WHO chief warns H1N1 swine flu likely to worsen

Below International Update - 24 May 2009

22 May 2009

* Chan says H1N1 could mutate in "unpredictable ways"
* Japan relaxes flu measures, but prepares big aid project
* U.S. gives companies $1 billion to start vaccine
* Gene analysis shows virus lurked undetected
(Updates with vaccine news and genetic studies)

The world must be ready for H1N1 swine flu to become more severe and kill more people, World Health Organization chief Dr. Margaret Chan said on Friday.

A genetic analysis of the new virus showed it must have been circulating undetected for some time, in pigs or perhaps in other animals.

The WHO is poised to declare a full pandemic of the virus......

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International Update:

GENERAL:

--Handwashing more useful than drugs in virus control
http://www.enn.com/top_stories/article/26002

--Genes of new flu virus show it's not so new
http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/N22387017.htm


AUSTRALIA:

--Swine flu fears hit Australian schools
http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20090525/wl_asia_afp/healthfluaustralia_20090525073618


CHINA:

--China reports two more H1N1 flu cases in Beijing
http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/PEK158997.htm


CONGO:

--WHO testing for first African H1N1 case in Congo
http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/LM382489.htm


ITALY:

--Rome schools ordered closed after H1N1 flu cases
http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/LM485576.htm


MEXICO:

--Mexico City lowers swine flu alert
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/may/22/mexico-lowers-swine-flu-alert-level


RUSSIA:

--RUSSIA SAYS HAS FIRST CONFIRMED CASE OF H1N1 FLU VIRUS - INTERFA
http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/B728096.htm


SPAIN:

Spain quarantines soldiers after new flu outbreak
http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/LM394931.htm


UK:

--Two more Britons have swine flu
Two adults in England have been diagnosed with swine flu, taking the total number of cases in the UK to 122.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/em/-/1/hi/uk/8065297.stm


USA:

--Cases of Swine Flu Grow in US, Internationally
http://www.enn.com/top_stories/article/39807

--NYC woman in 50s becomes US' 11th swine flu death
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090525/ap_on_he_me/med_swine_flu_15

--Eighteen US soldiers in Kuwait have H1N1 flu
http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/LO289568.htm


WHO:

--WHO chief warns H1N1 flu likely to worsen
http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/HKG156316.htm

--WHO says Asia vulnerable to spread of new flu virus
http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/MAN91504.htm

--WHO chief says world should prepare for severe flu
http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/LM452323.htm

Source: WHO chief warns H1N1 swine flu likely to worsen

Link: Avoid the Flu, Go Vegetarian
Link: Swine flu highlights need for good medical insurer