Swine flu cases in USA and Mexico

[krazzy]

Have not seen a post on this yet the flu in mexico
http://www.cbc.ca/health/story/2009/04/24/health-flu-mexico090424.html
Moderators feel free to post it in appropiate place, just feel everyone should know about it ,, thankyou

[Babaloo]

it's not in this area...
...and it was discussed in THIS thread

[krazzy]

thanx rick ,, didnt see that thread......me bad ,, as usual, have a nice day

[Arnie]

Investigators in swine flu outbreak look to Mexico - CNN.com

[mofi]

headline on msn BC this morning was WHO worried about flu in mexico

[Jesus]

I saw this one coming straight.

Quintana Roo state has no single case reported. In Mexico city is the majority of the cases.

Taken from Yahoo News:
But the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Americans need not avoid traveling to Mexico, as long as they take the usual precautions, such as frequent handwashing.
here

[roni]

From the Washington Post

but first, it is not just Mexico

At least seven people have been found to be infected with an ususual swine flu virus in California and Texas in recent days, and the CDC is testing the Mexican samples to see whether they match the strain found in the United States.

Possible Swine Flu Outbreak Kills 62 in Mexico
Video
Health Officials on Alert for Swine Flu]

Federal health experts expect to find more cases of a unique new form of swine flu as they check people who had contact with seven California and Texas residents diagnosed with the illness.

By Rob Stein
Washington Post Staff Writer
Friday, April 24, 2009; 2:34 PM

At least 854 people have been sickened and 62 have died from flu-like illness in Mexico City and two other locations in Mexico, prompting fears of an outbreak of swine flu, officials said today.

The illnesses and deaths prompted Mexican health officials to shut down schools and warn millions of people to stay home from work and take other steps to try to stem the spread of the sickness, officials said.

"For us right now it's alarming," said Sari Setiogi, a spokeswoman for the World Health Organization in Geneva, which has launched an investigation to try to determine the cause and scope of the problem. "This does raise our concern."

In the United States, the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta said it had confirmed that samples shipped from Mexico City were swine flu, but officials remained uncertain whether the virus was causing the bulk of the illnesses or any of the deaths. Other respiratory illnesses, including standard flu, were also likely present in the area, they said.

"We know swine flu is there, but how much of a role it's playing in what's going on with this respiratory illness is what we're trying to determine," said Thomas Skinner, a CDC spokesman.

The CDC planned to issue an "outbreak notice" later today alerting U.S. citizens who are traveling to the area about the cases and recommending that they take steps to protect themselves, such as washing their hands frequently. But the government did not yet plan to warn people against going to the area.
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At least seven people have been found to be infected with an ususual swine flu virus in California and Texas in recent days, and the CDC is testing the Mexican samples to see whether they match the strain found in the United States.

[Dijo]

our newspapers, if you've had your flu shot, you don't have much to worry about. If you are Canadian and didn't; then that's your problem. They are free and include anyone who is at risk i.e. seniors w. health problems, anyone who has a compromised immune system and children first and then everyone and anyone that wants one.

[Guitar Playa]

Originally Posted by Jesus

as long as they take the usual precautions, such as frequent handwashing.

Listen to your mother.....WASH YOUR HANDS!!!

Of course up here in Canuck land they will blow this out of proportion as anything to do with Mexico is dangerous...even though we probably had at least 20 people drop dead from one or another enfluenza virus related illnesses this year. I love the media here. They will probably not even acknowledge that the strain started in the US.

Reminds me of the SARS outbreak here. It was isolated pretty much to the greater Toronto area but everyone was cancelling their trips to other areas of the country like Vancouver...4,373 km away.

Glad to hear everyone is healthy in QRoo.
I will try not mingle with any pigs before I come down.

[Todd]

Between the economic slowdown, the 24/7 news coverage of the drug related crimewave and now this flue report, Mexico can't seem to get a break. Well I'm doing my part. I'm coming back to Playa for a week (5/16 - 5/23).

Todd

[laurab]

THANK YOU!!!!!
This morning at the office we said we just need a nice hurricane to finish off 2009. NOT.

Originally Posted by Todd

Between the economic slowdown, the 24/7 news coverage of the drug related crimewave and now this flue report, Mexico can't seem to get a break. Well I'm doing my part. I'm coming back to Playa for a week (5/16 - 5/23).

Todd

[roni]

There is now confirmation that the cases in Texas and California match some of the samples sent from Mexico to the US Centers for Disease Control

In any event, it has the potential to be a rapidly evolving story, and I thought a thread with a descriptive name was better than one with something along the lines of "I don't wanna scare you, but...."

(CNN) -- U.S. health officials expressed concern Friday that a swine flu virus that has infected eight people in the United States matches samples of a virus that has killed at least 60 people in Mexico.

Swine flu is usually diagnosed only in pigs or people in regular contact with them.

U.S. health experts also are concerned because nearly 1,000 people have fallen ill in Mexico City in a short period of time.

"This situation has been developing quickly," said acting CDC director Richard Besser. "This is something we are worried about."

Of the 14 Mexican samples tested by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, seven were identical to the swine flu virus found in Texas and Southern California, Besser said at a news conference.

The eighth U.S. case was reported Friday.

All of the eight U.S. patients have recovered, Besser said.

As a precaution to avoid further contamination, schools and universities in Mexico City and the state of Mexico were closed Friday, said the national health secretary, Jose Angel Cordova Villalobos. He said the schools may remain closed for a while.

[TAPPY]

I went to a seminar three months ago about the Pandemic Flu (and how our company would handle it ) - this is very scary to me.

[Babaloo]

this is popular
it's the third thread started on this today

[catnhat]

Originally Posted by Dijo

our newspapers, if you've had your flu shot, you don't have much to worry about. If you are Canadian and didn't; then that's your problem. They are free and include anyone who is at risk i.e. seniors w. health problems, anyone who has a compromised immune system and children first and then everyone and anyone that wants one.

I have to disagree with you Dijo
Receiving the flu shot does not totally protect you against contracting the flu..
Also in Alberta the flu shot is not free to everyone..
I believe these were added this year
Healthy children 24–59 months of age (two to four years old);
Healthy adults 50–64 years old;
Workers in direct contact during culling operations with poultry infected with avian influenza

Immunization – Alberta Health and Wellness

I did get a flu shot last Fall..A free one I work in a nursing home..We have had many outbreaks this season.. Touch wood so far I have not contracted the flu although I have been in contact with it many times..

..........

A flu shot is needed every year to protect you from getting the flu because the flu virus strains change each year. At the beginning of each year, the World Health Organization (WHO) recommends the three particular strains to be included in the vaccine for the upcoming flu season. (Something like a crap shoot)

What are the components of the flu vaccine in Canada for the 2008/2009 flu season?
The virus strains that this year's vaccine protects against are:

A/Brisbane/59/2007 (H1N1)
A/Brisbane/10/2007 (H3N2)
B/Florida/4/2006


And I agree with Guitar Playa
Wash your hands.... Often
also cover your mouth and nose if you couph and sneeze and ..
stay home if you are ill...