# 3043
With more than 1,000 suspected cases in Mexico, and dozens of suspect cases in the United States, it is probably just a matter of time before Swine flu is detected in other countries around the world.
Nations all over the globe are on heightened alert, and there have been a number of `incidents’ reported in the media over the past few hours.
Some will be confirmed as Swine flu, while others will no doubt turn out to have some other respiratory ailment. There is no lack of variety in the world when it comes to influenza-like-illnesses.
In New Zealand, 25 people are quarantined while test are being run to determine if they have the Swine Flu virus.
New Zealand Quarantines 25 People Amid Swine Flu Alert
Sunday, April 26, 2009
AP
April 25: Hiram Diaz, 8, left, gives his 6-year-old sister Adely Diaz a ride on the pegs of his bicycle while wearing protective masks in Mexico City.
WELLINGTON, New Zealand — Twenty-five students and teachers in New Zealand, some with flu-like symptoms, were quarantined and tested for swine flu after returning from a trip to Mexico, officials said Sunday, as Asia stepped up surveillance for the deadly virus.
At least 81 people have died from severe pneumonia caused by a flu-like illness in Mexico, according to the World Health Organization, which declared the virus a public health emergency of "pandemic potential."
The group from New Zealand's largest high school returned to the northern city of Auckland on Saturday on a flight from Los Angeles. Thirteen students and one teacher were unwell and one student had to be hospitalized, said Auckland Regional Public Health Services director Dr. Julia Peters.
Health Ministry spokesman Michael Flyger said some had symptoms of an influenza-like illness and the test results were expected later Sunday.
At this stage other passengers on the flight were not being sought and the next step would depend on what the tests showed, he said.
Some of the headlines over the past 4 hours include:
World on alert as flu fear grows IOL – World
Asia on alert over swine flu threat Yahoo! US -
Finnish Authorities Follow Swine Flu Outbreak YLE News
Swine Flu Alert In Britain The People
WHO sees worldwide ‘pandemic potential’ in swine flu Arab Times -
Israel on Alert as Swine Flu Spurs Int'l Emergency Arutz Sheva -
Aussie outbreak 'inevitable' The Courier-Mail -
Most of these stories are about how nations are bracing for what they see as the `inevitable arrival’ of the Swine Flu virus. So far, however, the virus has only been confirmed in the United States and Mexico.
That status could well change later today.
In addition to the mainstream media working this story, we also are fortunate to have bloggers and newshounds from all over the world watching and posting on this breaking story.
And they aren’t just following Swine Flu.
The H5N1 bird flu virus hasn’t gone away. Ida at the Bird Flu Information Corner continues to bring us information about the situation in Indonesia. Zeinobia at the Egyptian Chronicles continues to follow the recent jump in bird flu cases (and fatalities) in that country.
They will, no doubt, blog on the Swine flu when it arrives in their countries.
My twin brother, who normally blogs on life in Thailand and the Entertainment Industry, is covering the Swine Flu story (see Swine Flu Concerns in Asia) from his vantage point in Jomtien Beach (Pattaya), Chonburi, Thailand.
Jim is well connected in the American Ex-Pat community there, and so I hope we will get some insight from him as to how they are viewing these unfolding events.
And of course, the newshounds on the Internet are scouring every newsfeed they can, in at least a dozen languages, for the latest information.
You can learn more about the process (and volunteer if you’d like to help), by reading:
Newshounds: They Cover The Pandemic Front
Stay tuned.
