H1N1 A Influenza Cases by Country (as of 8 AM PST May 4th)
| Country | Cases | Deaths | ||
| Lab Confirmed* | Increase from May 3, 2009 | Lab Confirmed* | Increase from Yesterday | |
| Mexico | 590 | 136 | 25 | 6 |
| US | 226 | 29 | 1 | 0 |
| Canada | 101 | 16 | 0 | 0 |
| UK | 15 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Spain | 40 | 20 | 0 | 0 |
| Germany | 8 | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| New Zealand | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Israel | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| France | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| El Salvador | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Austria | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Netherlands | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Switzerland | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Denmark | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Hong Kong | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Rep. of Korea | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Costa Rica | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Columbia | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Ireland | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Italy | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| TOTALS | 1001 | 209
| 26 | 6 |
*The number of confirmed cases is only from the WHO , PHAC, and the CDC, the number of cases includes deaths.
In addition, several other countries around the world have suspected cases of swine flu.Local/National News
- Following the quarantine of an Alberta farm after reports that its pigs were infected with the same swine flu strain that has caused illness in hundreds around the world, new trade bans have been in imposed on Canadian pork. Countries including the Philippines, El Salvador, Honduras, and the Ukraine have stopped accepting any pork from Canada. China has banned only imports from Alberta.
- According to the Public Health Agency of Canada, 101 cases of swine flu have been confirmed in Canada (the WHO has confirmed only 85):
- 29 confirmed cases in British Columbia
- 18 confirmed cases in Alberta
- 1 confirmed case in Manitoba
- 16 confirmed cases in Ontario
- 3 confirmed cases in Quebec
- 1 confirmed case in New Brunswick
- 33 confirmed cases in Nova Scotia
- 29 confirmed cases in British Columbia
- According to YahooNews:
- The WHO continues to monitor the situation and may now be considering raising the Pandemic Alert to Phase 6 from the current Phase 5. Margaret Chan said this in an interview with a Spanish newspaper, "Level 6 does not mean, in any way, that we are facing the end of the world. It is important to make this clear because (otherwise) when we announce level 6 it will cause an unnecessary panic."Last week the pandemic alert phase was raised twice from 3 to 5.
- According to the Associated Press:
- Mexico continues to take extraordinary measures against the epidemic, ordering all nonessential government and private business to shut down for five days
- Hong Kong ordered a weeklong quarantine of a downtown hotel where a Mexican tourist was confirmed to have the illness, trapping 350 guests and employees inside.
- U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says about a third of the confirmed U.S. cases of swine flu are people who had been to Mexico and likely picked up the infection there.
- Mexico continues to take extraordinary measures against the epidemic, ordering all nonessential government and private business to shut down for five days
Latest Guidance from the WHO, the U.S. CDC, and the PHAC
- The CDC has released new guidance for pregnant women and for those caring for babies. It answers key questions such as: Is it ok to breastfeed my baby if I am sick? and What can I do to protect myself, my baby and my family?
- In response to the current outbreak of H1N1 flu virus (Human Swine Influenza), the Public Health Agency of Canada has posted Interim Recommendations Regarding Schools and Daycare Centres. This document has been developed to assist public health authorities with the public health response in Canada and provides specific recommendations regarding considerations for school and daycare centre closures.
- The Public Health Agency of Canada has also posted guidelines on how to look after someone at home with H1N1 Swine Influenza.
Today’s Key Question (and Possible Answer)
Will schools be closed if a student contracts Influenza A (H1N1)?
In yesterday’s interim recommendation the Public Health Agency of Canada announced that it is not recommending the closure of schools and daycare centres at this time. This advice also applies even if a confirmed case is identified in a school or daycare centre. Ill students and staff should remain at home and seek medical attention as necessary.
This is different from the US, as the CDC recommends that affected communities (School/School District) with laboratory-confirmed cases of influenza A (H1N1) virus infection consider activating school dismissal and childcare closure interventions.
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