Swine flu hits Asia 2009 H1N1
MEXICO CITY: The first case of swine flu was confirmed in Asia on Friday as health experts said a vaccine should be ready in a few months and Mexico said the virus was not as aggressive as originally feared.
Confirmation by Hong Kong authorities that a traveler from Mexico tested positive for A(H1N1) flu virus saw an entire hotel quarantined and sent shivers through the territory which was at the center of the 2003 SARS crisis.
Denmark and France also joined the list of affected countries while more cases emerged of victims contracting the virus even though they had not traveled to Mexico.
The Mexican government meanwhile raised its confirmed toll to 15 dead and 328 people infected as the country began a five-day shutdown until Tuesday to halt the virus's spread.
Health Minister Jose Angel Cordova said the new count -- up from 12 dead and 300 infected -- did not represent new cases but rather better testing and analysis of a backlog of "probable"cases in the epicenter of the crisis.
"Fortunately the virus is not so aggressive -- it's not a case of avian flu, which had a mortality rate of nearly 70 percent," Cordova told reporters.He added that the A(H1N1) flu virus was easily treated with anti-viral medicine "if treatment is given from the first day."
MEXICO CITY: The first case of swine flu was confirmed in Asia on Friday as health experts said a vaccine should be ready in a few months and Mexico said the virus was not as aggressive as originally feared.
Confirmation by Hong Kong authorities that a traveler from Mexico tested positive for A(H1N1) flu virus saw an entire hotel quarantined and sent shivers through the territory which was at the center of the 2003 SARS crisis.
Denmark and France also joined the list of affected countries while more cases emerged of victims contracting the virus even though they had not traveled to Mexico.
The Mexican government meanwhile raised its confirmed toll to 15 dead and 328 people infected as the country began a five-day shutdown until Tuesday to halt the virus's spread.
Health Minister Jose Angel Cordova said the new count -- up from 12 dead and 300 infected -- did not represent new cases but rather better testing and analysis of a backlog of "probable"cases in the epicenter of the crisis.
"Fortunately the virus is not so aggressive -- it's not a case of avian flu, which had a mortality rate of nearly 70 percent," Cordova told reporters.He added that the A(H1N1) flu virus was easily treated with anti-viral medicine "if treatment is given from the first day."
( However, the virus can be as hazardous as avian flu, if we don't do well on the virus's prevention.)
The World Health Organization (WHO) has warned an official pandemic is now imminent, raising its alert level to five out of six on Wednesday, but a senior official at the UN agency said that a vaccine was in the pipelines.
"We have no doubt that making a successful vaccine is possible in a relatively short period of time," Marie-Paule Kieny, WHO Director of the Initiative for Vaccine Research said, adding it may take four to six months.
source :http://www.oknation.net/blog/tommychan/2009/05/02/entry-1
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Asean, Thailand prepared for swine flu
By The Nation
"We have no doubt that making a successful vaccine is possible in a relatively short period of time," Marie-Paule Kieny, WHO Director of the Initiative for Vaccine Research said, adding it may take four to six months.
source :http://www.oknation.net/blog/tommychan/2009/05/02/entry-1
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Asean, Thailand prepared for swine flu
By The Nation
The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) convenes on Monday in Indonesia to sort out the measures to tackle the spreading of swine flu from Mexico, said Asean Secretary-General Surin Pitsuwan.
He said ASEAN is prepared to issue a statement on prevention. Still, he said ASEAN is equipped with 500,000 doses of vaccine, which should be sufficient for the entire region.
Thai Prime MinisterAbhisit Vejjajivasaid on Monday the Public Health Ministry will present the information to the Cabinet tomorrow, on how each unit is prepared for the disease.
The 10th Disease Control Office in Chiang Mai has opened the war room to tackle the disease. On Monday, there was a video conference to brainstorm on preventive measures. Masks are being prepared as the office will tackle the virus in the way that it handled SARS and bird flu. ( Asian countries will do well on dealing with the diesease due to the experiences with the bird flu.)
He said ASEAN is prepared to issue a statement on prevention. Still, he said ASEAN is equipped with 500,000 doses of vaccine, which should be sufficient for the entire region.
Thai Prime MinisterAbhisit Vejjajivasaid on Monday the Public Health Ministry will present the information to the Cabinet tomorrow, on how each unit is prepared for the disease.
The 10th Disease Control Office in Chiang Mai has opened the war room to tackle the disease. On Monday, there was a video conference to brainstorm on preventive measures. Masks are being prepared as the office will tackle the virus in the way that it handled SARS and bird flu. ( Asian countries will do well on dealing with the diesease due to the experiences with the bird flu.)
Yanyong Phuangrach, director-general of the Internal Trade Department, said the Commerce Ministry will work with the Agriculture Ministry to educate the public on the safety of locally-produced pork. He noted that the virus would send a psychological effect on pork prices, at the time when the prices are rising.
"It's guaranteed that Thai pork contains no infection, due to the closed farming system," he said.
On April 29, there will be a discussion with all parties involved in the farming industry, in the move to create a more reasonable pricing structure. Yanyong said due to higher production cost, the supply has reduced from 17.7 million pigs last year to 17.4 million. Their growth rate also slowed due to high temperature in March. This leads to the higher pork price and the Cabinet on Wednesday will be informed of the price as well as impacts from the swine flu.
(The cabinet has to clearly summarize the overall situation wheather the prok prices affects on the higher cost of production or the impact of the flu.)
"It's guaranteed that Thai pork contains no infection, due to the closed farming system," he said.
On April 29, there will be a discussion with all parties involved in the farming industry, in the move to create a more reasonable pricing structure. Yanyong said due to higher production cost, the supply has reduced from 17.7 million pigs last year to 17.4 million. Their growth rate also slowed due to high temperature in March. This leads to the higher pork price and the Cabinet on Wednesday will be informed of the price as well as impacts from the swine flu.
(The cabinet has to clearly summarize the overall situation wheather the prok prices affects on the higher cost of production or the impact of the flu.)
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Swine flu likely to hurt Thai pork
Pandemic fears to affect Thai consumers
By: POST REPORTERS
Published: 28/04/2009 at 12:00 AM
Newspaper section: Business
No local cases of swine flu have been reported, but the outbreak has already killed more than 100 people in Mexico, and caused scores of other cases in the US and New Zealand.
Corresponding consumer fears of a pandemic will almost certainly hit the domestic industry, officials say.
The psychological impact of the scare would affect sales, although not to the same extent as the 2003 bird-flu outbreak in Thailand, Betagro Group executive vice-president Nopporn Vayuchote said. ( Thailand has joined international coorporation banning pigs imports from Mexico and develooping countries.)
More than 60 million birds were culled across Thailand during that outbreak, which killed 17 people, and saw exports of raw chicken meat fall to zero while domestic consumption shrank by about 20%, he said.
"It took three to four months for the Thai business to return to normal. But I'm sure the effects of the current situation would be shorter if consumers understand that the flu does not come from pigs, swine are actually the victims. It is a flu that is transmitted from person to person," Dr Nopporn said.
The World Health Organisation is currently investigating infected farms in Mexico, but has yet to publish any results. Meanwhile, Dr Nopporn has instructed farmers with flu-type illnesses not to come into close contact with pigs. Consumers can cut any perceived risks by eating well-cooked meat.
Internal Trade Department director-general Yanyong Phuangrach said the psychological effects would cause local consumption and pork prices to fall.
Local pork prices have remained high in recent weeks, at 120-135 baht per kilogramme, as hot weather has slowed the growth in pigs bred for slaughter, but he said the flu could turn consumers away.
The department will join other agencies in boosting consumer confidence over the safety of Thai pork, by raising awareness on how most domestic pork products come from meat reared in closed farms, which keep the herds away from other animals, especially birds.
(As a result, consumers will consume more pork and the pork will probably raise)
According to Dr Nopporn, up to 70% of the 12 million pigs raised in Thailand every year are raised on closed farms. .
read more
http://www.bangkokpost.com/business/economics/15786/swine-flu-likely-to-hurt-thai-pork
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My Reaction
Swine flu has been global serious issue since it was first found in Mexico City. The WHO has classified this influenza as a Level 5 pandemic out of 6.The virus has been spreading all over the world including the United States and has recently reached the oversea states like Hong Kong, the first discovery in Asia.
- Even Hong Kong officials had already stepped up precautions, screening passengers for fever and taking a good care of public’s cleanness both before and after the swine flu case emerged, but still the virus breakout. However, the reaction toward the situation was fast and concise as it was leading from previous policy of the SARS case in 2003.
-The outbreak news was suddenly affected nearby countries. ASEAN was realized the hazardous and alerted by the news. "The ASEAN Summit meeting will be held on May 7-8th, 2009 in order to prevent the virus in the regions". The coming up meeting proves me that the breakout has stimulus Asia countries in some ways.
" Additionally, the experiences with SARS flu will help the countries to overcome the pandemic in many ways. The thermal scanners and marks are now set to be ready for the disease. "
-The outbreak news was suddenly affected nearby countries. ASEAN was realized the hazardous and alerted by the news. "The ASEAN Summit meeting will be held on May 7-8th, 2009 in order to prevent the virus in the regions". The coming up meeting proves me that the breakout has stimulus Asia countries in some ways.
" Additionally, the experiences with SARS flu will help the countries to overcome the pandemic in many ways. The thermal scanners and marks are now set to be ready for the disease. "
-Thai pork, of course, was unavoidably result from the fear of the pandemic. People aware to consume pork, even it is not transmitted from pig to human.
-The impact of the scare affects sale and the pork prize to fall. "Thai government solved the problems by increasing consumers confident that Thai pork is safety and suspending pig imports."
-Nevertheless, Thailand has assured the safety of visitors from the swine flu outbreak to strengthen the situation. (as travelers decided to stay in their own place rather than risk their life in foreign country)
As a consequence, this is good opportunity to convince people to consume domestic products and foreigners feel free to visit Thailand.
Conclusion
The influenza affects every human life on earth right now. People don't want to live their life in danger and expect the governments to do something. The Governments and press, however, tried the best to control the situation and decrease tension. Even, they confirmed that the vaccine will be ready in a few months but nothing can be rely on yet.
In the meantime, as we wait for the situation to be retrieved, the best way is to keep yourself from getting the virus and take a good care to your health.
Let's take a step back, stay informed, and wash our hands, and stay clam. :)))))
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