A/H1N1 flu confirmed cases down to 8 in Asia-Pacific region

HONG KONG, May 6 (Xinhua) -- The number of confirmed cases of influenza A/H1N1 in the Asia-Pacific region drops to eight as New Zealand ruled out one case on Wednesday.

More tests were carried out on a sixth person who had been identified earlier as having the influenza A/H1N1 virus but the tests ruled out the virus.

There are two confirmed cases of the influenza A/H1N1 in South Korea while one in China's Hong Kong.

The Ministry of Health in New Zealand said there are 14 probable cases - one down from the number of Tuesday. There are 84suspected cases and another 358 people are in isolation and treated with Tamiflu.

Meanwhile, six students and two teachers from Avondale College in Auckland are in self-imposed isolation after traveling on a plane from America with a person suspected of having the virus.

Numbers of suspected cases, and those receiving treatment and in isolation, will fluctuate when more suspected cases are found, or suspected cases are ruled out, a spokesman with the country's health authority said.

There is no evidence of community transmission in New Zealand which is in the containment phase.

Despite there being no confirmed cases of the new flu in Australia, the country's Health Minister Nicola Roxon said on Wednesday that the threat level was not downgraded.

"We do have medical experts saying to us we still don't know how this global virus will develop over future weeks," Roxon told reporters in Melbourne.

The latest suspected cases in Japan are a woman, in her 20s, who recently returned home from the United States, and a man, in his 40s, who tested positive in flu A examination and is yet to be confirmed, according to Japan's health ministry.

Japan has yet to confirm any cases of the A/H1N1 strain so far, although some people have tested positive for the influenza A virus.

Chief Cabinet Secretary Takeo Kawamura on Wednesday ordered the health ministry to make preparations for a possible upgrade of the World Health Organization's pandemic alert for the A/H1N1 flu to the highest level of 6.

In contrast, the authorities in Singapore said it will lower the alert level for influenza A/H1N1 from "orange" to "yellow."

Health Minister Khaw Boon Wan told a news conference that the downgrading will be done progressively over the next five days, but adding that Singapore will remain vigilant and act nimbly.

In Hong Kong, where the first infection case in Asia was confirmed on May 1, 12 Mexican travelers left the city for Mexico on a Mexican charter plane on Wednesday morning. But the Mexican index patient, in stable condition, remained in hospital.

Four Mexican travelers, including two who have been quarantined in Metropark Hotel in Wanchai and another two in Princess Margaret Hospital (PMH), were among the 12 Mexicans.

Quarantine orders imposed on other people in connection with the case would be withdrawn when the orders expire later this week, provided that they show no symptoms of influenza A/ H1N1 infection, a spokesman for the region's health authority said.

The charter plane was sent by the Mexican government to pick up Mexicans "who wanted to leave China." It had flown to Shanghai, Beijing, and Guangzhou to pick up passengers.

The Bruneian government also lifted quarantine on about 200 passengers, who had arrived on a flight from Britain on Monday evening.

A passenger on the flight had higher-than-normal body temperature, Health Minister Setia Hj Suyoi Hj Osman said, adding that two other passengers on the same flight had traveled to flu-affected countries.

The minister said these three cases made it necessary for the authorities to take precautionary measures and quarantine all passengers on the flight.

To prevent against influenza A/H1N1, the government of Macao Special Administrative Region (SAR) on Wednesday announced that it will initiate a series of anti-flu activities which mainly involve a campaign to clean the entire city.

The region's health authority will launch a city-wide anti-flu activities, including the cleaning of public facilities, relevant exhibition and seminars of A/H1N1 flu prevention so as to raise the resident's awareness of personal and public hygiene.

The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), together with China, Japan and South Korea, will hold a "Health Ministers' Special Meeting" for combating influenza A/H1N1 on May 7-8 in Thailand.

The urgently-arranged meeting is aimed to slow down the propagation of the new Influenza A/H1N1 epidemic in the region, Dr. Suphan Srithamma, spokesman of Thailand's Ministry of Public Health said on Wednesday.

The main objective is to assess the latest development of the new strain of influenza in ASEAN countries and improve control and preventive measures while working on new effective control innovation, he said.

The control measures are expected to include surveillance system, laboratory examination, stockpiles on anti-viral drugs, research and development on vaccine development and epidemiological information exchange.

Zambia reports first suspected A/H1N1 flu case

LUSAKA, May 6 (Xinhua) -- Health authorities in Zambia are still awaiting for results of a man developing symptoms of A/H1N1 flu, which is the first suspected case of the infectious disease ever reported in the southern African country.

A man, suffering from suspected A/H1N1 flu, was quarantined soon after he arrived at Ndola International Airport from South Africa on Tuesday.

Ministry of Health spokesperson Reuben Mbewe told Xinhua in an interview on Wednesday that the specimens have been taken to the country's best hospital -- the University Teaching Hospital (UTH) -- and results are still being awaited.

"The patient is so far responding well and the specimens have since been brought to the UTH," Mbewe said.

Meanwhile. Mbewe advised the public not to panic because there were also initial indications that the man could be suffering from a common flu.

He expressed confidence in the surveillance system put in place, which he said proved helpful in finding the suspected A/H1N1 flu case.

The government does not want to take chances and is doing everything possible to contain possible incidence in Zambia, the official said..

Last week, South Africa reported two suspected cases of A/H1N1flu which were later tested negative.

20 cases of suspected H1N1 flu tested negative in India

NEW DELHI, May 6 (Xinhua) -- India has tested negative 20 samples of suspected A/ H1N1 flu cases so far and remained free of the flu, while three samples are still being tested, said the Indian Health Ministry Wednesday.

Among the three remaining cases, two of these are from Hyderabad, central India, and one person who reported himself for test from Jalandhar, Punjab in northern India, said the ministry.

A total of 39,315 passengers have been screened at all major Indian airports, among them 5,987 passengers being from affected countries and regions, said the ministry.

The ministry has also issued an advisory informing Indian people that retail sale of Tamiflu, the tablet for curing A/H1N1 flu, is not permitted in India over the counter.

"Indiscriminate use of this drug by the public could result in the virus developing resistance to this only known treatment of the H1N1 influenza," the advisory said.

The Indian government has adequate stockpiles of the drug that will be distributed free through the public health network in case of need to the confirmed cases of the disease, said the advisory.

No A/H1N1 flu case reported in DPRK

Special Report: World Tackles A/H1N1 Flu 

PYONGYANG, May 6 (Xinhua) -- No case of the A/H1N1 flu virus has been reported in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), the country's epidemic prevention department said on Wednesday.

"We have not discovered any A/H1N1 flu case so far, but we are strictly examining people back from visits to A/H1N1 flu-infected countries," Pak Myung Su, the vice-chairman of the State Emergency Anti-epidemic Commission told the official news agency KCNA.

"We will segregate patients if suspected cases are reported and carry out medical tests," Pak said.

He said the DPRK had already strengthened the quarantine of wild boar, and the inspection of pork and pork-related products, and increased the storage of anti-virus drugs. Researchers were also working on vaccine research.

Pak said the government is reporting about the A/H1N1 flu outbreak in other countries, and is sending medical workers to provide the public with physical check-ups and knowledge about flu prevention.

National medical diagnosis and reporting systems have also been set up to distinguish A/H1N1 flu from the common cold.

Indonesia reports first Influenza A/H1N1 suspect

Special Report:
World Tackles A/H1N1
Flu


JAKARTA, May 6 (Xinhua) -- An Indonesian doctor
disclosed Wednesday that an A/H1N1 flu suspect is currently treated in a
hospital in Surabaya, the capital of Indonesia's East Java province.

This is the first suspected case of A/H1N1 flu in
Indonesia and in Southeast Asia, a report the Elshinta radio said on Wednesday.

The Dr. Soetomo hospital in Surabaya is treating a
A/H1N1 flu suspect, the radio quoted Harko Hari Santosa, a doctor working in the
hospital, as saying.

At the present, Harko said, the suspect patient is
isolated in a particular isolation room in the hospital.

Without disclosing the patient's arrival date, Harko
said the patient had just arrived in Surabaya from Hong Kong. When the patient
arrived at the airport in Surabaya the thermal scanner spotted his high
temperature.

However, the hospital has yet to confirm whether it
was a A/H1N1 flu case, he added.

Lessons from SARS have to be applied

Special Report: World Tackles A/H1N1 Flu 

BEIJING, May 6 -- I was living in Hong Kong during SARS - and read enough reports from the mainland - to know that the scars of that epidemic haven't yet healed.

Six years on, images of a besieged city are still vivid:

Masks, all shapes and colors to the point of becoming fashion accessories.

Swipes, wherever tap water wasn't available to wash hands so often to have the skin peeling off.

Elevators, where floor buttons were pushed with pens and keychains.

Escalators, where people did balancing acts to avoid touching the handrails.

And, in the China Daily Hong Kong Edition office, the main door left open so that the fingerprint entry system could be suspended.

As the alarm was sounded on the H1N1 flu, it was, as they say, dj vu all over again - except for those who didn't live through the SARS crisis.

Which is why I can understand why the Mexican government reacted with distress to the quarantine of the country's citizens which the president, Felipe Calderon, described, without referring to any country, as "repressive, discriminatory measures".

The country's foreign minister went a step further, accusing China of isolating its citizens in what she characterized as "unacceptable conditions".

The Chinese foreign ministry tried to set the record right, saying the country was not discriminating against anyone, and that the quarantine measures were essentially a matter of health checks to ensure the virus did not spread.

Aggressive action by the Chinese government, against the backdrop of the World Health Organisation one step away from declaring the flu as a global pandemic doesn't sound "repressive" to me.

And, "discriminatory" may be misplaced when the same treatment would have been applied to citizens of Marshall Islands or Madagascar should the flu have originated in those countries; and, I dare say that Beijing would not have objected as strenuously if Chinese citizens were subjected to similar treatment abroad if the flu had originated in the country.

Mexico has been lauded for being upfront about the epidemic and taking decisive steps such as closing down schools, restaurants and bars - as well as playing soccer matches in empty stadiums.

Should the country not be a little sympathetic to a country - criticized for not doing enough in the initial stages of the SARS outbreak - trying to do the same?

Granted, it is not a pleasant experience to be subjected to quarantine. What other options did Beijing have at the time when the spread of the flu seemed inexorable?

Perhaps some "soft power", like making sure the quarantined guests had "acceptable" accommodation and access to home comforts.

Conflicting signals about the virulence of the flu haven't helped either.

The WHO warns that should the current crisis pass, the virus could mutate and become more deadly come autumn, raising visions of a similar trend of the Spanish flu in 1918, which killed millions.

But governments in the worst-hit countries - Mexico and the United States - seem content to declare that the epidemic is on the wane.

At the same time, experts point out that the H1N1 is an unknown quantity: Scientists are trying to determine its path, its progression, its pathology and the prognosis for us.

When China became the first country to send aid, including medical supplies, to Mexico, Calderon said his country had a lot to learn from how China handled SARS.

The lesson could be a bit of tough love.

And, not SARS all over again.

(Source: China Daily)

U.S. confirms 4 A/H1N1 cases in Alabama

Special Report: World Tackles A/H1N1 Flu 

HOUSTON, May 5 (Xinhua) -- U.S. health officials on Tuesday confirmed four A/H1N1 infections and identified four as probable cases in the Alabama state.

The total number of probable and confirmed cases rose to 18 in the state, officials said.

New federal guidelines, however, do not call for closing schools for a probable or confirmed case of A/H1N1 flu.

"I am grateful that the A /H1N1 illness is mild enough that school dismissal up to 14 days is no longer thought to be necessary," Dr. Don Williamson, State Health Officer said on Tuesday.

"It is important that ill persons not go to school or day care facilities for at least seven days after the onset of illness, including one full day of being well before returning to class." he said in a written statement.

"If the disease becomes more severe, school dismissal might be recommended again in the future. Furthermore, school authorities might close schools if absenteeism is so high that it interferes with education." he added.

The 18 confirmed or probable cases of A/H1N1 flu have been detected in Madison, Jefferson, Shelby, Montgomery and Pike counties.

During a lunchtime press conference at the CDC on Tuesday, Secretary of Health and Human Services Kathleen Sebelius also denied the closure of schools as a way of avoiding A/H1N1 flu.

Federal health officials are reversing themselves on the issue because they have learned that the A/H1N1 flu virus is not nearly as lethal as first feared.

In addition, Sebelius said local public health agencies have been reporting an outcry from parents and teachers about the burden of school closures. "We hope this will alleviate some of the burden," she said.

Dr. Richard Besser, acting CDC director, said there have been reports about parents losing jobs because they have to stay home and take care of their children.

Children have also been reportedly dropped off at malls and libraries because parents didn't know what else to do with them, he said.

Africa struggles to fend off A/H1N1 flu

Special Report: World Tackles A/H1N1 Flu 

BEIJING, May 6 (Xinhua) -- The Africans are struggling to prevent A/H1N1 influenza from arriving in the continent which has already been plagued by vital diseases such as AIDS.

According to the latest tally, the A/H1N1 flu has killed 31 worldwide, 29 in Mexico and two in the United States, with confirmed and suspected cases totalling 3,271.

Although there have been no confirmed cases of the killer virusin Africa so far, experts say that the disease could weaken health system and take a huge human toll in the continent once there would be a outbreak.

"People living with HIV/AIDS would be much affected because their immune system is already weak," said Sam Zaramba, director of health service in Uganda.

While the world is focusing its attentions on the A/H1N1 flu, thousands of Africans die without notice every day due to treatable diseases.

Statistics showed that nearly 3,000 children died each day of malaria, many simply for lack of a bed net. And a meningitis epidemic that has swept countries like Nigeria has killed more than 1,900 people and have sickened 56,000 more since January.

Concerns have been raised about whether the African authorities would be able to trace the A/H1N1 influenza.

Zimbabwe, where Cholera has killed 4,000 and sickened more than 80,000, has tightened surveillance at all ports of entry by intensifying the screening of flu-like syptoms of people coming into the country.

As a preventative measure, Kenya has established 26 surveillance centers nationwide to stop a possible spread of the killer virus.

The continent's richest country, South Africa, with an estimated 1,000 people die every day due to HIV/AIDS, admits its slow response to A/H1N1 influenza.

The country is also rushing to buy thermal imaging scanners at a cost of 120,000 U.S. dollars each for installation at major entry ports. However, medical professionals condemn that it is not reliable means of determining whether or not a person is infected.

Duncan Mitchell, professor of the school of Physiology at Wits University, said it was "impossible" for scanners to detect a virus in passengers entering an airport.

The Health Ministry of South Africa now has sufficient stock of tamiflu to treat 100,000 people.

The World Health Organization (WHO) said Tuesday it was sending a total of 2.4 million treatment courses of antiviral drugs to 72 "most in need" countries including Mexico, yet did not disclose the full list of countries receiving the drugs.

A total of 1,883 people from 21 countries have now been confirmed to have been infected with the A/H1N1 flu.

UN chief urges joint global response as flu cases continue to rise

Special Report: World Tackles A/H1N1 Flu 

BEIJING, May 6 (Xinhua) -- United Nations Secretary-General BanKi-moon has called for "a collective global response" as the number of the A/H1N1 infections continues to rise mildly across the world.

"So far we have been fortunate that its (H1N1 flu) consequence has been relatively mild -- we have learnt valuable lessons," Ban told his monthly press conference in New York Tuesday.

"This outbreak is yet another reminder that we live in an inter-connected world. A threat to one country is a threat to all, requiring a collective global response," he said.

According to the latest official figures, 1,883 infections have been confirmed worldwide.

World Health Organization (WHO) Assistant Director-General Keiji Fukuda said Tuesday that the disease was still spreading, but there was still no evidence showing the new flu virus causing community-level transmission in regions outside North America.

"We do not feel we are seeing that right now," Fukuda told a news briefing, adding that most cases in Spain and other European countries were related to travel.

However, England's chief medical officer Liam Donaldson said it is "too early" to assume the A/H1N1 flu outbreak is "a mild infection." England reported later Tuesday a new case of A/H1N1 flu, bringing the confirmed total infections in Britain to 28,

Donaldson was quoted by the BBC as warning against complacency because flu viruses could change character "very rapidly," even though no one in Britain has died so far from the new flu.

On Tuesday, the U.S. state of Texas reported the second human A/H1N1 flu death in the state, which is also the second death in the United States which now has 651 confirmed infections.

Few details have been released but the state's health department said in a brief statement that a woman, who died from the disease earlier this week, was a Texas resident living in Cameron County, along the U.S.-Mexico border.

The woman had chronic underlying health conditions, the statement said.

A Mexican toddler who was visiting relatives died from the disease last week in Houston.

Meanwhile, at least 16 patients have been discharged from hospital in Mexico after they recovered from the A/H1N1 epidemic, Mexican officials said Tuesday

"What we have achieved in a week of unprecedented action is to reduce the speed at which virus can spread and avoid deaths," said Mexico City Mayor Marcelo Ebrard Casaubon.

Twenty-nine people have been killed by the A/H1N1 flu virus in Mexico. The epicenter of the outbreak has now 942 confirmed infections.

Mexico closed educational institutions last week, effectively sending home 33 million people. These institutions will reopen in stages, starting with higher education institutions on Wednesday. Nurseries and primary schools will be the last to reopen on Monday.

Canada on Tuesday added 25 mild cases of the A/H1N1 flu virus infections, bringing the total to 165, according to figures revealed by the Public Health Agency of Canada.

Health officials said the country's only serious case, a young girl in Alberta province is "recovering well" and is now breathing on her own. All other cases in Canada have been mild, with most patients having recovered.

The Spanish Health Ministry on Tuesday confirmed 16 new cases of influenza A/H1N1, lifting the total to 73.

The number of probable cases has lowered to 56 from 63, the ministry said, adding that all the confirmed cases except five had traveled to Mexico.

Other confirmed A/H1N1 infections include nine in Germany; six in New Zealand; five in Italy; four in Israel and France; two each in El Salvador and South Korea; one each in Austria, Costa Rica, Colombia, Denmark, Hong Kong (China), Ireland, the Netherlands, Portugal and Switzerland.

WHO praises Mexico's response to H1N1 flu

Special Report: World Tackles A/H1N1 Flu 

MEXICO CITY, May 5 (Xinhua) -- The World Health
Organization (WHO) Tuesday praised Mexico's professionalism, responsibility and
transparency in handling the A/H1N1 flu outbreak.

People wear surgical masks in Mexico
city, May 3, 2009. Mexican Health Minister Jose Angel Cordova Villalobos
late Sunday raised the death toll of the A/H1N1 flu to 22 and the number
of infected cases to 568 in the country. (Xinhua/AFP
Photo)
Photo
Gallery

The experience of Mexico would be essential for the
international community, said Philippe Lamy, WHO representative in Mexico, when
meeting with Mexican President Felipe Calderon.

Calderon expressed gratitude for the "exceptional
work" of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Canadian
government in their coordination with Mexico in curbing the epidemic.

Lamy and Calderon stressed the importance of
information exchanges in further understanding of the A/H1N1 flu strain's
features and its evolution.

They also discussed measures to further cooperation
with other countries in the region to curb the spread of the virus.

Mexico said on Monday that the impact of the epidemic
appears to be waning and the Latin American country can gradually get back to
normal.

The virus has killed 29 people and confirmed cases
have risen to 913, according to Mexico's latest official figures.

Emergency flight ferries 17 more Peruvians back home from flu-hit Mexico

Special Report: World Tackles A/H1N1 Flu 

LIMA, May 5 (Xinhua) -- A second emergency flight from Mexico arrived here on Tuesday, with 17 Peruvian citizens aboard who were fleeing the deadly new A/H1N1 flu strain.

After getting off the plane, the passengers were immediately taken to a room to be checked for H1N1 flu-like symptoms, including breathing difficulties, headaches, muscular pain and sharply higher temperature.

On April 28, Peru suspended flights to and from Mexico in an effort to prevent the spread of the H1N1 flu virus, which has caused 29 confirmed deaths in Mexico.

Peru's Transport and Communications Ministry only allows a limited number of Mexico-Peru flights aiming to protect the health of Peruvians in Mexico who wish to return home.

First case of A/H1N1 flu confirmed in Oklahoma

Special Report:
World Tackles A/H1N1
Flu


HOUSTON, May 5 (Xinhua) -- US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on Tuesday confirmed the first case of A/H1N1 flu in the state of Oklahoma, local officials said, adding four other suspected cases are still being tested in CDC in Atlanta.

"We expected that eventually there would be a confirmed case of H1N1 flu in Oklahoma, so this is no surprise," Governor Brad Henry said in a news release. "The confirmation of a case in the state means citizens should be cautious, but not fearful."

The Governor called on Oklahomans to take commonsense measures to avoid getting the virus, and to see a doctor if they experience flu-like symptoms. "Oklahoma's healthcare and public safety communities have the resources and personnel in place to handle any challenges posed by H1N1 flu." he declared.

The confirmed case involved a Pontotoc County woman who recently returned from Mexico. The state health officials disclosed the woman is married and her spouse has not shown any symptoms of swine flu.

The patient did not require hospitalization and is expected to make a full recovery, they said.

The CDC has reported 403 cases of the swine flu in 38 U.S. states as of early Tuesday. Oklahoma's case had not yet been included in that count.

A number of Pontotoc County schools reported they are preparing for A/H1N1 flu just as they prepare for a typical flu season.

"Right now, we're sending out a letter that lists the symptoms. We're cleaning desks and doorknobs, just as we do during the seasonal flu," said Pat Harrison, superintendent of Ada Public Schools.

In an afternoon press conference, CDC Acting Director Richard Besser said the agency has changed its previous advice to schools to consider closure in the event of a confirmed A/H1N1 flu case. Since most U.S. cases are not severe, school closure is not necessary and can be very disruptive, he said.

"The points about personal preparedness and personal responsibility are critical," he claimed, including keeping sick students home from school for at least seven days.

Recovered A/H1N1 flu patients discharged from hospital in Mexico

Special Report: World Tackles A/H1N1 Flu 

MEXICO CITY, May 5 (Xinhua) -- At least 16 A/H1N1 flu patients have been discharged from hospital in Mexico after they recovered from the epidemic, Mexican officials said on Tuesday.

"What we have achieves in a week of unprecedented action is to reduce the speed at which virus can spread and avoid deaths," Mexico City Mayor Marcelo Ebrard Casaubon told media.

Twenty nine people have died with symptoms consistent with the flu including breathing difficulties, but only five have been confirmed killed by A/H1N1 flu virus.

Some 913 people are infected with the flu as 68 of them are currently being treated in health centers in Mexico.

The nation closed educational institutions last week, effectively sending home 33 million people. These institutions will reopen in stages, starting with higher education institutions on Wednesday. Nurseries and primary schools will be the last to reopen on Monday.

Scientists modifies smallpox vaccine to fight H5N1 bird flu

HONG KONG, March 1 (Xinhua) -- A team of scientists
from the University of Hong Kong and the United States on Sunday said they have
developed a new vaccine strategy against the H5N1 bird flu virus by genetically
modifying a smallpox vaccine.

The new vaccine is potentially a sound solution in
case of an H5N1 bird flu pandemic, which many scientists have been worried
about, said Malik Peiris, a microbiologist and bird flu research authority at
the University of Hong Kong.

Peiris said that the new vaccine has proven safer in
experiments on mice and that "a single vaccine dose will provide rapid
protective immune responses."

It is also expected to enable fast mass production
thanks to the possibility of using cell-culture methods, which could help avoid
potential production bottlenecks as eggs will have to be used in the production
of vaccines currently on offer.

And the existing facilities used for the production
of smallpox vaccines can be used to produce the bird flu vaccines without much
trouble, which can help reduce the costs, said another member of the research
team, adding that alternative strategies available involving genetic engineering
methods have been typically expensive.

The highly contagious H5N1 bird flu virus has
infected hundreds of people around the globe over the past decade, with the
death rate standing at round 60 percent.

There had been no confirmed cases of the virus
spreading from human to human but scientists fear that a genetic mutation might
enable it to jump from human to human someday, thereby leading to a global
pandemic that could kill millions.

Many scientists have been working on the development
of effective vaccines to prevent such a bird flu outbreak and the University of
Hong Kong was among the leaders.

There are now vaccines for sale in the United States
and eggs were essential in manufacturing the vaccines, which might lead to
bottlenecks as eggs may not be readily available in large amount in the case of
a bird flu pandemic.

Peiris said his team planned to optimize the efficacy
of the new vaccine.

They will explore the new strategy to create a
"universal influenza vaccine" that can fight a range of subtypes of the H5
strain of bird flu virus.

The study, co-authored by scientists from the U.S.
National Institutes of Health, is published on the March issue of the Journal of
Immunology.

Emergency plan for Influenza A/H1N1 under consideration in Pakistan

Special Report: World Tackles A/H1N1 Flu 

ISLAMABAD, May 3 (Xinhua) -- The Ministry of Health of Pakistan has planned to hold inter-provincial coordination committee meeting to prepare emergency plan for handling a possible epidemic of Influenza A/H1N1, official Associated Press of Pakistan reported on Sunday.

Instructions have been issued to concerned departments for detection and handling of importation of H1N1 virus that causes the disease, initially known as swine flu, said the report.

The ministry has made proper arrangements in hospitals in this regard including immediate isolation and hospitalization of any suspected case.

Instructions have also been issued to the airport authorities regarding screening of all incoming passengers to check any importation of the virus.

The Health Ministry has issued instructions to the officials at sea ports and land entry points for screening of individuals on their entering to Pakistan.

Heads of educational institutions of the federal and provincial level have also been asked to advise parents to have proper check on their children particularly those having flu-like symptoms.

The APP quoted sources as saying that the heads of all hospitals across the country had been instructed to advise their staff to maintain the history of such incoming patients with flu-like symptoms and use protective measures while handling such patients.

One confirmed, nine probable of A/H1N1 flu in Alabama

Special Report:
World Tackles A/H1N1
Flu

HOUSTON, May 2 (Xinhua) -- U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
on Saturday confirmed the first case of A/H1N1 flu in the State of Alabama.

The patient is a kindergartener at Heritage Elementary School in the city
of Madison, local public health officials said late in the evening.

Meanwhile, six new probable cases of A/H1N1 flu are identified on Saturday
in the state, including five students. That brings to 10 the number of confirmed
and probable cases so far in the state -- one in Jefferson County, one in
Montgomery and eight in the city of Madison.

Local public health officials were notified late Saturday afternoon that
the Jefferson County, the largest in Alabama, has detected its first probable
case of A/H1N1 flu. The patient is an adult man with a type of virus that is 95
percent likely to be A/H1N1 flu.

Other five probable cases identified on Saturday in Madison were all from
students, but increased from one to four the number of schools affected.
Officials said all the elementary schools in the city of Madison remain closed
until May 14.

Alabama has been identifying probable cases that it then sent to CDC for
confirmation. Officials say starting next week the state will be able to confirm
its own cases.

Austria's first A/H1N1 flu patient discharged from hospital

Special Report:
World Tackles A/H1N1
Flu

VIENNA, May 2 (Xinhua) -- Austria's first A/H1N1 flu patient has been
discharged from hospital Saturday after finding no more virus inside her body,
local media reported.

The patient, a 28-year-old female, left the hospital Saturday afternoon,
the report said.

According to the patient, she infected the A/H1N1 flu virus on a flight
from Mexico to the United States last week as there were a large number of
Mexicans onboard.

The girl was sent to hospital in Vienna after showing symptoms of flu. She
was then tested positive of the A/H1N1 flu virus.

Christoph Wenisch, the doctor who treated the infected woman, said on
Thursday that test results had showed there are no more viruses inside the
patient's body after the treatment.

Wenisch added that the patient showed improvement since taking medicines
for the second time.

Gov't: Mexico's tourism hit hard by A/H1N1 flu

Special Report:
World Tackles A/H1N1
Flu

MEXICO CITY, May 2 (Xinhua) -- Mexico's tourism has been hit hard by the
outbreak of the A/H1N1 flu, the Mexican government said Saturday.

The occupancy rate for major tourist sites in Mexico is expected to decline
by 44.8 percent in the coming ten days, Mexican tourism authorities predicted.

Tourism Minister Rodolfo Elizondo told a press conference that a series of
cultural, business and academic activities in Mexico have been canceled,
including the world pediatrics conference which had been expected to draw some
4,000 podiatrists worldwide.

In such resorts as Cancun and the Maya coast, the occupancy rate of hotels,
which should have been flooded with tourists in this season, has decreased to
77.8 percent since April 23 when the government announced urgent anti-flu
measures.

He also confirmed that such countries as Cuba, Canada, Argentina, Ecuador,
Peru and Chile have canceled their flights to Mexico, while the number of U.S.
tourists to Mexico has seen a sharp fall.

The minister asked the country's tourism centers to conduct a precise
analysis of their economic losses caused by the outbreak of A/H1N1 flu, which
was previously reported as swine flu, to workout a remedy.

Canada flu cases at 85, first human-to-animal infection reported

Special Report:
World Tackles A/H1N1
Flu

OTTAWA, May 2 (Xinhua) -- Canada on Saturday
announced a surge of confirmed H1N1 flu cases to 85 while the country reported
the globe's first human-to-animal infections.

More than 200 pigs on a farm in the western province
of Alberta have been infected with the new flu, the Canadian Food Inspection
Agency said Saturday at a press conference in Ottawa.

Federal officials believe the animals contracted the
virus from a Canadian worker who returned from Mexico on April 12 and arrived on
the farm two days later, showing flu symptoms shortly thereafter, said Brian
Evans, Canada's chief veterinary officer, at the news conference.

Both the worker and the approximately 220 infected
pigs are recovering, but the animals have been quarantined to prevent possible
transfer to humans, said Evans.

He stressed that "the chance that these pigs could
transfer the virus to a person is remote. Nevertheless, we're following an
appropriately measured approach."

He assured that "consumption of pork is not
considered a route of transmission to humans," urging other countries not to ban
Canadian pork.

Meanwhile, the number of confirmed human cases of the
flu in Canada jumped to 85 on Saturday, with 34 new cases reported.

Nova Scotia reported 17 new cases, adding the total
to 34 to become the province with the most cases in the country. Among these,
six are not from the private high school that first reported the outbreak,
raising concerns that the flu may be spreading quickly in the province.

Ontario reported one case of human-to-human infection
within Canada, adding such cases to 9 in the country.

All the patients are experiencing mild symptoms and
there have been no deaths in Canada.

Health officials urged residents to continue to do
daily activities as normal. "It is safe to go to school, work and socialize, as
long as you do not have any symptoms," chief medical officer Robert Strong of
Nova Scotia said.

The federal government, which has decided to hold a
daily briefing when warranted, ran advertisements in newspapers across the
country on Saturday, calling for calm and more public awareness of the flu
outbreak. Officials urge Canadians to continue regular hand washing to avoid
infection.

Scientists at the National Microbiology Laboratory have begun full genome sequencing of the flu, also known as the H1N1 virus, Dr. David Butler-Jones, Chief Public Health Officer of Canada, said Saturday in a news conference.

WHO says raise to pandemic alert Phase 6 still possible

GENEVA, May 2 (Xinhua) -- The World Health Organization (WHO) said on Saturday that the risk of a pandemic caused by the A/H1N1 virus is still very high and there is still the possibility to raise the alert level to Phase 6 from the current Phase 5.

"At the present time, I would still propose that a pandemic is imminent because we are seeing the disease spread," Michael Ryan, the agency's director for global alert and response, told a news briefing in Geneva. Full story

Mexico's flu death toll rises to 19

MEXICO CITY, May 2 (Xinhua) -- Mexico's confirmed flu death toll has risen to 19 on Saturday and another 454 people confirmed infected, Health Minister Jose Angel Cordova said.

The minister urged citizens to remain vigilant and not to let their guard down against the virus. Full story

WHO's tally of A/H1N1 cases rises to 615

GENEVA, May 2 (Xinhua) -- The total number of laboratory confirmed A/H1N1 flu infections worldwide has risen to 615 with 17 deaths, the World Health Organization (WHO) said in a latest update on Saturday.

A total of 15 countries and regions have officially reported laboratory confirmed cases to the UN agency, including Mexico, whose confirmed number of human cases has increased to 397, including 16 deaths. Full story

WTO: Antiviral drugs being sent to 72 developing countries

GENEVA, May 2 (Xinhua) -- The World Health Organization (WHO) said on Saturday that it was sending more than 2 million treatment courses of antiviral drugs to 72 developing countries to help them prepare for a possible pandemic caused by the spreading A/H1N1 virus.

"We've begun to dispatch 2.4 million treatment courses of antivirals to 72 countries including Mexico," said Michael Ryan, WHO's director for global alert and response. Full story

Latest developments on A/H1N1 flu worldwide

Special Report:
World Tackles A/H1N1
Flu

BEIJING, May 3 (Xinhua) -- The following are the latest developments of
A/H1N1 flu outbreaks worldwide on Sunday, according to the World Health
Organization and government data.

In a latest update, Mexico announced 19 confirmed deaths in the country.
Another 21-month-old boy was confirmed dead in the United States, first death
outside Mexico.

The confirmed infection cases have reached 777 worldwide, mainly including
454 in Mexico and 184 in the U.S.

In addition, 16 countries and regions have reported laboratory confirmed
cases with no deaths, including Austria (1), Hong Kong, China (1), Denmark (1),
Netherlands (1), Ireland (1), France (1), Costa Rica (1), Italy (1), Switzerland
(1), South Korea (1), Israel (2), New Zealand (4), Germany (6), Spain (15),
Britain (15) and Canada (85).

Due to the high risk of a pandemic caused by the A/H1N1 virus, the World
Health Organization (WHO) said there is still the possibility to raise the alert
level to Phase 6 from the current Phase 5.

Also on Saturday, Canada confirmed the world's first case of human-to-pig
transmission of the A/H1N1 flu virus while urging against any ban of its
products.

Some pigs in a farm in the western province of Alberta has been found
infected with the H1N1 flu virus and the virus may have jumped from a farm
worker to the animals, Brian Evans, with the Canadian Food Inspection Agency,
told a press conference in Ottawa.

In a latest development, Yonhap reported another probable case of the
A/H1N1 flu. But the case needs further confirmation.