Pandemic Blog » 2009 » April

World Health Organization Raises Alert To Level 5

admin — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 23:17:51 +0000

See this MSNBC article on the alert.

Excellent Article about Masks for Viruses

admin — Tue, 28 Apr 2009 02:25:16 +0000

Scientific American: Worried about the flu? Get a mask

This article reviews scientific studies that demonstrate the effectiveness of masks.

World Health Organization Raises Alert Level on Swine Flu

admin — Tue, 28 Apr 2009 00:23:48 +0000

WHO raises its pandemic alert for the Swine Flu.

We are not at the highest levels of alert yet but this flu is moving fast.

World Moves to Contain Flu Spread

admin — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 18:24:44 +0000

The BBC reports on the world’s reaction to the Swine Flu.

CNN Map of Swine Flu

admin — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 07:12:57 +0000

CNN has put a map of how the Swine Flu is spreading online.

World Health Organization Report on Swine Flu

admin — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 03:20:36 +0000

The World Health Organization has a written summary repsonse to the Swine Flu outbreak. Their report was released on April 24th, 2009, and it is worth reading.

The following paragraph is particularily concerning:

Because there are human cases associated with an animal influenza virus, and because of the geographical spread of multiple community outbreaks, plus the somewhat unusual age groups affected, these events are of high concern.

Centre for Disease Control Swine Flu page

admin — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 03:08:37 +0000

The Centre for Disease Control (CDC) has a well written and informative page about the Swine flu.

US declares public health emergency for Swine Flu

admin — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 03:02:54 +0000

This announcement was reported on Apr 26, 4:58 PM EDT by the Associated Press.

The term public health emergency sounds bad. However, it is important to understand that this declaration is a formality and a smart prepatory move. We are not saying that there isn’t an emergency — we really don’t know. But the announcement does not gurantee there is an emergency — it just smart planning.

“Really that’s what we’re doing right now. We’re preparing in an environment where we really don’t know ultimately what the size of seriousness of this outbreak is going to be.” — Napolitano

Swine Flu Map

admin — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 01:41:01 +0000

H1N1 Swine flu in 2009 (Google Maps)

This map lists suspected cases, confirmed cases, and deaths.

Google Map of Swine Flu