Spanish soldiers quarantined in swine flu scare

Posted : Fri, 22 May 2009 14:23:50 GMT
Author : DPA
Category : Health
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Madrid - Around 60 soldiers at a military academy near Madrid have been quarantined after 11 of their colleagues were found to have swine flu, the Spanish government said Friday. Nine of the 11 soldiers are being treated for high fever in a military hospital, although their condition is not thought to be serious.

Medical examination confirmed the presence of the new A(H1N1) virus in the 11 soldiers, although the source of the infection is not yet known.

In Spain a total of 118 cases of swine flu have so far been confirmed.

The head of the World Health Organization (WHO) on Friday again warned governments of the danger and unpredictability of the A/H1N1 influenza virus, and called on them to adjust their countermeasures according to the changing patterns of the disease.

"This is a very contagious virus. We expect it to continue to spread to new countries and continue to spread within countries already affected," said Dr. Margaret Chan in closing remarks to the 62nd World Health Assembly (WHA).

"In cases where the H1N1 virus is widespread and circulating within the general community, countries must expect to see more cases of severe and fatal infections," she said.

She also urged the international community to watch carefully the behavior of the H1N1 virus as it encounters other influenza viruses circulating during the winter season in the southern hemisphere.