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H1N1 Toll In India Rises, Hits Bollywood
Schools, malls and cinema halls in some cities in western India have shut and Bollywood shoots cancelled as the toll from the H1N1 pandemic rose to eight. More than 850 have so far tested positive for the virus, Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad said, with about 340 still undergoing treatment and the rest discharged from hospitals. The flu has also disrupted the business of Bollywood.
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Flu View: Do Not Overdo It
India may be wasting resources and placing children at risk of side effects without good reason by giving the antiviral drug oseltamivir to every child infected with pandemic influenza, research suggests. Experts also cautioned that India may be using up antiviral drug stocks without being able to clearly assess the severity of the pandemic in India because of decades of neglect of viral fevers.
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Typical Symptoms
- a sudden fever (a high body temperature of 38°C/100.4°F or above)
- a sudden cough
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Other Symptoms
- headache
- tiredness
- chills and aching muscles
- limb or joint pain, loss of apetite
- diarrhoea or stomach upset
- runny nose, sneezing
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Mexico Orders Economic Shutdown
Mexican President Felipe Calderon told his people to stay home from Friday for a five-day partial shutdown of the economy, after the World Health Organisation said a swine flu pandemic was imminent. Calderon ordered government offices and private businesses not crucial to the economy to stop work to avoid further infection. Read more... |
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Swine Flu Dampens Economic Outlook
Fears that an outbreak of swine flu could become a pandemic brought a new threat to the global economy on Monday, just as some economic indicators appeared to be bottoming out. Mexicans returned to work in large numbers after the weekend, despite worries over a virus that has killed up to 149 people there. Read more... |
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Companies Restrict Travel
Companies are implementing travel restrictions in response to the flu. Honda Motor Co, Japan's No.2 automaker, has suspended all global business travel until at least May 6 due to the outbreak. Honda, which also has production facilities in Mexico, is considering sending Japanese families of expatriate workers home, although production was continuing as normal, a spokeswoman said. Read more... |
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Flu Could Hit Already Ailing Fuel Demand
The widening outbreak of swine flu could further quash already weak jet fuel demand if it grows to rival the SARS epidemic that hit global travel six years ago. More and more countries are issuing travel warnings. Jet fuel demand has already been battered as the economic crisis curtails travel for business and leisure, down 13.7 per cent against year-ago levels, according to the International Energy Agency. Read more... |
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- Mexico has reported 590 laboratory confirmed human cases of infection, including 25 deaths. The higher number of cases from Mexico reflects ongoing testing of previously collected specimens. The United States has reported 226 laboratory confirmed human cases, including one death.
- WHO spokesman Peter Cordingley singled out air travel as an easy way the virus could spread, noting that the WHO estimates that up to 500,000 people are on planes at any time.
- The WHO has raised the alert level in relation to the `Swine Flu’ epidemic to Phase 4, meaning there is sustained human-to-human transmission of the virus causing outbreaks in at least one country.
- Putting an alert at Phases 4 or 5 signals that the virus is becoming increasingly adept at spreading among humans. Phase 6 is for a full-blown pandemic, characterized by outbreaks in at least two regions of the world.
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- The basic symptoms are similar to the seasonal flu we are vaccinated for each year, which may include, fever of more than 100, sore throat, cough, stuffy nose, chills, headache, body aches and fatigue.
- The best way to keep the disease from spreading is by taking everyday precautions such as frequent hand washing, covering up coughs and sneezes, and staying home if not feeling well.
- Swine flu is not transmitted by food. It is not a so-called foodborne illness. Bacon, ham and other pork products are safe to eat, assuming they are prepared properly. An internal temperature of 160 degrees for cooked meat will kill any bacteria or virus.
- ReadQ&A On Swine Flu
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