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World moves to contain flu spread World moves to contain flu spread
(about 2 hours later)
Governments around the world have been hurrying to contain the spread of a new swine flu virus after outbreaks were reported in Mexico, the US and Canada. Governments around the world are hurrying to contain the spread of a new swine flu virus after outbreaks were reported in Mexico, the US and Canada.
At least 100 people are now suspected to have died of the disease in Mexico.At least 100 people are now suspected to have died of the disease in Mexico.
The UN has warned the virus has the potential to become a pandemic, but said the world was better prepared than ever to deal with the threat.The UN has warned the virus has the potential to become a pandemic, but said the world was better prepared than ever to deal with the threat.
Stocks of anti-viral medicines are being readied and travellers are being screened at some airports for symptoms.Stocks of anti-viral medicines are being readied and travellers are being screened at some airports for symptoms.
Mexican Health Secretary Jose Angel Cordova said suspected swine flu cases in his country had risen to 1,614 including 103 deaths. Mexican Health Secretary Jose Angel Cordova said suspected swine flu cases in his country had risen to 1,614.
Of those, 20 deaths are confirmed to have been caused by the new virus. 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 class="" href="/1/hi/world/americas/8019832.stm">'I couldn't get out of bed' class="" href="/1/hi/world/americas/8019802.stm">Keeping a distance in Mexico City class="" href="/1/hi/health/8017585.stm">Q&A: Swine flu class="" href="/1/hi/uk/8019830.stm">Expect swine flu cases, UK told
The US, where 20 people are confirmed to have caught the virus, has declared a public health emergency. Of the 103 deaths in Mexico, only 20 are so far confirmed to have been caused by the new virus.
There are also confirmed cases in Canada, and investigations are being carried out on suspected cases in Spain, Israel and New Zealand. In the US, where 20 people are confirmed to have caught the virus, a public health emergency has been declared.
There are also confirmed cases in Canada, and investigations are being carried out on possible cases in five other countries.
In most cases outside Mexico, people have been only mildly ill and have made a full recovery.In most cases outside Mexico, people have been only mildly ill and have made a full recovery.
In other developments:
• Tests are also being carried out on individuals or groups in New Zealand, Australia, Spain, Brazil and Israel who fell ill following travel to Mexico
• World Health Organization (WHO) experts will meet in Geneva on Tuesday to discuss whether to raise the pandemic alert level
• The European Commission also said it was calling an urgent meeting of health ministers to discuss the situation
• The World Bank is providing Mexico with more than $200m in loans to help it deal with the outbreak
• Shares in airlines have fallen sharply on fears about the economic impact of the outbreak
Vigilance urgedVigilance urged
The World Health Organization (WHO), the UN's health agency, has said the swine flu virus could be capable of mutating into a more dangerous strain. The WHO - the UN's health agency - has said the swine flu virus could be capable of mutating into a more dangerous strain.
The BBC talks to people in Mexico City about the flu outbreak.In picturesThe BBC talks to people in Mexico City about the flu outbreak.In pictures
But officials say they need more information on the virus before deciding whether to raise the global pandemic alert phase. But officials say they need more information on the virus to determine the threat it poses.
Dr Keiji Fukuda, WHO's assistant director-general in charge of health security, said all countries were "looking at this situation very seriously".
"But it's also clear that we are in a period in which the picture is evolving... [and that] we have to be very careful to collect the best possible information," he said.
The WHO 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.The WHO 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.
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. POSSIBLE CASES New Zealand: Groups from two schools being testedAustralia: Two people being testedIsrael and Spain: Individuals being testedBrazil: One man being testedFrance: Three suspected cases negative class="" href="/1/hi/world/americas/8019987.stm">In pictures: Swine flu
Health experts want to know why some people become so seriously ill, while others just develop a cold, the BBC's Imogen Foulkes reports from Switzerland. Most of those who have died so far in Mexico were young adults.
Dr Keiji Fukuda, WHO's assistant director-general in charge of health security, said all countries were "looking at the situation seriously" but that a true picture of the extent of the virus was still emerging. The H1N1 virus 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 There is currently no vaccine for the new strain, but severe cases can be treated with antiviral medication. Dr Fukuda said years of preparing for bird flu had boosted world stocks of antivirals.
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.
It is spread mainly through coughs and sneezes.
Officials said most of those killed so far in Mexico were young adults - rather than more vulnerable children and the elderly.
There is currently no vaccine for the new strain of flu but severe cases can be treated with antiviral medication.
Dr Fukuda said years of preparing for bird flu had boosted world stocks of antivirals.
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.
Widespread casesWidespread cases
In the US, eight cases have been confirmed among New York students, seven in California, two in Texas, two in Kansas and one in Ohio. In the US, eight cases have been confirmed among New York students, seven in California, two in in Texas, two in Kansas and one in Ohio.
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 class="" href="/1/hi/world/americas/8019832.stm">'I couldn't get out of bed' class="" href="/1/hi/world/americas/8019802.stm">Keeping a distance in Mexico City class="" href="/1/hi/health/8017585.stm">Q&A: Swine flu class="" href="/1/hi/uk/8019830.stm">Expect swine flu cases, UK told 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
"I do fear that we will have deaths," Dr Anne Schuchat of the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) told reporters."I do fear that we will have deaths," Dr Anne Schuchat of the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) told reporters.
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.
Several countries in Asia and Latin America have begun screening airport passengers for symptoms. Several other people are being tested for the virus in countries around the world.
Suspected cases have been detected beyond Mexico, the US and Canada: A number of countries in Asia and Latin America have begun screening airport passengers for symptoms.
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  • In New Zealand, two school groups that recently visited Mexico have reported illnesses - ten students from one school tested positive for Influenza A, making it "likely" they are infected with swine flu, and three in the other school were being tested
  • France and Spain have both reported cases of people becoming ill after returning from Mexico and are carrying out tests
  • In Israel, medics are testing a 26-year-old man who has been taken to hospital with flu-like symptoms after returning from a trip to Mexico
  • Two people in Queensland, Australia, are being tested after developing flu-like symptoms on returning from Mexico
  • The Brazilian authorities say one man was taken into hospital as a precaution after he became ill following a visit to Mexico
Russia has banned imports of raw pork and pork products from Mexico and parts of the US. But Dr Fukuda said that there was no evidence to link exposure to pork with infection.
Economic worries In the Mexican capital schools, bars and public buildings remain closed and many people are choosing to stay indoors.
The BBC's Ros Atkins dons his face mask to explore Mexico City Some people are beginning to worry about the effects swine flu is having on their livelihoods and the Mexican economy in general.
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 went ahead, priests were asked to place Communion wafers in people's hands rather than on their tongues.
Some people 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
The World Bank is providing Mexico with more than $200m in loans to help it deal with the outbreak.
Fear of the virus is expected to lead to many tourists cancelling their holidays and Mexican exports are already beginning to be affected.Fear of the virus is expected to lead to many tourists cancelling their holidays and Mexican exports are already beginning to be affected.
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.
"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.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.
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