Swine Flu - What is Happening in Asia?

The World Health Organisation has raised the
alert level for swine flu from 4 to 5 which
means that the risk of a pandemic breaking out
has increased significantly putting the world on
full alert.

At risk level 5, countries have to ensure that
they have sufficient quantities of medicines
available to cope with massive infections occurring
in the population.
Governments are also required to introduce measures to
contain the spread of the flu virus. Screening at airports and
sea ports has been introduced in many
countries already.

Countries in Asia are not taking any chances.
After their experiences with SARS and avian
flu they are on high alert, poised for action if/
when necessary.

New Zealand is the only country in the region
with confirmed cases of swine flu - 14 at the last count -
with many other people placed in isolation. All
those who have contracted swine flu had
visited Mexico or North America recently.

In South Korea 5 suspected cases of swine flu
are being investigated, but no confirmed cases
have been reported. All 5 had recently visited
Mexico or the USA. The South Korean government
has designated Mexico a "travel restricted area"
for its citizens.

Australia has introduced new powers to isolate
and detain anyone suspected of having swine flu.
Aa a precautionary measure, aircraft arriving from
affected areas can be disinfected if it is deemed necessary.
According to the Australian Health Minister these steps
have been introduced so that "we can act nationally, we
can act quickly".

Hong Kong, China and Singapore are also
monitoring the situations in their countries
very carefully, Passenger screening, travel
advisements and airport checks are in place.

Swine Flu Update

Swine flu has to date been the cause of more
than 150 deaths in Mexico, where it first broke
out. Several other countries have confirmed cases of
swine flu but no fatalities have occured.

• The USA has 50+ confirmed cases.
• Canada has 6
• New Zealand 3
• Britain 2
• Spain 2
• Israel 1

Swine flu is caused by the H1N1 strain associated with pigs.

The present situation has been caused by the virus crossing the
species barrier to infect humans.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) has raised
the alert level from 3 to 4. The scale ranges
from 1 to 6 with 6 representing a full-blown
pandemic alert. A level 4 alert represents "a
significant increase in risk of a pandemic".

The 20th century saw three major pandemics. In
1918, Spanish Flu killed more than 50 million
people. In 1957 Asian flu affected millions
worldwide and in 1968-69 nearly 34 000 people
died of Hong Kong flu.

To put these statistics into a clearer pespective,
they need to be viewed in terms of the number of
people who die from seasonal influenza every
year. Worldwide between 250 000 and 500 000 people succumb
to influenza yearly.

Many countries are advising their citizens not
to travel to Mexico or to affected areas in the
USA (New York, New Jersey and Texas have been
affected so far) except for absolutely essential travel.

Swine Flu - What is it all about?

Swine flu is a viral infection that originated
in pigs. It was first isolated as a special
strain of flu in the 1930s and has only
infrequently crossed the species barrier and
infected people who were in direct contact with
the infected pigs. To give an indication of the
rareness of that happening, the USA has reported
only 10 cases of swine flu in the past five
years. However, in March of this year 8 cases
were confirmed.

The current outbreak of swine flu in Mexico is
causing concern because over 100 of the people
who contracted it have died. In Mexico the
strain of swine flu appears to be particularly
virulent.

Several people who have just visited Mexico have
become infected with the virus and inadvertently
carried it back to their own countries.
Outbreaks have been reported in the USA, Canada,
Spain, New Zealand and elsewhere. At this stage the
travelers with the flu have not developed complications
and are recovering.

In the USA, some schools reporting outbreaks of
suspected swine flu have closed and students
sent home as a precautionary measure to prevent
the virus from spreading.

Many countries have put measures in place to
deal with a possible epidemic or pandemic.
So far, no travel restrictions have been imposed
on flights to and from Mexico. Airlines are
allowing passengers to change their travel plans
to Mexico without having to pay the usual
penalties.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) is keep a
sharp eye on matters and has declared the flu a
"public health event of international concern."

What are swine flu symptoms?

They are similar to regular flu symptoms with
fever, congestion and coughing, body aches, sore
throat, fatigue. Those most at risk to develop complications
are people who are immune compromised, the elderly
and pregnant women.

What to do if you live in an area affected by swine flu?

Wash your hands with soap and water frequently
throughout the day. If you are at risk or
fearful of catching swine flu, wear a face mask
- the N99 is reported to be most effective - to
prevent you from inhaling the airborne virus.

If you have visited Mexico recently or come into
contact with someone who has and you develop any
of these flu symptoms, be sure to see your doctor
immediately.