Flu vaccine won’t protect against swine flu

This year, vaccination against influenza is not to protect against swine flu, say experts.

As the World Health Organization in their state of the ramps in the event of a pandemic, the director of the New Zealand Public Health Mark Jacobs said there is no evidence of a vaccine against seasonal influenza, the immunity against influenza virus.

The vaccine contains a strain of influenza A/H1N1, but reports indicate that there is little or no cross-immunity between him and the swine strain of influenza A/H1N1, which probably have killed at least 149 people Mexico, by Andrew Easton the United Kingdom at the University of Warwick in a media science reporters.

However procar Health Medical Director John Cameron said there was no way to know whether the current vaccine protects against influenza virus.

Swine influenza vaccine, at least six months

Meanwhile, in a press conference this morning, Health Minister Tony Ryall said a vaccine against swine influenza is six to eight months.

Dr. Cameron explained that his understanding is that, while he was in advance of the determination of a "seed virus" from which to make a vaccine against swine influenza, but the organization has not yet decided whether this vaccine should be mass produced .

The imminent threat of a pandemic

The WHO has a response to the pandemic "phase four" on the weekend and announced that the "phase five" imminent, "said Ryall.

"Phase Four" Kick, if it is located between the border of the spread of the disease, and is designed to create a new virus or slow its spread, while measures are taken to prepare for a pandemic by example, the development of a vaccine.

"Phase Five" is activated when there is a significant pandemic threat (large groups of diseases, but from person to person is still localized), and includes all possible efforts to contain or delay to prevent the possibility of a pandemic and to gain time implement pandemic.

A time of "caution and concern" In New Zealand, where the pandemic is still the answer is "code yellow" (>> nzdoctor.co.nz "Daily News" April 27), Mr Ryall said: "It is time for respect and concern no alarm.

" Everyone who returned from the United States and Mexico, and in recent contact with the health sector after developing symptoms of influenza, Tamiflu, a throat and nasopharyngeal swabs, and advise you at home in voluntary quarantine.

New Zealand has 10 probable cases of swine influenza must be confirmed until the end of the week between 22 Rangitoto College students who are from a trip to Mexico on Saturday on the flight NZ1.

Three possible cases of swine influenza in a game that Northcote College back to Mexico the same day on the flight NZ5 were negative for influenza A were rejected, and that the swine flu. However, as a precautionary measure, these three individuals are asked to stay home in isolation until further notice.

Elsewhere in the country, the first tests were more than 56 suspected cases of swine flu in people who return from Mexico or the United States in the last two weeks and have experienced flu-like symptoms.

These people, including eight of Auckland, to see whether they are influenza A and if you need more tests to determine whether the pig flu in the next 24 hours.

Three groups of New Zealanders Mr Ryall said that there are three risk groups in relation to avian flu and swine flu normal.

The high risk group, on Saturday aboard Flight NZ1, nearly all were contacted and offered Tamiflu and recommended to stay at home.

Efforts to communicate with 18 other passengers are in progress.

Passengers returning from Mexico or the United States over the past two weeks, including those aboard the flight NZ5, ring if your doctor as soon as possible to make an appointment if you develop flu-like symptoms.

All others must comply with any symptoms of influenza, it would be last year.

Border control response New Zealand is the response of border controls came into force on Sunday evening and left, Julia Peters, says the Auckland Regional Public Health Service.

Passengers arriving from Mexico and the United States about the situation before the Earth and will be asked to fill out forms with the situation of persons so that they can be contacted at a later date if necessary.

The patients have symptoms evaluated by medical staff at the airport.

Of the seven flights came last night, 14 passengers and no calls were possible swine flu, "said Peters.

Nobody knows the degree of certainty Professor Easton said that it was too early to say how quickly the virus, and how the disease can have serious consequences. It is also too early to say why the death appears to be less of swine influenza New Mexico, said.

The recent press reports that the number of deaths from influenza in 22 pigs, all in Mexico, where 127 people died and almost 2000 suspected cases of infection have been reported.

Since yesterday, WHO reported that it was a total of 73 laboratory-confirmed cases of swine influenza A/H1N1: 40 United States, no deaths, 26 in Mexico, with seven deaths, six in Canada, no deaths and one in Spain, with no deaths.

Observe the actions of public health Director of the Counseling Center Immunization Nikki Turner reiterated that public health measures are the best way to prevent the spread of the disease, including the maintenance of 1m, with the exception of those who are sick and a regular and effective hand .

Dr. Jacobs said that the New Zealanders are invited to this year's vaccine against influenza, because many of the flu each year.

Health Line said his request for 130 percent of normal levels.