(1200 HRS PST)
The WHO Pandemic Alert level remains at Phase 5.
Influenza A (H1N1) Cases and Deaths by Country (as of 8 AM PST, May 23rd)
*Map has been provided by the WHO’s Influenza A (H1N1) – Update #37.Local/National News
- On May 22nd, the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) announced no new cases of influenza A (H1N1) had been confirmed in the country. PHAC releases revised case totals on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday.
- Public health officials in Nova Scotia say they're preparing for what could be a more severe outbreak of the swine flu this fall. The Department of Health Promotion and Protection announced Friday that it will no longer focus on each individual case of the flu. However, Dr. Robert Strang, Nova Scotia's chief public health officer, said the swine flu outbreak isn't over and could possibly be more severe in the fall when the regular flu season hits. CBC
International News
- U.S. soldiers have been confirmed as the first cases in Kuwait with the novel H1N1 flu virus, the state news agency KUNA reported on Saturday, citing a government official. The virus was detected in an unspecified number of soldiers transiting through Kuwait. Some remained quarantined in their military base in Kuwait for treatment and some had left the country, KUNA said. Reuters
Guidance from the WHO, US CDC, PHAC, and the BCCDC
- The U.S. CDC has updated their Interim Recommendations for Facemask and Respirator Use to Reduce Novel Influenza A (H1N1) Virus Transmission. No change has been made to guidance on the use of facemasks and respirators for health care settings. However, this document now includes guidance on facemask and respirator use for a wider range of settings than was included in previous editions. It includes recommendations for those who are at increased risk of severe illness from infection with the novel H1N1 virus compared with those who are at lower risk of severe illness from influenza infection.
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