This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/americas/8019566.stm
The article has changed 20 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 12 | Version 13 |
|---|---|
| World 'well prepared' for virus | World 'well prepared' for virus |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| The international community is better prepared than ever to deal with the threatened spread of a new swine flu virus, a top UN health chief has said. | The international community is better prepared than ever to deal with the threatened spread of a new swine flu virus, a top UN health chief has said. |
| As the UN warned the outbreak might become a pandemic, Dr Keiji Fukuda said years of preparing for bird flu had boosted world stocks of anti-virals. | As the UN warned the outbreak might become a pandemic, Dr Keiji Fukuda said years of preparing for bird flu had boosted world stocks of anti-virals. |
| Canada is the latest country to confirm cases after as many as 81 deaths in Mexico and 20 cases in the US. | Canada is the latest country to confirm cases after as many as 81 deaths in Mexico and 20 cases in the US. |
| Washington has warned the flu may yet claim American lives. | Washington has warned the flu may yet claim American lives. |
| "I do fear that we will have deaths," Dr Anne Schuchat of the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention told reporters. | "I do fear that we will have deaths," Dr Anne Schuchat of the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention told reporters. |
| Eight cases have been confirmed among New York students, seven in California, two in Texas, two in Kansas and one in Ohio. | Eight cases have been confirmed among New York students, seven in California, two in Texas, two in Kansas and one in Ohio. |
| Several countries in Asia and Latin America have begun screening airport passengers for symptoms. | Several countries in Asia and Latin America have begun screening airport passengers for symptoms. |
| There is currently no vaccine for the new strain of flu but severe cases can be treated with antiviral medication. | There is currently no vaccine for the new strain of flu but severe cases can be treated with antiviral medication. |
| Symptom puzzle | Symptom puzzle |
| Speaking in Geneva, an expert from the World Health Organization (WHO), the UN's health agency, expert said the swine flu virus could be capable of mutating into a more dangerous strain but that more information was needed before raising the WHO's pandemic alert phase. | Speaking in Geneva, an expert from the World Health Organization (WHO), the UN's health agency, expert said the swine flu virus could be capable of mutating into a more dangerous strain but that more information was needed before raising the WHO's pandemic alert phase. |
| SWINE FLU Swine flu is a respiratory disease found in pigsHuman cases usually occur in those who have contact with pigsHuman-to-human transmission is rare and such cases are closely monitored Q&A: Swine flu UK monitoring swine flu outbreak | SWINE FLU Swine flu is a respiratory disease found in pigsHuman cases usually occur in those who have contact with pigsHuman-to-human transmission is rare and such cases are closely monitored Q&A: Swine flu UK monitoring swine flu outbreak |
| Only a handful of the Mexican cases have so far been laboratory-confirmed as swine flu, while in the US confirmed cases had only mild symptoms. | Only a handful of the Mexican cases have so far been laboratory-confirmed as swine flu, while in the US confirmed cases had only mild symptoms. |
| Health experts want to know why some people become so seriously ill, while others just get a bit of a cold, the BBC's Imogen Foulkes reports from Switzerland. | Health experts want to know why some people become so seriously ill, while others just get a bit of a cold, the BBC's Imogen Foulkes reports from Switzerland. |
| The WHO added that there was no evidence to suggest the outbreak was a bio-terrorist attack. | The WHO added that there was no evidence to suggest the outbreak was a bio-terrorist attack. |
| It is advising all countries to be vigilant for seasonally unusual flu or pneumonia-like symptoms among their populations - particularly among young healthy adults, a characteristic of past pandemics. | It is advising all countries to be vigilant for seasonally unusual flu or pneumonia-like symptoms among their populations - particularly among young healthy adults, a characteristic of past pandemics. |
| Officials said most of those killed so far in Mexico were young adults - rather than more vulnerable children and the elderly. | Officials said most of those killed so far in Mexico were young adults - rather than more vulnerable children and the elderly. |
| It is unclear how effective currently available flu vaccines would be at offering protection against the new strain, as it is genetically distinct from other flu strains. | It is unclear how effective currently available flu vaccines would be at offering protection against the new strain, as it is genetically distinct from other flu strains. |
| WHO experts will meet again in Geneva on Tuesday to discuss whether to raise the pandemic alert phase. | WHO experts will meet again in Geneva on Tuesday to discuss whether to raise the pandemic alert phase. |
| Sick travellers | Sick travellers |
| H1N1 is the same strain that causes seasonal flu outbreaks in humans but the newly detected version contains genetic material from versions of flu which usually affect pigs and birds. | H1N1 is the same strain that causes seasonal flu outbreaks in humans but the newly detected version contains genetic material from versions of flu which usually affect pigs and birds. |
| FLU PANDEMICS 1918: The Spanish flu pandemic remains the most devastating outbreak of modern times - infecting up to 40% of the world's population and killing more than 50m people, with young adults particularly badly affected 1957: Asian flu killed two million people. Caused by a human form of the virus, H2N2, combining with a mutated strain found in wild ducks. The elderly were particularly vulnerable 1968: An outbreak first detected in Hong Kong, and caused by a strain known as H3N2, killed up to one million people globally, with those over 65 most likely to die | FLU PANDEMICS 1918: The Spanish flu pandemic remains the most devastating outbreak of modern times - infecting up to 40% of the world's population and killing more than 50m people, with young adults particularly badly affected 1957: Asian flu killed two million people. Caused by a human form of the virus, H2N2, combining with a mutated strain found in wild ducks. The elderly were particularly vulnerable 1968: An outbreak first detected in Hong Kong, and caused by a strain known as H3N2, killed up to one million people globally, with those over 65 most likely to die |
| It is spread mainly through coughs and sneezes. | It is spread mainly through coughs and sneezes. |
| The Canadian cases were recorded at opposite ends of the country: two in British Columbia in the west, and four in the Atlantic province of Nova Scotia. | The Canadian cases were recorded at opposite ends of the country: two in British Columbia in the west, and four in the Atlantic province of Nova Scotia. |
| Suspected cases have been detected beyond Mexico, the US and Canada | Suspected cases have been detected beyond Mexico, the US and Canada |
|
|
| Mexican shutdown | Mexican shutdown |
| The BBC's Ros Atkins dons his face mask to explore Mexico City | |
| Officials in Mexico confirmed that 20 people had died from the virus while another 61 deaths were suspected cases of swine flu. | Officials in Mexico confirmed that 20 people had died from the virus while another 61 deaths were suspected cases of swine flu. |
| More than 1,300 people have been admitted to hospital with suspected symptoms since 13 April. | More than 1,300 people have been admitted to hospital with suspected symptoms since 13 April. |
| With Mexico City apparently the centre of infection, many people are choosing to leave the city, the BBC's Stephen Gibbs reports. | With Mexico City apparently the centre of infection, many people are choosing to leave the city, the BBC's Stephen Gibbs reports. |
| Schools, universities and even most bars and restaurants will remain closed for several days and though Sunday church services are going ahead, priests have been asked to place Communion wafers in people's hands rather than on their tongues. | |
| There are those that are beginning to worry about the effects swine flu is having on their livelihoods and the Mexican economy in general, our correspondent says. | There are those that are beginning to worry about the effects swine flu is having on their livelihoods and the Mexican economy in general, our correspondent says. |
| Not knowing exactly how the virus works and how it can be killed off creates a horrible uncertainty BBC reader Mariana, Mexico City Read more experiences Send us your comments | |
| Fear of the virus is expected to persuade many tourists to cancel their holidays and Mexican exports are already beginning to be affected. | Fear of the virus is expected to persuade many tourists to cancel their holidays and Mexican exports are already beginning to be affected. |
| The World Bank is providing Mexico with more than $200m in loans to help it deal with the outbreak. | The World Bank is providing Mexico with more than $200m in loans to help it deal with the outbreak. |
| Russia has banned imports of raw pork and pork products from Mexico and the US states of California, Texas and Kansas until further notice as a precaution. | Russia has banned imports of raw pork and pork products from Mexico and the US states of California, Texas and Kansas until further notice as a precaution. |
| Dr Fukuda said on Sunday there was no proof that eating pork would lead to infection. | Dr Fukuda said on Sunday there was no proof that eating pork would lead to infection. |
| "Right now we have no evidence to suggest that people are getting exposed, or getting infected, from exposure to pork or to pigs, and so right now we have zero evidence to suspect that exposure to meat leads to infections," he said. | "Right now we have no evidence to suggest that people are getting exposed, or getting infected, from exposure to pork or to pigs, and so right now we have zero evidence to suspect that exposure to meat leads to infections," he said. |
| Are you in a country which has confirmed the virus? Do you know someone who has been affected by the outbreak? Are you a health worker in one of the affected countries? Tell us your experiences by filling in the form below. | |
| A selection of your comments may be published, displaying your name and location unless you state otherwise in the box below. | |
| The BBC may edit your comments and not all emails will be published. Your comments may be published on any BBC media worldwide. Terms & Conditions | The BBC may edit your comments and not all emails will be published. Your comments may be published on any BBC media worldwide. Terms & Conditions |