Human Flu

[Nick]

I think this new flu virus in the USA area could be quite bad, as a lot of folk pop over to the UK from the USA, so like the Gray Squirrels it could soon be here.

[David Webb]

Well Nick, it seems that the Flu in the USA could be quite bad if it does happen, lets hope we dont get it in the UK.
David

[Mark]

I reckon that one way or another the world seems doomed, if bird flu, or a nuclear war dont get us that bloke in number 10 will finish us all.
Mark
Lincoln

[chrissie]

Cheer up Mark.

It might never happen.

Look outside - the trees and flowers are blooming, the sun is shining, the birds are singing, - they aren`t worried about the future - they live in the moment.

Thats what we humans need to learn to do - don`t regret the past or worry about the future - live the best we can NOW.

chrissie

[Paul]

Love the forum, and the way we can use it together to further our own health group careers and let people know we are here for them.

[Dan]

The federal government declares a public health emergency, as the number of cases of swine flu in the U.S. rises to 20.
Should we be worried? yes I think we should as this strain has never been seen anywhere.

[Susan]

Swine flu cases reported in CA, TX

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is asking clinicians to test for swine flu in patients with flu-like symptoms who live in or recently had contact with people in the San Diego or San Antonio areas, where eight case of the illness have been confirmed. Only one of the patients has been hospitalized to date. Symptoms of swine flu, a respiratory disease found in pigs and rare in humans, include fever, lethargy, lack of appetite, coughing, runny nose, sore throat, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea. For more information, visit the CDC Web site.

[Doug]

The World Health Organisation (WHO) has given warning that the highly lethal mutant strain sweeping Mexico could create a global pandemic.

A member of a British Airways cabin crew was taken to hospital with “flu-like symptoms” yesterday after falling ill on a flight from Mexico City to Heathrow. The man, who has not been named, has been taken to Northwick Park Hospital in Harrow, north-west London.

But a spokesman for Northwick Park Hospital said the cabin crew member did not have swine flu.

"I can confirm he does not have swine flu. All the tests have come back negative," he said.

Public health officials gathered in Geneva for an emergency meeting and branded the outbreak “a public health emergency of international concern.”

The WHO asked countries around the world to “intensify surveillance for unusual outbreaks of influenza-like illness and severe pneumonia”.

Previous human cases of swine flu have been rare and were usually restricted to people who had direct contact with animals infected by the respiratory condition.

But some of the 68 who have died in Mexico were victims of a unique version of the disease – a combination of bird, pig and human viruses, which can be passed from person to person.

A spokesman for Northwick Park Hospital said the man has “flu-like symptoms and is responding well to treatment”. He added: “The patient was admitted directly to a side room and the hospital is scrupulously following infection control procedures to ensure there is no risk to any other individual in the hospital.”

A Health Protection Agency (HPA) spokesman added: “We are aware of a patient admitted to a London hospital with reported travel history to Mexico. As a precautionary measure the patient is being tested for a range of respiratory and other illnesses in line with UK health guidance. At present there have been no confirmed cases of human swine flu in the UK or anywhere in Europe.”

The agency described the outbreak as “unusual” and warranting “further investigation and vigilance” by other countries.

[Rex]

World on alert over Mexican killer swine flu as pandemic fears rise
Fears that swine flu may have spread around the world have intensified amid a growing number of suspected cases as far afield as New Zealand, France, Israel and America.

[Guy]

:)Statement by Alan Johnson
Mr Johnson confirmed that a man taken to hospital after arriving at Heathrow on a flight from Mexico City yesterday did not have the H1N1 strain of the virus, which has been blamed for more than 80 deaths in the central American country.

The Health Secretary told BBC1's The Politics Show he had no doubt that there would be more cases of travellers coming into the UK with flu-like symptoms and promised that they will be examined "very, very quickly" by the NHS. But he said that, so far, no cases of swine flu have been confirmed in Britain or the rest of Europe.

The NHS has a stockpile of more than £500 million worth of the Tamiflu anti-viral drug which has proved effective on patients in Mexico, and scientists are working on developing a vaccine against the new strain, said Mr Johnson.

The World Health Organisation rated Britain as one of the two countries best prepared for an outbreak, alongside France.

The global health watchdog today warned countries around the world to look out for unusual flu cases as the outbreak spread to the USA and probably New Zealand, where a group of 10 students is ill after a school trip to Mexico. Israel's Health Ministry has reported one suspected case and France is investigating four possible cases.

A male air steward was taken to hospital yesterday after complaining of flu-like symptoms when he arrived at Heathrow on board a British Airways flight from Mexico City, but laboratory tests at a north London hospital today showed that he does not have swine flu.

WHO director-general Margaret Chan said the outbreak, caused when the H1N1 strain associated with pigs crossed over to the human population, constituted a "public health emergency of international concern".

Nations will be expected to step up reporting and surveillance of the contagious respiratory disease, which she said had "pandemic potential".

Health authorities were monitoring the situation as tests were carried out to assess the potential of the virus to spread.