GPs given masks as Jersey tests family for swine flu
Thursday 30th April 2009, 1:00PM BST.
Taking precautions in Mexico City. One hundred and fifty-nine people are thought to have died from swine flu in the country. (0764942)
ALL GPs in Guernsey have been issued with surgical face masks following the first death from swine flu outside Mexico.
A 23-month-old Mexican child in Texas has become the latest victim of the virus.
And the disease might already have reached the Channel Islands – a Jersey family of three is being tested for swine flu.
They returned from areas said to be possible sources for the outbreak suffering from flu-like symptoms.
People returning to Jersey from places such as Mexico and neighbouring US states are now being ordered to stay at home for two days after their return.
In the UK, five people are now confirmed as having contracted it, most recently a 12-year-old girl in Devon. The death toll worldwide is thought to stand at 160.
‘Face masks were issued to all general practitioners in the island yesterday and standard face mask advice has been posted on the States of Guernsey website,’ said director of public health Dr Stephen Bridgman.
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Only Mexicans in Mexico have died from ‘Swine Flu’ and now a Mexican in Texas – has anyone thought that there may be a genetic reason why it only appears to be Mexicans that are dying of this disease?
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We need to consider closing the borders if it starts spreading and killing thousands in a short space of time. However I think this is unlikely due to only a 160 deaths worldwide probably less than killed by normal flu.
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Isn’t it more likely that deaths have occurred in Mexicans because the outbreak started there, there are more cases there, and the people infected have been infected for the longest amount of time? Also, the standards or medical care may be lower then in other parts of the world.
That said, whenever I read the tabloid headlines of
‘SWINE FLU GLOBAL PANDEMIC – WE’RE ALL GOING TO DIE!’
(turn to page 6 for topless snaps of the Hairy Angel)
all I can think about is SARS, Bird Flu and the Millennium Bug…
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It is extremely unlikely that the deaths in Mexico are due to ‘inferior’ DNA, as DanLobster has pointed out.
Another good piece from a tabloid this week pointed out that two former ‘BB Housemates’ may have contracted the virus.
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Jsut to clear up. There have not been 160 deaths from Swine flu.
As of last night the confirmed number of deaths was 8 in mexico and 1 in the US.
Also if the UK government are so concern with peple spreading it to others. Why are they letting people get off planes from Mexico straight into the same terminal as people arriving on other flights. Why not process them through a different terminal and test them all before letting them mix with others.
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My thoughts exactly DanLobster. Seems to be a load of hype and panic over a bit of a cold.
Everyone prepared for 2012 and the end of the Mayan calendar? Yawn!
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>>Why are they letting people get off planes from Mexico < <
Because they live here? LOL.
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The deaths from swine flu, whilst a tragedy for the individuals and families concerned, don’t seem any greater than seasonal flu. That doesn’t mean we should be complacent, it does however mean that we shouldn’t panic!
The problem occurs because words like “pandemic” (try reading how the WHO defines a pandemic before panicking) are misinterpreted and blown out of proportion by the media. This feeds the paranoia prevalent in the gullible who would rather “educate” themselves from movies such as 28 Days Later and I am Legend instead of finding out the facts.
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