Swine flu pandemic imminentThe WHO has raised its pandemic alert level as Mexico is shut down for five days and new suspected cases of swine flu have been announced in Peru and Switzerland. Follow the latest updates and reactions to the spread of the virus
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4.06am: Egyptian health ministers said today that the cull of 250,000 pigs was not in fact an anti-flu measure, but a more general santitation effort.
An Egyptian health ministry official tells AFP:
The authorities took advantage of the situation to resolve the question of disorderly pig rearing in Egypt.
An Egyptian health ministry official tells AFP:
The authorities took advantage of the situation to resolve the question of disorderly pig rearing in Egypt.
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3.41am: The Guardian's Simon Tisdall writes that the media's fixation on the swine flu has detracted from attention to the widespread misery and violence in other parts of the world:
The sudden surge in first world swine fever has also overshadowed the plight of millions in the Horn of Africa, principally in Somalia where a reconfigured government is struggling to survive. Random violence, suicide attacks, kidnapping and armed robbery are daily problems facing the 3 million people currently dependent on food aid. Over 1 million Somalis are displaced, many living in insanitary tent cities. For them, flu is not a big issue.
3.41am: The Guardian's Simon Tisdall writes that the media's fixation on the swine flu has detracted from attention to the widespread misery and violence in other parts of the world:
The sudden surge in first world swine fever has also overshadowed the plight of millions in the Horn of Africa, principally in Somalia where a reconfigured government is struggling to survive. Random violence, suicide attacks, kidnapping and armed robbery are daily problems facing the 3 million people currently dependent on food aid. Over 1 million Somalis are displaced, many living in insanitary tent cities. For them, flu is not a big issue.
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3.33am: The talk here in Washington is of 6 probable swine flu cases in Maryland, just next door. The six people represent the first possible cases of swine flu to reach the Washington region.
3.33am: The talk here in Washington is of 6 probable swine flu cases in Maryland, just next door. The six people represent the first possible cases of swine flu to reach the Washington region.
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3.32am: Three more people in the UK have been diagnosed with swine flu, the Department of Health has announced.
A total of eight people in Britain have now been confirmed with the disease.
A departmental spokesman said: "There have been three more confirmed cases of swine flu in the UK - two in London and one in the North East.
"There are now eight confirmed cases in the UK - six in England, and two in Scotland.
"The preparations we have in place and are continuing to make will help to ensure we respond well in the event of a pandemic."
3.32am: Three more people in the UK have been diagnosed with swine flu, the Department of Health has announced.
A total of eight people in Britain have now been confirmed with the disease.
A departmental spokesman said: "There have been three more confirmed cases of swine flu in the UK - two in London and one in the North East.
"There are now eight confirmed cases in the UK - six in England, and two in Scotland.
"The preparations we have in place and are continuing to make will help to ensure we respond well in the event of a pandemic."
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3.28am: Daniel Nasaw here in Washington, taking over. Thanks again Matthew and Haroon.
3.28am: Daniel Nasaw here in Washington, taking over. Thanks again Matthew and Haroon.
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2.56pm: A diplomatic row is brewing between Germany and Spain after the German health minister, Ulla Schmidt, suggested that people should not go to the Spanish Grand Prix.
"Everyone understands that there cannot be a major gathering of 70,000 people, if thousands of them could become infected," Schmidt told the Swiss publication Motorsport Aktuell, according to Crashnet.
The Guardian's Madrid correspondent, Giles Tremlett, says the Spanish government is fuming.
2.56pm: A diplomatic row is brewing between Germany and Spain after the German health minister, Ulla Schmidt, suggested that people should not go to the Spanish Grand Prix.
"Everyone understands that there cannot be a major gathering of 70,000 people, if thousands of them could become infected," Schmidt told the Swiss publication Motorsport Aktuell, according to Crashnet.
The Guardian's Madrid correspondent, Giles Tremlett, says the Spanish government is fuming.
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2.39pm: Conspiracy theories about swine flu are spreading faster than the virus. "It's bioterrorism attack" according to a posting on Prison Planet, home of shock-jock and conspiracy theory magnet Alex Jones. Wizbang Blue rounds up some of the other theories including the Mexican drug cartel angle and the al-Qaida connection.
2.39pm: Conspiracy theories about swine flu are spreading faster than the virus. "It's bioterrorism attack" according to a posting on Prison Planet, home of shock-jock and conspiracy theory magnet Alex Jones. Wizbang Blue rounds up some of the other theories including the Mexican drug cartel angle and the al-Qaida connection.
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2.25pm: Someone in a student house in Newcastle is suspected of catching swine flu, according to Chronicle Live, citing the Newcastle University. The World Bank said one of its Washington employees has been preliminarily diagnosed with the virus.
2.25pm: Someone in a student house in Newcastle is suspected of catching swine flu, according to Chronicle Live, citing the Newcastle University. The World Bank said one of its Washington employees has been preliminarily diagnosed with the virus.
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2.05pm: Simon Jenkins has written a new piece condemning swine flu media hysteria.
The only disease that needs stamping out is mad journalism. At a time like this the media should shut up, report facts and tell people what they can do, not create statistically inflated hypotheticals and fantastical scenarios.
2.05pm: Simon Jenkins has written a new piece condemning swine flu media hysteria.
The only disease that needs stamping out is mad journalism. At a time like this the media should shut up, report facts and tell people what they can do, not create statistically inflated hypotheticals and fantastical scenarios.
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1.20pm: US vice president, Joe Biden, has cautioned against air travel and underground trains, because swine flu can spread in "confined spaces", according to Politico.com.
1.20pm: US vice president, Joe Biden, has cautioned against air travel and underground trains, because swine flu can spread in "confined spaces", according to Politico.com.
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1.01pm: Iain and Dawn Askham, the first Britons confirmed with swine flu have been released from hospital. They doing "very well", Scotland First Minister Alex Salmond said.
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12.50pm: "It would be hilarious, were it not so deadly serious," a doctor writes. GP Ann Robinson shares some of the questions she has been asked in the last week, on Comment is Free. They include: "Shall I cancel my cruise to Florida?" and "I'm fine but can I have a prescription for Tamiflu – just in case?"
Dr Robinson will be live on line at 4pm today to answer more questions.
12.50pm: "It would be hilarious, were it not so deadly serious," a doctor writes. GP Ann Robinson shares some of the questions she has been asked in the last week, on Comment is Free. They include: "Shall I cancel my cruise to Florida?" and "I'm fine but can I have a prescription for Tamiflu – just in case?"
Dr Robinson will be live on line at 4pm today to answer more questions.
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12.45pm: Swine flu has gone viral in the internet sense. Here are two of the latest images doing the rounds.
12.45pm: Swine flu has gone viral in the internet sense. Here are two of the latest images doing the rounds.
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12.22pm: The use of antiviral drugs could result in the development of a resistant strain, a flu researcher has claimed.
"We can't continue to use single antiviral drugs . . . The virus will win the game," Robert Webster of St. Jude Children's Research Hospital in Memphis told a conference according to Med Page Today. Is this more yet scaremongering or should we be worried?
"We can't continue to use single antiviral drugs . . . The virus will win the game," Robert Webster of St. Jude Children's Research Hospital in Memphis told a conference according to Med Page Today. Is this more yet scaremongering or should we be worried?
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11.49am: The Guardian's political commentator Michael White reflects on the Daily Mail relegating swine flu to page 10.
"Everyone should stop freaking out" says mpanighetti from San Mateo, in California.
11.49am: The Guardian's political commentator Michael White reflects on the Daily Mail relegating swine flu to page 10.
"Everyone should stop freaking out" says mpanighetti from San Mateo, in California.
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11.38am: CNN's medical correspondent Dr Sanjay Gupta, recommends the elbow bump as a new form of greeting. "It's not as cool as the fist bump, but safer. I think it will catch on," he says.
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11.07am:Mark Honigsbaum, author of a history of 1918 Flu, reckons we should stay calm and carry on and follow simple hygiene advise that was issued in 1918.
Writing on Comment is Free, he complains of a "media-induced collective dread" about swine flu.
Talking of which, Holland has just confirmed its first case of the virus.
11.07am:Mark Honigsbaum, author of a history of 1918 Flu, reckons we should stay calm and carry on and follow simple hygiene advise that was issued in 1918.
Writing on Comment is Free, he complains of a "media-induced collective dread" about swine flu.
Talking of which, Holland has just confirmed its first case of the virus.
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10.41am: Jose Antonio Herrera, who works as a clown in Mexico City wants to know if he qualifies for a swine flu victim support fund as the park he works in has been closed, according to the latest from blogger Daniel Hernandez.
I'd like to know if, as a clown of the Bosque de Chapultepec, I will be helped by the support program for those affected by the influenza. Since I was unjustly fired from my job as a mailman, I work [at the park] and that's how I support my family. Now that it's closed, how will I feed them? Or is the fund only for business owners who do have money and were affected by the closure of their bars or restaurants? Or will I have to look to get sick to be able to support my family? Where do I have to go to get help?
10.41am: Jose Antonio Herrera, who works as a clown in Mexico City wants to know if he qualifies for a swine flu victim support fund as the park he works in has been closed, according to the latest from blogger Daniel Hernandez.
I'd like to know if, as a clown of the Bosque de Chapultepec, I will be helped by the support program for those affected by the influenza. Since I was unjustly fired from my job as a mailman, I work [at the park] and that's how I support my family. Now that it's closed, how will I feed them? Or is the fund only for business owners who do have money and were affected by the closure of their bars or restaurants? Or will I have to look to get sick to be able to support my family? Where do I have to go to get help?
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10.35am: The chief medical officer, Sir Liam Donaldson, said he was "concerned but not alarmed" after the World Health Organisation raised its swine flu global epidemic threat level.
Swine flu has now affected over 30 countries, according to the Guardian's country by country guide to swine flu.
10.35am: The chief medical officer, Sir Liam Donaldson, said he was "concerned but not alarmed" after the World Health Organisation raised its swine flu global epidemic threat level.
Swine flu has now affected over 30 countries, according to the Guardian's country by country guide to swine flu.
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10.13am: Dr Sarah Harrison, consultant in public health for Torbay Care Trust, has provided an update on the health of the 12-year-old girl who contracted the virus on a trip to Mexico. "She is suffering from flu, so she's not feeling very well, but she is recovering."
The mayor of Torbay, Nick Bye, said the resort is still open for business. "I don't want to be the mayor in Jaws," he said after discussing the attractions of "the bay".
Harrison said she could not say how many people were being tested in Devon - it is more like a dozen than hundreds, she said. She revealed that 340 courses of the antiviral Tamiflu had been given out.
Jane English, principal of Paignton College which the affected girl attends, said she had not been given the drug because she was not deemed to be at risk. She said she was "confident" that all the people the pupil had been in contact with have been traced.
10.13am: Dr Sarah Harrison, consultant in public health for Torbay Care Trust, has provided an update on the health of the 12-year-old girl who contracted the virus on a trip to Mexico. "She is suffering from flu, so she's not feeling very well, but she is recovering."
The mayor of Torbay, Nick Bye, said the resort is still open for business. "I don't want to be the mayor in Jaws," he said after discussing the attractions of "the bay".
Harrison said she could not say how many people were being tested in Devon - it is more like a dozen than hundreds, she said. She revealed that 340 courses of the antiviral Tamiflu had been given out.
Jane English, principal of Paignton College which the affected girl attends, said she had not been given the drug because she was not deemed to be at risk. She said she was "confident" that all the people the pupil had been in contact with have been traced.
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9.54am: Cobra, the government's emergency committee, is to meet at 11am today to discuss swine flu. EU health ministers will also hold emergency talks today in Luxembourg to coordinate national efforts in preventing the spread of the virus.
9.54am: Cobra, the government's emergency committee, is to meet at 11am today to discuss swine flu. EU health ministers will also hold emergency talks today in Luxembourg to coordinate national efforts in preventing the spread of the virus.
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9.17am: Every UK household has been sent an 11-page leaflet about swine flu. It says:
If swine flu spreads, you need to keep informed so that you know what else you can do to protect yourself and your family. As the situation changes, you should keep up to date by watching TV, listening to the radio, checking the internet and looking out for announcements in the press.
The Department of Health TV advert has also been released. "Catch it. Bin it. Kill it." features a man sneezing in a lift.
9.17am: Every UK household has been sent an 11-page leaflet about swine flu. It says:
If swine flu spreads, you need to keep informed so that you know what else you can do to protect yourself and your family. As the situation changes, you should keep up to date by watching TV, listening to the radio, checking the internet and looking out for announcements in the press.
The Department of Health TV advert has also been released. "Catch it. Bin it. Kill it." features a man sneezing in a lift.
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8.59am: The government has set up a swine flu information line. You can call it on 0800 151 3513 or listen here.
It says: "Because it [swine flu] is a new virus no one will have immunity to it and everyone could be at risk of catching it. This includes healthy adults."
It says: "Because it [swine flu] is a new virus no one will have immunity to it and everyone could be at risk of catching it. This includes healthy adults."
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8.21am: Dr Ben Goldacre, of Bad Science fame, says we are right to worry about swine flu, but there is a crisis in confidence in how the media is covering the story.
Not only have the public lost all faith in the media; not only do so many people assume, now, that they are being misled; but more than that, the media themselves have lost all confidence in their own ability to give us the facts.
8.21am: Dr Ben Goldacre, of Bad Science fame, says we are right to worry about swine flu, but there is a crisis in confidence in how the media is covering the story.
Not only have the public lost all faith in the media; not only do so many people assume, now, that they are being misled; but more than that, the media themselves have lost all confidence in their own ability to give us the facts.
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