Swine Flu: India's first cell cultured Swine Flu vaccine launched

[Pintu]

The Press Association: Swine flu cases soar after death

Swine flu cases soar after death

1 day ago

More than 220 new cases of swine flu across the UK were confirmed by health officials as a family faced the double loss of a mother and her premature baby.

Jacqui Fleming, 38, of Glasgow, became the country's first swine flu victim to die on Sunday, two weeks after giving birth.

Her baby, named Jack, died in hospital in Paisley, Renfrewshire, on Monday night.

An NHS Greater Glasgow spokesman said the baby did not die from swine flu. Health officials said a further 142 cases of swine flu were confirmed through laboratory testing. Of those, one patient was in Northern Ireland and the remaining 141 in England.

The Health Protection Agency said the cases included 124 in the West Midlands, where 512 people have now been affected with the virus. In addition, there were 351 new clinically diagnosed cases in Scotland and 10 further confirmed by lab test, producing an overall UK total of 1,472.

The latest victims bring the total number in Scotland who have caught the H1N1 virus to 508. Ms Fleming's death is the first death to be reported outside the Americas where at least 145 people have died from swine flu.

Professor Hugh Pennington, a bacteriologist at Aberdeen University, said the first swine flu death was not unexpected. He said: "It does not point to the virus getting nastier. All the evidence to date suggests the virus is not changing at all."

An independent boys' school in north London announced three cases of swine flu among its Year Seven pupils, but said it would stay open.

Philip Lough, headmaster of The Hall School, Hampstead, said: "We are following closely the advice of the Health Protection Agency (HPA) and their recommendation is for the school to remain open at present."

The school remains in touch with the HPA for further information and advice and continues to monitor the situation, he said. The school has around 450 pupils, aged four to 13 years old.

 

[Pintu]

Mumbai-based engineer tests positive for swine flu - Mumbai - Cities - The Times of India

Mumbai-based engineer tests positive for swine flu
20 Jun 2009, 1117 hrs IST, PTI

MUMBAI: A 36-year-old engineer with a private firm has been diagnosed as the first patient of swine flu in Maharashtra, health officials said on Saturday.

He is suspected to have contracted the disease during a recent visit to Honduras in Central America, they said.

"We have received the medical reports of the patient, which confirmed that he has swine flu," Dr Pradeep Awate, who is heading the state health department's influenza cell, said.

The patient has been quarantined at the Kasturba Hospital and his condition is presently "normal", he said.

"His condition is normal and he has only mild fever and running nose. He is responding to treatment," Awate said.

The engineer had gone to Honduras on June 8 and returned to India on June 15 via New Jersey in the US.

After his arrival, the engineer suffered from a mild fever and cough and consulted a physician at Kokilaben Ambani Hospital in suburban Andheri. The physician referred him to Kasturba Hospital in central Mumbai, the nodal centre for treatment of H1N1 viral infection in the city.

The results of his throat swab tests were received yesterday which confirmed Swine flu, Awate said.

Health officials visited the house of the patient and met relatives with whom he had close contact.

"We have advised his relatives to isolate themselves in home. They have been advised not to have close contact with others for now," Awate said.

Another 24-year-old man was also quarantined at Kasturba Hospital yesterday after he showed symptoms of swine flu.

His throat swab samples have been sent to National Institute of Virology in Pune for test, he said.

No other case of H1N1 virus was reported in the state so far, he said.

 

[Pintu]

Hindu link on Swine Flu :

The Hindu : Front Page : Six more swine flu cases reported

Regards

 

[Pintu]

Another critical case of Swine flue in Buffalo reported.

YouTube - Another critical case of H1N1 in Buffalo

Regards

 

[Pintu]

Swine flu: Bangalore gets new isolation ward - Bangalore - Cities - The Times of India

Swine flu: Bangalore gets new isolation ward
20 Jun 2009, 1431 hrs IST, IANS

BANGALORE: With seven swine flu cases reported in Bangalore, the Karnataka government on Saturday announced the setting up of a second isolation
ward to treat patients with HIN1 flu symptoms.

The second ward at the state-run Victoria Hospital in the city centre will have eight beds.

"Out of the seven confirmed swine flu cases in Bangalore, six patients are undergoing treatment at Rajiv Gandhi Institute of Chest Diseases (RGICD), and one in Lakeside Hospital," said RGICD director Shashidhar Buggi.

Lakeside Medical Centre and Hospital, a private facility in the city, has also started treating patients with swine flu symptoms.

"We don't want to take any chances and are making sure that adequate arrangements are in place to treat patients affected by swine flu," health commissioner Shrinivasachari said.

The latest swine flu case in Bangalore is of a 36-year-old engineer, who arrived in the city from Germany June 14. He tested positive for H1N1 virus on Friday.

A two-year-old who came from the US on Tuesday too tested positive.

The boy was undergoing treatment at the Lakeside Hospital, while the engineer is under observation at RGICD.

According to media reports, five farmers from Karnataka who have gone to China on a study tour have contracted the H1N1 flu virus. However, there is no official confirmation of the report.

The farmers are part of a 105-member team that left for China from Bangalore on June 17 on a two-week tour.

 

[Pintu]

New swine flu cases in Delhi push India's tally to 56- Hindustan Times

New swine flu cases in Delhi push India's tally to 56
Press Trust Of India
New Delhi, June 20, 2009
First Published: 19:38 IST(20/6/2009)
Last Updated: 20:44 IST(20/6/2009)

Six more persons, including two minors, tested positive for swine flu today taking the total number of cases in the country to 56.

Out of the six fresh cases, three are from Delhi, one from Hyderabad, one from Bangalore and one from Fatehgarh in Punjab.

"Six new cases have been reported from Delhi (3), Hyderabad (1), Bangalore (1) and Fatehgarh of Punjab (1). Of the 56 cases, 21 have been discharged while others remain admitted to hospitals," a Health Ministry official said.

Of the three cases in Delhi, the case of a 30-year-old woman is that of human to human transmission. He contracted the disease from his family member who was reported positive three days ago.

This is the fifth case of human to human transmission of swine flu in Delhi.

The other cases in Delhi are that of a 27-year-old man who travelled from Canada to New Delhi on June 17 and a four-and-half-year-old boy who travelled from Toronto to New Delhi on the same day.

A 32-year-old man, who travelled from New York to Hyderabad on June 13, was another swine flu case in Hyderabad while in Bangalore, a 25-year-old man, who came from Philaldephia on June 17 also tested positive for the disease.

The sixth case was reported from Fatehgarh Sahib where a 15-year-old boy, who was among a group of 20 children and four others who had gone to NASA, tested positive for swine flu.

 

[Pintu]

Swine flu can turn more lethal in winter: Scientists - India - The Times of India

Swine flu can turn more lethal in winter: Scientists
21 Jun 2009, 1323 hrs IST, IANS

NEW DELHI: As the influenza A (H1N1) virus spreads across the globe, scientists in India are worried over the possibility of the second wave of
the pandemic being more virulent.

"There is much more to this virus than we understand, and nobody knows how lethal it could be in future. Presently, the hot summer is at our rescue. During the rainy and winter season the virus is likely to spread in a big way," senior epidemiologist Narendra Arora said.

In India, so far 50 people have tested positive for swine flu, including five human-to-human transfer cases.

Arora, executive director of the Indian Clinical Epidemiology Network (IndiaCLEN), said surveillance is important to halt the mass spread of the virus and the country needs to prepare a database of the flu-affected people.

"Every season 10 percent of the population is affected with common flu, and if the number in the coming season rises to 25-30 percent then we need to worry. We have to have a database of the people affected with swine flu in the country to check any unusual break," said Arora.

According to the health ministry, the present strain of the virus (H1N1) is a mild one and is reacting to the anti-flu medicine Tamiflu.

The ministry said there are chances that the second wave could be more potent.

Vineet Chawdhry, joint secretary in the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, said: "It is altogether a new strain of virus and the infection is fairly moderate and treatable with the medicine. However, a second wave of the flu will be more potent and we are in the process of developing a vaccine for the flu."

Actually it is the history of the flu pandemics that is making scientists believe that the second wave of the flu could be deadly.

"Flu pandemics historically come in waves, often getting worse as they go and there is a likelihood that swine flu may come back in a more severe form," said Naresh Gupta, senior doctor at Maulana Azad Medical College in Delhi.

"The 1918-19 Spanish flu pandemic was considered the worst of all time that left 40 million people dead. The Spanish flu started with a mild wave in March, followed by a deadly second wave later in the year," said Gupta.

Shiv Lal, assistant scientist at the International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (ICGEB), said: "Pigs are an ideal mixing vessel for the virus and there is a possibility of the virus changing as it circulates. We have to watch the virus closely. Scientists across the globe are working to develop a vaccine for the flu that is likely to be effective during the second wave."

The World Health Organisation has reported 44,287 laboratory confirmed cases of influenza A (H1N1) infection from 89 countries as on June 17. There have been 180 deaths so far.

 

[Pintu]

Xinhua link on spread of Swine Flue:

Influenza A/H1N1 confirmed cases rise to 258 in New Zealand_English_Xinhua

Regards

 

[Pintu]

One more tests positive for swine flu in city

One more tests positive for swine flu in city
E xpress News Service
First Published : 21 Jun 2009 12:15:49 PM IST
Last Updated : 21 Jun 2009 01:05:54 PM IST

HYDERABAD: A 32-year -old man, who arrived here from US last week, today tested positive for swine flu
taking the total number of cases in the city to 15. The man was admitted at the chest hospital here on June 18 with suspected symptoms of swine flu. His test reports from NICD confirmed flu, superintendent of chest hospital Dr S V Prasad said. The NRI passenger traveled from New York
to Hyderabad in an Air India flight and reached Hyderabad on June 13. He developed symptoms of sore throat, cough, body-ache and fever on June 15 and approached the Government Chest Hospital on June 18. The throat and nasal swabs from the passenger were sent to the National Institute of Communicable Diseases (NICD) at New Delhi
immediately and the patient has been kept in isolation since then. “This is the 15th case in the city of the total 56 positive cases reported across the country. Currently, only three patients are undergoing treatment and all others have been discharged. Another suspected case from Ghana in African continent was detected today. We sent the throat and nasal swabs to New Delhi and the report is likely tomorrow,’’ said Dr Shubhakar, head of the pulmonologists

team treating swine flu patients.

 

[Pintu]

Another Xinhua link :

Israel detects 52 more A/H1N1 flu cases_English_Xinhua

Regards

 

[Pintu]

H1N1 flu tally at 63; 37 recover, discharged - India - The Times of India

H1N1 flu tally at 63; 37 recover, discharged
23 Jun 2009, 0459 hrs IST, TNN

NEW DELHI: Till Monday, 63 confirmed cases of H1N1 flu were reported in India
, even as 37 people recovered and have been discharged. Four new cases, two in Delhi and on-e each from Mumbai and Pune, were reported on Monday.

The two cases in Delhi, one a 25-year-old man who came from USA to Delhi on 17 June, and another a 29-year-old woman who came from Canada to Delhi via Belgium, tested positive late on Sunday night.

"These two cases were confirmed to us on Sunday night. They are admitted in Ram Manohar Lohia hospital," said Delhi's health minister Kiran Walia.

The other two cases reported from Pune and Mumbai are of a 24-year-old man travelling from USA, and a 23-year-old woman coming from Melbourne via Sydney, respectively.

Meanwhile, the condition of one 66-year-old woman, one of the human-to-human transmission cases reported in Delhi, deteriorated on Sunday night and she was put on ventilator. The woman has a history of chronic respiratory illness.

"We have sent our team from Lok Nayak to stabilize the woman. At present, her condition is stable," said Walia.

 

[Pintu]

5 more test positive for swine flu, India tally at 68 - India - The Times of India

5 more test positive for swine flu, India tally at 68
23 Jun 2009, 1942 hrs IST, PTI

NEW DELHI: Five more persons, including three in the national capital, tested positive for swine flu on Tuesday as the total number of cases nationwide rose to 68.

One case in Delhi is that of a human to human transmission while the others in the city who were detected with the virus are women, a senior Health Ministry official said. The other two cases are from Bangalore and Hyderabad
.

The human to human transmission case is that of a 15- year-old man who got the infection from a family member who was earlier detected as positive.

The other cases in the city are that of a 58-year-old woman, who travelled from the US, and a 23-year-old woman, who reached from Canada.

With this, the number of cases in Delhi has risen to 29. Yesterday, two persons were tested positive for the virus from the city, which has reported the highest number of swine flu cases in the country so far.

The case from Bangalore is that of 25-year-old man who came to the southern city yesterday while a 30-year-old woman, who came from the US, tested positive for the disease in Hyderabad.

"Out of the 68 cases, 41 have been discharged. Rest of the patients are admitted to the identified health facilities across the country," the official said.

The WHO reported 52,160 laboratory confirmed cases of A/H1N1 influenza
infection from 99 countries till yesterday. There have been 231 deaths due to swine flu.

In India, health screening of passengers coming from affected countries is continuing in 22 international airports.

Till yesterday, 45,493 passengers have been screened of which 27,906 passengers were from affected countries.

In Goa, samples of two suspected swine flu patients in have been sent for testing at the National Institute of Communicable Diseases in Delhi.

"The mother-son duo has been quarantined and the report of their samples is awaited," an official said.

The 32-year-old son had arrived from US on June 2 and developed flu-like symptoms after few days, the official said, adding his mother (50), who lives in Goa, also showed similar symptoms later.

 

[Pintu]

BBC NEWS | UK | England | Devon | Swine flu cases confirmed in city

Swine flu cases confirmed in city

Anyone who has been in contact with
the patient is being offered medication

Two cases of swine flu have been diagnosed in Plymouth, city health officials say.

The city's director of public health, Debra Lapthorne, said the patients had tested positive for the H1N1 virus and were being treated at home.

Ms Lapthorne said the public was "not at general risk" and the case was being "managed appropriately".

The cases are the first in Devon since a 12-year-old girl tested positive for the virus in April.

Cases 'inevitable'

The test results were known on Sunday. Ms Lapthorne said that the two adults affected were being treated with anti-viral drugs.

She said that is was "inevitable we will see more cases in the city".

She added: "We are working with the Health Protection Agency to ensure any people in close contact with these people are also offered anti-virals."

She said anyone who showed flu symptoms and was concerned should contact their GP, and that people should keep good hygiene to stop any spread of the virus.

Ms Lapthorne said: "I'd like to reassure local people that the majority of people who catch the swine flu virus have tended to experience mild symptoms."

There have been more than 2,700 cases in total across the UK, the Health Protection Agency said.

In neighbouring counties last week, nine pupils at Bolitho School in Penzance, Cornwall, were diagnosed with the virus. They have been put into isolation and are on anti-viral medication.

In Dorset, two holiday-makers were diagnosed in Weymouth.

 

[Pintu]

First swine flu case reported in city - Pune - Cities - The Times of India

First swine flu case reported in city
23 Jun 2009, 0207 hrs IST, TNN

PUNE: A 24-year old IT professional from Pune who flew in after a short stay in the US and UK, has tested positive for influenza A (H1N1), a health official said here on Monday. The man arrived in Mumbai on June 15, travelled to Lucknow and Delhi and then came to Pune on June 18. He developed symptoms of H1N1 flu during his stay in Delhi. After returning to Pune, he volunteered to get examined at Naidu Hospital, a designated H1N1 flu treatment centre, following which he was quarantined on June 20.

"The National Institute of Virology (NIV), where his throat swab report were forwarded for a lab test, confirmed the presence of the H1N1 virus," C R Awate, head of the Swine Flu Control Room in Mumbai told TOI. Though the patient's condition is described as normal', he is likely to be kept in hospital for at least a week, added Awate.

This is the first confirmed case of swine flu in Pune, although more than 20 suspected cases were reported and proved negative over the past month, said Awate.

"We will start contacting all those who came in contact with him in Lucknow and Delhi, to put a check on further transmission," said Awate. The IT professional is a resident of Kothrud.

Meanwhile, another suspected case of H1N1 influenza, a 27-year-old who arrived here from the US, has been kept under observation and quarantined at Naidu Hospital on Monday. He is a software professional who is also a resident of Kothrud. "He returned to the city after a short stay in the US and showed typical signs of swine flu like sore throat, fever etc. He volunteered to get himself examined. Throat swab samples have been forwarded to the National Institute of Virology (NIV) for lab tests. The reports will be out on Tuesday," said D V Barathe, medical officer at Naidu Hospital.

 

[Pintu]

Report on Swine Flu Tragedy in Buffalo , The USA :

YouTube - Swine Flu tragedy in Buffalo


Please Rest in Peace , Matthew

 

[Pintu]

Public health confirms another swine flu case in Moncton

Public health confirms another swine flu case in Moncton
Last Updated: Tuesday, June 23, 2009 | 12:04 PM AT



The Department of Health is confirming that for the second time in the past week, a case of the swine flu has been discovered in the Moncton area, bringing the province's total number of infected individuals to four.

Dr. Eilish Cleary, the province's chief medical officer of health, said in a statement that the province received confirmation of the latest case of the H1N1 virus late on Monday.

"Late yesterday, we received confirmation that a woman in her 20s from the Moncton area has the H1N1 flu virus," Cleary said.

"We remind New Brunswickers to continue to use preventive measures to help reduce the spread of the flu."

None of the four people in the province infected with swine flu since the outbreak started on April 26 has required hospitalization.

Three of the province's four confirmed cases swine flu have been in Moncton and they have all been women in their 20s.

Cleary said people should remember to take steps to stop the spread of viruses by washing their hands thoroughly and coughing into their sleeves.

She said people who have influenza-like symptoms should stay home and minimize contact with family members as much as possible.

 

[Pintu]

AFP: Swine flu tolls leaps past 52,000 cases

Swine flu tolls leaps past 52,000 cases

By Denis Rousseau – 1 day ago

GENEVA (AFP) — The World Health Organisation on Monday reported a huge leap in the swine flu pandemic toll to more than 52,000 people infected and 231 dead.

The toll has risen by more than 7,873 cases and 51 deaths since Friday, highlighting the steady spread of the A(H1N1) virus.

Swine flu has now been reported in 100 countries and territories.

And figures yet to be incorporated into the UN health agency's official figures indicate an even higher toll. The Philippines has reported the first swine flu death in Asia, Iran joined the countries reporting their first cases, while Singapore quarantined a Hong Kong football team.

The United States led a group of countries that have seen dramatic increases in cases of virus, according to the new WHO figures.

There were an extra 3,594 cases taking the US total to 21,449 with 87 deaths. Mexico was stable with 7,600 cases and 113 deaths.

But Chile, which is entering the southern hemisphere winter has also been badly hit with 1,190 more cases (4,315), including four deadly.

There have been an extra 805 extra cases in Canada (5,710), where there have been 13 deaths.

Britain remains the worst-hit country in Europe. It has recorded 754 extra cases taking its total to 2,506, including one death.

In Australia there are 237 extra cases at 2,436, with one death. In Japan there are 160 more cases at 850. China has an extra 220 cases at 739. China's health ministry website on Sunday said 414 people had fallen ill with swine flu.

A 49-year-old woman in the Philippines became Asia's first fatality linked to swine flu, health authorities said.

She had been suffering from heart and liver ailments for some time, and the department said in a statement that her infection with the influenza A (H1N1) virus had worsened her condition.

The woman's case had gone undetected until a doctor visited her in her home when she was already in critical condition, the department said.

Singapore on Monday quarantined 18 members of the Hong Kong youth football team after three players tested positive for swine flu ahead of the Asian Youth Games.

Thirteen players, three coaches, a physiotherapist and a team official were placed under quarantine at a suburban beach resort, a Games spokeswoman said.

Singapore authorities quarantined 19 members of the Philippine football squad at the weekend after one player tested positive for A(H1N1).

The spread of swine flu was highlighted when Iran's health ministry reported the country's first virus case in a 16-year-old boy who had just been to the United States, the the official IRNA news agency said.

The WHO said that its figures could not be considered reliable because some countries were no longer keeping total figures while other poor countries did not have the means to reliably detect cases.
On the Net:

* http://www.who.int/csr/don/2009_06_22/en/index.html: WHO | Influenza A(H1N1) - update 52
* World Health Organisation (WHO): WHO | Influenza A(H1N1) - update 52

 

[Pintu]

Iran confirms first case of H1N1 flu - IRNA | Reuters

Iran confirms first case of H1N1 flu - IRNA
Mon Jun 22, 2009 7:47am EDT

TEHRAN, June 22 (Reuters) - Iran has diagnosed its first case of the H1N1 strain of flu, in a 16-year-old Iranian living in the United States, the official IRNA news agency reported on Monday.

"This person was subjected to tests upon entering the country with respiratory infection symptoms and in this test the contraction of (the flu) was confirmed," IRNA said, quoting a Ministry of Health statement.

It said the teenager was responding well to treatment. "The general situation of the patient is now satisfactory," IRNA said.

The World Health Organisation elevated the H1N1 strain to pandemic status earlier this month. (Reporting by Hashem Kalantari; writing by Fredrik Dahl; editing by Matthew Jones)

 

[Daredevil]

Swine Flu symptoms

How Swine Flu arises.

 

[Pintu]

Great find, great post, and great addition Daredevil, it is not only beautifying the thread but also it will exemplify the viewers and make them informed about how Swine Flu happens and how is spreads. Great addition.

Regards