A 55-year-old assistant principal of a New York City school has died of the swine flu. Eleven New York City schools have closed as a precaution.
While the swine flu has largely left the headlines, the death of Mitchell Weiner of Susan B. Anthony Intermediate School in Queens highlights the fact that the flu can be deadly and is continuing to spread across the world.
Weiner had been a ventilator for five days and was reported to be overwhelmed by the H1N1 virus. He died on Sunday.
His wife says he had no pre-existing conditions that might have weakened his system. The Queens, N.Y. school was closed last Thursday, reports ABC News.
His is the sixth reported death in the U.S. with one reported in Washington state, one in Arizona and three in Texas. All were reported to have some pre-existing medical problems.
75 have died worldwide and 8,480 have been sickened in 40 countries.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) Dr. Anne Schuchat says more deaths from the flu are expected, but as the weather gets warmer, expect the numbers of those with the virus to drop.
Worldwide
Japan reports 121 cases of swine flu, mostly among teenagers. Schools are closed there, though there are no restrictions on public gatherings.
Japan is now the fourth most infected country behind Mexico, the U.S. and Canada, reports the Associated Press.
The World Heart Organization, meeting today, the first of its annual five-day meeting in Geneva, will discuss raising the global alert from a five to a six. That would make development of a vaccine a priority and put countries on even higher alert.
Developing an effective swine flu vaccine will be addressed, but only after experts consider the rate of transmission and get recommendations from health officials among the 193 member states in attendance.
Samples of the virus will be used to develop a vaccine by various pharmaceutical companies once they determine how biological materials can be patented.
Tamiflu (Roche) and Relenza (GlaxoSmithKline) needs to be distributed to poor countries, advocates will claim.
"The outbreak is not over," senior U.S. official Richard Besser said at the World Health Organization's (WHO) World Health Assembly reports Reuters.
Meanwhile Carnival Cruise Lines says it will resume stopping at Mexican ports, now that the CDC has lifted the warning recommending against non-essential travel to the country.
Avoiding Swine Flu
Jim Lewis, IB partner from Virginia Beach writes about avoiding the swine flu.
Here is some general information about Swine Flu that you need to know, including symptoms, according to The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention:
- Swine flu symptoms in humans are similar to the symptoms of regular human seasonal influenza.
- These symptoms include fever, lethargy, lack of appetite and coughing.
- Other potential symptoms include runny nose, sore throat, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea.
Here’s what you can do to avoid catching Swine Flu, according to the CDC:
- Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when coughing or sneezing
- Wash your hands regularly
- If you feel ill, do not go into work or school and consult your doctor. #