Results tagged “pandemic”

Remember the great frenzy over Swine Flu H1N1 Influenza A? Well, it's going to start up again as we move into the school year and the colder fall and winter months, so we might as well have some fun with it, right? Enter The Great Flu, a game that "Dutch researchers" have created that challenges the users to fight a global pandemic. WBBM has more on the game.

Another person who contracted the H1N1 flu virus has passed away. And just like the first, health officials aren't releasing any information other than to acknowledge there was a pre-existing health condition that likely contributed to the death. The first Illinois death - also in the Chicago area - was reported Monday. [Chicago Breaking News]

While no useful information about the patient was released - i.e., age, gender, preexisting conditions - officials have confirmed that a Chicago patient became the state's first H1N1 flue (a.k.a. "swine flu") death. There are nearly 900 confirmed cases of the flu here in Illinois right now - 896 to be exact - and it underlies the danger that remains, according to Illinois Dept. of Public Health Director Dr. Damon T. Arnold. In a statement, he said, "With as many cases of H1N1 influenza that have been reported in Illinois, we have been concerned that there would be fatalities. We know the virus is still circulating in the state and I would like to remind everyone, especially those with chronic medical conditions, to continue taking steps to keep from getting the flu." The death was the nation's 12th as a result of the disease and Arnold did say there were preexisting conditions for the patient, but no details were released.

We get it. Wash your hands. Cover your mouth. Stay home if you feel sick. The collective swine flu freakout has a bunch of us home from school, off of work, and generally playing sick-hooky. If you're trapped inside on a boring gray Thursday, here's a short list of possible sick-day activities.

Health officials to say that there are nine probable cases of Swine Flu in the Chicago area. Samples of the infection have been sent to the Centers for Disease Control for testing. As the number of confirmed cases has increased, the World Health Organization announced late yesterday that they have raised their pandemic alert level to 5, the second-highest level. "This change to a higher phase of alert is a signal to governments, to ministries of health and other ministries, to the pharm industry and the business community that certain actions now should be taken with increased urgency and at an accelerated pace," Dr. Margaret Chan, the U.N. agency's director-general said.

What started as a buzz late last week has grown into full-on shrieking as this year's SARS has stepped up to the plate. With confirmed cases coming in from all over the country - including two in Kansas - the panic over the swine flu is rising. Which is fair enough: so far, 100 people are reported to have died in Mexico from the disease and it seems to be spreading fast. The threat of a pandemic even has the European Union urging cancellation of "nonessential travel" to North America.