H1N1 flu tally 4,379 in 29 countries - WHO

[Nikos]

http://www.reuters.com/article/lates.../idUSTHO044752

4,379 people infected with H1N1 flu in 29 countries

* Big increase in confirmed cases in United States

* First death reported in Costa Rica



ZURICH, May 10 (Reuters) - H1N1 flu has infected 4,379 people in 29 countries, the World Health Organisation (WHO) said on Sunday, increasing its count by almost a thousand in a day.

The WHO tally tends to lag national reports but is considered more definitive.

The U.N. agency said Mexico has reported 1,626 confirmed cases, up from 1,364 on Saturday, and repeated that 45 people have died there from the new flu strain that is a genetic mixture of swine, bird and human viruses.

The Mexican government has said the worst is over and eased restrictions on commercial and public activity in the country that has been at the epicentre of the outbreak.

The WHO's latest flu tally increased the number of confirmed infections in the United States to 2,254 from 1,639 reported on Saturday, while the number of reported deaths remained at two.

U.S. officials on Saturday said a man died from the new flu in Washington state last week, bringing the toll in the United States to three.

WHO increased the number of infections in Canada to 280, from 242, and repeated one person had died there.

It said one person had also died in Costa Rica, which had eight confirmed cases.

European countries with cases confirmed in WHO laboratories include Spain (93), Britain (39), Germany (11), Italy (9), France (12), Portugal (1), Ireland (1), Netherlands (3), Austria (1), Denmark (1), Sweden (1), Switzerland (1) and Poland (1).

The WHO also confirmed the following infections in the rest of the world: Israel (7), New Zealand (7), Brazil (6), Japan (4), Panama (3). South Korea (3), El Salvador (2), Hong Kong, China (1), Guatemala (1), Colombia (1) Argentina (1) and Australia (1).

Evidence that the disease, popularly known as swine flu, has taken hold in communities outside the Americas would prompt WHO Director-General Margaret Chan to declare a full pandemic.

Chan raised the global pandemic alert level last week to 5 out of 6 in response to the spread of H1N1 flu. Phase 5 means a pandemic is imminent.

The WHO also repeated its guidance that international travel should not be restricted as a result of the outbreak.

Not good, looks like the Swine Flu is still spreading, hopefully an explosion of new cases does not occur with the onset of Winter in the Southern Hemisphere and next winter in the North.

[BlackPirate]

yeah it is spreading but it was something we expected

[Exarch]

nothing to get all pissy and panicky

let's keep a cool head

[Nikos]

nothing to get all pissy and panicky

let's keep a cool head

Keep a cool head, but be watchful. Do not get lulled into a false sense of security.

[Phier]

Keep a cool head, but be watchful. Do not get lulled into a false sense of security.

What are we suppose to do regardless?

Outside of total isolation, most precautions are worthless.

[eggthief]

I think I'll just wander -a soon empty- world in a plastic bubble.

[Dunecat]

Do "pandemics" usually spread this slow, or is it slowed because of our efforts, or is it slow because it was a weak virus and we overreacted?

[Erik]

Do "pandemics" usually spread this slow, or is it slowed because of our efforts, or is it slow because it was a weak virus and we overreacted?

I think they spread slower in the past, the Spanish flu lasted more than a year and the peak lasted about two months.

[eggthief]

Well I think that the spreading is inevitable yet slow, but the danger of this flu is terribly overrated.

[rusina]

Normal flu kills more people every year.

[Cougar109]

Normal flu kills more people every year.

Yeah but the name isn't as exotic or sexy as Swine Flu, The Porky Killer.

[Holger Danske]

According to the Egyptians

[lordoftheT]

Kill anyone who sneezes. Its the only way to ensure our safety.

[The Dude]

an odd 4400 people to... millions. Billions, even. 29 countries? We're probably talking at least 1 billion people here. Who's concerned about this, honestly? 4400 people, that's twice the amount of students on my old high school. Gee, suddenly doesn't sound so scary at all. What's two high schools to 29 countries?

[Fibur]

Well, it's pretty good to remind people to wash their hands after they have been out.
I know it should be basic hygiene, but you would be surprised to see the number of people who don't even take these elementary precautions.

[Poach]

http://bbc.co.uk/europe/8027043.htm

[Player989random]

http://bbc.co.uk/europe/8027043.htm

28 WEEKS LATER. FIRE BOMB LONDON, RUN FOR YOUR SAD LIVES


Whatever. If it kills me then I die a sick death.

[WrathofTulkas]

WHO is making a big deal about this, not because of how dangerous it is now... Right now, the chances of you dieing from influenza is slim (you'd have to be immunocompromised somehow). The big deal is that viruses mutate my friends!
Everone wonder why they call it H1N1? H1 and N1 are proteins. To keep it simple different combos could be potentially dangerous ... 1918 flu adn Swine flu are similar :O
If the virus mutates into something like the 1918 flu well, the death will increase especially in countries where healthcare is limited or non existent.

[Nouvelle Vague]

http://bbc.co.uk/europe/8027043.htm

BBC is Legend!

[Cougar109]

http://bbc.co.uk/europe/8027043.htm

Spent 10 minutes looking around for the little onion symbol or something to hint that it was a joke. Time to nuke London before all the evil zombies come back to life and take over the world, eating the brains of all the living. Get your chain saws and 12. gauges ready folks.