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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
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| Australia flu 'may tip pandemic' | |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| The World Health Organization has said that a sharp increase in swine flu cases in Australia may push it to finally announce a flu pandemic. | The World Health Organization has said that a sharp increase in swine flu cases in Australia may push it to finally announce a flu pandemic. |
| It would be the first such pandemic announced in four decades. | It would be the first such pandemic announced in four decades. |
| More than 1,200 people have contracted the virus in Australia, a four-fold increase in a week. | More than 1,200 people have contracted the virus in Australia, a four-fold increase in a week. |
| Less than a month ago Australia had only a handful of cases of the H1N1 virus but it now has the highest number of infections outside North America. | Less than a month ago Australia had only a handful of cases of the H1N1 virus but it now has the highest number of infections outside North America. |
| Victoria and the state capital, Melbourne, are the worst-hit with more than 1,000 confirmed cases, although most of those affected are suffering only a mild illness. | Victoria and the state capital, Melbourne, are the worst-hit with more than 1,000 confirmed cases, although most of those affected are suffering only a mild illness. |
| There have been no swine flu fatalities in Australia. | There have been no swine flu fatalities in Australia. |
| But the Queensland Health Minister Paul Lucas has warned it was inevitable the contagious respiratory condition would claim lives. | But the Queensland Health Minister Paul Lucas has warned it was inevitable the contagious respiratory condition would claim lives. |
| Going global? | Going global? |
| The rapid spread of swine flu in Australia could force the World Health Organisation to declare a pandemic, meaning the outbreak had gone global. | The rapid spread of swine flu in Australia could force the World Health Organisation to declare a pandemic, meaning the outbreak had gone global. |
| The media must play a part here, emphasising the facts about this virus and not over-reacting Fergus WalshBBC medical correspondent Read more from Fergus | The media must play a part here, emphasising the facts about this virus and not over-reacting Fergus WalshBBC medical correspondent Read more from Fergus |
| For that to happen, officials would have to verify that the disease had become established outside North America, where the crisis began. | For that to happen, officials would have to verify that the disease had become established outside North America, where the crisis began. |
| As the number of H1N1 cases in Australia passes 1,200, Singapore has urged its citizens to avoid travel to Victoria. | As the number of H1N1 cases in Australia passes 1,200, Singapore has urged its citizens to avoid travel to Victoria. |
| Authorities in New South Wales and South Australia, as well as the national capital, Canberra, have told children who have recently travelled to Melbourne to stay away from school for a week on their return home. | Authorities in New South Wales and South Australia, as well as the national capital, Canberra, have told children who have recently travelled to Melbourne to stay away from school for a week on their return home. |
| The entire squad and staff of the Brisbane Broncos rugby league club have been put into quarantine as tests are carried out on a player suspected of contracting swine flu. | The entire squad and staff of the Brisbane Broncos rugby league club have been put into quarantine as tests are carried out on a player suspected of contracting swine flu. |
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