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S.ravi
Advanced Member
India
4205 Posts |
 Posted - 06/09/2009 : 12:27:25
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Tuesday,9 June 2009 MUMBAI THIRUVANANTHAPURAM KOLKATA HYDERABAD CHENNAI BANGALORE AIZAWL
Ministry of Health and Family Welfare
H1N1 update as on 9th June 2009
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18:42 IST
World Health Organization has reported 25,288 laboratory confirmed cases of influenza A/H1N1 infection from 73 countries as on 8th June 2009. There have been 139 deaths. Country-wise details annexed.
Health screening of passengers coming from affected countries is continuing in 21 International airports. 44489 passengers have been screened on 9.6.2009. Around 23782 passengers were from affected countries. 223 doctors and 93 paramedics have been deployed to man 76 counters at the above airports. Two suspect cases, one each at Calicut and Delhi have been isolated at the identified health facility.
The contacts of the positive cases [in Delhi and Hyderabad] are on chemoprophylaxis and they are being monitored. As of now, no family or social contacts has reported symptoms.
So far samples of 197 persons have been tested of which eleven have been tested positive for novel Influenza A [H1N1]. Of these, two are indigenous cases who got the infection from the positive cases traveled from abroad. The rest of the samples have been found negative for the novel virus. Samples of five persons are under process. Of these, 71 were identified through health screening at International Airports and the rest were samples from persons who have self reported.
The situation is being monitored.
Countries officially reporting cases and cumulative total of confirmed cases of Influenza A [H1N1]
including deaths [As on 8th June, 2009: 06:00 GMT
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S.ravi
Advanced Member
India
4205 Posts |
Posted - 06/09/2009 : 19:09:21
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Mexico's flu toll rises to 108, with 500 more cases
10 Jun 2009, 0400 hrs IST, AFP
MEXICO CITY: Mexico's swine flu death toll rose by two to 108, with more than 500 new cases bringing the total infections 6,133, the health ministry said, insisting the virus was still on the decline.
"It's important to point out that there are very few recent new cases," a statement said yesterday, as scientists trawled through a backlog of cases.
All of Mexico's 32 states have registered A(H1N1) flu cases, with most in the sprawling capital Mexico City.
The country is struggling to recover after the epidemic struck its crisis-hit economy in April, when tourists fled and many businesses shut down.
Health Minister Jose Angel Cordova has said that Mexico might still lift its swine flu alert this month, despite the slowing rising deaths and confirmed cases.
Mexico is due to host an international summit on swine flu at the Caribbean beach resort of Cancun at the start of next month.
The World Health Organisation earlier said that the world was getting "very very close" to a swine flu pandemic, adding that 26,563 infections including 140 deaths have been reported to the health agency from 73 countries.
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S.ravi
Advanced Member
India
4205 Posts |
Posted - 06/10/2009 : 13:27:50
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Your swine flu questions answered
BBC Scotland's health correspondent Eleanor Bradford has been monitoring the spread of swine flu since the first case emerged in Scotland.
As the number of confirmed cases continues to rise, she has been answering some of your questions about the virus.
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Q1: I am a 62-year-old male and I had a splenectomy 40 years ago because of traumatic injury. I am in good health and have regular diplococcus vaccines. Do I need to take any special precautions if I contract swine flu? John
The evidence so far is that only the under-50's are susceptible to swine flu.
You've probably got immunity because you've lived through previous pandemics with a similar virus.
If you do feel particularly unwell with the symptoms of the flu then contact NHS 24 on 08454 24 24 24 and they will be able to advise you.
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Q2: My elderly mother and aunt (aged 79 and 82) have booked a short holiday in Dunoon at the beginning of August. They are worried about the outbreak of swine flu in the area and wonder if they should cancel their holiday.
As with the case above, it's highly likely your mother and aunt have immunity to swine flu.
Even so, the number of swine flu cases in Dunoon appears to have peaked and has now started to fall.
The chief medical officer told me the chances of catching swine flu are still very low and he would have no qualms about visiting Dunoon himself.
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Q3: I am due to travel to Paisley on 5 July. I am very concerned because there are a number of cases in hospital there.
My daughter, who is 25 years old, suffers from asthma. What precautions should we take or should we cancel my holiday?
We will be coming from Egypt and they are terrified of swine flu here. Doreen
The number of cases of swine flu in Paisley is tiny compared to the population and the chances of you being exposed are still very small.
To put it in context, you're far more likely to be run over by a car in Egypt (or Scotland, for that matter) than get swine flu.
Although your daughter's asthma puts her in a slightly higher risk category, the number of people who have had to go to hospital, let alone the number of deaths, is still very small - between four and six people in every 100.
We also know that two thirds of people who are exposed to swine flu don't even get ill.
It's not something you should worry about for your visit, but increasing your hygiene levels (particularly washing your hands) and staying away from anyone who looks obviously unwell won't do any harm.
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Q4. I am asking about Scotland's high percentage: What is happening in Scotland - is the Scottish Government under-reacting hence the unbalanced stats!!! David
A. I've spoken to flu experts inside and outside the government and none of them can explain why Scotland seems to have a disproportionately high number of swine flu cases (1/4 of all UK cases, at today's count).
There's a particularly large outbreak in Dunoon, which accounts for a large part of the figures and is probably just down to bad luck.
Neither can anyone explain why Scotland has the only hospitalised cases so far - that may also be bad luck or it could be due to a higher proportion of people with health problems here.
The experts I've been speaking to think the Scottish Government has been handling the situation in the right way so far.
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Q5. I have a nine-month-old and a four-year-old. Do we know yet how the virus effects children of this age? And is this different from normal flu? Susan White
A. The age range of those who are susceptible to the virus seems to be from 0-40yrs, which includes your children, but don't panic.
Although several children have picked up the virus so far all of them have had mild symptoms and recovered well.
All in all you shouldn't worry about this any more than you would worry about the normal flu that circulates every year.
However, while the number of swine flu cases are still low, you can use this time to make sure your children are as healthy as possible - with a good balanced diet - so that their immune systems are strong.
You should also follow the government's advice on hygiene - sneeze into tissues and wash your hands regularly.
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Q6. I am a 34-year-old girl from Glasgow, with asthma. Does it make sense to have a pneumonia vaccination at this stage?
I also already had a seasonal flu vaccine in November last year -will it make the symptoms of swine flu milder if contracted?
And could you also describe, what underlying health problems are in the "first risk group"?
And what are possible complications from Swine flu except pneumonia?
What is at the end of the day the main reason for people to die from swine flu?
Leaflets with information have been sent to every household
A. Although you are in a slightly higher risk group, we know the anti-virals are very effective in lessening the effects of swine flu, and work is already underway to create a vaccine - which should be ready by the winter.
Experts expect the number of cases to die down over the summer, and re-emerge in the winter by which time hopefully there will be a vaccine.
The flu vaccine you had last year will not protect you against swine flu because each flu strain is different and there is no other effective vaccine available yet.
It would be wise to follow the advice above and use this time to build up your immune system through healthy living.
Having said that, experts still don't know why some people are more susceptible. It may be that some of us have the 'wrong' gene which makes us vulnerable.
The NHS won't release details on the health problems of those who are seriously ill so far, but newspapers have reported that one of them has liver and kidney disease through nicotine and alcohol abuse.
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Q7. My son has come home from school with a letter, saying that a pupil in 3rd year at his school has contracted swine flu.
The school has recommended that the 3rd year pupils stay off school and the other pupils continue to attend as normal.
Is this advisable? Should they not have closed the whole school until this threat has been cleared up?
The school will have been advised by health protection experts, and they will base their decision on when the child showed symptoms, and how many people they were in contact with at that time.
We know someone is only contagious when they're showing symptoms (e.g. coughing and sneezing).
The third year pupils might have been told to stay off as a precaution, or because the specialists are confident that only they have been exposed.
If the risk to the rest of the pupils is low, there's probably as much chance that you've been exposed to the virus in the community anyway, and it would be an unnecessary disruption to close the school.
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Q8. I am a 27-year-old man and I live in South Lanarkshire. I have followed the swine flu outbreak since the beginning.
I always thought that it would never happen to me and then yesterday I developed a chesty cough and a runny nose. I do not have a fever nor do I have any aches or muscle pain. I am of relatively good health and yet this has worried me.
My question is this, what are the differences between a "normal" flu or cold and the swine flu? John McDade
If you had the flu you would know about it!
Alongside coughs and sneezes, the symptoms of swine flu (and flu in general) are, body aches, headaches, chills and fatigue. You may also have diarrhoea and vomiting.
It sounds like you just have a cold, but if you're worried you could speak to a nurse at NHS 24 on 08454 24 24 24.
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Q9. I have recently returned from holiday in New York and Dominican Republic and I have been exhibiting signs of swine flu (cough, chills, fatigue, sore throat, diarrhoea, back, neck and limb pain, etc) throughout my trip and after returning home.
However, my symptoms appear to be decreasing and I feel a lot better. Should I bother with NHS 24 or a doctor at this point as I believe I am over it? Katie
It's probably a good idea to call NHS 24 because even if you've recovered from swine flu since the epidemiologists (the people who map the progress of the virus) need to know how many cases there are and where they are.
Your story just goes to show that it's nothing to worry about too much!
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Q10. We are due to travel to Drumnadrochit on 18 July to holiday there for two weeks. I am very concerned about this as my son is asthmatic and I don't want to put him in any danger. Is it wise to cancel our holiday or are we just being over cautious? Maria
Hi Maria. You haven't mentioned where you're travelling from.
If you live anywhere in the UK the risks to you and your family is no higher in Drumnadrochit - in fact it's probably less because it's a long way from any of the clusters so far.
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Q11. (3 Questions about travel to Mexico)
I'm going on my honeymoon to Cancun in 6 weeks time. Are we able to get Tamiflu as a precaution to take with us? Alan
I am due to travel to Mexico with my girlfriend. I have been advised by my work that I have not to return to work until I have had the all clear from the doctor and been quarantined. What tests can I expect and how long will I have to wait for results? Robert
I am going to Cancun, Mexico on 26 June - what are the risks and should I take any precautions? Scott Glen
The number of cases of swine flu in Mexico is declining (and the number of deaths there due to swine flu has also been revised downwards) and the Foreign Office says it's now OK to visit Mexico.
The centre of the outbreak was Mexico City and those of you who are going to Cancun will be many miles away.
It's unlikely you'll be given Tamiflu as a precaution because that needs to be taken only on the advice of a doctor, but you should check with your travel agent/doctor what immunisations are needed before travelling anyway.
If you're exposed to the virus and are susceptible to it (and 2/3 of us aren't) you'll develop symptoms within 10 days, so this might be the quarantine period, Robert.
I don't think you'll be tested unless you show symptoms, because the labs are too busy. The Mexican tourist industry desperately needs your support, so go and have a good time!
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If you have further questions for Eleanor, email newsonlinescotland@bbc.co.uk and we will publish both questions and answers.
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S.ravi
Advanced Member
India
4205 Posts |
Posted - 06/10/2009 : 18:52:22
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Swine flu can be cured easily, says patient
10 Jun 2009, 0522 hrs IST, TNN
HYDERABAD: If detected early and treated, swine flu is not deadly after all. This is what a swine flu patient who was cured of it had to say.
Sayed Reyhan a 20-year-old second-year medical student from Deccan Medical College who had contracted swine flu got discharged on Tuesday. Rehman had gone to Toronto to meet his relatives and returned to the city on May 30. He had got himself admitted to the Government General and Chest Hospital on June 1 when he developed symptoms of swine flu.
Speaking to the media, he said that though the isolation in the hospital was difficult to put up with, he had no fear of the disease. "This is not a deadly disease and can be cured easily. As a medico I was able to convince my parents that I will be fine," Reyhan said. He said the trauma of isolation was greatly reduced by comforts like television and phone.
He, however, said that he was allowed to pass through the medical screening on arrival at Shamshabad airport as he had no fever. Reyhan is a resident of Masab Tank and his father, Sayed Mohammed is a senior functionary of Voice Gate Technologies. "I was tested at London and was told that it is common cold. They also gave me some tablets and I had no fever hence the doctors at the airport allowed me to go," Reyhan said.
Complementing his statement, principal secretary, health, L V Subramanyam said there would be stringent measures at the international airport to prevent patients going unnoticed. "Each and every patient will be asked to undergo medical check-up," Subramanyam said. He said the NICD officials had also asked for tightening the checking arrangements in the airport.
On Tuesday, another suspect got admitted at Government General and Chest Hospital. The suspect, a 25-year-old software professional, had been to Singapore on an official assignment arrived in city by an Indian Airlines flight on Tuesday. His samples were sent to NICD and reports are awaited.
The Institute of Preventive Medicine (IPM) will be converted into a centre to conduct virological tests including swine flu in the next two months. The decision was announced by director, National Institute of Communicable Diseases (NICD), Delhi, Shiv Lal who visited the city on Tuesday.
He said the Centre and state governments were fully geared up to meet the problem of swine flu and there was no cause of alarm.
Talking to media, Shivlal said that about 9 lakh doses of Tamiflu tablets were procured by the Centre. In addition another 3 lakh doses were being procured. He said the airlines have been advised to avoid cluster formation in order to prevent spread of the disease. In case if the airline staff finds anyone with suspected swine flu symptoms, they should isolate the person by shifting to back row and see that no other passenger sits near that person.
Meanwhile, health officials said there will soon be a BSNL interactive voice response number which will come in place to attend calls from people who want information on swine flu.
"The voice response mechanism will have details of the symptoms and will give the caller all possible information about the help which they can get including the nearest quarantine facility centres. The number will be in place within two days," principal secretary, health, L V Subramanyam said.
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S.ravi
Advanced Member
India
4205 Posts |
Posted - 06/10/2009 : 19:07:25
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Passenger at Mangalore airport with flu symptoms quarantined
10 Jun 2009, 1657 hrs IST, PTI
BANGALORE: An international passenger, who arrived at Mangalore airport from Egypt via Mumbai two days ago with suspected symptoms of swine flu, has been quarantined at a government hospital, a top health official said.
“The throat culture samples of the man, who arrived with fever and throat pain, have been sent to the National Institute of Virology (NIV) Pune for analysis and the report is expected by tomorrow, Director Health and Family Welfare Services,” Usha Vasunkar said on Wednesday.
"This is the first suspect case in Mangalore since we began screening operations both at BIA and Mangalore airports on April 29," she said, adding the passenger has been quarantined at the Wenlock hospital.
"Wenlock and Fr Muller hospitals have been identified to treat H1N1 cases in Mangalore," Vasunkar said. “Tests on 16 suspected cases reported at Bengaluru International Airport (BIA) have tested negative,” Vasunkar said.
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S.ravi
Advanced Member
India
4205 Posts |
Posted - 06/11/2009 : 02:55:54
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Swine Flu Nations Briefed in Preparation for WHO Pandemic Call
By Nathan Gill and Jason Gale
June 11 (Bloomberg) -- Leaders of six swine flu-infected countries have been briefed by the World Health Organization in preparation for a “probable change” in the agency’s level of pandemic alert, Chile’s health ministry said.
Officials in Australia, Chile, Japan, Mexico, the U.K. and the U.S. were asked for information on cases and measures taken to mitigate the disease, known as H1N1, before the WHO moves to the top of its six-stage pandemic warning scale, Chile’s Health Minister Alvaro Erazo said in a statement yesterday.
The WHO will declare the first flu pandemic in 41 years sometime in the next 10 days, three people familiar with its plans said June 2. Margaret Chan, the agency’s director-general, is trying to navigate a delicate path between raising alarm about a virus that in most cases causes little more than a fever and a cough, and underestimating a bug that could kill millions.
“This is to date a less-severe illness than had been planned for,” Australia’s Health Minister Nicola Roxon told reporters in Melbourne today. “This is presenting somewhat of a challenge to the health communities and public health officials around the world because much of the pandemic planning was done on the assumption that the disease would have more virulence.”
An emergency committee of experts advising the Geneva-based agency will discuss the current swine flu threat at a meeting starting at noon Geneva time today, spokesman Dick Thompson said by telephone.
“WHO will be discussing their alert level,” Roxon said. Chan discussed late yesterday the swine flu situation with government leaders in Australia, the country with the most reported cases outside the Americas, she said.
Beyond Prevention
Australia has 1,275 confirmed cases, with Victoria the worst-hit state with 1,011 infections, she said. The southeastern state upgraded its response to the outbreak earlier this month, acknowledging the spread of the virus is beyond prevention.
“Most of the cases in Australia have still been fairly mild, but the virus is not harmless,” Roxon said. Since last month, 25 people have had to be hospitalized, including four who are being treated in an intensive care ward in Victoria, she said.
Six schools and one childcare center in Australia have been closed to help stem transmission, Roxon said, adding that “school-age children seem to be the super-spreaders.”
Hong Kong Schools
Hong Kong suspended classes at all primary schools, kindergartens and childcare centers for 14 days from tomorrow because of swine flu, Chief Executive Donald Tsang said today.
The city will monitor developments closely and residents shouldn’t worry about the spread of the disease, he said in a televised press conference.
Those who have been hospitalized in Australia have generally had other pre-existing medical conditions such as morbid obesity or chronic respiratory disease, Roxon said. Almost 28,000 cases of swine flu have been confirmed worldwide, including 141 deaths.
“As this becomes more widespread across the world, not just in Australia, we will see people who have negative outcomes from this flu,” Roxon said. “Any type of flu can be dangerous if not treated properly.”
Chile, the country with the most infections outside North America, had 1,694 cases of swine flu as of June 9, up from 890 reported on June 5, the ministry said.
Two people have died from the disease in the country, where the number of cases has jumped fourfold since the weekend as officials began including cases reported by private clinics.
To contact the reporters on this story: Jason Gale in Melbourne at j.gale@bloomberg.net; Nathan Gill in Santiago at ngill4@bloomberg.net.
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S.ravi
Advanced Member
India
4205 Posts |
Posted - 06/12/2009 : 10:09:13
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Swine flu a pandemic, declares WHO
Warning level raised from phase 5 to 6, the highest alert
: A masked girl sits with a classmate at a kindergarten in Hong Kong on Thursday in the wake of the swine flu alarm.
GENEVA: The World Health Organisation told its member nations on Thursday it was declaring a swine flu pandemic — the first global flu epidemic in 41 years — as infections climbed in the United States, Europe, Australia, South America and elsewhere.
In a statement sent to health officials, WHO said it decided to raise the pandemic warning level from phase 5 to 6 — its highest alert — after holding an emergency meeting with its flu experts.
WHO chief Dr. Margaret Chan was expected to make a formal announcement soon.
The long-awaited pandemic decision is scientific confirmation that a new flu virus has emerged and is quickly circling the globe. It will trigger drug-makers to speed up production of a swine flu vaccine and prompt governments to devote more money toward efforts to contain the virus.
“At this early stage, the pandemic can be characterised globally as being moderate in severity,” WHO said in the statement, urging nations not to close borders or restrict travel and trade.
WHO also told countries it was in “close dialogue” with flu vaccine makers and it believed the firms would work “to ensure the largest possible supply of pandemic vaccine in the months to come.” — AP
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S.ravi
Advanced Member
India
4205 Posts |
Posted - 06/12/2009 : 10:11:43
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Flash:
Thermal scanners to be installed at Delhi international airport to detect people with fever following outbreak of Influenza A H1N1: Health Ministry.
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S.ravi
Advanced Member
India
4205 Posts |
Posted - 06/12/2009 : 10:13:45
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Government is fully prepared to deal with H1 N1: Azad
THERE IS NO NEED TO PANIC SAYS THE HEALTH MINISTER
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11:43 IST
The Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare Shri Ghulam Nabi Azad has assure the people of the country that the country is fully prepared to face the challenge of H1 N1, which has been declared a phase 6 pandemic by the World Health Organization. Talking to media persons here today, Shri Azad said that given the size and population of the country the number of positive cases is very less and the disease has not emanated locally. All the cases have come from outside mainly from the USA, Therefore there is no need to panic. “The disease is fully curable and we have enough stock of the medicine. All the 15 cases are being treated, five Patients have already been discharged” the Minister added.
Outlining the measures taken to deal with the situation the Health Minister told the media people that 16 more labs are being activated, 10 million doses of ‘Tamiflu’ have been procured and the Rapid Response Teams are being trained at state levels. In future these teams will also be operationalised at district level. ‘Screening and isolation facilities were put in place well in time, all the necessary measures are being taken’ the Minister said.
In reply to a question, the Minister said that Tamiflu is not being distributed through private channels and if the cases of private chemist selling the drug are reported concerned state authorities should take action to prevent it.
On the question of exit screening in the affected countries, Shri Azad informed the press persons that he has already written to the Minister of External Affairs. The Minister of External Affairs has informed the Health Minister that the matter is being taken up through the MEA missions in the concerned countries.
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DS
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S.ravi
Advanced Member
India
4205 Posts |
Posted - 06/12/2009 : 10:15:47
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WHO has phrased the level of Influenza pandemic alert from phase 5 to phase 6. As per WHO, we are now at the start of 2009 Influenza pandemic. The WHO alert for those countries which has no community outbreak is to remain vigilant and prepare to manage large number of cases of Influenza A H1N1 in the future. For those countries where outbreak appears to have peaked, WHO recommends to prepare for a second wave.
World Health Organization has reported 29669 laboratory confirmed cases of influenza A/H1N1 infection from74 countries as on 12th June 2009. There have been 145 deaths.
Health screening of passengers coming from affected countries is continuing in 21 International airports. 48037 passengers have been screened on 12.6.2009. Around 26590 passengers were from affected countries. 223 doctors and 93 paramedics have been deployed to man 76 counters at the above airports. Three suspect cases at Delhi have been isolated at the identified health facility.
The contacts of the positive cases [in Delhi, Goa and Hyderabad] are on chemoprophylaxis and they are being monitored. As of now, no family or social contacts has reported symptoms.
One more case has tested positive at NICD laboratory. Report from NIV, Pune is awaited. . The six year old girl travelled from USA to Hyderabad transiting Mumbai and reached Hyderabad on 9th morning. She developed symptoms on the evening and got admitted to identified health facility on 10.06.09. She is presently on Oseltamivir and stable. All her family and social contacts have been identified and put on chemoprophylaxis. . Details of passengers sitting in close proximity to these cases in the concerned airlines are being obtained.
So far samples of 237 persons have been tested of which fifteen have been tested positive for novel Influenza A [H1N1]. Of these, two are indigenous cases who got the infection from the positive cases traveled from abroad. The rest of the samples have been found negative for the novel virus. Among the 237 tested, 82 were identified through health screening at International Airports and the rest were samples from persons who have self reported.
Of the 15 cases five have been discharged. Rest of the passengers are all stable and remain admitted to the identified health facility.
The situation is being monitored.
*****
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S.ravi
Advanced Member
India
4205 Posts |
Posted - 06/12/2009 : 10:17:57
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Swine flu cases near 30,000 worldwideStory Highlights
•Number of swine flu cases has reached 29,669, latest WHO figures show
•Update comes a day after WHO declared global flu pandemic
•U.S. and Mexico have the highest number of flu virus cases
•CDC due to update number of cases and deaths in the U.S. Friday
updated 1 hour, 18 minutes agoNext Article in Health »
Read VIDEO PHOTOSBy Grace Wong
For CNN
LONDON, England (CNN) -- The number of swine flu cases is closer to reaching 30,000, the World Health Organization reported Friday, a day after declaring the start of a global pandemic.
Children leave a Japanese school in Germany which has been closed following a swine flu outbreak.
more photos » As of Friday, 29,669 cases of the H1N1 virus have been reported in 74 countries, the WHO said. The total number of deaths worldwide has reached 145.
The latest figures come a day after the WHO said the virus was "unstoppable" and had become widespread enough to raise the global swine flu alert to its highest level.
The U.S. and Mexico, where the earliest cases of the outbreak occurred, remain the countries with the highest number of swine flu cases.
There have been 13,217 reported cases in the U.S. and 6,241 in Mexico.
The WHO has been updating the number of global flu virus cases on a nearly daily basis since the outbreak emerged in late April.
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is due to provide its weekly update of cases on Friday. A total of 27 deaths have been reported in the U.S.
Vital Signs
Each month CNN's Dr. Sanjay Gupta brings viewers health stories from around the world.
See more from the show »
Outside of the U.S. and Mexico, countries hit hard by the virus include Canada (2,978 cases); Chile (1,694 cases) and Australia (1,307 cases).
The WHO's decision Thursday to elevate its swine flu alert indicates that the first flu pandemic of the 21st century is underway. See photos of swine flu going global »
Are you worried about the flu pandemic? Tell us what you think in the SoundOff below or send us an iReport
The move was widely expected, as global health officials have warned about the potential for the virus to become a pandemic since the first cases of swine flu surfaced.
When WHO Director General Margaret Chan declared the pandemic, she noted that the number of deaths resulting from H1N1 has remained small so far and that a spike is not anticipated.
No pandemics have been monitored at such an early stage before, she added, which gives the world a "head start" to combat the virus. Watch to see what the WHO declaration means »
Don't Miss
Time: H1N1: Is this a pandemic or isn't it?
Candidate virus for H1N1 vaccine arrives at CDC
The H1N1 virus is a type of swine flu. Symptoms resemble those of the common flu and include fever, sore throat and body aches.
The virus is transmitted through human contact and spreads particularly rapidly among young people. It cannot be spread by eating pork or pork products.
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S.ravi
Advanced Member
India
4205 Posts |
Posted - 06/13/2009 : 08:25:05
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Update on Influenza A(H1N1) as on 13th June 2009
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18:41 IST
World Health Organization has reported 29,699 laboratory confirmed cases of influenza A/H1N1 infection from74 countries as on 12th June 2009. There have been 145 deaths. (No further update is available from WHO).
Health screening of passengers coming from affected countries is continuing in 21 International airports. 47339 passengers have been screened on 13.6.2009. Around 26482 passengers were from affected countries. 221 doctors and 111 paramedics have been deployed to man 76 counters at the above airports.
The six year old girl child who travelled from New York reflected in yesterday’s report has also tested positive at NIV, Pune. One and half year old brother of this girl who travelled in the same flight has also tested positive. Both children remain admitted to the identified health facility and are stable.
So far samples of 240 persons have been tested of which seventeen have been tested positive for novel Influenza A [H1N1]. Of these, two are indigenous cases who got the infection from the positive cases traveled from abroad. The rest of the samples have been found negative for the novel virus. Among the 240 tested, 82 were identified through health screening at International Airports and the rest were samples from persons who have self reported.
Of the 17 cases nine have been discharged. Rest of the passengers are all stable and remain admitted to the identified health facility.
The situation is being monitored.
DS/MT
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S.ravi
Advanced Member
India
4205 Posts |
Posted - 06/13/2009 : 08:27:49
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Size:Saturday, June 13, 2009Swine flu pandemic will cost State €85m
In this section »
Gardai believe gun killing was gang attackHSE dispute with software firmRoll of honour for Irish WW2 veteransTower excluded from Ballsbridge planning approval€1bn Burlington development shelved as plan gets go-aheadTD's wife hurt in crash at hospitalMARTIN WALLTHE STATE faces a bill of €85 million arising from the swine flu pandemic.
The board of the Health Service Executive (HSE) was told in a report on Thursday that it would cost about €80 million to purchase a vaccine against the swine flu A(H1N1) virus.
HSE sources said yesterday that some €6 million had already been paid out to manufacturers of a vaccine in “hello money” to secure access to supplies when they become available. This payment would form part of the overall €80 million cost.
In addition, the HSE report says it has committed to paying €4.7 million in other costs associated with dealing with the swine flu pandemic.
It says the HSE has agreed to purchase 1.4 million masks and 75 sets of goggles at a cost of €1.8 million.
The executive has also committed to spending €2.6 million on drugs such as Tamiflu and Relenza as well as on swabs.
The report also says that posters, leaflets and adverts advising about swine flu will cost €300,000.
A spokesman for the HSE said yesterday that the Department of Health had agreed to meet the cost of dealing with the pandemic in a supplementary funding provision.
The full cost of dealing with the outbreak is expected to be spread over this year and next year.
Pharmaceutical company Novartis AG said yesterday it expected a vaccine for the virus to be available by the autumn after it produced the first batch for testing ahead of schedule.
The Swiss company said the vaccine would enter clinical trials next month.
A number of pharmaceutical companies, including Novartis, Sanofi-Aventis, GlaxoSmithKline and Solvay, all obtained the influenza A (H1N1) seed virus in recent weeks and aim to have a vaccine ready ahead of the northern hemisphere flu season.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) has estimated vaccine-makers could produce up to 4.9 billion pandemic flu shots a year in a best-case scenario.
Minister for Health Mary Harney said on Thursday she was satisfied the health service was prepared to deal with H1N1 swine flu.
This week the WHO raised its pandemic flu alert to phase six on a six-point scale because of growing human-to-human transmission of the virus, which was “not stoppable” but has proved mainly mild.
The H1N1 strain has spread widely after emerging in April in Mexico and the US. There have been 28,774 cases reported in 74 countries, resulting in 144 deaths.
The number of undetected cases is is likely to run into hundreds of thousands.
A total of 12 cases have been diagnosed in Ireland, largely in people who had travelled from the US. All are recovering well.
At a press conference in Government Buildings on Thursday, Dr Tony Holohan, chief medical officer at the Department of Health, said it had long been predicted that the WHO would declare the virus a level-six pandemic. The number of cases identified here would dictate the response of the health service.
Dr Holohan said that in the national pandemic plan there were four levels, and it was now at level two, meaning there were a small number of sporadic cases.
“National pandemic plans in recent years have been written very much with H5N1 avian flu in mind and as you know avian flu in humans tends to be more severe and is associated with more significant mortality and morbidity than what we are currently seeing with H1N1.” He added that there was no need to restrict travel.
Prof Bill Hall, chairman of the National Pandemic Influenza Group, said the H1N1 strain was “very clearly a mild respiratory disease” that was similar if not milder than seasonal influenza.
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S.ravi
Advanced Member
India
4205 Posts |
Posted - 06/14/2009 : 04:57:49
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Medical response in chaos in swine flu pandemicFont Size:
The World Health Organisation conceded defeat early yesterday in global efforts to confine the novel H1N1 strain, upgrading its six-level warning system to full-blown pandemic.
Despite the worldwide upgrade, Australia yesterday did not lift its own pandemic alert status to the highest level, on the basis that the disease remained a mild one for most of the population.
The number of Australians infected with the new H1N1 strain is, however, believed to be far higher than last night's official national tally of 1391 because Victoria has abandoned its daily caseload updates.
The state last Wednesday cut back its laboratory testing for the virus from about 500 to 1000 samples a day to 50 to 70 a day, after acknowledging it could no longer contain the disease.
Even then, patients were falling through the cracks in the testing system, Melbourne GP Kirstin Charlesworth told The Australian.
She said a 17-year-old boy who came to her Toorak practice two weeks ago with classic flu symptoms, including a 39C fever, had to wait for eight days for test results to confirm his diagnosis, by which stage he was back at school.
The patient was initially refused priority testing because he fell outside Victoria's risk criteria, and could not be fast-tracked even after classmates tested positive to swine flu.
"They said they couldn't do it - it was on the slow train to nowhere and had been sent interstate," Dr Charlesworth said. "I asked if I could at least have Tamiflu for the patient, for his household, and for myself - and they said, 'No, because he doesn't have swine flu at this stage'."
Thomas Lyons, a GP from Eagleby, southeast of Brisbane, said logistics were "falling over" in the fight to contain the virus, and likened the bureaucrats responsible for organising the national swine flu response to the generals in charge at Gallipoli.
"There is a conspicuous lack of leadership at the state level here in Queensland," he said. Dr Lyons said a woman who had been a passenger on the Pacific Dawn cruise liner, which hosted a major swine flu outbreak, had told him hospital staff had promised that masks and other equipment needed for her quarantine would be sent to her home.
"It arrived eight days later - much too late to be of any epidemiological or biological use whatsoever," Dr Lyons said. Pathology companies were quoting him testing turnaround times of between two and five days, yet the anti-viral Tamiflu commonly used for treatment was largely ineffective more than 48 hours into the course of the disease.
"Giving it more than 72 hours after the onset of symptoms is a waste of time," Dr Lyons said.
Sydney GP Mike Moore, chief executive of the Central Sydney GP Network, said authorities could have managed the situation better.
"If we had been more careful, we could probably have delayed entry of the virus into the country, and (if) various jurisdictions had been more co-ordinated," he said.
Federal Health Minister Nicola Roxon yesterday sought to head off doctors' concerns by announcing almost $4 million in new funding to provide extra support for GPs.
"It is about ensuring that those people who have to provide the frontline care are provided with up-to-date information about swine flu, including things like testing protocols, infection control, and how to use the personal protective equipment properly, and how to organise practice systems to help manage a potential pandemic," she said.
Kevin Rudd defended Australia's preparation for the swine flu epidemic as "among the best in the world".
"Our response throughout has been to respond calmly and in a measured way to the medical and scientific advice given to us daily by the Chief Medical Officer of the commonwealth and of the states," the Prime Minister said.
Cross-border relations between health agencies have, however, deteriorated as the virus has spread, with Victoria first criticising NSW's lax quarantine rules in its handling of the Pacific Dawn outbreak, then accusing its neighbour of imposing too tough a school exclusion regime on children returning from visits to Melbourne.
Queensland Health has also come under fire, with Broncos chief executive Bruno Cullen declaring the department's quarantine advice after star fullback Karmichael Hunt's diagnosis with swine flu too inconsistent to be taken seriously.
As one of our closest neighbours - New Zealand - yesterday forecast that up to one million Kiwis could be infected with the virus, Swiss drugs giant Novartis completed a first batch of swine flu vaccine for pre-clinical trials and aims to make a version available by the end of the year.
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S.ravi
Advanced Member
India
4205 Posts |
Posted - 06/14/2009 : 19:55:42
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World Health Organization has reported 29,699 laboratory confirmed cases of influenza A/H1N1 infection from74 countries as on 12th June 2009. There have been 145 deaths. (No further update is available from WHO).
Health screening of passengers coming from affected countries is continuing in 21 International airports. 46657 passengers have been screened on 14.6.2009. Around 28962 passengers were from affected countries. 221 doctors and 111 paramedics have been deployed to man 76 counters at the above airports.
One 29 years old female passenger and her three year old daughter coming from New Jersey to Bangalore by Air France Flight AF 192 transiting New York and Paris, reached Bangalore on 12.06.09. They complained of fever and cough and self reported to identified health facility on 12.06.09. Both of them have tested positive. Their family and social contacts are being traced and put on chemoprophylaxis.
Another passenger, 17 year old male who travelled from Orlando to Delhi, transiting New York by Qatar airlines QR 231 flight was quarantined at Delhi Airport on 13.06.09. He has tested positive. This boy was travelling with a group of 31 School Children from Jalandhar. The Government of Punjab has been requested to follow up these children.
So far samples of 272 persons have been tested of which twenty have been tested positive for novel Influenza A [H1N1]. Of these, only two are indigenous cases who got the infection from the positive cases traveled from abroad. The rest of the samples have been found negative for the novel virus. Among the 272 tested, 90 were identified through health screening at International Airports and the rest were samples from persons who have self reported.
Of the 20 cases eleven have been discharged. Rest of the passengers are all stable and remain admitted to the identified health facility.
The situation is being monitored.
DS/VL |
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'Swine flu more dangerous than bird flu'
