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'Flu outbreak is being monitored' 'Flu outbreak is being monitored'
(about 7 hours later)
Acting chief medical officer for Northern Ireland has said that authorities here are closely monitoring the outbreak of swine flu in Mexico. The acting chief medical officer for Northern Ireland has said that authorities here are closely monitoring the outbreak of swine flu in Mexico.
"It's not an immediate threat to public health in Northern Ireland," said Dr Elizabeth Mitchell."It's not an immediate threat to public health in Northern Ireland," said Dr Elizabeth Mitchell.
"But obviously we're monitoring the situation very carefully in Mexico, the United States and indeed now in Scotland as well." "But obviously we're monitoring the situation very carefully in Mexico, the United States and, indeed, now in Scotland as well."
At least 100 people are now suspected to have died of the disease in Mexico. At least 100 people are thought to have died of the disease in Mexico.
In Scotland, two people have been admitted to hospital after returning from Mexico.In Scotland, two people have been admitted to hospital after returning from Mexico.
The country's health secretary, Nicola Sturgeon, said the patients had both displayed mild flu-like symptoms but were not giving cause for concern.The country's health secretary, Nicola Sturgeon, said the patients had both displayed mild flu-like symptoms but were not giving cause for concern.
Northern Ireland's health minister, Michael McGimpsey, said there were "significant stockpiles" of antiviral drugs.Northern Ireland's health minister, Michael McGimpsey, said there were "significant stockpiles" of antiviral drugs.
The UK should expect to see cases of swine flu following the outbreak in Mexico, the Health Protection Agency has warned.The UK should expect to see cases of swine flu following the outbreak in Mexico, the Health Protection Agency has warned.
"The advice to the public is if you have been travelling in Mexico, or other affected parts, and you come home and you start to well feel unwell with flu-like symptoms, stay at home and get in touch with your GP for advice about what to do," continued Dr Elizbeth Mitchell. "The advice to the public is if you have been travelling in Mexico, or other affected parts, and you come home and you start to well feel unwell with flu-like symptoms, stay at home and get in touch with your GP for advice about what to do," continued Dr Elizabeth Mitchell.
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 'I couldn't get out of bed' Keeping a distance in Mexico City Q&A: Swine flu Expect swine flu cases, UK told 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 'I couldn't get out of bed' Keeping a distance in Mexico City Q&A: Swine flu Expect swine flu cases, UK told
"You can protect yourself and your family by ensuring you wash your hands regularly, and using tissues to cover your mouth and nose when you cough and sneeze. "You can protect yourself and your family by ensuring you wash your hands regularly and using tissues to cover your mouth and nose when you cough and sneeze.
"Swine influenza viruses are not transmitted by food. You can not get swine influenza from eating pork or pork products. Eating properly handled and cooked pork and pork products are safe." "Swine influenza viruses are not transmitted by food. You cannot get swine influenza from eating pork or pork products. Eating properly handled and cooked pork and pork products are safe."
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.
"A swine influenza A/H1N1 has been confirmed in Mexico and a number of other countries but at this point there have been no cases in Northern Ireland," said Health Minister Michael McGimpsey."A swine influenza A/H1N1 has been confirmed in Mexico and a number of other countries but at this point there have been no cases in Northern Ireland," said Health Minister Michael McGimpsey.
'Stockpiles''Stockpiles'
"Northern Ireland has robust plans in place to deal with situations such as this. We have been working closely with the rest of the UK and the Republic of Ireland for sometime to ensure we are prepared and that the public is protected.""Northern Ireland has robust plans in place to deal with situations such as this. We have been working closely with the rest of the UK and the Republic of Ireland for sometime to ensure we are prepared and that the public is protected."
"The H1N1 swine fever virus is sensitive to the antiviral drugs of which we have significant stockpiles for Northern Ireland.""The H1N1 swine fever virus is sensitive to the antiviral drugs of which we have significant stockpiles for Northern Ireland."
In a statement, Belfast International Airport said it was working with the Port Health Authority and stringent measures were already in place that were deemed to be adequate for the present.
"We will be in constant contact with our health colleagues to keep the situation under review," the statement said.
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 including 103 deaths.
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 dieFLU 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
Of those, 20 deaths are confirmed to have been caused by the new virus.Of those, 20 deaths are confirmed to have been caused by the new virus.
The US, where 20 people are confirmed to have caught the virus, has declared a public health emergency.The US, where 20 people are confirmed to have caught the virus, has declared a public health emergency.
There are also confirmed cases in Canada, and investigations are being carried out on suspected cases in Spain, Israel and New Zealand.There are also confirmed cases in Canada, and investigations are being carried out on suspected cases in Spain, Israel and New Zealand.
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.
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 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.
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 before deciding whether to raise the global pandemic alert phase.
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.
H1N1H1N1
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.
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.
It is spread mainly through coughs and sneezes.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.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.There is currently no vaccine for the new strain of flu but severe cases can be treated with antiviral medication.