Mexico Shuts Government; Pandemic Imminent

[Triad]

Mexico's president told citizens on Wednesday to stay home for a five-day partial shutdown of the economy, after the World Health Organization raised its alert level and said a swine flu pandemic was imminent.

In his first televised address since the crisis erupted last week, President Felipe Calderon told Mexicans to stay home with their families. The country will suspend non-essential work and services, including some government ministries, from May 1-5.

"There is no safer place than your own home to avoid being infected with the flu virus," Calderon said.

Mexico is taking the drastic step after another 17 deaths were potentially linked to swine flu, bringing the total to as many as 176.

...

Dr. Richard Besser, acting chief of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, said there were confirmed cases in 10 states, including 51 in New York, 16 in Texas and 14 in California. The CDC also counted scattered cases in Kansas, Massachusetts , Michigan, Arizona, Indiana, Nevada and Ohio.

At least 10 other states from Rhode Island to Nevada and the Carolinas to Illinois are examining either possible or "probable" cases of swine flu in their states.

State officials in Maine said laboratory tests had confirmed three cases in that state, not yet included in the CDC count.

And the Pentagon said a Marine at the Twentynine Palms base in California had been confirmed to be ill with swine flu and was isolated, along with his roommate. A Marine spokesman at the Pentagon, Major David Nevers, said the sick Marine was doing well and his condition continued to improve. Nevers said about 30 others who had been in contact with the sick Marine would be held apart for five days as well as to see if they show symptoms.

In Mexico, where the flu is believed to have originated, officials said Wednesday that the disease was now suspected in nearly 2,500 illnesses. The Mexican health ministry spokesman said the country has had 17 more possible swine flu deaths since Tuesday, bringing the new total up to 176.

FOXNews.com - Mexico Shuts Government; Pandemic Imminent - Infectious Disease

If you go through the past few days you'll notice its almost doubling every day. In almost every location its confirmed to be in.


...

So far the US response has been rather muted compared to everyone else on the planet. So far Janet Napolitani has been the front person..and as usual she's been more concerned with perceptions and wording then the problem at hand.

Kathleen Sebelius was confirmed as Health and Human Services Secretary real recent....

Sebelius takes lead role
Posted: Wednesday, April 29, 2009 11:49 AM by Domenico Montanaro
From NBC's Domenico Montanaro

So far, we've seen Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano out front of the swine flu outbreak.

But this morning, newly minted Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius took a leading role with a news conference at the agency.

Sebelius, who was confirmed by the Senate last night 65-31, said it is an "honor" to take a leadership position at HHS, but credited the agency's continuing strategy that has been "underway for some time."

She introduced Dr. Richard E. Besser, acting director of the Centers for Disease Control, who broke news via a video that the number of confirmed cases of swine flu in the United States have jumped to 91 in 10 states -- double the number of states previously reported by the CDC.

"Again, these numbers are almost out of date by the time I say them," Besser said.

Sebelius takes lead role - First Read - msnbc.com

She may be the most competent appointee Obama has ever put in place. Hopefully she will start kicking some butts around and get the USA to start acting like there is a problem in the real world.
Problem is she has to convince people over her who routinely prefer to ignore reality. If she doesn't cave into being a kiss ass it may take too long to wake some people up.

 

[Polynikes]

What is more imminent than a global pandemic is the collapse of the Mexican economy which in the current day and age of globalization and the 'global economy' will have very adverse effects on the United States'. Mexico is the world's 12th largest economy and the 8th most visited country in the world with an excess of 20 million people visiting it each year.

I am not sure what percentage of their GPD is generated by tourism but I do know it is their 3rd largest sector. Carnival cruise ships have already said they are not stopping in Mexico and more will follow resulting in a domino effect. Also, you will see an influx of residents fleeing populations centers and going elsewhere. Where will they go you might ask? Well, what place would be better than the country to your north where if you walk in to a hospital they are required to give you free care.

How long do you think until the pressure becomes too overwhelming for Obama to resist sealing the border? I say a week or two. The troops are almost in place do to the large rise in Mexican violence over the past couple months, which oddly, you don't hear too much about anymore. Guess the drug cartels took a break from giving each other acid baths to go buy surgical masks.

 

[Duke]

Okay, saying something "Pandemic Imminent" as fact is just ludicrous, reactionary journalism. What kind of news organization would... Oh, it's a Fox link. Anyway.


Duke

 

[Triad]

....


How long do you think until the pressure becomes too overwhelming for Obama to resist sealing the border? I say a week or two. The troops are almost in place do to the large rise in Mexican violence over the past couple months, which oddly, you don't hear too much about anymore. Guess the drug cartels took a break from giving each other acid baths to go buy surgical masks.

If it doesn't stop(by that I mean grow/expand)?..week or two.
He will be forced to if its not "contained/slowed" by then.
People will be rushing stores by then..
500,00 cases of it in the USA..Mexico:"mass graves" in Time.
Yeah

My bet is it will be a "small" thing. Fade into a news flash in a 2009 TV Guide table book.


My view though is you cannot respond to these things in this passe manner. Or you lose all "control"... and 'they' almost have lost all control.



(It could also be one hell of a wag the dog..for universal "global" healthcare..O..god:roll: lol )

 

[Triad]

Okay, saying something "Pandemic Imminent" as fact is just ludicrous, reactionary journalism. What kind of news organization would... Oh, it's a Fox link. Anyway.


Duke

WHO(World Health Organization) raised the alert to 5 and said a Pandemic is "imminent".

Current WHO phase of pandemic alert
Current phase of alert in the WHO global influenza preparedness plan
Pandemic preparedness

In the 2009 revision of the phase descriptions, WHO has retained the use of a six-phased approach for easy incorporation of new recommendations and approaches into existing national preparedness and response plans. The grouping and description of pandemic phases have been revised to make them easier to understand, more precise, and based upon observable phenomena. Phases 1–3 correlate with preparedness, including capacity development and response planning activities, while Phases 4–6 clearly signal the need for response and mitigation efforts. Furthermore, periods after the first pandemic wave are elaborated to facilitate post pandemic recovery activities.

The current WHO phase of pandemic alert is 5.

WHO | Current WHO phase of pandemic alert

The UN told member states to initiate national pandemic protective measure..

UN notches up swine flu pandemic alert to level 5
[People should wash their hands with soap and water, especially after coughing or sneezing as a precaution against swine flu]

People should wash their hands with soap and water, especially after coughing or sneezing as a precaution against swine flu
29 April 2009 – Seeing the swine flu virus spread within a raft of countries, the United Nations health agency today raised the international alert to Phase 5 on a six-point scale, signalling an imminent pandemic and urging all countries to intensify preparations.

“This change to a higher alert is a signal to Governments, to ministries of health and other ministries, to the pharmaceutical and the business communities, that certain actions now should be undertaken with extreme urgency,” Margaret Chan, Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO) said in announcing the move during a teleconference with the world press.

“All countries should immediately now activate their pandemic surveillance plans,” she said, calling on all to remain on high alert for clusters of influenza-like illness and pneumonia. Early detection and treatment of cases, and infection controls in all health facilities were also critical, she said.

UN notches up swine flu pandemic alert to level 5

The Egyptians slaughtering pigs.. the Mexicans are being told to stay home..France is calling to close down air travel in the EU to Mexico.


Big bad FOX is merely reporting the news and is rather meaningless.

I probably would have changed the headline but its not allowed
Maybe the BBC..

WHO fears pandemic is 'imminent'

BBC NEWS | Americas | WHO fears pandemic is 'imminent'
:2razz:

 

[Duke]

WHO(World Health Organization) raised the alert to 5 and said a Pandemic is "imminent".

WHO | Current WHO phase of pandemic alert

The UN told member states to initiate national pandemic protective measure..

UN notches up swine flu pandemic alert to level 5

The Egyptians slaughtering pigs.. the Mexicans are being told to stay home..France is calling to close down air travel in the EU to Mexico.


Big bad FOX is merely reporting the news and is rather meaningless.

I probably would have changed the headline but its not allowed
Maybe the BBC..

BBC NEWS | Americas | WHO fears pandemic is 'imminent'
:2razz:

I was joking in the last post (should have made that clear, my mistake), but my feeling is perhaps a more optimistic one than the tone one might ascertain from reading the news headlines. Furthermore, does anyone know quite what WHO defines a "pandemic" to be? Because the actual threat of a "pandemic" can be widely different depending on what exactly is being talked about.


Duke

 

[PeteEU]

I was joking in the last post (should have made that clear, my mistake), but my feeling is perhaps a more optimistic one than the tone one might ascertain from reading the news headlines. Furthermore, does anyone know quite what WHO defines a "pandemic" to be? Because the actual threat of a "pandemic" can be widely different depending on what exactly is being talked about.


Duke

Pandemic is when a virus spread in communities in several countries world wide. That means when people not connected to Mexico start getting sick and then their family and friends, then it starts to get serious. When that happens in several countries world wide, then you got a pandemic.

Shutting down air travel to Mexico is a logical thing to do. Even to the US to be honest (well parts). Our best defence against this, is to keep movement down to a bare necessity in hard hit areas for a bit (a week or so), as that will minimize the spread and sooner or later the virus will "burn out".

What Mexico is doing is a great response. Closing down Mexico City for a long weekend will mean that those that are infected and not showing symptoms will be showing symptoms by the end of the long weekend, and that would mean that they can be isolated and hence the spread of the virus will be slowed considerably, at least in Mexico City.

But yes there is quite a bit of hype also in the media. What they often do not mention, is that every year alone in the US, 35000 people die of the flu, so while it is serious because it is a new strain that seems to spread faster than normal, it is not unheard off that people die of the common flu. Now had it been an airborne ebola or something, then that would be a whole other thing.

 

[Polynikes]

I feel there are 4 types of people reacting to this pandemic right now

1.) Those who don't care about it, read the stats that flu kills 40,000 people a year worldwide etc and see the media as just hyping it to make a story.

2.)Those who are concerned but think it will just be a flash in the pan and refuse to be an alarmist do the reason they dont want to look like the overreacting fool if it is indeed just that, a flash in the pan.

3.) Those who are taking many of the neccessary steps in order to avoid catching and or spreading the flu. They wash their hands more often, they avoid talking to someone within 6 feet, shaking hands, going on airplanes.. etc

4.) The full blown paranoid. He has the duct tape ready, the water stored, the shotgun loaded and is just waiting, because he thinks this is 'it'

Obviously grouping large numbers of people in 4 categories will always prove somewhat inaccurate due the fact there is a myriad of variations to any of the 4 one could be.

 

[Duke]

Scientists see this flu strain as relatively mild - Los Angeles Times

As the World Health Organization raised its infectious disease alert level Wednesday and health officials confirmed the first death linked to swine flu inside U.S. borders, scientists studying the virus are coming to the consensus that this hybrid strain of influenza -- at least in its current form -- isn't shaping up to be as fatal as the strains that caused some previous pandemics.

In fact, the current outbreak of the H1N1 virus, which emerged in San Diego and southern Mexico late last month, may not even do as much damage as the run-of-the-mill flu outbreaks that occur each winter without much fanfare.

"Let's not lose track of the fact that the normal seasonal influenza is a huge public health problem that kills tens of thousands of people in the U.S. alone and hundreds of thousands around the world," said Dr. Christopher Olsen, a molecular virologist who studies swine flu at the University of Wisconsin School of Veterinary Medicine in Madison.

Duke

 

[Polynikes]

Thomas Paine posted this in the Conspiracy Theory forum but it is very relative to this conversation.

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TB5-Y08qbjo"]YouTube - Congressman Paul on the Recent Swine Flu Scare[/ame]

 

[talloulou]

The breaking news right now is that a US delegate on the trip to Mexico with Obama is now showing flu symptoms. :shock: However we are reassured that this person never got within 6 feet of Obama. :rofl

 

[Laila]

The breaking news right now is that a US delegate on the trip to Mexico with Obama is now showing flu symptoms. :shock: However we are reassured that this person never got within 6 feet of Obama. :rofl

:shock:
Wouldn't he have already have had contact with Obama before showing the symptons?

 

[Scarecrow Akhbar]

"In his first televised address since the crisis erupted last week, President Felipe Calderon told Mexicans to stay home with their families."

Damn, couldn't he have done that before thirty million of them escaped into the United States?

 

[talloulou]

:shock:
Wouldn't he have already have had contact with Obama before showing the symptons?

Apparently he is a lowly delegate who never got within 6 feet of Obama. The White House Press Secretary said they specifically asked him what the closest he got to Obama was and it was never closer than that. They attended a dinner together. Obama's drs. are watching him carefully but they think the window of exposure is such that if Obama was exposed he'd be showing symptoms by now and he's fine.

 

[Triad]

Obama already came into direct contact with a man who died from it.

A man who shook Barack Obama's hand in Mexico died the next week from symptoms similar to those of swine flu.

The White House insisted the President's health was not in any danger, but he was said to be taking the threat of an epidemic 'very seriously'.

The President's health advisers were already concerned about his visit south of the border after learning the contagious virus first struck in Mexico City on April 13 - three days before Mr Obama flew in to meet government officials.

Their alarm grew after learning that Felipe Solis, director of the National Anthropology Museum, had died from pneumonia.

Obama's swine flu scare after shaking hands with archaeologist who died a week later | Mail Online


Anyway- the aide=

White House aide's family likely has swine flu
Apr 30 01:13 PM US/Eastern

WASHINGTON (AP) - A member of the U.S. delegation that helped prepare Energy Secretary Steven Chu's trip to Mexico City has demonstrated flu-like symptoms and his family members have tested probable for swine flu.

White House spokesman Robert Gibbs said Thursday that three members of an aide's family are being tested to see if they have the same strain of swine flu that is threatening to become a pandemic. The aide worked in presidential advance, which is responsible for planning and preparing trips.

Gibbs said that Secretary Chu has not experienced any symptoms. The spokesman also said that President Barack Obama also has had no symptoms of the virus and doctors see no need to conduct any tests on his health.

White House aide's family likely has swine flu


Oh and the first death in US--had a trip to the mall.

Toddler who died of swine flu visited Houston mall
Apr 30 09:54 AM US/Eastern
By CHRISTOPHER SHERMAN
Associated Press Writers

McALLEN, Texas (AP) - A Mexico City toddler who became the first swine-flu death on U.S. soil spent a day with his family shopping at a huge Houston indoor mall the day before he began to show symptoms.

Cameron County Judge Carlos Cascos says the Brownsville family with whom the toddler was staying said they spent three nights in Houston just before he fell ill.

Hospital and health officials said Wednesday that the 23-month old Mexico City boy arrived in Brownsville on April 4 and was hospitalized four days later.
They said he had no outside contact once he was hospitalized. The family has shown no symptoms.

Toddler who died of swine flu visited Houston mall

 

[talloulou]

Did you all watch the press conference with the White House Press Secretary. I heard tons of coughing through the whole thing. :shock: :rofl

 

[Gibberish]

Did you all watch the press conference with the White House Press Secretary. I heard tons of coughing through the whole thing. :shock: :rofl

We need to sterilize our government and the media. :2wave:

 

[American]

The breaking news right now is that a US delegate on the trip to Mexico with Obama is now showing flu symptoms. :shock: However we are reassured that this person never got within 6 feet of Obama. :rofl

Do you remember when Bush offered Obama that hand cleaner at the WH and everyone got all creeped out? Yeah, well who are the morons now?

 

[Duke]

Do you remember when Bush offered Obama that hand cleaner at the WH and everyone got all creeped out? Yeah, well who are the morons now?

Bush and company are still the morons. That was easy. Wait, was that a rhetorical question? Oh, well.


Duke

 

[Triad]

WASHINGTON – Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano is asserting that the description she initially gave of the border swine-flu monitoring effort no longer applies.

Appearing Wednesday before a Senate panel, Napolitano said that "passive surveillance" is "not an accurate picture of what is going on" at U.S. entry points. She had used that term Tuesday morning to describe the nature of the monitoring for illness.

Napolitano retracts 'passive surveillance' term

:roll:

 

[zimmer]

...

FOXNews.com - Mexico Shuts Government; Pandemic Imminent - Infectious Disease

This just might be the cure for Obama.
Shut government down for the next 45 months.

My bet is we would be way better off in the end.

.

 

[Orion]

I changed my mind today about the swine flu outbreak. I think it has the potential to be very serious.

Today, I received an e-mail from the Canadian embassy in Shanghai. They said that even though no cases have been reported in China, that if flu activity reaches here, they are advising me that I have the choice to leave or I could potentially face being stuck here. The reason is that they would not allow flights from China to fly to Canada in the case of an outbreak.

They also advised that if I come down with the swine flu, that facilities where I am might not be able to adequately help me and that I could face life threatening complications.

It seems like governments are preparing for a pandemic.

 

[Polynikes]

I changed my mind today about the swine flu outbreak. I think it has the potential to be very serious.

Today, I received an e-mail from the Canadian embassy in Shanghai. They said that even though no cases have been reported in China, that if flu activity reaches here, they are advising me that I have the choice to leave or I could potentially face being stuck here. The reason is that they would not allow flights from China to fly to Canada in the case of an outbreak.

They also advised that if I come down with the swine flu, that facilities where I am might not be able to adequately help me and that I could face life threatening complications.

It seems like governments are preparing for a pandemic.

The swine flu or H1N1 (as the WHO is now calling it due to the fact the name 'Swine Flu' was leading to unnecessary slaughter of pigs) has not yet really impacted southeast Asia and China.

Virologist expected any such flu to originate in southeast Asia due to the poor health conditions and proximity people live with amongst animals.

So, I guess the question is, how bad will the flu hit in this area when it inevitably does get there and already had the potential to mutate?

At least China won't have the need to cover-up the outbreak like they did with the bird-flu seeing as it didn't originate there.