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World on alert as Mexico flu epidemic fear grows
Asian countries on high alert as new flu in Mexico City and the United States raises threat of a global epidemic.
- Agencies
- Published: 09:13 April 25, 2009
- Image Credit: AP
- Soldiers pass out surgical masks in Mexico City, where hundreds of shops were closed as authorities sought to contain the spread of swine flu.
Mexico City: Governments around the world rushed on Sunday to check the spread of a new type of swine flu that has killed up to 81 people in Mexico and infected hundreds.
Mexicans stayed at home while US hospitals tracked patients with flu symptoms and other countries imposed health checks at airports.
The World Health Organization (WHO) warned that the virus had the potential to become a pandemic and declared it a "public health event of international concern."
WHO Director-General Dr. Margaret Chan urged greater worldwide surveillance for any unusual outbreaks of influenza-like illness.
"(We are) monitoring minute by minute the evolution of this problem across the whole country," Mexican President Felipe Calderon said. He said up to 70 per cent of establishments in Mexico has shut down to curb the spread of the flu.
The new flu strain, a mixture of various swine, bird and human viruses, poses the biggest risk of a large-scale pandemic since avian flu surfaced in 1997.
Argentina declared a health alert, requiring travellers to advise if they had flu-like symptoms. The Philippines, Hong Kong, Braziil and Japan stepped up health checks at airports.
New flu strains can spread quickly because no one has natural immunity and a vaccine takes months to develop.
Mexican Health Minister Jose Angel Cordova said the swine flu had killed at least 20 and possibly as many as 81 people in Mexico, and more than 1,300 people were being tested for suspected infection.
Mexican Health Minister Jose Angel Cordova raised the probable death toll from the new multi-strain swine flu in Mexico to 81, including 20 already confirmed.
More than 1,300 people in Mexico are believed to have been infected, with at least 11 in the United States.
Swine flu is contagious and spreading from human to human, the Centres of Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said in a website statement.
Teams of disease sleuths have been sent to California and Texas to trace how the malady has spread, and the US offered to send scientists to Mexico.
Do you think the flu is over-rated? Do you know anyone who has been affected by the flu?
Your comments
I think that the threat of this flu virus should be taken seriously. I dont think banning pig meat is the answer instead the best way is to educate people how to be more hygenic, for example you sneeze you cover your mouth and to avoid the spitting on the streets and washing your hands with soap. People need to be re-educated thats is the key.
George
Dubai,UAE
Posted: April 26, 2009, 14:29
It is not mentioned how to identify the flu or what is the sign of the disease? Please clear.
Sashi
Sharjah,UAE
Posted: April 26, 2009, 14:14
Matter of this kind should be treated with utmost importance as this may take lives. let us always come to realise that "Prevention is better the Cure". let us do what is necessary today before anyone gets hurt tomorrow.
Jhon Carlo
Dubai,UAE
Posted: April 26, 2009, 12:19
What are the precautions? How to keep us safe from this Fatal Error?
Syed Yasir Aziz
Ras Al Khaimah,UAE
Posted: April 26, 2009, 12:05
I think, It is like bird flu. When a human has this. It will shown signs like fever and head pain.
T. Sanjethanan
Dubai,UAE
Posted: April 26, 2009, 12:00
I am Hoping that it will not be a pandemic and would not reach our regions, but at least the authorities should start putting a ban on these animals as they are readily available in some supermarkets.
Adel
Dubai,UAE
Posted: April 26, 2009, 11:34
We see these in movies only and now things like these might wipe out human race in the future.
Saqeer S. V.
Dubai,UAE
Posted: April 26, 2009, 11:33
Pig flu viruses have claimed tens of millions of human lives during the epidemics of 1918, 1957 and 1968. Therefore, every possible essential measures need to be implemented in order to contain and eradicate the threat of such diseases.
Saeed H. H. Al Yousuf
Dubai,UAE
Posted: April 26, 2009, 11:30
Why would you, GN, ask if this is over-rated? This is a very important issue and should not be taken lightly.
M. O. C.
Dubai,UAE
Posted: April 26, 2009, 10:28
This is definately not over rated! This has been brewing for a long time, and it's very frightening! Millions of people can easily become infected, a disaster waiting to happen!
Amanda Barnes
Dubai,UAE
Posted: April 26, 2009, 10:14
Considerable thing what maybe reasons for this flu? From what I know, medical science says that when an animal is cut by the front of the neck its brain doesn't die immediately. That animal emits blood with full pressure so that all bacteria emits and this is better for the meat. When animal is cut by any other way then its brain dies immediately and it doesn't emit blood with pressure due to this various bacteria remaining in the meat. I think therefore the meat of pig is to be prohibited in the region.
Tarek Jaafar
Fujairah,UAE
Posted: April 26, 2009, 08:41
What is the reaction when a human has this? What will happen to them?
Ihab
Dubai,UAE
Posted: April 26, 2009, 08:33
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