Germany, April 29: More evidence of the global spread of the swine flu emerged Wednesday as German authorities confirmed three swine flu cases.
The three cases confirmed by the Robert Koch Institute, Germany’s national disease control center, include two women, aged 22 and 37, and a man in his 30s. All had recently traveled to Mexico, the epicenter of the outbreak.
With this, Germany becomes the third European country, after Spain and Britain, where the disease has surfaced.
In Mexico, 159 people are believed to have died from swine flu. Another 1,300 people are reportedly hospitalized, some of them “critically” ill, US health authorities revealed.
According to latest reports, 65 cases have been confirmed in the United States, 14 in New Zealand, 13 in Canada, one in Costa Rica, two in Spain, two in Britain, and two in Israel. Nations with suspected infections are Australia, Austria, Argentina, Chile, Denmark, Hong Kong, France, Indonesia, Ireland, Poland, Netherlands, South Korea, Sweden, Colombia, Switzerland and Thailand.
With the threat of a pandemic looming large, the World Health Organization said it may raise its pandemic alert level to Phase 5 — the second highest. The Mexican authorities have already declared the 2009 swine flu outbreak as a public health emergency.
The custom authorities worldwide have also stepped up the health screenings vigil. Visitors from countries where the outbreak has been reported are being closely screened. Also, travelers are being urged to cancel trips.
Swine Flu, also called swine influenza, is a respiratory disease seen in pigs. Caused by any strain of the influenza virus endemic in swine (most commonly the type A influenza virus), the infection is typically characterized by symptoms like chills, running nose, sore throat, cough, fever, severe headache and body ache and a general feeling of discomfort.
As the virus spreads easily through air and touch, preventive actions like washing hands, covering coughs with an arm or shoulder, can cut risk manifold. Keeping inside and avoiding contact with infected persons is the key.
