Cannes: The WHO said that the new flu strain has been isolated and a vaccine is now possible. The concern now is that transmission has now moved to groups, making it difficult to stop .
India is on alert to stop the swine flu. The first suspected case, a 25 year old from Texas, was quarantined in Hyderabad. An initial test showed no symptoms of swine flu in the suspected case but a precautionary second test is on.
Strict screening is continuing at all entry points into the country. Also, there is an advisory to all international travellers to cancel all inessential travel.
For the second time in 48 hours, the World Health Organisation raised the level of alert. It's warned that communities are now under risk. If there is a single case in your neighbourhood, then everyone in that locality is at risk.
The crisis forced the international conference on flu in Cannes to change course from Bird flu to swine flu. That's because it is spreading from human to human, raising fears that the new virus will cause a global epidemic affecting millions.
"This is the most likely pandemic virus and we have to rework our strategy," said Dr Arnold Monto, Epidemiologist, University of Michigan.
Overnight one big step forward, is that the new strain - H1 N1 - has been isolated. It is a mixture of human, swine and avian influenza strains. Isolating it is the starting point to develop a new vaccine. But that will take at least 4 to 6 months.
Though Asia remains untouched, experts say it is only a matter of time before it surfaces.
"It's a matter of time. It will cross border," says Dr Randeep Guleria, Prof, Dept of Medicine, AIIMS.
The novel virus seems to be mild. But influenza experts say that the pandemic virus returns in phases and when it returns it is likely to much more virulent.