Swine Flu Timeline23:17 Jun 08 2009
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SWINE FLU TIMELINE
March 18
Health authorities in Mexico begin to learn of outbreaks of a flu-like illness.
April 4
Health officials in Mexico confirm the first case of the H1N1 virus, or the human form of swine flu.
April 12
A 39-year-old woman, Adela Maria Gutierrez, infected with swine flu dies of viral pneumonia in the state of San Luis Potosi, central Mexico.
April 16
The Mexican health department notifies the Pan-American Health Organisation, part of the World Health Organisation (WHO), reports an unusual increase in cases of acute respiratory infections in the state of Veracruz.
April 20
People in La Gloria, in Veracruz, believe their small community is the epicentre to the flu outbreak. The town reported the first confirmed case of the flu, a four-year-old boy who in March complained of breathing problems. Locals complain that pig waste at a nearby breeding farm is the cause, however agriculture officials said they found no sign of the virus when testing animals.
April 21
The US confirms two children in California have tested positive for swine flu. The 10-year-old boy and nine-year-old girl live in adjacent counties in the southern part of the state, about 130 miles apart.
April 22
Mexican health officials issue a nationwide alert after learning that 20 people across the country have died from a flu-like illness this year. Tests on Mexican samples in Canada confirm that the swine flu strain identified in those cases is the same as that in the California outbreak.
April 23
Mexican health authorities say the outbreaks in the country and in the US appear to be linked. The US identifies another seven cases: five in southern California and two 16-year-old boys from the same school in San Antonio, Texas.
April 24
Mexican authorities identify more than 900 suspected cases and 62 deaths linked to swine flu. These include 854 cases of pneumonia in Mexico City, of which 59 have proved fatal. In San Luis Potosi, 24 cases of flu-like illnesses have been detected, including three deaths. The illness fast becomes the worst global health crisis since 2002-2003 when SARS (severe acute respiratory syndrome), originating in China, affected more than 8,000 people and killed 774. The fatality rate then was estimated at 9.6%.
April 25
Mexican officials say there are now more than 1,300 suspected cases and 81 deaths "probably linked to the virus", a fatality rate of less than one per cent. In comparison, the Spanish flu pandemic of 1918-1919, which killed about 40million, had a fatality rate of approximately 2.5%.
The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports it has confirmed 11 cases of swine flu, with Kansas introduced to the list of three states affected. There are eight suspected cases in New York City after 200 students at a high school fell ill.
April 26
New Zealand's health minister says ten students who travelled to Mexico have tested positive for flu and was "likely" swine flu.
Mexico officials list the states with swine flu outbreaks: Mexico City, Mexico State, Veracruz, Oaxaca, Baja California and San Luis Potosi.
April 27
Scots newlyweds Dawn and Iain Askham test positive for the H1N1 strain of the virus. The couple, from Polmont, near Falkirk, fell ill at the weekend, four days after returning from their honeymoon holiday at the Mexico resort in Cancun.
Mexico City, among the most densely populated cities in the world at 20million people, was described as a "ghost town". Most people stayed home rather than venture out for fear of coming into contact with someone who unknowingly has the virus.
New York City experienced a high concentration of suspected cases. The mayor said at least 28 cases were reported, all connected to St Francis Preparatory School in Queens County, east of Manhattan. None of the cases in the US were thought to be serious.
Share prices of European pharmaceutical companies soared at the beginning of the week. Manufacturers of anti-viral medicines used to fight swine flu fared well - GlaxoSmithKline, Roche Holding and Novavax.
April 28
The Askhams show signs of improvement but remain in an isolation unit of Monklands Hospital in Airdrie, North Lanarkshire. Nine individuals who came into contact with the couple were being tested for the virus. Another 14 cases were under investigation across several Scottish health boards – Grampian, Greater Glasgow, Lanarkshire, Lothians and Tayside.
Of the 152 deaths in Mexico, so far health officials could only confirm seven were directly caused by the H1N1 virus. Another 1,995 cases in the country were suffering from pneumonia. All schools in Mexico are closed until at least May 6. The country receives a $200million loan from the World Bank.
In addition to Scotland and Mexico, the number of nations reporting confirms cases of swine flu include the US, Canada, New Zealand, Spain and Israel. Tests are being carried out on people in Brazil, Guatemala, Peru, Australia and South Korea.
The WHO updates its classification of the outbreaks from phase three to phase four, out of six possible levels. Phase three indicates sporadic instances of the illness amongst humans, phase four denotes evidence of human-to-human transmission and signs of community-level outbreaks.
The UK's Foreign Office advises "against all but essential travel to Mexico."
April 29
The US confirms the first death from swine flu outside of Mexico, a 23-month-old child of Mexican descent in Texas.
A 12-year-old girl who was on the same flight from Mexico as the Askhams, has been diagnosed with swine flu. The Year 7 pupil from Paignton in Devon fell ill after returning from her holiday. Also, two adults - from Birmingham and London - were being treated after showing mild symptoms of the illness.
Human-to-human transmission has been seen in Spain and Mexico. Nine countries have reported a total of 148 positive test results for the virus.
The WHO upgrades the level of pandemic alert to phase five, meaning a global outbreak is "imminent". This indicates that the disease is able to spread easily between humans.
April 30
The Askhams are released from hospital and return to their Polmont home.
The total confirmed UK cases of swine flu rises to eight - including two in Scotland - and a public health information campaign launched.
The WHO confirms 236 worldwide cases. Mexico, where the outbreak originated, has seen 168 deaths, eight confirmed as swine flu. Eleven countries overall have confirmed cases, with the addition of the Netherlands and Switzerland.
May 1
The UK's first human-to-human transmission of the disease is confirmed as Graeme Pacitti, an NHS worker from Falkirk. He is friends of Iain Askham's and had gone on a night out with him after Mr Askham returned from honeymoon in Mexico.
Nicola Sturgeon reveals that 29 people are being tested for possible swine flu.
Tamryn Savage, 12, from South Gloucestershire, near Bristol, is also diagnosed with swine flu.
May 2
A patient from Ayrshire and Arran Health Board district is identified as a "probable" fresh case of swine flu in Scotland. The individual flew from Texas to Birmingham on April 27 and then onto Scotland on April 30, by which time he was experiencing flu-like symptoms.
The number of swine flu cases across the UK increases to 15, including a six-year-old girl from Oxfordshire who recently travelled to Mexico. In another case, a Merseyside man, whose wife was diagnosed on Friday, is confirmed as a fellow sufferer.
May 3
Ayrshire man, previously a "probable" case, is confirmed as having swine flu. All people who shared an April 30 flight from Birmingham to Glasgow with him are asked to contact NHS 24.
The UK Department of Health confirms that two children in London have been diagnosed with the disease. One has recently returned from the US; the other has been in contact with a visitor to Mexico. This takes the number of swine flu cases across Britain to 18.
Spain announces 40 cases of swine flu, double the previous official figure. However, only six patients are being treated in Spanish hospitals.
Columbia's Social Protection Ministry reveals the South American nation's first case of swine flu.
The WHO issues a statement saying there are 787 cases of swine flu across 17 countries.
May 4
A new "probable" case of swine flu has been revealed in Scotland. The woman had recently returned to her home in Fife from Las Vegas via London.
The total number of UK cases stands at 27, including four in Scotland.
The WHO says 21 countries have officially reported 1,085 cases of H1N1 infection.
May 5
The number of cases increases slightly to 1,124. Mexico has reported 590 laboratory confirmed human cases of infection, including 25 deaths.
Nicola Sturgeon, Scotland's Health Secretary, said a 21-year-old woman from the north-east of the country is a "probable" case.
A Texas woman becomes the first US resident to die from swine flu, health officials in the state said. She is only the second person outside of Mexico to have died. The other was a Mexican toddler who died in the US in April.
May 6
Scotland's previous day's probable case returned a "negative" test result. Overall, Scotland is reviewing 27 "possible" cases of swine flu. Four people in Scotland have tested positive.
Four new cases of the virus are diagnosed in England, bringing the total number of UK cases to 32. All four people had recently travelled from Mexico.
The number of cases of H1N1 in the world has risen to 1,516 in 22 countries, the WHO, says. Mexico has reported 822 confirmed human cases of infection, including 29 deaths.
May 7
Scotland said there are 12 possible cases of swine flu, an "encouraging" sign, Health Secretary Nicola Sturgeon said. The figure was down from 27 a day earlier.
The number of confirmed cases across the UK has risen to 34.
The WHO said 24 countries have reported 2,371 cases of the H1N1 infection. Forty-two people have died in Mexico alone.
May 8
Two new "probable" cases of swine flu are reported in Scotland. Nine possible cases are under investigation.
Across the globe, 25 countries have reported 2,500 cases of the virus. Forty-four of the 46 swine-flu related deaths are from Mexico.
May 9
Scotland reports a fifth case of swine flu, a 19-year-old man from Greenock who came into contact with someone who had travelled to Mexico.
The influenza continues to spread globally, with the addition of four countries to the list of 29 overall. These countries have officially reported 3,440 cases of the infection. Canada reported its first death from the illness.
May 10
There were no new confirmed or "probable" cases of the flu virus in Scotland. One probable case remains under investigation.
The number of confirmed cases around the world jumped by nearly 1,000 in the past 24 hours to 4,379, including 2,254 in the US and 1,626 in Mexico. Costa Rica reported its first death from the virus.
May 11
Ten "possible" cases of swine flu were under investigation across Scotland but the total number of confirmed cases remains at five.
A total of 48 deaths have been confirmed from the virus globally.
May 12
A five-year-old pupil at Ravenscraig Primary School in Greenock, Inverclyde, and his mother are classified as "probables" after coming into contact with the 19-year-old man who became the fifth confirmed case in Scotland three days earlier. The school has been closed for seven days as a precaution.
Eight additional deaths have been reported in the past 24 hours. The WHO says 5,251 cases of H1N1 infection have been reported worldwide, including 2,600 in the US and 2,059 in Mexico.
May 13
A Greenock nursery about a mile from Ravenscraig Primary is shut amid fears of a swine flu outbreak among children. Ladybird Nursery is closed for one week after a three-year-old child shows flu symptoms.
Four countries join the list of those that have officially reported cases of the virus, bringing the total to 33. Sixty-one people have died and more than 5,700 cases have been reported worldwide.
May 14
The Scottish Government says it will buy enough swine flu vaccine to supply the nation's five million people. Health Secretary Nicola Sturgeon says scientists have identified the genetic fingerprint of the European strain of the virus, "a crucial first step" in the production of a vaccine.
Scotland still has five confirmed cases of swine flu, a further four probable cases, and 12 possible cases.
The total number of cases of the H1N1 strain jumps by 800 cases in the past day to 6,497. The US sees a sharp increase in cases - 3,352 - an increase of about 750 in two days.
May 15
Health Secretary Nicola Sturgeon announces three new confirmed cases of swine flu. The cases are of a 45-year-old woman, her five-year-old child and a 16-year-old in the Greenock area. It brings the number of confirmed cases in Scotland to eight.
May 16
Five possible swine flu cases announced in Scotland. Two cases confirmed in England, one in the east of the country and the other in the south east. There are 87 known cases of swine flu in Great Britain.
May 17
The number of people confirmed with swine flu in the UK passes the 100 mark. Fourteen more cases are diagnosed in England, raising the total to 101.
In Scotland, a three-year-old boy from the Greenock area has been confirmed as having the flu. Five people who were suspected of having the infection have been cleared.
The number of worldwide cases continues to rise steadily - to 8,480 in 39 countries. While the US has reported the most cases - 4,717 - Mexico has largest number of deaths, at 66.
May 18
The World Health Organisation released a summary of the influenza outbreak. In its report, the WHO said severe illness and deaths have been reported in adults with underlying medical conditions including chronic lung or cardiovascular disease, diabetes, weakened immune systems and obesity.
A tenth case of the virus was confirmed in Scotland, a 22-year-old woman from the Greenock area.
Forty countries have officially reported 8,829 cases, including 74 deaths.
May 19
UK travel companies Thomson and First Choice say they hope to resume flights to Mexico from Sunday (May 24) after the Foreign Office lifted its advisory against travel to the country.
The number of total cases increases by another thousand in a day - to 9,830 - according to latest World Health Organisation figures.
May 20
Ravenscraig Primary School in Greenock reopens after a week's closure. A five-year-old pupil and his 45-year-old mother tested positive for the influenza A virus after the school closed as a precaution.
The number of UK cases of swine flu rises to 109 and jumps above the 10,000 level worldwide. The latest WHO figures showed 10,243 people were infected, with 80 deaths.
A report from the US-based Centres for Disease Control and Prevention says 40% of cases in America are those aged between 19 and 49. Blood tests indicate many older individuals have antibodies capable of attacking the H1N1 virus because they have been exposed to similar viruses over the years.
May 21
Ladybird Nursery, in Greenock, reopens after its doors were shut for a week. A three-year-old who attended the nursery came down with the flu less than a week ago.
The H1N1 strain of influenza A continues to spread globally but at a slower rate. Forty-one countries have reported at total of 10,243 cases of the virus.
May 22
The number of confirmed cases in Scotland jumps to 13 after a mother, father and daughter are added. They are believed to be from the Forth Valley area.
A total of 11,168 cases of the infection have been reported worldwide, including 86 deaths.
May 23
Two more people are confirmed to have swine flu in the UK, both in England, taking the total to 122, including 13 in Scotland.
Another 900 cases are reported worldwide, boosting the overall figure to 12,022, spanning 43 countries.
May 24
Eleven more people contract the virus in England, while the number of cases in Scotland remains at 13 after six cases are given the all-clear.
May 25
Another three countries join the world list of nations reporting the virus, raising the overall total to 46. Ninety-one people have died of the illness.
Four more people in England are confirmed with the flu virus, taking the total number in the UK to 137.
A second case of swine flu is confirmed in Ireland.
May 26
A total of 12,954 cases have been reported worldwide, the WHO says.
One probable case, a severely ill man in a Glasgow hospital, is reported in Scotland.
May 27
The chronically ill man reported a day earlier becomes the latest confirmed case in Scotland. The 37-year-old, who is suffering from a chest infection and other ailments, increases the national total of swine flu cases to 14. His wife and three children became Scotland's latest 'probable' cases.
The total number of cases confirmed in the UK currently stands at 185, an increase of 48 in about 48 hours. More than 40 Birmingham schoolchildren are confirmed as having the flu virus.
May 28
Eton College is among a number of schools to close in the UK, as the 13 new cases bring to 203 the overall total.
In Glasgow, Annette Street Primary School shuts for a week after three children are classified as "probable" cases. Two of the pupils, age eight and 11, are children of the 37-year-old man confirmed with the virus. A five-year-old child from the school, a neighbour of the other two children, is added to the list. The man's 13-year-old son, who attends Shawlands Academy secondary school, is also listed as "probable".
May 29
The number of swine flu cases - 15,510 - is closing in on double the total number of people to contract SARS, the last major outbreak which hit China in 2002-2003. Formally known as Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome, the virus affected more than 8,000 people and killed 774. This outbreak of H1N1 has killed 99.
May 30
A new case of swine flu is confirmed in Scotland. The patient is based in Edinburgh and is a traveller from the US. The number of Scottish cases stands at 17 confirmed, eight probable, and 16 possible.
May 31
Two new cases confirmed in Scotland - while six people are told they have "probable" cases of the virus after travelling on a Rangers supporters bus to a match against Dundee United, or from being in contact with people on the bus.
June 1
Nicola Sturgeon warns of a "very significant rise" in the number of swine flu cases "in the next few days". The Scottish Government later confirmed 23 new cases of swine flu. All but one of those cases have some connection with the Rangers supporters bus reported on May 31, while the other case is an Eton pupil from Edinburgh.
Third year pupils at Dunoon Grammar have been asked to take a week off from school as a health precaution.
The number of people to die from the virus stands at 115, according to WHO, which reports 17,410 cases of the virus in 62 countries.
June 2
Two people are in intensive care with swine flu, both in Royal Alexandra Hospital, Paisley. The pair - a 45-year-old man from Paisley and a 38-year-old woman from Glasgow - are in a "critical but stable" condition. The man is believed to be the first case in the UK to be admitted to intensive care without any underlying health problems.
June 3
Another 41 cases are confirmed in the UK, including one new case north of the border, pushing the total across Britain to 404. Four people in Scotland are in a 'critical but stable' condition in hospital with the virus, including one new case. The 88 confirmed cases in Scotland is quadruple the figure since last week. One of the latest confirmed cases is a nurse at the Southern General Hospital, who becomes the first health worker in Scotland to contract swine flu.
Toward Primary in Cowal and Apple Tree Nursey in Rothesay shut for a week as a health precaution.
The number of swine flu cases worldwide has reached 19,273. The virus has been confirmed in 66 countries and has led to 117 deaths.
June 4
Another 31 cases of the H1N1 strain of the virus are confirmed in Scotland, raising the overall figure to 119. Of the four patients who were in intensive care, the condition of the 37-year-old man at Glasgow's Victoria Infirmary has improved. In Paisley's Royal Alexandra Hospital, three patients remain in intensive care. The 45-year-old man is in a "critical but stable" condition while the 23-year-old woman is now "stable". The remaining patient - a 38-year-old woman - is still in a "critical" condition.
Kirn Primary in Dunoon, Innellan Primary in Cowal, and third year pupils at Paisley Grammar are shut for a week as a health precaution.
June 5
There are 22 new confirmed cases of swine flu in Scotland, bringing the total to 141. The latest cases include a 14-month-old baby who is being treated at Royal Hospital for Sick Children in Glasgow.
The rest of Dunoon Grammar is closed, four days after third year pupils were given a week off as a health precaution. Lochgoilhead Primary in Cairndow is shut for a week.
WHO says there have been 21,940 confirmed cases of the virus, including 125 deaths, in 69 countries.
June 6
It emerges a 38-year-old woman with swine flu, who is in a critical condition in Paisley's Royal Alexandra Hospital, has given birth. The baby, who is understood not to have the virus, was born three months prematurely and was taken into intensive care.
About 200 first year pupils from Paisley Grammar join third year pupils off school for a week. They are being offered anti-virals. The rest of the school remains open.
Scotland has 13 new confirmed cases, bringing the total number of cases to 154. The total number surpasses 500 in the UK, including 154 in Scotland.
June 7
A further 35 cases are confirmed in Scotland, taking the country's total to 189. The total includes two healthcare workers from Paisley's Royal Alexandra Hospital. Three people remain in intensive care suffering from the infection.
There are now 426 confirmed cases in England, four in Northern Ireland and two in Wales.
June 8
Health Secretary Nicola Sturgeon confirms 43 fresh cases in Scotland, bringing the national tally to 232. Three people continue to be treated in intensive care after infection with the virus. Seven health-care workers are also among the confirmed cases.
The number of school closures increases, as the primary 2/3 composite class from St David's Primary in Johnstone, Renfrewshire, is shut for a week as a health precaution.
The number of cases across the world exceeds 25,000, a rise of 635% in the past 30 days.
COMMENTS
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xxEmaeraldxx
22:14 Jul 03 2009
oh yes and me too! darn we are rare vampires loving the sun!