Swine Flu Deaths Mount in Mexico

Mexican officials state that since March 2009, there have been over 1000 reported cases and put the death toll at 81, with 20 confirmed to be linked to a new swine influenza strain of Influenza A virus subtype H1N1. Officials in the United States said that eight people were infected with swine flu in California and Texas and all have recovered. Eight school children in New York City are believed to be infected after a school trip to Mexico. The New York case has been confirmed as Influenza A Virus, which meets the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (or CDC) definition of a probable case of swine flu. Tests are still underway to determine if this flu virus is the new strain of H1N1. Two cases have been confirmed in Kansas. Kansas state health officials confirmed two cases of swine flu in Kansas on 25th April 2009, just minutes after New York health officials said they had eight probable cases. In Canada, the virus has not been detected. There are no confirmed cases outside of North America. In London a member of a British Airways cabin crew was taken to hospital with "flu-like symptoms" after falling ill on a flight from Mexico City to Heathrow. The man, who has not been named, has been taken to Northwick Park Hospital in Harrow, a hospital spokesman said. The head of the World Health Organization will lead the agency's efforts against a deadly swine flu outbreak. The World Health Organization warns this new swine flu has the potential to become an international influenza pandemic. On April 25, 2009, the World Health Organization has issued a document called the Swine influenza frequently asked questions. On 24th April 2009, the World Health Organization agreed that the current situation constitutes a public health emergency of international concern

H1N1 is a subtype of the species Influenza A virus. The "H" refers to the Hemagglutinin protein, and the "N" refers to the Neuraminidase protein. H1N1 has mutated into various strains including the Spanish Flu strain (now extinct in the wild), mild human flu strains, endemic pig strains, and various strains found in birds. A variant of H1N1 was responsible for the Spanish flu pandemic that killed some 50 million to 100 million people worldwide from 1918 to 1919. A different variant exists in pig populations.

"When he compared the 1918 virus with today's human flu viruses, Dr. [Jeffery] Taubenberger noticed that it had alterations in just 25 to 30 of the virus's 4,400 amino acids. Those few changes turned a bird virus into a killer that could spread from person to person."

Low pathogenic H1N1 strains still exist in the wild today, causing roughly half of all flu infections in 2006.

In April of 2009, an H1N1 outbreak killed over eighty in Mexico, and was believed to have infected more than 1500 individuals worldwide as of April 26, 2009. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control warned that it was possible the outbreak could develop into a pandemic.

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[dumbbell33]

paulomania1 it is time to wake up ,..sorry ,..but self imposed denial isnt going to lead to a better day.

[kswatcher]

Jeffery Taubenberger should know. He reconstructed the 1918 virus. He began working on it in the mid 1990's as a potential bioweapon while at the Armed Forces Inst. of Pathology. After its reconstruction, he claimed it was extremely lethal. He should have read up on history. It was never very lethal by itself. People died from bacterial coinfections. FYI: the Rockefeller Inst. used experimental pneumonia and meningitis serums on the military at the time. Only his employers have been fooled

[SpraxIAKS]

Lol. I'm going to stop.

The deaths are small.

[joshbeast23]

u no wat people read dis i had the flu symtoms yeater day sore throat head ach feaver runny nose but not like other who dont even have any symms i didnt freak out i went to my docter he said i got the regular flu he gave me some medicine i am fine now he said people is making dis such a big deal first of all theren dying in mexico and not america and dis is same as a regular flu its such a big deal becuase its new the only reason it killin people becuase the body arent use to go through these .

[paulomania1]

the secreate is wash ur hands and stay away from those who seem to have the flu

This is just like any other flu nothing big

[AnnaPaulaShow]

how do you keep safe from this disease??? im getting kinda freaked out about it =(

[fjhfhrbkh]

lets just keep good hygene and well be ok

[strawberrylaralara]

It doesn't have to be. keep postive and keep strong.