We're all going to die....again...

raveydavey · We're all going to die....again...

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/health/article6173927.ece

Doctors in America are advising worried patients to buy painters’ masks as a precaution against the global outbreak of swine flu that appears to have spread from Mexico to the United States, New Zealand and possibly Europe.

With the worldwide death toll standing at about 81 and with about 1,300 people infected, authorities across the globe are torn between the desire to slow down a potential flu pandemic and the need to avoid bringing major cities on every continent to an economic standstill.

As of today, the US was still allowing people to cross the border from Mexico – where it is thought the swine flu emerged last week – although customs officials at the San Ysidro and Otay Mesa border crossings were given protective masks. It is thought that eight people in US border towns have gone down with swine flu, and tonight Mayor Michael Bloomberg said that a further eight cases have been confirmed among students in New York.

There have been no deaths north of the Mexican border, however, and as of today the anti-viral drugs Tamiflu and Relenza were readily available from pharmacies in major cities. Several of those affected in the US have made full recoveries.

A spokesman for the White House said yesterday that President Obama’s health had not been endangered by his trip to Mexico City last week, in spite of reports in the Mexican press that Felipe Solis, an archaeologist who met the US leader, died soon after from “flu-like symptoms”.

Earlier today the European Commission said that there were no known cases in Europe, but within hours three suspected cases were being investigated in Spain, which has a large Mexican émigré population, in the cities of Bilbao, Valencia and Albacete. All three sufferers returned recently from Mexico. Spanish authorities are contacting passengers who were on the same flights.

Two suspected cases have been also been reported in southern France.

A suspected British case, a member of a British Airways cabin crew who started to experience flu-like symptoms on a flight from Mexico to Heathrow, was given the all-clear this morning.

However, ten teenagers from New Zealand who returned home from Mexico yesterday are thought to be suffering from the disease. None is seriously ill, the country's Health Minister said.

One of the greatest concerns over the new strain of flu is that it is seems to target young, healthy adults – the same group affected by the Spanish flu pandemic of 1918, which killed up to 100 million people.

Medical experts will meet on Tuesday to advise the World Health Organisation (WHO) on whether to raise the current pandemic alert level.

Swine flu, eh? Makes a change from bird flu.....I can't wait for Monday mornings GMTV where they'll have their usual level headed reporting on the subject... Rolling Eyes

wewantourdarbyback

Twice

Tommo

We have had information from department of health in what to do if we get any patients in who have been to Mexico. (I didn't read it yesterday as I was about to finish my shift, but will do today Very Happy

) No dout we will have increase in people coming in who have not been to USA or Mexico or any contact with infected areas saying they have swine fever Rolling Eyes

Wasn't there the same panic with bird flu.

NE1

not got any trips booked to Mexico in the near future have you Ravey?

raveydavey