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WHO raises pandemic flu alert level to phase 5

Renae

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GENEVA – The World Health Organization has raised its pandemic alert for swine flu to the second highest level, meaning that it believes a global outbreak of the disease is imminent.

WHO says the phase 5 alert means there is sustained human to human spread in at least two countries. It also signals that efforts to produce a vaccine will be ramped up.

WHO has confirmed human cases of swine flu in Mexico, the United States, Canada, Britain, Israel, New Zealand and Spain. Mexico and the U.S. have reported deaths.

WHO Director-General Margaret Chan made the decision Wednesday to raise the alert level from phase 4 — signifying transmission in only one country — after reviewing the latest scientific evidence on the outbreak.

THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. Check back soon for further information. AP's earlier story is below.
WHO raises pandemic flu alert level to phase 5

I wonder WHO did it?

;)

Sorry couldn't resist the play on words. I'm just hoping 1 suspected case pops here where I work so we'll close for a week.
 
ATM there are no verified instance of the flu in Egypt.
The fact that the Egyptian government has gone to a measure of slaughtering all the pigs in their nation has got to make you wonder..

Thats a BIG step and is already causing alot of po'd farmers to go off.


UPDATE 2-France asks EU to suspend flights to Mexico
Wed Apr 29, 2009 1:50pm EDT
By Laure Bretton and Tim Hepher

PARIS, April 29 (Reuters) - France called on Wednesday for a European Union ban on flights to Mexico in the latest response to fears of swine flu, but the EU's executive Commission said it had no power to curtail travel from its 27 member nations.
UPDATE 2-France asks EU to suspend flights to Mexico | Reuters
 
I think the media is freaking out way too much. Yes, this is going to be a pandemic, but it's not going to kill 7% of the world. People keep citing the 1918 cases... are you seriously comparing 2008's medical and pandemic control systems to 1918's? Don't kid yourself.

The media is really looking for ratings and you can see it. The next step is everyone jumping head over heels to get the vaccine. I would never let them vaccinate me over this.
 
I think the media is freaking out way too much. Yes, this is going to be a pandemic, but it's not going to kill 7% of the world. People keep citing the 1918 cases... are you seriously comparing 2008's medical and pandemic control systems to 1918's? Don't kid yourself.

The media is really looking for ratings and you can see it. The next step is everyone jumping head over heels to get the vaccine. I would never let them vaccinate me over this.

I think you are right and wrong about this.

I think it fully has the capability to kill upwards of 10% of the World's population, but I do not think these numbers will be global. It could very well do large damage to populations in Latin America and Africa, enough so that it would give the title 10% of world's population-- you see.

I do not think it will kill nearly as many people in the more wealthy countries, those with treatments.

But you are right, the media is looking to make a pretty penny. People give them too much credibility.
 
I think the media is freaking out way too much. Yes, this is going to be a pandemic, but it's not going to kill 7% of the world. People keep citing the 1918 cases... are you seriously comparing 2008's medical and pandemic control systems to 1918's? Don't kid yourself.

.

Not to mention the improved hygiene(at least in this country). I'll probably keep my kid out of the gyms minicare for a little bit, since those are germ havens, but I am not thinking vaccine or mask until Americans start dropping like flies around me.
 
The school my little sister goes to was evacuated for 7 days today... after a second grader turned up positively infected by it.
 
I think the media is freaking out way too much.

That is curious to me too... I mean, why all the hype over a bug that's had such minimal fatalities?? But why?? Also, over the past weekend I had seen a couple odd hints that this was just the beginning.

Yes, this is going to be a pandemic, but it's not going to kill 7% of the world. People keep citing the 1918 cases... are you seriously comparing 2008's medical and pandemic control systems to 1918's? Don't kid yourself.

Correct me if I'm wrong though, but airplanes and such were not commonly used back then either, right? So, while you're right in ways, you're also wrong in ways.

People can get anywhere in the world within 24 hours.... what's the incubation period of this virus? How long does it take between time of exposure and the time you experience symptoms? 1918 what percentage of the population lived in cities? in the country?

Does the increase in medical advances compensate for these other factors? (not as an all-inclusive list either)

The media is really looking for ratings and you can see it. The next step is everyone jumping head over heels to get the vaccine. I would never let them vaccinate me over this.

Again, correct me if I'm wrong, but from the 1918 pandemic, weren't alot of the deaths seen in vaccinated patients?? The next step is quarantine the sick (whole cities / regions if need be) and enact a program of forced inoculations to 'help'.

Not to mention the improved hygiene(at least in this country). I'll probably keep my kid out of the gyms minicare for a little bit, since those are germ havens, but I am not thinking vaccine or mask until Americans start dropping like flies around me.

I hope that is the reason why it's mostly people in mexico that are dieing from this and not the other possibility which I know will get me thrown into the 'tinfoil hat category' : That this might just be an act of targeted biological warfare.... granted it's too early to tell (even from the perspective of doctors I've seen interviewed on the subject) but if you start seeing mexicans all over the us dieing while others might catch the bug but recover shortly after.... it could very well be a designer influenza virus.

What else points in that direction :
FOXNews.com - Questions and Answers About Swine Flu - Health News | Current Health News | Medical News
A never-before-seen flu strain — a mix of pig, human and bird viruses — has turned [/b]killer in Mexico and is causing milder illness in the United States and elsewhere[/b]. While authorities say it's not time to panic, they are taking steps to stem the spread and urging people to pay close attention to the latest health warnings.


What are the odds of this occuring in nature?? We're talking about a bird flu that had combined itself with a pig flu, which then combined with a human flu while still being contagious to humans.

We're in for some interesting times.
 
I still laugh at Napolitano. While other countries are taking drastic steps, BO's fearless DHS leader reminds us to wash our hands.

What's her next bit of advice? Starve a cold and feed a fever? :rofl
 
That is curious to me too... I mean, why all the hype over a bug that's had such minimal fatalities?? But why?? Also, over the past weekend I had seen a couple odd hints that this was just the beginning.



Correct me if I'm wrong though, but airplanes and such were not commonly used back then either, right? So, while you're right in ways, you're also wrong in ways.

People can get anywhere in the world within 24 hours.... what's the incubation period of this virus? How long does it take between time of exposure and the time you experience symptoms? 1918 what percentage of the population lived in cities? in the country?

Does the increase in medical advances compensate for these other factors? (not as an all-inclusive list either)



Again, correct me if I'm wrong, but from the 1918 pandemic, weren't alot of the deaths seen in vaccinated patients?? The next step is quarantine the sick (whole cities / regions if need be) and enact a program of forced inoculations to 'help'.



I hope that is the reason why it's mostly people in mexico that are dieing from this and not the other possibility which I know will get me thrown into the 'tinfoil hat category' : That this might just be an act of targeted biological warfare.... granted it's too early to tell (even from the perspective of doctors I've seen interviewed on the subject) but if you start seeing mexicans all over the us dieing while others might catch the bug but recover shortly after.... it could very well be a designer influenza virus.

What else points in that direction :
FOXNews.com - Questions and Answers About Swine Flu - Health News | Current Health News | Medical News


What are the odds of this occuring in nature?? We're talking about a bird flu that had combined itself with a pig flu, which then combined with a human flu while still being contagious to humans.

We're in for some interesting times.

Prehaps its Barack Obama's solution to illegal immigration? We had to hear for 7 years about how Bush engineered 9/11, so I am just giving Obama his conspiratorial due as CinC. ;)
 
Unemployment is skyrocketing. Economy in the crapper while we pass a $3.7 trillion budget yesterday. Bombs going off in Baghdad. Bowing to dictators, and bonding with South American dictators.

Sounds like we need us a crisis! Let's invent a pandemic!
 
Obama Flu has a nice ring to it.

Don't be troubled Americans. Our leadership in Washington is safe. Our Congressmen and women have a built up immunity to the Swine Flu, due to all the time they have spent around pork. :2razz:
 
I still laugh at Napolitano. While other countries are taking drastic steps, BO's fearless DHS leader reminds us to wash our hands.

What's her next bit of advice? Starve a cold and feed a fever? :rofl

Considering a lot of flu infections are the result of uncleanliness, this seems to be the common course of action. :roll:
 
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