TEAM 7 – POLICY AND PUBLIC HEALTH RESPONSE
This
website is a running list of media sources and public health agencies posting
policy decisions or news pieces discussing policy organized by date and by geographic
region. This site is updated once per day to provide a spatio-temporal
snapshot of the spread of this disease and governmental efforts to slow or
prevent the disease.
METHODOLOGY
The team
is looking at public policy updates by continent. We divided the globe between
the four of us. Lisa Overly is covering
the Americas, Linda Gutierrez is covering
all of Asia and some of New Zealand, Gary Larson is covering Europe and Sissy Cardenas is covering
everything else (Australia, Africa, some New Zealand, Middle East etc).
They submit updates to the team leader (Sissy Cardenas) by 8 pm at the
latest. Since this is a global disease, if we look at updates by
continents we can gather more facts and the expectation is to see some
overlapping of policies. Once all updates are received by the leader, they are
organized by region and submitted to Blackburn for posting to FLU TRACK 2009.
2008 hours PDT – 1 MAY 2009
Americas:
Legal
Response (national/ international policy)
http://www.publichealthlaw.net/Projects/swinefluphl.php
In the
United States, more than 400 schools closed due to the flu
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/30398682/
Three
U.S. carriers cut Mexico flights on flu fears
http://www.reuters.com/article/swineFlu/idUSTRE5406V920090502
CDC
sends supplies to all 50 states
Dispute
over Mexico's early response to swine flu
http://ph.news.yahoo.com/ap/20090502/twl-med-swine-flu-1be00ca.html
Farmers
fear pigs may get "swine" flu from people
http://www.reuters.com/article/swineFlu/idUSTRE5401DJ20090502
Action
Taken to Prevent Hoarding of Flu Drugs
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/05/02/health/02drug.html?ref=business
Asia
China sends Mexico medical aid to fight
flu epidemic
http://www.reuters.com/article/americasCrisis/idUSN01306255
http://www.china.org.cn/health/swineflu/2009-04/30/content_17705912.htm
China develops instant diagnostic method
http://www.china.org.cn/health/swineflu/2009-05/01/content_17706763.htm
Chinese insurers say to give compensation on swine flu
http://www.china.org.cn/health/swineflu/2009-04/30/content_17704313.htm
S China province seeking people on same
flight with A/H1N1 patient
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2009-05/02/content_11297610.htm
Chinese leaders take proactive steering
in health security amid pending flu epidemic
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2009-05/02/content_11296920.htm
|
China suspends flights from
Mexico |
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2009-05/02/content_11297034.htm
Chinese consumers
voice mixed feelings toward pork as swine flu spreads
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2009-05/01/content_11291531.htm
first swine flu reported in Japan/ 1
http://www.qnaol.net/QNAEn/News_Bulletin/News/Pages/09-05-01-1234_103_0019.aspx
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2009-05/01/content_11293112.htm
|
|
Japan reports first suspected
swine flu case |
http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/afp_asiapacific/view/426224/1/.html
Hong Kong reports first confirmed flu
case, quarantines hotel
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2009-05/01/content_11296186.htm
Swine
flu arrives in Asia
http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20090501/hl_afp/healthfluworld_20090501233623
DOH
seeks P90 M to fight swine flu
Swine flu tag now called A(H1N1)
http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2009/5/2/nation/3820593&sec=nation
Taiwan
develops H1N1 flu test kit
http://www.etaiwannews.com/etn/news_content.php?id=936769&lang=eng_news
National
Palace Museum kicks off anti-flu measures
http://www.etaiwannews.com/etn/news_content.php?id=936770&lang=eng_news
Europe:
Southampton
scientists race to deliver DNA swine flu test
http://www.alphagalileo.org/ViewItem.aspx?ItemId=57373&CultureCode=en
UK,
hundreds tested for the flu
http://www.key103.co.uk/Article.asp?id=1302753&spid=25211
Middle
East, New Zealand, Australia
Communion
wafer caution in New Zealand
http://www.thestar.co.za/index.php?fArticleId=4961463
Middle east efforts and some political commentary, also thermal
cameras used in Saudi Arabia to screen passengers...
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,518551,00.html
Australia
also using thermal cameras
http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5hDvMu1SYQgp_MR5SpCGyMFKeiBigstralian
Second Australian testing positive to the virus
http://www.watoday.com.au/national/second-australian-tests-positive-for-swine-flu-20090502-aqk9.html
Australian
travellers hunt for masks in Mexico
http://www.news.com.au/travel/story/0,28318,25412727-5014090,00.html
Africa
Governments
hope for continental plan, but lack resources to implement it
http://www.time.com/time/health/article/0,8599,1895307,00.html
Egypt, Gabon, Ghana, Kenya
http://uk.reuters.com/article/rbssHealthcareNews/idUKL145129420090501
2041 hours PDT – 30 APRIL 2009
Middle
east, Israel quarantines travelers from Mexico,
first confirmed case
http://www.zawya.com/story.cfm/sidDS290409_dsart44
Arab
Emirates banned all pork imports while Egypt slaughtered 300,000
pigs
http://www.newser.com/article/d97sqmio0/uae-bans-importing-of-pork-amid-swine-flu-fears.html
First case reported in South Africa, many countries in Africa fear misdiagnosis since the
illness has similar symptoms to malaria, tuberculosis or pneumonia
http://www.voanews.com/english/2009-04-30-voa43.cfm
Health care conference in Addis Ababa, including issues pertaining to swine flu and possible
collaboration between African countries
http://www.apanews.net/apa.php?page=show_article_eng&id_article=97177
Since soccer is the most popular sport in the world,
FIFA is monitoring swine flu ahead of CONFED Cup
http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5gOaQtliwy_vwJUCKo-3zyaLNtkaw
Australia
and New Zealand fear loss of revenue in tourism,
currencies might decline
http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601081&sid=awwA3KU12gYQ&refer=australia
Asia
Asean calls H1N1 summit
http://english.aljazeera.net/news/asia-pacific/2009/04/20094303108348220.html
China warns of holiday flu danger
http://english.aljazeera.net/news/asia-pacific/2009/04/200943053151242792.html
Asia Activates Pandemic Plans after WHO Alert
http://www.voanews.com/english/2009-04-30-voa9.cfm
Asia readies for swine flu after hard past lessons
http://www.wtop.com/?nid=106&sid=1663406
Asia still swine flu-free;
New Zealand lowers toll
http://www.miamiherald.com/news/world/story/1025691.html
This
report talks about policies that some Asian countries are taking regarding
swine flu:
New
Zealand confirms more swine flu infections
http://www.etaiwannews.com/etn/news_content.php?id=933806&lang=eng_news
SKorea reports 'probable' case of swine flu
http://www.etaiwannews.com/etn/news_content.php?id=932870
S. Korea Testing
4 Suspected Flu Cases
http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/nation/2009/05/113_44105.html
Singapore firm develops
portable test-kit for swine flu
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2009-04/30/content_11290605.htm
AMERICAS (US, CANADA, SOUTH AMERICA, CARIBBEAN)
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/04/30/health/30flu.html?pagewanted=2
http://www.economist.com/displaystory.cfm?story_id=13576483&fsrc=nwl
The Health Alert Level in the U.S.,
established by WHO, was raised to Level 5.
NY Times is reporting that confirmed U.S. cases are higher than reported
on WHO/CDCs website today, as states have reported additional cases since the
cut off time for reporting.
Mexico has ordered closure of all
non-essential business, except markets, pharmacies, and certain government
offices, by Friday. Businesses are to
remain closed for 5 days, through Cinco de Mayo. All venues that facilitate large groups are
closed.
WHO is encouraging governments to
establish policies.
Additional changes in travel, commerce/trade, or other public policies
in the Americas were not located.
Europe:
Europe is calling the disease "novel
flu" or zombie flu. European Union thinks travel restrictions might not
offer any protection. The pork industry is worried about the use of the name
"swine flu" to describe the illness
http://bouncewith.me.uk/europe/8027043.htm
2056 hours PDT – 29 APRIL 2009
Here
are the latest updates on public policy, one group member is still to e-mail
information from Asia, so I included one link since it
is almost 9 pm. Nevertheless, this is what we found in the majority of areas
where symptomatic cases are present
Australia:
health card declaration cards from every passenger with flu
like symptoms coming into the continent
http://www.news.com.au/adelaidenow/story/0,22606,25406645-5006301,00.html
New
Zealand's policy:
contain and mitigate
Middle
East:
regional efforts to control swine flu
http://www.irinnews.org/Report.aspx?ReportId=84152
Asia:
testing of a South Korean female for swine flu
http://www.indianexpress.com/news/asian-govts-wary-in-face-of-swine-flu-threat/452213/
Europe:
It's a couple days old but general info about not
wanting europeans to travel
to the U.S.
http://www.onenewsnow.com/AP/Search/World/Default.aspx?id=506326
The
Americas:
(Canada,
Mexico, Central/South America)
May
indicate need for improved health risk communication policy between PAHO, CDC
and public. Mexico's Depty.
Minister of Federal Dept of Health said samples were sent to the Canadian Govt in Winnipeg for confirmation rather than CDC in
Atlanta (one of four certified WHO labs), "because the paperwork is easier
and we needed answers right away." Canada confirmed the death of a
39 year old woman in San Luis Potosi (300 miles from Mexico City and Puerto
Vallarta) was from viral pneumonia/ Influenza A on April 12th. Mexico
quickly surveyed 33 hospitals and identified 120 cases and 5 fatalities; these were reported to PAHO (arm of WHO in the
Americas) April 16th-17th. There is time gap between PAHO's notification
and reports to public.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/04/25/AR2009042501335.html
U.S. Cruise ships have canceled stops in Mexico. Passengers will remain
on open sea for days they would have been in Mexican Ports.
Mexico City has shut down public pools,
health clubs, movie theatres, zoos... In addition to ordering that restaurants can
only serve takeout.
http://www.seattlepi.com/national/1102ap_lt_swine_flu_mexico_restaurants.html
Cuba and Argentina have canceled flights to
Mexico. http://www.sys-con.com/node/940900
Canada has issued advisories to
avoid travel and has stepped up screening of persons returning from
Mexico.
http://ca.news.yahoo.com/s/reuters/090429/canada/international_us_flu_canada
Peru, Guatemala, Nicaragua, and
Chile have
issued travel advisories and are stepping up screenings at border crossings and
airports.
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2009-04/26/content_11260981.htm
Brazil may
have cases but has not issued any public policy positions.
Some
US airlines are charging passengers cancellation fees of $150/person for
changing travel to Mexico. One woman was interviewed with her 5
month old baby said, "I told them I have an infant, I'm afraid to
go." They still charged her $150/person.
Five NY
City schools
in Queens and Manhattan are closed after students are
identified Influenza A+ .
http://www.myfoxny.com/dpp/health/swine_flu/090429_schools_and_swine_flu
-
Also if
you are able to read Spanish, El Clarin
newspaper from Argentina reported 4 cases today.