Swine flu spreading rapidly - WHO

SWINE FLU: H1N1 virus spreading more rapidly than previously thought, according to the World Health Organization. (Getty Images)

Swine flu is spreading much more quickly than expected and is attacking a large number of young, healthy adults, the Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO) said on Saturday.

Margaret Chan said in an interview with French daily Le Monde that the virus "in six weeks travels the same distance as that covered in six months by other viruses," KUNA reported.

"This virus travels at an unbelievable, almost unheard of speed," she added.

She also said that while six out of ten fatalities have pre-existing health conditions, 40 percent are nonetheless young healthy adults.

Chan also said that vaccine production might be insufficient to inoculate whole populations against the virus, which has killed almost to 2,200 people since it first surfaced in Mexico back in April.

Her warning came barely a day after the agency said the virus had overtaken others to become the most prevalent flu strain.

"Evidence from multiple outbreak sites demonstrates that the A(H1N1) pandemic virus has rapidly established itself and is now the dominant influenza strain in most parts of the world," the agency said in a statement.

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READERS' COMMENTS

Really panademic?
Posted by ABUSIDRA, DUBAI, U.A.E. on Monday 31 August 2009 at 09:24 UAE time


Sometimes I wonder this type of frantic calls from authorities causes more fear rather than pacifying the masses, actually these messages are the most-best available means for advertisements on behalf of major Medicine manufacturers. Islam recommends people suffering from contagious diseases like this and plague etc NOT TO MIGRATE from their place to another, which causes more people to be in line of risk. The questions also is, how long the western countries will eat whatever they like, like swine and other haraam products, even their is clear evidence in Quran as well as their medical journals against the dangers, and then spread it to the whole world. Gifts from outside the Islamic countries, SARS, HIV, AIDS, SWINE FLU and still counting and unnecessary meddling with natural things. Pls. be considerate at least for yourself and take care.

it's all in the agenda
Posted by langyaw, Dubai, UAE on Sunday 30 August 2009 at 13:17 UAE time


some interesting reading you'll find here:
http://www.nowpublic.com/strange/swine-flu-avian-flu-fema-camps-fully-loaded-new-world-order

Swine flu spreading rapidly
Posted by Hani Zaitoun, Dubai, UAE on Sunday 30 August 2009 at 10:38 UAE time


It is time for the UAE government to provide people with educational ads, to highlight the symptoms, the course of action, the nearest hospitals that can deal with such medical conditions etc... an emergency number maybe.

Corporates should also inlcude a policy with regards to staff having any kind of flu symptoms, the protective measures taken, they should not be allowed to work etc...

I think we are all responsbile to take proper care.

Dont believe the hype
Posted by ex-expat, London, UK on Sunday 30 August 2009 at 05:52 UAE time


Ms Chan would do well to look for another job , she (WHO) classified the Swine Flu as a Pandemic on 11 June 2008 . After all the hysteria nearly all the people have who have had the virus have described it a like a normal Flu bug. In fact most of the people who have died from it already had other MAJOR health issues.

BUT here in the UK when a few pupils had swine Flu in different schools the authorities vacinated ALL the children in the schools with the Swine Flu Vaccine , this in turn caused over 51% of the children to suffer from extreme vomiting , Diahorrea , Sleeplessness and Nightmares !!.

To top it all in the USA the Massachusetts Senate (USA) has passed a law that anyone not taking the MANDATORY FLU Vaccination will be fined $1000 per day.

Barack Obama has passed a bill to indemnify BAXTER (the swine Flu vaccination supplier) from any law suits should people die from it.

Ms Chan should take the Vaccine before they force it on the rest of the world.

K.

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