theSun | TUESDAY APRIL 28 2009 9

news without borders Facts about swine flu

What kind of flu is it?
The virus is an influenza A virus, carrying the
designation H1N1 and is spreading from person
to person. It contains DNA from avian, swine and
human viruses, including elements from European

Swine flu spreads to
and Asian swine viruses, according to the US Center
for Disease Control and Prevention.

How it is spread Higher risk

• Coughing individuals
• Sneezing • Age of 65 years or older
• Kissing • Chronic health problems
• Touching infected objects

Europe, death toll rises

(such as asthma, diabetes,
• Touching nose, mouth and/or heart disease)
eyes with infected hands • Pregnant women
• Young children
Symptoms
• Fever Complications
• Muscle aches • Pneumonia
MEXICO CITY: The toll from were five suspicious • Lethargy • Bronchitis
the Mexican swine flu outbreak cases in Sweden, • Coughing • Sinus infections
escalated yesterday as the virus Denmark and Swit- • Headache • Ear infections
reached Europe and sent shivers zerland, plus four in • Sore throat
through stock markets, despite ap- France and one in • Runny nose Treatment
peals for calm from US President Italy. • Nausea • Oseltamivir (Tamiflu) or
Barack Obama. Nine people each • Vomiting zanamivir (Relenza)
The probable death toll in in New Zealand and • Diarrhoea
Mexico rose to 149 with officials Colombia, plus one
having confirmed 20 people had each in Brazil and Prevention
died from the disease, Health Min- Peru were under • Covering nose and mouth • Staying home form work
ister Jose Angel Cordova said. observation with flu with a tissue upon coughing and/or school upon onset and
“There are 149 who have died symptoms, while in and sneezing.
that we’re investigating to allow the Middle East, a 26- for the duration of symptoms.
• Avoiding contact with ill • Assuring adequate and
us to confirm” that they meet the year-old Israeli was persons.
strict criteria that defines swine also hospitalised in • Avoiding the urge to touch thorough handwashing
flu, Cordova said. Netanya. and use of alcohol
BERNAMAPIX

nose, mouth and eyes in

The number of suspected cases In Geneva, the World general. based hand cleansers.
has passed 1,600. Health Organisation
Europe’s first confirmed case said it was not calling Asia takes preventive measures
was reported in Spain, with doz- for travel restrictions.
ens more suspected cases being The UN health » In New Zealand, authorities years ago.
checked in seven EU states and agency has warned that were tracking down hundreds
conflicting advice about travel to the swine flu strain – ap- of air passengers who may be » Japan said it would fast-track
the Americas from other parts of parently born out of a at risk. They say they are well efforts to find a vaccine, while
the world. mix of human and avian A nurse prepared to deal with any new one company pulled back the
Although the United States flu viruses that infected nounced checks a flu outbreak thanks to a plan families of staff based in Mex-
government has declared a public pigs – could become a it will release a quarter of passenger drawn up during the 2003 bird ico, travel agencies scrapped
health emergency, Obama urged pandemic and called for all na- the national stockpile of 50 million from a Los fl u scare, with stocks of anti- package tours and drug stores
people to stay calm. tions to “intensify surveillance”. doses of the Tamiflu and Relenza Angeles- flu medication in place. reported a brisk trade in face
The swine flu outbreak “re- Mexico City’s streets were anti-viral drugs. Taipei- masks.
quires a heightened state of alert, deserted after its 20 million Swiss pharmaceutical group Malaysia » In Hongkong, health officials
but it is not a cause for alarm”, he residents were ordered to avoid Roche said it was ready to send out flight for warned that passengers arriv- » In Vietnam, where 56 people
told a gathering of the National crowds and even kissing, while more stocks of Tamiflu, some 220 possible ing from affected areas and have died from bird flu since
Academy of Sciences. a football game on Sunday at the million doses of which are in the swine flu showing flu-like symptoms 2003, airport screening was
Obama said the US emergency 105,000-seat Aztec stadium was hands of governments worldwide. infection would be quarantined. Along focused on passengers arriv-
order was “a precautionary tool to played behind closed doors. British pharmaceutical giant upon her with Singapore, Hongkong ad- ing.
ensure that we have the resources Residents donned face masks GlaxoSmithKline also said it was arrival at vised against all non-essential
we need at our disposal to respond and stocked up on food and water in “urgently” investigating how to the KL travel to worst-hit Mexico. » Thailand, which recorded
quickly and effectively”. anticipation of a long lockdown as boost production of its antiviral International 17 fatal human cases of bird
Mexican President Felipe Calderon urged Mexicans to “move drug Relenza, as a race to develop Airport in » China warned international flu between 2004 and the last
Calderon also called for calm, but fast, but to maintain calm and coop- a direct vaccine for H1N1 strain Sepang travellers to be alert for any outbreak in August 2006, also
confirmed cases outside Mexico erate with the authorities”. gathered pace. yesterday. sign of infection. Beijing also started screening passengers
now number at least 20 in the US Two of the seven people ap- After China, Thailand, Indone- banned all pork imports from arriving at its main interna-
and six in Canada as well as the parently stricken with the flu on sia, Russia and Ukraine banned Mexico and parts of the US, tional airport in Bangkok.
Spanish victim. Sunday “arrived (at hospital) in Mexican and US pork imports, despite health officials saying
Countries around the world a very bad state” and died shortly US officials insisted it was virtu- the current outbreak was be- » In Australia, hospital emer-
were testing people travelling from afterwards, Mexico City mayor ally impossible to catch swine flu ing spread by human-to-hu- gency wards, doctors and bor-
the infected areas who showed Marcelo Ebrard said. from eating meat as long as it is man contact. der control staff were given
signs of possible swine flu. Richard Besser, acting head of properly cooked. guidelines on how to spot the
The European Union called an the US Centers for Disease Control Authorities across the Asia-Pa- » The most common measure virus. All planes arriving from
emergency meeting of health min- and Prevention, said that the US cific region, which has in recent being put in place was the the Americas would be re-
isters and advised against non-es- outbreak so far consisted of eight years been at the forefront of the use of thermal scanners, quired to report on the health
sential travel to areas where the confirmed cases in New York City, SARS and bird flu epidemics, which have been a common status of passengers before
deadly virus has surfaced. seven in California, two in Texas, stepped up checks at airports and feature in many Asian airports receiving permission to land.
Spain is watching 20 suspected two in Kansas and one in Ohio. urged the public to be on guard since the Severe Acute Respi- Anyone with flu-like symptoms
cases and Britain 17 while there The US government an- for symptoms. – AFP ratory Syndrome epidemic six will be quarantined. – AFP

Avoid travel to swine flu-hit

Govt urged to freeze
countries: Tiong Lai pork imports
by Karen Arukesamy after April 17. disease is not transmitted through
[email protected] “The ministry is also researching pork, but is airborne through live by Kong See Hoh Commenting on the outbreak of
swine flu vaccinations for pig farm- transmission. [email protected] swine flu in Mexico, Tung said local
KUALA LUMPUR: Health Minister ers. We have the seasonal influenza Liow said the ministry would pig farmers should pay more attention
Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai has vaccine, but we must further study if meet with all relevant agencies such THE Federation of Livestock Farmers to sanitation on their farms to ensure
advised against travel to Mexico, the it can be given to pig farmers because as the foreign and agriculture and Associations of Malaysia has urged that their animals are healthy.
United States and Canada following we are not sure of the strain. agro-based industry ministries and the government to temporarily freeze Pig farming in the country is con-
an outbreak of swine flu in these “We will also vaccinate frontliner the Veterinary Department to discuss pork imports in view of the outbreak centrated in Penang, Perak, Selangor,
countries. agencies like the police, nurses and proactive and preventive measures. of swine flu in Mexico that the World Malacca and Negri Sembilan.
“Avoid travel to these countries doctors if the need arises,” Liow These include screening travellers at Health Organisation warns could Meanwhile, the federation’s chair-
if possible, although we have not said, reassuring the public that the all entry points to Malaysia. become a pandemic. man Lee Ah Fatt said Malaysia does
issued any restrictions,” he told a government was well prepared Later at the KL International The federation’s deputy president not import pork from Mexico and
press conference yesterday after to prevent swine flu infections in Airport, Liow conducted an on-the- Tung Hong Chai told Oriental Daily consumers should feel safe consum-
presenting the Joint Commission Malaysia. spot inspection of a flight from Los News on Sunday that imposing a ing the meat.
International accreditation award to “Malaysia had successfully pre- Angeles. freeze on pork imports was a way He said that although Mexico
the Prince Court Medical Centre. vented the spread of Severe Acute He said any traveller testing posi- to stop the highly contagious swine was on the other side of the world,
“So far the WHO says restrictions Respiratory Syndrome previously, and tive for swine flu would be admitted flu virus from being brought into the the federation was taking a serious
are unecessary in terms of health, we have the National Influenza Pan- for treatment at the Sungai Buloh country. view of the swine flu outbreak and
travel or trade,” Liow said. demic Preparedness Plan to check Hospital. He pointed out that all pigs reared was keeping close tabs on the latest
He said public and private medi- the spread of any influenza-like ill- “The (faulty) thermal monitor at in the country are given immunisation developments.
cal practitioners had been alerted to ness. the airport will also be fixed soon,” jabs against diseases such as foot-and- Lee also said pig farms in the
immediately report to the nearest “It has come to a stage where he said. mouth and rabies. country should not face any problem
district health office, any patient the disease is spread from human to Sick pigs are also quarantined to as they are well equipped to maintain
with influenza-like illness or severe human, thereby raising the risk.” reduce the chances of an outbreak, he a high level of sanitation, Nanyang
symptoms of pneumonia who had He also said pork in the country Check for latest updates at www.moh. said. Siang Pau reported.
travelled to any affected country is safe for consumption because the gov.my or call 03-8881 0200/300.