Backgrounder: Key facts about swine flu
SEOUL, April 26 (Xinhua) -- The South Korean
government announced to tighten quarantine measures for pork from the United
States and Mexico after outbreaks of swine influenza in these countries, local
media reported on Sunday.
South Korea's National Veterinary Research and
Quarantine Service announced Saturday that U.S. and Mexican pork to be imported
from Monday will be put in quarantine to check if it was infected with the
disease.
The quarantine agency will also conduct inspections
of the belongings of tourists who have traveled to the U.S. and Mexico, local
media said.
The World Health Organization confirmed on Saturday
that dozens of people had been diagnosed with swine influenza in Mexico and the
United States.
According to South Korea's Yonhap News Agency, South
Korea imported 28,726 tons of pork from the United States and 208 tons of pork
from Mexico in the first quarter of this year.
Mexico City takes measures against flu
outbreak
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A man wearing a mask walks past a
Mexican flag in Mexico City, capital of Mexico, April 24, 2009. The
government of Mexico City is launching a massive vaccination campaign
throughout the city against swine flu, which has possibly killed dozens
nationwide. (Xinhua Photo)
Photo Gallery>>> |
MEXICO CITY, April 24 (Xinhua) -- The municipal
government of the Mexico City Friday announced a series of immediate steps to
stop the flu outbreak in the city.
Mayor Marcelo Ebrard said at a press conference that
the main aim is to protect all the inhabitants of the city, especially
vulnerable people such as children and elders. Full story
2 swine flu cases confirmed in U.S.
state of Kansas
WASHINGTON, April 25 (Xinhua) -- The Kansas
Department of Health and Environment on Saturday confirmed two cases of swine
flu in the state.
A spokeswoman said the department is planning to
release details on the two cases at a news conference later Saturday. Full story
Probable swine flu cases found in New
York school
NEW YORK, April 25 (Xinhua) -- At least eight
students of a non-public school in New York City were found to have probable
human swine influenza, New York health officials said on Saturday.
More than 100 students at the school in the New York
City borough of Queens were sick this week with fever and other flu-like
symptoms, the New York City Health Department said in a press release. Full story
Texas high school closing after
possible new case of swine flu found
HOUSTON, April 25 (Xinhua) -- A high school in the
U.S. state of Texas is temporarily closing after a new possible case of the
deadly swine flu was identified there, health officials said Saturday.
Byron Steele High School in Guadalupe County near San
Antonio, Texas, will "temporarily close effective immediately as public health
and school officials work to keep swine influenza from spreading", the Texas
Department of State Health Services (DSHS) said in a press release. Full story
China on alert to prevent swine flu
infection
BEIJING, April 25 (Xinhua) -- China's General
Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine issued an
emergency notice Saturday night requiring people to report flu-like symptoms at
the point of entry when coming from the deadly swine flu affected places.
This is China's latest move in response to the
outbreaks of human infection of Swine Influenza A/H1N1 in Mexico and the United
States. Full story
Hong Kong to enhance surveillance at
boundary control points for Swine
Flu
HONG KONG, April 25 (Xinhua)
-- Hong Kong will step up local surveillance systems at boundary control points
and the public health laboratory in light of outbreaks of human infection of
Swine Influenza A/H1N1 in Mexico and the United States, the Center for Health
Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health of Hong Kong announced on Saturday.
Travelers from the affected places who are found to have
Swine Influenza symptoms at Hong Kong's boundary control points will be taken to
hospitals for further investigation. Laboratory testing for Swine Influenza will
be conducted for patients with influenza-like-illness who had traveled to the
affected places within 7 days before onset of symptoms.Full story
WHO chief says swine flu outbreak in
Mexico has "pandemic potential"
GENEVA, April 25 (Xinhua) -- Mexico's swine flu
outbreak has the potential to turn into a worldwide pandemic, the head of the
World Health Organisation (WHO) said on Saturday.
"It has pandemic potential because it is infecting
people," WHO Director-General Margaret Chan said at a teleconference. But she
also said it was too early to say whether the flu will turn into such a pandemic
or not. Full story
