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 H1N1 Swine Flu May 1

Worldwide

  • the swine flu death toll now 159 in Mexico 
  • 16 countries reporting confirmed or suspected infections.
  • The World Health Organisation (WHO) warned that the H1N1 Swine Flu virus is too "widespread to make containment a feasible" strategy.
  • Mexico has more than 1600 people suspected to be carrying the virus. Twenty of these deaths have been confirmed by laboratory tests.
  •  The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) today reported 91 confirmed cases of swine flu in 10 states: New York City, 51; Arizona, 1; California, 14; Indiana, 1; Kansas, 2; Massachusetts, 2; Michigan, 2; Nevada, 1; Ohio, 1, and Texas, 16.
  • first swine flu death outside of Mexico, in Houston, Texas of a 22month old boy.

 H1N1 Swine Flu April 30

Canada has 13 cases and Israel and New Zealand confirmed their first swine flu casualties.

While countries tightened borders, the WHO said research since the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) outbreak in 2003 in Asia had shown that border controls were of little use halting the spread of such a virus.

"Border controls do not work. Screening doesn't work," WHO spokesman Gregory Hartl said in Geneva.

"If a person has been exposed or infected... the person might not be symptomatic at the airport," he said. "We learn as we go on. SARS was a huge learning experience for all of us."

WHO assistant general secretary Keiji Fukuda warned the virus would be impossible to contain.

"I think that in this age of global travel where people move around in airplanes so quickly, there is no region to which this virus could not spread," said Mr Fukuda.

The WHO has upgraded its pandemic threat level to four, which is two steps short of declaring a full-blown pandemic. A phase four alert means human-to-human transmission is causing outbreaks in at least one country. 

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ARCHIVE: H1N1 Swine Flu in Australia

H1N1 Swine Flu May 1Federal Health Minister Nicola Roxon again confirmed no cases of  H1N1 swine flu in Australia.

H1N1 Swine Flu April, 30 Federal Health Minister Ms Roxon said there were no confirmed cases of swine flu in Australia.

The Australian Government has taken additional steps making swine flu a quarantinable disease. Australian government response to Swine influenza outbreaks


Thermal imaging cameras set up at airports around Australia THURSDAY 30TH APRIL 2009

Current level of influenza pandemic alert raised to phase 5  29 April 2009

Wash your hands, PM says April 30, 2009 Article from:  Australian Associated Press

PILOTS on all international flights into Australia must now identify any of their passengers showing flu symptoms.

Federal Health Minister Nicola Roxon has outlined Australia's updated response the worldwide outbreak of swine flu, saying it "can be in place by late this afternoon''. 

Additional clinical treatment areas  will be opened at airports but it was unclear when they would be available. 

Four million health declaration cards will be distributed to airports around the country but a decision will be made later on whether they will be given to all inbound passengers.

Arrangements are also in place to deploy thermal scanners to eight of Australia's international airports.

"They are in transit to airports today and all arrangements are in place for AQIS (Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service) to be standing by to receive that equipment and to use it if that becomes necessary,'' Ms Roxon said.

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