WHO: Swine Flu Has "Pandemic Potential"

(CBS/AP)  A deadly new swine flu strain that has killed at least 20 people in Mexico City and sickened more than 1,000 has "pandemic potential," the World Health Organization chief said Saturday - but some fear it may be too late to contain the outbreak.

With 24 new suspected cases of the swine flu reported Saturday, Mexico City said schools would remain closed and all public events suspended until further notice - including more than 500 concerts, sporting events and other gatherings including the popular weekly bicycle rides on streets closed to traffic.

A hotline set up the previous day fielded 2,366 calls from frightened city residents who suspected they might have the disease. City Health Secretary Armando Ahued said 10 new possible cases of infection have been discovered in the metropolis of 20 million people.

The Mexican government also issued a special decree clarifying Health Department powers to isolate patients and to inspect homes, incoming travelers and baggage to curb an outbreak of swine flu.

Officials say the decree gives clear legal authority to health department workers who might otherwise face lawsuits.

The decree published Saturday says President Felipe Calderon has authority to invoke the new powers when the situation warrants.

Officials say more than 1,000 people have been infected nationwide. Tests show 20 people have died of the swine flu, and 48 other deaths were probably due to the same strain.

Meanwhile, New York City health officials say at least eight schoolchildren have a type-A influenza virus. It could be swine flu, but officials won't know for sure until tests are conducted by the U.S Centers for Disease Control, reports CBS News correspondent Randall Pinkston.

The flu outbreak at St. Francis Prep in Queens is a troubling development. Of the eight strains of flu virus collected for testing, two came from students who had visited Mexico with their parents on spring break last week.

With at least 24 new swine flu cases in Mexico City confirmed today, American officials are keeping close watch on possible outbreaks north of the border, Pinkston reports.

The CDC confirms 10 cases of swine flu virus in the U.S. - two new cases in Kansas today, along with six yesterday in California and two in Texas.

"We do not think we can contain the spread of this virus," said Dr. Anne Schuchat, a top CDC official.

St Francis Prep is now sanitizing its building, as health officials worry about a possible swine flu pandemic.

"You could be looking at a significant number of people who are very ill and overwhelming our health care systems," said Dr. Myles Druckman, vice president of International SOS.

The illnesses in Texas and California have puzzled experts because none of the patients had contact with pigs, the typical avenue of transmission.

All of the American patients recovered, report CBS News correspondent Sandra Hughes, but she notes that more than 600,000 people cross the U.S.-Mexico border every day, creating a potentially wider outbreak.

This virus is a mix of human, pig and bird strains that has epidemiologists around the world deeply concerned. The World Health Organization convened in Geneva Saturday to consider whether to declare an international public health emergency - a step that could lead to travel advisories, trade restrictions and border closures.

The agency's director-general, Margaret Chan, said the outbreak involves "an animal strain of the H1N1 virus, and it has pandemic potential because it is infecting people.

"However, we cannot say, on the basis of currently available laboratory, epidemiological and clinical evidence, whether or not it will indeed cause a pandemic," she added.

(AP Photo/Alexandre Meneghini)

(Left: People wearing surgical masks as a precaution against infection at a subway station in Mexico City, April 24, 2009.)

It is the first time Chan has convened such a crisis panel since the procedure was created almost two years ago, a WHO spokesman said.

Speaking via a telephone news conference in Geneva, Chan said a new disease is by definition poorly understood, but that the situation involving this strain of swine flu is evolving quickly.

Meanwhile, the CDC and Canadian health officials were studying samples sent from Mexico, and some governments in Asia and Latin America began monitoring passengers arriving on flights from Mexico.

But it may be too late to contain the outbreak, given how widespread the known cases are. If the confirmed deaths are the first signs of a pandemic, then cases are probably incubating around the world by now, said Dr. Michael Osterholm, a pandemic flu expert at the University of Minnesota.

No vaccine specifically protects against swine flu, and it is unclear how much protection current human flu vaccines might offer.

On The Early Show, CBS News medical correspondent Dr. Jennifer Ashton said there is no cause for panic just yet. She said the concern being shown by health officials is because of how the flu has been transmitted.

"This is the first time that this particular strain has been seen in human beings, so it appears that the virus is starting to get smart and jump species; that's what they're tracking," Dr. Ashton said.

She said that people experiencing common symptoms of influenza - fever, body aches, headache, cough, runny nose, vomiting - who think they might have been exposed should see a doctor within the first 24 to 48 hours.

"This strain appears to be sensitive to the anti-flu medications," she said, but the prognosis is better the faster you are diagnosed and start treatment.


CDC Guidance For Clinicians

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommend health professionals should consider the possibility of swine influenza virus infections in patients who show symptoms of febrile respiratory illness who:

1. Live in San Diego County or Imperial County, California or San Antonio, Texas, or
   
2. Have traveled to San Diego and/or Imperial County, California or San Antonio, Texas, or
   
3. Have been in contact with ill persons from these areas in the 7 days prior to their illness onset.

If swine flu is suspected, clinicians should obtain a respiratory swab for swine influenza testing and contact their state or local health department to facilitate transport and timely diagnosis.

CDC Guidance For California And Texas Residents

CDC has identified human cases of swine influenza A (H1N1) virus infection in people in these areas. This virus is contagious and spreads from human to human; however, at this time we have not determined how easily the virus spreads between people. As with any infectious disease, we recommending precautionary measures for people in these areas.

• 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 hands cleaners are also effective.
  
• Try to avoid close contact with sick people.
  
• If you get sick, CDC recommends that you stay home from work or school and limit contact with others to keep from infecting them.
  
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth. Germs spread that way.

Because there is no vaccine available, it is important that people living in these areas take steps to prevent spreading the virus to others. If people are ill, they should attempt to stay at home and limit contact with others.

For more info:

Latest updates from World Health Organization

Information on Swine Flu from Centers For Disease Control and Prevention

[BLU_ID_CALI_QT]

ALTHOUGH WE LIVE IN THE LAND OF THE FREE AND THE BRAVE, WE ALSO FIND OURSELVES LIVING IN THE LAND OF THE SINKING VERY FAST. RIGHT NOW THERE ARE SO MANY PEOPLE THAT CANT AFFORD HEALTH CARE, THESE ARE THE ONES THAT WILL JUST CARRY AND PASS THE FLU ALONG. IS THERE ANY WAY EACH COMMUNITY CAN SET UP A FREE TESTING CENTER? THOSE THAT ARE POSITIVE WILL ALSO RECIEVE FREE MEDS, IF THIS HAPPENS, WE WILL BE ABLE TO GET A HANDLE ON THIS FLU BEFORE IT GETS ALL CRAZY. IF THERE IS NO WHERE FOR PEOPLE TO GO FOR HELP THEN IT WILL JUST GET WORSE.

[katg21]

that the infected are growing aggressive and hyper-active in the height of the flu and that there have been assaults and of patients biting hospital workers. This is causing the flu to spread much faster than people think.
Posted by mycatislover

Yeah, I saw that movie.

[mycatislover]

My aunt lives nearby a hospital in Mexico, as of yet she not know anyone personally who has been infected but I can tell you, the media are covering things up. It is actually much worse than they are telling people. I have even heard, from a friend who works at the hospital, that the infected are growing aggressive and hyper-active in the height of the flu and that there have been assaults and of patients biting hospital workers. This is causing the flu to spread much faster than people think.

[katg21]

Wrong...anyone educated in public schools is being endoctrinated (oops, you probably don't know what that is). Look it up.
Posted by katg21

Indoctrinated...must have the correct spelling first.

[katg21]

I listened/watched Obama's press conference on the swine flu...seemed like he was trying to sell something. What was it that Rahm said..."always take advantage of a crisis"? Hmmm...pay attention drones, the topic of universal healthcare is about to slap you in the face.

[katg21]

We have "socialized" public education.
Is the goverment deciding who gets an education?
Based on Neo-Con logic, anyone eduacted in a publc school is a Socialist.
Posted by hbkepi

Wrong...anyone educated in public schools is being endoctrinated (oops, you probably don't know what that is). Look it up.

[homespunlady]

Just a quick quoted paragraph from info on the flu on Globalsecurity.org

"A pandemic will last much longer than most public health emergencies and may include "waves" of influenza activity separated by months. In 20th century pandemics, a second wave of influenza activity occurred 3 to 12 months after the first wave. In 1957 the second wave began 3 months after the peak of the first wave, while in 1968 the second wave began 12 months after peak of the first wave. The first wave of the 1918 flu occurred in the spring of that year ending in March. That flu was very severe by usual standards but the second wave beginning 6 months later in September was the most fatal. During the 1918 pandemic, the deadly second wave was responsible for more than 90% of the deaths for the entire pandemic. The third wave occurred more than a year later, during the following 1919-1920 winter/spring, and was the mildest of all."

[boiler_tech]

Beauty:

Rick Perry, After Raising Secession, Calls For Fed Help With Swine Flu

Less than two weeks after raising the prospect of seceding from the union, Texas Gov. Rick Perry is calling on the federal government to come to his state's aid in the midst of the swine flu outbreak.

The San Marcos Record reports:

Gov. Rick Perry today in a precautionary measure requested the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) provide 37,430 courses of antiviral medications from the Strategic National Stockpile to Texas to prevent the spread of swine flu. [...]

"As a precautionary measure, I have requested that medication be on hand in Texas to help curb the spread of swine flu by helping those with both confirmed and suspected cases of this swine flu virus, as well as healthcare providers who may have come in contact with these patients," said Gov. Rick Perry. "We will continue to work with our local, state and federal health officials to ensure public safety is protected."


Back on April 15, Perry was taking a rather different stance towards the federal government:

"There's a lot of different scenarios," Perry said. "We've got a great union. There's absolutely no reason to dissolve it. But if Washington continues to thumb their nose at the American people, you know, who knows what might come out of that. But Texas is a very unique place, and we're a pretty independent lot to boot."

He said when Texas entered the union in 1845 it was with the understanding it could pull out. However, according to the Texas State Library and Archives Commission, Texas negotiated the power to divide into four additional states at some point if it wanted to but not the right to secede.
Posted by rednomo at 11:24 AM : Apr 26, 2009

Excellent citations on the two faces (currently) of Rick Perry. On Teabagging Day he panders to the lowest common denominator, making such an outrageous speech to the most right wing of the conservative movement. He's hoping this will rocket him into the next presidential contender scene.
Then to follow that with a plea to the Federal government, specifically to HHS and CDC, for exceptional consideration because Texas is on the front line of this potential pandemic. I don't fault Perry about asking for more flu prevention considerations for Texans, but it irks me to no end that he played up seceding from the Union 10 days earlier. How many sides of his mouth will we find out that he eventually has for political gain?

[apndrgn]

Mexico has slim, who passed bill gates recently in wealth, and controls the phone service. wonder where he throws his hanky when he sneezes.

[hbkepi]

We have "socialized" public education.
Is the goverment deciding who gets an education?
Based on Neo-Con logic, anyone eduacted in a publc school is a Socialist.