Swine flu: Symptoms and infection rate soar, but virus less dangerous

Health experts are bracing for a global epidemic of swine flu, but reassure that it is expected to be less lethal than the avian flu that swept through the world in the past four years (the last victim was reported earlier this week in Egypt). Swine flu victims exhibit similar symptoms to patients infected with the avian flu (or bird flu), and the transmission of the swine flu is wider compared to the avian flu. However, health professionals claim that it results in death in far fewer of cases.

Swine flu symptoms include high fever, body aches, headaches, coughing, sore throat, diarrhea, vomiting, fatigue and chills. The disease is transmitted directly between people, and not through animals, making it highly contagious. A single cough of an infected person can transmit the sickness to an entire room full of people

Since the first case of swine flue was detected by Mexican laboratories in March 18, hundreds of thousands of people exposed to the strain have travelled from Mexico to other parts of the world, and it is expected that new cases will be reported at any minute from countries all over the globe.

Nevertheless, authorities warn that the swine flu should not create the global panic which has been felt in the past week. This is due to the fact that it is far less dangerous to patients, and also to the fact that simple precautions can protect from the swine flu: simply staying away from people already infected and breathing through a simple filter such as cloth can defend against most chances of infection.

In addition, an effective medication already exists to treat victims - experts around the world have already concluded that Tamiflu drug should be used to treat the new strain, and will be an efficient countermeasure. It takes about 24 hours to detect the virus called H1N1.

As of today, health authorities in Mexico confirmed that over 150 people died of the swine flu. In Texas and California, where the virus has also been found, the patients were fully recovered. This difference highlights the key factor needed to effectively combat the swine flu – advanced medical services infrastructure. Many specialists claim that the Mexicans are now paying the price of low investment in their public health sector

Train accident in chennai | Chennai train mishap: Lalu orders probe

Chennai/Patna: At least seven people were killed and 20 injured when a local passenger train collided with a goods train in a Chennai suburb Wednesday, an official said. In Patna, Railway Minister Lalu Prasad said that an inquiry will be conducted into the collision.

A local passenger train collided with a goods train in Chennai's northern Vyasarpadi suburb Wednesday morning. 'The accident occurred a little before 6 a.m. A passenger train collided with a goods train comprising several oil tanks. The identities of the motormen who operated the two trains are being sought,' a Southern Railway spokesperson said.

He added that the injured were admitted to the General Hospital in this Tamil Nadu capital. The deceased were yet to be identified. 'We will conduct an inquiry into the train accident in Tamil Nadu,' Lalu Prasad told reporters in Patna.

'We heard a loud noise and then saw several railway compartments in flames. The smell emanating from bodies retrieved from the mangled coaches was nauseating,' said M.N. Selvi, who lives near the Vyasarpadi railway station.

All local and long distance trains coming from Arakkonam (over 30 km north of Chennai) towards Chennai Central were stopped enroute, the railway official said, adding that normal services would resume by about 3 p.m.

'I'm going to miss my important meeting for negotiating a letter of credit worth Rs.110 million and tying up supplies,' N S Veeraraghavan, an executive stranded at Perambur, said. The family of S.K. Vimalanathan, who was scheduled to be married on Wednesday, was stuck at Pattathiram.

'Forcing my aged parents and relatives to alight on the tracks with luggage is out of question. We will have to delay the entry into the marriage hall beyond 3 pm, when the next auspicious hour begins,' said S Krishnamurthy, the groom's father.