The magnitude of the international wildlife trade is immense, with estimates of billions of live animals and animal products traded globally each year. This trade has facilitated the introduction of species to new regions, where they compete with native species for resources, alter ecosystems, damage infrastructure, and destroy crops.
Dead pigs in China, evil factory farms in Mexico and an Al Qaeda plot involving Mexican drug cartels are a few wild theories seeking to explain a deadly swine flu outbreak that has killed up to 176 people.
Close on the heels of the outbreak of meningitis, the Tripura Government on Thursday sounded a red alert to prevent the outbreak of the deadly swine flu in the State, official sources said here.
The decision was taken at a review meeting that was chaired by Principal Secretary YP Singh on Wednesday night. Two Health directors, Dr SR Debbarma and Dr RK Dhar were also present in the meeting.
April 30: Indian authorities have clarified that there is no suspected case of swine flu in the country so far. The Centre has also decided to increase the stock of anti-flu medication from one million to 10 million doses, over the next seven days. Authorities said this stockpile would be decentralised over the country.
April 30: Mexican President Felipe Calderon told his people to stay home from Friday for a five-day partial shutdown of the economy, after the World Health Organisation said a swine flu pandemic was imminent.
Aarti Dhar
Surveillance stepped up; States told to probe and contain suspected clusters of influenza-like illness
GUARDING AGAINST the contagion: Passengers arriving from abroad giving details of their travel plans at special counters at the Indira Gandhi International Airport, New Delhi, in the wake of the swine flu incidence reported overseas.
N. Gopal Raj
With the new swine flu showing robust human-to-human transmission, the risk of catching the disease does not come from pigs or pork consumption.
