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German public health officials have recently publicized an increase in Puumala virus infections among its citizens in the states of Baden-Wuerttemberg and Bavaria. Puumala virus is a member of the European Hantaviruses that can potentially cause hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome. This mild form of Hantavirus results from inhaling dusts contaminated with rodent urine and feces. Anyone who develops flu-like symptoms after entering dusty buildings or after handling dead rodents should immediately seek medical attention.

Weekly cases of the H1N1 virus have almost doubled in a week and Justin McCracken, chief executive of the Health Protection Agency, said the number of GP consultations about flu are in line with epidemic levels. "We are there or there abouts," he said. An epidemic is officially declared when the number of GP consultations recorded by the Royal College of GP exceeds 200 per 100,000 population. Last week the figure stood at 155 consultations per 100,000 population but another, larger, database which is more up to date has recorded 221.4 consultations per 100,000 population. Mr McCracken said taking the...

President Barack Obama voiced hope Friday that the swine flu virus will run its course "like ordinary flus" as officials reported more than two dozen new cases and scores more schools shut down. The government issued new guidance for schools with confirmed cases, saying they should close for at least 14 days because children can be contagious for seven to 10 days from when they get sick. That means parents can expect to have children at home for longer than previously thought. The Education Department said that more than 400 schools had closed, affecting about 245,000 children in 18 states....

Did you hear all of Humanity is at risk warns the WHO. The Gestapo (DHS) has issued orders in case Quarantine is necessary. Is this a Swine Flu cover-up to protect the campaign contributions for the swine in our government? I also came across something I thought quite odd... The following is from the Annual Report from 2008 for Tamiflu. There was a prediction for a 531% sales increase for 2009 wow these people are good I can only imagine the skill it takes to make such a bold prediction (who is doing the forecasting a psychic?) see page 6.....

In case you haven't heard, we're all going to die. You, me, everyone we know, and possibly all our pets are all doomed to die from the latest in a long line of fatal pandemics, the swine flu. The experts are on TV every day relaying pant-soiling fact after pant-soiling fact about the upcoming apocalypse. I, for one, look forward to dying from swine flu, just like I died from bird flu in 2006 and SARS in 2003. Fortunately for me, I'm prepared for the upcoming viruspalooza. You see, I've watched dozens of virus-related disaster films, and I am as...

The White House is issuing a health advisory outlining "protective measures" for anyone who traveled on President Barack Obama's trip to Mexico, after a member of the U.S. delegation came down with flu-like symptoms - and tests on his family showed they're probably infected with the swine flu. The individual - an advance security staffer for Energy Secretary Steven Chu -appears to have spread the flu to his wife, son and nephew. All three have tested probable for swine flu, White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs said. Gibbs, who did not name the security aide, said he did not work...

The White House is issuing a health advisory to anyone who traveled on President Barack Obama’s trip to Mexico, after a member of the U.S. delegation came down with flu-like symptoms – and tests on that staffers’ family showed they are probably infected with the swine flu. After saying just last week that no one who traveled to Mexico City for the president's visit contracted the flu, White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs announced that a lead advance person for Energy Secretary Steven Chu came down with flu-like symptoms after the trip and appears to have spread the flu to...

The Department of Homeland Security said Thursday it has not told agents at U.S. airports and border checkpoints that they cannot wear masks to protect from exposure to swine flu. "The Department of Homeland Security has not issued an order saying our employees cannot wear masks. The health of our employees is of utmost importance to us. And today we are issuing department-wide guidance to our workforce," DHS spokeswoman Sara Kuban told FOX News. Kuban was responding to a claim made Thursday that The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Department of Homeland Security issued a guideline banning...

A member of the U.S. delegation that helped prepare Energy Secretary Steven Chu's trip to Mexico City has demonstrated flu-like symptoms and his family members have tested probable for swine flu. White House spokesman Robert Gibbs said Thursday that three members of an aide's family are being tested to see if they have the same strain of swine flu that is threatening to become a pandemic. The aide worked in presidential advance, which is responsible for planning and preparing trips.

(WXYZ) - A member of the U.S. delegation to Mexico is exhibiting flu-like symptoms according to the White House. Testing is underway to see if this is a case of the swine flu. Stay with WXYZ.com and Action News for the very latest.

HUNTINGTON BEACH Bolstered by the growing number of swine flu cases, anti-illegal immigration groups in Southern California are urging members to barrage their congress members with letters and phone calls pressuring them to close the U.S.-Mexico border. Barbara Coe, founder of the Huntington Beach-based California Coalition for Immigration Reform, has continuously blasted emails to about 20,000 group members since news of the influenza hit the media.

Swine flu may be inspiring fear worldwide, but for Stephan Zielinski of San Francisco, California, it inspired a song. The virus has the classification H1N1 because it includes two key viral proteins, hemagglutinin (H) and neuraminidase (N). Zielinski took the genetic sequence of a variant of hemagglutinin and created a computer algorithm to turn it into music. Zielinski, 41, is not a biochemist or a professional musician -- he's a writer, photographer, computer programmer, and blogger who creates music in his spare time. But he's fascinated that, even though biologists can map the genome of the virus and predict what...

WASHINGTON - The new swine flu is rattling Americans from coast to coast and President Barack Obama pledged "to do whatever it takes" to battle an emergency that world health authorities warned is inching closer to a full-fledged pandemic. "This is obviously a very serious situation, and every American should know that their entire government is taking the utmost precautions and preparations," Obama declared, just hours after the World Health Organization pointed to spreading U.S. infections as it ramped up its grim warnings. But with nearly 100 confirmed cases in 11 states and many more suspected, Obama also stressed that...

While we know that there have been 64 confirmed cases of swine flu here in America, President Obama is telling us that there is reason for concern but not yet "a cause for alarm." He might be correct or he might be wrong, dead wrong. As there is no way of knowing how bad things will become with the swine flu just yet. We need to look back on the past history of major scares and problems that the swine flu has caused America in the past.

MEXICO CITY/GENEVA, April 30 (Reuters) - Mexico's president told citizens to stay home from Friday for a five-day partial shutdown of the economy, after the World Health Organisation raised its alert level and said a swine flu pandemic was imminent. In his first televised address since the crisis erupted last week, President Felipe Calderon told Mexicans to stay home with their families. The country will suspend non-essential work and services, including some government ministries, from May 1-5. "There is no safer place than your own home to avoid being infected with the flu virus," Calderon said.

* All Fort Worth schools closed amid flu concerns 10:12 PM Superintendent Melody Johnson said only necessary staff at central administration will work through the closing period -- until at least May 8. » More Top Stories * Confirmed flu cases in Texas rise to 16 10:12 PM

The World Health Organisation raised its flu alert signalling a swine flu pandemic is "imminent" as a toddler in the United States became the first to die of the disease outside of Mexico. "All countries should immediately now activate their pandemic preparedness plans," WHO chief Margaret Chan said as she raised the alert to five on a scale of six following WHO health expert talks in Geneva. "The international community should treat this as an opportunity to ramp up the response. After all, it is really all of humanity that is under threat during a pandemic," she added. Phase five,...

Mexico to shut down government in flu fight Decision comes as the World Health Organization warns of pandemic MEXICO CITY - Mexico's government is suspending all nonessential activity of the federal government and private business as the number of confirmed swine flu cases jumped. The decision came as global health authorities warned Wednesday that swine flu was threatening to bloom into a pandemic, and the virus spread farther in Europe even as the outbreak appeared to stabilize at its epicenter. A toddler who succumbed in Texas became the first death outside Mexico. Health Secretary José Angel Córdova Villalobos announced the...

NEWS ALERT The Fort Worth Independent School District has just announced it is closing all schools until May 8.

U.S. Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., said Wednesday closing the U.S.-Mexico border should be an option in combatting the H1N1, or swine flu strain that has hit Mexico City hard and shown up in Phoenix, San Diego and New York City. His comments comes as the World Health Organization raised the threat level that the Mexican swine flu could be become a global flu pandemic. McCain said U.S authorities are working hard to identify and contain the Mexican swine flu in the U.S. But the Arizona senator also said closing the border should be an option.

MEXICO CITY – The majority of confirmed swine flu deaths are in Mexico City. While many Americans may be postponing trips south of the border, more visitors from Mexico are expected in the U.S. this weekend. Officials say the outbound flights from the Mexico City airport are practically full. That's because there's a long holiday weekend approaching: Cinco de Mayo. It's a time of year when many families visit the U.S. and that’s a concern since the first confirmed U.S. swine flu death was a baby from Mexico City. At the airport, officials urge people not to travel if they...

All Special Olympics Spring Games in the state of Texas for this weekend were cancelled today because of the swine flu.

Is the Swine Flu disease a prophetic sign of a sick church infected with religion's lukewarmness? The Swine Flu gradually is becoming a problem for the Center for Disease Control (CDC). Reports say we are at the beginning of a new pandemic. A pandemic is an epidemic of infectious disease that spreads through populations across a large region. As of right now there are 91 known cases of the Swine Flu with a two year old boy just reported dead in Texas, claiming its first victim on US soil. The CDC released stock piles of the Tamiflu vaccine which slows...

"Thirteen fourth grade students from a Pittsburg elementary school were either sent home or called in sick Tuesday with flu-like symptoms, prompting the district to alert county health officials due to swine flu concerns, the superintendent said. "The students — one who had a relative from Mexico visiting — all attended the same class at Highlands Elementary School, 4141 Harbor St. No cases of swine flu have been confirmed in Contra Costa County, but health officials predict it will happen." http://www.mercurynews.com/twitter/ci_12248023?source=rss "A 16-year-old San Jose girl was diagnosed with Santa Clara County's first likely case of swine flu on Tuesday,...

Carroll ISD: After school activities canceled. including field trips, performances and competitions. Cleburne ISD: Closed. Denton ISD: After school activities canceled. including banquets, parent nights, concerts. Fort Worth ISD: Closed-All schools through May 8th. Lewisville ISD: Closed- Hebron Valley Elementary Only through May 6. Richardson ISD: Closed-Canyon Creek Elementary Only. Reopens May 4th. Fort Worth Can Academy: Closed. Richard Milburn Academy: Closed

The swine flu outbreak continued to fan out across the United States on Wednesday, with confirmed cases now in 11 states and possible cases in several more -- though American deaths haven't become widespread despite the confirmation that a Mexican toddler who was visiting Texas with his family had died from the flu. In California, dozens of Marines were confined after one came down with the disease. Some 100 schools were closed, and more might need to be shut down temporarily.

ORLANDO, Fla. -- Eyewitness News has learned of Orlando's first confirmed case of swine flu. According to the chief medical officer for Adventist Health System, Loran Hauck, the case was diagnosed Tuesday morning. "A case was diagnosed here in Orlando today on a tourist from Mexico who came to Disney attractions two days ago to visit," Hauck wrote in an email obtained by Eyewitness News. No further details have been released, but Eyewitness News is working to learn specifically what days the tourist was at the parks and which park the tourist went to. Details about the tourist, beyond being...

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security has sent a memo to some health care providers noting procedures to be followed if the swine flu outbreak eventually makes quarantines necessary. DHS Assistant Secretary Bridger McGaw circulated the swine flu memo, which was obtained by CBSNews.com, on Monday night. It says: "The Department of Justice has established legal federal authorities pertaining to the implementation of a quarantine and enforcement. Under approval from HHS, the Surgeon General has the authority to issue quarantines."

WASHINGTON, April 29 (Reuters) - A government official confirmed the first U.S. death from the new H1N1 swine flu on Wednesday, a 23-month-old child who died in Texas.

Governor Perry just issued a disaster proclamation for the state of Texas because of the Swine Flu -- Per Fox News live

@BreakingNews: BULLETIN -- WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION TO MAKE ANNOUNCEMENT IN 20 MINUTES; EXPECTED TO DECLARE PANDEMIC EMERGENCY.

A Washoe County official says the 2-year-old Reno girl diagnosed with the first case of swine flu in Nevada does not appear to have traveled to areas of the country where other cases have been diagnosed. Dr. Randall Todd, state epidemiologist, said during a press conference Wednesday, that another family member is ill as well. The girl, who is recovering, taking anti viral medication and never admitted to a hospital, attended a local day care center, Todd said.

Maryland health officials have identified six probable cases of swine flu in the state. Three affected individuals reside in Baltimore County and three in Anne Arundel County. A probable case is defined as someone who has flu-like symptoms who has traveled to an area that is affected by the swine flu. Maryland officials made the announcement Wednesday afternoon. In neighboring Delaware, health officials identified four University of Delaware students who probably have the swine flu. As of Wednesday, there were 91 cases of the swine flu in 10 states, including one death. Mexico, Canada, Spain and New Zealand have also...

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – Dr. Damon T. Arnold, Illinois Department of Public Health Director, announced there are currently nine probable cases of swine flu in Illinois: five in Cook County (all within the Chicago city limits), one in DuPage County, two in Kane County and one in Lake County. A probable case means the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) has tested a specimen and found that it is positive for influenza A, but it could not be subtyped. The Department has shipped three of the nine probable cases to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to perform final...

80,000 students, 180 campuses SHUT DOWN through May 8th

Avian flu and SARS rudely awoke the world to the possibility of a new pandemic. Could a seemingly more mundane bug now put the world to the test?The swine flu virus that may have killed more than 80 people in Mexico and appears to have sickened hundreds more is still a mystery contagion. But this much is known: The virus is unusually made up of genetic material from avian, pig and human viruses; it can transmit from person to person; and in many people, it only triggers mild symptoms seen in garden-variety influenza.The current virus is mainly sickening the young...

Seems to me it is a good time to have a thread that deals with real-time reports from fellow Freepers about cases of swine flu. Freeperdom is geographically widespread and covers all age brackets, so we can get a sense of what is going on. So if you know someone affected, I mean personally know someone, not my next door neighbors third cousin stuff, and you are inclined to report it, feel free to share it with us. Myself, personally, at this time know of no reported cases.

Original report just issued on web in Japanese. English translation not up yet; synopsizing here for Free Republic.Upshot is that Japanese pandemic-tracking organization (per Japanese link) is bundling this Mexican swing flu into a threat coming from both MEXICO and the UNITED STATES, and as such more than likely the flu will be officially named "The North American Influenza" in due time. (�的由��ら���られ��り��������インフルエンザ�「北アメリカインフルエンザ（North American influenza）��呼�れる����������る���。 )Additional observations:1) Japanese Border Inspection authorities (at airports and ports) are stringently inspecting each aircraft coming either from Mexico, or the United States with travelers from Mexico. Protection-suited up health specialists with googles, operation...

State health officials say the boy was traveling with family to visit relatives. He traveled from Mexico City ity to Matamoros, and arrived in Brownsville April 4. After developing flu-like symptoms, he was hospitalized on April 13 and transferred the next day to Texas Children's Hospital in Houston. The boy came to Brownsville's Valley Baptist Medical Center at 1:30am on April 13. He was feverish and having some breathing troubles. Doctors there diagnosed him with pneumonia. The next day, doctors sent him to Texans Children's Hospital in Houston by helicopter. But we learned Wednesday that would be his second trip...

President Barack Obama on Wednesday urged parents to prepare for the possibility that their children's schools could be closed temporarily if swine flu cases spread to them. Speaking at the White House, Obama said he wants Americans to know the government is doing "whatever is necessary" to contain the emerging health threat, which was officially blamed for a U.S. death for the first time Wednesday. Obama said his thoughts and prayers were with the family of the 23-month-old child in Texas who became the nation's first reported swine flu death. The president's remarks came at an event welcoming Sen. Arlen...

The World Health Organization increased its pandemic flu alert level Wednesday to Phase 5 — its second-highest level and a further indication that WHO scientists are seeing human-to-human spread of the virus in at least two countries. The announcement was made at a WHO news conference Wednesday in Geneva. There are numerous cases of human-to-human transmission in both Mexico and the United States. However, the WHO has until now hesitated to make the leap to Phase 5 because the cases of transmission in the United States are within tight-knit groups. "It really is all of humanity that is under threat...

PARIS (AFP) — The top agency for health in farm animals on Monday said Mexico's outbreak of deadly influenza was unleashed by a pathogen mixed from bird, human and hog viruses and branded the term "swine flu" as wrong and harmful to pig farmers. The World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) said the pathogen was "not a classic human virus... but a virus which includes [in] its characteristics swine, avian and human virus components." "The virus has not been isolated in animals to date. Therefore, it is not justified to name this disease swine influenza," the Paris-based OIE said in...

Indonesian Heath Minister Siti Fadilah Supari said Tuesday the deadly swine flu virus could have been man-made, as she urged calm over its spread around the world. The controversial minister did not elaborate but in the past she has said Western governments could be making and spreading viruses in the developing world to boost pharmaceutical companies' profits. "I'm not sure whether the virus was genetically engineered but it's a possibility," she told reporters at a press conference called to reassure the public over the government's response to the swine flu threat.

I sat in a hotel lobby and was watching CNN reporting on the "Pandemic". I commented to the person sitting next to me that the flus shouldn't be called the swine flu, because it actually is a combination of several flu viruses. To my surprise, he named off in rapid succession the four viruses that that latest flu bug contained. I asked him how was it that he was so knowledgeable. He responded that he worked for a large pharmacuetical firm. I commented that it seemed odd that several viruses purportedly from different parts of the globe could combine like...

The World Health Organisation tonight raised the pandemic alert level to five out of six after the continued spread of swine flu world wide. Margaret Chan, the organisation's director-general, said tonight: "I have decided to raise the current level of influenza pandemic alert from phase 4 to phase 5. "Influenza pandemics must be taken seriously precisely because of their capacity to spread rapidly to every country in the world." Making a call to governments, she said: "This change to a higher phase of alert is a signal to governments, to ministries of health and other industries, to the pharmaceutical industry...

Army criminal investigators are looking into the possibility that disease samples are missing from biolabs at Fort Detrick. As first reported in today's edition of The Frederick News-Post by columnist Katherine Heerbrandt, the investigators are from the U.S. Army Criminal Investigation Division unit at Fort Meade. Chad Jones, spokesman for Fort Meade, said CID is investigating the possibility of missing virus samples from the U.S. Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases. He said the only other detail he could provide is that the investigation is ongoing. Fort Detrick does not have its own CID office, Jones said, which is...

CDC: 'Fully expect we will see deaths' Apr 28 02:29 PM US/Eastern By MIKE STOBBE ATLANTA (AP) - A U.S. health official said at least five people are hospitalized with swine flu in the United States and deaths are likely. "I fully expect we will see deaths from this infection," as swine flu cases are investigated, said Richard Besser, acting director of the federal Centers for Disease Control. He said he did not know about a newspaper report of two deaths in two southern California hospitals in which the victims seemed to be suffering from swine flu symptoms. "I would...

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has declared a state of emergency, while telling Californians not to panic about swine flu. His action gives permission for state health agencies to enter into any contracts needed to respond to the outbreak and to expand laboratory testing. Orange County health officials said early Tuesday there are no swine flu cases in Orange County, but they are continuing to be on watch. California now has 13 swine flu cases, with two Sacramento County seventh graders added to the list.

Outrageous! Forget everything that you’re hearing about the so called Swine Flu it is not a influenza that originated in swine or any animal for that matter this is a genetically concocted “reassortant” virus that was made by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention CDC and the World Health Organization WHO. This is a hybrid virus made to order by the WHO and the CDC so that their “boy who cried wolf” scenarios for a worldwide pandemic could be realized.

No story/source yet--is this about Mexico? Or America? Or is it a global warning?? Whatever it might be, it seems the military may be taking over the streets before too long, using this sudden 'pandemic' as an excuse?!