Spring Break
WHO raises global swine flu alert level
By: Staff and wire
Issue date: 4/28/09 Section: News
The swine flu epidemic entered a dangerous new phase Monday as the death toll climbed in Mexico and the number of suspected cases there and in the United States nearly doubled. The World Health Organization raised its alert level but stopped short of declaring a global emergency.
The United States advised Americans against most travel to Mexico and ordered stepped up border checks in neighboring states. The European Union health commissioner advised Europeans to avoid nonessential travel both to Mexico and parts of the United States.
Three cases of the swine flu, now called North American Influenza, have been confirmed in Guadalupe County, Texas. No related deaths have been reported in the U.S., and no confirmed or suspicious cases exist Texas A&M's area, said Dr. Martha Dannenbaum, director of Student Health Services.
Symptoms include sudden fever, body aches, coughing and unexplained fatigue. Students with any of these symptoms or who have been around others who are ill are encouraged to schedule an appointment or walk-in at Beutel Health Center between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m.
North American Influenza is spread by close exposure to ill people, such as being coughed on, sneezed on or touched. The Center for Disease Control is developing a vaccine for the virus, which should be included in the new flu shot this fall. The 2008 flu shot did not contain a vaccine against North American Influenza. The disease does respond to antiviral prescription drugs commonly administered to flu patients such as Tamiflu and Relenza.
The virus poses a potentially grave new threat to the U.S. economy, which was showing tentative early signs of a recovery. A widespread outbreak could batter tourism, food and transportation industries, deepening the recession in the U.S. and possibly worldwide.
The suspected number of deaths rose to 149 in Mexico, the epicenter of the outbreak with nearly 2,000 people believed to be infected.
The number of U.S. cases doubled to 42, the result of further testing at a New York City school, although none was fatal. Other U.S. cases have been reported in Ohio, Kansas, Texas and California. Worldwide there were 73 cases, including six in Canada, one in Spain and two in Scotland.
The United States advised Americans against most travel to Mexico and ordered stepped up border checks in neighboring states. The European Union health commissioner advised Europeans to avoid nonessential travel both to Mexico and parts of the United States.
Three cases of the swine flu, now called North American Influenza, have been confirmed in Guadalupe County, Texas. No related deaths have been reported in the U.S., and no confirmed or suspicious cases exist Texas A&M's area, said Dr. Martha Dannenbaum, director of Student Health Services.
Symptoms include sudden fever, body aches, coughing and unexplained fatigue. Students with any of these symptoms or who have been around others who are ill are encouraged to schedule an appointment or walk-in at Beutel Health Center between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m.
North American Influenza is spread by close exposure to ill people, such as being coughed on, sneezed on or touched. The Center for Disease Control is developing a vaccine for the virus, which should be included in the new flu shot this fall. The 2008 flu shot did not contain a vaccine against North American Influenza. The disease does respond to antiviral prescription drugs commonly administered to flu patients such as Tamiflu and Relenza.
The virus poses a potentially grave new threat to the U.S. economy, which was showing tentative early signs of a recovery. A widespread outbreak could batter tourism, food and transportation industries, deepening the recession in the U.S. and possibly worldwide.
The suspected number of deaths rose to 149 in Mexico, the epicenter of the outbreak with nearly 2,000 people believed to be infected.
The number of U.S. cases doubled to 42, the result of further testing at a New York City school, although none was fatal. Other U.S. cases have been reported in Ohio, Kansas, Texas and California. Worldwide there were 73 cases, including six in Canada, one in Spain and two in Scotland.
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