The new H1N1 influenza virus has been found in pigs in Alberta, Canada. This marks the first time this virus has been found in pigs, or any other non-human species. It’s not surprising – genetically speaking, the virus is most closely related to other swine influenza viruses (which is why it was originally referred
Updated H1N1 (swine) influenza outbreak numbers from WHO
The World Health Organization (WHO) has provided the latest update about H1N1 influenza numbers internationally. (People are still often calling this "swine flu", but it has yet to be found in pigs and is clearly being transmitted human-human now, therefore some have recommended it be called "Mexican flu" or "North American flu" instead. This also
Swine flu: What about the pigs?
We’ve been talking a lot about the swine flu outbreak the last few days, but so far all we’ve really talked about are the human aspects. The reason we’re blogging about it on this site is that it’s a zoonotic disease – so where do the pigs fit in?
There’s a distinct lack of information
Interactive swine flu map
GoogleMaps has an interactive swine flu map that is quite interesting. The map indicates where cases of the disease have been diagnosed or are suspected, and it’s updated frequently. Clicking on a marker gives you more information about what is happening in that particular location. Many of the pink "suspected" markers will probably turn out to
Pets and household quarantine
A few years ago, I wrote a commentary in the journal Emerging Infectious Diseases about pets and household quarantine. It was written after SARS (severe acute respiratory syndrome) had caused tremendous problems in many areas, including Toronto. The point I was trying get across was that while there was a strict household quarantine implemented for
EU recommends avoiding US/Mexico travel
The European Union’s Health Commissioner has recommended that Europeans avoid all non-essential travel to the US and Mexico (Canada’s apparently under the radar so far) as a measure to contain the spread of the emerging swine influenza virus. This has been met with some disdain by US officials, who emphasize the small number of
Swine flu confirmed in Canada
Not surprisingly, swine influenza has been confirmed in Canada: 4 cases in Nova Scotia and 2 cases in British Columbia. More cases are certain to follow. As in the cases reported from the US so far, all Canadian cases have been mild.
The 4 cases from Nova Scotia were from the same high school.
US government declares public health emergency over swine flu
In response to increasing numbers of confirmed or suspected cases of swine flu in the US, plus a still relatively unknown number of cases and at least 81 deaths in Mexico, the US government has declared a public health emergency.
This H1N1 swine influenza virus has many of the hallmarks of a