Yesterday, the World Health Organization’s Director General raised the Pandemic Alert from Phase 4 to Phase 5. This was triggered due to the community level outbreaks of swine/H1N1 flu in both the US and Mexico.
Phase 5 does not mean that a “global” pandemic is underway, but rather that there is a regional outbreak underway and that it is highly likely that a “global” pandemic will occur.
This change to a higher alert is a signal to the world’s stakeholders (governments, health agencies, and the business community) that planning and preparatory actions should be taken with greater urgency and speed. Effective measures should now include heightened surveillance, early detection, and treatment of cases, and increased infection control in all health facilities.
The full statement can be found here. In addition, several other countries around the world have suspected cases of swine flu.
| Country | Cases | Deaths | |
| Lab Confirmed* | Lab Confirmed* | Suspected | |
| Mexico | 26 | 7 | 159 |
| US | 109 | 1 | 0 |
| Canada | 19 | 0 | 0 |
| UK | 5 | 0 | 0 |
| Spain | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| New Zealand | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Germany | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Israel | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Austria | 1 | 0 | 0 |
Local/National News
- Currently in Canada, there are a total of 19 confirmed swine influenza cases: six cases in British Columbia, two cases in Alberta, seven cases in Ontario and four cases in Nova Scotia.
- All the cases reported in Canada so far have been relatively mild.
- The BCCDC has posted a BC Swine Flu Case Report Form for health professionals.
International News
Latest from the U.S. Centre for Disease Control- New guidance documents for health professionals have been released/updated:
- Guidance for Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Systems and 9-1-1 Public Safety Answering Points (PSAPs)
- Guidance for Clinicians: Identifying and Caring for Patients with Swine-origin Influenza A (H1N1) Virus Infection
- Guidance for infection Control for Care of Patients with Confirmed or Suspected Swine Influenza A (H1N1) Virus Infection in a Healthcare Setting (updated)
- Guidance for Clinicians: antiviral Recommendations for Patients and Close Contacts (updated)
- Information for concerned parents and caregivers has also been posted to the CDC website along with answers to common questions regarding the swine flu.
- Information for child care providers has also been posted.
- At 1:00 PM EST the CDC will hold a webcast to answer questions from the American Public.
- In addition to raising the pandemic alert level, the WHO also issued guidelines for infection prevention and control in health care in providing care for confirmed or suspected A(H1N1) swine influenza patients
Antiviral News
http://www.reuters.com/article/worldNews/idUSTRE53S32A20090429
- Swiss drugmaker Roche Holding AG said Wednesday it was working closely with the World Health Organization to make its Tamiflu drug available to patients following the outbreak
- Roche said in a statement it had increased its preparedness level after the WHO increased its pandemic alert level
- Roche said Monday it was working on scaling up production of Tamiflu, but cautioned that the lead time for the drug from synthesis of the product to packaging was eight months.
http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601087&sid=aI0b818qm2j4&refer=home
- Several vaccine manufacturers are talking with world health authorities about how to speed production of a vaccine to meet the global swine flu outbreak. The companies may receive a sample of the virus within a few days.
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