by Pat Lunsford

Created on: June 11, 2009   Last Updated: November 16, 2010

In the early part of 2009, Mexico reported an outbreak of the H1N1 (Swine Flu) virus and as the death toll increased cases began to spread across America and Canada. Eventually, due to international travel, Swine Flu began popping up in countries around the world.

France, Hong Kong, New Zealand and Spain were some of the first to report swine flu outbreaks. Russia and China banned any meat imports from Mexico and began testing visitors from Texas, Kansas and California areas before allowing them into their countries.

After twenty cases of swine flu were confirmed the U.S. began preparing for a pandemic. According to the World Health Organization, swine flu is a "public health emergency of international concern," and they began preparing antiviral drugs for state and local agencies.

By April 27th, all schools and public events had closed in Mexico where more than 100 deaths from swine flu were reported. Most of the citizens who were out and about wore facial masks. The World Bank granted Mexico a 205 million dollar loan to deal with the epidemic.

The Department of Homeland Security began plans to screen those coming from infected areas while anyone having possible signs of swine flu was isolated. Hong Kong was screening passengers coming from infected areas and isolating anyone with a fever over 100.4.

As countries worldwide worked to protect their borders, the world Health Organization was meeting to determine whether they should issue a pandemic alert.

Canada had confirmed what they determined to be a few mild cases while New York reported the highest number of outbreaks in the U.S. from students who had recently visited Mexico. Two men from Israel that had also visited Mexico were experiencing swine flu symptoms and were isolated.

Reports of swine Flu increased around the world while officials scrambled to protect their citizens. Travel notices were issued and products from Mexico, California, Kansas, Texas and southwest United States were banned. Mexico was trying to deal with the rapidly spreading outbreak while its citizens hunkered down trying to avoid exposure.

Everything that could be done was being done. Nevertheless, by June 11, 2009, there were more than 27,700 cases in 74 countries, with 141 deaths.

Usually associated with pigs, the H1N1 strain of swine flu, when spread person-to-person, can continue to mutate, making it very difficult to deal with. Symptoms include runny nose, sore throat, coughing, chills and fever.

New strains usually spread rapidly since people don't have the innate immunity to ward it off and developing a working vaccine could take several weeks or even months.

Spanish and Hong Kong flu killed millions of people around the world. The SARS epidemic in 2004 killed nearly 300, which is why governments were taking the swine flu outbreak so seriously.

However, as people were buying face masks, taking medicine to build their immune system, and even going so far as to kill their pigs; no one was associating swine flu with the many plagues that have been increasing for several years now.

Global warming and climate change has seriously increased the outbreak of disease. Overpopulation along with modern transportation allows these diseases to spread rapidly. Once a deadly infection has been discovered it may be too late to close the borders, which is what happened with the recent outbreak of swine flu. By the time it was discovered it had already spread around the world.

Should we worry?

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