Swine Flu News Blog

300 people quarantined in Hong Kong hotel over swine flu fears

swine_flu_news — Mon, 04 May 2009 16:32:15 +0000

Guests of the Metro Park Hotel in Hong Kong aren’t going to be going anywhere fast. A traveller from Mexico was staying at the Hong Kong Hotel when he tested positive for swine flu. Now, all 300 guests at the hotel are being put under swine flu quarantine in order to try to stop the continuing spread of the swine flu pandemic. This has become China’s first swine flu case and they are taking no risks. All guests and staff of the hotel have put into quarantine at the hotel for at least seven days. While they are under quarantine they are being tested for H1N1 symptoms. Thus far, 60 of those tested are showing minor swine flu symptoms. China was hit particularly hard during the SARs outbreak and therefore feel particular need for drastic steps to prevent further H1N1 outbreaks.

First human to human swine flu case confirmed in United Kingdom

swine_flu_news — Fri, 01 May 2009 16:50:17 +0000

Until now, all cases of swine flu in the United Kingdom were confirmed in people that had been to Mexico. Now, the first case of human to human transmission of swine flu in the United Kingdom has been confirmed. Graeme Pacitti, 24, from Falkirk in Scotland is a friend of Iain and Dawn Askham. The couple had previously been confirmed as having the H1N1 flu virus after returning from their honeymoon in Mexico. Graeme Pacitti hadn’t been to Mexico himself but reported having what he suspected were swine flu symptoms. Since then he has been under the close care of medical professionals while undergoing tests for swine flu.

Today, Scottish government officials called a news conference to confirm that Graeme Pacitti had been confirmed of having H1N1. Which leave him the not so fortunate position of being the first British person to have caught swine flu without having been to Mexico. Thus, confirming that the H1N1 virus can be passed from person to person instead of simply animal to human.

Mexico shutting down for five days due to swine flu outbreak

swine_flu_news — Fri, 01 May 2009 16:36:18 +0000

While fear of a global swine flu outbreak is sweeping from country to country, it is still true that Mexico remains the country which has been hit the hardest by H1N1. With the swine flu outbreak doing serious damage to the Mexican economy - most notably the vital tourism industry - the government of Mexico is doing what they can to try to put a stop to the spread of the H1N1 flu. So, as of today, Mexico is on a five day shut down which will see workplaces, schools and social venues shutting down. The Mexican government has urged people not to go out and to avoid crowds where the swine flu H1N1 virus may spread.

British government releases swine flu public information film

swine_flu_news — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 12:18:18 +0000

The news in the United Kingdom, as with most other countries, has been dominated with news of the swine flu outbreak in Mexico and around the world. The British government has been pretty quick off the mark to respond to public worries about the spread of the H1N1 virus and have produced this public information film aimed at stopping the spread of swine flu in the United Kingdom. The swine flu video from the British government discusses the need for proper personal hygiene to help limit the risk of transmitting the swine flu virus.

Dr. Hillary answers questions about swine flu symptoms

swine_flu_news — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 11:30:28 +0000

This is an excellent watch for anybody looking for plain and simple swine flu facts. Well known British doctor, Dr. Hillary did a segment on the British breakfast show GMTV where he took questions sent in by real members of the public. He took each question regarding the H1N1 virus and gave it a plain language answer. The swine flu questions range from advice on if parents should sent their kids to school during the swine flu outbreak to if the normal flu shoot offers any protection against swine flu.

After Dr. Hillary has finished, travel expert Simon Calder and answers questions regarding the travel implications of the swine flu outbreak in Mexico. It is nice to see real questions being answered and real swine flu facts being given out amongst the hysteria.

First United States swine flu death - 23 month old baby

swine_flu_news — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 16:09:50 +0000

Until now all of the swine flu deaths have been in Mexico but now the first death outside of Mexico has taken place. The first swine flu death in the United States has been a 23 month old baby from Texas. Reports surrounding the US swine flu death suggest that the baby had either recently been to Mexico or had contact with somebody who had. Which does mean that at the moment there still hasn’t been a swine flu death that isn’t in someway connected to Mexico.

Mexican Swine flu, or H1 N1 Virus as it is being called by some, has been confirmed in six American states. Those states with confirmed swine flu cases are Texas, Kansas, Indiana, New York, Ohio and California. President Obama has given his approval to school districts closing schools in areas where people have shown swine flu symptoms.

Mexico swine flu deaths number 159

swine_flu_news — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 15:47:25 +0000

The death toll in Mexico due to the swine flu outbreak now officially numbers 159. Mexican Health Minister Jose Angel Cordova says that there are a suspected 2,500 cases of swine flu in Mexico with more than 1,300 of those people in hospital with swine flu symptoms. People in Mexico have been told to avoid gathering in public places to prevent passing on any possible swine flu symptoms. Mexican officials have closed down public restaurants and anywhere that large groups of people may have gathered. Tax drivers in Mexico city have also been told to wear gloves and take whatever precautions they can to avoid frequent physical contact with other people.

Is this Mexican swine flu ground zero?

swine_flu_news — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 15:13:07 +0000

Most of the focus on the swine flu outbreak has been on where it might show up next. Yet, a big part of the Mexican flu is finding out where is started. Many believe that swine flu patient zero is a little boy in Mexico called Edgar Hernandez. People in his Mexican village believe that Edgar Hernandez was the first case of swine flu in Mexico. He is merely 5 years old but he is getting a great deal of attention because of the illness he contracted.

Edgar Hernandez’s mother and other people that live in the village in Mexico are convinced that the industrial pig farms in the town is the source of the swine flu. However, that has not been at all confirmed by any health officials.

WHO warns nations to prepare for swine flu pandemic

swine_flu_news — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 14:45:10 +0000

Every few hours another confirmed case of a person displaying swine flu symptoms is popping up somewhere around the globe. With such an widespread swine flu outbreak looking impossible to stop the World Health Organization was prompted to make a statement warning the nations of the world to prepare for a swine flu pandemic. The Mexican swine flu may have started in Mexico but,as of this report, there are cases of suspected swine flu symptoms in 20 countries.

California has declared a state of emergency as they try to prepare for the potential flu pandemic. Other nations have taken steps as far as to ban the import of pork products from Mexico and some US States. That is despite health officials stating that swine flu can not be caught from eating pork.

Pork farmers stress swine flu cant be caught from eating pork

swine_flu_news — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 11:58:43 +0000

People are understandably concerned about the potential for catching swine flu during the current outbreak of the Mexican flu. However, with concern often comes a bit of panic and rumor. One of the latest swine flu rumors to circulate is that swine flu can be caught from eating pork. Officials have gone to pains to stress that pork is safe to eat and that the public can not get swine flu from eating pork. Still, American pig farmers are worried that the message isn’t getting through to the public. So, in fear of the damage that could be done to the pork industry they have started to talk to the media and stress the safety of their product. They are also keen to highlight the precautions they are taking to prevent swine flu being an issue on their pig farms.