Posted on 04/29/2009 1:30:18 PM PDT by COUNTrecount
The World Health Organisation tonight raised the pandemic alert level to five out of six after the continued spread of swine flu world wide.
Margaret Chan, the organisation's director-general, said tonight: "I have decided to raise the current level of influenza pandemic alert from phase 4 to phase 5.
"Influenza pandemics must be taken seriously precisely because of their capacity to spread rapidly to every country in the world."
Making a call to governments, she said: "This change to a higher phase of alert is a signal to governments, to ministries of health and other industries, to the pharmaceutical industry and business industry that certain actions must be undertaken now with increased urgency and at an accelerated pace."
Related Links Swine flu – schoolgirl among new British cases WHO stops short of declaring swine flu pandemic Egyptian Christians riot after swine flu cull Multimedia Video: why such a killer? The 1918 flu pandemic She warned: "It really is all of humanity that is under threat in a pandemic."
More follows...
(Excerpt) Read more at timesonline.co.uk ...
I see nothing wrong with being prepared for a potential major event with a large loss of life.
With the knowledge that we have; it be irresponsible to act as if this is no big deal.
Would it be prudent for us just ignore this and hope it goes away? (Which it may)
“Apparently this one’s main mechanism involves turning one’s immune system against the body, meaning robust immune systems strike hard while weak ones don’t.”
I’m curious, any information on how the course of the disease differs in those of us with autoimmune disorders? Given that in autoimmune disorders the immune system is already attacking parts of the body, would swine flu make that worse? Or would it not be as severe?
Or is it still too early to make a guess?
They just delayed all UIL events here in Texas due to the swine flu:
On the recommendation of Dr. David Lakey, Commissioner of the Texas Department of State Health Services, and in consultation with Texas Education Agency Commissioner Robert Scott, the University Interscholastic League is altering its schedule of events due to the outbreak of the swine flu in Texas. Effective immediately, all UIL interscholastic competition is suspended until May 11.
Wow, looks like Capitalism and Big-Pharma may get pulled from the list of 'Evil-Do-ers' until this passes!
And the first things after the guns and ammo is closing ALL churches.
“Time will tell which has the last laugh.”
On that, we agree.
THANK YOU, THANK YOU for posting this graphic. I have been looking for it for a t-shirt. “worship at 11”.
Due to a “probable case”, an elementary school in Lewisville Texas School District is closed, all “extracurricular” activities district-wide cancelled through May 11th. Texas has also postponed all UIL (University Interscholastic League) activities (sports and academic) until May 11th. Some Fort Worth schools also have been closed.
I think many on this thread who are joking about this do not live in any of the affected areas. I’ll just wait and see if your tune changes when things move closer to YOUR home.
Once May 1st has come and gone, and the majority of home owners who plan to make their May mortgage payment DO make their payment ... THEN an okay for an official "cause for alarm" will be issued.
Regardless, just wait and see how many people do NOT pay their May mortgage payment on time -- because of the uncertainty that's in the air with the economy and the Swine Flu ...
They're saying it is not being spread person to person.....So, how is it going to be spread??
Hasn’t Egypt been having problems with bird flu at the moment as well, though? If that is true, I think they may be doing the right thing in killing all the pigs, as the pigs could be a very efficient incubator for bringing the highly-fatal H5N1 in contact with the lower virulence H1N1 and causing a mutation that we don’t want to see.
Since you had been watching my posts over the last few days with derision, I hope you did not miss the threads on which I posted the CDC’s information, the symptoms to watch for, the incubation period etc.
Including the fact that I had said I disinfected my office and went out and bought hand sanitizers and disinfectants.
Then think about what Brit Hume said yesterday, and with which I agree, the press should be ashamed at how they have pimped this story for the last 4 days during a slow news cycle.
No one knows if this will turn into a pandemic. But I lived through Gerald Ford’s swine flu debacle, apple alar scares, numerous hysterical proclamations of things to be afraid of and I have limited respect for WHO.
Yeah I saw that show. Very interesting. I particularly liked the flying cats scenario. That’s been out for a couple of years though. I’m sure the History channel reruns it every now and then. Just this time it happened to coincide with this flu scare.
Ping, in case you missed it..
Oh my. My DH bought me The Stand to read while I was recuperating from Legionnaire's Disease.
Thanks for the ping. I am getting over the flu. Maine has been buggy enough. I’m kind of surprised anyone went to the Doc to get diagnosed.
Ping (Thanks, DvdMom!)
Not when 10 million people need to be isolated...part of the risk is that the numbers of infected would overwhelm the healthcare system.
Just announced on local news. All Fort Worth Tx schools closed until May 8th.
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