Swine Flu Phase 6
WHO: Swine flu pandemic has begun, 1st in 41 years
Source: World Health Organization www.who.int
On the basis of available evidence and expert assessments of the evidence, the scientific criteria for an influenza pandemic have been met. The Director-General of WHO has therefore decided to raise the level of influenza pandemic alert from phase 5 to phase 6. "The world is now at the start of the 2009 influenza pandemic," she said at a press conference today.
Read Dr Chan's statement to the press
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Comments
The H1N1 virus has thus far not turned out to the global epidemic crisis that we first heard of. Most of the cases have been a nuisance for those individuals who have contracted the virus. The virus does seem easily spread as there have been a number of school closings throughout the country. There is a concern of the virus being able to mutate itself. For those who manage large apartment complexes, an outbreak of sickness would be difficult for onsite personnel, especially in public or subsidized housing. I do like having e-bulletins in my mailbox from time to time about health conditions like this from the WHO.
I agree with you Marjean, I think the media has sensationalized this. Of course, This winter will tell!!!
I believe that media tends to overinflate many issues to create news where it is just a normal function of society. Turning the seasonal flu outbreaks into a crisis when there is not justification beyond speculation is only one of those instances where there is error on the side of caution by the media in over covering possibilities. I don't believe it is a landlord's responsibility to monitor health issues in their tenants. Nor do I think the federal government should be wasting precious resources trying to make issue over the fact that seasonally flu of one type or another cases may skyrocket, and a certain number of individuals with weakened immune systems may die, despite the best efforts of medical technology. If a person choses not to get a flu shot, they may risk sickness and/or death. And a flu shot is not a guarantee a person won't contract the flu or worse, it only increases the odds of avoidance. This is another one of those media driven hypes that should be allowed to die an expedient death, ike the fear of all technology screeching to a halt on 1/1/2000, which was the epitamy of wasted resources...
- Marjean Pountain | Flag this comment for review