WHO's doing pathetic work against flying, walking, swinging pig flu

[click image]

Influenza A(H1N1) - update 12

3 May 2009 -- As of 1600 GMT, 3 May 2009, 18 countries have officially reported 898 cases of influenza A(H1N1) infection. [1]

Mexico has reported 506 confirmed human cases of infection, including 19 deaths. The higher number of cases from Mexico in the past 48 hours reflects ongoing testing of previously collected specimens. The United States Government has reported 226 laboratory confirmed human cases, including one death. [2]

The following countries have reported laboratory confirmed cases with no deaths - Austria (1), Canada (85), China, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (1), Costa Rica (1), Denmark (1), France (2), Germany (8), Ireland (1), Israel (3), Italy (1), Netherlands (1), New Zealand (4), Republic of Korea (1), Spain (40), Switzerland (1) and the United Kingdom (15). [3]

Further information on the situation will be available on the WHO website on a regular basis.

WHO advises no restriction of regular travel or closure of borders. It is considered prudent for people who are ill to delay international travel and for people developing symptoms following international travel to seek medical attention, in line with guidance from national authorities. [4]

Canada on 2 May reported the identification of the A(H1N1) virus in a swine herd in Alberta. It is highly probable that the pigs were exposed to the virus from a Canadian farm worker recently returned from Mexico, who had exhibited flu-like symptoms and had contact with the pigs. There is no indication of virus adaptation through transfer from human to pigs at this time. [5]

There is no risk of infection from this virus from consumption of well-cooked pork and pork products. [6]

Individuals are advised to wash hands thoroughly with soap and water on a regular basis and should seek medical attention if they develop any symptoms of influenza-like illness.

[1] Numbers of confirmed cases doubling each day, and numbers of countries growing by more each day.

[2] Notwithstanding the fact they are adding in slowly older Mexican cases, the numbers in Mexico pre-identification of virus were in the thousands, and deaths in the hundreds.

[3] Do you see the Czech Republic in there? Bippy reports 29 cases in the Czech Republic and bubkes about them is on this list... must be pending official confirmation or something. And what about the countries who don't want to officially confirm their cases? What is WHO doing about getting in and making sure countries are both testing AND officially confirming their numbers? Why are they so readily accepting all the downplaying and mitigating statements, and ignoring silences? Who is running WHO?

[4] Has anyone given you a satisfactory explanation for the lack of restrictions on travel? I haven't seen one.

[5] Oh, so pigs DO catch it. Fancy that.

[6] Note my emphasis on the salient words in the statement of no risk of virus. Note also that not all pork products come well-cooked and there, very obviously to anyone who has ever had the flu, IS risk in importing or buying live swine or raw pork products and the packaging. We just keep insisting Russia and China and Ukraine are being mean and obtuse to halt these imports.

So even if this flu was not loosed on purpose, they do seem to be trying to spread it on purpose. I think the motive is not to lose any more money and the loss of people part is just gravy.