And what would summertime be without another global pandemic? "The Center for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) of Hong Kong Special Administration Region announced on Wednesday that two pig samples taken in a flu virus test were positive for H1N1, but no significant genetic reassortment of viruses was found. The result came from a regular influenza virus surveillance in pigs conducted by the University of Hong Kong (HKU) at Sheung Shui Slaughterhouse from February to April. Under the program, pigs at the slaughterhouse were tested by blood, tracheal and nasal swabs twice a month. A CFS spokesman said given the wide transmission of the pandemic H1N1 virus in humans, detection of the virus in pigs would not be a surprise. It was expected that positive findings might appear from time to time in the surveillance program in future. The spokesman said that all imported live pigs from the Chinese mainland must come from registered farms and be accompanied with animal health certificates issued by the Chinese mainland authorities." [Xinhua] more ›

Yay! According to the World Health Organization, swine flu is officially over and done with - the pandemic has "largely run its course" and the world is no longer at phase six of the influenza alert level! So if you're out tonight, pour a drink to the disease that caused no amount of frustrations and hardships for the last year. more ›

Shanghai confirmed its fifth case (already!) of swine flu over the weekend. This time, the patient was a 23-year-old female college student who had been studying in the U.S. She had taken a flight from New York to Hong Kong on Thursday. On Saturday, she developed a fever and was quarantined at Shanghai No.1 People’s Hospital. Eight family members and friends are under medical observation for the week. Shanghai’s first case, a businessman who had flown in from Melbourne, has recovered and is now out and about town. more ›