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Swine Flu Outbreak
Human Swine Influenza Investigation
As of 9:00am EDT
Sunday, April 26, 2009
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CDC, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, has confirmed 20 human cases of swine flu in the U.S.:
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California: 7
Kansas: 2
New York City: 8
Ohio: 1
Texas: 2
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Investigations are ongoing to determine the source of the infection and whether additional people have been infected with swine influenza viruses.
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> Learn more about Swine Flu and CDC investigation at…
CDC Swine Flu website .................................................................
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POST UPDATE:
Monday, April 27, 2009
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* Fox News has the following report this Monday morning…
There are now 40 confirmed cases of swine flu in the U.S., the World Health Organization said Monday, adding that it is "very concerned" about the new strain of influenza… Governments are racing to find and contain pockets of swine flu around the globe, seeking to stem both the threat of a pandemic and public panic…
Read the full report at link below…
World Races to Contain Swine Flu Outbreak
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* BBC News has the following Article/News Video/World Outbreak Map at link below…
Warnings as swine virus spreads
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* You can find lots of info/maps at the following Government website:
PandemicFlu.gov .
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Military Monitors Swine Flu with Focus on Protecting Force
Written by Donna Miles
Taken from a News Article by DoD’s American Forces Press Service
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WASHINGTON, April 27, 2009 - The Defense Department is monitoring the swine flu situation closely, with its primary focus on protecting the military population, a senior Pentagon official said today.
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As the Department of Health and Human Services leads the U.S. effort, the military is posturing itself to respond if required, Pentagon spokesman Bryan Whitman told reporters today.
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"We certainly have a number of contingency plans for dealing with health incidences like this, because our primary goal is preservation of the fighting force," he said. "So we obviously have plans and take measures to ensure that we can preserve the fighting strength of the military in the event that there should be a greater crisis with respect to a health situation like this."
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Two prescription anti-viral drugs, relenza and tamiflu, already are standard stock at U.S. military treatment facilities, and larger quantities are stockpiled at several sites in the United States and overseas, Whitman said.
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President Barack Obama told the National Academy of Sciences today the emerging incidence of swine flu in the United States "is obviously a cause for concern and requires a heightened state of alert, but it's not a cause for alarm."
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The Centers for Disease Control has confirmed 20 cases of swine flu virus infection in the United States in California, Kansas, New York City, Ohio and Texas. None have involved members of the military or their families.
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Greater cases of infections have been reported internationally, particularly in Mexico.
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Obama said HHS has declared a public health emergency only "as a precautionary tool to ensure that we have the resources we need at our disposal to respond quickly and effectively." HHS, the CDC and the Department of Homeland Security will provide the American people regular updates about steps being taken and precautions that may be required, he said.
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Meanwhile, the U.S. Office of Personnel Management Director John Berry distributed CDC guidelines for preventing the spread of swine flu to the federal work force. Berry also distributed guidance for federal agencies to protect their work forces and the public and to ensure continuity of operations in the event that they must institute their already-prepared pandemic influenza preparedness plans.
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CDC recommends the following actions people can take to stay healthy:
-- Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Throw the tissue in the trash after you use it.
-- Wash your hands often with soap and water, especially after you cough or sneeze. Alcohol-based hand cleaners also are effective.
-- Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth. Germs spread that way.
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CDC also recommends avoiding close contact with sick people, particularly if they are coughing or sneezing, and to stay home if you're sick to avoid infecting others.
.……………………..……………….Monday Evening Update:
.Mexico outbreak traced to 'manure lagoons' at pig farm
A village where residents have long complained about the smell and flies from a pig farm may be the source of the outbreak…Read this report from the TimesOnline.co.uk website HERE.AP website has this report up on their website this evening…
The swine flu epidemic entered a dangerous new phase Monday as the death toll climbed in Mexico and the number of suspected cases there and in the United States nearly doubled. The World Health Organization raised its alert level but stopped short of declaring a global emergency.
Read the full report at link below…
Swine flu epidemic enters dangerous new phase .
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The following is from an email by CDC
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Situation in the United States
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As of 1:00 PM ET on April 27, 2009, CDC has confirmed 40 human cases of swine flu in the United States:
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California: 7 cases
Kansas: 2 cases
New York City: 28 cases
Ohio: 1 case
Texas: 2 cases
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Of these 40 cases, there have been zero deaths. Only one has been hospitalized. All 40 have fully recovered.
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For more information, please see the CDC Swine Flu website.
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Situation in Mexico
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At this time, CDC recommends that U.S. travelers avoid all nonessential travel to Mexico.
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As of April 27, 2009, the Government of Mexico has reported 18 laboratory confirmed human cases of swine influenza A/H1N1 infection. Investigation is continuing to clarify the spread and severity of the disease in Mexico. Suspect clinical cases have been reported in 19 of the country's 32 states. The World Health Organization (WHO), the Global Alert and Response Network (GOARN), and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have sent experts to Mexico to work with health authorities. CDC has confirmed that seven of 14 respiratory specimens sent to CDC by the Mexican National Influenza Center are positive for swine influenza virus and are similar to the swine influenza viruses recently identified in the United States.
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On April 25, the WHO Director-General declared this event a Public Health Emergency of International Concern under the rules of the International Health Regulations. CDC and state public and animal health authorities are currently investigating 20 cases of swine flu in humans in California, Texas, Kansas, Ohio, and New York City. Some of the U.S. cases have been linked to travel to Mexico. CDC is concerned that continued travel by U.S. travelers to Mexico presents a serious risk for further outbreaks of swine flu in the United States.
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For more information, please see the full Travel Health Warning for Mexico posted on April 27, 2009.
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What You Can Do to Stay Healthy
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There are everyday actions people can take to stay healthy.
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Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Throw the tissue in the trash after you use it.
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Wash your hands often with soap and water, especially after you cough or sneeze. Alcohol-based hands cleaners are also effective.
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Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth. Germs spread that way.
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Try to avoid close contact with sick people.
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Influenza is thought to spread mainly person-to-person through coughing or sneezing of infected people.
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If you get sick, CDC recommends that you stay home from work or school and limit contact with others to keep from infecting them.
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Additional Updates to the Website
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CDC has posted several additional updates to the website in the past 24 hours. For more information, please see the CDC Swine Flu website. All updates are listed promptly on the "What's New" page.
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AubreyJ………
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