Swine Flu update in France and worldwide

Article published on the 2009-05-04 Latest update 2009-05-05 06:50 TU

Workers assemble protective masks at a manufacturing facility in Singapore 4 May 2009.
Photo: REUTERS/Vivek Prakash

France has confirmed two new cases of Swine Flu, Type A (H1N1). That brings the total number of confirmed cases in France to four and eight other suspected cases are undergoing tests.

Mexico on Monday raised its confirmed swine flu toll to 26 deaths and 701 infected patients, according to Health Minister Jose Angel Cordova. The previous toll, given late Sunday, was 22 dead and 568 infected. Cordova and President Felipe Calderon were upbeat about containing the spread of the virus on Sunday. Officials in Mexico City, where most of the deaths and infections were recorded, said Monday it would reopen restaurants and other eateries on Wednesday. Churches and museums would be reopened on Thursday, they said. However bars, nightclubs, cinemas and theaters would remain closed until further notice.

Some 250 recruits and personnel at an army camp in the western Swiss canton of Fribourg have been placed under quarantine. Two recruits are suspected of having caught swine flu.

Switzerland has reported one confirmed case of influenza A (H1N1) infection, but the young man who contracted the disease was allowed to leave hospital on Sunday.

Meanwhile, the World Health Organisation chief said Monday in a newspaper interview that if it were to raise the epidemic alert to the highest level - level six - is not cause for panic.

According to Margaret Chan, "Phase six does not mean that all countries will be affected at the same time, not that all sick people will die. Nor that in countries affected by the virus, everyone will be infected."

 The WHO last week raised the alert over the A(H1N1) virus to phase phase five, its second-highest level, which signals that a pandemic is "imminent."

Chan also defended the decision taken Friday by authorities in Hong Kong to seal off a hotel and put some 300 people there in a seven day quarantine after a Mexican guest tested positive for swine flu, saying that Hong Kong's population density is a good enough reason for taking swift and precautionary action.

 

On France 24 TV  Notebook: after the shutdown, what next?