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April 28, 2009. WHO Raises Pandemic Alert Level During Meeting in Switzerland

SOURCE:Air Security International

At a meeting in Geneva on 27 April 2009 about the swine flu outbreak, the World Health Organization (WHO) raised the pandemic alert level to Phase 4. The designation means that the virus is capable of human-to-human transmission and of causing "community-level outbreaks." There have been more than 1,600 reported cases of swine flu in Mexico and nearly 150 deaths. The government has banned large public events nationwide and has closed all schools and universities. More than 40 cases of swine flu have been reported in the United States in at least five states, including Texas, California, New York, Kansas and Ohio. Other confirmed cases of swine flu have been reported in Israel, the United Kingdom, Spain, Canada and New Zealand.

The European Union has issued a travel alert advising EU citizens to avoid nonessential travel to the United States and Mexico. The U.S. Department of State has issued a Travel Alert, urging U.S. citizens to avoid all nonessential travel to Mexico for the next three months. Countries worldwide have implemented screenings of travelers arriving from the United States and Mexico at international airports. There have been no reports of any closures of international borders as a result of the situation.

MEDEX Global Group has issued the following recommendations:

Travelers should take precautions against infection by avoiding large crowds, limiting physical contact with others, avoiding public transportation and using proper hand washing techniques.

MEDEX also advises that generally, empiric treatment with Oseltamivir (Tamiflu) or Zanamivir (Relenza) is recommended.

Anyone who comes into contact with a person experiencing flu-like symptoms should contact a health professional.

Travelers should follow local public health recommendations, particularly with the number of reported cases on the rise.

Copyright © 2009, Air Security International, Inc.


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