Training Blog

Top health officials for the UN have started a forum in Mexico on combating swine flu by saying the spread of the virus is now unstoppable. Current statistics show over 100 countries reporting cases of the virus, Dr Chan from the WHO claims; “….once a fully fit pandemic virus emerges, its further international spread is unstoppable.”

The UK is predicting more than 100,000 new cases of H1N1 a day in the UK alone by the end of the summer.
Whilst Mexico swine flu cases have decreased. In South America the peak of the flu season is approaching, as a result some areas have declared a public health emergency. However it is worth mentioning that in the 2 months since the outbreak of swine flu it has only killed approximately 300 people worldwide which when you put it into context isn’t really that many, obviously it is a tragedy for those who knew these people. In the UK the latest figures show only 26 people have died from the virus, which is minimal when regular flu claims the lives of around 6,000 people a year.

In the UK Health Secretary,Andy Burnham has come under fire from the Liberal Democrats who claim fighting within government departments led to the hotline which offers information on the virus and what to do to avoid catching it and what to do if you suspect that you have the virus being launched six months late. Although this claim is flawed as the outbreak of the virus was only announced 2 months ago. It was hoped that the hotline would take the pressure off frontline NHS staff and enable them to deal with other illnesses

Before everyone starts to panic the WHO says most cases of H1N1 (swine flu) are mild, with recovery within a week and often without any medical treatment. The exceptions, she said, were pregnant women and people with underlying health problems, who were at higher risk from complications from the virus and should be monitored if they fall ill.