Developments on swine flu worldwide

Tuesday, October 27, 2009 3:06 AM  |  Printer friendly version | E-mail to a friend |

Key developments on swine flu outbreaks, according to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, World Health Organization, and government officials:

—Deaths: 168 in Mexico, eight confirmed as swine flu and rest suspected. One confirmed in U.S., a 23-month-old boy from Mexico who died in Texas.

—Sickened: 2,955 suspected and 99 confirmed in Mexico. Confirmed elsewhere: at least 93 in U.S.; 19 in Canada; 13 in Spain; five in Britain; three in Germany and in New Zealand; two in Israel; one each in Switzerland, Austria and the Netherlands.

—Switzerland and the Netherlands become the latest countries to confirm swine flu infections.

—The Swiss case is a 19-year-old student mistakenly released from a hospital in Baden and then hastily readmitted. Eleven doctors and nurses have been sent home and are being treated with antiviral drugs, along with the student's family members and friends.

—Dutch officials say a 3-year-old child who recently returned from Mexico is being treated for swine flu at home. Authorities are tracking down people on the same plane.

—EU nations are divided over a French proposal to ban flights coming from Mexico as the bloc's 27 health ministers hold an emergency meeting in Luxembourg.

—World Health Organization raises pandemic alert to second highest level — phase 5— meaning it believes a global outbreak of the disease is imminent.

—Mexico suspends all nonessential federal government and private business until May 5. Public events canceled and masks handed out. All schools closed until May 6. Pro soccer games this weekend — 176 — to be played without fans.

—U.S. cases confirmed by CDC and state officials in 11 states: 51 in New York, 16 in Texas, 14 in California, three in Maine; two each in Kansas and Massachusetts, and one each in Indiana, Ohio, Arizona and Nevada. CDC also says Michigan had two, but state officials said only one is confirmed.

—The Obama administration comes out against closing the U.S.-Mexico border, with Vice President Joe Biden calling it "a monumental undertaking" with only limited benefits.

—Roughly 100 U.S. schools close, in Texas, New York City, California, South Carolina, Connecticut, Minnesota, Illinois, Wisconsin, Michigan, Arizona and Ohio.

—Paris mayor's office lets parents pull students out of an elementary school after a 9-year-old girl back from Mexico is hospitalized with flu symptoms. Swine flu not yet confirmed.

—Ecuador, Cuba and Argentina ban travel to or from Mexico, and Peru bans flights from Mexico; U.S., European Union, other countries discourage nonessential travel there. Travelers arriving from Mexico questioned at airports worldwide. Cruise lines avoid Mexican ports.

—China, which has no confirmed cases of swine flu, rejects Mexican media reports that swine flu originated there.

___

On the Net:

CDC: http://www.cdc.gov/swineflu/

World Health Organization: http://www.who.int/en/