totalgenius
Inactive User
Britain is on alert amid fears that the deadly swine flu that has claimed at least 68 lives in Mexico has spread to this country.
The disease has already spread to the United States and eight children in New York, two people in Kansas and eight more in California have reportedly been infected by the virus.
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.
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.
The spokesman added: “The HPA and the NHS have systems in place which will alert public health authorities of any unusual strain circulating in the UK.”
The disease also appeared to have reached New York last night after eight children tested positive for probable swine flu.
The pupils attend a private school in Queens where about 200 children fell sick with influenza-type symptoms last week, officials said. Some had just returned from holiday in Mexico.
City health officials, who are also testing 30 children at a daycare facility in the Bronx, urged residents not to panic and said they had stored extra supplies of incubators and drug.
Two new cases were also reported in Kansas while in Texas, a school has been closed and a family put into quarantine after three children fell sick. There have been nearly 20 cases in the US, but so far all of them have been described as “mild”.
“It has pandemic potential because it is infecting people,” said Margaret Chan, the director-general of the WHO, as public health specialists gathered in Geneva for an emergency session on the outbreak.
The new vaccine-resistant strain — a previously unseen combination of pig, bird and human viruses — is causing panic in Mexico’s capital, one of the world’s biggest cities and where most of the victims lived.
The mayor of Mexico City yesterday cancelled all public events for 10 days and schools, colleges and museums have closed. Alarmed residents are stockpiling food to stay indoors, only stepping outside wearing protective masks handed out by the government or packing bags and leaving the city — an exodus that could spread the disease.
Most of the victims have been aged 25 to 45. Medical personnel said symptoms began like normal flu, but then victims’ temperatures shot up, with paralysing muscle aches. More than 1,000 people have fallen ill in Mexico with the suspected flu.
Miss Chan said the strain was poorly understood. “We do not yet have a complete picture of the epidemiology or the risk, including possible spread beyond the currently affected areas.”
The current seasonal flu vaccine is not believed to offer any protection against the new strain, but the anti-viral
drug Tamiflu appears to be effective.
Jose Angel Cordova, Mexico’s health secretary, said the country has enough Tamiflu to treat one million people — only one in 20 people in greater Mexico City alone — and that the medicine will be strictly controlled.
In Mexico City, fear surged through the population of 20 million yesterday.
Froylan Velarde, nervously fingering a blue mask that covered his mouth and nose, hurriedly shoved suitcases into his car.
“I’m taking my family and getting out of here right now. Basically, we are running for our lives,” said the 48-year-old engineer.
Mr Cordova appeared on national television to advise people to stay in their homes, keep away from public places and avoid physical contact.
“Those killed have not been in contact with animals,” he said. “This probably started with pigs but has now mutated to pass between humans.”
He said 20 of the 68 deaths are confirmed to be from the new strain of influenza, while tests were still being conducted on the other 48.
He said the genetic code showed the virus had originated in Eurasia and could have entered Mexico via Texas or California.
Many residents in the Mexican capital decided to stay with relatives in the countryside or take time off work.
Others kept to their regular routine while wearing face masks being handed out by the government.
“The worst thing is that you don’t know who has this virus. Maybe your neighbour has got it. Maybe the guy in the corner shop or the restaurant has it,” said Gisela Hernandez, a 34-year-old housewife.
By Philip Sherwell, Ben Leach and Ioan Grillo
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/5222211/Mexican-killer-swine-flu-UK-on-alert.html
The disease has already spread to the United States and eight children in New York, two people in Kansas and eight more in California have reportedly been infected by the virus.
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.
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.
The spokesman added: “The HPA and the NHS have systems in place which will alert public health authorities of any unusual strain circulating in the UK.”
The disease also appeared to have reached New York last night after eight children tested positive for probable swine flu.
The pupils attend a private school in Queens where about 200 children fell sick with influenza-type symptoms last week, officials said. Some had just returned from holiday in Mexico.
City health officials, who are also testing 30 children at a daycare facility in the Bronx, urged residents not to panic and said they had stored extra supplies of incubators and drug.
Two new cases were also reported in Kansas while in Texas, a school has been closed and a family put into quarantine after three children fell sick. There have been nearly 20 cases in the US, but so far all of them have been described as “mild”.
“It has pandemic potential because it is infecting people,” said Margaret Chan, the director-general of the WHO, as public health specialists gathered in Geneva for an emergency session on the outbreak.
The new vaccine-resistant strain — a previously unseen combination of pig, bird and human viruses — is causing panic in Mexico’s capital, one of the world’s biggest cities and where most of the victims lived.
The mayor of Mexico City yesterday cancelled all public events for 10 days and schools, colleges and museums have closed. Alarmed residents are stockpiling food to stay indoors, only stepping outside wearing protective masks handed out by the government or packing bags and leaving the city — an exodus that could spread the disease.
Most of the victims have been aged 25 to 45. Medical personnel said symptoms began like normal flu, but then victims’ temperatures shot up, with paralysing muscle aches. More than 1,000 people have fallen ill in Mexico with the suspected flu.
Miss Chan said the strain was poorly understood. “We do not yet have a complete picture of the epidemiology or the risk, including possible spread beyond the currently affected areas.”
The current seasonal flu vaccine is not believed to offer any protection against the new strain, but the anti-viral
drug Tamiflu appears to be effective.
Jose Angel Cordova, Mexico’s health secretary, said the country has enough Tamiflu to treat one million people — only one in 20 people in greater Mexico City alone — and that the medicine will be strictly controlled.
In Mexico City, fear surged through the population of 20 million yesterday.
Froylan Velarde, nervously fingering a blue mask that covered his mouth and nose, hurriedly shoved suitcases into his car.
“I’m taking my family and getting out of here right now. Basically, we are running for our lives,” said the 48-year-old engineer.
Mr Cordova appeared on national television to advise people to stay in their homes, keep away from public places and avoid physical contact.
“Those killed have not been in contact with animals,” he said. “This probably started with pigs but has now mutated to pass between humans.”
He said 20 of the 68 deaths are confirmed to be from the new strain of influenza, while tests were still being conducted on the other 48.
He said the genetic code showed the virus had originated in Eurasia and could have entered Mexico via Texas or California.
Many residents in the Mexican capital decided to stay with relatives in the countryside or take time off work.
Others kept to their regular routine while wearing face masks being handed out by the government.
“The worst thing is that you don’t know who has this virus. Maybe your neighbour has got it. Maybe the guy in the corner shop or the restaurant has it,” said Gisela Hernandez, a 34-year-old housewife.
By Philip Sherwell, Ben Leach and Ioan Grillo
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/5222211/Mexican-killer-swine-flu-UK-on-alert.html
