AN emergency medical response crew is rushing to the isolated WA indigenous community that was home to the first swine flu sufferer to die in Australia.

The team will land at Kiwirrkurra, more than 600km west of Alice Springs in the Gibson Desert, as doctors and health services warn of the extra risk posed to indigenous communities by the virus.

Public health experts are worried that swine flu is likely to hit Aboriginal communities hard, because many people suffer health conditions that make them vulnerable to the virus.

There has been a lot of criticism here in Australia about the over-reaction to the Swine Flu pandemic. Although the influenza strain may well be "mild" in comparison to other strains of the flu, and indeed other conditions and diseases, it still poses a great risk.

It is new! There is little natural immunity. And, as has been seen here in Australia, poses a real health threat to some members of our community (the young, elderly, infirmed, respiratory illness sufferers etc).

An outbreak of H1N1 A in a remote indigenous community would be disastrous. How it got there, when, why - it really doesn't matter now. Protecting the people of that community and ensuring it doesn't spread is vital. I don't think we have seen the last death.

Whether or not you believe in this global pandemic, or its seriousness, is not the point now. I certainly hope that it doesn't get worse, particularly in these remote areas.

Sylvestor
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UPDATE: 4.45pm A SWISS company is today claiming to have made the world's first swine flu vaccine.

Novartis, which has its Australian headquarters in Sydney, announced it had successfully completed cell-based production of the first batch of A(H1N1) vaccine.

``Based on that success, the company expects to be able to achieve rapid production," a Novartis spokesman said.

``The vaccine is in clinical trials now.''

So they have made their vaccine. I am sure it will work, for some, but knowing we (in Aus) are about to head into our Flu season - or we are here now - I would suspect that it wouldn't be long before A(H1N1) or SwineFlu will most likely evolve as it mixes with other nasty flu-bugs.

For the conspiracy-mob out there - perhaps they've had the vaccine all along, but needed the world to hit Level 6 Pandemic before making any moves on disclosure! Testing the waters for biological-attack perhaps?

I await the "War on Influenza"!

Sylvestor
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THE Federal Government's decision to move to a containment stage to deal with swine flu will be disruptive but necessary, Prime Minister Kevin Rudd says.

Mr Rudd said he had been briefed by Australia's chief medical officer and there had been 13 confirmed cases of the virus in Australia to date.

"The Government has acted in response to each and every recommendation put to the government by the professional health authorities across our nation," he said.

"This will of course involve inconvenience to communities as certain schools are temporarily closed down."

Mr Rudd said he understood that would cause inconvenience to families.

KRuddism's at work! Of course we all "know" that N1H1 Influenza only impacts school-aged children! Mr Rudd, please don't try and create public hysteria via naiive media outlets! The raised Pandemic Level to "Contain" has nothing to do with "Schools" as such. Learn what "social distancing" means please, and lets actually spread facts and not more tripe!

Disappointed by the ongoing KRuddite view of the world! And parents, keep your children in school and teach them about good hygiene and manners!

Sylvestor
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Isolated ... Jimmy Dickson and Stephanie Gotlib with their son Adam. Picture: Darryl Gregory

• Ten cases of swine flu in Australia
• Family of six confined to home for two weeks
• Primary school closed due to concerns

THREE new cases of swine flu were last night identified as an infected Melbourne family confined to their home spoke of their ordeal.

The family of six faces two weeks in quarantine to protect others, the Herald Sun reports.

"The walls are not getting too small yet, but I'm sure they will," said Stephanie Gotlib.

There has been a lot of boo-hoo'ing about N1H1 here in Australia of late. Primarily the feeling over "over-reaction, beat-up, nonsense" etc.

I think people need to understand a bit more about their world. The WHO still classifies the world in a state Pandemic Level 5. Here in Australia we are at a state of alert, and the threat of global pandemic still exists.

Do people actually understand what a "pandemic" is? Just because this particular virus doesn't necessarily cause major casualties, does not mean it can't reach pandemic levels.

It is here. In Australia. Its a nasty flu, but not necessarily 'deadly'. Me? I would rather not get it, are you prepared?

Sylvestor
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There truly are way too many stupid people in the world.

Vaccinate your children people!! Properly!! And avoid catching "stupidity" no matter how low the risk of contracting illness is, this is the most rediculous thing I've read this morning...prove me wrong!

Sylvestor
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Sometimes its a strange world in which we live. The following is from Reuters news feed today

KABUL (Reuters) - Afghanistan's only known pig has been locked in a room, away from visitors to Kabul zoo where it normally grazes beside deer and goats, because people are worried it could infect them with the virus popularly known as swine flu.

The pig is a curiosity in Muslim Afghanistan, where pork and pig products are illegal because they are considered irreligious, and has been in quarantine since Sunday after visitors expressed alarm it could spread the new flu strain.

And yet, there is an aspect of sadness really. How lonely must that pig be????

Sylvestor
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