PostHeaderIcon May 2, 2009: Update of swine influenza; Hongkong reports its first case



The World Health Organization (WHO) has raised its vigilance to level 5---an indication that the swine influenza infection has actively propagated through an efficient human-to-human infection causing more people to fall ill. Still expected to rise, the number of confirmed H1N1 pig influenza infection has reached 331 as of May 1, 2009. If uncontrolled, the disease is on its way to be a pandemic.

In a matter of days, what was originally confined to Mexico and United States has spread to 10 countries with confirmed infection: Austria (1), Canada (34), Germany (3), Israel (2), Netherlands (1), New Zealand (3), Spain (13), Switzerland (1) United States (109), Hongkong (1) and Great Britain (8). Closures of schools and cancellation of public gatherings, surveillance of travelers for febrile illness, educational campaign to prevent infection, and the use of anti-flu drugs are among the measures being done to stop the contagion's spread.

Hongkong recently confirmed it's first case of swine influenza diagnosed from a Mexican tourist. Quarantine procedures were quickly set in place for about 300 individuals who were in close contact with the ill person. (Photo Credit: Reuters/ Lee, Jin-man)=0=

RELATED BLOGS: “The march of the pig virus “ Posted by mesiamd at 4/28/2009; “Mexico’s new swine-avian-human flu worries health experts of global pandemic “ Posted by mesiamd at 4/25/2009

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