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| 'Too late' to contain swine flu | 'Too late' to contain swine flu |
| (30 minutes later) | |
| The swine flu virus first detected in Mexico can no longer be contained and countries should focus on mitigating its effects, a top UN official said. | The swine flu virus first detected in Mexico can no longer be contained and countries should focus on mitigating its effects, a top UN official said. |
| World Health Organization deputy chief Keiji Fukuda was speaking as the WHO raised its alert level to four, or two steps short of a full pandemic. | World Health Organization deputy chief Keiji Fukuda was speaking as the WHO raised its alert level to four, or two steps short of a full pandemic. |
| UN food inspectors are going to Mexico to examine reports that industrial pig farms were the source of the outbreak. | UN food inspectors are going to Mexico to examine reports that industrial pig farms were the source of the outbreak. |
| The number of probable deaths from the virus there has risen to 152. | The number of probable deaths from the virus there has risen to 152. |
| New Zealand confirmed at least three cases on Tuesday, and Israel one. | New Zealand confirmed at least three cases on Tuesday, and Israel one. |
| The US, Canada, Spain and Britain confirmed cases earlier but no deaths have been reported outside Mexico. | The US, Canada, Spain and Britain confirmed cases earlier but no deaths have been reported outside Mexico. |
| 'Not inevitable' | 'Not inevitable' |
| Alert level four means the virus is showing a sustained ability to pass from human to human and is able to cause community-level outbreaks. | Alert level four means the virus is showing a sustained ability to pass from human to human and is able to cause community-level outbreaks. |
| WHO PANDEMIC ALERT PHASES Phase 1: No viruses circulating among animals causing infections in humansPhase 2: Animal influenza virus causes infection in humans, and is considered potential pandemic threat Phase 3: Influenza causes sporadic cases in people, but no significant human-to-human transmissionPhase 4: Verified human-to-human transmission able to cause community-level outbreaks. Significant increase in risk of a pandemicPhase 5: Human-to-human transmission in at least two countries. Strong signal pandemic imminentPhase 6: Virus spreads to another country in a different region. Global pandemic under way In pictures: Swine flu spreads Life at centre of the outbreak Swine flu: Your experiences | WHO PANDEMIC ALERT PHASES Phase 1: No viruses circulating among animals causing infections in humansPhase 2: Animal influenza virus causes infection in humans, and is considered potential pandemic threat Phase 3: Influenza causes sporadic cases in people, but no significant human-to-human transmissionPhase 4: Verified human-to-human transmission able to cause community-level outbreaks. Significant increase in risk of a pandemicPhase 5: Human-to-human transmission in at least two countries. Strong signal pandemic imminentPhase 6: Virus spreads to another country in a different region. Global pandemic under way In pictures: Swine flu spreads Life at centre of the outbreak Swine flu: Your experiences |
| Mr Fukuda said this was a "significant step towards pandemic influenza" but a pandemic should not be considered inevitable. | Mr Fukuda said this was a "significant step towards pandemic influenza" but a pandemic should not be considered inevitable. |
| Experts did not recommend closing borders or restricting travel, he stressed. | Experts did not recommend closing borders or restricting travel, he stressed. |
| "With the virus being widespread... closing borders or restricting travel really has very little effects in stopping the movement of this virus," he said. | "With the virus being widespread... closing borders or restricting travel really has very little effects in stopping the movement of this virus," he said. |
| See map showing confirmed and suspected cases | See map showing confirmed and suspected cases |
| The first batches of a swine flu vaccine could be ready in four to six months' time but it will take several more months to produce large quantities of it, Mr Fukuda said. | The first batches of a swine flu vaccine could be ready in four to six months' time but it will take several more months to produce large quantities of it, Mr Fukuda said. |
| Health experts say the virus comes from the same strain that causes seasonal outbreaks in humans but also contains genetic material from versions of flu which usually affect pigs and birds. | Health experts say the virus comes from the same strain that causes seasonal outbreaks in humans but also contains genetic material from versions of flu which usually affect pigs and birds. |
| A team from the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation is due to leave Rome for Mexico on Tuesday to investigate allegations that industrial pig farms in Mexico were the source of the outbreak. | A team from the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation is due to leave Rome for Mexico on Tuesday to investigate allegations that industrial pig farms in Mexico were the source of the outbreak. |
| Its chief veterinary officer, Joseph Domenech, told the BBC that rumours that people had been falling ill last month near some intensive pig farms meant the FAO had to act. | Its chief veterinary officer, Joseph Domenech, told the BBC that rumours that people had been falling ill last month near some intensive pig farms meant the FAO had to act. |
| "[We had] no indication of human cases of direct contact with pigs but this can never be totally sure and the probability that this virus could come from pigs directly could not be anyway ruled out totally," he said. | "[We had] no indication of human cases of direct contact with pigs but this can never be totally sure and the probability that this virus could come from pigs directly could not be anyway ruled out totally," he said. |
| 'Decline in cases' | 'Decline in cases' |
| The number of flu cases under observation in Mexico has reached 1,614. Swine flu was confirmed in 20 of the 152 deaths. | The number of flu cases under observation in Mexico has reached 1,614. Swine flu was confirmed in 20 of the 152 deaths. |
| Health Minister Jose Angel Cordova said all of those who had died were aged between 20 and 50. Infections among young healthy adults are a characteristic of past pandemics. | Health Minister Jose Angel Cordova said all of those who had died were aged between 20 and 50. Infections among young healthy adults are a characteristic of past pandemics. |
| Mr Cordova said the first suspected case of swine flu had occurred in the southern state of Oaxaca but stressed that nobody knew "the point of origin or dissemination" of the virus. | Mr Cordova said the first suspected case of swine flu had occurred in the southern state of Oaxaca but stressed that nobody knew "the point of origin or dissemination" of the virus. |
| He noted that the number of new cases reported by Mexico's largest government hospitals had declined during the past three days: from 141 on Saturday to 119 on Sunday and 110 on Monday. | He noted that the number of new cases reported by Mexico's largest government hospitals had declined during the past three days: from 141 on Saturday to 119 on Sunday and 110 on Monday. |
| Schools nationwide are to remain closed until 6 May as the country grapples with the outbreak. | Schools nationwide are to remain closed until 6 May as the country grapples with the outbreak. |
| In almost all swine flu cases outside Mexico, people have been only mildly ill and have made a full recovery. | In almost all swine flu cases outside Mexico, people have been only mildly ill and have made a full recovery. |
| Travel advice | Travel advice |
| In the US, a further 20 cases of swine flu were confirmed in New York. Cases have also been reported in Ohio, Kansas, Texas and California, bringing the total across the country to 50. | In the US, a further 20 cases of swine flu were confirmed in New York. Cases have also been reported in Ohio, Kansas, Texas and California, bringing the total across the country to 50. |
| SWINE FLU Swine flu is a respiratory disease thought to spread through coughing and sneezingSymptoms mimic those of normal fluGood hygiene like using a tissue and washing hands thoroughly can help reduce transmission Swine flu cases confirmed in UK Q&A: What is swine flu? 'I couldn't get out of bed' | SWINE FLU Swine flu is a respiratory disease thought to spread through coughing and sneezingSymptoms mimic those of normal fluGood hygiene like using a tissue and washing hands thoroughly can help reduce transmission Swine flu cases confirmed in UK Q&A: What is swine flu? 'I couldn't get out of bed' |
| US and EU officials have urged caution for anyone considering travelling to Mexico. | US and EU officials have urged caution for anyone considering travelling to Mexico. |
| Tests are being carried out on individuals or groups in Brazil, Guatemala, Peru, Australia and South Korea. | Tests are being carried out on individuals or groups in Brazil, Guatemala, Peru, Australia and South Korea. |
| A number of countries in Asia, Latin America and Europe have begun screening airport passengers for symptoms, while Germany's biggest tour operator has suspended trips to Mexico. | A number of countries in Asia, Latin America and Europe have begun screening airport passengers for symptoms, while Germany's biggest tour operator has suspended trips to Mexico. |
| Taiwan has announced it will quarantine any visitors showing symptoms of swine flu. | Taiwan has announced it will quarantine any visitors showing symptoms of swine flu. |
| Several countries have banned imports of raw pork and pork products from Mexico and parts of the US, although experts say there is no evidence to link exposure to pork with infection. | Several countries have banned imports of raw pork and pork products from Mexico and parts of the US, although experts say there is no evidence to link exposure to pork with infection. |
| Shares in airlines have fallen sharply on fears about the economic impact of the outbreak. | Shares in airlines have fallen sharply on fears about the economic impact of the outbreak. |
| 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? Are you travelling back on a flight from Mexico? Were you screened on your return? 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. | 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 |
| Mexico: 152 suspected deaths from swine flu - 20 confirmed cases US: 50 confirmed casesCanada: 6 confirmed casesNew Zealand - 3 confirmed casesUK - 2 confirmed casesSpain: 2 confirmed caseIsrael - 1 confirmed caseCountries with suspected cases: Brazil, Guatemala, Peru, Australia, and South Korea | Mexico: 152 suspected deaths from swine flu - 20 confirmed cases US: 50 confirmed casesCanada: 6 confirmed casesNew Zealand - 3 confirmed casesUK - 2 confirmed casesSpain: 2 confirmed caseIsrael - 1 confirmed caseCountries with suspected cases: Brazil, Guatemala, Peru, Australia, and South Korea |
| Return to story | Return to story |