WORLD> News
|
WORLD> News
|
|
Swine flu epidemic enters dangerous new phase
(Agencies)
Updated: 2009-04-28 10:43 The US stepped up checks of people entering the country by air, land and sea, and the State Department warned US citizens to avoid nonessential travel to Mexico. It said those who live in Mexico should avoid hospitals or clinics there unless they have a medical emergency. The best way to keep the disease from spreading, Besser said, is by taking everyday precautions such as frequent handwashing, covering up coughs and sneezes, and staying away from work or school if not feeling well. He said authorities are not recommending that people wear masks at work because evidence that it is effective "is not that strong."
There is no vaccine available to prevent the specific strain now being seen, he said, but some antiflu drugs do work once someone is sick. If a new vaccine eventually is ordered, the CDC already has taken a key preliminary step - creating what's called seed stock of the virus that manufacturers would use. Many of the cases outside Mexico have been relatively mild. Symptoms include a fever of more than 100, coughing, joint aches, severe headache and, in some cases, vomiting and diarrhea. European and US markets bounced back from early losses as pharmaceutical stocks were lifted by expectations that health authorities will increase stockpiles of anti-viral drugs. Stocks of airlines, hotels and other travel-related companies posted sharper losses. WHO spokesman Peter Cordingley singled out air travel as an easy way the virus could spread, noting that the WHO estimates that up to 500,000 people are on planes at any time. Governments in Asia - with potent memories of previous flu outbreaks - were especially cautious. Singapore, Thailand, Japan, Indonesia and the Philippines dusted off thermal scanners used in the 2003 SARS crisis and were checking for signs of fever among passengers from North America. South Korea, India and Indonesia also announced screening. In Malaysia, health workers in face masks took the temperatures of passengers as they arrived on a flight from Los Angeles. China said anyone experiencing flu-like symptoms within two weeks of arrival had to report to authorities. China, Russia and Ukraine were among countries banning imports of pork and pork products from Mexico and three US states that have reported swine flu cases, while other countries, such as Indonesia, banned all pork imports. The CDC says people cannot get the flu by eating pork or pork products. Germany's leading vacation tour operators were skipping stops in Mexico City as a precaution. The Hannover-based TUI said trips through May 4 to Mexico City were being suspended, including those operated by TUI itself and through companies 1-2 Fly, Airtours, Berge & Meer, Grebeco and L'tur. Japan's largest tour agency, JTB Corp., suspended tours to Mexico through June 30. Russian travel agencies said about a third of those planning to travel to Mexico in early May had already canceled.
|
