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German public health officials have recently publicized an increase in Puumala virus infections among its citizens in the states of Baden-Wuerttemberg and Bavaria. Puumala virus is a member of the European Hantaviruses that can potentially cause hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome. This mild form of Hantavirus results from inhaling dusts contaminated with rodent urine and feces. Anyone who develops flu-like symptoms after entering dusty buildings or after handling dead rodents should immediately seek medical attention.

Weekly cases of the H1N1 virus have almost doubled in a week and Justin McCracken, chief executive of the Health Protection Agency, said the number of GP consultations about flu are in line with epidemic levels. "We are there or there abouts," he said. An epidemic is officially declared when the number of GP consultations recorded by the Royal College of GP exceeds 200 per 100,000 population. Last week the figure stood at 155 consultations per 100,000 population but another, larger, database which is more up to date has recorded 221.4 consultations per 100,000 population. Mr McCracken said taking the...

President Barack Obama voiced hope Friday that the swine flu virus will run its course "like ordinary flus" as officials reported more than two dozen new cases and scores more schools shut down. The government issued new guidance for schools with confirmed cases, saying they should close for at least 14 days because children can be contagious for seven to 10 days from when they get sick. That means parents can expect to have children at home for longer than previously thought. The Education Department said that more than 400 schools had closed, affecting about 245,000 children in 18 states....

Did you hear all of Humanity is at risk warns the WHO. The Gestapo (DHS) has issued orders in case Quarantine is necessary. Is this a Swine Flu cover-up to protect the campaign contributions for the swine in our government? I also came across something I thought quite odd... The following is from the Annual Report from 2008 for Tamiflu. There was a prediction for a 531% sales increase for 2009 wow these people are good I can only imagine the skill it takes to make such a bold prediction (who is doing the forecasting a psychic?) see page 6.....

In case you haven't heard, we're all going to die. You, me, everyone we know, and possibly all our pets are all doomed to die from the latest in a long line of fatal pandemics, the swine flu. The experts are on TV every day relaying pant-soiling fact after pant-soiling fact about the upcoming apocalypse. I, for one, look forward to dying from swine flu, just like I died from bird flu in 2006 and SARS in 2003. Fortunately for me, I'm prepared for the upcoming viruspalooza. You see, I've watched dozens of virus-related disaster films, and I am as...

The White House is issuing a health advisory outlining "protective measures" for anyone who traveled on President Barack Obama's trip to Mexico, after a member of the U.S. delegation came down with flu-like symptoms - and tests on his family showed they're probably infected with the swine flu. The individual - an advance security staffer for Energy Secretary Steven Chu -appears to have spread the flu to his wife, son and nephew. All three have tested probable for swine flu, White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs said. Gibbs, who did not name the security aide, said he did not work...

The White House is issuing a health advisory to anyone who traveled on President Barack Obama’s trip to Mexico, after a member of the U.S. delegation came down with flu-like symptoms – and tests on that staffers’ family showed they are probably infected with the swine flu. After saying just last week that no one who traveled to Mexico City for the president's visit contracted the flu, White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs announced that a lead advance person for Energy Secretary Steven Chu came down with flu-like symptoms after the trip and appears to have spread the flu to...

The Department of Homeland Security said Thursday it has not told agents at U.S. airports and border checkpoints that they cannot wear masks to protect from exposure to swine flu. "The Department of Homeland Security has not issued an order saying our employees cannot wear masks. The health of our employees is of utmost importance to us. And today we are issuing department-wide guidance to our workforce," DHS spokeswoman Sara Kuban told FOX News. Kuban was responding to a claim made Thursday that The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Department of Homeland Security issued a guideline banning...

A member of the U.S. delegation that helped prepare Energy Secretary Steven Chu's trip to Mexico City has demonstrated flu-like symptoms and his family members have tested probable for swine flu. White House spokesman Robert Gibbs said Thursday that three members of an aide's family are being tested to see if they have the same strain of swine flu that is threatening to become a pandemic. The aide worked in presidential advance, which is responsible for planning and preparing trips.

(WXYZ) - A member of the U.S. delegation to Mexico is exhibiting flu-like symptoms according to the White House. Testing is underway to see if this is a case of the swine flu. Stay with WXYZ.com and Action News for the very latest.

HUNTINGTON BEACH Bolstered by the growing number of swine flu cases, anti-illegal immigration groups in Southern California are urging members to barrage their congress members with letters and phone calls pressuring them to close the U.S.-Mexico border. Barbara Coe, founder of the Huntington Beach-based California Coalition for Immigration Reform, has continuously blasted emails to about 20,000 group members since news of the influenza hit the media.

Swine flu may be inspiring fear worldwide, but for Stephan Zielinski of San Francisco, California, it inspired a song. The virus has the classification H1N1 because it includes two key viral proteins, hemagglutinin (H) and neuraminidase (N). Zielinski took the genetic sequence of a variant of hemagglutinin and created a computer algorithm to turn it into music. Zielinski, 41, is not a biochemist or a professional musician -- he's a writer, photographer, computer programmer, and blogger who creates music in his spare time. But he's fascinated that, even though biologists can map the genome of the virus and predict what...

WASHINGTON - The new swine flu is rattling Americans from coast to coast and President Barack Obama pledged "to do whatever it takes" to battle an emergency that world health authorities warned is inching closer to a full-fledged pandemic. "This is obviously a very serious situation, and every American should know that their entire government is taking the utmost precautions and preparations," Obama declared, just hours after the World Health Organization pointed to spreading U.S. infections as it ramped up its grim warnings. But with nearly 100 confirmed cases in 11 states and many more suspected, Obama also stressed that...

While we know that there have been 64 confirmed cases of swine flu here in America, President Obama is telling us that there is reason for concern but not yet "a cause for alarm." He might be correct or he might be wrong, dead wrong. As there is no way of knowing how bad things will become with the swine flu just yet. We need to look back on the past history of major scares and problems that the swine flu has caused America in the past.

MEXICO CITY/GENEVA, April 30 (Reuters) - Mexico's president told citizens to stay home from Friday for a five-day partial shutdown of the economy, after the World Health Organisation raised its alert level and said a swine flu pandemic was imminent. In his first televised address since the crisis erupted last week, President Felipe Calderon told Mexicans to stay home with their families. The country will suspend non-essential work and services, including some government ministries, from May 1-5. "There is no safer place than your own home to avoid being infected with the flu virus," Calderon said.

* All Fort Worth schools closed amid flu concerns 10:12 PM Superintendent Melody Johnson said only necessary staff at central administration will work through the closing period -- until at least May 8. » More Top Stories * Confirmed flu cases in Texas rise to 16 10:12 PM

The World Health Organisation raised its flu alert signalling a swine flu pandemic is "imminent" as a toddler in the United States became the first to die of the disease outside of Mexico. "All countries should immediately now activate their pandemic preparedness plans," WHO chief Margaret Chan said as she raised the alert to five on a scale of six following WHO health expert talks in Geneva. "The international community should treat this as an opportunity to ramp up the response. After all, it is really all of humanity that is under threat during a pandemic," she added. Phase five,...

Mexico to shut down government in flu fight Decision comes as the World Health Organization warns of pandemic MEXICO CITY - Mexico's government is suspending all nonessential activity of the federal government and private business as the number of confirmed swine flu cases jumped. The decision came as 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. Health Secretary José Angel Córdova Villalobos announced the...

NEWS ALERT The Fort Worth Independent School District has just announced it is closing all schools until May 8.

U.S. Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., said Wednesday closing the U.S.-Mexico border should be an option in combatting the H1N1, or swine flu strain that has hit Mexico City hard and shown up in Phoenix, San Diego and New York City. His comments comes as the World Health Organization raised the threat level that the Mexican swine flu could be become a global flu pandemic. McCain said U.S authorities are working hard to identify and contain the Mexican swine flu in the U.S. But the Arizona senator also said closing the border should be an option.