Results tagged “flu”

Gosh. Everybody seems to be getting a flu shot, getting the flu, or freaking out about something flu-related. So, who are we not to throw fat on fire? We came across Google's new flu features, and we couldn't be more delighted/scared. See, Google will help you get a flu shot and help you find out more where the flu is attacking.

Following on the heels of yesterday's East Bay flu fatality, making it the third reported H1N1-related casualty in the Bay Area, the World Health Organization upgraded the swine flu to pandemic status today. "The world is now at the start of the 2009 influenza pandemic," WHO Director-General Margaret Chan, MD, warned at a news conference, going on to say, "Countries should prepare to see cases, or the further spread of cases, in the near future. Countries where outbreaks appear to have peaked should prepare for a second wave of infection."

After one confirmed case of swine flu and thee other possible cases, two Bay Area schools have closed. First, San Jose's Branham High School will be shut down for a week after a student tested positive. The school will reopen May 6. Then, in Pittsburg, Highlands Elementary School was closed down after three fourth-graders have "probable cases" of the rapidly spreading flu. Thirteen other students "either called in sick or were sent home Tuesday with flu-like symptoms" as well. In related news, the first confirmed death in the U.S. from swine flu was reported, a 23-month-old in Houston, Texas

What with the swine flu breaking out in Sacramento, Marin County, and "the possibility that a California man may have died from the disease" (which, actually, wasn't the case) California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger declared a state of emergency today. According to Sacto Bee, "Schwarzenegger ordered state agencies to work together in their responses, allowed some departments to enter into contracts for services and materials and waived some certification requirements at public health labs to expand California's ability to test for the virus." ABC News goes on to report that the U.S. should expect more people in different states to be affected by the swine flu outbreak.

While the Feds want you to nix your travel plans to Mexico and Governor Schwarzenegger says California is (allegedly) prepared for Influenza Watch 2K9, Mayor Gavin Newsom's team says there's no need to panic, folks, even though the swine flu will make its way to SF. "Eventually, someone will come forward. No question, you're going to see a lot more cases. That's the nature of any kind of flu," said Newsom. Dr. Mitch Katz, director of the San Francisco Department of Public Health, also asked for the public to remain calm, saying, "Were this to become a more serious epidemic, we could dispense [enough medication] rapidly." In the meantime, watch as the swine flu map grows rapidly.

The insane worldwide panic preceding a potential (though unlikely?) worldwide pandemic of swine flu reached new heights today, with Australian flights from California being screened before deplaning and a woman in Hong Kong hospitalized after visiting (gasp!) San Francisco.

View H1N1 Swine Flu in a larger map

Now that swine flu hysteria is taking root, Sacramento County may have uncovered a case of swine flu, according to the Sacramento County Health Officer Dr. Glennah Trochet. This would make it Northern California's first case, with 40 cases already being reported throughout the U.S. "We do have a possible case of a student at St. Mel school in Fair Oaks," claimed Trochet. "Out of an abundance of caution, we have recommended that the school close until we can identify if this virus is indeed the swine flu virus," she said. In related news, the U.S. will begin monitoring the Mexico border, "asking people about fever and illness, looking for people who are ill." Also, the U.S. is asking residents not to travel to Mexico while the public health emergency is underway, even though Obama claims there is not a cause for alarm. (Note: You cannot catch swine flu by eating pork.)

"Much like the government does to prepare for approaching hurricanes," reports AP, the U.S. government officially declared a public health emergency today due to the swine flu. So far, conformed outbreaks are as follows: four (4) people affected in Canada, sickened at least (20) in the U.S. (or 11, depending on which report you want to believe), and "killed dozens" in Mexico.