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Swine Flu vaccine update: WHO raises alert level to 5

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New swine flu cases continue to emerge, and its not clear who exactly is the patient zero in this case, and when it really started. For now, we will continue to go with the proposed name of a Mexican boy.

This is a new strain of the flu virus and currently there is no tested/proven Swine Flu vaccine, though Tamiflu, which was tested for Bird Flu, could be used to strengthen the immunity. Learn more here: Swine Flu Vaccine- Tamiflu

U.S. scientists hope to have a key ingredient for a swine flu vaccine ready in early May, though commercial production can only happen by September.

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3 thoughts on “Swine Flu vaccine update: WHO raises alert level to 5”

  2. Folks, DID YOU KNOW THIS?
    Bird Flu Accidentally Sent As Vaccine!
    Officials at the World Health Organization and and the European Centre for Disease Control have launched an investigation into how live Avian Bird Flu virus (both H5N1 and H3N2) was accidentally shipped to 18 countries as Bird Flu vaccine. Deerfield, Illinois-based pharmaceutical company Baxter International accidentally sent an “experimental virus material,” which mixed H3N2 seasonal flu viruses and unlabelled H5N1 viruses, to an Austrian research firm, Avir Green Hills Biotechnology in late December. That company then shipped portions of the mixture to sub-contractors in the Czech Republic, Slovenia and Germany.

  3. In addition to Mexico and the United States, WHO has confirmed swine flu cases in Austria (1), Canada (19), Germany (3), Israel (2), Netherlands (1), New Zealand (3), Spain (13), Switzerland (1) and the United Kingdom (8). In the US, New York has the most confirmed cases, with 50, followed by Texas, with 26. California has 14 cases. Additional 230 cases are being investigated in the United Kingdom, and Spain has 84 suspected cases.

    Given today’s rail and flight networks, we are seeing how rapidly such a virus can spread. Mexico City has almost come to a halt in trying to combat this virus. With about 20 million people, its among the top 3 most populated cities in the world. We can expect an increase in cases as more tests are done, but the current precautions should help in some way.

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