Swine flu round up - June 17, 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.
In the wake of the first death from swine flu outside of the Americas, news from Brazil indicates that a new strain of the virus may have emerged there.
Institute Adolfo Lutz, in São Paulo, says it has isolated a new strain, “now known as A / Paulo/1454/H1N1”.
It is not yet clear whether the new strain is more or less virulent, but Medical News Today writes:
News of the new strain, together with the newly reported deaths of two people in Argentina to the swine flu virus, have added to fears that South America is heading for a tough winter dominated by the flu pandemic.
More flu news
From air traffic controllers packed together in control towers to prisoners denied hand sanitizer for fear they might drink it, many U.S. government agencies would fall short if a dangerous pandemic struck, according to a report released to Congress on Tuesday.
- ReutersIt will be difficult to boost surveillance of hogs for the new pandemic strain of H1N1 flu unless farmers are confident they won't be penalized if the disease is found in their barns, an official with the World Organization for Animal Health said on Tuesday.
- ReutersWar-funding legislation survived a fierce partisan battle in the House on Tuesday …t he $106 billion measure, in addition to about $80 billion for military operations, provides for an array of other spending priorities, including $7.7 billion to respond to the flu pandemic.
- USA Today
Image: Getty
