PHOTO: AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE
ALERT LEVELS
WHO ALERT PHASE: 5
Widespread human infection
MOH ALERT SYSTEM: Orange
Virus evolves into human disease. Local confirmation of new cases.
SUSPECTED AND CONFIRMED CASES
LATEST: Mexico’s health secretary says the number of confirmed swine flu cases has risen to 473, including 19 people who died. The previous confirmed death toll was 16. Jose Angel Cordova is urging citizens not to let their guard down against a virus that has killed 17 people and is spreading across Asia and Europe. Experts warned the virus could mutate and come back with a vengeance.
Deaths: 19 confirmed in Mexico and one confirmed in US, a 21-month-old boy from Mexico who died in Texas.
Confirmed sickened worldwide: 809
473 in Mexico; 197 in U.S.; 85 in Canada; 15 in Spain; 15 in Britain; six in Germany; four in New Zealand; two in Israel, France and South Korea; one each in Costa Rica, Ireland, Italy, Switzerland, Austria, Hong Kong, Denmark and the Netherlands.
US confirmed cases: New York 50; Texas 28; California 24; Arizona 17; South Carolina 13; Delaware 10; Massachusetts eight; New Jersey seven; Maine six; Wisconsin three; Ohio three; Indiana three; Illinois three; Kansas two; Colorado two; Virginia two; Michigan two; Missouri two; Connecticut two; Florida two; New Hampshire one; Utah one; Rhode Island one; Iowa one; Kentucky one; Minnesota one; Nebraska one; Nevada one.
KEY DEVELOPMENTS
KEY developments on swine flu outbreaks, according to Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, World Health Organization, and government officials.
President Barack Obama and Mexican President Felipe Calderon spoke for 20 minutes Saturday by phone 'to share information about each country's efforts to limit the spread' of the flu strain, the White House says.
The World Health Organization says it has sent 2.4 million treatments of anti-flu drug Tamiflu to 72 developing countries, taking the drugs from a stockpile donated by Roche Holding AG.
US Centres for Disease Control and Prevention says about a third of the confirmed US cases of swine flu are people who had been to Mexico and likely picked up the infection there.
Mexico has taken extraordinary measures against the epidemic, ordering all nonessential government and private businesses to shut down for five days.
All 176 weekend soccer games in Mexico - from the first division to the lowly third - were shuttered to fans. The games went on behind closed doors.
The UN and World Trade Organization say there's no justification for any anti-pork trade measures as a result of the swine flu epidemic since there is no evidence the virus is spread by food.
Pigs on a Canadian farm have been infected with the new swine flu virus - apparently by a farm worker back from Mexico - and are under quarantine, officials say. It is the first known case of pigs having the virus.
The US government says schools with confirmed cases should close for at least 14 days because children can be contagious for seven to 10 days from when they get sick. More than 430 U.S. schools had closed, affecting about 245,000 children in 18 states.
WHO says it will stop using term 'swine flu' to avoid confusion over danger posed by pigs, and will instead refer to virus by its scientific name: 'H1N1 influenza A.' -Airlines have reduced or canceled service to Mexico.
Singapore announced a weeklong quarantine for anyone arriving from Mexico. A Hong Kong hotel was sealed after a Mexican tourist who recently arrived fell ill with confirmed case of swine flu.
MEASURES TAKEN IN ASIA
Asia, a continent that has battled deadly viruses such as the H5N1 bird flu and Sars in recent years, has been taking steps to ward off the new swine flu virus. Following are some details of how Asian countries are responding to the crisis
Following are some details of how Asian countries are responding to the crisis:
AUSTRALIA
- Pandemic plans in full swing. Govt approves tough new powers to detain and disinfect people suspected of carrying swine flu. All incoming flights have to declare suspected flu cases on arrival, make inflight announcements. International passengers have to fill in health declaration card. Govt runs ads in media, sets up hotline. Deploys thermal scanners to 8 international airports
- Enough anti-viral drugs stockpiled to cover around 41 percent of 21 million population. Australia has stockpiled 8.7 million doses of Tamiflu and Relenza drugs. Stockpile of 50 million surgical masks.
SOUTH KOREA
- Recommends nationals staying in Mexico to leave unless on urgent business. Agriculture Ministry suspends imports of live pigs from North America. Running round-the-clock emergency quarantine centre.
- Tamiflu stockpile for 2.5 million people and is working to increase that to 10 percent of population of about 49 million.
HONG KONG
- Has sealed off Metropark hotel in Wanchai district for 7 days, quarantining guests, staff after Mexican guest tested positive for the H1N1 flu. Will shut schools if one or more confirmed cases found at schools and if a sign disease is spreading.
- Media say authorities have 20 million doses of Tamiflu and other anti-flu drugs. Steps up screening at all entry points.
VIETNAM
- Visitors arriving from the swine flu infected countries to be isolated. Nationals advised not to visit zones reported with the disease.
- Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam's largest city of more than 8 million people, has stocks of Tamiflu enough for 1 million people.
SINGAPORE
- People who have visited Mexico in the past seven days to be quarantined at home for seven days and undergo 'phone surveillance' for flu symptoms. Singapore said it would impose visa requirements for all Mexican nationals from May 2.
- Thermal scanners at airport and isolation units at hospitals, where staff at some emergency departments are wearing full protective clothing.
JAPAN
- Govt has about 33.8 million people's worth of Tamiflu stockpiled. In addition, 8.3 million people's worth of Tamiflu is expected to be purchased soon. About 2.68 million people worth of Relenza stockpiled by the central govt. Japan's population estimated to be around 128 million people.
- Military doctors, nurses posted to Narita Airport to help check passengers from Mexico, Canada and the United States.
Japan began on Thursday a blanket inspection of imported pigs.
In 2008, Japan imported about 420 pigs. No pigs have been imported from Mexico in the last decade.
NEW ZEALAND
- Health Ministry to boost national stockpile of anti-viral drugs by 10 percent to nearly 1.4 million doses, which will give cover to just under one-third of the population.
Raised the level of its national pandemic plan and screening all flights from North America.
TAIWAN
- Current supplies of swine flu treatment to cover 10 percent of Taiwan's 23 million population. More than one million facemasks for emergency use.
MALAYSIA
- Tamiflu stockpile covering more than 2 million of the 27-million strong population.
- Health department officials screening travellers entering through Thailand-Malaysia border and airports screening passengers, especially those on flights from affected countries
THAILAND
- Government has 320,000 sets of Tamiflu stockpiled. GPO, state-owned drug maker, can produce one million capsules of generic Tamiflu if needed. Thailand has a population of about 65 million.
- Temperature screening checkpoints at international airports in Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Phuket.
PHILIPPINES
- Health officials to recommend increase in the government stockpile of Tamiflu to one million doses from 600,000 now which covers 60,000 cases. Philippines has a population of 90 million.
- Government seven-point line of defence includes tighter screening measures at all entry points to country and a campaign for proper hygiene
CHINA
- Suspends flights to and from Mexico after first case reported in Hong Kong travelled through Shanghai.
- Chinese authorities tell hospitals to swiftly report suspected cases of flu. Official press vows fast public disclosure of any cases. Prevention education campaign launched in schools.
- Chinese Health Minister says China has begun expanding stocks of Tamiflu and similar drugs, and has sufficient capacity to manufacture these medicines itself.
BANGLADESH
- Travellers, particularly those coming from countries already hit by recent outbreak, to be screened.
INDONESIA
- Temperature scanners installed at 10 airports and ports with immediate effect. Blanket ban on pig imports. Health ministry distributes safety gear to local health centres and hospitals.
- At least 3 million Tamiflu capsules in stock.
INDIA
Two suspected cases being tested.
- Raising Tamiflu stocks to 10 million from 3 million over the next seven days.
- Opening quarantine facilities in all 17 international airports. Surveillance stepped up at international airports and ports. Facilities set up to screen passengers arriving from swine flu-affected areas.
ASEAN
- Asean health ministers will try to coordinate their fight against the flu at emergency meeting in Thailand next week.
- Has 500,000 courses of antivirals stockpiled in Singapore and another 500,000 distributed among ASEAN member states.
Asean also has stockpile of personal protective equipment but it did not give details.
TRAVEL WARNINGS
The following countries have issued advisories against non-essential travel to Mexico: Australia, Japan, New Zealand, Taiwan, South Korea, Singapore, Vietnam, Indonesia.
NOTES: Japan advised nationals currently in Mexico to consider returning home soon and has suspended visa waivers for Mexicans.
Vietnamese Health Ministry advised against travel 'to the zones reported with the disease'. China suspending tours to Mexico.
with thanks, thestraitstimes :)
