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Suspected Mexico flu toll hits 81 Suspected Mexico flu toll hits 81
(about 1 hour later)
The Mexican authorities say 81 people are now thought to have been killed by an outbreak of a human swine flu virus.The Mexican authorities say 81 people are now thought to have been killed by an outbreak of a human swine flu virus.
Public buildings have been closed, large events cancelled and people told to stay at home in an attempt to prevent the spread of infection. People have been told to stay at home to contain the infection, which the World Health Organization (WHO) has warned could become a pandemic.
The World Health Organization has said the virus could become a pandemic and is a matter of "international concern." Confirmed or suspected cases have also been reported in the US and elsewhere.
Several people have also fallen ill in the United States, but there have been no reported fatalities. At least some confirmed cases show a new version of the H1N1 swine flu sub-strain - a disease which infects pigs but only sporadically infects humans.
Hundreds of public events have been suspended in Mexico and schools in and around the capital, Mexico City, have been closed until 6 May. SWINE FLU Swine flu is a respiratory disease found in pigsHuman cases usually occur in those who have contact with pigsHuman-to-human transmission is rare and such cases are closely monitored class="" href="/1/hi/health/8017585.stm">Q&A: Swine flu class="" href="/1/hi/uk/8018887.stm">UK monitoring flu outbreak
Museums and libraries have also been closed and people are being urged to avoid shaking hands or sharing crockery. H1N1 is the same strain that causes seasonal flu outbreaks in humans, but the newly detected version contains genetic material from versions which usually affect pigs and birds.
There is currently no vaccine for the new strain but severe cases can be treated with antiviral medication.
It is unclear how effective currently available flu vaccines would be at offering protection against the new strain, as it is genetically distinct from other flu strains.
The respiratory virus is spread mainly through coughs and sneezes.
Although all of the deaths so far have been in Mexico, the flu is spreading in the United States and suspected cases have been detected elsewhere:
  • Eleven confirmed infections in the US
  • In addition, eight suspected cases are being investigated at a New York City high school where about 200 students fell mildly ill with flu-like symptoms
  • Twenty-two students and three teachers in New Zealand, some suffering flu-like symptoms, have been quarantined and tested for swine flu after returning from a trip to Mexico
  • But a UK hospital conducting tests for swine flu on a British Airways cabin crew member admitted on Saturday said the tests proved negative.
Mexico shutdown
In Mexico, public buildings have been closed and hundreds of public events suspended.
Schools in and around Mexico City have been closed until 6 May, and some 70% of bars and restaurants in the capital have been temporarily closed.
People are being strongly urged to avoid shaking hands, and the US embassy has advised visitors to the country to keep at least six feet (1.8m) from other people.
HAVE YOUR SAYIt's eerily quiet here in the capital. Lots of people with masks Dr Duncan Wood, Mexico City Read more experiencesHAVE YOUR SAYIt's eerily quiet here in the capital. Lots of people with masks Dr Duncan Wood, Mexico City Read more experiences
Mexico's Health Secretary, Jose Cordova, said a total of 1,324 people had been admitted to hospital with suspected symptoms since 13 April and were being tested for the virus.Mexico's Health Secretary, Jose Cordova, said a total of 1,324 people had been admitted to hospital with suspected symptoms since 13 April and were being tested for the virus.
"In that same period, 81 deaths were recorded probably linked to the virus but only in 20 cases we have the laboratory tests to confirm it," he said."In that same period, 81 deaths were recorded probably linked to the virus but only in 20 cases we have the laboratory tests to confirm it," he said.
Mexico's President Felipe Calderon has announced emergency powers to deal with the situation. Mexico's President Felipe Calderon has announced emergency measures to deal with the situation.
He said he had published a decree through which the government "assumes the faculties and the attributions given by the constitution to the president in case of emergency, like the one we are seeing now". They include powers to isolate individuals suspected of having the virus without fear of legal repercussions.
The measures give the authorities the powers to isolate individuals suspected of having the virus and inspect their homes.
Mr Calderon said Mexico was facing "something unknown" but that the authorities had "large supplies" of the relevant medication.
'International concern''International concern'
In the US, 11 people are now confirmed to have been infected with the new strain - seven people in California, two in Texas, and two in Kansas. In the US, seven people in California, two people in Texas, and two people in Kansas have been infected with the new strain.
SWINE FLU Swine flu is a respiratory disease found in pigsHuman cases usually occur in those who have contact with pigsHuman-to-human transmission is rare and such cases are closely monitored Q&A: Swine flu UK monitoring flu outbreak
Eight suspected cases are being investigated at a New York City high school where about 200 students fell mildly ill with flu-like symptoms.
City health commissioner Dr Thomas Frieden said preliminary tests of the specimens showed they were possible cases of swine flu.
Further tests will clarify if it was the same strain that was detected in the other three states.
Dr Frieden urged people to maintain basic hygiene, such as covering their mouths when coughing and sneezing, washing hands regularly and keeping surfaces clean.
Following a meeting of its emergency committee on Saturday, the WHO said the virus had the potential to become a pandemic but it was too early to say whether that would happen.
WHO Director General Margaret Chan said recent events constituted "a public health emergency of international concern" and that countries needed to cooperate in heightening surveillance.
The WHO has set a worldwide pandemic alert of level three, meaning a new virus has been confirmed but there is no or limited evidence of human to human transmission.
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Face masks are handed out, while the head of the WHO voices concernFace masks are handed out, while the head of the WHO voices concern
The highest alert on the six-point scale warns of "efficient and sustained human-to-human transmission". In New York, city health commissioner Dr Thomas Frieden said preliminary tests conducted on the ailing students showed they were possible cases of swine flu.
Raising the alert level could lead to travel advisories, trade restrictions and border closures. Further tests will clarify if it was the same strain that was detected in the other three states.
The WHO is advising all countries to be vigilant for seasonally unusual flu or pneumonia-like symptoms among their populations - particularly among young healthy adults. Following a meeting of its emergency committee on Saturday, the WHO said the virus had the potential to become a pandemic but it was too early to say whether that would happen.
Officials said most of those killed so far in Mexico were young adults - rather than more vulnerable children and the elderly.
Early days
At least some of the detected flu cases show a new version of the H1N1 swine flu sub-strain - a respiratory disease which infects pigs but only sporadically infects humans.
PANDEMIC CRITERIA Virus can infect peopleIt can easily spread person-to-personNo immunity in humansPANDEMIC CRITERIA Virus can infect peopleIt can easily spread person-to-personNo immunity in humans
H1N1 is the same strain that causes seasonal flu outbreaks in humans, but the newly-detected version contains genetic material from versions which usually affect pigs and birds. WHO Director General Margaret Chan said recent events constituted "a public health emergency of international concern" and that countries needed to co-operate in heightening surveillance.
The virus is spread mainly through coughs and sneezes. The WHO is advising all countries to be vigilant for seasonally unusual flu or pneumonia-like symptoms among their populations - particularly among young healthy adults, a characteristic of past pandemics.
There is currently no vaccine for the new strain but severe cases can be treated with antiviral medication. Officials said most of those killed so far in Mexico were young adults - rather than more vulnerable children and the elderly.
It is unclear how effective currently available flu vaccines would be at offering protection against the new strain, as it is genetically distinct from other flu strains.
Are you in Mexico or the US? Do you know someone who has been affected by the outbreak? Tell us your experiences by filling in the form below.Are you in Mexico or the US? Do you know someone who has been affected by the outbreak? Tell us your experiences by filling in the form below.
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