WHO declares pandemic

[FansFocus.Com]

The World Health Organization (WHO) has declared a global flu pandemic after holding an emergency meeting.

 

It means the swine flu virus is spreading in at least two regions of the world with rising cases being seen in the UK, Australia, Japan and Chile.

 

WHO chief Dr Margaret Chan said the move does not mean the virus is causing more severe illness or more deaths.

 

The swine flu (H1N1) virus first emerged in Mexico in April and has since spread to 74 countries.

 

Official reports say there have been nearly 30,000 cases globally and 141 deaths with figures rising daily.

 

Hong Kong said it was closing all its nurseries and primary schools for two weeks following 12 school cases.

 

It is the first flu pandemic in 40 years - the last in 1968 killed about one million people.

 

However, the current pandemic seems to be moderate and causing mild illness in most people.

 

Most cases are occurring in young working age adults and a third to a half of complications are presenting in otherwise healthy people.

 

Dr Chan said: "We have evidence to suggest we are seeing the first pandemic of the 21st century.

 

"Moving to pandemic phase six does not imply we will see increased in deaths or serious cases."

 

She added it was important to get the right balance between complacency and vigilance and that pandemic strategies would vary between countries depending on their specific situation.

 

And the WHO do do not recommend closure of borders or any restrictions on the movement of people, goods or services.

 

But the picture could change very quickly.

 

"No other pandemic has been detected so early or watched so closely," Dr Chan said.

 

One factor which has prompted the move to a level six pandemic was that in the southern hemisphere, the virus seems to be crowding out normal seasonal influenza.

 

The move was not prompted by the situation in any one country but the reports of several pockets of community spread, officials said.

 

The BBC's Imogen Foulkes, in Geneva, says that while the number of cases has made the declaration inevitable, the WHO will have to manage the global anxiety the declaration of a pandemic will generate.

 

Experts have warned that poorer nations, especially those in the southern hemisphere now heading into their winter season, face the greatest risk from the flu pandemic.

 

Pandemic planning

 

There have been more than 800 cases in the UK with some areas of Scotland being particularly hard hit.

 

The government has been stockpiling antivirals such as Tamiflu and has ordered vaccine, some doses of which could be available by October.

 

Chief medical officer, Sir Liam Donaldson said the WHO declaration of a pandemic would not significantly change the way the UK was dealing with swine flu at the moment.

 

But he added there could be some minor changes to who received antivirals.

 

"The declaration of a pandemic per se doesn't make a big difference to the to the way we are handling the outbreaks we have.

 

"We are going to continue to investigate every case that occurs and treat their contacts with antivirals even though they may not be ill.

 

"The difference is that the Health Protection Agency has learnt a lot about approaching this question of antiviral prophylaxis and they are going to be treating the closer contacts of the cases, rather than the more far-flung contacts, because they feel that that is supported by what they know so far about how the disease is transmitting.

 

He added: "These flu viruses can change their pattern of attack, so when we come into the flu season in the autumn and winter in this country, when we expect a big surge of cases, we need to watch very carefully to see if the character of the virus is changing."

 

Scottish health secretary Nicola Sturgeon said a move to level six means that countries need to be ready to implement pandemic plans immediately but the UK was already operating at a "heightened state of readiness".

 

But it could affect the speed at which the UK gets pandemic vaccine supplies but that had been factored into pandemic planning.

 

Flu expert Professor John Oxford said people should not panic as the outbreak was milder than others seen in the past century.

 

"It is global and fulfilling the requirements of a pandemic but I don't think anyone should worry because nothing drastic has happened between yesterday and today."

 

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/8094655.stm

[Guest MOB on the rock]

I dunno who declared pandemic it werent me!!

[Big J R]

More people have died in the States of ordinary flu than swine flue.

 

What's the panic ?

[coupwotcoup]

So it's all Roger Daltry's fault then?

[American FLEET FAN No1]

I can't find the CD anywhere!

[FansFocus.Com]

A patient with swine flu has died in hospital, a Scottish government spokesman has confirmed.

 

The patient had underlying health conditions and was one of 10 people who were being treated in hospital in the greater Glasgow area.

 

This is the first death in the UK of someone with swine flu since the outbreak began.

 

The swine flu virus has infected almost 500 people in Scotland alone - with 35 new cases being confirmed on Sunday.

 

A statement issued by the Scottish Government said: "With regret, we can confirm that one of the patients who had been in hospital, and had been confirmed as suffering from the H1N1 virus, has died today.

 

"The patient had underlying health conditions."

 

The statement added that, at the family's request, no further details will be released.

 

Virologist Professor John Oxford says that despite the death, the public should not panic.

 

"I still think the chances of picking up the virus are remote. It is not going to get any worse during the summer."

 

Professor Oxford said he did not think the the public had become complacent and said the country was well prepared in terms of anti-virals.

 

The UK government outlined measures it has taken to combat the outbreak earlier this week.

 

Ministers urged people not to alter their normal behaviour and follow hand hygiene guidelines.

[coupwotcoup]

and steer clear of Scotland (and Mexico).

[BOROMAN]

Originally Posted By: MOB on the rock

I dunno who declared pandemic it werent me!!

Zody or Richard 123 I reckon!