Confirmed swine flu cases
Switzerland (GenevaLunch) – The global count of swine flu cases continues to increase and although there is only one confirmed case in Switzerland, the number of suspected cases is increasing.
In Switzerland, more than sixty suspected cases of swine flu have been reported to the Federal Health Office including a case at a day care in canton Vaud.
U.S. health authorities report a second death from swine flu, and the second in the State of Texas. The first fatal victim was a child from Mexico who died in Houston, while the second victim is reported by health authorities as a “Texas resident”. There are 61 confirmed cases of swine flu in the State of Texas alone. Washing Post
Geneva, Switzerland (GenevaLunch) – The WHO (World Health Organization) reports Monday 4 April that worldwide almost 1,000 cases of swine flu in 20 countries have been confirmed, most of the cases in Mexico (590). The number of cases officially reported to the WHO one day earlier was 787, in 17 countries. Mexico reported a new death over the weekend, bringing its total to 25.
The WHO says the flu is largely under control in Europe at the moment. Map of cases worldwide
Geneva, Switzerland (Le Temps, Fre) – A diagnostic test for swine flu (A/H1N1) is now in use after its rapidfire development in Geneva by the three-person team of virologist, Dr Laurent Kaiser A/H1N1, head of the virus lab at Geneva’s university hospitals (HUG). Kaiser’s team developed the test in only 4 days. Le Temps carries a lengthy interview where Kaiser compares the experience with the creation of a diagnostic test for SARS in 2003, which took three weeks.
Danger from Mexico
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The Mexican government begins a five day shutdown, Friday 1 may, of some industries and businesses in an effort to control the spread of swine flu. The shutdown concerns: non-essential government services, restaurants, cinemas, schools, and certain factories. Mexico’s already-struggling economy will undoubtedly be hurt by the shutdown, but the spread of the virus is slowing, according to Mexican officials. BBC
Geneva Airport, arrivals
Geneva, Switzerland (GenevaLunch) – Geneva’s International Airport announced Wednesday 30 April that it has raised its own “business continuity measures” by a level, to four, in the wake of the WHO’s upgrading to alert level 5 on Tuesday. The Airport Security Service is prepared to swing into action in case passengers arrive who show symptoms of swine flu, but airport authorities stress that to date the airport is operating normally and passengers are not being inconvenienced.
Bern, Switzerland (Le Temps, TSR, Fre) – Switzerland’s first case of swine flu has been confirmed, in a 19-year-old man from canton Aargau. He left the hospital Wednesday, where he was in isolation, after a first test was negative, but was re-admitted when a second test came back from the lab positive. According to TSR, there was a misunderstanding in the lab test process and the first test run was not in fact for swine flu, but details have not been confirmed.
Geneva, Switzerland (GenevaLunch) – The World Health Organization (WHO) Wednesday evening 29 April raised the alert level for swine flu to 5, which indicates that a pandemic is imminent and countries now need to move rapidly to put their response plans into effect.
Nine countries have officially reported 148 confirmed cases of the flu (18:00, 29 April), the WHO reports, with one death in the United States and seven in Mexico.
The WHO repeated its recommendation for borders to remain open.
Bern, Switzerland (TSR, Fre) – Swiss public health officials told a press conference Wednesday 29 April that the number of suspected cases of swine flu in Switzerland has risen from nine on Tuesday to 25 Wednesday afternoon.
Geneva, Switzerland (GenevaLunch) – The World Health Organization (WHO) will hold a scientific review “in response to requests from the scientific community for more detailed scientific information on swine influenza,” it announced 28 April. “Experts from the affected countries will provide an update on the current situation and discuss what is known about the disease from a virological, epidemiological and clinical perspective,” the WHO notes on its swine flu web pages.
Geneva, Switzerland (GenevaLunch) – The WHO (World Health Organization) now has a web site with regular updates that include official figures from countries with confirmed cases. Monday afternoon, 27 April, the WHO raised its alert level to 4, “sustained human to human transmission.” A disease is considered to reach the pandemic stage at levels 5-6. The organization is not recommending that countries impose travel bans or close borders but it does suggest that anyone who is ill refrain from traveling and anyone who develops flu symtoms after traveling should promptly seek treatment.
Official WHO swine flu figures, 27 April
Bern, Switzerland (GenevaLunch) – The Swiss government has put in place an emergency telephone number, +41 31 322 2100, for travellers heading for Mexico to get advice and for information for anyone returning from Mexico who is concerned about falling ill from swine flu. The disease, which is suspected to have infected 1,000 people in Mexico, may have caused or be linked to the deaths of 80 people there, but authorities are still waiting for confirmation.
Appenzell, Switzerland (GenevaLunch) – Forget about a swine flu pandemic and the economy’s freefall (now ended, according to US President Barack Obama’s economic advisor Lawrence Summers): the world wants to know whether or not it can hike nude in canton Appenzell Inner Rhodes, which last made world headines when it gave women the vote in 1990. Sadly, for those of you who itch to walk clothes-free in the mountains, the answer is no. The good people of Appenzell, who vote publicly in outdoor assemblies, raised their hands in favour of a ban. Nude hikers have visited the area in small but increasing numbers, notably from nearby Germany.
Geneva, Switzerland (GenevaLunch) - The WHO (World Health Organization) held an emergency meeting Saturday 25 April after cases of swine flu in the US and Mexico were confirmed and suspicions arose in several other countries after travelers returning from Mexico fell ill. The WHO issued a statement that the “Committee . . . agreed that the current situation constitutes a public health emergency of international concern.”
The United States has declared a public health emergency after 20 cases of swine flu were confirmed. There have been no deaths, but in Mexico 81 people have died from illnesses that could be swine flu in recent days and 20 cases of sick people have been confirmed.
