New strain of flu in Mexico and parts of the U.S.

[Karen]

Oh, Isabel, we will be keeping you and your husband and your community in our prayers. Thank you for keeping us updated!

[Barbara]

The news have been here all over the place as well. The virus is a new mutation that managed to cross the barrier between pigs and humans. Flu viruses are very flexible, so they mutate often and of course it becomes very dangerous when they can cross that barrier.
It happened with the avian flu before but pigs are more likely even as they are mammals and closer to us than birds. This is not the first and definitely not the last flu virus to be introduced from another species.
Up to now there is no vaccination as the virus is new. The development of a vaccine will take some months. While WHO recommends flu vaccination especially for the elderly, this existing vaccination will not yet help against this new virus.
However we heard here that the flu caused by the new virus responds well to modern flu meds.
We heard that even in Mexico it is not yet clear whether all of the people who died were hit by the new virus. Per year some 100.000 people die in the world of just "normal" flu- which is bad enough.
So- it is all very sad and a reason for lots and lots of caution but it is not yet a reason to panic.
And Karen is right: we should wash our hands, maybe not shake them (a German problem ) and avoid masses of people where the droplets can travel very well from person to person.
Sending all my best wishes to Isabel and family who are so close to the place where this virus started it's dangerous journey.

[carole]

Yes another thing to scare the jeepers out of everyone, a group of high school students visiting Mexico on a school language trip are thought to have come down with Swine flu in New Zealand,they are in isolation and our country is taking all the precautions necessary, and everyone on that flight is being traced and will be isolated, unfortunately some of them are going to be hard to contact, hopefully through the media they can be, i just hope they have not spread it by now.

The government tells us we are in a good position to fight this flu, with plenty supplies of Tamiflu, i sure hope they are right.

Thinking of everyone who is at risk here and overseas in the United States,especially you Husky's mom and her family.

Let us all be safe and well.

[carole]

Yes another thing to scare the jeepers out of everyone, a group of high school students visiting Mexico on a school language trip are thought to have come down with Swine flue in New Zealand,they are in isolation and our country is taking all the precautions necessary, and everyone on that flight is being traced and will be isolated, unfortunately some of them are going to be hard to contact, hopefully through the media they can be, i just hope they have not spread it by now.

The government tells us we are in a good position to fight this flue, with plenty supplies of Tamiflue, i sure hope they are right.

Thinking of everyone who is at risk here and overseas in the United States,especially you Husky's mom and her family.,and also Killearns Kitties, as it is in Scotland as well.

Let us all be safe and well.

[smokey the elder]

Poor Mexico. Now they have just had an earthquake. What is this, whale on Mexico week? I hope everyone stays safe and well.

[ChrisH]

Oh, Isabel, we will be keeping you and your husband and your community in our prayers.

Me too. {{hugs}}

It's reached Europe, Spain and the UK.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/8020552.stm

[Maya & Inka's mommy]

Thanks for updating us Isabel!! I truly hope this flu will not come anything near to you!!

Today a few passengers, who came back with a flight from Mexico, were taken to quarantine because they had a fever. Let's hope it is NOT that mexican flu....

[lizbud]

I read a good article about this flu flareup. It is ,they believe, Mother
Nature biteing us back for raising hogs in the "factory farm" inviroment.

They work like large petri dishes for new germ production.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/david-..._b_191408.html