What You Need to Know

An influenza (flu) pandemic is a worldwide outbreak of flu disease that occurs when a
new type of influenza virus appears that people have not been exposed to before (or
have not been exposed to in a long time). The pandemic virus can cause serious illness because people do not have immunity to the new virus. Pandemics are different from seasonal outbreaks of influenza that we see every year. Seasonal influenza is caused by influenza virus types to which people have already been exposed. Its impact on society is less severe than a pandemic, and influenza vaccines (flu shots and nasal-spray vaccine) are available to help prevent widespread illness from seasonal flu.

Influenza pandemics are different from many of the other major public health and
health care threats facing our country and the world. A pandemic will last much longer
than most flu outbreaks and may include “waves” of influenza activity that last 6-8
weeks separated by months. The number of health care workers and first responders
able to work may be reduced. Public health officials will not know how severe a
pandemic will be until it begins.

A Historical Perspective

As swine flu is said to have taken the lives of 81 victims so far worldwide, Mexico and the United States are particularly on edge. But in the age of globalization and quick international travel, the rest of the world is now also concerned about the potential for a global flu pandemic. Doctors in the UK, France, Israel, Spain, and New Zealand are now also treating people who may have contracted the illness.

The swine flu, which is said to have originated in Mexico, already has confirmed outbreaks in the US. The World Health Organization warned of the possibility of a global pandemic, and members are to meet on Tuesday to decide if the alert level should be raised.

According to New Zealand's health minister Tony Ryall, 13 students returned from Mexico yesterday were tested for swine influenza, and 10 had positive results. He says that the cases are "likely" to be swine flu, and the results have been sent to the WHO lab in Melbourne, Australia.

We've been warned for years that we're overdue for a new flu pandemic that could strike the US. It could be a mutated strain of something that's already floating around, or, it could be avian flu passed on to humans. The World Health Organization researchers and U.S. health officials are now closely monitoring a new strain of flu affecting Mexico and the U.S. that has been passed onto humans from swine.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has said that this particular virus found in the U.S. was a never before seen mixture of viruses typical amongst pigs, birds, and humans. In the U.S. seven patients have been affected, and all have recovered. However, in Mexico it has already sickened more than 600 and killed at least 16 people.

Mexican Health Minister Jose Angel Cordova said Friday:

"It is a virus that mutated from pigs and then at some point was transmitted to humans."

Classes at schools and universities in Mexico City have been suspended in an attempt to contain what might be a new strain of influenza. Cordova said that both private and public schools in the metropolis of 20 million were ordered closed Friday, and could be extended in the coming days.

Madonna was decidedly devastated after her attempts to adopt a girl from Malawi were thwarted by the government, but now she will get a second chance. According to her lawyer, an appeals court will hear her request to adopt 4-year old Mercy James on May 4.

Lawyer Alan Chinula said:

"I cannot disclose our grounds of appeal, but I can confirm the court will hear our appeal."

Madonna herself is not expected to appear at the hearing.

Earlier this month a Malawi judge rejected her adoption efforts, suggesting that Malawian children were better of living in their homeland. He also said that celebrity adoptions send the wrong message, and could spark a rush of child-trafficking.

An Iranian court has convicted an American journalist of spying, and has sentenced her to eight years in prison, says her father. Roxana Saberi, 31, was arrested in January for buying a bottle of wine and has been detained since in a notorious Tehran prison. She was convicted on Wednesday, but her family was not notified of the decision until Saturday. Saberi was tried in a Revolutionary Guards court, which operates in total secrecy.

Roxana's father, Reza Saberi said:

"She told me she had been tricked into believing that she would be released if she cooperated. We are very shocked and we were not expecting it."

He added that the family would appeal. Reza Saberi also told National Public Radio, his daugther's employer, that "under pressure she had made some statements" but that she later repudiated any confessions.

US officials have deemed the charges against Saberi as "baseless." Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has already called for her to be released.

Born to a Persian father and Japanese mother in Fargo, North Dakota, Saberi moved to Iran six years ago, where she filed freelance reports for NPR, the BBC, and Fox News. She also has dual citizenship in Iran and the United States.

Britain's Got Talent Susan Boyle wowed the world with her rendition of 'I Dreamed A Dream' from Les Miserables and according to the shows super-producer Simon Cowell she could land an American #1 album one day. Cowell said about Boyle, who many had thought was a joke before she performed, that it will just take an appearance on Oprah Winfrey to gain stardum in the US:

"If she went on Oprah I think there's every chance Susan Boyle will have the number one album in America, I will predict that." the Daily Mail quoted him as saying.

The clip on YouTube has already reached 12 Million hits. Here is an interview with the overnight phenom from Scottish television:

White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs says President Barack Obama is easing restrictions on travel and money transfers by Cuban Americans to family in Cuba.

Richard Phillips, the United States ship captain who had been held captive by Somali pirates has been set free. The company who employs Phillips, Maersk Line Limited released this statement:

Maersk Line, Limited was informed by the U.S. government at 1330 EDT today that Captain Richard Phillips has been rescued. John Reinhart, President and Chief Executive Officer of Maersk Line, Limited, called Captain Phillips’ wife, Andrea, to tell her the good news. The crew of the Maersk Alabama was jubilant when they received word.

Mr. Reinhart said, “We are all absolutely thrilled to learn that Richard is safe and will be re-united with his family. Maersk Line, Limited is deeply grateful to the Navy, the F.B.I. and so many others for their tireless efforts to secure Richard’s freedom. We join Richard’s family, his crew and his colleagues ashore in celebrating this wonderful news. We look forward to welcoming him home in the coming days.”

Mr. Reinhart will hold a media briefing in Norfolk, Va., later on Sunday. Details will follow.

Upon returning home from his 8-day tour of Europe and the Middle East, President Barack Obama has been greeted with some pretty harsh criticism over photographs and video footage which show him bowing to King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia during the G20 Summit. While the mainstream media has largely ignored this major political gaffe, it has not gone unnoticed.

The Washington Times called the bow a "shocking display of fealty to a foreign potentate", which runs contrary to a long-held American tradition of not deferring to royalty.

The Times continued:

"By bending over to show greater respect to Islam, the US president belittled the power and independence of the United States. Such an act is a traditional obeisance befitting a king's subjects, not his peer. There is no precedent for U.S. presidents bowing to Saudi or any other royals."

One can't help but wonder why Obama did not bow to Queen Elizabeth when meeting with her in England, but saw it befitting to show reverence to the royal head of a Muslim nation that is the home of 15 of the 19 September 11th terrorists.

The Weekly Standard reiterated the tradition, stating:

"American presidents do not bow before foreign dignitaries, whether they are princes, kings, or emperors."