Monthly Archives: April 2009
Encroaching Pandemic: World Health Organization Raises Alert to Level 5
Posted April 29, 2009 – 2:31 pm in: 'pandemic potential', WHO, pandemic, swine flu, world health organizationThe W.H.O. has raised their Swine Flu warning to level 5, which is the the second highest level, an indication that a full blown pandemic may be imminent. The declaration by the W.H.O. is “a strong signal that a pandemic is imminent,” according to their published guidelines.
The change to a higher phase of alert is [...]
Swine Flu Updates In US and From Across the World
Posted April 29, 2009 – 2:13 pm in: 'pandemic potential', Obama, mexico outbreak, swine fluDeaths: 159 in Mexico, seven confirmed as swine flu, the rest suspected.
Sickened: 2,498 suspected and 19 confirmed in Mexico. Confirmed elsewhere: 91 in U.S.; 13 in Canada; 14 in New Zealand; five in Britain; three in Germany; four in Spain; two in Israel; and one in Austria.
Confirmed U.S. cases by state: 51 in New York, [...]
Swine Flu Not Showing Signs of Slowing
Posted April 29, 2009 – 1:52 pm in: 'pandemic potential', scientific analysis, swine fluW.H.O. assistant director-general Keiji Fukuda said scientists on the ground were seeing the infection spread from person-to-person. “It is clear that the virus is spreading and we don’t see evidence of it slowing down at this point,” said Fukuda.
If this it true, it means that the outbreak is moving closer to being classified as a [...]
CDC Statement: ‘Fully expect we will see deaths’
Posted April 28, 2009 – 3:03 pm in: CDC, scientific analysis, swine fluIn a statement designed to share realistic expectations with the public, the CDC announced that they would not be surprised to see some deaths due to the swine flu. It is natural that the flu causes a number of deaths each year, and so a number of the deaths from swine flu would not be [...]
No Comments | Tags: CDC, deaths, swine fluArnold Declares State of Emergency for Swine Flu
Posted April 28, 2009 – 2:57 pm in: Obama, arnold, swine fluGov. Arnold Schwarzenegger proclaimed a state of emergency Tuesday due to the swine flu outbreak, hoping to cut red tape and speed up attempts to respond to the new strain, which has been confirmed in at least 13 California cases.
“While there is no need for alarm, it is the governor’s top priority to limit swine [...]
Swine Flu Hits Ernst & Young In Times Square (NYC)
Posted April 28, 2009 – 2:48 pm in: swine fluSwine Flu has officially hit NYC with a confirmed case of swine flu at the Ernst & Young headquarters in Times Square. The company believes that, because of the virus’ twenty-four hour incubation period, no one else at the office was infected. They released the following statement -
“An employee in our offices at 5 Times [...]
Swine Flu: What An ‘Informed Parent’ Needs to Know
Posted April 28, 2009 – 11:19 am in: health tips, swine fluThe reported death toll has risen to 152 in Mexico and there are now over 50 confirmed cases in the US, but the prevailing wisdom is that there is no reason to get too worried about it. According to Dr. Jay Tureen, pediatrician and infectious disease specialist from San Fransisco, CA, “Parent’s shouldn’t panic. They [...]
2 Comments | Tags: children, health tips, swine fluWHO Raises Pandemic Flu Alert Level to Phase 4
Posted April 27, 2009 – 2:03 pm in: 'pandemic potential', WHO, swine flu, world health organizationMexico says the World Health Organization has raised its pandemic alert for swine flu by one level, two steps short of declaring a full-blown pandemic.
Mexico health department spokesman Carlos Olmos confirms the move.
WHO says the phase 4 alert means sustained human to human transmission causing outbreaks in at least one country. It signals a significant [...]
Obama on Swine Flu | A Reason for Concern but not yet “A Cause for Alarm”
Posted April 27, 2009 – 1:35 pm in: 'pandemic potential', mexico outbreak, swine fluAfter a confirmed forty cases of swine flu in US, the Obama administration said today that it was going to respond as if the outbreak was developing into a full pandemic, but that it was not yet a cause for real alarm. Officials urged against travel to Mexico as that was where the virus began. [...]
No Comments | Tags: reason for concern, swine fluRecommendations for Facemask and Respirator Use in Swine Flu Infected Communities
Posted April 27, 2009 – 1:07 pm in: facemask, swine fluIn areas with confirmed human cases of swine influenza A (H1N1) virus infection, the risk for infection can be reduced through a combination of actions. No single action will provide complete protection, but an approach combining the following steps can help decrease the likelihood of transmission. Wearing a facemask can be a great way to [...]
3 Comments | Tags: facemask, respirator, swine flu