GMS INFLUENZA A (H1N1) Daily Update as of May 7, 2009 (8:30 AM)
Current WHO Pandemic Alert Phase: 5
Influenza A (H1N1) Cases by Country (as of 8 AM PST May 7th)
PLEASE NOTE: The table has been reformatted to address new cases and deaths on a per-day basis, with totals provided for comparison purposes.
| WHO Regions & Country | Lab Confirmed Cases | Lab Confirmed Deaths | ||||
| Cases Confirmed on May 6th | Total Cases | Deaths Confirmed on May 6th | Total Deaths | |||
| AMERICAS | ||||||
| Mexico | 290 | 1112 | 13 | 42 | ||
| US | 254
| 896
| 0 | 2 | ||
| Canada | 36 | 201 | 0 | 0 | ||
| El Salvador | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | ||
| Costa Rica | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | ||
| Columbia | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | ||
| Guatemala | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | ||
| EUROPE | ||||||
| UK | 1 | 28 | 0 | 0 | ||
| Spain | 16 | 73 | 0 | 0 | ||
| Germany | 0 | 9 | 0 | 0 | ||
| France | 1 | 5 | 0 | 0 | ||
| Austria | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | ||
| Netherlands | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | ||
| Switzerland | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | ||
| Denmark | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | ||
| Ireland | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | ||
| Italy | 0 | 5 | 0 | 0 | ||
| Portugal | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | ||
| Sweden (New) | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | ||
| EASTERN MEDITERRANEAN | ||||||
| Israel | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | ||
| WESTERN PACIFIC | ||||||
| Hong Kong | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | ||
| New Zealand | 0 | 6 | 0 | 0 | ||
| SOUTH-EAST ASIA | ||||||
| Rep. of Korea | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| |
| TOTALS | 599 | 2099 | 13 | 44 |
| |
*Lab confirmed cases and deaths have been provided by the WHO’s Influenza A (H1N1) – Update #19 and the US CDC case count.
Local/National News
- Follow-up testing has confirmed the presence of the novel H1N1 flu virus in pigs at an Alberta farm, according to a report yesterday from the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE). Public health officials suspect that a carpenter at the farm who had been ill after traveling to Mexico transmitted the virus to the pigs. OIE report
- On Wednesday May 6th, Canada reported 36 new lab confirmed cases of H1N1. Of the eight provinces with cases, the majority remain in British Columbia (54), Nova Scotia (53), Ontario (49), and Alberta (30)
- Canadian scientists have completed work on decoding the genetic makeup of the H1N1 flu virus. “This is an important achievement for our scientists as it marks the first successful sequencing of virus samples from different countries,” said Dr. David Butler-Jones, Chief Public Health Officer of Canada. “Our researchers should be commended for completing this important work in less than a week. This is one of the Lab’s finest hours.” PHAC
International News
- The U.S. Navy has decided not to send a warship on a planned humanitarian mission to the South Pacific, after one crew member fell ill with the H1N1 virus, and 49 others developed symptoms. The entire 370 man crew will receive antivirals. Reuters
- Many businesses in Mexico have re-opened after a five-day shutdown caused by the flu outbreak. Shops and restaurants have re-opened, but schools and churches remain closed as the easing of restrictions is staggered to avoid further infections. BBC
- The number of Mexicans deaths attributed to the 2009 H1N1 virus has jumped to 42 from 29. According to Mexican Health Minister, Jose Angel Cordova, this surge in the number of deaths is accounted for largely by people who died several weeks ago. Reuters
- On Wednesday, the US CDC reported 1487 probable and confirmed cases of 2009 H1N1 in 44 states, amounting to an increase of approximately 400 cases from Tuesday’s totals. CDC
- World Health Organization experts will meet next week to consider whether drug makers should switch from seasonal to pandemic flu vaccine production in response to the new H1N1 strain. According to Marie-Paule Kieny, WHO Director of the Initiative for Vaccine Research, the group will discuss whether or not there is enough evidence to recommend that manufacturers should start large-scale manufacturing of the H1N1 vaccine, and make a recommendation towards halting the production of the seasonal influenza vaccine. Reuters
- The Obama administration is considering an unprecedented fall vaccination campaign that could entail giving Americans three flu shots -- one to combat annual influenza, and two targeted at the new swine flu virus, currently spreading across the globe. Washington Post
Latest Guidance from the WHO, the U.S. CDC, and PHAC
- What Adults with HIV Infection Should Know About the Novel H1N1 Flu
- Guidance for Colleges, Universities, and Post-secondary Educational Institutions in Response to Human Infections with Influenza A (H1N1) Virus
- Guidance for Public Gatherings in Response to Human Infections with Influenza A (H1N1)
- Guidance for Clinicians on the Prevention and Treatment of Swine-Origin Influenza Virus Infection in Young Children
- Updated Guidance on Antiviral Recommendations for Patients with Influenza A (H1N1) Virus Infection and Their Close Contacts
Today’s Key Question
Are certain groups and demographics more likely to get sick?
It is may be premature to state unequivocally if specific groups are more likely to fall ill with Influenza A (H1N1), but a trend has begun to emerge. Thus far, the US has provided the most detailed case information and has found that age does appear to correlate with the likelihood of infection with this virus:- The median age for US cases is 16 years
- The youngest case documented in the US was a 3 month-old baby and the oldest was 81
- 58% of US cases occurred in individuals under the age of 18
The higher rate of infection of younger individuals could be due to some form of pre-existing immunity among the elderly, or simply that younger populations may have been the first to be exposed to the virus through travel to Mexico.
On a side note, it appears pregnant women do not have a higher rate of infection than the general public, as has been the case in past pandemics. CDC
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