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EPIDEMICS
Australia plays down flu fears as pandemic declared

Fifth person dies of swine flu in Canada
A fifth person has died of swine flu in Canada since the outbreak of the A(H1N1) virus began two months ago, a Canadian health official said on Saturday. "It was a man in the Montreal region who was under quarantine," physician Alain Poirier told reporters, adding the man suffered from chronic health problems that weakened his immune system. Health authorities on Friday reported 540 additional cases of swine flu, bringing the country's total since the start of the outbreak to more than 3,515 cases. The World Health Organization this week declared the first influenza pandemic in four decades and warned the further spread of swine flu was "inevitable." More than 140 people have died worldwide as a result of the virus.

Swine flu could hit one million in NZ: officials
Swine flu could infect more than a million New Zealanders over two years, health officials said Friday, as the world's first global pandemic for 40 years was declared. "It's inevitable with the increasing number of international cases of swine flu that we will end up with higher numbers in New Zealand and greater spread in the community," Health Minister Tony Ryall told a news conference. But he added there was no reason for alarm because the country was well stocked with antiviral drugs which had proved effective in treating the symptoms of influenza A (H1N1). Deputy director for Public Health Darren Hunt said people lacked immunity to the new virus strain and the high infection estimates were not surprising. "The upper level is of course you might end up with 20 or 30 percent of the (4.2 million) population with swine flu, but we don't know, and that's why New Zealand is running its very tight containment strategy," he said. The Health Ministry said Friday 34 New Zealanders were confirmed to have been infected with swine flu, an increase of seven from the day before. Most early cases were among people who had travelled to Mexico and North America but the rapid spread of the virus in Australia has seen some new cases among people who travelled there. A total of 1,307 cases had been confirmed in Australia Friday, as the World Health Organisation said the world was in the "early days of its first influenza pandemic in the 21st century." All of the infections in New Zealand have been among people who had travelled overseas or their close contacts and so far there had been no evidence it had spread in the wider community, officials said. The country remained in the "keep it out and stamp it out" phase, they added. New Zealand was one of the first countries outside Mexico to report swine flu infections, with most of the initial cases occurring among a school group that had travelled to the American nation. The latest WHO figures show that the number of reported global infections has reached 28,774 in 74 countries, including 144 deaths.
by Staff Writers
 Sydney (AFP) June 12, 2009
 Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd played down the threat from swine flu on Friday, as the country left its alert level unchanged despite the announcement of the first global pandemic in 40 years.

Rudd stressed that Australia was ready to tackle the A(H1N1) influenza virus, which has infected 1,307 people here including top sports stars and left four people in intensive care.

Hours earlier, the World Health Organisation (WHO), noting the swift spread of the virus in Australia and elsewhere, declared a global pandemic. Swine flu has affected nearly 28,000 people in 74 countries, killing 141.

"I think in terms of preparedness we're okay," Rudd told the Seven Network, pointing to Australia's large stock of anti-viral drugs.

"But let's look at the fact that Australia is a highly mobile population and a lot of Australians travel internationally and as a result we've got some challenges to deal with."

Most of Australia, apart from hotspot state Victoria, is on the "contain" alert phase but officials will meet again in the coming days to discuss raising the level.

The next level, "sustain," gives authorities the power to cancel sports events, close schools and restrict travel, although officials say extreme measures such as closing national borders are unlikely.

"If people get sick, make sure they go to a doctor straight away, make sure there's an adequate supply of anti-virals around," Rudd said.

"Influenza, in any given year, can be a problem in any community. This is a strong form of influenza and we need to just be very careful and we're doing that on a daily basis."

Swine flu has exploded this month in Australia -- the fifth most affected country worldwide by the A(H1N1) influenza virus.

The number of cases rose rapidly after infected passengers were allowed to leave a cruise ship in Sydney before fanning out into the community. Only the United States, Mexico, Canada and Chile have more infections.

The WHO's pandemic announcement will give new impetus to efforts to combat the disease, which first appeared in Mexico in April.

In Hong Kong, which was hit hard by the 2003 SARS outbreak, authorities closed all primary schools after a group of schoolchildren became the city's first local "cluster" of cases.

Australia's caseload also continues to rise, with top rugby league players among those infected and numbers nearly doubling overnight to 36 in the region surrounding the capital Canberra.

Health Minister Nicola Roxon said the disease strain remained mild, adding that the four people in intensive care all had pre-existing conditions. She ruled out cancelling any weekend sports fixtures.

"That certainly is not part of our plans and we don't intend to do that," Roxon told Sky News.

"We are going to see NRL (National Rugby League) and AFL (Australian Football League) players affected the same as other members of the community," she added.

Australia is currently entering the southern hemisphere winter, aiding the spread of swine flu, which health officials worry could eventually mutate into a more lethal strain.

The last flu pandemic came after an outbreak of the H3N2 viral strain from 1968-69, which originated in Hong Kong and went on to kill up to two million people.

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EPIDEMICS
US says already prepared for flu pandemic
 Washington (AFP) June 11, 2009
 US experts had been expecting the WHO's declaration of a swine flu pandemic and the country is well prepared, officials said Thursday, adding a vaccination drive might start later in the year. President Barack Obama "has always treated this as a very serious issue," said White House spokesman Bill Burton. The World Health Organization's declaration "is more an issue of geography than ... read more






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