Areka

Swine flu 'not stoppable,' World Health Organization says

noreply@blogger.com (Areka) — Fri, 12 Jun 2009 07:50:00 +0000

(CNN) -- The World Health Organization raised the swine flu alert Thursday to its highest level, saying the H1N1 virus has spread to enough countries to be considered a global pandemic.

Kindergarten students, some wearing masks, attend school in a residential estate in Hong Kong on Thursday.

Increasing the alert to Phase 6 does not mean that the disease is deadlier or more dangerous than before, just that it has spread to more countries, the WHO said.

"This is an important and challenging day for all of us," WHO Director General Margaret Chan said in a briefing with reporters. "We are moving into the early days of the first flu pandemic of the 21st century."

The last previous pandemic occurred in 1968.

As of Thursday, the virus had spread to 74 countries, the health agency said. There were 28,774 confirmed cases and 144 deaths.

The United States had 13,217 cases and 27 deaths, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said June 5 in its weekly update. Cases have been reported in all 50 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico.

The U.S. death toll is expected be higher when the CDC releases its latest figures Friday, said Anne Schuchat, director of the National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases.
New England -- particularly Massachusetts -- and the New York and New Jersey areas have been hit the hardest, Schuchat said Thursday at a CDC news conference.

The Phase 6 pandemic designation had been widely expected for weeks.

"Further spread is considered inevitable," Chan said at a news conference at WHO headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland. "The scientific criteria for an influenza pandemic have been met."

The announcement came after a meeting of the WHO's Emergency Committee, which has debated since April whether the spread of a novel H1N1 flu virus was fast and widespread enough to warrant a Phase 6 designation.

Phase 6, Chan said, is meant as a signal to countries to recalibrate their strategies to minimize the harm from swine flu. In countries where the virus and the response to it are already widespread, it is not likely to mean significant changes, but Chan urged countries that have not seen cases, or seen only limited cases, to get ready.

"The virus is not stoppable," she said. "I would advise them to maintain vigilance, enhance surveillance and be prepared for the arrival of the novel H1N1 in their country."

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the Department of Homeland Security said those agencies have been acting for weeks as if Phase 6 were already in effect and no additional measures would be put into effect.

The United States declared a public health emergency April 26.

"WHO continues to recommend no restriction on travel and on border closures," Chan said.

Discussions about shifting to Phase 6 have been under way for weeks. Chan indicated that a major factor in the decision was surveillance from countries in the Southern Hemisphere, where flu season is under way. In Chile and Australia, two countries with many flu cases, she said H1N1 appears to be the dominant strain, "crowding out" the seasonal influenza virus.

Chan said she would recommend that vaccine manufacturers proceed with mass production of an inoculation against the new swine flu strain as soon as they finish production of seasonal vaccine, which she estimated would be complete in about two weeks.

HHS spokesman Bill Hall said Thursday that no decision has been made on full-scale production because there is no need yet to make that decision.

It is a step-by-step process that is moving forward. "We're doing as much as we can now," he said.

The agency awarded a contract several weeks ago to five manufacturers to develop an H1N1 antigen. The companies are producing pilot lots. Clinical testing will take place over the summer, Hall said.

At the end of the summer, HHS will decide whether to go into production.
"There's no specific date on the calendar," Hall said.

If officials decide to produce a vaccine, the first doses would be ready early in the fall. Hall noted that even full-scale production doesn't mean there will be an immunization campaign. Federal officials may have a vaccine and decide not to use it, he said.

Also Thursday, authorities in Hong Kong ordered the closure of all elementary schools, kindergartens and day care centers in the city after 12 students were found to be infected with the virus.

Authorities have not determined the source of the infection, said Hong Kong's Chief Executive Donald Tsang. This makes it the first cluster of swine flu cases in the city without a link to someone who had traveled overseas.

The schools and day care centers were told to close for 14 days as investigators tried to identify the source of the infection, said Tsang, the chief executive.

The health department will decide after two weeks whether to continue the shutdown.

Also on Thursday, Israel's health ministry announced that the number of people diagnosed with swine flu there was 68.

Health officials use the virus' clinical name -- H1N1 -- to reflect that it's actually a combination of several different types of flu and to reduce confusion about whether eating pork can spread the virus. It cannot.

All About World Health Organization * Swine Flu

CNN

Air France plane broke up over 'number of minutes'

noreply@blogger.com (Areka) — Fri, 12 Jun 2009 07:27:00 +0000

New evidence suggests the Air France jet which crashed into the Atlantic with 228 on-board broke up over a number of minutes, rather than in one catastrophic incident.

Members of the Brazilian Air Force carry the body of a victim of Air France flight 447 Photo: REUTERS

The Brazilian Air Force said bodies from flight AF 447 had been picked up from locations more than 50 miles apart – supporting the theory that the plane did not simply plummet into the ocean.

A reanalysis of the plane's last automatic transmissions also indicates that many parts had malfunctioned before it disappeared, and that the first parts to show problems were those measuring air speed.

Four hours into the flight from Rio de Janeiro to Paris, the Airbus A330-200s three speed sensors, or pitot tubes started providing "incoherent" readings.

A faulty air speed indicator could mislead pilots into flying faster than the aircraft could withstand, or faster than it should be flown into turbulence two circumstances that could lead to the craft coming apart in flight.

Air France has promised to replace all first-generation Thales sensors on its 34 long-haul A330 and A340 planes "within days", but the airline's director general, Pierre-Henri Gourgeon, said today that he was "not convinced" that the sensors caused the crash.

"This (replacement) programme has been accelerated because we know that when the accident happened there were problems with the speed indicators," he said, before adding: "I am not convinced that the sensors were the cause." Air France launched a programme to replace its old probes on April 27, after recording several icing problems on the speed sensors in May 2008. "We did this because we thought it would reduce the number of non-catastrophic accidents," said Mr Gourgoeon.

It now transpires that the first batch of new probes arrived just three days before the crash of flight AF 447 on June 1.

Airbus today denied a French newspaper report that it was considering grounding its fleet of A330 and A340 planes in the wake of the disaster, reiterating a European Aviation Safety Agency statement that they were "safe to fly".

Meanwhile, two terror suspects who died alongside 226 other passengers on the stricken jet have been ruled out as a cause of the disaster.

The two individuals only "shared the same name" as known Islamic radicals, posthumous security checks found.

France's interior ministry confirmed that a "deep and wide-ranging investigation has allowed us to clear them", despite the fact that their bodies are yet to be recovered.

The announcement came as the race to locate the flight's black boxes was boosted by the arrival of a French nuclear attack submarine.

Emeraude, nicknamed "golden ears" due to its highly powerful sonar, will trawl 13 square miles a day, in an attempt to pick up the boxes' acoustic beacons – whose signal will fade in three weeks' time.

A tugboat fitted with underwater listening devices has also reached the crash site.

If they find a signal, a French mini-sub already used to search the Titanic will be deployed to recover the boxes with a robotic arm.

The voice and data recorders could provide vital information to help unravel the cause of the worst aviation accident since 2001.

Brazilian searchers in charge of recovering floating bodies and debris say strong ocean currents have led them to widen the surface search area into Senegalese waters.

The number of bodies recovered has reached 41.

Telegraph.co.uk

Air France crash: What do we know?

noreply@blogger.com (Areka) — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 16:51:00 +0000

By Kieran Daly

Editor, Air Transport Intelligence

Kieran Daly is Editor of Air Transport Intelligence and blogs on aviation at Unusual Attitude.

LONDON, England (CNN) -- In one way we know a huge amount about the loss of Air France flight 447 -- much more than is usual so soon after an accident. But in another, we know nothing at all.

This Airbus 330 crashed into the Atlantic on June 1 while flying from Rio de Janiero to Paris.

The simple fact is that the blizzard of airworthiness directives, company memos, weather reports, technical specifications and diverse other documents that have surfaced since last week constitute entirely circumstantial evidence.

Aviation history is replete with accidents with causes utterly unrelated to what first seemed the obvious explanation.

For the investigators, the challenge is to keep an open mind while simultaneously pursuing obvious leads before evidence is lost and memories become stale.

But all that said, there are real clues to what might have happened to this Airbus A330.

Two things we know for certain: The aircraft did penetrate a region of severe weather, and the pilots were eventually confronted with a rapid series of system failures.

Unfortunately without the "black box" flight data recorders -- which would detail what happened to the aircraft's complex systems and how the crew behaved -- the precise sequence of events will be difficult to pin down. And their deep-water location puts them at the very limits of what is possible in terms of recovery.

The key question is perhaps not why the aircraft finally went out of control, but how it came to be where it was in the first place.

Did the crew appreciate the full extent of the wide band of storms confronting them? If they did not, then why not? And if they did, then did they take appropriate action?

Map of Flight 447's flight path>>

This is not to imply that they made errors. Even with today's extremely sophisticated onboard weather radars, divining the true extent and power of a storm system remains an imperfect science, and some storm systems are simply not fully detectable by the radar.

Even if they did suspect trouble lay ahead, would any crew have felt comfortable taking the unusual decision to make a huge diversion around the system while out of radar range, or even to turn back?

What is also certain is that once they penetrated the storm, they were in a situation in which we know for a fact other A330s had suffered serious difficulties.

The A330's Pitot tube -- which in simple terms measures its speed through the air -- has proved unusually susceptible to icing and an improved model has been gradually fitted to the fleet, though not to the aircraft in question.

An iced-up Pitot tube deprives the pilots and the aircraft's automatic systems of airspeed information, making the aircraft much harder to fly and preventing numerous onboard functions from working properly -- a highly plausible explanation for the string of error messages sent by the aircraft shortly before the crash.

As it happens, an unusually detailed account of what happens in those circumstances has turned up in the form of an internal memo written in French last December by the safety office of the small airline Air Caraibes Atlantique, which suffered the phenomenon twice in quick succession.

They called a meeting with Airbus in which the airline's flight managers pointed out not only what had happened, but also the difficulty of understanding the immediate actions that Airbus recommended pilots should take. I've read it, and it is decidedly confusing.

Now picture the crew of AF447 struggling with that unfamiliar checklist at night, in a cockpit hammered by severe turbulence, possibly lightning, with no airspeed information and numerous warning lights and alarms sounding.

It is difficult to imagine many bigger challenges for a pilot, and anything short of near-perfect execution would have the potential for loss of control.

But the fact remains that this is today speculation.

About Air France-KLM Group

CNN

Swine flu outbreak now a pandemic - World Health Organisation

noreply@blogger.com (Areka) — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 16:20:00 +0000

The swine flu outbreak has become a pandemic, the World Health Organisation (WHO) has announced.

The move means the world is in the grip of a flu outbreak on a scale not seen for more than 40 years.

It does not mean the swine flu has become more deadly, just that its geographical spread is now truly global.

Professor Steve Field, chairman of the Royal College of GPs, who worked on the UK's pandemic flu plans, said: "This is a historic time because we have not had a flu pandemic in more than 40 years.

"I believe we have been at this point for a couple of weeks or so, so this declaration doesn't come as a surprise.

"For the UK it doesn't mean any real change to what we've been doing in the last few weeks."

The news comes as another 25 cases of swine flu were confirmed in England, taking the UK total to 822.

Prof Field said: "As a practising GP in Birmingham, we have seen an increase in cases. We are still in a case of containment but if it becomes more widespread in the community, then it means we move towards mitigation."

He said this would mean working out how best to minimise the impact of swine flu.

The College, the Health Protection Agency (HPA) and the British Medical Association (BMA) would examine how best to use the anitiviral drug Tamiflu, he said.

"We will probably use Tamiflu on at-risk groups," he said. "Who they are has not been formally signed off yet by the HPA and the Department of Health.

"They will look at who has been attacked by the virus around the world and in the UK.

"Some older people seem to have immunity and it seems to be targeting younger adults.

"The reason why we should try to contain the flu virus is that the more people who have got it, the more likely it is to mutate and produce something more serious.

"As we get more cases, we will inevitably get more serious ones who will clog up the system and put pressure on intensive care beds.

"People who are ill for other reasons may therefore be disadvantaged."

Steve Barnett, chief executive of the NHS Confederation, said: "The confirmation of a level 6 global pandemic reinforces the need for the NHS to ensure all the flu plans already in place at local level are as comprehensive as possible and thoroughly tested.

"We need to avoid complacency in dealing with a virus that is an unknown and seems to be spreading quickly.

"Today, health service leaders meeting at the NHS Confederation conference in Liverpool have been briefed by the Department of Health on the scale of the challenge facing them and they understand they have a window of opportunity before winter, when the spread of H1N1 is expected to accelerate.

"The challenge facing all parts of the health service should not be underestimated and hospitals, PCTs and ambulance services will all need to use the next few weeks to ensure that they are prepared for a major flu outbreak.

"Everything needs to be in place, from the establishment of anti-viral collection points in the community to planning for larger numbers of hospitalised children to deal with a situation that few working in the service have ever experienced."

The Government's Chief Medical Officer, Sir Liam Donaldson, said the Health Protection Agency was planning to focus the use of anti-viral drugs on close contacts of people carrying the virus, rather than the wider circle of contacts who have been treated so far.

Sir Liam told BBC Radio 4's World At One earlier: "The declaration of a pandemic per se doesn't make a big difference to the way we are handling the outbreaks we have.

"We are going to continue to investigate every case that occurs and treat their contacts with anti-virals even though they may not be ill.

"The difference is that the... Health Protection Agency has learnt a lot about approaching this question of anti-viral prophylaxis and they are going to be treating the closer contacts of the cases, rather than the more far-flung contacts, because they feel that that is supported by what they know so far about how the disease is transmitting.

"It is a minor modification to the approach that is being taken and, whilst the numbers of cases in this country remain relatively small and the increase is a steady increase rather than a big surge in cases, we are still able to do this individual case management approach."

Sir Liam said that, so far, most UK swine flu patients had experienced a relatively mild illness, but he acknowledged that serious symptoms and deaths were more likely during the surge of cases which experts expect in the autumn and winter.

"So far, the disease doesn't seem to be a severe illness," he said. "A small number of people have developed serious symptoms, but the majority of people have had an illness from which they recover very quickly.

"These flu viruses can change their pattern of attack, so when we come into the flu season in the autumn and winter in this country, when we expect a big surge of cases, we need to watch very carefully to see if the character of the virus is changing."

Telegraph.co.uk

WHO declares swine flu pandemic

noreply@blogger.com (Areka) — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 16:01:00 +0000

GENEVA : The World Health Organisation told its member nations it was declaring a swine flu pandemic Thursday - the first global flu epidemic in 41 years - as infections climbed in the United States, Europe, Australia, South America and elsewhere.

In a statement sent to member countries, WHO said it decided to raise the pandemic warning level from phase 5 to 6 - its highest alert - after holding an emergency meeting on swine flu with its experts.

The long-awaited pandemic decision is scientific confirmation that a new flu virus has emerged and is quickly circling the globe. It will trigger drugmakers to speed up production of a swine flu vaccine and prompt governments to devote more money toward efforts to contain the virus.

“At this early stage, the pandemic can be characterised globally as being moderate in severity,” WHO said in the statement, urging nations not to close borders or restrict travel and trade. “(We) remain in close dialogue with influenza vaccine manufacturers.”

WHO also told countries it was in “close dialogue” with flu vaccine makers and it believed the firms would work “to ensure the largest possible supply of pandemic vaccine in the months to come.”

Flu vaccine makers like GlaxoSmithKline PLC and Sanofi-Aventis have been working since last month on a swine flu vaccine.

GlaxoSmithKline spokesman Stephen Rea said the company was ready to start making swine flu vaccine in large quantities once it finished its regular flu vaccine production in July.

On Wednesday, WHO said 74 countries had reported nearly 27,737 cases of swine flu, including 141 deaths.

The agency has stressed that most cases are mild and require no treatment, but the fear is that a rash of new infections could overwhelm hospitals and health authorities - especially in poorer countries.

Still, about half of the people who have died from swine flu were previously young and healthy - people who are not usually susceptible to flu.

Swine flu is also continuing to spread during the start of summer in the northern hemisphere. Normally, flu viruses disappear with warm weather, but swine flu is proving to be resilient.

The last pandemic - the Hong Kong flu of 1968 - killed about 1 million people. Ordinary flu kills about 250,000 to 500,000 people each year.

Many health experts say WHO’s pandemic declaration could have come weeks earlier but the agency became bogged down by politics. In May, several countries urged WHO not to declare a pandemic, fearing it would cause social and economic turmoil.

“This is WHO finally catching up with the facts,” said Michael Osterholm, a flu expert at the University of Minnesota who has advised the U.S. government on pandemic preparations.

Despite WHO’s hopes, raising the epidemic alert to the highest level will almost certainly spark some panic about spread of swine flu.

Fear has already gripped Argentina, where thousands of people worried about swine flu flooded into hospitals this week, bringing emergency health services in the capital of Buenos Aires to the brink of collapse. Last month, a bus arriving in Argentina from Chile was stoned by people who thought a passenger on it had swine flu. Chile has the most swine flu cases in South America.

In Hong Kong on Thursday, the government ordered all kindergartens and primary schools closed for two weeks after a dozen students tested positive for swine flu - a move that some flu experts would consider an overreaction.

In the United States, where there have been more than 13,000 cases and at least 27 deaths from swine flu, officials at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said the move would not change how the U.S. tackled swine flu.

“Our actions in the past month have been as if there was a pandemic in this country,” Glen Nowak, a CDC spokesman, said Thursday.

The U.S. government has already taken steps like increasing availability of flu-fighting medicines and authorising US$1bil for the development of a new vaccine against the novel virus. In addition, new cases seem to be declining in many parts of the country, U.S. health officials say, as North America moves out of its traditional winter flu season.

Still, Osterholm said the declaration was a wake-up call for the world.

“I think a lot of people think we’re done with swine flu, but you can’t fall asleep at the wheel,” he said. “We don’t know what’s going to happen in the next 6 to 12 months.” - AP

The Star

Diversity can't escape Susan Boyle, despite victory in Britain's Got Talent

noreply@blogger.com (Areka) — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 04:58:00 +0000

Smiling, self-conscious and doing their best to hide the fact that they had scarcely gone to bed since their victory on Britain’s Got Talent, the boys from Diversity shuffled out to face the world’s press yesterday — and had a lesson in the difference between winning and coming first.

Diversity, the winners of Britain's Got Talent (Daniel Deme/EPA)

The 11-strong dance troupe from Essex, whose ages range from 13 to 25, caused a memorable upset in the final of the ITV talent contest on Saturday night when they beat Susan Boyle into second place, winning nearly a quarter of the public vote.

But if they thought that the record company headquarters was filled yesterday with the international media because Good Morning America had developed a sudden and inexplicable interest in Essex street-dance, they were in for a letdown.

The first question, naturally enough, was about them — even in the brutal world of showbusiness, the proprieties have to be observed — but the second was about Susan Boyle, and what they had said to each other after the show. On the international stage, this competition has produced only one truly global star; and, talented though they may be, it is not Ashley Banjo, his brother and their friends, but a 48-year-old woman from Lothian who looks like a dinner lady and sings like a miracle.

Glancing round a room full of foreign television crews jostling for space with the home-grown media, the man from Entertainment Tonight — another US network show — whispered: “None of us would be here today if it wasn’t for her.”

When Ant and Dec announced that Diversity were the winners, Susan Boyle said: “The best people won.” Anyone can do nice on stage, though; but despite reports of her volatile temper, their post-victory encounter with the woman the tabloids have cruelly dubbed The Hairy Angel passed off better than anyone could have hoped.

“She was probably more gracious off stage than on stage,” said Banjo, 20. “She gave us big hugs and she had a bit of a dance with us. She was really cool about it.” Such happy endings are, however, a useful way of avoiding the unease many feel over what they consider cynical exploitation.

A shy woman with learning difficulties, Boyle has struggled to cope with being in the spotlight, and by the time of the final was close to breaking point.

Until last week she had been odds-on favourite. However, her behaviour under stress, said to have included a four-letter outburst against a couple who mocked her, is thought to have undermined her support.

Those who might be feeling guilty about the way she was treated show no regret. “She has got all the support she needs,” said a spokeswoman for production company Talkback Thames. And the ratings were fabulous.

Diversity, meanwhile, are as happy as sandboys. The prize for winning, which will have to be split 11 ways, is £100,000; until this weekend the most they had ever earned was £150 — between them, not each — for dancing at a fashion show at an Essex shopping centre.

“I didn’t expect it, really didn’t expect to win at all,” said Banjo, the choreographer, a science student at Queen Mary, University of London. “I don’t think a street-dance group, especially from the UK, has come as far as we have. We can almost create our own path.” Perhaps, he said, they could get their own television show.

As for Susan Boyle, she may find defeat rather easier to handle. Piers Morgan, one of the three judges, wrote in his blog: “To me, she has been the greatest discovery the show’s ever found.

“And I’m only sorry that the extraordinary tidal wave of publicity she attracted meant so many people got either bored or irritated by Boyle mania and decided not to vote for her.

“The good news for Susan is that we also have a tendency to feel sorry (and slightly guilty) for people after the ‘backlash’, and they usually end up even more popular than they were before.” And then no one has to feel guilty about anything, do they?

TimesOnline

Susan Boyle in Priory Clinic

noreply@blogger.com (Areka) — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 04:30:00 +0000

BRITAIN'S Got Talent sensation Susan Boyle was in the Priory clinic last night suffering from exhaustion.

The singer, dubbed SuBo, had an "emotional breakdown" following Saturday's final in which she was runner-up.

But the talent show favourite was still eyeing a mega United States tour.

The 48-year-old virgin, tipped to earn £8MILLION, survived tears and a tantrum to finish second in Saturday's gripping final of telly's Britain's Got Talent.

But the pressure finally told late yesterday as the Scots singer - dubbed SuBo by fans - was rushed to the private clinic suffering from exhaustion.

Show aides had contacted police to say she was acting strangely at her London hotel.

Paramedics helped the "spaced-out" star through the lobby and into an ambulance just after 6pm.

A Met Police Inspector and a police doctor were called to assist. The ambulance, tailed by a police car, then took her to the Priory in Southgate, North London.

A source at the hotel said last night: "She'd been at the hotel for a few days, but since Saturday's final had been acting strangely, causing a bit of a stir.

"The staff were concerned - something wasn't right.

"When the paramedics and police arrived she agreed to go voluntarily. She didn't make a fuss. The paramedics calmly took her out through the main lobby and into the waiting ambulance.

"It was all done very calmly. They didn't want to stress or upset her. She didn't look well - she looked lost, not all there."

A source at the clinic said last night: "I was having a cigarette break when a whole load of ambulances arrived.

"Everyone was saying, 'Who's that'? Then I saw her and it was Susan Boyle. I was gobsmacked."

The singer, from Blackburn in West Lothian, has learning difficulties. The specialist clinic has 52 bedrooms and specialises in the treatment of mental health.

A Britain's Got Talent spokeswoman said last night: "Following Saturday's show, Susan is exhausted and emotionally drained.

"She has been seen by her private GP, who supports her decision to take a few days out for rest and recovery. We offer her our ongoing support and wish her a speedy recovery."

A show source said: "It's very tough, Susan is emotionally drained - she gave it her all and is absolutely shattered.

"Simon Cowell spoke to her backstage on Saturday night and told her she had everything going for her - a record deal, an American tour. But it's up to her, she has to see what she wants.

"We do realise that we have a care of duty to look after her."

Favourite Susan, beaten by dance act Diversity, faced a backlash last week when she was ushered from her previous hotel by worried show bosses after a rant in a bar.

She was also spoken to by cops after arguing with her sister.

And The Sun can reveal the brave singer fled the final stage in tears after belting out I Dreamed A Dream from Les Miserables, the song that made her famous.

She had been booed by sections of the audience after show judge Piers Morgan made her his tip to win.

After leaving the spotlight, Susan sank into the arms of producers and buried her head in her hands before starting to cry.

Earlier, she had launched into a furious four-letter outburst when told her glittering stage costume had failed to arrive just 15 minutes before she was due to appear on stage.

The singer was made a floor-length silver gown for the event, but a source said: "I was in the dressing room when she came in with some production staff. She looked like she was about to explode and was swearing.

"Susan was wearing a red robe, and a girl from production was trying to calm her down by saying, 'Your dress will be here any moment'.

"That was what set her off. It was 15 minutes before the show, and she didn't have her dress. I guess that could push anyone over the edge. They ushered her into a room, but we could still hear her swearing like a trooper."

Yet Chiefs at SyCo - Cowell's division of Sony BMG - have big plans for Susan.

They are this week set to take her to America, where she is already a huge star and is due to score a Sony record deal.

Offers have been coming in thick and fast for the BGT phenomenon. A string of US shows have been trying to lure SuBo as a guest and to get her to sing.

Experts reckon she could make up to £8million after selling the rights to her fairytale life story, as well as a book deal, record cash and further millions from image rights, product endorsements and TV appearances.

A Sony source said: "Susan is going to be huge - it doesn't matter in the slightest that she didn't win.

"We're going to look after her. Never mind the States, she's had offers from round the world." TV Simon said: "We've never had a runner-up like Susan before. She won over a lot of fans - not just with her voice, but with her graciousness. She's got a massive future."

Proud neighbours in Susan's Scottish home town were last night preparing to give her a hero's welcome - unaware of her admission to the Priory.

Brian Smith, 51, said: "I thought she was a certainty to win.

"She has put Blackburn on the map and is a winner to us.

"We are keeping up all the bunting and banners up until she gets back.

"I think we will throw her a massive party - she deserves it."

Michelle McCabe, 34, said: "I thought she would win hands down. She can come back with her head held high."

The Sun

Susan Boyle set to make millions after Britain's Got Talent

noreply@blogger.com (Areka) — Sun, 31 May 2009 04:10:00 +0000

Susan Boyle, the undisputed star of Britain's Got Talent, is on course to make more than £5 million from television, advertising and record deals.

The singer from West Lothian has become an international household name thanks to her show stopping turns on the ITV show and an internet clip of her debut performance is now one of the most watched in history, with more than 100 million hits.

Entertainment experts are convinced the public demand for the star will not diminish with the end of the current series of the show, which finished last night.

Paul Potts, who won the first series of Britain's Got Talent, in 2007, is reported to have made almost £5 million from the show and experts say Boyle, 48, will surpass that.

Some of Britain's biggest music stars are already lining up to work with her. Elaine Paige, Boyle's hero, has hinted at possibly singing a duet with her, while Andrew Lloyd Webber has also discussed a collaboration.

There is even speculation that Boyle could land a role in a major West End show.

Music industry insiders, however, say her first priority will be an album of songs for Syco, the record label owned by Simon Cowell, the producer of Britain's Got Talent and one of the show's three judges.

Paul Gambaccini, the broadcaster and writer, said the album would be a huge hit because Boyle had become the biggest star in the history of reality television.

"I think the album for Syco is a definite. It is going to sell well. We are not just talking national any more we are talking international.

"Susan has gone well beyond the level of fame enjoyed by Paul Potts who previously won the show.

"The entire planet is watching her and if only a small fraction of those people buy the album than you are still going to have a huge hit.

"I think it has to be a musical theatre album. She should stick with what she does best. She obviously idolises Elaine Paige so she clearly isn't a fan of rap."

Boyle's appearance has attracted almost as much comment as her singing, and she has been dubbed the "hairy angel".

Mr Gambaccini added: "As far as her looks are concerned, if she looks like she did on her first appearance on Britain's Got Talent than she will be fine.

"If she tries to look like Madonna on the cover of the Like A Virgin album she might find herself in difficulties."

Don Black, the Oscar and Tony winning lyricist, said Boyle would continue to enjoy major success.

"Song choices are going to be crucial here. When I saw her sing I Dreamed a Dream in her first appearance I thought she was marvellous. Who cares if she isn't a looker. Ella Fitzgerald wasn't a looker but she had a great career."

Boyle's debut on the show, singing "I Dreamed A Dream", from Les Miserables, won her the support of the Hollywood actress Demi Moore, and her husband Ashton Kutcher.

After watching the clip on the internet, Moore wrote on her Twitter page: "It made me teary!"

Boyle has since appeared on Oprah Winfrey's chat show via satellite and made an appearance on CNN. America's biggest networks are believed to be battling it out to secure her first in depth television interview.

There have been suggestions of a backlash against the singer in recent weeks and critics said her performance of the song Memory in the semi final of the show was not up to the high standards of her debut.

There have also been reports, strenuously denied, that she has been in verbal clashes with members of the public and is not coping well with the pressure of her new found fame.

Other stars have also cast doubt on her singing ability. Craig Revel Horwood, the choreographer, said she had "mauled" Memory and said the version of the song was "absolutely awful".

"If Elaine Paige or Andrew Lloyd Webber, had seen that performance, if they had been dead, they'd be spinning in their graves."

Lilly Allen, the pop singer has described Boyle has "over rated".

But the handful of sceptics have failed to calm any of the hype which continues to surround Boyle.

Telegraph.co.uk

Diversity wins Britain’s Got Talent

noreply@blogger.com (Areka) — Sun, 31 May 2009 03:56:00 +0000

Diversity, a street dance group, have won the final of reality TV competition Britain’s Got Talent in a surprise victory over favourite Susan Boyle.

Dance Group Diversity

The group, from east London and Essex, will receive £100,000 and perform at the Royal Variety Show after beating Ms Boyle and saxophonist Julian Smith into second and third place respectively.

The dancers all do normal day-to-day jobs, ranging from an IT systems engineer, a bathroom installer and to a telesales worker.

But they are now likely to give up their careers and are set to make hundreds of thousands of pounds as promoters rush to book them for performances.

The group, whose ages range from 12 to 20 and which includes three sets of brothers, only formed in 2007 and won a national dance competition the same year.

After their dance in the final, judge Simon Cowell said: "If I had to give marks on that, that is the only performance tonight I would want to give a 10 to.

"There was not a step out of place, it was sheer and utter perfection what you just did there." Amanda Holden said they had blown fellow dance troupe Flawless "out of the water",

As the result was announced Ms Boyle, an unemployed church volunteer, congratulated them, saying: "The best people won", and wished them "all the best".

The 48-year-old is still on course to make more than £5 million from television, advertising and record deals.

Paul Potts, who won the first series of Britain’s Got Talent, in 2007, is reported to have made almost £5 million from the show and experts say Ms Boyle, 48, will surpass that.

Some of Britain’s biggest music stars are already lining up to work with her. Elaine Paige, Boyle’s hero, has hinted at possibly singing a duet with her, while Andrew Lloyd Webber has also discussed a collaboration.

There is even speculation that Ms Boyle could land a role in a major West End show.

Music industry insiders, however, say her first priority will be an album of songs for Syco, the record label owned by Simon Cowell, the producer of Britain’s Got Talent and one of the show’s three judges.

Monday’s semi-final became the most-watched episode in the current series with 15.4million viewers, and it is thought the final was watched by as many as 20million people.

Telegraph.co.uk

Susan Boyle 'considered quitting' Britain's Got Talent

noreply@blogger.com (Areka) — Fri, 29 May 2009 02:28:00 +0000

Susan Boyle has considered quitting Britain's Got Talent altogether due to the pressures of fame, show judge Piers Morgan said.

Susan Boyle during the first semi-final of Britain's Got Talent

Morgan launched a defence of the 48-year-old, dubbed the 'Hairy Angel', who is the favourite to win, saying that she has been in "floods of tears" this week and suffering from almost crippling nerves.

Writing on his internet blog, Morgan said that "frightened rabbit" Boyle had fleetingly felt like throwing in the towel to escape all the attention.

He said that reading bitchy comments about her had made him feel "very, very angry".

He wrote: "Susan is finding it very, very difficult to cope, and to stay calm.

"She has been in tears many times during the last few days, and even, fleetingly, felt like quitting the show altogether at one point and fleeing all the attention.

"She's had to read stories and columns, and listen to radio and TV phone-ins, calling her arrogant, insincere, spoiled, fake, mad and so on.

"Now, I have been called all that and worse in my career, but I spent 20 years in Fleet Street and know how to deal with it.

"Susan Boyle has never experienced anything like this and is like a frightened rabbit in headlights."

The finalist lost her temper in the lobby of the Wembley Plaza Hotel in north London after being "wound up" by two strangers.

Police stationed at the hotel intervened in the situation.

Boyle was photographed talking to two police officers in the car park following the incident.

A spokesman for Boyle said: "The police were escorting a journalist from the premises who had been winding Susan up. Susan and her sister were talking to the police telling them what had happened."

Speaking to Nick Ferrari on LBC 97.3 radio, Morgan described the church volunteer as "an incredibly sweet, nice, gentle person who has been propelled through this show.

"Suddenly, a month later, she's the biggest star on the planet and I don't say that lightly...

"Anybody who has gone through that incredible transformation is going to be feeling the most unbelievable pressure, not least of which because the final is on Saturday and she knows that everything may rest on that one performance and you could see the nerves almost crippling her on the semi-final show and I just think it's time that everyone slightly backed off...

"Knowing her as I do, she's been incredibly upset this week. She's been in floods of tears."

Boyle, from Blackburn, West Lothian, was propelled into the spotlight following her audition for the ITV talent show, singing I Dreamed A Dream from the musical Les Miserables.

She went on to become a global internet sensation, scoring millions of hits on video site YouTube and gaining celebrity support including that of Hollywood star Demi Moore.

Morgan told the radio station that talk of Boyle's hotel outburst had been "massively exaggerated...

"She is getting this ferocious attention and my heart does go out to her a bit.

"She is really upset about all this and apparently she's really upset that she may have offended me.

"You know what, Susan, all you have to concentrate on now is doing an amazing performance on Saturday.

"You're the red-hot favourite. There are people who want you to fail.

"There are people who want to snipe at you, who want to kick you because now suddenly you're so popular.

"All she has to do is do a great performance."

Boyle will compete for the chance to perform at the Royal Variety Show.

The semi-final stages continue today, with sax sensation Julian Smith tipped to make it through to the final showdown.

The 39-year-old from Birmingham will be joined on stage by grandfather and granddaughter singing duo Two Grand aka John Neill and Sallie Lax, aged, 76 and 12 respectively, from Doncaster and punk pop act Brit Chix from Boston, Lincolnshire.

Breakdancing OAP Fred Bowers, dancing dog act Jackie Prescott and Tippy Toes, from Oxford, and dance troupe Sugarfree, from Essex, will also take part.

Singer Callum Francis, 12, from Hertfordshire, and burlesque act Fabia Cerra, 35, from Oxford, are also hoping to get to the final.

William Hill said it has started to see a possible Boyle backlash and eased her price today from 4/7 to 4/6, with Shaheen Jafargholi cut from 6/1 to 5/1.

The bookies is also offering 10/1 that Boyle swears during the live final and 100/1 that she proposes to Morgan following her victory.

Telegraph.co.uk

Susan Boyle says Britain's Got Talent final 'totally unexpected'

noreply@blogger.com (Areka) — Tue, 26 May 2009 03:13:00 +0000

Susan Boyle, Britain's Got Talent worldwide singing sensation, has said her progession to the show's final was "totally unexpected"

The unemployed church volunteer, who is now rated as favourite by bookmakers to win the show, performed Memory from the musical Cats during the semi-finals.

In an interview with the ITV website, Miss Boyle, 47, said: "I'm feeling really good because it was a totally unexpected result."

She said she had overcome an uncertain start to her performance.

"It was a fairly rocky start to begin with, because to begin with I sort of had a croaky note but that was because I had a cold. I said to myself 'well you'd better just pick yourself up and keep going'. So all I did was just keep going and after that it just got better. The audience reaction was really stunning."

Miss Boyle, from Blackburn, west Lothian, said last night's show was "completely different" from her audition.

She added: "The pressure was really on me but you tend to ignore the fact that other people are watching and just concentrate on what's happening in the here and now in that particular studio."

A peak of more than 13.6 million viewers, the largest of the 2009 series so far, watched the first semi-final on ITV1 last night. Even more are expected worldwide as ITV.com decided to make clips available throughout the world, rather than restrict to the UK as is usual.

Miss Boyle's performance of I Dreamed a Dream has been viewed nearly 60 million times on video website YouTube since she sang it in April.

Her success was partly credited to actress Demi Moore and her husband Ashton Kutcher, who linked the clip to their Twitter accounts.

But it was dance troupe Diversity that caught the eye of Moore from Sunday night's show, as she posted a link of their Mission Impossible-style routine on her account telling her followers to "Check this out". Their video has been viewed more than 400,000 times in less than 24 hours. The group advanced to the final along with Miss Boyle.

Telegraph.co.uk

Susan Boyle wins place in Britain's Got Talent final

noreply@blogger.com (Areka) — Mon, 25 May 2009 04:27:00 +0000

The unemployed church volunteer was watched by a global audience of millions as she performed live in front of the nation for the first time.

The Scottish singer, 47, was competing in the semi-finals of the competition which she took by storm with the opening lines of her first song "I Dreamed a Dream" from Les Miserables in the first round.

ITV.com decided to make clips of the semi-final available throughout the world – rather than restricted to the UK as is usual – because of the level of interest in Miss Boyle, who lives alone in West Lothian with her cat Pebbles.

Her first performance of I Dreamed a Dream has been viewed nearly 60 million times on video website YouTube since she sang it in April.

Organisers are insisting the final result is still up for grabs. Miss Boyle was competing against seven other acts, including a belly dancer, impersonators, a dance group and a violinist.

Asked by hosts Ant and Dec how she had coped with the pressure she said: "What pressure? I really enjoyed myself. I enjoyed every second. I'd do it again!"

A total of 39 acts including a 11-year-old street dancer, a woman and her dancing dog and a group of farmers who perform with a wheelbarrow are in the semi-finals of the show, which are to be screened over the next week.

Two acts from each of the five shows will be picked by the public and the judges to make it through to the grand final next Saturday.

They are all competing for the chance to perform at the Royal Variety Show and a £100,000 cheque.

Telegraph.co.uk

2nd Death in New York City Linked to Swine Flu

noreply@blogger.com (Areka) — Mon, 25 May 2009 03:56:00 +0000

By ANEMONA HARTOCOLLIS

A second New York City resident, a woman from Queens in her 50s, has died from swine flu, the city’s health department said on Sunday.

The woman had an underlying health condition that made her more at risk from the disease, said Jessica Scaperotti, a health department spokeswoman.

Mitchell Wiener, an assistant principal at a Queens middle school, who died on May 17, became the first person in New York State to die of the flu strain that has swept across much of the world since it was first identified in April.

Ms. Scaperotti declined to reveal any further details of the latest death, including the hospital where the woman had been treated. But she said that the woman died sometime over the past two days and that testing had confirmed that the woman had the H1N1 virus. She would be the 11th confirmed death caused by swine flu in the United States.

Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg, in a statement released Sunday night, said: “My father also died in his 50s because of an underlying health condition. I remember how hard that was on my mother, my sister and me, and my thoughts and prayers are with this woman’s family.”

The number of people hospitalized with swine flu since the beginning of the outbreak in New York City at the end of April had risen to 94 on Sunday from 68 Saturday and 57 on Friday, health department officials said, suggesting that the rate of infection and hospitalization might be increasing.

Ms. Scaperotti could not say how many of those patients were now hospitalized or how many were in critical condition. On Friday, St. Luke’s-Roosevelt Hospital Center said it had a patient in critical condition with swine flu at its location in Morningside Heights. Doctors there were optimistic that the patient’s condition was improving.

“As we see more cases in the community we are going to see more severe illness and possibly death,” Ms. Scaperotti said. “If you’re sick right now with flu, you probably have H1N1.”

By Friday, 12,022 cases of swine flu, including 86 deaths, had been reported to the World Health Organization from 43 countries. More than half of the cases were from the United States; of the deaths, 75 were reported by Mexico.

On Sunday, health officials in New York continued to stress that anyone with underlying health conditions — like diabetes, asthma, emphysema or a compromised immune system — who is exposed to flu should seek medical attention.

“It’s obviously a very stressful time for people in Queens,” said Eric N. Gioia, a Queens councilman. “I don’t know anyone who doesn’t know someone who has gotten the flu.”

“We all want a lot more information,” he added. “We feel there’s a huge disconnect with what’s going on out there with what we’re hearing from City Hall.”

The flu’s New York City history began in Queens at St. Francis Preparatory School, where hundreds of students became ill and 69 cases were confirmed, and it has caused dozens of city schools to close. Twenty of the schools — all but four in Queens — are to reopen on Tuesday, including Intermediate School 238 in Queens, where Mr. Wiener, 55, was the assistant principal.

Seventeen public schools and programs will still be closed, although they are all slated to reopen by Thursday.

In addition, at least four yeshivas in the greater Flatbush area of Brooklyn have voluntarily closed due to swine flu, according to Assemblyman Dov Hikind, who represents the district.

The schools were Magen David Yeshiva, Yeshiva Tiferes Yisroel, Masores Bais Yaakov and Yeshiva Shaarei Torah.

Each school had an unusually high absentee rate, and upon investigation this weekend, school officials discovered probable or confirmed swine flu cases.

David W. Chen and Jennifer 8. Lee contributed reporting.

The New York Times

Susan Boyle makes Britain's Got Talent semi-final

noreply@blogger.com (Areka) — Sun, 24 May 2009 14:23:00 +0000

Scottish singing sensation Susan Boyle has made the semi-finals of Britain's Got Talent where she will battle it out with 39 other acts including a 11-year-old street dancer, a woman and her dancing dog and a group of farmers who perform with a wheelbarrow.

Susan Boyle is competing for the chance to perform at the Royal Variety Show and a £100,000 cheque Photo: Ken McKay

The 48-year-old spinster gathered a worldwide following and celebrity fans including Demi Moore and Jon Bon Jovi since belting out I Dreamed A Dream from Les Miserables on the programme.

In a 90-minute special edition of Britain's Got Talent on ITV tonight the judges announced the 40 acts they want to go through to the live semi-finals which start tomorrow.

Two acts from each of the next five shows will be picked by the public and the judges to make it through to the grand final next Saturday.

They are all competing for the chance to perform at the Royal Variety Show and a £100,000 cheque.

Boyle is not the only singer who has captured the judge's attention - a host of cherubic youngsters have also made it through to the semi-finals.

Tomorrow's show will see Boyle battle it out against violinist Sue Son, extreme street performer Nick Hell, Darth Jackson, who blends a Darth Vader costume with Michael Jackson, belly dancer Julia Naidenko, dance group Diversity, comedy dancers Faces of Disco and 10-year-old singer Natalie Okri.

The remaining acts from the shortlist of 40 will each perform in front of the judges and the nation over the next week in a bid to win a place in the final.

Ten-year-old Lancashire schoolgirl Hollie Steel also made it into the semi-finals with her performance of I Could Have Danced All Night during which she both sang and ballet-danced.

And 12-year-old Shaheen Jafargholi from Swansea is tipped to rival Boyle after his performance of Who's Lovin' You prompted Demi Moore to praise him on her Twitter feed.

The performance of another young semi-finalist, 11-year-old street dancer Aidan Davis, has been compared to last year's winner George Sampson making him another top contender for the final.

Among the more unusual acts in the semis are three farming friends, Sam Parris, 27, Bobby Barns, 18, and Lyle Burrough, 19, all from Exeter, known as The Barrow Boys.

The three farmers described their act as "everything you shouldn't do with a wheelbarrow".

A 73-year-old breakdancer has also made it through. Fred Bowers from Loughborough received a standing ovation, with Cowell declaring: "This is why I love doing this show, because of people like you Fred, you were brilliant."

Jackie Prescott, a 45-year-old dog groomer from Oxford and Tippy Toes, a Staffordshire Bull Terrier, will also battle it out for a place in the finals.

Telegraph.co.uk

Police raid opposition party, DAP HQ without warrant - What's next?

noreply@blogger.com (Areka) — Sat, 23 May 2009 16:02:00 +0000

MALAYSIA

PETALING JAYA : Police raided DAP headquarters in Petaling Jaya on Saturday night without a warrant and seized a CPU and 19 DVDs.

The raid was in connection with the candle-light vigil two nights ago in Pandan Indah calling for a dissolution of the state assembly and fresh elections in Perak.

The raid by 12 plainclothes men headed by ASP Kamal Khan Mohd Shariff was at 6.25pm ending at 7.30pm.

They also brought along a handcuffed Ulu Selangor MP Ooi Leng Heng, 34, to show where certain pamphlets were churned out.

Ooi is under remand till Sunday for taking part in the vigil.

ASP Kamal said the raid was being conducted under the Printing Press and Publications Act 1984.

Puchong MP Gobind Deo Singh told reporters later that the police acted wrongly when they conducted a raid without a warrant under the act.

“It’s a clear cut unlawful invasion and trespass of private property and I will be lodging a police report,” he said.

Zambry declared rightful Chief Minister of Perak

noreply@blogger.com (Areka) — Fri, 22 May 2009 08:13:00 +0000

Malaysia

Zambry is MB, rules court

PUTRAJAYA, May 22 — The Court of Appeal today returned a unanimous decision that Barisan Nasional’s Datuk Zambry Abd Kadir is the rightful Perak mentri besar (chief minister), ruling that his Pakatan Rakyat rival Datuk Seri Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddinn had ceased to command the majority in the Perak state assembly.

The judges also ruled that the Sultan was right in appointing Zambry the MB and that there was no need for a motion of no confidence in the House against Nizar.

The appellate court heard submissions from both parties yesterday.

However, the Court of Appeal decision is not expected to bring an end to the crisis in Perak as the parties can still appeal to the Federal Court.

This afternoon, security at the Court of Appeal was tight with police taking extra precautions in allowing people into the courtroom.

A (H1N1): Flight MH091 passenger quarantined after developing fever

noreply@blogger.com (Areka) — Mon, 18 May 2009 15:03:00 +0000

JOHOR BARU, MALAYSIA : A woman passenger of flight MH091 was quarantined at the Sultanah Aminah Hospital (HSA) here Sunday afternoon after she developed a fever.

The woman had been on home quarantine with three other passengers, two men and a woman, here since Friday.

Malaysia recorded its first H1N1 case when a 21-year-old student who flew on Malaysia Airlines Flight MH091 from Newark, New Jersey, to KLIA via Sweden on May 13 was found to have contracted the virus. Meanwhile, a Thai national, who was quarantined at the HSA Saturday has been released as his test results came back negative.

Two other foreigners, who were vacationing at one of the islands in the state, have been quarantined at their hotel since Saturday.

Johor Health Department director Dr Mohd Khairi said they had yet to show any symptom of the virus but the health department would be monitoring them closely. Meanwhile, Malaysia Airlines has located and grounded its crew members who were on the same flight from United States as the student who contracted influenza A (H1N1).

MAS director of operations Datuk Tajuden Abu Bakar said the 15 crew members on the plane were taken off the roster for a seven-day home quarantine as a precautionary measure.

The 21-year-old student flew on Malaysia Airlines Flight MH091 from Newark, New Jersey, to KLIA via Sweden. "Malaysia Airlines confirms that Flight MH091 from Newark, arriving at KLIA on May 13 at 7.15am, was on transit at Arlanda, Stockholm, where 80 passengers disembarked.

"From Arlanda, 199 people, including 184 passengers and 15 crew members, arrived in Kuala Lumpur," he said.

He said the national carrier has since been in contact with Swedish authorities to provide them with the passenger list for monitoring purposes.

He said the ministry had also earlier advised passengers who disembarked from the flight in Kuala Lumpur to call the ministry at 0388810200 or 0388810300; or go to any hospital, clinic or health office for followup action.

MAS also clarified that none of its pilots were warded as reported Saturday, Bernama said.

Meanwhile, the five crew members of AirAsia who were on the same flight as the second confirmed influenza A (H1N1) case have been located and grounded.

An AirAsia spokesperson said the crew members on flight AK5358 that flew from the low cost carrier terminal (LCCT) in Sepang to Penang on May 13 have been taken off duty and quarantined.

“The crew were taken off duty Saturday and are quarantined in Kuala Lumpur,” he said when contacted.

The second patient - a 21-year-old female student in the United States - boarded the flight to Penang after arriving at the KL International Airport on Wednesday.

She was on board the same flight as the first patient, who travelled on Malaysia Airlines flight MH091 from Newark, which arrived on May 13 at 7.15am.

“We are working closely with the Health Ministry to contact the passengers on the list. We will do everything that is needed to assist the ministry,” he said.

Malaysia confirms second case of swine flu

noreply@blogger.com (Areka) — Mon, 18 May 2009 14:36:00 +0000

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia – Malaysia confirmed its second case of swine flu Saturday, a woman who recently returned from the United States.

Ramlee Rahmat, the Health Ministry deputy director-general, said the woman had returned to Malaysia from the United States on Wednesday and was hospitalized Friday in northern Penang state.

Tests confirmed early Saturday that she was infected with the H1N1 virus, but he said there were no fears that the disease was spreading. The woman was a friend of a 21-year-old man who was also infected with the virus and they were both on the same flight, he said.

"They happened to be together. That's how they got it," he told the Associated Press. "Both of them are in stable condition. The situation is under control."

Globally, 73 people have died of the new strain of influenza, 66 of them in Mexico, where the virus originated. Five deaths have been reported in the U.S., one in Canada and one in Costa Rica.

According to the World Health Organization, some 7,520 people in 34 countries are confirmed to be suffering from the disease, mostly in the U.S. and Mexico. Health officials have warned that the virus could spark a pandemic, infecting millions of people with no natural immunity.

The WHO estimates that up to 2 billion doses of swine flu vaccine could be produced every year, though the first batches wouldn't be available for four to six months.

Happy Mother's Day to All Moms

noreply@blogger.com (Areka) — Sun, 10 May 2009 16:06:00 +0000

Enlighten me with your wisdom

Encourage me with your words

Inspire me with your kindness

As I enter the world

Guide me in the right direction

Correct me if I'm wrong

Give me a bit of challenge

It's what I need to be strong

Create a beautiful little garden

That you care and groom

Like a flower you have open

With your love I can bloom

When I have lost my confidence

I found my courage in you

I'll be forever grateful

You were always there too

Now I believe I can do anything

No matter how hard it may be

Someday I will look back

And remember you enlighten me.

Malaysia's 'McCurry' cheers win over McDonald's

noreply@blogger.com (Areka) — Sun, 03 May 2009 13:56:00 +0000

KUALA LUMPUR (AFP) - - A small Malaysian restaurant is once again proudly trading as "McCurry", after its unlikely victory in an eight-year legal battle with US fast food giant McDonald's.

With its trays of fragrant tandoori chicken and fish masala, and customers at formica tables cooled by fans turning lazily overhead, the business is difficult to confuse with McDonald's and its racks of burgers.

"You can't have fries with that but we do have a very good potato curry," owner AMSP. Suppiah, 55, says with a laugh.

But Suppiah and his wife Kanageswary spent eight years battling in the courts for the right to retain the name of the business, pursued by McDonald's lawyers who forced them to operate as "M Curry" for several years.

"We were surprised that a giant like McDonald's would want to take action against us even though there was nothing in common between us and them," Suppiah said.

"We decided to appeal because we felt we were right and the court of appeal agreed with us this week," he said after a Malaysian court ruled the business had not infringed on the McDonald's trademark by using the prefix "Mc".

To the delight of the local press which has covered the landmark case closely, Suppiah then took a tall ladder to climb to the brightly coloured signboard and reinstate the controversial "c".

Tucking into a breakfast of "dosai" or Indian pancakes, Suppiah says he never expected to win the battle against the international food giant.

"There were times when we almost gave up hope because who would have imagined that we could win against such a big company with so much money and resources at their disposal," he said.

The mom and pop operation is one of numerous simple restaurants serving up Indian fare in this multicultural country, which is dominated by Muslim Malays but also home to ethnic Indian and Chinese communities.

Suppiah, a former accountant, says his troubles began when he set up the restaurant in 1999, shortening the name Malaysian Chicken Curry Restaurant to the McCurry restaurant.

"But within a year, I began receiving letters from McDonald's urging me to change the name and threatening legal action."

Unable to resolve the impasse, McDonald's sued Suppiah and a Malaysian High Court agreed with the hamburger chain in 2006, forcing Suppiah to remove the prefix from his signs and business.

Kanageswary says she is thrilled with the legal U-turn, but adds the victory has come at a cost.

"We faced a lot of mental anguish and embarrassment over the issue and for eight years our business has been in limbo because no one wants to invest in a company facing litigation and so we have not been able to make any improvements to the restaurant," she said.

"Hopefully, we can move on now."

However, the Suppiahs' lawyer Sri Dev Nair thinks McDonald's will not give up so easily.

"The case has shown that McDonald's want to control the monopoly over the use of the prefix 'Mc' and it has a lot of money to be able to do this so many small restaurants just give in to them," he said.

"We expect them to challenge the ruling and we will be prepared to face them in court."

The US corporation can apply to have the case reviewed in the Federal Court, which is the court of last resort on the matter.

Suppiah says he does not hold any grudges.

"My children like eating at McDonald's so I will continue going there and I would like to invite the president of McDonald's worldwide to come here to McCurry's and have a dosai, on the house -- but we can't supersize it."

Britain's Got Talent - Hollie Steel

noreply@blogger.com (Areka) — Sun, 03 May 2009 13:37:00 +0000

How many talent does Britain have?

World Health Organization Raises Swine Flu Alert Level

noreply@blogger.com (Areka) — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 02:51:00 +0000

Daniel Aguilar/Reuters

Commuters wore protective masks at a subway station in Mexico City on Wednesday.

By DENISE GRADY

The New York Times

The global spread of swine flu, a pandemic, is highly likely, the World Health Organization said on Wednesday and raised its alert level to Phase 5, the next-to-highest level in the worldwide warning system.

Phase 5 has not been declared before. Phase 6 means a pandemic is under way. The health organization said its decision was based on the continuing spread of swine flu in the United States and Mexico, particularly the increasing numbers of unexplained cases among people not exposed to travelers or to institutions like schools or hospitals where many people have close contact with one another and high rates of transmission might be expected.

“All countries should immediately activate their pandemic preparedness plans,” Dr. Margaret Chan, director general of the organization, said at a news conference in Geneva. “Countries should remain on high alert for unusual outbreaks of influenza-like illness and severe pneumonia.”

The first death from swine flu in this country — of a 23-month-old child from Mexico who was being treated in Houston — was reported on Wednesday, along with more infections and hospitalizations.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported 91 confirmed cases from 10 states, up from 64 cases in 5 states on Tuesday.

Martial Trezzini/European Pressphoto Agency

Margaret Chan, left, director general of the World Health Organization, and Anarfi Asamoa-Baah, the deputy director, announced a raising of the swine flu alert level on Wednesday in Geneva.

Dr. Chan emphasized the need for calm, but at times spoke as if a pandemic had already begun, saying, for instance, “W.H.O. will be tracking the pandemic.” She also emphasized that flu epidemics tended to take much higher death tolls in poor countries than in rich ones, and said her organization and others would need to make special efforts to help poorer nations.

She called for global solidarity, saying, “After all, it really is all of humanity that is under threat during a pandemic.”

President Obama, terming the outbreak “cause for deep concern but not panic,” took the unusual step of using a prime-time televised news conference, convened to mark his 100th day in office, to deliver a public health message to the American people.

“Wash your hands when you shake hands, cover your mouth when you cough,” he said from the East Room of the White House. “It sounds trivial, but it makes a huge difference. If you are sick, stay home. If your child is sick, take them out of school. If you are feeling certain flu symptoms, don’t get on an airplane.”

With public health officials recommending that schools close if there are more confirmed or suspected cases, Mr. Obama urged parents and businesses to “think about contingency plans” in case of such closings.

He said he was calling on Congress to authorize an immediate $1.5 billion to “support our ability to monitor and track this virus” and to build the supply of antiviral drugs.

Government preparedness plans may include steps like ensuring that laboratories can test for the disease and that health systems can identify and treat cases, track an outbreak and prevent the virus from spreading in hospitals and clinics. Governments should also decide on measures like closing schools and discouraging or banning public gatherings. Mexico, for instance, has prohibited people from eating in restaurants and on Wednesday added new restrictions, including closing federal offices for several days, starting Friday, and calling for nonessential parts of the economy to close during that time.

“The more recent illnesses and the reported death suggest that a pattern of more severe illness associated with this virus may be emerging in the U.S.,” the C.D.C. said on its Web site. More hospitalizations and deaths are expected, the site said, because the virus is new and most people have no immunity to it.

The outbreak has caused such concern because officials have never seen this particular strain of the flu passing among humans before, said Dr. Anthony S. Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases.

“There is no background immunity in the population, and it is spreading from human to human — all of which has the potential for a pandemic,” Dr. Fauci said.

Dr. Richard Besser, acting director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, said that officials had no way of predicting whether the outbreak would become more serious.

“You don’t know if this is a virus that will fizzle in a couple of weeks or one that will become more or less virulent or severe in the diseases it causes,” Dr. Besser said.

He said officials must follow government plans for a pandemic because of that unpredictability.

“If we could see into the future, it would be wonderful so that we could tailor all our responses specifically to what is occurring,” Dr. Besser said.

The disease centers’ count of 91 confirmed cases in the United States did not include some later reports by states that confirmed cases after the C.D.C. tally was posted. In addition, there were suspected cases in Louisiana and Delaware. Kits being provided to the states and other countries will allow them to test for the virus on their own and obtain results within a few hours.

New York City added five new confirmed cases, bringing its total to 49. All have links to Mexico or St. Francis Preparatory School in Queens, where the virus first surfaced in New York, health officials said. The city identified five more probable cases.

The total in Canada rose to 19, from 16. In Mexico, more than 150 people are suspected to have died from the flu, and almost 2,500 are thought to have been infected.

Kathleen Sebelius focused on the outbreak on Wednesday during her first news conference as the secretary of health and human services.

“We’re determined to fight this outbreak and do everything we can to protect the health of every American,” Ms. Sebelius said.

She noted that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention had recommended that schools close only if a student is found to be infected. More aggressive steps are under discussion, Ms. Sebelius said, but officials realize that school closings can cause problems for families.

“What happens to parents? Where do children go?” she asked.

Dr. Besser, who joined the news conference via a video feed, said the most recent cases included patients of a broad range of ages, with two-thirds of all cases occurring in people under 18.

“There have been five hospitalizations so far, including the child who died. But we have a number of suspect cases that have been hospitalized and we expect that number to go up,” Dr. Besser said.

He added, “It’s a serious outbreak, and we’re taking aggressive measures.”

Dr. Besser said that a quarter of the nation’s stockpile of 50 million treatments of antiviral medicines would be distributed to states by Sunday.

The United States has no plans to close international borders because, Dr. Besser said, such closings are not effective in slowing pandemics. When Hong Kong was hit with severe acute respiratory syndrome, or SARS, “increased border screening on entry and exit was not an effective way of identifying cases or preventing transmission,” he said.

Nonetheless, Customs and Border Protection agents have stepped up efforts to spot sick travelers and are passing out travel health advisories.

Some elected officials have begun to question the decision to leave the borders open. Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano was grilled by senators on Wednesday who asked whether her agency was doing enough to stop the virus from spreading from Mexico. The senators, including John McCain of Arizona and Joseph I. Lieberman of Connecticut, asked several times why the administration had decided against closing the border and banning travel to Mexico.

Senator Susan Collins of Maine took issue with Ms. Napolitano’s decision to use only “passive inspection techniques” to monitor people entering the United States. She urged that customs officials inspect more thoroughly and that the agency consider using heat sensors that allow agents to detect fevers among travelers entering the country.

Reporting was contributed by Sharon Otterman, Liz Robbins and Sewell Chan from New York; James C. McKinley Jr. from Houston; Nicholas Confessore from Albany; Monica Davey from Chicago; Sheryl Gay Stolberg and Gardiner Harris from Washington; Marc Lacey from La Gloria, Mexico; and Ian Austen from Ottawa.

The Symptoms of Swine Flu

noreply@blogger.com (Areka) — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 13:48:00 +0000

Michael Appleton for The New York Times

Fears about swine flu may be relieved with a simple call to your doctor.

How do I know if it’s swine flu? That’s the obvious question people around the country are asking themselves the moment they experience a cough, sniffle or body ache.

Even under the best of circumstances, it can be tough to know if you really have the flu.

Swine flu can only be confirmed by a lab test. Infectious disease expert Dr. Dan Hinthorn, director of the division of infectious disease at the University of Kansas discussed about what distinguishes the symptoms of swine flu from regular flu.

“We’d all like to know the exact answer,’’ he explained. “The symptoms are quite similar between regular flu and swine flu. Influenza ordinarily is a respiratory illness with fever, headache, sore throat, nasal stuffiness and cough. And body aches are real common. You go to bed and feel terrible. The difference may be that some of the people who have had swine flu have diarrhea or vomiting. That’s unusual except in children. Adults usually don’t have diarrhea with flu. It may well be that that could be a marker, but it’s not clear yet.’’

The good news for people in the United States is that every case so far has been mild. But at what point do you call your doctor? The very old and the very young should always see a doctor about flu. People with underlying medical conditions like cancer, diabetes or heart disease should also check with their doctor when they develop flu symptoms. But given the widespread fears about swine flu, even otherwise healthy people who develop symptoms should at least place a call to their doctor.

“Making the phone call to the doctor’s office is always in order,’’ Dr. Hinthorn said. “There may be something else going around in your community. They may say don’t come in, but it’s a good thing to touch base with your provider’s office.”

Remember, whether it’s swine flu or another type of flu doesn’t really matter. If you are getting worse instead of getting better, you need to go to the doctor.

“If you get a real high fever, if you just feel worse than you should, yes, go to the doctor,” Dr. Hinthorn said. “If you have an underlying disorder, go to the doctor. If the headache doesn’t seem to go away, if your neck is stiff, any rash, joints get swollen, that sort of thing. If the nightsweats seem like too much, call somebody.’’

Another good reason to check with a doctor is that he or she may prescribe drugs that shorten the severity and duration of your symptoms. Meanwhile, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention provides regular updates on swine flu cases and other information on its Web site. And over at the Consults blog, reporter Pam Belluck has provided answers from experts to several reader questions.

And if you’re tired of fretting about swine flu, you can join the folks at Gawker who are complaining about the alarmist nature of the swine flu reporting. Check out their “Aporkalypse Now” video montage of swine flu television coverage.

From The New York Times

Swine Flu - Facts

noreply@blogger.com (Areka) — Tue, 28 Apr 2009 15:22:00 +0000

What is Swine Influenza?

Swine Influenza (swine flu) is a respiratory disease of pigs caused by type A influenza virus that regularly causes outbreaks of influenza in pigs. Swine flu viruses cause high levels of illness and low death rates in pigs.

Swine influenza viruses may circulate among swine throughout the year, but most outbreaks occur during the late fall and winter months similar to outbreaks in humans. The classical swine flu virus (an influenza type A H1N1 virus) was first isolated from a pig in 1930.

How many swine flu viruses are there?

Like all influenza viruses, swine flu viruses change constantly. Pigs can be infected by avian influenza and human influenza viruses as well as swine influenza viruses.

When influenza viruses from different species infect pigs, the viruses can reassort (i.e. swap genes) and new viruses that are a mix of swine, human and/or avian influenza viruses can emerge.

Over the years, different variations of swine flu viruses have emerged. At this time, there are four main influenza type A virus subtypes that have been isolated in pigs: H1N1, H1N2, H3N2, and H3N1. However, most of the recently isolated influenza viruses from pigs have been H1N1 viruses.

Swine Flu in Humans

Can humans catch swine flu?

Swine flu viruses do not normally infect humans. However, sporadic human infections with swine flu have occurred. Most commonly, these cases occur in persons with direct exposure to pigs (e.g. children near pigs at a fair or workers in the swine industry).

In addition, there have been documented cases of one person spreading swine flu to others. For example, an outbreak of apparent swine flu infection in pigs in Wisconsin in 1988 resulted in multiple human infections, and, although no community outbreak resulted, there was antibody evidence of virus transmission from the patient to health care workers who had close contact with the patient.

How common is swine flu infection in humans?

In the past, CDC received reports of approximately one human swine influenza virus infection every one to two years in the U.S., but from December 2005 through February 2009, 12 cases of human infection with swine influenza have been reported.

What are the symptoms of swine flu in humans?

The symptoms of swine flu in people are expected to be similar to the symptoms of regular human seasonal influenza and include fever, lethargy, lack of appetite and coughing. Some people with swine flu also have reported runny nose, sore throat, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea.

Can people catch swine flu from eating pork?

No. Swine influenza viruses are not transmitted by food. You can not get swine influenza from eating pork or pork products. Eating properly handled and cooked pork and pork products is safe. Cooking pork to an internal temperature of 160°F kills the swine flu virus as it does other bacteria and viruses.

How does swine flu spread?

Influenza viruses can be directly transmitted from pigs to people and from people to pigs. Human infection with flu viruses from pigs are most likely to occur when people are in close proximity to infected pigs, such as in pig barns and livestock exhibits housing pigs at fairs.

Human-to-human transmission of swine flu can also occur. This is thought to occur in the same way as seasonal flu occurs in people, which is mainly person-to-person transmission through coughing or sneezing of people infected with the influenza virus. People may become infected by touching something with flu viruses on it and then touching their mouth or nose.

What do we know about human-to-human spread of swine flu?

In September 1988, a previously healthy 32-year-old pregnant woman was hospitalized for pneumonia and died 8 days later. A swine H1N1 flu virus was detected. Four days before getting sick, the patient visited a county fair swine exhibition where there was widespread influenza-like illness among the swine.

In follow-up studies, 76% of swine exhibitors tested had antibody evidence of swine flu infection but no serious illnesses were detected among this group. Additional studies suggest that one to three health care personnel who had contact with the patient developed mild influenza-like illnesses with antibody evidence of swine flu infection.

How can human infections with swine influenza be diagnosed?

To diagnose swine influenza A infection, a respiratory specimen would generally need to be collected within the first 4 to 5 days of illness (when an infected person is most likely to be shedding virus). However, some persons, especially children, may shed virus for 10 days or longer. Identification as a swine flu influenza A virus requires sending the specimen to CDC for laboratory testing.

What medications are available to treat swine flu infections in humans?

There are four different antiviral drugs that are licensed for use in the US for the treatment of influenza: amantadine, rimantadine, oseltamivir and zanamivir.

While most swine influenza viruses have been susceptible to all four drugs, the most recent swine influenza viruses isolated from humans are resistant to amantadine and rimantadine. At this time, CDC recommends the use of oseltamivir or zanamivir for the treatment and/or prevention of infection with swine influenza viruses.

What other examples of swine flu outbreaks are there?

Probably the most well known is an outbreak of swine flu among soldiers in Fort Dix, New Jersey in 1976. The virus caused disease with x-ray evidence of pneumonia in at least 4 soldiers and one death; all of these patients had previously been healthy.

The virus was transmitted to close contacts in a basic training environment, with limited transmission outside the basic training group. The virus is thought to have circulated for a month and disappeared.

The source of the virus, the exact time of its introduction into Fort Dix, and factors limiting its spread and duration are unknown. The Fort Dix outbreak may have been caused by introduction of an animal virus into a stressed human population in close contact in crowded facilities during the winter. The swine influenza A virus collected from a Fort Dix soldier was named A/New Jersey/76 (Hsw1N1).

Is the H1N1 swine flu virus the same as human H1N1 viruses?

No. The H1N1 swine flu viruses are antigenically very different from human H1N1 viruses and, therefore, vaccines for human seasonal flu would not provide protection from H1N1 swine flu viruses.

Swine Flu in Pigs

How does swine flu spread among pigs?

Swine flu viruses are thought to be spread mostly through close contact among pigs and possibly from contaminated objects moving between infected and uninfected pigs. Herds with continuous swine flu infections and herds that are vaccinated against swine flu may have sporadic disease, or may show only mild or no symptoms of infection.

What are signs of swine flu in pigs?

Signs of swine flu in pigs can include sudden onset of fever, depression, coughing (barking), discharge from the nose or eyes, sneezing, breathing difficulties, eye redness or inflammation, and going off feed.

How common is swine flu among pigs?

H1N1 and H3N2 swine flu viruses are endemic among pig populations in the United States and something that the industry deals with routinely.

Outbreaks among pigs normally occur in colder weather months (late fall and winter) and sometimes with the introduction of new pigs into susceptible herds. Studies have shown that the swine flu H1N1 is common throughout pig populations worldwide, with 25 percent of animals showing antibody evidence of infection.

In the U.S. studies have shown that 30 percent of the pig population has antibody evidence of having had H1N1 infection. More specifically, 51 percent of pigs in the north-central U.S. have been shown to have antibody evidence of infection with swine H1N1.

Human infections with swine flu H1N1 viruses are rare. There is currently no way to differentiate antibody produced in response to flu vaccination in pigs from antibody made in response to pig infections with swine H1N1 influenza.

While H1N1 swine viruses have been known to circulate among pig populations since at least 1930, H3N2 influenza viruses did not begin circulating among US pigs until 1998. The H3N2 viruses initially were introduced into the pig population from humans. The current swine flu H3N2 viruses are closely related to human H3N2 viruses.

Is there a vaccine for swine flu?

Vaccines are available to be given to pigs to prevent swine influenza. There is no vaccine to protect humans from swine flu. The seasonal influenza vaccine will likely help provide partial protection against swine H3N2, but not swine H1N1 viruses.

Obama To Speak About Flu Outbreak

noreply@blogger.com (Areka) — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 15:44:00 +0000

Obama to speak about flu outbreak