Swine Flu - Update 20 May 2009

I hope this update comes to all our brothers and sisters in good health around the world. We are yet to hear of any cases in the Shia community. You may be aware that there has been an escalation of cases in Japan with 159 cases and this has pushed them to a pandemic level 6 according to the WHO criteria. There is also a similar escalation in the number of cases witin the United States such that they have stopped using laboratory testing to confirm cases due to the number of patients affected.

The situation in the UK is more ore contained and even though there is a rise in the number of affected individuals, the rise in the number of cases isn't as high as expected for now. This doesn't mean that we are in the clear but could indicate a quiescent state. The calm before the storm so to speak.

The advice has remained much the same as per previous updates and I would like to point out that survival in a Pandemic will rely on very simple and sometime mundane matters of good hygiene and remaining in the home to avoid spreading the infection around.

Please look at the previous updates for the preventative advice given and we shall inshallah keep you all informed should the situation change. We pray again to Allah (SWT) with the intercessation of the 14 Masumeens to protect us from ill health and give us the wisdom to heed the advice we are being offered.

HIB