Swine flu round up - May 28, 2009
All Nature’s swine flu coverage is collected on our news special page. These regular updates on The Great Beyond round up the latest from other news sources around the globe.
The spread of swine flu continues in Asia with the first case reported in Singapore.
This brings the total number of cases, as of May 27 according to WHO, to 13,398 from 48 countries. This includes 95 deaths, although reports since that official figure was posted suggest the number is now over 100.
But, as Nature’s Declan Butler pointed out last week, the case counting isn’t necessarily helpful anymore, and the numbers are not necessarily accurate either, according to one expert in the UK (Independent).
New York’s health commissioner, Thomas Frieden, has warned that myriad “underlying conditions” could exacerbate swine flu, putting many people at risk. (New York Times).
As far as science, and science policy goes, the New England Journal of Medicine has a review article laying out some of the scientific and policy challenges of responding to a swine flu H1N1 pandemic. This article looks in particular at the problems in estimating the severity of, then defining, a pandemic. The NEJM also has more on the genetics of the virus, with an article by Paul Rabadan’s team from Columbia University in New York, which adds to more genetic analysis published last week.
A wiki updating with data about the origins and evolution of A/H1N1 has also been set up.
Image: Getty
