Swine flu pandemic 'unstoppable': WHO

THE swine flu pandemic has become "unstoppable" and all nations will need access to vaccines, a WHO official said today.

Britain, Thailand and the Philippines all reported deaths today, while Saudi Arabia shut an international school after 20 students were diagnosed with the A(H1N1) virus.

As the death toll increased, the World Health Organisation official said a swine flu vaccine should be available as early as September and all countries would need to be able to protect themselves.
A group of vaccination experts concluded after a recent meeting that "the H1N1 pandemic is unstoppable and therefore all countries would need to have access to vaccines,'' said Marie-Paul Kieny, WHO director on vaccine research.

Health workers should be at the top of the list for vaccination since they will be in high demand as people continue to fall sick, she said.

Countries would be free to decide on their national priorities, but other groups should include pregnant women and anyone over six months old who has chronic health problems, the WHO official said.

Its all just a fuss over nothing? Yeh? WHO knows (pardon the pun!). Today we learn that a toddler and a Doctor from the UK both succumbed to the illness. This is tragic and sad. The issue, however, both had no underlying illness or susceptibility that made them at risk patients.

If A(H1N1) - aka Swine Flu continues to spread, it is likely to evolve. All influenza viruses adapt to the environment in which they exist. This one will be no different. Will antiviral drugs like Tamiflu continue to provide protection? Will this disease develop a more deadly strain?

More and more people are dying. Its not too worrying knowing that more people die every minute from much more mundane things (lookout for that bus!!!!!!). But how long before it grows to much larger numbers? Will the spread of the A(H1N1) see the spread of much more deadly variants just as swift?

We shall wait and see!

Sylvestor
www.twitter.com/Sylvestor

Filed under  //  Deaths   H1N1   Influenza A   Pandemic   Swine Flu   WHO  
Comments (0)
Posted 8 months ago

Australia's swine flu alert raised amid fears of full-scale epidemic

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
www.twitter.com/Sylvestor

Filed under  //  H1N1   Influenza A   Kevin Rudd   News   Swine Flu  
Comments (0)
Posted 9 months ago

Melbourne swine flu family quarantined in their home

Family
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
www.twitter.com/Sylvestor

Filed under  //  H1N1   Influenza A   Pandemic   Swine Flu  
Comments (0)
Posted 10 months ago