WHO raises Swine Flu level to Phase 5, death toll drops to 7..WTF?
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/30398682/
Global health authorities warned Wednesday that swine flu was threatening to bloom into a pandemic, and the virus spread farther in Europe even as the outbreak appeared to stabilize at its epicenter. A toddler who succumbed in Texas became the first death outside Mexico.
New cases and deaths finally seemed to be leveling off in Mexico, where 160 people have been killed, after an aggressive public health campaign. But the World Health Organization said the global threat is nevertheless serious enough to ramp up efforts to produce a vaccine against the virus. The group raised its pandemic alert for swine flu to the second highest level Wednesday, meaning that it believes a global outbreak of the disease is imminent.
WHO Director General Margaret Chan declared the phase 5 alert after consulting with flu experts from around the world. The decision could lead the global body to recommend additional measures to combat the outbreak, including for vaccine manufacturers to switch production from seasonal flu vaccines to a pandemic vaccine.
“All countries should immediately now activate their pandemic preparedness plans,” Chan told reporters in Geneva. “It really is all of humanity that is under threat in a pandemic.”
A phase 5 alert means there is sustained transmission among people in at least two countries. Once the virus shows effective transmission in two different regions of the world, a full pandemic outbreak — phase 6 — would be declared, meaning a global epidemic of a new and deadly disease.
http://www.cbsnews.com/blogs/2009/04/28/politics/politicalhotsheet/entry4975598.shtml
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security has sent a memo to some health care providers noting procedures to be followed if the swine flu outbreak eventually makes quarantines necessary.
DHS Assistant Secretary Bridger McGaw circulated the swine flu memo, which was obtained by CBSNews.com, on Monday night. It says: “The Department of Justice has established legal federal authorities pertaining to the implementation of a quarantine and enforcement. Under approval from HHS, the Surgeon General has the authority to issue quarantines.”
McGaw appears to have been referring to the section of federal law that allows the Surgeon General to detain and quarantine Americans “reasonably believed to be infected” with a communicable disease. A Centers for Disease Control official said on Tuesday that swine flu deaths in the U.S. are likely.
Federal quarantine authority is limited to diseases listed in presidential executive orders; President Bush added “novel” forms of influenza with the potential to create pandemics in Executive Order 13375. Anyone violating a quarantine order can be punished by a $250,000 fine and a one-year prison term.
A Homeland Security spokesman on Tuesday did not have an immediate response to followup questions about the memo, which said “DHS is consulting closely with the CDC to determine appropriate public health measures.”
The memo from McGaw, who is DHS’ acting assistant secretary for the private sector, also said: “U.S. Customs and Coast Guard Officers assist in the enforcement of quarantine orders. Other DOJ law enforcement agencies including the U.S. Marshals, Federal Bureau of Investigation, and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives may also enforce quarantines. Military personnel are not authorized to engage in enforcement.”
http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/world/mexico-lowers-swine-flu-death-toll-to-seven-20090429-amq9.html
Mexico has lowered its confirmed death toll from swine flu from to seven, after World Health Organisation officials questioned the total.
However, Mexican Health Minister Jose Angel Cordova also raised the toll of “probable” deaths from the H1N1 virus from 152 to 159.
A total of 1,311 people remain in hospital after exhibiting symptoms of the flu, he said.
Cordova explained the change in the confirmed death toll by saying further, more rigorous tests had forced an official recount.
“Of 159 (probable) deaths, only seven have been confirmed,” he told the journalists.
Under sharp questioning as to how such a discrepancy could have occurred, Cordova said – to some confusion – that 26 proven cases of swine flu had been detected, of which “seven corresponded beyond any doubt to deaths caused by the new virus.”
“This tallying task has in great part been carried out in conjunction with the WHO (World Health Organisation). They only count as ‘positives’ confirmed cases.”
“Unfortunately that (150-plus deaths) is incorrect information and it does happen, but that’s not information that’s come from the World Health Organisation,” Ms Allan said.
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phase 5 now in effect..and look at the powers governments will now get to apply to their cititzens
death toll reduced to 7 from 152????..confusion reigns supreme..just what exactly is going on here ??
401
Look for a Health Summit of Global Leaders at some point in time… maybe, maybe not, but if they do meet, then I see a pattern here. Global Leaders meeting on a consistent regular basis. All began with near monthly meetings with the economic summits by the politicians, bankers, and Treasury Secretaries after the September panic in 2008.
damn its that easy to change something for these ppl goes to show somethings going on this is being publized for a purpose seems like a diversion
shit if the borders close be ready for marshal law
its appearing to be an over reaction and a distraction/diversion..lets just see where we are in 7 days time