UK - British Airlines Crew Member Does Not Have Swine Flu

[solitaire]

Pandemic warning: BA crew member on Mexico flight rushed to hospital as 68 die in swine flu outbreak. Cases spread to U.S.
By Mail On Sunday Reporter
Last updated at 10:02 PM on 25th April 2009


...........But fears the flu could spread to Britain intensified tonight after a member of cabin crew was taken to hospital with 'flu-like symptoms' after falling ill on a British Airways flight from Mexico City to Heathrow.

The man, who has not been named, has been taken to Northwick Park Hospital in Harrow, a hospital spokesman said.

He added: "He has flu-like symptoms and is responding well to treatment. The patient was admitted directly to a side room and the hospital is scrupulously following infection control procedures to ensure there is no risk to any other individual in the hospital."

The man was taken from flight BA242 which landed at 2pm today, a BA spokesman said.

A Health Protection Agency (HPA) spokesman said: "We are aware of a patient admitted to a London hospital with reported travel history to Mexico.

"As a precautionary measure the patient is being tested for a range of respiratory and other illnesses in line with UK health guidance. At present there have been no confirmed cases of human swine flu in the UK or anywhere in Europe."

A spokesman for Hillingdon Council, which is responsible for the health of people passing through Heathrow airport, said: "As the port authority for Heathrow Airport we already have Health Protection Agency doctors in each of the airport's terminals at all times.

"Should we receive instructions from the Department for Health or the Health Protection Agency we will be well placed to respond appropriately...............

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/wor...S.html?ITO=1490

[sharon sanders]

Re: BA crew member on Mexico flight rushed to hospital - UK

I expect many of these kind of reports. Some will be swine flu. Some will be other diseases. Some will be panic.

[Shiloh]

Re: BA crew member on Mexico flight rushed to hospital - UK

Source: http://uk.reuters.com/article/topNew...53O2SQ20090425

UK crew member in hospital after Mexico flight
Sat Apr 25, 2009 11:00pm BST
By Avril Ormsby

LONDON (Reuters) - A British Airways cabin crew member was taken to a London hospital as a precaution after developing flu-like symptoms on a flight from Mexico City, the airline said Saturday.

It was the first such reported precautionary measure in Britain since the emergence of a new flu strain that has killed up to 68 people in Mexico. It has also infected at least 11 people in the United States. The man has undergone tests, but the results are not expected back until Sunday. No other crew members or passengers on the BA242 flight into Heathrow airport were detained.

"He has flu-like symptoms and is responding well to treatment," a hospital spokesman said in a statement.

"The patient was admitted directly to a side room and the hospital is scrupulously following infection control procedures to ensure there is no risk to any other individual in the hospital."

A Health Protection Agency (HPA) spokesman said in a statement: "We are aware of a patient admitted to a London hospital with reported travel history to Mexico.

"As a precautionary measure the patient is being tested for a range of respiratory and other illnesses in line with UK health guidance.

"At present there have been no confirmed cases of human swine flu in the UK or anywhere in Europe."

The new flu strain -- a mixture of swine, human and avian flu viruses -- is still poorly understood and the situation is evolving quickly, the World Health Organisation said.

(Reporting by Avril Ormsby; Editing by Ralph Boulton and Maggie Fox)

[solitaire]

Re: BA crew member on Mexico flight rushed to hospital - UK

I expect many of these kind of reports. Some will be swine flu. Some will be other diseases. Some will be panic.

Yes, it is to be expected.

[Shiloh]

Re: BA crew member on Mexico flight rushed to hospital - UK

Source: http://www.eluniversal.com.mx/notas/593659.html
Google translation:

English crewman hospitalized for influenza in London

The airline confirmed that the crew of flight BA242 came from the Federal District for the airport of Heathrow, he was showing symptoms of flu and reacts well to antiviral treatment

Editors EL UNIVERSAL
El Universal
Mexico City Saturday April 25, 2009
18:05
A crew member of an aircraft company British Airways was interned in a London hospital with "flu symptoms" after their arrival in Mexico City.

According to a report of Format 21, the man who was not provided his identity is responding well to treatment.

The airline confirmed that the crew of flight BA242 came from the Federal District for the air terminal at Heathrow.

Meanwhile British health authorities reported that they undergo analysis to travelers "as a precautionary measure" and reported that so far there are no records of swine flu in Europe

mzr

[Sally Furniss]

Re: BA crew member on Mexico flight rushed to hospital - UK

NZ monitoring swine flu pandemic

NZPA Last updated 13:04 26/04/2009


The Ministry of Health is monitoring a new flu virus after the World Health Organisation (WHO) warned it could start a global epidemic.
More than 80 people in Mexico are believed to have died and over 1300 are sick as a result of catching swine flu which has led to the closure of schools in Mexico city.
There have also been cases of the swine flu reported in New York, California and Kansas and a British Airways pilot has been hospitalised in London with flu symptoms after returning from Mexico.
The WHO has declared the outbreaks a "public health event of international concern" and said they could cause a pandemic – a global epidemic of serious disease.
Normal border control procedures were in place, and the WHO has asked all countries to "intensify surveillance for unusual outbreaks of influenza-like illness and severe pneumonia".
The ministry here said it continued to be in contact with the WHO and was liaising with Australia over its response at this stage was. "We are implementing the early stages of our pandemic response plan," a spokesman said.
"However at this stage there is no indication that this will be needed."

http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/health/2364388/NZ-monitoring-swine-flu-pandemic

[sharon sanders]

Re: BA crew member on Mexico flight rushed to hospital - UK

http://uk.news.yahoo.com/22/20090426/thl-uk-flu-britain-b2e59e8.html

Tests on a British Airways cabin crew member taken to a London hospital suffering flu-like symptoms have shown he does not have swine flu which has killed up to 81 in Mexico, the hospital said on Sunday. Skip related content
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Mexican soldiers wear masks to inspect carry on luggage from passengers arriving from ?More Enlarge photo

• Mexican soldiers wear masks to inspect carry on luggage from passengers arriving from ?More Enlarge photo
• A British Airways aircraft is pictured at Heathrow Airport near London Enlarge photo

The man was taken to Northwick Park Hospital in Harrow, northwest London, on Saturday afternoon as a precautionary measure after his flight from Mexico City touched down at Heathrow.
Tests proved negative for the new type of swine flu.
A spokesman for the hospital said doctors believed the crew member could be suffering some kind of travel illness, and will remain in hospital.
Countries around the world have imposed health checks at airports as the World Health Organisation warned the new flu strain, a mixture of various swine, bird and human viruses, had the potential to become a pandemic. Already several people have been infected in the United States.
The cabin crew member was the first such reported precautionary measure in Britain.
A Health Protection Agency (HPA) said it was working with the British government to review the situation in Mexico and any threat it may pose to public health in Britain.
"There is currently a very low level of flu activity in the UK," it said on its Web site.
"The HPA and the NHS (National Health Service) have systems in place, which will alert public health authorities of any unusual strain circulating in the UK."
There was currently no travel restrictions on those planning to visit the affected areas of Mexico or the United States, it said.
It advised anyone who has recently travelled to the affected areas and is experiencing influenza like symptoms to stay at home to limit contact with others, and seek medical advice from a local health professional.
(Editing by Matthew Jones)