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| WHO fears pandemic is 'imminent' | WHO fears pandemic is 'imminent' |
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| The UN's World Health Organization has raised the alert over swine flu to level five - indicating human-to-human transmission in at least two countries. | |
| It is a "strong signal that a pandemic is imminent", the WHO says. | |
| After Mexico, the US has recorded the next highest number of confirmed cases, with 91. | |
| A senior health official in Europe says it is not a question of whether people in Europe will die, but how many - perhaps hundreds or thousands. | |
| Meanwhile in Mexico, President Felipe Calderon has announced the partial suspension of non-essential work and services from 1 to 5 May. | |
| The efforts of the government were concentrated on containing the virus, Mr Calderon said, urging people to stay at home with their families during the shutdown. | The efforts of the government were concentrated on containing the virus, Mr Calderon said, urging people to stay at home with their families during the shutdown. |
| CONFIRMED CASES Mexico: 168 suspected deaths - eight confirmedUS: one death, at least 91 confirmed casesNew Zealand: 13 confirmed casesCanada: 13 confirmed casesUK: 5 confirmed casesSpain: 10 confirmed casesGermany: 3 confirmed cases Israel: 2 confirmed casesSwitzerland: 1 confirmed caseAustria: 1 confirmed case Mapping the outbreak Economy squeezed by swine flu Search for Mexico flu source Mexico: First swine flu cases | |
| He said he was "proud" of the response of Mexicans to the crisis, and assured people Mexico was well-stocked with anti-viral medicines. | He said he was "proud" of the response of Mexicans to the crisis, and assured people Mexico was well-stocked with anti-viral medicines. |
| Announcing the latest alert level after an emergency WHO meeting in Geneva, Director General Margaret Chan urged all countries to activate their pandemic plans, including heightened surveillance and infection-control measures. | Announcing the latest alert level after an emergency WHO meeting in Geneva, Director General Margaret Chan urged all countries to activate their pandemic plans, including heightened surveillance and infection-control measures. |
| She said action should be undertaken with "increased urgency". | She said action should be undertaken with "increased urgency". |
| She added: "It really is the whole of humanity that is under threat in a pandemic." | She added: "It really is the whole of humanity that is under threat in a pandemic." |
| But she also said the world was "better prepared for an influenza pandemic than at any time in history". | But she also said the world was "better prepared for an influenza pandemic than at any time in history". |
| In Europe, the director-general of health and consumer protection, Robert Madelin, said the continent was well prepared but nonetheless deaths from the disease were expected. | |
| "It is not a question of whether people will die, but more a question of how many. Will it be hundreds, thousands or tens of thousands?", he said, speaking to Reuters news agency. | |
| Border controls? | Border controls? |
| The raising of the alert comes after a 23-month-old Mexican child died while on a visit in Texas - the first death from swine flu outside Mexico, where the outbreak originated. | |
| From Matthew Price in La Gloria, Mexico | |
| La Gloria is a quiet place of about 3,000 people, tucked away in southern Mexico - and it is now a possible source of the flu virus spreading around the world. | |
| The first known victim - a young boy called Edgar Hernandez - lives here. He survived the virus. | |
| La Gloria is besieged. TV crews run around the dusty streets, most not wearing protective masks. | |
| Edgar Hernandez was ill more than three weeks ago, and there has been plenty of time for the virus to spread from here. | |
| He was transferred to a hospital in Houston, where he died on Monday night. | He was transferred to a hospital in Houston, where he died on Monday night. |
| Speaking in Washington, President Barack Obama offered his condolences and said the federal government was doing the utmost to contain the virus. | Speaking in Washington, President Barack Obama offered his condolences and said the federal government was doing the utmost to contain the virus. |
| He also urged local public-health bodies to be vigilant and said schools with confirmed cases "should consider closing". About 100 have so far done so. | |
| Officials put the number of suspected deaths from swine flu in Mexico at 159, although just eight deaths have been confirmed, with 26 infections positively tested. | Officials put the number of suspected deaths from swine flu in Mexico at 159, although just eight deaths have been confirmed, with 26 infections positively tested. |
WHO PANDEMIC ALERT PHASESBACK{current} of {total}NEXT | |
| Texas Governor Rick Perry said closing the US border with Mexico was an option, but added that taking that step now would be "a little premature". | Texas Governor Rick Perry said closing the US border with Mexico was an option, but added that taking that step now would be "a little premature". |
| Giving a televised news conference on Wednesday evening, US President Barack Obama said health officials were not recommending closing the border. | Giving a televised news conference on Wednesday evening, US President Barack Obama said health officials were not recommending closing the border. |
| "The key now is to just make sure we are maintaining great vigilance, that everybody responds appropriately when cases do come up," Mr Obama said. | "The key now is to just make sure we are maintaining great vigilance, that everybody responds appropriately when cases do come up," Mr Obama said. |
href="/nol/shared/spl/hi/dhtml_slides/css/v2/styles.css?2" rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" />class="dslideshow-header">WHO PANDEMIC ALERT PHASES
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| Since the virus emerged last week, it has also spread to Canada, Europe, Israel, and New Zealand, where the number of confirmed cases has jumped to 13. | |
| Peru became the latest country to confirm it was treating a patient suffering from swine flu. An Argentine woman who had recently travelled to Mexico was Peru's first case of the virus, the country's health minister said late on Wednesday. | Peru became the latest country to confirm it was treating a patient suffering from swine flu. An Argentine woman who had recently travelled to Mexico was Peru's first case of the virus, the country's health minister said late on Wednesday. |
| Several countries have restricted travel to Mexico and many tour operators have cancelled holidays. | Several countries have restricted travel to Mexico and many tour operators have cancelled holidays. |
| France will ask the European Union on Thursday to suspend all flights going to Mexico because of the flu outbreak, Health Minister Roselyne Bachelot said. | France will ask the European Union on Thursday to suspend all flights going to Mexico because of the flu outbreak, Health Minister Roselyne Bachelot said. |
| The WHO, however, says measures like travel bans are unlikely to prove effective. | The WHO, however, says measures like travel bans are unlikely to prove effective. |
| 'Social distancing' | 'Social distancing' |
| In Spain, the government said the first person to contract swine flu without having travelled to Mexico was the boyfriend of a young woman who had recently returned from there. | In Spain, the government said the first person to contract swine flu without having travelled to Mexico was the boyfriend of a young woman who had recently returned from there. |
| Spanish Health Minister Trinidad Jimenez said such cases were to be expected. | Spanish Health Minister Trinidad Jimenez said such cases were to be expected. |
| In total, the number of confirmed cases in Spain rose from two to 10 on Wednesday. None of the patients is seriously ill. | In total, the number of confirmed cases in Spain rose from two to 10 on Wednesday. None of the patients is seriously ill. |
| SYMPTOMS - WHAT TO DO Swine flu symptoms are similar to those produced by ordinary seasonal flu - fever, cough, sore throat, body aches, chills and fatigueIf you have flu symptoms and recently visited affected areas of Mexico, you should seek medical adviceIf you suspect you are infected, you should stay at home and take advice by telephone initially, in order to minimise the risk of infection Q&A: What is swine flu? Swine flu: How serious a threat? Can masks help spread? The quest for a swine flu vaccine | SYMPTOMS - WHAT TO DO Swine flu symptoms are similar to those produced by ordinary seasonal flu - fever, cough, sore throat, body aches, chills and fatigueIf you have flu symptoms and recently visited affected areas of Mexico, you should seek medical adviceIf you suspect you are infected, you should stay at home and take advice by telephone initially, in order to minimise the risk of infection Q&A: What is swine flu? Swine flu: How serious a threat? Can masks help spread? The quest for a swine flu vaccine |
| In Mexico, the search for the source of the outbreak continues, with the focus on the vicinity of a pig farm in the eastern part of the country. | In Mexico, the search for the source of the outbreak continues, with the focus on the vicinity of a pig farm in the eastern part of the country. |
| The Mexican government is urging against jumping to conclusions and is suggesting the possibility remains that the virus originated outside the country. | The Mexican government is urging against jumping to conclusions and is suggesting the possibility remains that the virus originated outside the country. |
| Schools across Mexico have closed, public gatherings are restricted and archaeological sites have been placed off-limits. | Schools across Mexico have closed, public gatherings are restricted and archaeological sites have been placed off-limits. |
| Mexico City's chamber of commerce estimated restrictions in the city were costing businesses there at least 777 million pesos ($57m, £39m) per day. | Mexico City's chamber of commerce estimated restrictions in the city were costing businesses there at least 777 million pesos ($57m, £39m) per day. |
| WHO official Keiji Fukuda said other countries also needed to consider "social distancing" measures such as closing schools and delaying public meetings. | WHO official Keiji Fukuda said other countries also needed to consider "social distancing" measures such as closing schools and delaying public meetings. |
| Meanwhile, Ghana has become the latest country to ban pork imports as a precaution against swine flu, though no cases have been found in the West African country. | Meanwhile, Ghana has become the latest country to ban pork imports as a precaution against swine flu, though no cases have been found in the West African country. |
| Ms Chan, the WHO director, stressed on Wednesday that there was no danger from eating properly cooked pork. | Ms Chan, the WHO director, stressed on Wednesday that there was no danger from eating properly cooked pork. |
| She advised hygiene measures such as hand-washing to prevent infection and said it was important "to maintain a level of calm". | She advised hygiene measures such as hand-washing to prevent infection and said it was important "to maintain a level of calm". |
| Have you been affected by swine flu? You can send your experiences using the form below: | Have you been affected by swine flu? You can send your experiences using 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 |