SWINE INFLUENZA-APRIL 28,2009

1.Swine influenza has now spread to 5 states.The largest number in a single state has been 28 in a school in Queens-New York City.No one in the USA has died-only 1 patient has been hospitalized.

2.World Health Organization(WHO) has raised the pandemic level to Phase 4.This signifies human to human transmission and ability to sustain community wide outbreaks.

3.Cases have now been reported in many part of the world including Spain,Scotland,Canada(6),New Zealand and Israel.

4.Disease seems more severe in Mexico where 152 have died. Complete information on these deaths is not available at this time.

5.The European Union Health Commissioner has suggested that travelers from Europe avoid non-essential travel to Mexico and parts of the United States.

6.Many governments are instituting screening on travelers who are returning from endemic areas.