Killer Flu...

[Salou]

Seems to be getting quite serious now...

 

BBC NEWS | World | Americas | Suspected Mexico flu toll hits 81

 

 

Suspected Mexico flu toll hits 81

 

The Mexican authorities say 81 people are now thought to have been killed by an outbreak of a human swine flu virus.

 

People have been told to stay at home to contain the infection, which the World Health Organization (WHO) has warned could become a pandemic.

 

Confirmed or suspected cases have also been reported in the US and elsewhere.

 

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.

 

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

 

* Ten New Zealand students among a group which travelled to Mexico have tested positive for flu - "likely", though not definitely, swine flu, said Health Minister Tony Ryall

 

* 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.

 

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.

 

Mexico's President Felipe Calderon has announced emergency measures to deal with the situation.

They include powers to isolate individuals suspected of having the virus without fear of legal repercussions.

 

In the US, seven people in California, two people in Texas, and two people in Kansas have been infected with the new strain.

 

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.

 

Further tests will clarify if it was the same strain that was detected in the other three states.

 

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 co-operate in heightening surveillance.

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.

 

Officials said most of those killed so far in Mexico were young adults - rather than more vulnerable children and the elderly.

[Antynwa]

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[melons]

heard this on the news before, pretty strange the way a flu affects the young adults more then the young or elderly.

[Karl_b]

The new bird flu.

[Carradona]

I have a killer flu at the moment.

[Salou]

Hate to laugh in a situation like this but I love how the World Health Organisation is abbreviated to the WHO.

[Hermes]

heard this on the news before, pretty strange the way a flu affects the young adults more then the young or elderly.

 

It's because they mix more with other people, that's how they get it. Colleges, bars etc.

[mars]

It's because they mix more with other people, that's how they get it. Colleges, bars etc.

 

That's not the whole story.

 

"Young adults with a strong immune system will be most at risk from a bird flu pandemic, research suggests.

The recent H5N1 virus causes the victims' immune system to go into overdrive, filling their lungs with fluid and blood.

Lead researcher Yoshihiro Kawaoka of the University of Wisconsin said: "Essentially people are drowned by themselves."

However their work suggests anti-inflammatory drugs that dampen down the immune system may provide a way to fight any future outbreak.

The study, reported in the journal Nature, used a recreated version of the 1918 "Spanish" flu virus, which killed 50 million people - mostly young adults - to make its findings.

Scientists in Canada and the U.S. gave the virus to macaque monkeys to see how they would react to it.

Others were given one of the normal types of flu that exist currently.

The study revealed that the 1918 virus - which was caused by a strain of bird flu that mixed with a human type - caused an out- of- control immune response.

Dr Jim Robertson, of the National Institute for Biological Standards and Control, said: "The information that has been derived from this experiment is exciting and represents an important milestone in understanding the severity of these highly pathogenic types of influenza viruses."

Dr Ronald Cutler, Principal Lecturer in Infectious Diseases and Pathology at the University of East London, said: "This work contributes to our understanding of how pandemic influenza can be lethal to those with an effective immune system, because it can dangerously over stimulate that system."

"Knowing how that over stimulation takes place could lead to the development of new methods to treat these diseases so we are better prepared for any future pandemic.""

 

So children and old gits like myself with our puny immune systems actually have a better chance of survival.

[Fugitive]

God damn Mexicans!!!

 

[melons]

see i was thinking more it was programmed virus and all that shit to wipe out countries that the Americans get pissed off with, without it looking too obvious. They could wipe out a whole generation, leaving young and elderly, go invade and meet far less resistance then they did in Iraq.

 

I watch too much sci-fi obviously.

[Hermes]

That's not the whole story.

 

"Young adults with a strong immune system will be most at risk from a bird flu pandemic, research suggests.

The recent H5N1 virus causes the victims' immune system to go into overdrive, filling their lungs with fluid and blood.

Lead researcher Yoshihiro Kawaoka of the University of Wisconsin said: "Essentially people are drowned by themselves."

However their work suggests anti-inflammatory drugs that dampen down the immune system may provide a way to fight any future outbreak.

The study, reported in the journal Nature, used a recreated version of the 1918 "Spanish" flu virus, which killed 50 million people - mostly young adults - to make its findings.

Scientists in Canada and the U.S. gave the virus to macaque monkeys to see how they would react to it.

Others were given one of the normal types of flu that exist currently.

The study revealed that the 1918 virus - which was caused by a strain of bird flu that mixed with a human type - caused an out- of- control immune response.

Dr Jim Robertson, of the National Institute for Biological Standards and Control, said: "The information that has been derived from this experiment is exciting and represents an important milestone in understanding the severity of these highly pathogenic types of influenza viruses."

Dr Ronald Cutler, Principal Lecturer in Infectious Diseases and Pathology at the University of East London, said: "This work contributes to our understanding of how pandemic influenza can be lethal to those with an effective immune system, because it can dangerously over stimulate that system."

"Knowing how that over stimulation takes place could lead to the development of new methods to treat these diseases so we are better prepared for any future pandemic.""

 

So children and old gits like myself with our puny immune systems actually have a better chance of survival.

 

That offers no explanation of why young people are more susceptible, this isn't bird flu. Most of the soldiers killed in the first world war died of flu, because they were huddled together in the trenches sneezing on eachother.

[kelster]

That offers no explanation of why young people are more susceptible, this isn't bird flu. Most of the soldiers killed in the first world war died of flu, because they were huddled together in the trenches sneezing on eachother.

 

Isn't swine flu and avian flu of the same subtype A virus? I think that would offer a perefctly good explanation. H5N1 is found in both pigs and birds for example.

[dennis tooth]

The avian flu isn't transmittable between humans. That's why they are worried. Statistics suggest this could be difficult to control, they can't just stuff sick people in ovens and burn them alive. The fact that it has such a high death toll already is quite dramatic.

[Hermes]

The avian flu isn't transmittable between humans. That's why they are worried. Statistics suggest this could be difficult to control, they can't just stuff sick people in ovens and burn them alive. The fact that it has such a high death toll already is quite dramatic.

 

The good news is Flu doesn't normally last beyond April, if it was October then there would be a massive problem. Nature is about to save the world.

[dennis tooth]

Perhaps you should tell that to the WHO, I'm not sure it will be that cold in Mexico right now but it seems to be doing well for itself. Mexico would probably be in the top 10 places you'd want to plant a virus BTW.

[Hermes]

Perhaps you should tell that to the WHO

 

"Talking about my degeneration".

[Acid]

Im cackin it.

[Hermes]

Im cackin it.

 

That's diarrhoea not Flu.

[Cath]

Is this what I'm supposed to be scared of this week?

 

Hate to laugh in a situation like this but I love how the World Health Organisation is abbreviated to the WHO.

 

You better, you better you bet

[Hermes]

Is this what I'm supposed to be scared of this week?

 

 

 

You better, you better you bet

 

It'll only affect adults - The Kids Are Alright.

[DavetheRave]

Local health agencies are so afraid of this they plans in place to deal witH the vast amounts of dead expected! A good excuse to get pissed.

[kopitegaz]

I've got a bit of a cold coming on.

 

In case Hermes theory about the time of the year killing off the virus is wrong, then goodbye everyone.

 

I hereby leave all possessions not claimed by my own family, to the Knows It family.

[Section_31]

Local health agencies are so afraid of this they plans in place to deal witH the vast amounts of dead expected! A good excuse to get pissed.

 

On a positive note, at least there'll be more jobs to go around.

[kopitegaz]

On a positive note, at least there'll be more jobs to go around.

 

I love it when a plan comes together.

[dennis tooth]

There a cuople back from Mexico in the UK with it and are in a hospital quarantine apparently.