Swine flu crisis: summary of latest updates
Agence France-Presse | 04/30/2009 11:48 PM
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Updates as of April 30, 2009, 23:44 GMT +0800
Main events of the past 24 hours in the swine flu crisis:
-- The World Health Organisation raised its flu alert to five on a scale of six, signalling a swine flu pandemic is "imminent." It says there is no evidence to raise the alert level to the highest level phase 6.
-- Mexico, the main country affected, cut its toll of probable swine flu deaths nearly in half to 84, with eight confirmed, and said the impact from the disease could cost its frail economy more than 70 billion dollars. Mexican officials held out hope of the virus's spread slowing in their country.
-- The number of confirmed cases of swine flu in the United States rose to 111 spread across 13 states, health officials said. They include a World Bank employee who is the first suspected case in the US capital.
-- The European Union's health chief said that Europe "should not panic" over the spread of swine flu, while EU health ministers ruled out a French demand to suspend Mexico flights, French Health Minister Roselyne Bachelot said.
-- Mexican President Felipe Calderon urged people to stay home during a five day holiday weekend in a bid to halt the spread of swine flu. US President Barack Obama vowed to do "whatever it takes" to combat swine flu but rejected calls to close the US border with Mexico.
-- Latest World Health Organisation figures show the United States had 91 cases (one death), Mexico 26 (seven deaths), Canada 13, Spain four, New Zealand three, Germany three, Britain five and Israel two and Austria one.
The following countries have also announced confirmed cases: Costa Rica 2, Netherlands 1, Peru 1, Switzerland 1.
An overview of the current swine flu crisis:
-- MEXICO: Epicentre of the swine flu outbreak, with 84 probable deaths, eight confirmed so far. The government says there are 99 confirmed cases of the disease.
-- THE UNITED STATES: The United States is the second country to have a confirmed swine flu death. The number of confirmed cases of swine flu in the United States rose to 111 spread across 13 states, health officials said..
-- CONFIRMED INFECTIONS: Thirteen countries have been affected in addition to Mexico.
According to the World Health Organization: The United States 91, Mexico 26, Canada 13, Germany 3, Britain 5, Israel 2, New Zealand 3, Spain 4, Austria 1.
The following countries have also announced confirmed cases: Costa Rica 2, Netherlands 1, Peru 1, Switzerland 1.
- NATIONS WITH SUSPECTED INFECTIONS: Argentina 3, Australia 114, Chile 24, Colombia 59, Denmark 5, Finland 1, France 41, Ireland 3, Italy 20, Japan 1, Poland 2, Portugal 1, South Africa 1, South Korea 4, Sweden 5.
-- NATIONS WITH PARTIAL OR TOTAL BANS ON PORK IMPORTS: Bahrain, Belarus, China, Croatia, Ecuador, Gabon, Indonesia, Kazakhstan, Macedonia, Montenegro, Philippines, Lebanon, Russia, Serbia, South Korea, Thailand, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates.
-- NATIONS WHICH HAVE SUSPENDED FLIGHTS TO MEXICO: Argentina, Cuba. Peru has banned flights from Mexico.
Updates as of April 30, 2009, 19:44 GMT +0800
Main events of the past 24 hours in the swine flu crisis:
-- The World Health Organisation raised its flu alert to five on a scale of six, signalling a swine flu pandemic is "imminent."
-- Mexico, the main country affected, cut its toll of probable swine flu deaths nearly in half to 84, with eight confirmed, and said the impact from the disease could cost its frail economy more than 70 billion dollars.
-- The United States became the second country to confirm a death from the disease after Mexico, saying a 23-month-old Mexican toddler had died in Texas while on a visit.
- France pushed for a ban on flights to Mexico and Italy urged Europe to stockpile vaccines as EU health ministers prepared for an emergency meeting in Luxembourg on the spread of swine flu.
-- Mexican President Felipe Calderon urged people to stay home during a five day holiday weekend in a bid to halt the spread of swine flu. US President Barack Obama vowed to do "whatever it takes" to combat swine flu but rejected calls to close the US border with Mexico.
-- Spain reported its first case of swine flu in a person who has not recently visited Mexico.
-- Latest World Health Organisation figures show the United States had 91 cases (one death), Mexico 26 (seven deaths), Canada 13, Spain four, New Zealand three, Germany three, Britain five and Israel two and Austria one.
The following countries have also announced confirmed cases: Costa Rica 2, Netherlands 1, Peru 1, Switzerland 1.
Updates as of April 30, 2009, 15:34 GMT +0800
Main events of the past 24 hours in the crisis over swine flu:
- The World Health Organization raised its flu alert to five on a scale of six, signalling a swine flu pandemic is "imminent."
- The United States became the second country to confirm a death from the disease after Mexico, saying a 22-month-old toddler in Texas, had died.
- Mexico, the main country affected to date, cut its toll of probable deaths from the swine flu epidemic nearly in half to 84, with eight confirmed, and said the impact from the disease could cost its frail economy more than 70 billion dollars.
- US President Barack Obama vowed to do "whatever it takes" to combat swine flu but rejected calls to close the US border with Mexico.
- Spain reported its first case of swine flu in a person who has not recently visited Mexico.
- Officials in Mexico City ordered practically all public spaces shut down to try to halt the spread of the infection. Major tourist sites were also closed.
- The latest World Health Organization figures show the United States had 91 cases (one death), Mexico 26 (seven deaths), Canada 13, Spain four, New Zealand three, Germany three, Britain five and Israel two and Austria one.
- Egypt has ordered the 'immediate' slaughter of all pigs in the country to avoid any outbreak of swine flu.
- There is no evidence that the spread of the swine flu virus is slowing, said Keiji Fukuda, WHO acting Assistant Director General Keiji Fukuda said.
- Evidence from the swine flu epidemic centred in Mexico is ruling out pigs as a source of transmission, the WHO said.
An overview of the current swine flu situation:
- MEXICO: Epicentre of the current outbreak, with 84 probable swine flu deaths, eight of them confirmed. The government says there are 99 confirmed cases of the disease.
- THE UNITED STATES: On Wednesday the US became the second country to have a confirmed swine flu death. The US Centers for Disease Control said the total number of known victims in the US had jumped from 65 to 91 in 10 states.
- CONFIRMED INFECTIONS: According to the World Health Organization: The United States 91, Mexico 26, Canada 13, Germany 3, Britain 5, Israel 2, New Zealand 3, Spain 4, Austria 1.
The following countries have also announced confirmed cases: Costa Rica 1, Peru 1, Switzerland 1.
- NATIONS WITH SUSPECTED INFECTIONS: Argentina 3, Chile 24, Colombia 42, Croatia 1, Denmark 5, Finland 1, France 2, Hong Kong 2, Ireland 3, Italy 20, Netherlands several, Poland 2, Portugal 1, South Africa 2, South Korea 5, Sweden 5.
- NATIONS WITH PARTIAL OR TOTAL BANS ON PORK IMPORTS: Bahrain, Belarus, China, Croatia, Ecuador, Gabon, Indonesia, Kazakhstan, Macedonia, Montenegro, Philippines, Lebanon, Russia, Serbia, South Korea, Thailand, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates.
Updates as of April 30, 2009, 00:41 GMT +0800
Main events of the past 24 hours in the crisis over swine flu:
- The United States became the second country to confirm a death from the disease after Mexico, saying a 23-month-old toddler from Texas, had died. The US Centers for Disease Control said the total number of known victims in the US had jumped from 65 to 91 in 10 states.
- Mexico, the main country affected to date, said seven deaths were confirmed as being due to swine flu, although the number of suspected fatalities was 159. The previous figure for confirmed deaths had been 20.
- Spain reported its first case of swine flu in a person who has not recently visited Mexico.
- Officials in Mexico City ordered practically all public spaces shut down to try to halt the spread of the infection. Major tourist sites were also closed.
- According to the World Health Organization the United States had 64 cases (one death), Mexico 26 (seven deaths), Canada 13, Spain 4, New Zealand 3, Britain 2 and Israel 2.
- Over and above the WHO figures, according to reports from the governments concerned the United States has 91 confirmed cases, Germany 3, Britain 5, Costa Rica 2, Spain 10 and Austria 1.
- US President Barack Obama said the outbreak of swine flu had created a "serious situation" in the United States requiring the "utmost precautions." He also asked Congress to release 1.5 billion dollars to help fight the spread of swine flu.
- The European Commission confirmed it would call the deadly swine flu the "novel flu" to minimise damage to the farm industry.
- Egypt ordered the 'immediate' slaughter of all pigs in the country to avoid any outbreak of swine flu, Health Minister Hatem al-Gabali said.
- Evidence from the swine flu epidemic centred in Mexico is ruling out pigs as a source of transmission, World Health Organization acting Assistant Director General Keiji Fukuda said.
- A top US health official told lawmakers that vaccines against seasonal flu were likely to not protect against swine flu and that a vaccine against that deadly disease cannot be ready before September.
Updates as of April 29, 2009, 22:54 GMT +0800
Main events of the past 24 hours in the crisis over swine flu:
- The United States became the second country to confirm a death from the disease after Mexico, saying a 23-month-old toddler from Texas, had died. The child was Mexican and had come to the States for treatment. Before the death 65 people had been confirmed as having contracted the disease in the United States.
- Mexico, the main country affected to date, said seven deaths were confirmed as being due to swine flu, although the number of suspected fatalities was 159. The previous figure for confirmed deaths had been 20.
- Officials in Mexico City ordered practically all public spaces shut down to try to halt the spread of the infection. Major tourist sites were also closed.
- The United Nations' World Health Organization in Geneva, where experts from around the world were due to gather on Wednesday to discuss the outbreak, said a total of 64 people had contracted the disease in the United States, 26 in Mexico, six in Canada, three in New Zealand, and two each in Britain, Israel and Spain.
- Over and above the WHO figures, Germany confirmed three cases and the central American state of Costa Rica said two of its citizens had contracted the disease. Austria said it had one confirmed case and Canada 13, while Britain said its cases had risen from two to five and Spain's doubled from two to four.
- US President Barack Obama said the outbreak of swine flu had created a "serious situation" in the United States requiring the "utmost precautions." He also asked Congress to release 1.5 billion dollars to help fight the spread of swine flu.
- US agriculture officials said they were seeking to change the name of the disease because it gave the impression that the ailment could be caused by eating pork, which was not true. "We're concerned about safety, but also about the impact on the economy," said Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack.
- Egypt ordered the 'immediate' slaughter of all pigs in the country to avoid any outbreak of swine flu, Health Minister Hatem al-Gabali said.
An overview of the current swine flu situation:
- MEXICO: Epicentre of the current outbreak with seven confirmed swine flu deaths. However there were 159 suspected deaths in the country, and over 1,300 people remained in hospital after exhibiting symptoms of the flu.
- THE UNITED STATES on Wednesday became the only other country to have one confirmed death. Before the announcement 65 people were confirmed by Washington as infected.
- CONFIRMED INFECTIONS, according to the World Health Organization and national governments: The United States 65, Mexico 26, Canada 13, Germany 3, New Zealand 3, Britain 5, Costa Rica 2, Israel 2, New Zealand 3, Spain 4, Austria 1.
NATIONS WITH SUSPECTED INFECTIONS: Argentina 3, Australia 91, Chile 8, Colombia 9, Denmark 5, France 2, Hong Kong 2, Ireland 3, Netherlands several, Poland 3, Portugal 1, South Africa 2, South Korea 6, Sweden 5, Switzerland 5
NATIONS WITH PARTIAL OR TOTAL BANS ON PORK IMPORTS: Bahrain, China, Croatia, Ecuador, Indonesia, Kazakhstan, Macedonia, Montenegro, Philippines, Lebanon, Russia, Serbia, South Korea, Thailand, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates
Updates as of April 29, 2009, 19:33 GMT +0800
Main events of the past 24 hours in the crisis over swine flu:
- The United States became the second country to confirm a death from the disease after Mexico, saying a 23-month-old toddler from Texas had died.
- Mexico, the main country affected to date, said seven deaths were confirmed as being due to swine flu, although the number of suspected fatalities was 159. The previous figure for confirmed deaths had been 20
- Officials in Mexico City ordered practically all public spaces shut down to try to halt the spread of the infection. Major tourist sites were also closed.
- The United Nations' World Health Organisation in Geneva, where experts from around the world were due to gather on Wednesday to discuss the outbreak, said a total of 64 people had contracted the disease in the United States, 26 in Mexico, six in Canada, three in New Zealand, and two each in Britain, Israel and Spain.
- Over and above the WHO figures, Germany confirmed three cases and the central American state of Costa Rica said two of its citizens had contracted the disease. Austria said it had one confirmed case and Canada 13, while Britain said its cases had risen from two to five and Spain's doubled from two to four.
- US President Barack Obama pressed Congress to release 1.5 billion dollars to help fight the spread of swine flu.
- China angrily rejected media reports suggesting that the disease had originated on its territory. A health ministry official described the reports, some of which quoted an official in the Mexican state of Veracruz, as "deliberately fabricated rumours".
- US agriculture officials said they were seeking to change the name of the disease because it gave the impression that the ailment could be caused by eating pork, which was not true. "We're concerned about safety, but also about the impact on the economy," said Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack.
- Countries around the world advised their nationals against going to Mexico, and many tour firms cancelled trips, although experts were divided on the usefulness of travel bans. "Precautionary measures are advisable but at this juncture I don't see any point in restricting travelling," said the European Union's health commissioner, Androulla Vassiliou.
An overview of the current swine flu situation:
- Mexico: Epicentre of the current outbreak with seven confirmed swine flu deaths. However there were 159 suspected deaths in the country, and over 1,300 people remained in hospital after exhibiting symptoms of the flu.
The United States is the only other country to have one confirmed death.
- Confirmed infections, according to the World Health Organisation and national governments: The United States 64, Mexico 26, Canada 13, Britain 5, Spain 4, Germany 3, New Zealand 3, Costa Rica 2, Israel 2, and Austria 1.
NATIONS WITH SUSPECTED INFECTIONS: Argentina 3, Australia 91, Austria 5, Chile 8, Colombia 9, Denmark 5, France 20, Hong Kong 4, Ireland 3, Netherlands several, Poland 3, Portugal 1, South Korea 6, Sweden 5, Switzerland 5
NATIONS WITH PARTIAL OR TOTAL BANS ON PORK IMPORTS: Bahrain, China, Croatia, Ecuador, Indonesia, Kazakhstan, Macedonia, Montenegro, Philippines, Lebanon, Russia, Serbia, South Korea, Thailand, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates
NAME: Swine flu (which is different from a disease contracted only by pigs known as swine fever). Because pork is banned under Jewish law, Israel is calling it "Mexican flu."
The World Organisation for Animal Health says the virus is a mix of avian, swine and human viruses and has not been isolated in animals yet. It recommends "North American influenza."
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