Hong Kong Quarantines Entire Hotel

Guests stuck in swine flu hotel pass the time with pizza, parties

(NEWSER) - The 300 guests and staff quarantined in Hong Kong's Metropark Hotel since Friday are getting used to life in captivity, the Wall Street Journal reports. The captives—confined since a Mexican guest tested positive for swine flu—complain about boring food and missed business deals, but some have organized beer and pizza parties to pass the seven-day quarantine period. More»

Guests stuck in Hong Kong hotel party away last night of quarantine

(NEWSER) - Many of the hundreds of guests quarantined in Hong Kong's Metropark hotel shed their face masks to party away their final night in confinement yesterday, Reuters reports. The guests—who were initially outraged to learn they would be confined to the hotel for a week because of swine flu fears—say they've made lifelong friends in quarantine, and at least two new couples will be leaving the hotel together tonight. More»

Watchdogs accuse WHO of colluding with drugmakers

(NEWSER) - Was the H1N1 pandemic exaggerated? European officials are putting heat on the WHO over its handling of the pandemic, alleging the organization caused unnecessary panic and wasted millions of dollars. Reports released by an EU watchdog and the British Medical Journal go even further: they accuse the WHO of being influenced by drugmakers who stood to profit from unnecessary influenza preparation, the Washington Post reports. More»

Sick students start school in quarantine zones

(NEWSER) - College freshers across the country are starting their life in higher education confined to buildings full of their coughing peers, the New York Times reports. Fearing the virus will sweep through campuses, colleges have set up quarantine dorms for sick students, keeping them out of class and plying them with food and medication. Estimates are there are 2,000 current swine flu cases at colleges, and many, many more on the way. More»

(NEWSER) - The US could experience an extended or even year-round flu season thanks to H1N1, the Centers for Disease Control said yesterday. Researchers theorize that a combination of unprepared immune systems and the unusually cool spring could be contributing to the steady stream of flu infections. “The fact that we are seeing ongoing transmission now indicates that we are seeing something different,” said one CDC doctor. More»