Are you scared about the swine flu?

Question

Are you scared about the swine flu?
i think its pretty scary cus the cdc doesnt know how seviersp? it is and it could mutate into another form of virus that is more easily transmitted by ppl. are you scared and is there any new information about it? How come only the ppl in mexico died? thanks

Answer

yeah you should be concerned. read this article hope this helps. He added that the federal government is closely monitoring emerging cases and had declared a public health emergency as a quotprecautionary tool to ensure that we have the resources we need at our disposal to respond quickly and effectively.quotbrbrMeanwhile, the European Unions health commissioner Monday called on people to avoid traveling to both the United States and Mexico, which seems to be the epicenter of the outbreak.brbrAs many as deaths in Mexico are thought to have been caused by swine flu, the countrys health minister said. An additional , reported cases have been reported in the country.brbrSo far, however, only of the deaths in Mexico have been confirmed by laboratory tests to be from swine flu and reported to the World Health Organization as such.brbrU.S. officials stepped up preparations for a possible epidemic after cases were confirmed from New York to California. Canada, meanwhile, announced its first cases of the virus Sunday six mild cases.brbrSwine influenza, or flu, is a contagious respiratory disease that affects pigs. It is caused by a typeA influenza virus. Outbreaks in pigs occur yearround. The current strain is a new variation of an HN virus, which is a mix of human and animal versions.brbrWhen the flu spreads persontoperson, instead of from animals to humans, it can continue to mutate, making it harder to treat or fight off because people have no natural immunity.brbrThe symptoms are similar to the common flu. They include fever, lethargy, lack of appetite, coughing, runny nose, sore throat, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea. Learn more about swine flu and how to treat it brbrPublic Health EmergencybrAccording to the World Health Organization, a public health emergency is an occurrence or imminent threat of illness or health conditions caused by bioterrorism, epidemic or pandemic disease, or highly fatal infectious agents or toxins that pose serious risk to a significant number of people.brbrAt a White House news conference Sunday, Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano said the emergency declaration is standard procedure citing that one was declared for the inauguration and for recent flooding. The virus spreads when an infected person coughs or sneezes around another person. People can become infected by touching something with the flu virus on it and then touching their mouth, nose or eyes. brbrThe WHO has called the outbreak a quotpublic health emergency of international concern.quotbrbrResearchers are trying to determine how easily it can jump from person to person. And Keiji Fukuda, WHOs assistant directorgeneral, said it was too early to predict whether there will be a mild or serious pandemic.brbrThe cases confirmed in the U.S. and Mexico were enough of a concern for Andorra Vassiliou, the European Unions health commissioner, to recommend against travel to North America.brbrPeople quotshould avoid traveling to Mexico or the USA unless it is very urgent for them,quot Vassiliou said. brbrDr. Richard Besser, acting director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, said Vassilious warning was quotnot warranted.quotbrbrIn Mexico City, authorities closed all schools and universities until further notice because of the virus, and military troops distributed million filter masks in the city of million residents. Watch CNNs Dr. Sanjay Gupta on the outbreak in Mexico brbrMayor Marcelo Ebrard said he is wearing a mask quotto promote to people to usequot it.brbrquotThe potential damage for the city is very high,quot Ebrard said.brbrThe streets of Mexico City were eerily quiet Sunday afternoon a time when families are usually out strolling. Watch how even soccer suffers in Mexico brbrDont MissbrU.S. prepares for possible swine flu epidemic as global cases rise brU.S. airlines waive fees for passengers traveling to Mexico brWatch videos on swine flu outbreak brMexico City falls quiet, even for Mass brOfficials have talked about shutting down the bus and subway system, and incoming international passengers at the countrys airports are asked on a form whether they have various symptoms that might indicate that theyre carrying the virus.brbrMexican Finance Minister Augustin Carstens said Sunday that the World Bank was lending his country million to deal with the outbreak.brbrIn the United States, the largest number of cases was in New York City, where the CDC confirmed cases in eight students at preparatory school.brbrquotGiven the reports out of Mexico, I would expect that over time were going to see more severe disease in this country,quot said Dr. Richard Besser, the CDCs acting director.brbrIn Washington, the government declared a public health emergency a step Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano said, quotsounds more severe that really it is.quotbrbrquotThis is standard operating procedure and allows us to free up federal state and local agencies and their resources for prevention and miti