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EU warns against swine flu panic EU warns against swine flu panic
(about 1 hour later)
The EU's health chief has urged people not to panic over swine flu, as European ministers rejected a proposal for an EU-wide Mexico travel ban. EU Health Commissioner Androulla Vassiliou has said a possible swine flu global epidemic, or pandemic, would not necessarily cause widespread deaths.
"We have to exercise vigilance, we should not panic, we have to be prepared," Androulla Vassiliou said. She said Europe was well prepared and there was there was "no need to panic".
The ministers were considering a French plan for an EU-wide travel advisory. She was speaking after an emergency meeting of health ministers on ways to contain the virus, which has been confirmed in six EU countries.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has raised its pandemic alert to five, the second-highest level, but says it has no immediate plans for another rise. The ministers rejected a French proposal for a continent-wide suspension on flights to Mexico.
"We do not have any evidence to suggest that we should move to phase six today, or any such move is imminent right now," said WHO Assistant Director General Keiji Fukuda. After the talks in Luxembourg Ms Vassiliou said: "We are worried, but we are on top of things."
CONFIRMED CASES Mexico: 168 suspected deaths - eight confirmedUS: one death, at least 109 confirmed casesNew Zealand: 3 confirmed, 13 probable casesCanada: 19 confirmed casesUK: 8 confirmed casesSpain: 10 confirmed casesGermany: 3 confirmed cases Israel, Costa Rica: 2 confirmed cases eachThe Netherland, Switzerland, Austria, Peru: 1 confirmed case each Mapping the outbreak Mexican economy squeezed by flu Mexico: First swine flu cases Africa awaits two swine flu tests CONFIRMED CASES Mexico: 168 suspected deaths - 12 confirmedUS: one death, at least 109 confirmed casesNew Zealand: 3 confirmed, 13 probable casesCanada: 19 confirmed casesUK: 8 confirmed casesSpain: 10 confirmed casesGermany: 3 confirmed cases Israel, Costa Rica: 2 confirmed cases eachThe Netherland, Switzerland, Austria, Peru: 1 confirmed case each Mapping the outbreak Mexican economy squeezed by flu Mexico: First swine flu cases Africa awaits two swine flu tests
But he added that the situation was still evolving rapidly. She added: "The fact that we have been preparing ourselves in the EU for an event such as this for some years now, and the experience gained so far, puts us in a much stronger position."
In Mexico, the centre of the outbreak, the number of confirmed cases rose to 97 - up from 26 on Wednesday. Dr Fukuda said this was due to many laboratory results coming in.
Mexican President Felipe Calderon urged people to stay at home over the next five days.
There are many cases elsewhere - including the US, Canada, Latin America, Europe, Israel, and New Zealand.
BBC health correspondent Matt McGrath says many experts remain hopeful that even if this happens, the effects of the H1N1 virus will be mild.
None of the dozens of cases of swine flu reported on the continent so far has been severe.None of the dozens of cases of swine flu reported on the continent so far has been severe.
The only deaths from the virus have been recorded in Mexico and the US. The health ministers agreed to work "without delay" with pharmaceutical companies to develop a vaccine.
Rejecting the French plan on suspending flights to Mexico - the main focus of the outbreak - they said it was up to member states to set their own policies.
Several countries have restricted travel to Mexico and many tour operators have cancelled holidays.
Earlier the UN's World Health Organization (WHO) - which increased its pandemic alert to five on Wednesday - said it had no immediate plans for a further rise.
"We do not have any evidence to suggest that we should move to phase six today, or any such move is imminent right now," said WHO Assistant Director General Keiji Fukuda.
In the latest developments:In the latest developments:
  • The Netherlands confirms its first case of swine flu, in a three-year-old boy recently returned from Mexico. Cases have also been confirmed in Switzerland, Costa Rica and Peru
  • The number of confirmed cases in the US rose to 109 in 11 states
  • Japan reported its first suspected case of swine flu
  • China's health minister says that the country's scientists have developed a "sensitive and fast" test for spotting swine flu in conjunction with US scientists and the WHO. The country has recorded no incidence of the flu yet.
  • The White House said a security aide who had helped arrange President Barack Obama's recent trip to Mexico has become sick with flu-like symptoms
  • The Netherlands confirms its first case of swine flu, in a three-year-old boy recently returned from Mexico. Cases have also been confirmed in Switzerland, Costa Rica and Peru
  • The number of confirmed cases in the US rose to 109 in 11 states
  • Japan reported its first suspected case of swine flu
EU health ministers met in Luxembourg to discuss a French proposal for a continent-wide travel advisory for Mexico.
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? In pictures: Swine flu concern Can masks help spread? The quest for a swine flu vaccineSYMPTOMS - 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? In pictures: Swine flu concern Can masks help spread? The quest for a swine flu vaccine
The ministers rejected the plan, opting instead to allow each nation to decide its own policy. In Mexico, the number of confirmed cases rose to 97 - up from 26 on Wednesday. Dr Fukuda said this was due to many laboratory results coming in.
Several countries have restricted travel to Mexico and many tour operators have cancelled holidays. The Mexican government increased the number of confirmed deaths from swine flu from 8 to 12.
Other member states are resisting calls to implement travel bans or close borders on the grounds - backed by the WHO - that there is little evidence that they work. President Felipe Calderon has urged people to stay at home over the next five days.
The EU ministers were also trying to agree on how to refer to the virus. Meanwhile the WHO says it will now call the virus influenza A (H1N1) rather than swine flu - which it says is misleading as pork meat is safe and the virus is being transmitted from human to human.
The European Commission has been calling it "novel flu", replacing the word "swine" to avoid prompting a fall in demand for pork and bacon. Egypt has begun a mass slaughter of its pigs, and Ghana is the latest country to ban pork imports as a precaution against swine flu.
It was not clear whether a decision had been taken on the name.
On Wednesday, Egypt began a mass slaughter of its pigs - even though the WHO says the virus was now being transmitted from human to human.
The WHO says it will now call the virus influenza A (H1N1).
Ghana has become the latest country to ban pork imports as a precaution against swine flu.
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.
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