Swine Flu a Misnomer? Gets new name.

INFLUENZA A (H1N1): ANIMAL HEALTH
*********************************
A ProMED-mail post

ProMED-mail is a program of the
International Society for Infectious Diseases



[Note: It is now apparent that the 2009 influenza A (H1N1) virus
currently circulating in humans, though genetically linked to swine
influenza viruses, has not been found in swine and that swine do not
appear to be involved in the ongoing epidemic. For that reason, and
in keeping with usage by WHO and other agencies, ProMED will drop the
term "swine flu" from our coverage. We expect the term will continue
to be used by the media and in common usage for some time. - Mod.LM]

[1] OIE against swine culling
[2] Pathogen's nomenclature: WHO
[3] Pig's debated role: Mexico
[4] One health approach

******
[1] OIE against swine culling
Date: Thu 30 Apr 2009
Source: OIE press release [edited]



The OIE strongly counsels against the culling of pigs in the current
situation with A/H1N1 influenza that started in North America.

Scientific information currently available to the OIE and partner
organisations indicates that this novel A/H1N1 influenza virus is
being transmitted amongst humans; there is no evidence of infection
in pigs, nor of humans acquiring infection directly from pigs.

Moreover, and despite the fact that the currently circulating A/H1N1
influenza virus is not simply a swine influenza virus (it has
reassortant genetic material of human, avian and swine origin), it is
important to note that swine influenza has not been shown to be
transmissible to people through eating pig meat or other products
derived from pigs.

The OIE advises Members that the culling of pigs will not help to
guard against public or animal health risks presented by this novel
A/H1N1 influenza virus, and such action is inappropriate. Instead,
Members should focus their efforts on appropriate disease
surveillance and strengthening the general biosecurity measures
applied at premises where pigs are handled and slaughtered.

The OIE is collaborating with its network of reference laboratories
and collaborating centres, as well as with the World Health
Organization and the UN Food and Agriculture Organization in
scientific investigations on the current situation and will, if
needed, issue further advice regarding biosecurity and trade measures
in due course. Thanks to these current investigations, the
pathogenicity (if any) of the circulating virus for animals should be
known shortly and, once known, will be the subject of a further
communication from the OIE.

In the meantime, Veterinary Authorities should work in collaboration
with human health counterparts to monitor pig herds for any signs of
unusual illness with suspected linkages to human cases of A/H1N1
influenza.

--
Communicated by:
ProMED-mail

[OIE's statement should be seen in the context of the information of
29 Apr 2009 regarding Egypt's policy of culling the entire country's
pig population. - Mod.AS]

******
[2] Pathogen's nomenclature: WHO
Date: Thu 30 Apr 2009
Source: Associated Press via Forbes.com [edited]



The World Health Organization says it will stop using the term "swine
flu" to avoid confusion over the danger posed by pigs.

WHO spokesman Dick Thompson says the name change comes after the
agriculture industry and the U.N. food agency expressed concerns that
the term "swine flu" was misleading consumers and needlessly causing
countries to order the slaughter of pigs.

He told reporters in Geneva "we're going to stick with the technical
scientific name H1N1 influenza A."

WHO raised the pandemic flu alert to phase 5 on Wed [29 Apr 2009],
one step away from the highest level indicating a global outbreak.

WHO flu chief Keiji Fukuda said Thu [30 Apr 2009] the U.N. agency saw
nothing yet to prompt it to raise the pandemic alert further.

--
Communicated by:
ProMED-mail

******
[3] Pig's debated role: Mexico
Date: Wed 29 Apr 2009
Source: AnimalPharmNews [edited]



Granjas Carroll de Mexico finds itself in the spotlight because of
the swine flu crisis. However, recent reports have suggested that
this farm might not be the source of the outbreak. Our sister
publication, Clinica, is looking into the other possible causes of
the pandemic.

Although there is no official confirmation of a link between pigs and
the new swine influenza virus, a pig farm in Mexico has been named
"ground zero" for infection. Located in the region of Veracruz, near
Mexico City, Granjas Carroll is a pig farm that produces close to one
million animals a year and is 50 percent owned by US company
Smithfield Foods, the world's largest producer and processor of pork
products.

[A map is accessible at the above URL; its explanatory text says:
"Granjas Carroll de Mexico, previously thought to be the "ground
zero," is shown in the map as "B." The farm, sandwiched between an
area of field crop farming and a built-up industrial area, is minutes
away from a network of roads"].

According to the local media, the population of La Gloria, where the
farm is located, have been complaining about manure dumps, flies and
smell from the farms for a long time. Since February 2009, they have
been reporting numerous cases of respiratory disease with symptoms
similar to those caused by swine influenza. It recently was confirmed
that an influenza case in the city, reported 2 weeks before the cases
in Mexico City, was in fact the new strain of H1N1, combining genetic
material from avian, swine and human influenza.

According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC),
manure discharges from Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations (CAFOs)
such as Granjas Carroll can "migrate into soil and water near CAFOs,"
possibly spreading diseases. A spokesperson from Smithfields Foods
said that no clinical signs of influenza were reported in pigs or
employees in the farm.

The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations has
issued a statement saying that it will, together with the World
Organization for Animal Health (OIE), send a team of experts to
Mexico this week to "help the government assess the epidemiologic
situation in the pig production sector." FAO says that so far there
is no established evidence that this strain of the influenza A virus
has entered the human population directly from pigs, but it urges
national governments and the international community to step up
disease surveillance in swine.

--
Communicated by:
ProMED-mail

******
[4] One health approach
Date: Wed, 29 Apr 2009
From: Noel Miranda


I wish to say that the discussion on nomenclature is minor, as what
we need to discuss is how we can all get together to solve this
evolving problem we seem to have gotten ourselves into due to the
lack of veterinary restriction imposed on the circulation of swine
influenza viruses globally. In short, there was really no effective
measure enforced to prevent the viruses from reassorting, since swine
flu was allowed to remain endemic in swine populations, with
vaccinations done unsystematically and partially without a rigid
swine flu virus surveillance and information exchange in place.

Obviously the [current] H1N1 virus originated from the swine
populations of America and Eurasia. However at present, it is a
purely human to human transmitted virus, sustained in the human
population, a swine-human flu with predilection to humans with index
cases being identified in America.

I wish to point out that the Animal-Human health sector with all
other relevant One Health sectors, should now come together and
discuss how to avoid the virus from freely reassorting in both animal
(swine) and human populations in case the pandemic becomes more
widely spread. While the virus seems to be relatively mild still,
with a reported 7 percent fatality rate, we do not want to experience
a 2nd wave involving a more virulent, mutated virus.

The veterinary role is to heighten biosecurity and containment in pig
and poultry farms, and further throughout the market chain, and
prevent contact of infected humans with swine. The swine trade will,
therefore, have to be very restricted (if not in some feasible way
stopped) during this developing pandemic. Swine flu surveillance and
reporting will have to be brought to real-time levels. We also have
to take into account how reassortment could take place in regions
affected by the highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza. If we could
not prevent this developing H1N1 flu pandemic, we should now grab at
the open window of opportunity to prevent it from becoming worse
through a definitive One Health system approach.

--
Noel Miranda
One Health advocate/EID consultant
Santa Rosa, Laguna, Philippines


[Egypt's decision to cull its entire pig population has invoked
disapproval, culminating in OIE's above statement. Details on the
background to the decision have been requested in posting
20090429.1623 and are anticipated. - Mod.AS]

[see also:
Influenza A (H1N1), "swine flu": animal health (02), Egypt,
prevention 20090429.1623
Influenza A (H1N1) "swine flu": worldwide (07), update, pandemic 5
20090429.1622
Influenza A (H1N1) "swine flu": worldwide (06) 20090429.1614
Influenza A (H1N1), "swine flu": animal health 20090428.1604
Avian influenza, human (82): Egypt (GH) 68th case 20090424.1545
Avian influenza, human (81) - Egypt, WHO 20090423.1535
Avian influenza, human (80): Egypt, 25th fatality 20090423.1531
Avian influenza, human (78): Egypt, WHO 20090421.1506
Avian influenza, human (73): Egypt, virulence 20090413.1411
Avian influenza (30): Indonesia, swine 20090403.1289]

BIG PHARMA UPDATE

By Helke Ferrie

Vitality May 2009

"No doubt, one day our children's children will learn in school that in the early part of the twenty-first century tens of thousands of people died every year after taking unnecessary drugs . They will learn that there were no effective laws to protect people from risky drugs . When will we stop killing the innocent with blockbuster drugs?"

From Terence H. Young, MP (Conservative) for Oakville, Ontario: www.drugsafety.com

Death by Prescription - A Father Takes on his Daughter's Killer - The Multi-Billion-Dollar Pharmaceutical Industry, Key Porter, 2009

PHARMACEUTICALS ARE TOXIC ASSETSMaking a killing is becoming increasingly difficult, and the stress of maintaining the death industry's profitability is antidepressant resistant. Happily, ridicule is deadly to arrogance and explodes lies faster than reason. On April 1, the internet was buzzing with the "news" that the FDA approved a drug called Despondex, the first depressant, developed to treat those estimated "20 million Americans who are insufferably cheery." The drug industry is becoming absurd. Economic and scientific up's and down's now are full-blown, uncontrollable turbulence.

The US Supreme Court ruled in March against the drug industry's demand that they be granted full immunity against all liability for the damage their drugs cause (Wyeth vs. Levine) - a last-ditch effort to escape the tsunami-in-progress. The following blockbuster drugs are about to suffer the consequences of that ruling as hundreds of legal actions involving tens of thousands of plaintiffs are already in progress: Baycol, Vytorin, Ketek, Avandia, Bextra, Celebrex, Prempro, Premarin, Zyprexa, Risperdal, Seroquel, Lexapro, Celexa, Cymbalta, Fosomax, Boniva, Effexor, Lyrica, Geodon, Ablify, Zoloft, Paxil, Prozac, Chantix, Singulair, Ambien, Trovan etc.

The blockbuster era is coming to an end - not because patents running out (that "patent cliff"), but patients, the court system, and the medical profession have declared a war on drugs, and Big Pharma is losing.

All blockbuster drugs follow a clear pattern: they can cause or promote the very conditions they are intended to prevent, or they may have deadly "side"-effects like chronic diseases, cancer, or deregulation of the central nervous and hormonal systems.

The top blockbusters, the cholesterol-lowering statins (annual sales $ 34 billion) interfere with the liver's production of cholesterol. The liver is the resident omnipotent and benevolent god. Interfering with God is never advisable. Cholesterol is not a pathogen - it's a fat we need to manufacture all neurotransmitters. The most common statin side effect is, rather disingeniusly, a greater likelihood of heart attacks. The 2007 Lancet review of statins (vol. 369) by Harvard's John Abramson found no health benefits and no reduction in mortality rates. The Heart Research Institute in Sydney, Australia, published supporting evidence in the New England Journal of Medicine (May 2008), showing statins increased mortality rates by 58%, compared to people with supposedly dangerously high cholesterol levels who took nothing - and lived happily ever after. This lack of efficacy has been known for a long time, prompting Merck and Schering-Plough to attempt suppressing such unhelpful evidence from their recent Ezetrol trial (Times, March 31, 2008).

But such a lucrative market based on such a useful myth cannot be abandoned without a fight. So, the JUPITER study, involving 26 countries and 17,802 people, was deliberately designed to show that statins benefit healthy people with "normal" (whatever that is) cholesterol levels who were all presumed to be in danger of heart attacks. On November 9, 2008, the New England Journal of Medicine and the American Heart Association announced that JUPITER was a success. Left out was mention of side effects such as debilitating, constant muscle pain, increased numbers of cardiac events in previously healthy people, and ALS (Lou Gehrig's disease). Not mentioned also was the fact that the notion of healthy people with no prior cardiovascular disease history cannot be presumed to inevitably develop such disease and get a heart attack some day. This is medicine turned upside down and absurdity taken to mindboggling extremes. The cost of this purely theoretically "prevention" for a year and a half, from AstraZeneca new drug Rosuvastin, would be $ 2,400 per person. Not only was this study funded and designed by the drug's manufacturer, but the lead author, Harvard's Paul Ridker, who so brilliantly manipulated these statistics to make us all believe we are potential heart patients, owns the patent for the key test used in this study. These revelations were dug up by one of the most trustworthy drug busters, Merryl Goozner (mediexplorer.org, November 17, 2008).

As for antidepressants, they all can promote or cause Type 2 diabetes and/or cancer (most research by University of Alberta). When studies of such mental health drugs are properly designed, they sure deliver a punch: Eli Lilly's antidepressant Zyprexa and its second-generation version, placebos, i.e. sugar pills given to controls beat both drugs: the sugar pill made far more people happy than the antidepressant (veracare@ahrp.org April 14, 2009). This is not totally surprising because, since 2005, it is known that the serotonin hypothesis of depression underpinning this class of drugs is bogus (PLoS Medicine, November 8, 2005).

The Journal of the American Dental Association reported on January 1, 2009, that the famous osteoporosis drug Fosomax, taken by 10 million Americans, has been shown to cause osteonecrosis of the jaw (irreversible disintegration) in 4% of patients from just short-term use.

STARTLING STATISTICS On January 28, 2009, researchers from Toronto's Sunnybrook Health Science Centre reported in the Journal of the Canadian Medical Association that using proton-pump inhibitors (heartburn medication) like Losec, Prevaid, Pariet, in combination with blood thinners like Plavix increases the recurrence of a heart attacks by 15%. This study has integrity because it compared heart attack survivors on these drugs with those survivors taking nothing.

The ultimate cash cow, flu vaccines, also bottomed out. In October 2008 the Archives of Pediatric & Adolescent Medicine reported that vaccinating children against the flue "had no [preventive] impact" at all.

A few years ago, the Canadian Medical Association reported that at least 23,000 people in Canada die every year from properly prescribed drugs. Drug-related injuries and deaths reached record levels in the first three months of 2008: about 5,000 deaths and over 21,000 injuries were recorded in the US. The Institute for Safe Medication Practices estimates that actually about 830,000 fatalities and injuries happen annually because, according to the FDA, only 10% of cases are reported. The British National Health service reports that these expensive "medical blunders" increased in the UK by 60% in two years.

To put all this into perspective: the anti-inflammatory drug Vioxx, for which Wyeth paid out more than $ 4 billion in damages last year, and then was forced into a "Mayday merger" with Pfizer, killed as many people as soldiers died in Vietnam, and ten times as many as perished in Iraq (www.alternet.org, March 13, 2009).

DRUG COMPANIES CHANGE TACTICSWhat is a drug company to do in these desperate times? Drastic measures are obviously called for. Pfizer cut 2,400 from its sales rep force and 800 researchers because once Lipitor loses patent protection in 2011, they won't meet the payroll. Pfizer's profits already fell by 90% in the fourth quarter of 2008 (genennews.com October 1, 2008). In 2008, Nature reported on November 6 and 20, and on March 19, 2009, that Big Pharma will now focus on cancer, immunology, and stem cells as the most promising areas. Haven't they noticed that governments are turning on pesticides and other carcinogens? Drug-based cancer therapies are largely oxymorones but profitable, but the reduction of cancer incidence will really be bad for Big Pharma's bottom line.

And what about the fact that the most (pharmaceutically) promising stem cell discovery, reported in Nature in 2002 (vol. 418) has now been shown to be fraudulent? (New Scientist, October 7, 2008) Further trouble comes from lack of "access to government coffers" (genenews.com February 1, 2009).

Above all, Big Pharma pins its hopes on "biologicals" such as enzymes, monoclonal antibodies, peptides, vaccines - all also known as recombinant biopharmaceuticals, i.e. genetically engineered drugs, like the infamous bovine growth hormone (historically the first biological). These sci-fi drugs have already caused regulatory messes in the US and Europe due to a far greater number of associated adverse events than for traditional synthetics. Nevertheless, Big Pharma complain that biologicals "have not gained hold", especially in the FDA, which is more cautious since its many improper approvals hit the courts. Financing research in biologicals presents the biggest hurdle, because "investment markets and credit lines have hit a major crisis, and the time it will take for them to recover is unknown." (genenews.com, January 1, 2009).

Hopes are also pinned on drugs that will "overcome the blood-brain barrier", one of the most powerful protections nature provided against poisons hitting the brain. From Big Pharma's perspective, this "continues to hamper development of effective drugs" (genennews.com, February 1, 2009). DNA testing is another hopeful, for which the "sky could be the limit", but only if people can be "convinced of its utility" (genennews.com February 15, 2009).

THE LEGAL SYSTEM KICKS IN

After a decade of reporting on Big Pharma, I thought I was hard-boiled, but the Swedish journal, Dagens Medicin, knocked the breath out of me when reporting in December 2008 that Sweden commenced with criminal investigations of the Nobel Prize committee. Two of its members are also on the board of AstraZeneca. The Nobel committee is accused of "bribery and corruption" for allegedly taking "huge payments" from AstraZeneca "which directly benefits from the [the 2008] Nobel Prize winner in medicine": Harald zur Hauser, was honored for his discovery of the cause of cervical cancer, the human papiloma virus. This led to AstraZeneca's development of Gardasil which has more recorded adverse events and deaths than all other vaccines combined. The investigation was ordered on the eve of the Nobel ceremonies. Prosecutor Christer van der Kwast said: "It was not my intention to ruin the party." (newsmax.com, December 19, 2008).

Last year, Shahram Ahari, drug rep for Prozac and Zyprexa, told a US Senate Committee all about Big Pharma sales policy of "rewarding physicians with gifts and attention for their allegiance to your product and company, despite what may be ethically appropriate" or medically true or effective. "It's my job," Ahari explained, "to figure out what a physician's price is." The New England Journal of Medicine reported that 94% of all US doctors are involved with drug companies and 28% as paid consultants for Big Pharma.

Senator Charles Grassley (R-Iowa) began probing the stocks owned by university-based medical researchers; especially by psychiatrists. Pfizer had at least 149 members of Harvard's medical school on its payroll (veracare@ahrp.org). The largest sums involved trials involving children. Evidence of self-harm and suicides was carefully buried along with the kids. In March this year federal prosecutors moved in on three Harvard psychiatrists.

The New York Times reported (March 4, 2009) that surgeons getting kickbacks from medical device companies will now face jail time, and 600 human trials conducted by Washington State University were shut down because consent forms had been forged (Seattle Times, December 10, 2008). The US government also initiated sting operations into many trials, finding that some of them were conducted by fictitious companies for non-existent drugs, simply to abscond with federal grant money. This proved how lax the oversight system actually is. (New York Times, March 13, 2009).

Wyeth lawyers argued in court that HRT drug Premarin was just fine, but that patients who got cancer from it should have read the labels more carefully. It didn't fly. www.alternet.org/story/79759 March 16, 2008). A Chief Judge in a US District Court, David F. Hamilton, reversed his original decision, favorable to Paxil, when he dug deeper and realized how he had been deceived and slammed GlaxoSmithKline with full responsibility for Paxil's adverse events (International Coalition for Dug Awareness www.drugawareness.org ).

In Canada, the B.C. Supreme Court rebuked the B.C. Medical Association in November 2008 for launching a campaign to discredit one of its board members, Dr. Caroline Wang, when she publicized an improper $ 70 million fee deal the association was negotiating with the provincial government.

A report by renowned environmentalist and medical activist, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and the vaccine expert David Kirby shows that since 1988, 1,320 families won in Vaccine Court, each having been awarded millions of dollars. They succeeded by proving neurological damage from the mercury preservative in the MMR vaccine, by not using the term "autism", thereby avoiding negative publicity for the MMR vaccine.

MAINSTREAM MEDICINE IS GETTING IT

Last November, disheartened FDA scientists revolted against their corrupt managers - like Dr. Shiv Chopra and his fellow scientists had done in Canada several years ago. The core issue was that the Bush-appointee acting head of the FDA, Dr. von Eschenbach, ignored letters from FDA scientists providing proof that harmful drugs and devices were being allowed onto the market. Nature editorialized on the unacceptable secrecy permeating the FDA (Jan 15, 2009), calling on President Obama to do something about it.

Harvard's medical students, led by pharmacy students, formally demanded that the university cut its ties with Big Pharma, stating they feel "violated" by the BS being taught which is only barely disguised marketing (New York Times, March 3, 2009). Similarly, the Journal of the American Medical Association was forced to eat humble pie after the Alliance for Human Research Protection revealed that JAMA editors used intimidation tactics against medical researchers, Dr. Jonathan Leo and Jeffrey Lacasse, who disproved the serotonin hypothesis of depression. The Wall Street Journal ran with this (March 26, 2009), and now the debunking of that hypothesis will become more publicly known. Meanwhile, the bluff is being called by the prestigious Lancet (January 10, 2009) showing that "new generation drugs, known as atypicals. can now be regarded as invention only" and of no clinical benefit.

Significantly, JAMA published an outstanding landmark editorial on April 15, co-authored by many medical journal editors, outlining exactly how the medical profession must sever its ties to the drug industry.

Dr. Michael Goodyear of Canada's Dalhousie University analyzed the ways in which regulatory harmonization in medicine between the US, Canada and the EU serves Big Pharma interests, but harms patients and violates the Helsinki Accord on Human Rights (BMJ, April 21, 2009).

Most encouragingly, the Obama administration is intending to analyze and compare all currently available therapies to ascertain what actually works - and should be funded (Scientific American, February 2009). In Europe, legislation has been introduced, following Sweden's and Germany's initiatives, to ensure that drugs no longer harm the environment (Nature February 5, 2009).

This month in Canada, Oakville Conservative MP Terence Young will introduce a private members bill proposing an independent drug agency, not funded by Big Pharma as Health Canada is since 1997. His book on the tragic death of his daughter Vanessa from blockbuster drug Prepulsid is perhaps one of the most important acts for the public good to have happened in decades. Read it! Young teaches us to mistrust "authority" appropriately and think about medicine responsibly so as to have a chance at survival.

Sources:

S. Chopra. Corrupt to the Core - Memoirs of A Health Canada Whistleblower, Kos, 2009

R. Pelton & J. LaValle. The Nutritional Cost of Drugs: A Guide to Maintaining Good Health While Using Prescription Drugs, Morton, Second edition, 2004

M. Petersen. Our Daily Meds, Sara Crichton Books, 2008

U. Ravnskov MD. The Cholesterol Myth: Exposing the Myth that Saturated Fat and Cholesterol Cause Heart Disease, New Trends, 2003

Orthomolecular Medicine News Service: omns@orthomolecular.org and www.nutriteam.com

Drug recalls, interactions: Public Citizen's Worst Pills - Best Pills News www.worstpills.org

On antidepressants: www.greenspiration.org , drug-induced suicides and mass murders www.drugawareness.org and www.ssristories.com

Report drug side effects to Health Canada: www.healthcanada.gc.ca/medeffect or 1-866-234-2345

Fake Medical Review Boards R Popping Up Everywhere

Housecalls with Dr. William Ferril
April 30, 2009

Dangerous fake product gets approved for research

This is going to sound like a joke, but I don't think you're going to laugh at the punch line.

Government investigators recently were able to get a fake and potentially dangerous procedure approved for human testing. And then they were able to register a phony institutional review board with a dog named Trooper as its president.

That's right. This joke's on you.

These review boards approve drugs and procedures for use in federally funded human tests. It turns out some of them are indeed a joke, and not just the one with the dog in charge.

Many review boards have been tied to universities and medical institutions in the past, but a growing number have turned this process into a for-profit operation. It seems all you need to do is file some paperwork with the Department of Health and Human Services, and you're in business.

Members of these review boards are generally doctors and scientists, but that alone doesn't always stop them from making bad decisions.

Investigators working for the Government Accountability Office came up with a ridiculous and clearly fake scenario that involved pumping a liter of "Adhesiabloc," a nonexistent gel, into a woman's stomach after surgery to see if it would help reduce scar tissue.

The trial was designed to match what the Food and Drug Administration considers a significant risk.

That didn't seem to be a problem for a review board from Colorado Springs, who essentially told them to go ahead and try it out.

The head of that organization claims they were "hoodwinked" and accused the investigators of violating laws when they misrepresented themselves. That's a little like a burglar calling the trapdoor that caught him unfair and deceptive.

Somehow, two other independent review boards managed to see the procedure for what it was and rejected it. One called it "junk," while a member of the other called it "the riskiest thing I've ever seen."

And that's one of the many, many problems with the process. You may be trying to push risky junk through the system, but you can keep on pushing until you find someone willing to sign off on it.

Officials from both the FDA and the Department of Health and Human Services were quick to defend the system. They say there are protections in place to make sure drug testing is done right.

But who can believe them now?

The stomach-gel procedure will obviously never be attempted despite the approval to do so. But the million-dollar question now is what potentially dangerous products have made it through these independent review boards and are being tested on humans right now?

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Face-masks a farce in "protection" against airborne disease

NaturalNews) When it comes to infectious disease, preparedness is good. But ill-informed preparedness is a waste of time and resources, and there's a lot of ill-informed preparedness going on right now with the swine flu.

Case in point: All those people buying N95 masks (respirators).

They think wearing a mask protects them from swine flu. The mainstream media perpetuates the myth, broadcasting images of people wearing the masks, all while talking about people "protecting themselves" from swine flu. If it wasn't a potentially life-and-death situation, it would all be quite hilarious.

But let me ask you a question: Have you ever had surgery or visited a surgery room? Did you ever notice that the surgeons and medical staff are all wearing surgical masks that are very similar to the N95 face masks being used by people afraid of swine flu?

Did you ever wonder WHY they are wearing those masks? Here's the question: Are they wearing those masks to protect themselves from the patient's germs? Of course not! They're wearing those masks to prevent their own germs from infecting the patient!

N95 masks, you see, have but one purpose: To prevent the wearer from infecting others. To use blunt medical terminology, they work by preventing snot, spit or other virus-carrying particles from becoming airborne. Thus, if the wearer sneezes, coughs, drools, spits or talks excitedly, his or her infected fluids will be trapped in the mask and will not infect others.

N95 masks have virtually no ability to protect the wearer from other people's airborne germs.


If it's not air-tight, it's not right!
This should be obvious by simply noticing that N95 masks are not air-tight! When you inhale while wearing such a face mask, the air you're inhaling enters through the gaps on the sides of the mask, completely bypassing the mask filtration system.

This is why -- duh! -- level 4 biohazard scientists don't waltz into their labs wearing N95 face masks. If they did, they would die. Since they don't want to die, they don't depend on N95 respirators.

So all those people planning on wearing N95 face masks are kidding themselves. That's what I mean about ill-informed preparedness. It's almost worse than no preparedness at all because it gives people a false sense of security.

I've gone to great lengths to put together honest, accurate information about preparedness strategies that really work. That information is provided in my "Swine Flu Advanced Preparedness Teleconference" found here: http://www.naturalnews.com/026139.html (Once the teleconference is over, the audio recording will be offered as a sensibly-priced download, by the way.)

In that teleconference, I emphasize why people need to invest in an air-tight face mask (also known as a "gas mask"), and I teach you how to quickly check to make sure it's air tight. It's a simple process known by anyone who has ever been in the military:

1) Put the face mask on and tighten the straps to a comfortable fit.

2) Inhale and hold your breath.

3) Now attempt to gently pry the facemask off your face using your hands.

If the facemask comes off easily, it wasn't an air-tight fit! If it's more difficult to pry off your face (due to suction), you most likely have an air-tight fit, and you can now move around safely in certain biohazard situations, depending on the rating of the gas mask. (This little test works even better if you can completely block the intake valves temporarily, creating true suction.)

Note that different gas mask filters (respirators) protect you from different things. Some protect you from airborne bacteria and viruses, while others protect you from chemical fumes. You need to know what you're buying and what it's rated for.

In my advanced preparedness teleconference, I recommend the brands and model numbers that actually work so that people can experience real swine flu protection rather than the illusion of being protected. Walking around with a piece of cloth on your face attached to your ears by rubber bands is a joke. It's sort of like wearing a big red sign that says, "I'm an idiot on infectious disease."

Consider this: If N95 masks actually worked to protect people from airborne biohazards, then the U.S. Army would issue low-cost N95 masks to soldiers instead of the far more expensive full-face gas masks they're issued today. The reason full-face gas masks are used by soldiers and biohazard researchers is because they keep you alive. If your goal is to stay alive, you probably don't want to use N95 masks.

This is one topic where bad information can get you killed. That's why I've jumped on this opportunity to teach people good information about infectious disease preparedness -- the kind of information most health experts don't know, and the high-level biohazard experts won't dare admit publicly. Learn more about the preparedness course here: http://www.truthpublishing.com/Prod...


What the FDA says about N95 masks
By the way, even the FDA warns people about everything I've just told you here. I can't believe I'm quoting the FDA, but here's what they say about the ineffectiveness of N95 face masks: (http://www.fda.gov/cdrh/ppe/masksre...)

What you should know before using surgical masks and surgical N95 respirators

• The use of surgical masks and surgical N95 respirators alone will not fully protect you from acquiring an infection.

• Other infection control practices such as hand-washing, isolating infected patients, and practicing appropriate coughing etiquette, are also important to minimize your risk of infection.

• Surgical N95 respirators must be fit properly. A surgical N95 respirator that has not been fitted properly may leave unprotected gaps between the respirator and your face. These gaps will impair the respirator's effectiveness. Facial hair or unusual facial features make it difficult to fit surgical N95 respirators properly.

• Be aware that surgical masks are not fit-tested to your face and may leave unprotected gaps between the mask and your face.

• Be aware that masks lose their protective properties and must be changed when they become wet from saliva or respiratory secretions.

• Know that surgical masks and surgical N95 respirators are not tested against specific microorganisms and should not claim to prevent specific diseases.

• Never reuse surgical masks or surgical N95 respirators.

• Never wash or disinfect surgical masks or surgical N95 respirators.

• Never share surgical masks or surgical N95 respirators with others.

... in other words, N95 masks are all but useless at preventing swine flu infection.


There's a lot of preparedness B.S. from clueless "experts" on the 'net
There are a lot of people talking preparedness on the 'net, but few have any real-world experience with it.

I've actually owned and used a wide array of preparedness gear for many years. As someone who believes in prudent preparedness, I've been fully prepared against NBC attacks for well over a decade. (That's "Nuclear, Biological and Chemical" for those who aren't familiar with the terminology.) This topic is way beyond mere "natural health." This isn't just about anti-viral herbs and ointments. This is about understanding the whole dynamic of what happens in an outbreak: What the virus does, what the people do and what the government is likely to do.

Because, let's face it: In a pandemic outbreak situation, the virus itself is the least of your problems. You're far more likely to be killed by the actions or inactions of other people than by the virus itself. Why is that? I explain it all in the teleconference. There are basically three ways people die in such scenarios, and there are four areas of focus you need to address in order to reduce your chances of being harmed or killed in one of those three ways.

Protecting yourself from the virus is important, but it's not the whole picture. If that's all you do, you could still end up dead from a pandemic outbreak, even if you never get infected.


Highly-complex societies have never faced a global pandemic
You see, the one big factor that no one is talking about right now is the fact that modern civilization is far more complex and specialized than during any previous global outbreak. Our supply lines are longer; our populations are far more dense and our entire global infrastructure is far more interdependent than during any other outbreak.

This creates a hidden vulnerability to systemic failures that cascade from one sector to the next, conceivably impacting energy, transportation, water, emergency response, medical and even the executive branches of local and national governments.

The world has never suffered a pandemic during a time when such interdependencies were so incredibly complex. The halting international flights -- even for just a few days -- could wreak havoc on not just the global economy but also the functioning of cities in each isolated nation.

For the most part, people have not thought about these things. They stupidly believe cities run themselves, and water just magically appears at the tap, and food magically appears in the grocery store as it's needed. So they'll run around wearing N95 masks, too, thinking they're safe. But they aren't. They're more vulnerable than at any time in human history. They just don't realize it yet.

The bottom line on all this? This particular swine flu may or may not become "the big pandemic" of our time. But prudent people keep themselves in a state of vigilant preparedness to handle ANY infectious disease outbreak. Whether it's H1N1 swine flu is irrelevant. True survivors are always prepared, so to them, this particular outbreak is no big deal. When swine flu hit the news, for example, I didn't have to rush out and buy any preparedness gear at all -- I already have everything I need, and I'll have it for the next flu outbreak, too.

For those who really want to be prepared for infectious disease, here's where you can find details on my Swine Flu Advanced Preparedness Teleconference: http://www.truthpublishing.com/Prod...

On the other hand, for those who really don't want to be prepared -- but who enjoy the illusion of preparedness -- here's where you can buy N95 face masks: http://www.amazon.com/3M-N95-Respir...

They're already sold out, by the way, having been purchased by clueless people who may discover too late that their N95 masks might just get them killed.
Buzz up!10 votes


About the author: Mike Adams is a natural health researcher and author with a mission to teach personal and planetary health to the public He is a prolific writer and has published thousands of articles, interviews, reports and consumer guides, impacting the lives of millions of readers around the world who are experiencing phenomenal health benefits from reading his articles. Adams is an honest, independent journalist and accepts no money or commissions on the third-party products he writes about or the companies he promotes. In 2007, Adams launched EcoLEDs, a manufacturer of mercury-free, energy-efficient LED lighting products that save electricity and help prevent global warming. He's also a successful software entrepreneur, having founded a well known email marketing software company whose technology currently powers the NaturalNews email newsletters. Adams volunteers his time to serve as the executive director of the Consumer Wellness Center, a 501(c)3 non-profit organization, and pursues hobbies such as Pilates, Capoeira, nature macrophotography and organic gardening. Known on the 'net as 'the Health Ranger,' Adams shares his ethics, mission statements and personal health statistics at www.HealthRanger.org




http://www.naturalnews.com/026160.html

U.S., CDC makers of "blended" hybred virus?

Swine Flu Smoking Gun? CDC was Combining Flu Viruses in 2004

Wednesday, April 29, 2009 by: Sherry Baker, Health Sciences Editor

(NaturalNews) Last week, when what is now called a "swine flu" was first reported to be infecting and killing some people in Mexico, health officials noted it was a strain of flu never before seen. In fact, it is technically incorrect to call this simply a "swine" flu. Analyses showed it's a mixture of swine, human and avian viruses, according to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). Moreover, it is genetically different from the fully human H1N1 seasonal influenza virus that has been circulating globally for the past few years. Bottom line: the new flu virus contains DNA from avian, swine viruses (including elements from European and Asian viruses) and human viruses.

So did this curious mixture just develop naturally, out of the blue? Is it the result of inhumane farming practices, as the Humane Society of the United States (http://www.hsus.org/) has suggested, that exposes immune-compromised pigs to all sorts of animal and human feces?

Well, maybe. But let's go back and look at the facts to see if any other scenario could be possible.

First of all, there's the troublesome detail that the virus has elements that come from multiple continents. Then there's the fact that true swine flu is only rarely transmissible to humans -- this flu is spreading human-to-human, most likely because it contains DNA from human flu.

Could someone have deliberately mixed these viruses together? Is that possible? Absolutely.

Was this virus mixing being done artificially in the lab, or had it already been done? Yes.

Who was blending potentially viruses in labs? Were those horrible generic boogie men known to Americans far and wide as "terrorists" doing it? There's no proof of bioterrorism at work here yet. However, there is evidence the United States government has been working on concocting new flu virus blends.

So could the hysteria-provoking, new swine flu have escaped from a lab? Or was it deliberately released as some kind of test? When these kinds of questions are asked, the knee-jerk reaction of the mainstream media (MSM) is to giggle and talk about "conspiracy theories" and to joke about wearing tinfoil hats.

But here's the potential smoking gun, the facts that suggest a potential source of the pandemic could be CDC labs. And at the very least, this possibility deserves thoughtful examination and research.

The University of Minnesota Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy (CIDRAP) is hardly a place most Americans have heard about and, apparently, the Center's web site has news the MSM isn't familiar with, either. But information they published years ago has now taken on an urgent importance. CIDRAP, along with the Canadian newspaper Canadian Press (CP), revealed back in 2004 that the CDC was launching experiments designed to mix the H5N1 (avian) virus and human flu viruses. The goal was to find out how likely it was such a "reassortant" virus would emerge and just how dangerous it might be. Of course, it's logical to wonder if they also worked with the addition of a swine flu virus, too.

Here's some background from the five-year-old report by the University of Minnesota research center: "One of the worst fears of infectious disease experts is that the H5N1 avian influenza virus now circulating in parts of Asia will combine with a human-adapted flu virus to create a deadly new flu virus that could spread around the world. That could happen, scientists predict, if someone who is already infected with an ordinary flu virus contracts the avian virus at the same time. The avian virus has already caused at least 48 confirmed human illness cases in Asia, of which 35 have been fatal. The virus has shown little ability to spread from person to person, but the fear is that a hybrid could combine the killing power of the avian virus with the transmissibility of human flu viruses. Now, rather than waiting to see if nature spawns such a hybrid, US scientists are planning to try to breed one themselves -- in the name of preparedness."

And CDC officials actually confirmed the government had plans for the research. The CIDRAP News folks did a great job covering this important issue, which was apparently mostly ignored by the MSM back in 2004, and CIDRAP News wrote to the CDC for information. This e-mail produced an answer from CDC spokesman David Daigle who admitted the CDC was working on the project in two ways. "One is to infect cells in a laboratory tissue culture with H5N1 and human flu viruses at the same time and then watch to see if they mix. For the human virus, investigators will use A (H3N2), the strain that has caused most human flu cases in recent years," the CIDRAP story stated. This co-infection approach was described as slow and labor-intensive. However, it was a way to produce a new virus that appeared to be closer to what develops in nature.

There was another, faster way CDC scientists could create the mix, too. Called reverse genetics, it involves piecing together a new virus with genes from the H5N1 and H3N2 viruses. Reverse genetics had already been used successfully to create H5N1 candidate vaccines in several laboratories, the CDC's Daigle wrote. "Any viable viruses that emerge from these processes will be seeded into animals that are considered good models for testing how flu viruses behave in humans... The aim will be to observe whether the animals get sick and whether infected animals can infect others," he revealed in his e-mail.

What's more, the CP reported the CDC had already made hybrid viruses with H5N1 samples isolated from patients in Hong Kong in 1997, when there was the first outbreak of that virus, dubbed the "Hong Kong flu". It is not clear if the results of that research were ever published. Back in 2004, Dr. Nancy Cox, then head of the CDC's influenza branch, would tell the CP only: "Some gene combinations could be produced and others could not."

The CP's report noted that the World Health Organization (WHO) had been "pleading" for laboratories to do this blending-of-viruses research. The reason? If successful, these flu mixes would back up WHO's warnings about the possibility of a flu pandemic. In fact, Klaus Stohr, head of the WHO's global flu program at the time, told the CP that if the experiments were successful in producing highly transmissible and pathogenic viruses, the agency would be even more worried -- but if labs couldn't create these mixed flu viruses, then the agency might have to ratchet down its level of concern.

The 2004 CIDRAP News report addressed the obvious risks of manufacturing viruses in labs that, if released, could potentially spark a pandemic. However, the CDC's Daigle assured the Minnesota research group the virus melding would be done in a biosafety level 3 (BSL-3) laboratory. "We recognize that there is concern by some over this type of work. This concern may be heightened by reports of recent lab exposures in other lab facilities," he told CIDRAP. "But CDC has an incredible record in lab safety and is taking very strict precautions."

Five years later, we must ask more questions. Were those safety measures enough? Was the CDC creating or testing any of these virus mixes in or near Mexico? What other potentially deadly virus combinations has the US government created? Don't US citizens, as taxpayers who funded these experiments, have a right to know? And for all the residents of planet earth faced with a potentially deadly global epidemic, isn't it time for the truth?

For more information:
"New flu is a genetic mix", http://www.reuters.com/article/dome...

"CDC to mix avian, flu viruses", http://www.cidrap.umn.edu/cidrap/co...

"CDC to conduct avian flu pandemic experiements", http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNe...






http://www.naturalnews.com/026159.html

WHO Raises Pandemic Level to 5

INFLUENZA A (H1N1) "SWINE FLU": WORLDWIDE (07), UPDATE, PANDEMIC LEVEL 5
************************************************************************
A ProMED-mail post

ProMED-mail is a program of the
International Society for Infectious Diseases


In this update:
[1] WHO announces Pandemic level 5
[2] WHO update confirmed cases
[3] PAHO update confirmed cases in the Americas
[4] USA confirmed cases
[5] Mexico - MOH press releases
[6] Canada PHA confirmed cases

******
[1] WHO announces Pandemic level 5
Date: 29 Apr 2009
Source: WHO website [edited]



Statement by WHO Director-General, Dr Margaret Chan 29 Apr 2009;
Swine influenza:

Ladies and gentlemen,

Based on assessment of all available information, and following
several expert consultations, 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.

On the positive side, the world is better prepared for an influenza
pandemic than at any time in history.

Preparedness measures undertaken because of the threat from H5N1
avian influenza were an investment, and we are now benefiting from
this investment.

For the 1st time in history, we can track the evolution of a pandemic
in real-time.

I thank countries who are making the results of their investigations
publicly available. This helps us understand the disease.

I am impressed by the work being done by affected countries as they
deal with the current outbreaks.

I also want to thank the governments of the USA and Canada for their
support to WHO, and to Mexico.

Let me remind you, new diseases are, by definition, poorly
understood. Influenza viruses are notorious for their rapid mutation
and unpredictable behaviour.

WHO and health authorities in affected countries will not have all
the answers immediately, but we will get them.

WHO will be tracking the pandemic at the epidemiological, clinical,
and virological levels.

The results of these ongoing assessments will be issued as public
health advice, and made publicly available.

All countries should immediately activate their pandemic preparedness
plans. Countries should remain on high alert for unusual outbreaks of
influenza-like illness and severe pneumonia.

At this stage, effective and essential measures include heightened
surveillance, early detection and treatment of cases, and infection
control in all health facilities.

This change to a higher phase of alert is a signal to governments, to
ministries of health and other ministries, to the pharmaceutical
industry and the business community that certain actions should now
be undertaken with increased urgency, and at an accelerated pace.

I have reached out to donor countries, to UNITAID, to the GAVI
Alliance, the World Bank and others to mobilize resources.

I have reached out to companies manufacturing antiviral drugs to
assess capacity and all options for ramping up production.

I have also reached out to influenza vaccine manufacturers that can
contribute to the production of a pandemic vaccine.

The biggest question, right now, is this: how severe will the
pandemic be, especially now at the start?

It is possible that the full clinical spectrum of this disease goes
from mild illness to severe disease. We need to continue to monitor
the evolution of the situation to get the specific information and
data we need to answer this question.

From past experience, we also know that influenza may cause mild
disease in affluent countries, but more severe disease, with higher
mortality, in developing countries.

No matter what the situation is, the international community should
treat this as a window of opportunity to ramp up preparedness and
response.

Above all, this is an opportunity for global solidarity as we look
for responses and solutions that benefit all countries, all of
humanity. After all, it really is all of humanity that is under
threat during a pandemic.

As I have said, we do not have all the answers right now, but we will get them.

Thank you.

--
Communicated by:
ProMED-mail Rapporteur Kunihiko Iizuka
ProMED-mail Rapporteur Brent Barrett

[For a discussion on the stages of pandemic alert, see
.

"Phase 5 is characterized by human-to-human spread of the virus into
at least 2 countries in one WHO region. While most countries will not
be affected at this stage, the declaration of Phase 5 is a strong
signal that a pandemic is imminent and that the time to finalize the
organization, communication, and implementation of the planned
mitigation measures is short."

At present, there are cases in Canada and the United States who do
not have a history of travel to Mexico, so there are now 3 countries
(USA, Canada and Mexico) that are reporting human to human spread of
the virus (see below for more details). At present, the definition of
a suspected case in many countries includes a history of travel to
Mexico or another country (such as the USA or Canada) that has
confirmed cases. This may bias towards a later recognition of
indigenous transmission of the novel H1N1 virus in countries not
presently known to have local cases. - Mod.MPP]

******
[2] WHO update confirmed cases
Date: 29 Apr 2009
Source: WHO Epidemic and Pandemic Alert and Response (EPR) [edited]



Swine influenza - update 5-29 Apr 2009
--------------------------------
The situation continues to evolve rapidly. As of 19:00 GMT, [29 Apr
2009], 9 countries have officially reported cases of swine influenza
A/H1N1 infection. The United States Government has reported 91
laboratory confirmed human cases, with one death. Mexico has reported
26 confirmed human cases of infection including 7 deaths.

The following countries have reported laboratory confirmed cases with
no deaths - Austria (1), Canada (13), Germany (3), Israel (2), New
Zealand (3), Spain (4) and the United Kingdom (5).

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.

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

--
Communicated by:
ProMED-mail

******
[3] PAHO update confirmed cases in the Americas
Date: 29 Apr 2009
Source: PAHO website [edited]



Influenza cases by a new sub-type: Regional Update (29 Apr 2009 13:00
hrs. WDC time) Epidemiological Alerts Vol. 6, No. 15
--------------------
On [18 Apr 2009], the National IHR Focal Point of the United States
notified the laboratory confirmation of 2 human cases of swine
influenza A/H1N1 in 2 children of 9 and 10 years old living in the
state of California (one in the County of San Diego and the other one
in Imperial County).

To date, a total of 91 human cases of swine influenza have been
confirmed in the United States (1 in Arizona, 14 in California, 1 in
Indiana, 2 in Kansas, 2 in Massachusetts, 2 in Michigan, 1 in Nevada,
51 in New York City, 1 in Ohio and 16 in Texas). The 1st death
attributable to swine influenza in the United States has been
confirmed. A child of 22 months old that came from Mexico died in a
hospital of the Houston area.

Other suspected cases are being investigated. Indigenous transmission
has been demonstrated only in one case, in Kansas. The most recent
cases detected as well as the registered death suggest that more
serious cases could appear in the United States.

This virus has been described in the United States as a new subtype
of swine influenza A/H1N1 not previously detected in pigs or humans.

In addition, since the end of March 2009, Mexico observed an unusual
pattern of acute respiratory infection (SARI) cases, which increased
even more in the 1st weeks of April 2009. From 17 to 28 Apr [2009],
1551 suspected cases of influenza with severe pneumonia were
reported, including 84 deaths. These figures are smaller than those
reported yesterday [28 Apr 2009] due to the investigation work and
clean-up of data that are being carried out in field. The suspected
cases were recorded in 31 of the 32 states of Mexico.

There are 286 probable cases of swine influenza A/H1N1. Most of the
suspected cases of influenza with severe pneumonia have occurred in
the Federal District, Guanajuato, State of Mexico, and San Luis
Potosi, the majority of them in previously healthy young adult
people. There have been few cases in individuals under 3 or over 59
years old.

To date, the number of cases confirmed remains valid (26 cases).
However, this figure can significantly vary on the next 2 days when
the laboratory tests of the probable cases under investigation are
completed.

Furthermore, the number of confirmed dead cases remains 7. This
figure is also subject to variation depending on the new laboratory
information.

In Canada to date, 13 human cases of swine influenza A/H1N1 have been
confirmed (2 in Alberta, 4 in the province of New Scotland, 3 in
British Columbia and 4 in Ontario), some of them with recent trip
history to Cancun, Mexico. All the cases developed a mild form of
influenza like illness. Two of the cases presented, in addition,
gastrointestinal symptoms. All of them are currently recovered, and
none required hospitalization. Laboratory tests were conducted in
Winnipeg, Canada. Indigenous transmission is not discarded since not
all the confirmed cases have trip history to Mexico.

The press has reported information on suspected cases in several
countries of the region; however this information has not been
confirmed.

In relation to the laboratory results; in the 2 1st confirmed cases
in the United States, virus A/California/04/2009 and
A/California/05/2009 were isolated. They show a pattern of genetic
reassortment of a virus of swine influenza from the Americas with a
swine influenza virus from Eurasia. This particular genetic
combination had not been detected in the past. Both proved to be
resistant to amantadine and rimantadine, but sensitive to
neuraminidase inhibitors, oseltamivir and zanamivir. Both have been
cultured in MDCK cells and inoculated in ferrets for the production
of antisera. The complete genome of the virus A/California/04/2009
has been published and is available in the database of the GISAID
.
The viruses of other confirmed cases in the United States correspond
to the same new strain.

In summary:
* There is evidence of circulation of a strain previously undetected
in pigs and humans.
* Studies are being conducted in order to determine the extent of
the human to human transmission.

Epidemiological surveillance and outbreak investigation in the
affected countries:

In the United States, investigations are being conducted to determine
the source of infection and whether there are additional cases. So
far, none of the cases have previous contact with pigs.

On the other hand in Mexico, prevention and control measures are
being coordinated, including intensified surveillance activities. As
a precautionary measure, the closing of day-care centers, schools,
and universities was enacted in the city of Mexico. Similarly, social
and cultural activities were suspended for a period of 10 days.

This new subtype of the virus could be circulating in the population
of pigs; which is being reviewed and investigated.

International Health Regulations (IHR)
-------------------
At the request of the Director-General (DG) of WHO, the IHR Emergence
Committee has been summoned and is advising the DG on the event. On
its 1st day of deliberation, [25 Apr 2009], it concluded that the
present event constitutes a Public Health Emergency of International
Concern. To date, no temporal recommendations have been taken.

The 2nd meeting of Emergency Committee was held on [27 Apr 2009]. The
Committee advised about the need of raising the alert level, and
accordingly the DG has raised the pandemic alert level from 3 to 4.
[See notice in section [1] of this update; the pandemic alert level
has been raised to [5] by the DG at approximately 3:45 PM GMT-4. -
Mod.MPP]

Efforts should be aimed at mitigating rather than trying to contain
the virus, because it has spread quite far, and containment is no
longer feasible.

The Director-General recommends not closing borders or restricting
travel. However, it is prudent for people who are sick to delay
travel. Moreover, returning travelers who have become sick should
seek medical attention in line with guidance from national
authorities.

Production of seasonal vaccine should continue, but at same time, WHO
should facilitate the process to develop vaccine for swine influenza
A/H1N1.

The Committee will continue to advise the DG on the basis of the
available information.

Recommendations: Enhanced surveillance
-------------
At this time, enhanced surveillance is recommended. On its web page,
PAHO has published orientations for the enhancement of surveillance
activities, which are directed to the investigation of:

* Clusters of cases of ILI/SARI of unknown cause
* Severe respiratory disease occurring in one or more health workers
* Changes in the epidemiology of mortality associated with ILI/SARI;
increase of observed deaths by respiratory diseases; or increase of
the emergence of severe respiratory disease in previously healthy
adults/adolescents
* Persistent changes observed in the response to the treatment or
evolution of a SARI.

The following risk factors should also cause suspicion of swine
influenza A/H1N1 virus:

* Close contact with a confirmed case of swine influenza A/H1N1
while the case was sick
* Recent travel to an area where there are confirmed cases of swine
influenza A/H1N1

Virological surveillance of swine influenza A/H1NI:

It is recommended that National Influenza Centers (NIC) immediately
submit to the WHO Collaborating Center for influenza (CDC of the
United States) all positive but un-subtypable specimens of influenza
A. Shipment procedures are the same as those used by NICs for
seasonal influenza specimens.

The test protocols for the detection of seasonal influenza by
Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) cannot confirm swine influenza A/H1N1
cases. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention of the United
Sates are preparing testing kits that will include the primers and
probes as well as the required positive control samples. The kits
will be sent in the 1st week of May to those NICs that currently use
the CDC protocol.

Infection prevention and control in health care facilities:

Since the main form of transmission of this disease is by droplets,
it is recommended strengthening the basic precautions to prevent
their dissemination, for example the hygiene of hands, adequate
triage in the health facilities, environmental controls, and the
rational use of the personal protective equipment in accordance with
the local regulations.

The complete guides "Epidemic-prone & pandemic-prone acute
respiratory diseases, Infection prevention & control in health-care
facilities" are available at:
.

--
Communicated by:
ProMED-mail

******
[4] USA confirmed cases
Date: 29 Apr 2009
Source: CDC Swine flu webpage [edited]



Swine Influenza (Flu); Swine Flu website last updated 29 Apr 2009, 11:00 AM ET

U.S. Human Cases of Swine Flu Infection (As of 29 Apr 2009, 11:00 AM ET)
States: number of laboratory confirmed cases / Deaths
Arizona: 1 / 0
California: 14 / 0
Indiana: 1 / 0
Kansas: 2 / 0
Massachusetts: 2 / 0
Michigan: 2 / 0
Nevada: 1 / 0
New York City: 51 / 0
Ohio: 1 / 0
Texas: 16 / 1

Total counts: 91 cases / 1 death

The outbreak of disease in people caused by a new influenza virus of
swine origin continues to grow in the United States and
internationally. Today, CDC reports additional confirmed human
infections, hospitalizations and the nation's 1st fatality from this
outbreak. The more recent illnesses and the reported death suggest
that a pattern of more severe illness associated with this virus may
be emerging in the U.S. Most people will not have immunity to this
new virus and, as it continues to spread, more cases, more
hospitalizations and more deaths are expected in the coming days and
weeks.

CDC has implemented its emergency response. The agency's goals are to
reduce transmission and illness severity and provide information to
help health care providers, public health officials and the public
address the challenges posed by the new virus. Yesterday [28 Apr
2009], CDC issued new interim guidance for clinicians on how to care
for children and pregnant women who may be infected with this virus.
Young children and pregnant women are 2 groups of people who are at
high risk of serious complications from seasonal influenza. In
addition, CDC's Division of the Strategic National Stockpile (SNS)
continues to send antiviral drugs, personal protective equipment, and
respiratory protection devices to all 50 states and U.S. territories
to help them respond to the outbreak. The swine influenza A (H1N1)
virus is susceptible to the prescription antiviral drugs oseltamivir
and zanamivir. This is a rapidly evolving situation, and CDC will
provide updated guidance and new information as it becomes available.

--
Communicated by:
ProMED-mail

******
[5] Mexico - MOH press releases
Date: 29 Apr 2009
Source: Press Communication, Ministry of Health Mexico [trans. by
Mod.MPP, edited]



[29 Apr 2009] Press Communication No. 135
----------------------
The Ministry of Health reports that the results of recent specimens
received by the laboratory this morning [29 Apr 2009] indicate 23
cases positive for porcine influenza or swine flu. With this finding,
and in accordance with the data obtained up through the present, the
total number of persons infected [by the novel H1N1 "swine flu"
virus] is 49, and of these, the number of deaths remains at 7.

This conforms with laboratory analyses of specimens from presumptive
cases of porcine influenza or swine flu by the Ministry of Health.

--
Communicated by:
ProMED-mail

[According to a press release from 28 Apr 2009
,
there were officially 2498 cases of severe atypical pneumonia
reported nationally as of 28 Apr 2009, of which 159 had died.

According to this report, information combined from the IMSS (Mexican
Social Security Institute), ISSSTE (Mexican Institute of Security and
Social Services for Government Employees), National Institutes of
Health, as well as federal entities, as of 28 Apr 2008, there were
1311 persons presently hospitalized (for pneumonia).

These numbers are significantly higher than the stated number of
confirmed cases, 26 according to reports from WHO and PAHO (see

for the PAHO updated figures).

******
[6] Canada PHA confirmed cases
Date: 29 Apr 2009
Source: Public Health Agency, Canada [edited]



[29 Apr 2009] Cases of Human Swine Influenza in Canada
-------------------------
The Public Health Agency is committed to sharing information about
the human swine influenza cases with Canadians. This page will be
updated as PHAC receives confirmation of human swine influenza cases
from provinces and territories.

Province: Confirmed cases of human swine influenza

Alberta: 2
British Columbia: 6
Nova Scotia: 4
Ontario: 7

Total: 19

--
Communicated by:
ProMED-mail

******
[7] News briefs - suspected cases
Date: 29 Apr 2009


The below links are to newswire reports on suspected cases of H1N1
("swine flu") reported by the media, not as yet confirmed:

Americas region:
Guatemala - one suspected case with history of travel to Mexico


Costa Rica - one "confirmed case" with history of travel to Mexico
reported by media on 28 Apr 2009 but not confirmed according to WHO
and PAHO data


Colombia - 42 suspected cases, all with a history of travel to Mexico


Chile - 24 suspected cases
Brazil - 11 suspected cases
Bolivia - 2 suspected cases with history of travel to Mexico
Uruguay - 2nd suspected case under investigation


Europe:
Slovakia - one suspected case with history of travel to Mexico


Belgium - 7 suspected cases, all with history of travel to Mexico or the USA


France - 32 suspected cases, of which 2 are considered probable (the
2 probable had a history of travel to Mexico)


Poland - 3 suspected cases with history of travel to Mexico


Oceana
Australia - 91 suspected cases


--
Communicated by:
ProMED-mail

[To summarize the status of confirmed cases and suspected cases as
best as one can (given the exponential growth of press releases and
press interviews leading to thousands of newswires): There are
presently 91 confirmed cases in the United States involving 10
States: Arizona (1), California (14), Indiana (1), Kansas (2),
Massachusetts (2), Michigan (2), Nevada (1), New York City (51), Ohio
(1), Texas (16, with 1 death in a Mexican child). The majority of
these cases have been relatively mild and self-limited infections. In
Mexico, there have been over 2498 reported cases of severe pneumonia
(hospitalized) in 31 of 32 States, with 159 reported fatalities.
According to the PAHO update, there are presently 286 probable cases,
with presently 26 confirmed by laboratory testing, of which 7 were
fatal. There have been 19 cases confirmed in Canada: Alberta (2),
British Columbia (6), Nova Scotia (4), Ontario (7). Not all of the
cases in Canada have a history of travel to Mexico, so indigenous
transmission is likely. All 19 cases have been mild with self-limited
illnesses.

In addition to the confirmed cases in North America, there are
confirmed cases in Europe: Austria (1), Germany (3), Spain (4) and
the United Kingdom (5); the Middle East: Israel (2); and Oceana: New
Zealand (3).

Suspected cases are being reported from many countries including
others in Latin America (Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia,
Costa Rica, Ecuador, Guatemala, Uruguay) and Europe (Belgium, France,
Poland, Slovakia, Poland) and Oceana (Australia).

At this point, any individual with a history of travel to a location
with known confirmed cases of the novel H1N1 virus who develops an
influenza-like illness (ILI) is considered a suspected cases until
results from laboratory testing are available. One would expect the
volume of reports of suspected cases to grow, as more and more
travelers return to their countries of origin, with a proportion of
them having ILI's, an often observed illness following airline
flights. The challenge will be the early detection of human-to-human
transmission in these countries among those individuals without a
history of travel to countries with known human to human transmission
ongoing (Canada, USA, Mexico). - Mod.MPP]

[see also:
Influenza A (H1N1) "swine flu": worldwide (06) 20090429.1614
Influenza A (H1N1) "swine flu": worldwide (05) 20090428.1609
Influenza A (H1N1) "swine flu": worldwide (04) 20090428.1601
Influenza A (H1N1) "swine flu": worldwide (03) 20090428.1600
Influenza A (H1N1) "swine flu": Worldwide (02) 20090427.1586
Influenza A (H1N1) "swine flu": Worldwide 20090427.1583
Influenza A (H1N1) virus, human: worldwide 20090426.1577
Influenza A (H1N1) virus, human - New Zealand, susp 20090426.1574
Influenza A (H1N1) virus, human - N America (04) 20090426.1569
Influenza A (H1N1) virus, human - N America (03) 20090426.1566
Influenza A (H1N1) virus, human - N America (02) 20090425.1557
Influenza A (H1N1) virus, human - N America 20090425.1552
Acute respiratory disease - Mexico, swine virus susp 20090424.1546
Influenza A (H1N1) virus, swine, human - USA (02): (CA, TX) 20090424.1541
Influenza A (H1N1) virus, swine, human - USA: (CA) 20090422.1516
Influenza A (H1N1) virus, swine, human - Spain 20090220.0715
2008
----
Influenza A (H1N1) virus, swine, human - USA (TX) 20081125.3715
2007
----
Influenza A (H2N3) virus, swine - USA 20071219.4079
Influenza, swine, human - USA (IA): November 2006 20070108.0077]
.................................................mpp/msp/lm

Swine Flu Cover Up

Dear NaturalNews readers,



The swine flu outbreak is dominating news headlines across the world this week, and for good reason! It technically qualifies as a Phase 5 outbreak according to the World Health Organization (WHO), but they've only "officially" raised the level to Phase 4 so far...



Why would they try to downplay the true danger of this fast-spreading virus? Read my article for possible reasons why:

Click on title above to see this article;
http://www.naturalnews.com/026150.html


On the same cover-up theme, a hospital in Florida appears to have been caught up in a swine flu cover-up after its chief medical officer announced a patient there had been diagnosed with the infection. The hospital called a press conference and denied any "CDC-confirmed" infections, which probably means a patient was infected, but the CDC hasn't acknowledged it yet, so they're not willing to admit anything.



Why all the swine flu secrecy? Read my report on that development here:

http://www.naturalnews.com/026152.html



By the way, did you know that homeopathic remedies were successfully used to treat the 1918 influenza outbreak? Here's our report on that:

http://www.naturalnews.com/026148.html



Our swine flu preparedness teleconference is already 50% full. If you'd like to join this Thursday evening, it's an information-packed audio event where I teach you everything I know about preparing for pandemic outbreaks in both urban and rural environments. Read that announcement here:

http://www.naturalnews.com/026139.html



California, by the way, has just declared an official state of emergency for dealing with the swine flu. Two deaths there appear to have been caused by it, making them the first deaths recorded in the U.S. due to the outbreak.

US reaction to swine flu more muted than elsewhere

By ALICIA A. CALDWELL and ERIN McCLAM Associated Press Writers
U.S. airports and border agents waved people through Monday with little or no additional screening for Mexico's deadly swine flu — a far more muted reaction than the extreme caution elsewhGere around the world.

The number of confirmed U.S. cases rose to 50, most of them mild and none fatal. The government said it was shipping millions of doses of flu-fighting medicine from a federal stockpile to states along the Mexican border or where the virus has been detected.

But the American reaction to swine flu, which has killed up to 149 people in Mexico and on Monday led the World Health Organization to raise its alert level, was mostly limited to steps that hospitals, schools and mask-wearing individuals took on their own.

At the main pedestrian border crossing between El Paso and Mexico's Ciudad Juarez, a handful of people wore protective masks and officials handed out a swine flu flier provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

But there were no extra screenings for swine flu, and it mostly looked like a typical day at the border. Suddenly faced with a new and unforeseen threat, people entering the country who said they felt unwell were questioned about their symptoms. But there were no reports of anyone refused entry.

Jorge Juarez and Miranda Carnero, both 18, crossed the border wearing bright blue masks. "It's just a precaution," said Juarez, who lives in El Paso and drew a smiley face on his mask.

Passengers from a Mexico City flight that arrived at Newark Liberty International Airport in New Jersey said they were surprised customs officials did nothing more than hand them an informational flier.

"Everyone's afraid. But when we got here, they said 'Welcome to America. You don't need that,'" said Alejandro Meneses of Fairlawn, N.J., pointing to a paper mask hanging from his neck.

The confirmed U.S. cases included 28 at a private high school in New York City, 13 in California, six in Texas, two in Kansas and one in Ohio. Only one American case has led to a hospitalization.

President Barack Obama characterized the U.S. cases as a cause for concern but not "a cause for alarm." The federal government said travel warnings for trips to Mexico would remain in place as long as swine flu is detected.

Public health experts cautioned that screenings were not foolproof. People with the flu can spread the virus to others before any symptoms show up.

"It's not a perfect solution," said Greg Gray, director of the Center for Emerging Infectious Diseases at the University of Iowa College of Public Health, who estimated the screenings would pick up 80 to 90 percent of cases.

Gray said he believed the U.S. response was appropriate given how little researchers know about the potency.

"The virus is here in North America, and it's likely to show up on every continent, I think, by the end of the week," he said. "It's hard to stop."

In other countries, precautions were far more stringent. Asian nations activated thermal scanners used during the 2003 SARS crisis to check for signs of fever among passengers arriving from North America. In Malaysia, health workers in face masks took the temperatures of passengers touching down from Los Angeles.

Australia said it would require pilots on international flights to file a report noting any flu-like symptoms among passengers before being allowed to land. And China ordered anyone with flu-like symptoms within two weeks of arrival to report to authorities.

The European Union's health commissioner urged Europeans to put off nonessential travel to part of the United States, but Dr. Richard Besser, acting head of the CDC in Atlanta, said the recommendation was unwarranted.

"At this point I would not put a travel restriction or recommendation against coming to the United States," he said.

In the U.S., protective steps were more scattered. A South Texas school district was closed, and residents of Guadalupe County, outside San Antonio, were asked to avoid public gatherings and stay home if they are ill.

Pharmacies in Manhattan reported that paper face masks were selling by the box. One pharmacy owner said he had to order more from his wholesale supplier for the first time since the SARS epidemic six years ago.

Security guards at all entrances to the University of Chicago Medical Center required anyone walking in to use a liquid disinfectant. At Rush University Medical Center, anyone seeking treatment for fever, runny nose and coughs was being tested for flu with nasal swabs.

Elsewhere, there were signs of growing unease among the public, even in places where there was no immediate known cause for alarm.

Students at a Chicago school were instructed not to shake hands with anyone, and Southern Illinois University urged students to wash their hands frequently and cover their mouths when coughing. There were no known swine flu cases in Illinois.

And in New Mexico, which also had no reported cases, health officials were so besieged by calls from concerned citizens that they set up a swine flu hot line.

In New York, all 28 confirmed cases were traced to private St. Francis Preparatory school in Queens, where pupils began lining up at the nurse's office Thursday complaining of fever, nausea, sore throats and aches. One teacher was infected.

Some of the infected students said they had recently returned from a spring break trip to Mexico. Health Commissioner Thomas Frieden said nearly all the infected students were feeling better, and none was worse.

In the subways and on the streets of the nation's largest city, it was all but impossible to find anyone wearing a mask. Mayor Michael Bloomberg said no other clusters of the virus had been detected.

"We have seen the kind of flu that does not seem to grow, and in a few days the symptoms seem to be going away," he said.

___

McClam reported from New York. Associated Press writers Alicia Chang in Los Angeles, Samantha Henry in Newark, N.J., Sue Major Holmes in Albuquerque, N.M., Sara Kugler in New York, Lauran Neergaard in Washington, Michelle Roberts in San Antonio and Lindsey Tanner in Chicago contributed to this report.


http://license.icopyright.net/user/viewContent.act?clipid=265994425&mode=cnc&tag=3.5721%3Ficx_id%3D20090428-stolfiler-tx0631

Mexico outbreak traced to 'manure lagoons' at pig farm

(Alexandre Meneghini/AP)

Edgar Hernandez, 4, is said to have made a full recovery from swine flu

Image :1 of 2
Chris Ayres in Mexico City
The first known case of swine flu emerged a fortnight earlier than previously thought in a village where residents have long complained about the smell and flies from a nearby pig farm, it emerged last night.

The Mexican Government said it initially thought that the victim, Edgar Hernandez, 4, was suffering from ordinary influenza but laboratory testing has since shown that he had contracted swine flu. The boy went on to make a full recovery, although it is thought that at least 148 others in Mexico have died from the disease, and the number is expected to rise.

News of the infected boy is expected to create controversy in Mexico because the boy lived in Veracruz state, home to thousands of farmers who claim that their land was stolen from them by the Mexican Government in 1992. The farmers, who call themselves Los 400 Pueblos – The 400 Towns – are famous for their naked marches through the streets of Mexico City.

The boy’s hometown, La Gloria, is also close to a pig farm that raises almost 1 million animals a year. The facility, Granjas Carroll de Mexico, is partly owned by Smithfield Foods, a Virginia-based US company and the world’s largest producer and processor of pork products. Residents of La Gloria have long complained about the clouds of flies that are drawn the so-called “manure lagoons” created by such mega-farms, known in the agriculture business as Confined Animal Feeding Operations (CAFOs).

Related Links
LIVE: latest news on swine flu
Pandemic fear as Britons flood out of Mexico
UK tourists head home from Mexico after swine flu alert
Multimedia
LIVE: Map of the virus
It is now known that there was a widespread outbreak of a powerful respiratory disease in the La Gloria area earlier this month, with some of the town’s residents falling ill in February. Health workers soon intervened, sealing off the town and spraying chemicals to kill the flies that were reportedly swarming through people’s homes.

A spokeswoman for Smithfield, Keira Ullrich, said that the company had found no clinical signs or symptoms of the presence of swine influenza in its swine herd or its employees working at its joint ventures anywhere in Mexico. Meanwhile, Mexico’s National Organisation of Pig Production and Producers released its own statement, saying: “We deny completely that the influenza virus affecting Mexico originated in pigs because it has been scientifically demonstrated that this is not possible.”

According reports gathered on the website of James Wilson, a founding member of the Biosurveillance Indication and Warning Analysis Community (BIWAC), about 60 per cent of La Gloria’s 3,000-strong population have sought medical assistance since February.

“Residents claimed that three pediatric cases, all under two years of age, died from the outbreak,” wrote Mr Wilson. “However, officials stated that there was no direct link between the pediatric deaths and the outbreak; they said the three fatal cases were isolated and not related to each other.”

The case of the four-year-old boy was announced yesterday by Mexico’s Health Minister, Jose Angel Cordova, at a press conference that was briefly interrupted by an earthquake. “We are at the most critical moment of the epidemic. The number of cases will keep rising so we have to reinforce preventive measures,” he said, adding that in addition to the 149 deaths another 2,000 had been hospitalised with “grave pneumonia”, although at least half of that number had since made a full recovery.

Mr Cordova went on to say that there have been no new cases detected in La Gloria but epidemiologists want to take a closer look at pigs in Mexico as a potential source of the outbreak.

As the desease spread Greater Mexico City, usually a chaotic, traffic-snarled megatropolis of 22 million – where braised pork or carnitas, is prepared at taco stands on busy street corners – remained at a virtual standstill yesterday.

A majority of people are now wearing surgical masks and or plastic gloves in public. Airport terminals are deserted. Schools and government offices are closed and will remain so until at least early May – creating a childcare crisis for millions of working parents.

Many Mexicans are fearing the economic devastation caused by the health emergency as much as they are the prospect of swine flu. Adding to the misery, several countries including China have banned imports of live pigs and pork products from Mexico (and parts of the US) in spite of claims by farming trade groups that it is impossible to catch the virus from cooked meat.


http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/health/article6182789.ece

CDC: Swine flu claims 1st victim in U.S. (Tx.)

By The Associated Press

Last update: April 29, 2009 - 6:43 AM
Featured comment

olelars Limbaugh Comment...
...is brilliant. But it applies farther to this situation, I think. The media seems annually to tie put these virus scares on a hook, and … read more annually the same catfish take it hook, line, and sinker. Yesterday, the Today show put up a map of the 50 known cases. The map had the *entire* states of CA, TX, and NY colored in ...to represent ~50 cases. This is being sensationalized. Don't get me wrong: be smart about hygiene, and I'm certainly not blaming those who have been infected. But let's keep this in perspective: don't forget that ever since journalism become the mega-profitable monster it has become during the rise of the mega news corps, every time Chicken Little gets us to run around scared, he gets *paid*. And to those of you blaming Mexicans for this: you couldn't profess your ignorance more loudly if you simply posted "I am an uninformed bigot."

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WASHINGTON -- The first U.S. death from swine flu has been confirmed — a 23-month-old child in Texas — amid increasing global anxiety over a health menace that authorities around the world are struggling to contain.
The flu death was confirmed today by Dr. Richard Besser, acting director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. In an interview with CNN, he gave no other details about the child.

Germany, which confirmed three cases Wednesday, is the latest country affected.

The world has no vaccine to prevent infection but U.S. health officials aim to have a key ingredient for one ready in early May, the big step that vaccine manufacturers are awaiting. But even if the World Health Organization ordered up emergency vaccine supplies — and that decision hasn't been made yet — it would take at least two more months to produce the initial shots needed for human safety testing.

"We're working together at 100 miles an hour to get material that will be useful," Dr. Jesse Goodman, who oversees the Food and Drug Administration's swine flu work, told The Associated Press.

Meanwhile, health authorities are preparing for the worst. "I fully expect we will see deaths from this infection," said Dr. Richard Besser, acting director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The U.S. is shipping to states not only enough anti-flu medication for 11 million people, but also masks, hospital supplies and flu test kits. President Barack Obama asked Congress for $1.5 billion in emergency funds to help build more drug stockpiles and monitor future cases, as well as help international efforts to avoid a full-fledged pandemic.

"It's a very serious possibility, but it is still too early to say that this is inevitable," the WHO's flu chief, Dr. Keiji Fukuda, told a telephone news conference.

Cuba and Argentina banned flights to Mexico, where swine flu is suspected of killing more than 150 people and sickening well over 2,000. In a bit of good news, Mexico's health secretary, Jose Cordova, late Tuesday called the death toll there "more or less stable."

Mexico City, one of the world's largest cities, has taken drastic steps to curb the virus' spread, starting with shutting down schools and on Tuesday expanding closures to gyms and swimming pools and even telling restaurants to limit service to takeout. People who venture out tend to wear masks in hopes of protection.

The number of confirmed swine flu cases in the United States rose to 66 in six states, with 45 in New York, 11 in California, six in Texas, two in Kansas and one each in Indiana and Ohio, but cities and states suspected more. In New York, the city's health commissioner said "many hundreds" of schoolchildren were ill at a school where some students had confirmed cases.

New Zealand, Australia, Israel, Britain, Canada and now Germany have also reported cases.

But only in Mexico so far are there confirmed deaths, and scientists remain baffled as to why.

The WHO argues against closing borders to stem the spread, and the U.S. — although checking arriving travelers for the ill who may need care — agrees it's too late for that tactic.

"Sealing a border as an approach to containment is something that has been discussed and it was our planning assumption should an outbreak of a new strain of influenza occur overseas. We had plans for trying to swoop in and knockout or quench an outbreak if it were occurring far from our borders. That's not the case here," Besser told a telephone briefing of Nevada-based health providers and reporters. "The idea of trying to limit the spread to Mexico is not realistic or at all possible."

"Border controls do not work. Travel restrictions do not work," WHO spokesman Gregory Hartl said in Geneva, recalling the SARS epidemic earlier in the decade that killed 774 people, mostly in Asia, and slowed the global economy.

Authorities sought to keep the crisis in context: Flu deaths are common around the world. In the U.S. alone, the CDC says about 36,000 people a year die of flu-related causes. Still, the CDC calls the new strain a combination of pig, bird and human viruses for which people may have limited natural immunity.

Hence the need for a vaccine. Using samples of the flu taken from people who fell ill in Mexico and the U.S., scientists are engineering a strain that could trigger the immune system without causing illness. The hope is to get that ingredient — called a "reference strain" in vaccine jargon — to manufacturers around the second week of May, so they can begin their own laborious production work, said CDC's Dr. Ruben Donis, who is leading that effort.

Vaccine manufacturers are just beginning production for next winter's regular influenza vaccine, which protects against three human flu strains. The WHO wants them to stay with that course for now — it won't call for mass production of a swine flu vaccine unless the outbreak worsens globally. But sometimes new flu strains pop up briefly at the end of one flu season and go away only to re-emerge the next fall, and at the very least there should be a vaccine in time for next winter's flu season, Dr. Anthony Fauci, the National Institutes of Health's infectious diseases chief, said Tuesday.

"Right now it's moving very rapidly," he said of the vaccine development.