Pandemic website giving you
updated information on all relating to pandemic, epidemic, and swine flu around
the world
Pandemic
Swine flu (also called swine flu, hog
flu, and pig flu) refers to influenza caused by those strains of influenza virus, called swine influenza virus (SIV), that
usually infect pigs. Swine influenza is
common in pigs in the midwestern United States (and occasionally in other
states), Mexico, Canada, South America, Europe (including the United Kingdom,
Sweden, and Italy), Kenya, Mainland China, Taiwan, Japan and other parts of
eastern Asia.
Transmission of swine influenza virus from pigs to humans is not
common and properly cooked pork poses no risk of infection.
When transmitted, the virus does not always cause human influenza
and often the only sign of infection is the presence of antibodies in the blood, detectable
only by laboratory tests. When transmission results in influenza in a human, it
is called zoonotic swine flu. People who
work with pigs, especially people with intense exposures, are at risk of
catching swine flu. However, only about fifty such transmissions have been
recorded since the mid-20th century, when identification of
influenza subtypes became possible. Rarely, these strains of swine flu can pass
from human to human. In humans, the symptoms of swine flu are similar to those
of influenza and of
influenza-like illness
in general, namely
chills, fever, sore throat,
muscle pains, severe headache,
coughing,
weakness
and general discomfort.
CURRENT PANDEMIC ALERT LEVEL - Phase 6 (Widespread Human Infection)
Phase 6, the
pandemic phase, is characterized by community level outbreaks in at least one
other country in a different WHO region in addition to the criteria defined in
Phase 5. Designation of this phase will indicate that a global pandemic is
under way.
Disease Outbreaks
August 20, 2009 - WHO predicts 'explosion' of swine flu cases
The global spread of
swine flu will endanger more lives as it speeds up in the coming months and
governments must boost preparations for a swift response to a coming "explosion"
of cases, the World Health Organization said Friday.
Many countries could see swine flu cases double every three to four days for
several months until peak transmission is reached, once cold weather returns to
the northern hemisphere, said WHO's Western Pacific director, Shin Young-soo.
"At a certain point, there will seem to be an explosion in case numbers," Shin
told a symposium of health officials and experts in Beijing. "It is certain
there will be more cases and more deaths."
The WHO says the swine flu virus - also known as H1N1 - has killed almost 1,800
people worldwide, and has declared a pandemic.
August 4, 2009 - A/H1N1 pandemic death toll rises to 1,154 says WHO
The A/H1N1 flu
pandemic has caused 1,154 deaths worldwide, says the World Health Organization. Of all the deaths, 1,008 occurred in the
Americas, 65 in Southeast Asia, 41 in Europe, 39 in the Western Pacific region
and one in the Eastern Mediterranean region, the UN agency said in a latest
update of the situation.
July 31, 2009 - 60 crew have swine flu on cruise ship off France
A French official
says about 60 crewmembers on a Royal Caribbean cruise ship have been diagnosed
with swine flu and confined to their cabins while the ship is in a French port.
The ship arrived Friday in Villefranche-sur-Mer as part of a Mediterranean tour,
and local officials allowed the ship's 3,600 passengers to visit the town before
the boat leaves Friday night for Marseille.
July 28, 2009 -
WHO Say Two Billion People May Contract Swine Flu
The World Health Organization predicts the H1N1 Swine Flu
virus will infect two billion people, or one out of every three persons, over
the next two years. While this flu has already killed 800, the WHO says
thousands more could die unless an effective vaccine is developed soon. This
year's pandemic spread around the globe with record-breaking speed. It has taken
less than two months for the H1N1 swine flu to spread, while previous pandemics
took six months or longer.
July 6, 2009 -
Swine Flu Pandemic Update
A total of 94,512
reported cases of Sine Flu around the world with 429 fatalities in 124
countries.
July 1, 2009 -
Avian Flu - Situation in Egypt
3 more cases of Avian
Flu reported in Egypt. Of the 81 cases reported in Egypt, 27 have been
fatal. The U.S leads the world with 33,902 cases with 170 deaths to date.
Mexico is second among the countries with 10,262 cases with 119 deaths.
June 9, 2009 -
Cholera in Zimbabwe Update
98,422 cases,
including 4,276 deaths have been reported by the Ministry of Health and Child
Welfare of Zimbabwe since August 2008.
May 29, 2009 - CDC says October soonest for Swine Flu shots
ATLANTA (AP) � A U.S.
health official said a swine flu vaccine could be available as early as October,
but only if vaccine production and testing run smoothly this summer.
Dr. Anne Schuchat of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said
the agency began shipping virus samples to manufacturers in the past several
days.
May 29, 2009 - WHO Swine Flu Infections Top 15,000
The World Health Organization said more than 15,000 cases of the swine
influenza A-H1N1 have been confirmed worldwide, and 99 people have died.
In its latest figures released Friday, the WHO said the disease has officially
been reported in 53 countries.
Mexico has the most deaths, with 85, followed by the United States with 11
fatalities. However, Mexico had the second-highest number of infections, nearly
5,000, behind the United States, with nearly 8,000 cases.
A 26 May 2009 photo shows Chinese health inspector checking body temperature of
airplane passenger at Pudong Airport in Shanghai
Meanwhile, China has reported its first suspected case of the swine flu in a
person believed to have contracted the disease within the country.
The Chinese Health Ministry said the 24-year-old woman came into close contact
with a confirmed carrier of the flu earlier this week in Guangzhou. It said the
carrier is a 28-year-old Chinese-American who works at a hospital in New York.
In addition to the WHO figures, Venezuela announced its first confirmed case of
the disease. The officials believe the 22-year-old man contracted the disease
during a trip in Panama.
May 28, 2009 -
Avian Flu Hits Egypt
28 May 2009 -- The Ministry of Health of Egypt
has reported two new confirmed human cases of avian influenza on 26 May 2009.
The two cases are from two separate districts of Sharkia Governorate.
The first case is a 4-year old male from Hehia
City, Hehia District. His symptoms began with fever on 24 May 2009.
The second case is a 4-year old female from Abo
Hammad District. Her symptoms began with fever on 23 May 2009.
May 6, 2009 -
Yellow Fever in Liberia
6 May 2009 -- On 15 April 2009, The Ministry of
Health (MoH), Liberia reported one laboratory-confirmed case of yellow fever in
Luyeama town, Zorzor District. The case was identified through regular yellow
fever surveillance in Lofa County.
The index case was a 32 year-old man who
presented with fever and jaundice which began on 28 February 2009. On 28 March,
the patient went to the Tellewoyan Hospital in Voinjama City, Lofa County where
the clinical diagnosis of yellow fever was made.
April 23, 2009 - Meningococcal disease in
Chad
23 April 2009 -- From 29 December 2008 to 5
April, the Ministry of Health of Chad reported 922 suspected cases of
meningococcal disease including 105 deaths (case-fatality rate: 11.4%). So far,
three districts have crossed the epidemic threshold, including a district in the
capital, N'Djamena, while five districts are on alert.
Times Online
April 8, 2009 - Dengue
Outbreak in Argentina now "epidemic".
Buenos Aires - Health Minister
Graciela Ocana said Wednesday that a dengue outbreak in the country has worsened
to an epidemic, as nearly 8,000 people are officially reported to be infected
with the disease.
"Dengue is here to stay," Ocana said.
Ocana had previously insisted that there was no epidemic. But local
news media and political leaders in towns and cities affected by the
mosquito-borne disease claimed the national government was underreporting the
numbers to calm fears and avoid blame for not addressing the problem sooner.
March 31, 2009 - Ebola Reston in pigs and humans in the Philippines
31 March 2009 -- On 16 February 2009, the
Government of Philippines announced that a slaughterhouse worker who has daily
contact with pigs tested positive for antibodies against the Ebola Reston virus.
This brings to six, out of a total of 141
people, who have tested positive for Ebola Reston antibodies in the Philippines
since testing began in December 2008. All six people who were antibody positive
reported occupational exposure to pigs.
Local Front
Below is what my county and Borough put out in
its Spring/Summer Newsletter in the beginning of March. Makes me think
that the government new something far in advance before the week of March 20,
2009. It only reinforces to me and you that we need to be prepared for any
type of emergency. We never know when this or other types of emergencies
may happen and how fast they will spread around your community.
WHAT IS A PANDEMIC?
A pandemic is a global
outbreak of disease that occurs when a new virus appears or �emerges� in the
human population, causes serious illness, and then spreads easily from person to
person worldwide. Pandemics are different from seasonal outbreaks or �epidemics�
of influenza. Seasonal outbreaks are caused by subtypes of influenza viruses
that already circulate among people, whereas pandemic outbreaks are caused by
new subtypes, by subtypes that have never circulated among people, or by
subtypes that have not circulated among people for a long time. Past pandemics
have led to high levels of illness, death, social disruption, and economic loss.
The following precautions and
preparation will save lives and keep our community functioning during a pandemic
situation.
PREVENT THE SPREAD OF
INFECTIOUS DISEASES LIKE THE FLU.
These healthy habits will help
keep you and others from getting and passing on the virus:
� Clean your hands often with
soap and water or alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
� Cover your mouth and nose
with a tissue when you cough or sneeze and clean your hands afterward.
� Put used tissues in a
wastebasket.
� Cough or sneeze into your
upper sleeve if you don�t have a tissue.
� Keep your hands away from
your eyes, nose and mouth to prevent germs from entering your body. Also,
a person with signs of the flu should:
- Stay home from work, school
and errands and avoid contact with others.
- Consider wearing a surgical
mask when around others.
Proper hand hygiene when
washing hands with soap and water:
Wet your hands with clean
running water and apply soap. Use warm water if it is available.
Rub hands together to make
a lather and scrub all surfaces.
Continue rubbing hands for
20 seconds. Need a timer? Imagine singing "Happy Birthday" twice through to a
friend!
Rinse hands well under
running water.
Dry your hands using a
paper towel or air dryer. If possible, use your paper towel to turn off the
faucet.
PREPARE FOR A FLU PANDEMIC.
Make a plan now for a flu
pandemic. Figure out what you will do if members of your household have to stay
home from work or school or stay separated from others for a period of time.
Keep extra supplies of food, water, medications and your disaster supply kit on
hand.
� Store a two-week supply of
food. Select foods that do not require refrigeration, preparation or cooking.
Ensure that formula for infants and any special nutritional needs are a part of
your planning. Plan for your pets as well.
� Store a two-week supply of
water, 1 gallon per person per day, in clean plastic containers.
� Store a supply of
nonprescription drugs, such as pain relievers, cough and cold medicines, stomach
remedies and anti-diarrhea medication, as well as vitamins and fluids with
electrolytes (such as sports drinks).
� Store health and cleaning
supplies, such as bleach, tissues, paper towels, toilet paper, a thermometer,
disposable gloves, soap and alcohol-based hand sanitizers.
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