Monitoring the new flu

 

With the count of flu cases still rising around the world, the virus could well reach pandemic proportions. But it appears unlikely to cause widespread deaths.

Health commissioner Androulla Vassiliou urges people to stay calm. Most flu cases have been mild, and the virus responds to treatment. Europe has substantial stockpiles of anti-flu drugs.

The A/H1N1 virus is a combination of animal and human elements never before seen. Though widely dubbed “swine flu”, it is in fact not being spread by pigs or pork.

More cases of the virus have been confirmed, but there is no sign the flu is spreading rapidly in Europe. No deaths have been reported in the 12 European countries affected so far.