Swine Flu

[Bugs]

Governments around the world are hurrying to contain the spread of a new swine flu virus after outbreaks were reported in Mexico, the US and Canada.

At least 100 people are now suspected to have died of the disease in Mexico.

The UN has warned the virus has the potential to become a pandemic, but said the world was better prepared than ever to deal with the threat.

Stocks of anti-viral medicines are being readied and travellers are being screened at some airports for symptoms.

Mexican Health Secretary Jose Angel Cordova said suspected swine flu cases in his country had risen to 1,614.

SWINE FLU
Swine flu is a respiratory disease thought to spread through coughing and sneezing
Symptoms mimic those of normal flu - but in Mexico more than 100 people have died
Good hygiene like using a tissue and washing hands thoroughly can help reduce transmission


'I couldn't get out of bed'
Q&A: Swine flu
In pictures: Swine flu
Of the 103 deaths in Mexico, only 20 are so far confirmed to have been caused by the new virus.

A public health emergency has been declared in the US, where 20 people are confirmed to have caught the virus.

There are also confirmed cases in Canada, and investigations are being carried out on possible cases in six other countries.

In most cases outside Mexico, people have been only mildly ill and have made a full recovery.

[grumpy]

aye another panic ower nowt

[Chili's]

aw no, i catch owt thats gone me like, i caught slirosis of the liver standing next to someone at the bar

[wf]

They say some have caught it allready in uk ..Sounds awfull i have only just recovered from the winter flu..so i dont fancy anything else..

[emre]

yep wf two jocks brought it back from mexico, now all their reletives are being checked

[grumpy]

thomsons have cancelled next week's flights to mexico better go and but some masks and book ma flu jab, or i could just stay in so i'll no catch it

[wf]

Hope no one catches it as it sounds a nightmare..Last thing you expect to get as summer approaches is flu

[emre]

im imune like ive had this years jab and one for pneumonia or new moan ear

[Chili's]

can you catch it twice? i was seek as a guffy last week

[Bugs]

"Every household in Britain" is gona get a leaflet about pig flu apparently.....

Well, every house in London probably, we don't count......

[grumpy]

Apr 29, 2009 7:03:04 GMT Bugs said:

"Every household in Britain" is gona get a leaflet about pig flu apparently.....

Well, every house in London probably, we don't count......

and it'll go straight in the bucket

[lassie]

Apr 28, 2009 16:44:40 GMT emre said:

im imune like ive had this years jab and one for pneumonia or new moan ear

You'll be not be immune. The flu jab is just against the bog standard basic flu that kills thousands every year .

No one is immune unless they have been immunised against this particular strain of H whatever 51.

Lest we forget, more than the population of Berwick was wiped out during the last pandemic.

Cynicism of the much demonstrated media hype could prove to be our down fall here. Boy who cried wolf n all that maybe?

[pandora]

Fair point lassie, i never knew that about berwick.

It might be months before we know how severe this new strain can get. I think its the fact that its nearly summer and not really flu 'season' thats concerning the 'experts'.

All we can do now is watch and wait.........
...........on a more positive note, certain youngsters in my house were very interested to hear that an entire school was closed for a week folllowing one of its students testing positive for the flu. I'd to explain that she had been on the same flight as the folk in Airdrie!!!

[emre]

just been a bit lucky i suppose coz ive never actuallyhad the flu in ma life, but they are preparing for it with drugs ready to be dished out

[pandora]

W.H.O has raised pandemic level to 5 - and urged countries to impliment their pandemic plans.

Like emre said, theres preparations for medicine being taken now, and we're in a better position medicine wise than the 1918 pandemic.