Swine flu scare

All multiplexes, schools shut down in Pune

Chennai boy, Pune doctor die of swine flu

New wave of Swine flu could sicken millions

India's first swine flu death

WHO sees swine flu vaccination from next month

India will import swine flu vaccine if developed anywhere

List of nodal officers and contact details of Control Room

ANDHRA PRADESH

Office of The Addl. Director (Health Services), Hyderabad. 040-24656852(T) [24x7]

Dr Ramswarup [09989923781]

ARUNACHAL PRADESH

SSU IDSP, Directorate of Health Services, Naharlagun, Arunachal Pradesh.

Tel: 0360-2245460 Telefax:: 0360-2244271 (During office hours)

Dr.L.Jampa [09436055743] [24x7]

ASSAM

Office of the Director (Health Services), Guwahati.

0361-2235577 0361-2261630 0361-2261089 [24x7]

Dr Doley 0361-2642008 09854066560

BIHAR

Office of the Executive Director,State Health Society, Sheikhpura, Patna.

0612-2280562

0612-2281232

0612-2290322(F) [24x7]

Mr. Santosh Mathew (IAS)

Dr D K Gupta (Addl.Nodal officer)- 09430057795

Control Room In-charge (Dr BK Singh: 9470003023)

CHHATISHGARH

State Surveillance Unit (IDSP),Directorate Health services,Old Nurses Hostel, DKS Mantralya

Campus,Raipur 0771-2220011 [24x7]

Dr T K Agarwal (Deputy Director, Epidemic)-Nodal officer: 09926624162

Dr S N M Murti (Addl.N.O) 09425564418

GUJARAT

Office of Dy.Director (Epid) Commisionerate of Health Services Block No:5, Dr.Jivaraj Mehta Bhawan, Old Sachivalaya , Ahmedabad, Gujarat

Tel: 079-23253334

Fax: 079-23250818 [24X7]

Dr.S.J.Gandhi [09825342899]

GOA

Call Centre: 0832- 2458458 [24X7]

Dr.Tamba (09822123801)

HIMACHAL PRADESH

IDSP Cell, Directorate of Health Services, Kasumti, Shimla-9

Tel/Fax: 0177-2628046 [ during office hours]

Dr.Vinod Mehta(09418163500) [24x7]

HARYANA

Office of the Director (Health Services),Sector-6, Panchkula 0172-2587346

[During office hours]

Dr.Aparajita Sondh (Nodal Officer)09417931024 [24x7]

JAMMU-KASHMIR

Office of DHS, Srinagar, J& K Tel/Fax. No (0194) 2452697 (main)2452052,2454706,2430141

(24x7)

Dr.M.Ahmed (09419012355) Dr.Bashir Ahmed Dar (Addl.N.O) (09419017716)

JHARKHAND

RIMS, RANCHI

Chamber of Dr. A. K. Mathur (HOD Medicine) (09431176496)

(RIMS acting as Control Room)

Dr C.B Sharma (094311740820

Dr.Pradeep Baski (09431102461)

KERALA

Office of Addl.DHS (Public Health),Near Govt. General Hospital Trivandrum

TF:(0471) 2466828 [24X7]

Dr. Amar 09447451846

KARNATAKA

Office of the Director (Health and Family Welfare),Anand Rao Circle, Bangalore-9

Phone no: 080-1056 [24X7]

Dr.Chelluraj 09901060584 Dr.Vasudev Murthi 09880024329

MAHARASHTRA

Mumbai Room no.137,First Floor,Swasthaya Bhawan,Mumbai. 022-22029070

022-22025830 [24X7]

Dr. Gawande (09420711426)

Pune

Office of the Joint Director (Health Services), Central Building , Pune 020-26124299

[24X7]

Dr. Desai-09822429266 Dr. Suresh Bohatre 09881364656

MEGHALAYA

Office of DHS, Medical Institutions Nokrek Bldg. 3rd Secretariat, Shillong, Meghalaya TF:(0364)2506498 [Office hour only]

Control room no 0364-2505842

Civil hospital Shilling [24x7]

Dr.R.R.Lanong, (09436102763)

MANIPUR

Medical Directorate, Office of DHS, Manipur Room no-23 Lamphelpat Manipur-795004

0385-2411668 (9am-6pm)

Dr Bhubon Chandra [09436021607]

MADHYA PRADESH

State Surveillance Unit, Directorate Health Services, Satpura Bhavan, Bhopal 0755-4094192(TF) [Office hours only]

Dr. B N Chauhan 09826282249

MIZORAM

Civil hospital Aizwal 0389-2322318

102

Dr Sangawalar 0389-2313721

NAGALAND

SSU IDSP, Directorate of Health Services& FW, T.R .Hill, KOHIMA-797001.

Tel:(0370)2245016 [Office hours only]

Dr.Kebichusa (09436000463) [24x7]

ORISSA

State Surveillance Unit, Director of Health Services, Heads of the Department Buildings, Bhubaneshwar.

0674-2390466 (TF)

[24x7] Dr. V. Patnaik

0674-2390466

PUNJAB

Govt. Multispecialty Hospital,Sector-16, Chandigarh.Call Centre:102

Tel:(0172) 2700255 [24x7]

Mr. H.C. Gera (09988212139) (0172)-2740408

RAJASTHAN

Office of the Director (Public Health), Swasthaya Bhawan, Jaipur.

0141-2225624

0141-2224831(F)

[ Mr. R K Meena ,IAS, Principal Sect.(Health)- Nodal Officer

Dr. O P Gupta(Addl.Nodal Officer)-0141-2229858 09829333936

SIKKIM

SSU IDSP, Health & F.W.

Govt. of Sikkim

03592-204199

[Office hours only] Dr.Y.D.Chingappa

(09832079576)

Tel:(03592)204199

TRIPURA

DHS building PN Building,Gurkha Basti,Agartala

Tel/Fax:(0381) 2215879 Dr P Chatterjee (09436120711)

Dr.R.K. Dhar (09436137652)

TAMILNADU

Office of the Director (Public Health &Preventive Medicine),Central Malaria Laboratory,359,Annasalai,Chennai-6

044-24321569 (TF)[24X7]

DR. Elango, DHS,(09940610123)

UTTARAKHAND

Office of DHS, IDSP,107,Chander Nagar, Dehradun

TF: 0135-2721792 0135-2729897[Office Hours only]

Dr.Pankaj Jain(09412969502) [24x7]

UTTAR PRADESH

Swasthaya Bhawan,Luknow

Control Room No-Tel:(0522)2616482

Fax:(0522)2622819

[24X7]

Dr Pyaremohan Srivastava

0522-2629106(TF)

(09415181629)

WEST BENGAL

Chamber of Joint Director (Health Services), Swasthaya Bhawan,Sector-5,GN Block, Kolkata-91

(033)-23571192 [ 10 am to 7 pm on working days] [11 am to 4:30 pm on Saturday and Holidays]

Dr.Bhaskar Bhattacharya,

Jt.DHS 033-23330180 (09831187818)

ANDAMAN AND NICOBAR

G.B.Pant Hospital, Port Blair

Tel:03192-233473

Dr.Abhijit Roy,Dy.Director (H) (09474269315)

T/F: (03192-232797)

CHANDIGARH

Govt. Multispecialty Hospital, Sector-16, Chandigarh. Call Centre:102 Tel:(0172) 2700255

Mr. H.C. Gera (09988212139) (0172)-2740408

DADRA AND NAGAR HAVELI

Office of DHS, Silvassa.

T/F (0260)2642061,2641759 CONTROL ROOM NO- 0260-2642120

Dr.L.M.Patra DHS (09426117593)

DAMAN AND DIU

CHC, Daman.

Tel:(0260)2230080 Fax:(0260)2230570 [24x7]

Dr.B.Hansraj (Daman) (09825142600) Dr.Das (Silvassa)Tel:0260-2642961,26422120

DELHI

DHS Office Tel:22307145(24X7)

Dr.R.P.Vashist (09212222456)

LAKSHADWEEP

Office of DHS, Tel:(04896)262316 [Office hours only]

Dr.B.S.Ashraf (09447297450) Dr.Hanza Koya (DHS)-Addl.N.O.(09496429027)

PUDUCHERRY

Call Centre:(24X7) Tel: (0413)1070 (0413)1077

Dr.G.S.Naidu (09443729783) Tel:(0413)2249357

List of Isolation facilities of the States-Isolation/Critical Care Facility

Hyderabad (Andhra Pradesh)

Govt. General and Chest Diseases Hospital, Erragadda , Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh

040-23814939

[Dr. Prasad – 9849902995]

Ahmedabad(Gujarat)

Civil Hospital attached to Medical College, Asarwa, Ahmedabad, Gujarat-380016

[Dr. Ancheliah – 09426347531]

Goa

1. Cottage Hospital, Chikalem, Goa

(Isolation Ward) [0832-2540864]

2. Goa Medical College & Hospital,

Panjim, Goa (Critical Care)

[Dr. Suhas- 09011025066]

Srinagar(Jammu & Kashmir)

1. Govt Medical College, Sri Maharaja Hari Singh Hospital, Karan Nagar, Srinagar-190010, J&K

[SMHS - Dr. Wasim Qureshi – 09419000231] (both isolation and critical care)

2. Sher-e-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences, Srinagar, Jammu & Kashmir

[Prof. Dr Bhukhari 09419000318]

Thiruvanathanapuram(Kerala)

1. General Hospital, Thiruvanathanapuram, Kerala-695025

[Dr. Suresh - 09447030291]

{ Isolation and Critical care}

2. District Hospital, Manjeri; District-Malappuram, Kerala

[ Dr. Ramani – 09447157128,

Krishna – 9388014526] {Isolation}

3. Taluk Head Quarter Hospital, Perumbavoor, Ernakulum District, Kerala-683542 {Isolation}

[Dr. Rosy Sebastian - 09846948926

Dr. Sudha Karan – 9446505990]

Bangalore (Karnataka)

1. Dr. Rajiv Gandhi Institute of Chest Diseases and SDS TB Hospital Hosur Road, Near NIMHANS, Bangalore-29, Karnataka

{Isolation and critical care}

[Dr. S. Buggi - 09448042579

Dr. Nagraj- 09448057093]

Mangalore(Karnataka)

2. District Wenlock Hospital, Mangalore, Karnataka

{Isolation and critical care}

[Dr. Prabhudev- 09480015944

Dr. Jagannath - 09448166113

Fax – 08242445664]

Mumbai (Maharastra)

Kasturba Hospital, Sane Guruji Marg, Mumbai-11,Maharastara

{Isolation and critical care}

[Dr. Umesh Aigal – 09820935680,

022-23083901, 02,03,04]

Pune(Maharastra)

Dr. Naidu Infectious Disease Hospital,

Pune, Maharastra

{Isolation and critical care}

[Dr. Barathe – 09923130909]

Nagpur(Maharastra)

Govt Medical College and Hospital, Nagpur,Maharastara-444003

{Isolation and critical care}

Swine Flu Ward: 0712-2750730

[GMC- MS -0712- 2750427, 2749311,

Dr. Khade- 09422139720]

Amritsar(Punjab)

Jallian Wala Bagh Memorial Civil Hospital, Ram Bagh, Amritsar, Punjab

[Dr. Kakkar – 09815576862]

Jaipur(Rajasthan)

Infectious District Hospital, Near Charak Bhawan, SMS Medical College, Jaipur, Rajasthan

[Dr.P. D.Vyas - 0141-2564434, 518392

2605148

Dr. Sen - 9887806450,

Dr. Girdhari - 9414772483

Dr. Somundra – 9829620508]

Chennai(Tamil Nadu)

1. Communicable Disease Hospital, 87, T.H. Road, Tondiarpet, Chennai, Tamil Nadu {Isolation Facility}

[Dr. Lakshmi- 044-25912688. M- 09841250567]

Tiruchirapalli(Tamil Nadu)

2. Annal Gandhi Memorial Hospital, Puthur, Trichy-17, Tamil Nadu

{Isolation and Critical care}

[Dr. Veerapande – 09443913446]

3. Dist. Headquarter Hospital, Mannapari {Isolation Facility}

[Dr. Veerapande – 09443913446]

Coimbatore (Tamil Nadu)

4. Coimbatore Medical College Hospital, Trichy Road, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu

{Isolation and Critical care}

[Dr. Kumaran – 09442012555]

Lucknow(Uttar Pradesh)

1. Balrampur District Hospital, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh-226001

{Isolation and Critical care}

[Dr. P. N. Srivastva – 9415181629]

Varanasi(Uttar Pradesh)

2. Shree Shiv Prasad Gupta District Hospital, Kabir Chaura, Varanasi

Uttar Pradesh {Isolation and critical care}

3. Pandit Deen Dayal Upadhya Govt Hospital, Pandeypur, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh-221002

{Isolation and Critical care}

[Dr. Kanta Prasad - 9451006046, Dr. R. S. Verma – 09415301513]

Kolkata(West Bengal)

Beliaghata Infectious Diseases Hospital, 57, Beliaghata, Main Road, Kolkata

{Isolation and Critical Care}

[Dr. Vishwanath 09433392182

Dr. Vishwas -09434009077]

DELHI

Yellow Fever Quarantine Centre, Near AAI Residential Colony, New Delhi [APHO- 25652129, Dr S.K Singh:09868252314]

Influenza Ward, Ward no 5, Second Floor, New Building, RML Hospital, Delhi-1

[RML- 24525211,23404328,23365525- Ext 4328]

Monsoon could see more swine flu cases, warn experts

A day after a 14-year-old schoolgirl died in Pune of swine flu, doctors and experts on Tuesday warned that the H1N1 infections in the country could increase as the virus spreads faster during the monsoon and winter.

Experts said people need to be more vigilant and take precautions as the swine flu virus has entered the country.

"Surveillance and screening has to be given high priority. The virus has been mild so far, but it is a well-known fact that it could change its behaviour. And if it changes, then the virus could be more virulent," Randeep Guleria, head of medicine at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), said.

"The swine flu virus can spread rapidly during monsoon and winter months. Therefore, we could see more infections in the coming months. It could be serious," he added.

Pune residents rush to hospital for swine flu tests

Wearing face masks, hundreds of anxious people, including children, rushed to a referral hospital to take tests for the swine flu virus leading to chaos and police had to be called in to control the crowd.

Two days after a 14-year-old Pune school girl succumbed to the deadly virus to become India's first swine flu fatality, there was a sense of panic in the city, as doctors and authorities tried to calm frantic parents with children thronging the designated Naidu hospital for infectious diseases to take H1N1 influenza tests.

There were complaints galore by people referred to the Naidu hospital for the tests that they were not being attended properly but hospital authorities sought to downplay it saying the "whole burden" was on them.

Flu cases in country inch close to 600 mark

Twenty-two fresh cases of swine flu were reported from across the country today taking the total number of those afflicted to 596.

Five cases were reported from Delhi, three from Gurgaon, four from Mumbai, three from Pune, and one each from Bangalore, Hyderabad, Kolkata, Mangalore, Jamshedpur, Chennai, Hoshiarpur and Gurdaspur.

In Delhi, four out of the five cases are contacts of previously reported positive patients who had reported tothe stipulated health facility.

Goa to invoke epidemic act to tackle swine flu

Goa will invoke the Epidemic control Act (ECA), 1897, to curb the spread of influenza A (H1N1) once the state's busy tourism season gets underway in October, Health Minister Vishwajeet Rane said on Wednesday.

Rane's announcement comes barely a day after the Maharashtra government invoked the act in Pune and Satara districtS after a 14-year-old Pune schoolgirl died of swine flu.

`Maharashtra has invoked the act because there are thousands of international guests arriving at its Mumbai airport. We don't feel it is required for Goa at this moment. But once the tourist season starts we will put this act into effect,` Rane told reporters.

The epidemic act gives health authorities the power to forcibly admit and treat any swine flu patient at a government-run hospital.

`If this (swine flu) is not controlled worldwide, Goa will have to enforce the act once the tourist season starts,` Rane said, adding that Goa receives tourists from all over the world, including from countries particularly affected by swine flu.

2 passengers quarantined in Chennai

Chennai: Two passengers were quarantined on their arrival from Singapore on Wednesday following suspected symptoms of swine flu.

Rajan Sekhar (25) and Simon Michael Joseph (35), both natives of Chennai, were referred to the Government Communicable Diseases Hospital at Tondiarpet here, airport sources said.

Swine flu the test of health care systems

1. The Economics of Swine Flu

2. Swine Flu Should More Accurately Be Called North American Flu

3. A deadly warning - Swine flu - photograpphy
4. Five Health Tips to Avoid Swine Flu
5. Swine flu the test of health care systems

Scientists worry if swine flu, bird flu mix

This is the scenario that has some scientists worried: The two viruses meet - possibly in Asia, where bird flu is endemic - and combine into a new bug that is both highly contagious and lethal and can spread around the world.

Scientists are unsure how likely this possibility is, but note that the new swine flu strain - a never-before-seen mixture of pig, human and bird viruses - has shown itself to be especially adept at snatching evolutionarily advantageous genetic material from other flu viruses.

Bird flu kills more than 60 percent of its human victims, but doesn't easily pass from person to person. Swine flu can be spread with a sneeze or handshake, but kills only a small fraction of the people it infects.

Preventive Measures and Travel Recommendations

Countries with confirmed H1N1 cases

List of Countries with Confirmed Cases of H1N1 Virus (source: WHO)

1. Argentina
2. Australia
3. Austria
4. Bahamas
5. Bahrain
6. Barbados
7. Belgium
8. Bermuda, UKOT
9. Bolivia
10. Brazil
11. British Virgin Islands, UKOT
12. Bulgaria
13. Canada
14. Cayman Islands, UKOT
15. Chile
16. China
17. Colombia
18. Costa Rica
19. Cuba
20. Cyprus
21. Czech Republic
22. Denmark
23. Dominica
24. Dominican Republic
25. Ecuador
26. Egypt
27. El Salvador
28. Estonia
29. Finland
30. France
31. Germany
32. Greece
33. Guatemala
34. Honduras
35. Hungary
36. Iceland
37. India
38. Ireland
39. Israel
40. Italy
41. Jamaica
42. Japan
43. Jordan
44. Korea, Republic of
45. Kuwait
46. Laos
47. Lebanon
48. Luxembourg
49. Malaysia
50. Mexico
51. Morocco
52. Netherlands
53. New Zealand
54. Nicaragua
55. Norway
56. Oman
57. Panama
58. Papua New Guinea
59. Paraguay
60. Peru
61. Philippines
62. Poland
63. Portugal
64. Qatar
65. Romania
66. Russia
67. Samoa
68. Saudi Arabia
69. Singapore
70. Slovakia
71. South Africa
72. Spain
73. Sri Lanka
74. Suriname
75. Sweden
76. Switzerland
77. Thailand
78. Trinidad and Tobago
79. Turkey
80. Ukraine
81. United Arab Emirates
82. United Kingdom
83. United States of America
84. Uruguay
85. Venezuela
86. Viet Nam
87. West Bank and Gaza Strip
88. Yemen

New flu "unstoppable", WHO says, calls for vaccine

U.K. Plans Massive Flu Vaccination

Google shuts office in India over swine flu fears

Obama Warns of Return of Swine Flu in the Fall

Swine Flu Cases in the U.S. Pass a Million, Officials Say

New flu "unstoppable", WHO says, calls for vaccine

Vaccine decisions loom for new flu strain

New flu resembles feared 1918 virus

Nurses File Cal-OSHA Complaint After Hospital Refuses To Supply Swine Flu Masks For Units With Infected Patients
Study Suggests H1N1 Virus More Dangerous Than Suspected
GP Dies After Contracting Swine Flu - British Medical Association Statement
Nanopatches To Join The Fight Against Swine Flu


Swine flu: foreign schools cancel British trips

S. African school issues A/H1N1 flu alert

Scientists worry if swine flu, bird flu mix

Swine flu cases soar in England

Swine flu virus unpredictable, scientists warn

1. UN calls for $1b to combat swine flu
2. Asthmatics advised to take extra flu precautions
3. 18 Australians dead - 30,000 - 100,000 have now had H1N1
4. Millions could be infected by swine flu
5. Swine Flu Hits Record In Brunei
6. 200 new swine flu cases in Greece
7. More than a hundred swine flu cases in Switzerland
8. Malaysia reports 45 more cases of A/H1N1 flu, total cases rise to 513
9. Life Threatening; Starts like regular flu, then lungs stop functioning
10. More swine flu cases confirmed in South Africa
11. Swine flu is here and we need to be ready
12. Swine Flu: the rise of anti-viral resistance
13. Swine flu swamps other viruses as five more die
14. Think You Have Swine Flu? What to Do

'Something Different' Happening With New Flu

1. Swine Flu's Spread Through Air Travel
2. Swine flu Q&A: Dr. Seltzer answers your questions
3. Dr. Seltzer will answer more selected questions online. Submit your question
4. 59 PICTURES RELATED TO SWINE FLU
5. US swine flu cases rise to nearly 34,000
6. Swine Flu News
7. Canada reports four more swine flu deaths
8. Southern California students cleared from Chinese quarantine
9. WHO starts shipping antiflu drug to poor countries
10. Britain braces for 100,000 swine flu cases a day
11. Sanofi to donate 100m swine flu vaccines
12. White House to Hold H1N1 Flu Summit
13. Argentine regions declare swine flu emergency
14. New swine flu case takes India's tally to 129
15. A chronology of the H1N1 outbreak.

WHO working on formulas to model swine flu spread

The World Health Organization said Wednesday it is working to mathematically model the spread of swine flu in an attempt to better understand how the outbreak developed from a handful of cases to a global epidemic in less than two months.

WHO brought together over 20 independent experts beginning Wednesday for the three-day meeting in Geneva.

"They will be working together to describe and predict the behavior and impact of the pandemic, and demonstrate potential outcomes of proposed intervention efforts," spokeswoman Aphaluck Bhatiasevi told The Associated Press.

The meeting comes as it becomes clearer that actual case numbers may be far higher than the agency's tally of officially diagnosed infections.

According to WHO's latest update Wednesday, a total of 77,201 confirmed cases and 332 deaths have been reported in over 110 countries.

U.S. swine flu cases may have hit 1 million

As many as 1 million Americans now have swine flu, U.S. health officials said Thursday, adding that 6 percent or more of some urban areas are infected.

“We knew diagnosed cases were just the tip of the iceberg,” said Dr. William Schaffner, a Vanderbilt University infectious diseases expert who was in Atlanta for the meeting of a vaccine advisory panel.

Lyn Finelli, a flu surveillance official with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, made the 1 million estimate in a presentation to the vaccine panel. The number is from mathematical modeling, based on surveys by health officials.

Continued spread signals ‘something different’ happening with new strain

America's count of swine flu cases has risen to 21,449 cases and the number of deaths have nearly doubled to 87.

The continued spread signals the new strain of H1N1 flu is causing “something different” to happen in the United States this year — perhaps an extended year-round flu season that disproportionately hits young people, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention said.

The latest numbers, released Friday by the CDC is a jump from last week's count of 18,000 cases and 44 deaths.

Worldwide, the number of confirmed cases reached 44,287, the WHO reported Friday. WHO says cases increased by more than 10 percent in two days.

Figures provided by the global body show Argentina, Britain, Canada, Chile, China, Philippines and Thailand all reported a large rise in cases.

A total of 93 countries had reported cases to WHO by Friday.

U.S. swine flu cases may have hit 1 million

Health officials estimate that as many as 1 million Americans now have the new swine flu. Lyn Finelli, a flu surveillance official with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, voiced the estimate at a vaccine advisory meeting Thursday in Atlanta.

The estimate is based on mathematical modeling. Nearly 28,000 U.S. cases have been reported to the CDC, accounting for roughly half the world's cases. The U.S. count includes 3,065 hospitalizations and 127 deaths.

Swine Flu Pandemic Is Closer, Says WHO

The World Health Organization declared a swine flu pandemic

WHO chief Dr. Margaret Chan made the announcement Thursday after the U.N. agency held an emergency meeting with flu experts.

Chan said she was moving the world to phase 6 — the agency's highest alert level — which means a pandemic, or global epidemic, is under way.


"The world is moving into the early days of its first influenza pandemic in the 21st century," Chan told reporters. "The (swine flu) virus is now unstoppable."

QUICK FACTS

Totals WorldWide

51,702 cases

229 deaths

97 Countries

2009 "Swine Flu" Update

China quarantines dozens of US students

Dozens of American high school students were quarantined in central China after some were diagnosed with swine flu, the government said Wednesday.

In New Zealand, the Roman Catholic Church placed restrictions on communion to stop the spread of the virus

A group of 42 American high school students and teachers was quarantined last Thursday in Yichang city in central Hubei province, China’s Foreign Ministry said in a statement

Philippines Reports New H1N1 Outbreak

The Philippines confirmed a flu outbreak in 20 people in a rural northern village Monday as the country's H1N1 infection tally neared 200, while Thailand reported its largest single-day jump in infections.

"You can't stop the spread of this virus anymore," Philippine Health Secretary Francisco Duque III said. "The mitigation efforts are aimed at slowing it down, then working to help villagers address the infections."

Mr. Duque said 46 new cases were reported Monday, bringing the number of infections in the country to 193. All of the cases are mild and 71 have fully recovered, he said.

swine flu news

1. Navy reports 21 swine flu cases on USS Iwo Jima
2. US official in France diagnosed with swine flu
3. The number of U.S. citizens infected with swine flu at the American University in Cairo rose to seven, after five more cases were diagnosed as positive Tuesday, the Egyptian health minister said.
4. 2 Greek students catch swine flu in UK
5. 4 more swine flu cases in Germany
6. UK reports its first swine flu death
7. Chile reports 1st swine flu death in South America
8. Venezuela has quarantined the passengers and crew of a visiting cruise ship for 10 days after three crew members tested positive for swine flu.
9. Argentine health authorities on Tuesday confirmed three more swine flu deaths, bringing the nation's total to four as it enters the South American winter flu season.
10. SINGAPORE has confirmed seven more cases of H1N1, bringing the total number of confirmed cases here to 34, the Ministry of Health (MOH) said on Sunday.
11. The number of swine flu cases in Thailand has almost quadrupled since Wednesday to 106. Schools have been ordered closed in Bangkok and entertainment venues have been asked to close in Pattaya and Phuket.
12. Guatemala urges 2 swine flu-hit towns to shut down
13. 3 cruise ship crew catch swine flu off Australia
14. Puerto Rico reports 1st swine flu case
15. Canada says man with swine flu dies
16. Kuwait: 18 US soldiers with swine flu bolt country
17. South Korea says American has swine flu
18. Swine flu cases in India :So far, samples of 318 people have been tested, of which 30 have tested positive for influenza A (H1N1)

What is swine flu?

Human swine influenza A (H1N1), commonly known as swine flu, is a new type of human influenza virus which causes respiratory disease.
In general, swine flu is a respiratory disease in pigs caused by a type A influenza virus.
Viruses that cause swine flu do not normally infect humans, although rare human infections have occurred.
The swine flu virus we are now concerned with originally came from pigs but combined with other types of viruses to make a new virus that can now be transmitted from person to person.

How is swine flu spread?

Human swine influenza is thought to be spread when infected airborne droplets,produced by coughing or sneezing by someone with the infection, come into contactwith a mucous membrane (lining of the nose and mouth).
Infection may also be spread by contact with hands, tissues and other articles soiled by infected nose and throat discharges.

Confirmed cases of H1N1 virus approach 900

What are the symptoms?

Symptoms of swine flu in humans appear to be similar to those produced by standard,seasonal flu.
These include fever and cough, sore throat, fatigue and respiratory illness.
Those symptoms include fever over 100º F, cough, sore throat, body aches and headache.
In addition, fatigue, lack of appetite, runny nose, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea can occur.
Anyone with fever and severe respiratory symptoms such as shortness of breath or difficulty breathing should contact their health care provider.

In children, emergency warning signs that need urgent medical attention include:

* Fast breathing or trouble breathing
* Bluish skin color
* Not drinking enough fluids
* Not waking up or not interacting
* Being so irritable that the child does not want to be held
* Flu-like symptoms improve but then return with fever and worse cough
* Fever with a rash

In adults, emergency warning signs that need urgent medical attention include:

* Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath
* Pain or pressure in the chest or abdomen
* Sudden dizziness
* Confusion
* Severe or persistent vomiting

How is it diagnosed?

The recommended test for swine flu is laboratory examination of mucus from the back of the nose.

working on H1N1 virus vaccine

What is the incubation period?

The time between becoming infected and developing symptoms is 1 – 7 days.

Can it be passed to other people?

Based on current knowledge, an infected person can spread the infection to others from one day before the onset of symptoms up to 7 days after the onset of symptoms.

What should I do if I get sick?

Although typical flu symptoms usually do not require medical attention, healthy adults who are not at risk for complications of flu should at least contact their doctor if they have unexplained fever and trouble breathing or if their symptoms are getting worse.
If people are at risk for severe influenza , they should at least contact their doctor when they develop symptoms of the flu, including fever and either a cough or sore throat.

How long can the virus live on a countertop or other surface?

The virus can live on hard surfaces for at least several hours and possibly more than a day.
For that reason, it is important that you wash your hands after coughing or sneezing to avoid passing on the virus.

Can I get swine flu from eating pork, ham, etc.?

No, you cannot get swine flu in that way.
Swine flu is passed from person to person through coughing or sneezing, or by touching a surface that an infected person has coughed or sneezed on and then touching your mouth, nose or eyes.

How do people get swine flu?

You can become infected by the swine flu virus when someone infected with swine flu coughs or sneezes droplets near you and you take in the virus through your mouth, nose or eyes.
You can also get the virus by touching a surface such as a countertop or doorknob that has become contaminated and then touching your mouth, nose or eyes.

For more information

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
MedlinePlus
National Library of Medicine
National Institutes of Health
KidsHealth
Washington State Dept. of Health
WHO