WHO (World Health Organisation) raised the swine flu level to phase 5 today. We are in swine flu level 5 on a scale of 6 which in simple word means that swine flu pandemic is imminent and that all countries must be prepared to cope. Mauritius Health department has banned the import of pork meat since yesterday as preventive measures even though that WHO said that pork meat does not carry swine flu.

Yesterday the Mauritian government increased the number of medical officers at the airport from 14 to 31 persons. Health Minister Rajesh Jeetah said that Mauritius Flying Squad have also been instructed to monitor closely all passengers coming from Mexico, United States, New Zealand and Australia.

Mauritian hospitals have also been supplied with more flu masks and equipments in case their is a swine flu outbreak in Mauritius. For now no cases have been identified. However due to changing season, some minor case of normal flu have been reported in hospitals of Mauritius. For swine flu symptoms here is the previous article.

Last night WHO had an emergency meeting to decide on the swine flu level warning.  Various cases and situation were analysed before coming to a conclusion.

“I raises the alert level of 4 to 5,” said Director General of WHO, Dr. Margaret Chan, at the end of that meeting.

“The world has never been so well prepared to deal with a pandemic, she said. For the first time in history, we can follow the evolution of the pandemic in real time. » “

Various countries across the globe have already informed of verified cases of swine flu. Something which in weird int his flu pandemic is that the virus is not dependent on the season change anymore. Normally viruses that gain power due to season changing are normally no more dangerous as the human body develop its defense. However this virus seem to not be affected by the external factors anymore. WHO said that the new swine virus is a mutated version of casual human flu virus, pig flu virus and bird flu virus.

Yesterday the first case of death in USA was reported. A child of 23 months died with swine flu. France is also investigating two new cases now. Is Mauritius safe when we know that we are a tourist island and that tourist from all over the world come here? Mauritius only prevention methods are until now the ban on pork meat import and making passengers to fill health forms at the ports.

Health minister said yesterday that the declaration form which incoming passengers must fill at the airport has been redesigned to contain more information.

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