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/8022437.stm
The article has changed 16 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| More countries confirm swine flu | More countries confirm swine flu |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| New cases of the deadly swine flu virus have been confirmed as far afield as New Zealand and Israel as the UN warns it cannot be contained. | New cases of the deadly swine flu virus have been confirmed as far afield as New Zealand and Israel as the UN warns it cannot be contained. |
| The US, Canada, Spain and Britain confirmed cases earlier but no deaths have been reported outside Mexico, where the virus was first reported. | The US, Canada, Spain and Britain confirmed cases earlier but no deaths have been reported outside Mexico, where the virus was first reported. |
| Mexico has raised the number of probable deaths to 152, with 1,614 suspected sufferers under observation. | Mexico has raised the number of probable deaths to 152, with 1,614 suspected sufferers under observation. |
| UN inspectors are to examine reports that pig farms spread the virus. | UN inspectors are to examine reports that pig farms spread the virus. |
| WHO spokesman Gregory Hartl says the swine flu outbreak is at a 'turning point' | |
| The UN's health agency, the World Health Organization, said the flu was being spread by human-to-human transmission but did not recommend travel restrictions or border closures. | The UN's health agency, the World Health Organization, said the flu was being spread by human-to-human transmission but did not recommend travel restrictions or border closures. |
| EU Health Commissioner Androulla Vassiliou has said she does not see "any point of restricting travelling". | EU Health Commissioner Androulla Vassiliou has said she does not see "any point of restricting travelling". |
| WHO spokesman Gregory Hartl confirmed that work was under way to produce a vaccine, adding that it would typically be five to six months before it became commercially available. | WHO spokesman Gregory Hartl confirmed that work was under way to produce a vaccine, adding that it would typically be five to six months before it became commercially available. |
| 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. |
| Pig farm theory | Pig farm theory |
| 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 |
| A team from the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation is due to leave Rome for Mexico on Tuesday. | A team from the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation is due to leave Rome for Mexico on Tuesday. |
| 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. |
| The WHO has raised its alert level to four, or two steps short of a full pandemic. | The WHO has raised its alert level to four, or two steps short of a full pandemic. |
| 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 deputy chief Keiji Fukuda said this was a "significant step towards pandemic influenza" but a pandemic should not be considered inevitable. | WHO deputy chief Keiji Fukuda said this was a "significant step towards pandemic influenza" but a pandemic should not be considered inevitable. |
| "With the virus being widespread... closing borders or restricting travel really has very little effects in stopping the movement of this virus," he added. | "With the virus being widespread... closing borders or restricting travel really has very little effects in stopping the movement of this virus," he added. |
| 'Decline in cases' | 'Decline in cases' |
| In Mexico, swine flu has been confirmed in 20 of the 152 known deaths. | In Mexico, swine flu has been confirmed in 20 of the 152 known deaths. |
| 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' |
| 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. |
| 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. |
| 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. |
| 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. |
| 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. |
| 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. |
| 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 |