with Fortis and Medicity shortly", he added.
|
|
|
|
S.ravi
Advanced Member
India
4205 Posts |
Posted - 05/04/2009 : 10:57:10
|
China develops new method to test swine flu in pigs
Beijing (Xinhua): China has developed a new diagnostic method to test influenza A(H1N1) virus in pigs, the agriculture ministry said.
Officials said the new method can deliver test results within five hours.
The ministry had mobilised health experts to develop a new diagnostic method to test the virus, also known as swine flu, in minimum time in view of its outbreak in over a dozen country in Asia, Europe, South America and the United States.
So far, more than 20 people have died and hundreds are affected by the deadly virus.
The method could also provide references for the virus in humans, the ministry said on Sunday.
Meanwhile, the ministry has also urged the local health authorities to stockpile emergency materials in case of an outbreak of the disease in the country.
|
|
|
|
S.ravi
Advanced Member
India
4205 Posts |
Posted - 05/04/2009 : 19:59:33
|
India better prepared to tackle swine flu: official
NEW DELHI: Even as the government claims that India is now better prepared to deal with influenza A(H1N1) outbreak than it was four years ago, three persons are being kept under observation here and two in Kochi.
Reports of swab samples of the three admitted to government hospitals in Delhi are being awaited, while the samples from Kochi are yet to reach the National Institute of Communicable Diseases (NICD) in Delhi and the National Institute of Virology (NIV), Pune, Vineet Chowdhry, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, told journalists here on Monday.
Earlier, 12 samples tested negative for swine flu, he said, adding no patient was under observation in Hyderabad.
Of the three admitted to the Delhi hospitals, one had volunteered to get himself tested. Two of them had arrived from the United States and the other from Germany. The two in Kochi had visited the U.S., Europe, and came to India via Dubai.
Mr. Chowdhry said screening might be required at road transition points in Uttar Pradesh and Bihar following reports that 84 passengers had entered India via the land route from Nepal. They were now being tracked down. He, however, ruled out sealing of the borders as there was no infection in any of the neighbouring countries. Sealing would only cause inconvenience.
Seaports under watch
Pointing out that seaports were also under observation but no additional medical staff had been deployed there, Mr. Chowdhry said sea travel took longer and it was mainly the crew who arrived at the ports. The Port Health Office was adequate to handle them. Meanwhile, over 45,000 passengers had been screened at 22 airports. The 2,000 passengers who had arrived from Mexico and Canada in the past two weeks were now being screened. The Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme was being further activated to maintain a regular check on passengers.
As many as 192 doctors and paramedical staff members were on duty round the clock. Rejecting the suggestion that testing be decentralised, Mr. Chowdhry said samples were being sent to the NICD and the NIV for parallel testing. Only when both reports matched would the results be announced.
|
|
|
|
S.ravi
Advanced Member
India
4205 Posts |
Posted - 05/04/2009 : 20:11:07
|
Swine flu has not hit pork sales
Bangalore: The threat of swine flu (H1N1 virus) that has spread to various countries has become a major worry among those who consume pork in the city, while pork merchants maintained that the sale of pork had not decreased.
“The sale here is just as it used to be. There is no decline in the number of customers. I think it is because the media has made it clear that no cases of swine flu have been reported in the country,” said Govardhan, owner of The Bangalore Ham Shop on Mahatma Gandhi Road.
Although, the sale of pork has not yet decreased, one of the main concerns among the public is that the flu can spread by consuming pork.
Swati S., a teacher, said she would not eat pork because, “the H1N1 virus has a high tendency to mutate, and once it mutates, it spreads fast. Therefore, I will not take any chances by eating pork.”
Yet there are many who do not mind eating pork and maintain that once cooked well, pork and other meat are safe.
“I am sensible enough to know that once it is cooked I can eat it without any worry,” said Bejoy Isaac, a customer.
On the other hand, Nicholas Byrne, a soldier, plans to take full advantage of this opportunity. He said, “I know that it does not spread by eating pork, so when this flu hits the country, prices will drop, giving me the best chance to feast on it.”
Rebecca S., however, said, “This flu spreads through people affected by it, and everyone coming from abroad is being screened at the airports. I believe adequate precautionary measures have been taken. Personally, I think it is safe to eat pork.”
Considering the fact that there are always chances of people in India being affected by this virus, the question is of preparedness. Malati Ramesh, a doctor, said, “The awareness and knowledge of this flu in India is very less. If by any chance, it is reported in our country, it will be more than difficult to handle it.”
|
|
|
|
S.ravi
Advanced Member
India
4205 Posts |
Posted - 05/05/2009 : 11:26:50
|
swine flu in India, five suspects under scanner
New Delhi (IANS): India continues to be free from swine flu infection, while five passengers with suspected influenza A (H1N1) symptoms are quarantined, officials said on Tuesday.
"As of now, we have five passengers - two in Bangalore, two in Kochi and one in Delhi - under observation and their clinical samples are with the National Institute Communicable Diseases (NICD) and results are awaited," joint secretary health Vineet Chawdhry told reporters here.
Three people who were quarantined in Delhi - two of whom came from the US and one from Canada - were discharged Tuesday after they tested negative for swine flu, Chawdhry said.
Meanwhile, China on Tuesday alarmed India about an Andhra Pradesh based passenger who was on a flight from Mexico with a passenger tested positive for influenza A (H1N1) at Shanghai last month.
"Inter-country cooperation has increased to deal with the flu. The Chinese embassy provided us with a detail about an Indian passenger aboard a Mexican flight carrying a passenger tested positive for flu. We immediately tracked him in Andhra Pradesh and found him fit," said Chawdhry.
India has intensified measures to tackle swine flu by beefing surveillance at border road posts besides airports and ports.
The 21 airports in the country where screening is being done are: Ahmedabad, Amritsar, Bangalore, Calicut, Chennai, Cochin, Coimbatore, New Delhi, Varanasi, Goa, Hyderabad, Jaipur, Kolkata, Lucknow, Mangalore, Mumbai, Nagpur, Pune, Srinagar, Tiruchirapalli and Tiruvananthapuram.
"A total of 36,323 passengers were screened at these airports Tuesday. 172 doctors and 83 paramedics have been deployed to man 68 counters at the above airport. So far samples of 15 passengers have been tested and found negative for flu," said Chawdhry.
According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), 21 countries have officially reported 1,124 cases of influenza A (H1N1) infection.
Mexico has reported 590 laboratory confirmed human cases of infection, including 25 deaths. The US has reported 286 laboratory confirmed human cases, including one death.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
|
|
|
|
S.ravi
Advanced Member
India
4205 Posts |
Posted - 05/05/2009 : 11:28:42
|
Masked medical staff escorted the Mexicans into ambulances
Dozens of Mexicans quarantined in China because of fears they may be infected with swine flu are being flown home on a specially-chartered Mexican plane.
About 70 Mexicans were confined despite just one confirmed case of the virus.
The issue sparked a diplomatic row, with Mexico accusing China of targeting its citizens unfairly, and Beijing saying it was a "purely medical" issue.
Some 26 people have died of the virus in Mexico and more than 1,000 cases have been reported in 20 countries.
But just one fatality has been recorded outside Mexico - a two-year-old Mexican boy who died in the US while on a visit.
Mexico now puts the number of infections within its borders at 840.
In other developments:
• The World Health Organization says 1,490 people around the world have so far contracted the H1N1 swine flu virus. However, WHO figures often lag behind those announced by national government laboratories
• In the UK, delivery begins of specially-produced leaflets offering advice on swine flu and advice on how to prevent its spread
• South Korea reports its second confirmed case of swine flu, the first instance of human-to-human transmission in Asia.
Masked escort
The charter plane taking Mexicans out of China landed in Shanghai on Tuesday at about 1300 local time (0500 GMT) to pick up the first group of quarantined Mexicans.
CONFIRMED CASES
Mexico: 101 suspected deaths - 29 confirmed; 840 confirmed cases
US: One death, 403 confirmed cases
Canada: 140 confirmed cases
Spain: 57 confirmed cases
UK: 27 confirmed cases
Swine flu: Mapping the outbreak
Quarantined hotel guests frustrated
In pictures: Weathering swine flu
Masked medical staff then escorted the Mexicans into ambulances to take them to the airport, before they cleared immigration and customs at a temporary outdoor facility.
The flight then continued on to Beijing, Guangzhou and Hong Kong before returning to Mexico City.
The quarantine row between Mexico and China developed after a 25-year-old man who had flown from Mexico to Shanghai and Hong Kong was diagnosed with swine flu - or H1N1.
Mexican officials said more than 70 of their citizens in China were confined. It is not yet clear whether or not these people had any contact with the infected traveller.
About 50 were being held in Shanghai in two five-star hotels, with 10 in Beijing and several more in the city of Wenzhou.
Masked Chinese set up a temporary immigration post for the Mexicans
China decided to track down everyone who landed on the same flight as the infected man and put them into quarantine. It also isolated everyone in the traveller's hotel in Hong Kong.
In Beijing, Yu Debin, deputy director of the Beijing Tourism Bureau insisted that those kept in the Guomen were treated "very well".
They had been given "luxurious" rooms complete with flowers, fruit, and toys for children to play with. A "special menu" was prepared to ensure the guests ate well, Mr Yu said.
However, one traveller quarantined in Beijing told Mexican radio that soldiers were guarding the hotel gates.
"This is like a kidnapping for us," Mirna Elisa Berlanga said, while Mexico has issued strongly-worded statements over the past few days condemning Beijing's response.
Meanwhile, another diplomatic row could be brewing after Canada asked China to explain why a group of at least 20 Canadian students had been quarantined in the north-eastern town of Changchun.
Canada said none of the students had shown any flu symptoms.
The US embassy said on Tuesday that four American citizens had also been quarantined in China due to swine flu fears.
Proud president
Speaking on Mexican TV late on Monday evening President Felipe Calderon praised the country's precautions against swine flu and said children would soon begin returning to schools closed at the height of the scare.
Chinese authorities are taking no risks with the quarantined Mexicans
Large parts of Mexico's economy have been shut down since 1 May in an effort to stem the spread of the virus.
"Thousands of lives have been saved not only in Mexico but in the world," Mr Calderon said.
Hailing the "energy" with which Mexicans tackled the previously-unknown virus, Mr Calderon said the nation's "enormous effort" was helping the country avoid a major tragedy.
"The number of deaths recorded has notably decreased, and the numbers of cases of people infected with the virus has also reduced."
Pupils without symptoms of flu will begin returning to school on 7 May, the president said, adding that school buildings would also undergo a deep clean to limit chances of contamination.
Mexico will also begin a worldwide effort to repair the nation's tarnished international image in the hope of convincing tourists from around the world to continue visiting Mexico, including reducing entry and exit taxes for tourists.
|
|
|
|
S.ravi
Advanced Member
India
4205 Posts |
Posted - 05/06/2009 : 13:19:29
|
Bangalore: To check for H1N1 virus, State health officials have sent trial blood samples and throat swabs of two international passengers who landed in the city on Monday for testing to the National Institute of Communicable Diseases (NICD) in Pune and Delhi.
The trial samples are part of a nationwide initiative to check the preparedness of the NICD in meeting any eventuality. The samples were drawn from two passengers who landed in Bangalore from California and New York.
Clarifying that the samples were not “suspected” cases, Principal Secretary (Health and Family Welfare) Madan Gopal said the exercise was carried out as per directions from the Union Health Ministry to test the operational efficiency of surveillance measures adopted in the wake of swine flu scare. “Both the samples have are found to be clear of any strains of the virus,” he said.
Mr. Gopal, who had convened a meeting with heads of private hospitals to strengthen preparedness, said 15 major private hospitals had attended the meeting and agreed to set up isolation facilities on their premises in case of any eventuality.
“We have decided to provide sample collection kits and Tamiflu tablets to all private hospitals if any case tests positive for the virus,” he said.
“The private hospitals have also agreed to provide the services of paramedical staff and medical officers as a standby at the airport if required. The screening process is going on smoothly and 15,511 passengers have been screened at Bengaluru International Airport so far,” Mr. Gopal said.
|
|
|
|
S.ravi
Advanced Member
India
4205 Posts |
Posted - 05/07/2009 : 10:08:28
|
Top Stories
Swine flu cases worldwide top 2,000: WHO
Geneva (AP): The World Health Organisation says the number of confirmed swine flu cases around the world has surpassed 2,000.
The agency raised its tally today to 2,099 cases, from 1,893 late yesterday.
It said there have been 42 deaths in Mexico and two in the United States.
Mexico has 1,112 cases, and the United States has 642.
Canada has reported 201 people infected, Spain has 73 and Britain has 28.
Germany has nine cases, Italy, New Zealand and France have five each, Israel has four and South Korea and El Salvador have two apiece.
Austria, Colombia, Costa Rica, Denmark, Hong Kong, Guatemala, Ireland, Netherlands, Portugal, Sweden and Switzerland have reported a case each.
|
|
|
|
S.ravi
Advanced Member
India
4205 Posts |
Posted - 05/07/2009 : 12:48:18
|
Update on Influenza a (H1N1) as on 7th May 2009
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
19:37 IST
World Health Organization has reported 1893 laboratory confirmed cases of influenza A/H1N1 infection with 31 deaths from twenty three countries. There are 642 laboratory confirmed human cases in USA with two deaths. Mexico has reported 942 cases including 29 deaths. The other countries which have reported laboratory confirmed cases with no deaths are: Austria (1), Canada (165), China, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (1), Colombia (1), Costa Rica (1), Denmark (1), El Salvador (2), France (5), Germany (9), Guatemala (1), Ireland (1), Israel (4), Italy (5), Netherlands (1), New Zealand (5), Portugal (1), Republic of Korea (2), Spain (73), Sweden (1), Switzerland (1) and the United Kingdom (28).
Health screening of passengers coming from affected countries is continuing in 21 International airports at Ahmedabad, Amritsar, Bangalore, Calicut, Chennai, Cochin, Coimbatore, Delhi, Varanasi, Goa, Hyderabad, Jaipur, Kolkata, Lucknow, Mangalore, Mumbai, Nagpur, Pune, Srinagar, Trichy and Trivandrum.
A total of 35,403 passengers have been screened. Around 6009 passengers were from affected countries. 178 doctors and 87 paramedics have been deployed to man 70 counters at the above airports. Two persons who disembarked at Bangalore airport have been referred to the identified health facility.
So far samples of 24 persons have been tested and found negative for Influenza H1N1. Samples of two persons are under testing.
As of now, no case has been reported in India. The situation is being monitored
|
|
|
|
S.ravi
Advanced Member
India
4205 Posts |
Posted - 05/08/2009 : 11:08:44
|
Hong Kong 'flu' hotel guests free
Guests at the Metropark Hotel were isolated for a week
Nearly 300 guests and staff at a hotel in Hong Kong have been released after being held in quarantine for a week due to a feared outbreak of swine flu.
All were given health checks before being allowed out. Streets were blocked off to allow them to leave without facing a media scrum.
Guests of the Metropark Hotel were isolated after a Mexican traveller who was carrying the virus stayed there.
The unidentified man was also released from a Hong Kong hospital on Friday.
Officials had apologised to those held, but said it was in the public interest.
On Friday, the World Health Organization (WHO) said 2,384 confirmed cases of swine flu, or influenza A(H1N1) had been reported by 24 countries around the world.
It said nearly half of all cases were in Mexico, where the confirmed death toll stood at 42. Two more people have died in the US.
The WHO said it was not recommending travel restrictions related to the outbreak of swine flu.
Speaking in Bangkok, WHO chief Margaret Chan said that "the world is better prepared for an influenza pandemic than at any time in history".
'Breathe easily'
Hotel guests cheered and waived to bystanders as they walked out of the Metropark Hotel on Friday.
We have been successful in our effort to prevent the spread of the virus, but this doesn't mean that we can relax our guard
York Chow
Hong Kong Health Secretary
UK swine flu genetics unravelled
"I'm happy! I love Hong Kong people!" a South Korean businessman, who did not give his name, was quoted as saying by the Associated Press.
Hong Kong's Health Secretary York Chow said: "I am sure everyone feels... that Hong Kong has passed its first test and we can breathe more easily."
"We have been successful in our effort to prevent the spread of the virus, but this doesn't mean that we can relax our guard," he added.
Authorities have offered guests of the city centre hotel two nights' free accommodation at another of Hong Kong's luxury hotels to compensate for the inconvenience.
Although critics called the quarantine an over-reaction, officials were keen to avoid a repeat of the 2003 Sars (severe acute respiratory syndrome) epidemic.
That outbreak killed 300 people in Hong Kong and 800 worldwide after a single carrier spread the disease in a city hotel.
|
|
|
|
S.ravi
Advanced Member
India
4205 Posts |
Posted - 05/09/2009 : 01:29:17
|
AH1N1) flu: anxious passengers check themselves into hospital
NO symptoms, say hospital authorities
Bangalore: With two suspected swine flu cases being quarantined on Thursday, anxious citizens, even those who have returned to Bangalore from western countries without any symptoms, are reporting to hospitals for a check-up.
Two such persons, Narayanswamy (35) and Dubey (25), who landed in Bangalore on May 4 and April 26 respectively, from Boston, US, reported to the Rajiv Gandhi Institute of Chest Diseases (RGICD), on Friday — one at 1.30 p.m. and the other at 3.30 p.m.
Hospital authorities said as both men did not have any flu symptoms, they were neither isolated nor were their samples sent for testing.
“They reported out of anxiety after reading media reports and we did a thorough check-up. But their symptoms did not warrant isolation. We will observe the progress of their symptoms for the next 12 to 16 hours before considering isolation,” hospital sources said.
Mr. Narayanswamy, a businessman, had gone to the U.S. on April 26 and returned on May 4. Though he did not have any flu symptoms when he arrived, he developed mild throat irritation on May 7. He first went to a private hospital on Cunningham Road from where he was referred to the RGICD, the sources said.
Mr. Dubey had flown from Boston to Bangalore on April 26. He developed mild pain in the chest two days ago and directly approached the RGICD for a check-up. Both were treated as out-patients and put on observation, the sources said.
Safety gear
They were sent home with the N-95 3M masks for their use and the general three-layered mask for use by their family members.
The N-95 3M mask does not transmit the droplets and the general mask is a safety gear for people around them, the sources explained.
As many as 20,376 passengers arriving at the Bengaluru International Airport and 2,300 arriving at Mangalore airport have been screened till date, officials said.
Isolated persons
The family members of the isolated persons met them on Friday on the premises of the RGICD wearing the general three-layered masks. The patients with suspected symptoms, who were wearing the N-95 3M masks, interacted with others from a safe distance. The security personnel wearing N-95 3M masks kept guard just outside, sources said.
Sources pointed out that the family members were not happy with the facilities at the RGICD.
They reportedly asked the officials if the patients could be put up in some other private hospital.
|
|
|
|
S.ravi
Advanced Member
India
4205 Posts |
Posted - 05/09/2009 : 11:14:04
|
Swine flu hits MSU's diamond jubilee functions in US
8 May 2009, 2132 hrs IST, TNN
Print Email Discuss Share Save Comment Text:
VADODARA: Swine flu scare has hit plans of US-based alumni of MS University to hold grand celebrations marking the 60th anniversary of the varsity's
foundation at Washington DC this month end.
MSU's vice-chancellor Ramesh Goyal, who was all set to fly to the US, has been told by the Washington DC chapter of Alumni of Baroda University that the celebrations have been postponed.
"Earlier, the US-based alumni had planned to host the two-day celebrations on May 23 and May 24 but the programme has been postponed due to threat of swine flu and they are yet to decide on a new date," Goyal told TOI on Friday.
Apart from Goyal, the alumni had also invited MSU chancellor Mrunalini Devi Puar and well-known technocrat and chairman of National Knowledge Commission Sam Pitroda.
The alumni chapter, that currently has 200 members, was expecting participation of around 400 alumni and intended to raise $ 60,000 for their alma mater for setting up a girls' hostel.
The Washington DC chapter that was formed in 1984 with the inspiration of MSU's former vice-chancellor Lord Bhikhu Parekh have celebrated 40th and 50th anniversary of MSU's foundation in the past. The plans to celebrate 60th anniversary were chalked out during an alumni meet in August last.
The five-year extension given to the Centre for Continuing Adult Education and Community Services got over on March 31 this year after which the syndicate members were supposed to take a decision on it. But with MSU V-C Ramesh Goyal adjourning the syndicate meeting of April 28 just minutes after it was convened, the centre has still not received any extension.
It is not just the centre whose future is uncertain. With vacation beginning next week, proposals of six faculty boards, which were supposed to be implemented from next academic year, are also pending as they were not cleared in the last syndicate meeting.
"There were over 30 items of agenda of which the proposals cleared by faculty board of studies, including that of Faculty of Science, Faculty of Commerce, Faculty of Arts, Faculty of Education and Psychology, Faculty of Technology and Engineering (FTE) and Faculty of Family and Community Sciences (FFCS), were waiting for syndicate's approval," said a teacher.
"In many of these faculties, the proposals regarding change of syllabus and revision of schemes have to be implemented from June but with proposals still pending, implementation of these changes is uncertain," said the teacher, adding that even designing of the prospectus of the courses can't be finalised.
Even though majority of syndicate members are blaming Goyal for the delay in decision-making, they themselves are not clear about the future move.
"It is not that we will not call any other syndicate meeting and if I feel that there is need for an urgent attention, I will take action accordingly," said Goyal.
|
|
|
|
Topic |
|
|
|
'Swine flu more dangerous than bird flu'
