Swine flu goes global

Researchers are scrambling to study the evolution and spread of the novel H1N1 strain of swine influenza whose leap to humans was officially confirmed last week. The possible imminent onset of a swine-flu pandemic is also testing international preparedness plans put into place to deal with something else: the much-feared H5N1 avian flu virus that has spread across Asia, Europe and Africa since 2003. – from Nature

But is everyone getting the same virus? Part of me wants to believe that it’s not spreading as fast as it seems because some of the apparent spread is some other, milder virus. But Butler reminds us that the fast spread through the school in New York, where 28 kids have been cconfirmed to have the same virus that has run through Mexico (though none of the NY students terribly sick), argues against that optimistic take. At the same time. from here

World Health Organisation assistant director-general Keiji Fukuda said researchers on the ground were seeing the infection spread from person-to-person. “It is clear that the virus is spreading and we don’t see evidence of it slowing down at this point,” he said. – from Sky

On Monday, the World Health Organization (WHO) raised its alert level although that is still two steps short of a full pandemic. As of Tuesday, the virus was suspected in 152 fatalities and 1,600 illnesses – all in Mexico. Elsewhere, 90 cases of the flu had been confirmed in at least 11 countries – 50 cases alone in the United States. SARS, by comparison, was believed responsible for 800 fatalities and 8,000 illnesses. – from CSmonitor

The World Health Organization has raised its pandemic alert for swine flu to the second-highest level, meaning that it believes a global outbreak of the disease is imminent. The Phase 5 alert indicates sustained human-to-human spread in at least two countries. It also signals that efforts to produce a vaccine will be ramped up. – from Dallas

The WHO has confirmed 154 cases in nine countries, and hundreds of people are being tested for the virus from Australia to New York. Eight of those known to have had swine flu have died, though many more may be carrying the virus and not getting seriously ill, the WHO said. The case in Spain may signal that the disease is being transmitted easily outside of Mexico, where the outbreak began, officials said.

“It is all of humanity that is under threat during a pandemic,” Margaret Chan, WHO director-general, said at a news conference in Geneva yesterday. “The biggest question right now is this: How severe will the pandemic be? All countries should immediately now activate their pandemic plans.” – from Bloomberg