WHO Declares First Global Flu Pandemic in 41 Years

For the past several years we've been subjected to the warning ads in various media - radio, television, and print - that the world is overdue for a flu pandemic and that one is sure to be coming soon. The day has finally arrived. On Thursday the World Health Organization declared a swine flu pandemic, the first global flu epidemic in 41 years.

Infections around the globe, including the United States, Europe, South America, and Australia, have now climbed to nearly 30,000 cases.

The announcement of the pandemic is official scientific confirmation that a new flu virus has emerged and is quickly making its rounds globally. Now that the WHO has upgraded the situation to pandemic levels, they will begin asking drugmakers to speed up the production of a swine flu vaccine. The declaration should also prompt governments to devote additional funds towards efforts to contain the virus.

Dr. Margaret Chan made the announcement Thursday following an emergency meeting with flu experts. Chan indicated that the WHO would be moving the world up to the agency's highest alert level - phase 6. Phase 6 means that a pandemic, or global epidemic, is already under way.

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.

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.

A week and a half after the death of actress Natasha Richardson, who died after sustaining a fatal head injury while skiing, Canada's Globe and Mail has released transcripts of the 911 calls made from the Mont Tremblant ski resort in Quebec where the accident occurred.

According to these transcripts, on Monday, March 16 at 1pm, a medic responding to the 911 call radioed back to hospital staff with the code "10-17". This means he had arrived at the destination. He then said "Uhh, we're still waiting for the patient." 11 minutes later, the medic radioed again saying, "There's a [ski] patroller who just went by, who tells me it's a 10-3." This means that the job was cancelled. Richardson initially declined treatment.

At 2:59pm, another call was made. This time the case was classified as "dangerous" and they said, "Priority 1, Mont Tremblant...17-Delta-1."

The actress was then rushed to the local hospital, the Centre Hospitalier Laurentien in Sainte-Agathe. Minutes before 4pm, the on-duty medic described her as "verbal". This meant she responded when spoken to, but otherwise drifted off. The medic indicated her orientation rating was 0, indicating that she didn't know what day it was, where she was, or what happened to her.

Following the death of British actress Natasha Richardson, who had a minor fall on a beginner's ski slope Monday, it emerged later in the week that she turned down a $10 rented ski helmet which could have saved her life. Richardson, 45, fell and suffered fatal bleeding in the brain which left her brain dead.

The wife of fellow actor Liam Neeson, Natasha was taken to a Montreal hospital about an hour after her fall at the Mont Tremblant resort in Quebec, complaining that she did not feel well. She was then flown to New York where life support was turned off. Neeson, 56, and her mother Vanessa Redgrave, 72, were at her bedside when she passed.

One staff member at the Canadian ski resort said:

One staff member said: “We are heartbroken that we didn’t do more to persuade her to wear one. A helmet would have cost her just ten dollars (Canadian).

“Every skier is encouraged to wear a helmet, especially beginners like Natasha. But it is not legally enforced and they can always refuse.

“I remember Natasha coming into the shop before her lesson. She seemed cheerful, bright and extremely beautiful.

As drug violence continues to soar in the Mexican bordertown of Tijuana, the military has barred Marines from visiting. Lt. General Samuel Helland of the 1st Marine Expeditionary Force at Camp Pendleton said that they have restricted travel to Mexico for the units 44,000 members.

Mike Alvarez, the unit's civilian public information officer, told reporters, "The situation in Mexico is now more dangerous than usual. The intent is just to look out for the Marines' safety and well-being."

In 2008, 843 people were killed in Tijuana, a dramatic increase from the 2007 death toll of 337. Many of the murders were execution style, with bodies found decapitated.

The order was first enacted for the Christmas holidays, but the order was last week extended indefinitely.

Cleveland congressman Dennis Kucinich (D-Ohio) is now calling for a United Nations investigation to attacks on Gaza by Israel. Kucinich also criticized Israel for what he deems a disproportionate response to Hamas rocket attacks, standing in stark contrast to other House Democrats that have offered nearly unanimous support for Israel.

Leading Democrats, including Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nevada) and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-California), have blamed Hamas for the most recent violence in the Middle East that has left more than 300 dead in Gaza. Meanwhile, just one individual in Israel has been killed by a Hamas rocket.

Kucinich likens Israel's attacks on Gaza to its 2006 war with Hezbollah in southern Lebanon. Kucinich said that in both cases civilian populations were attacked and "countless innocents" were injured or killed.

In a statement Kucinich said:

“All this was, and is, disproportionate, indiscriminate mass violence in violation of international law. Israel is not exempt from international law and must be held accountable.”

If you're traveling through western New York this afternoon or evening, you may want to figure in some extra time for your commute. The US Customs and Border Protection officials are warning travelers to anticipate traffic backups at border crossings because of the Monday night football game between the Cleveland Browns and Buffalo Bills.

Thousands of Canadian fans are expected to attend the sold out game at Ralph Wilson Stadium, located just south of Buffalo in Orchard Park. Factor in the snow that Buffalo will be getting throughout the day, and the traffic could get ugly.

Officials are expecting traffic at the four border crossings in the Buffalo-Niagara region to begin increasing by mid-afternoon as fans begin heading to the stadium for the 8:30 PM game start time.

Travelers are encouraged to check traffic at the border crossings by visiting cbp.gov or by calling 1-800-715-6722.

It hasn't been a banner few months for Canadian rock band 'Barenaked Ladies'. Just a month and half after bandmate Steven Page was busted for drugs, Ed Robertson of the band was on plane that crashed into Western Ontario. 3 others along with Robertson were aboard the plane and everyone came away from the incident uninjured.

Adam Smith. spokesman for the group who had a number of hits in the 90's released a statement that said

"Everyone is fine and that is the important thing."

Robertson, who recently received his aviation license, was attempting to take off in a 206 floatplane. The plane stalled out and went into a wooded area. Robertson's wife, Natalie, and their friends Julie and Jeff Jones were also aboard the plane.