The next update will be on Thursday, June 4, at 8:30 PST
The WHO Pandemic Alert level remains at Phase 5.
Influenza A (H1N1) Cases and Deaths by Country (as of 8 AM PST, June 2nd)
*Lab confirmed cases and deaths have been provided by the WHO’s Influenza A (H1N1) – Update #42.
Local/National News
- On June 1st, the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) announced that 194 new cases of influenza A (H1N1) had been confirmed in the country since May 29th. Ontario still has the most cases in Canada (715), followed by Quebec (309), British Columbia (132), Alberta (126), Saskatchewan (153), Nova Scotia (73), Manitoba (11), Nunavut (4), PEI (3), New Brunswick (2), Yukon (1), and the Northwest Territories (1). Canada’s total case count is now at 1,530 with 57 hospitalizations and two deaths.
- The British Columbia Centre for Disease Control (BCCDC) is now reporting the following confirmed cases across the province:
- 47 in Fraser Health
- 4 in Interior Health
- 25 in Northern Health
- 39 in Vancouver Coastal Health
- 17 in Vancouver Island Health
- Recently, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported that:
- 77% of US influenza virus isolates tested during the week of May 17th to 23rd were the novel H1N1 type,
- Four states reported widespread activity: Arizona, California, New Jersey, and Virginia,
- None of the novel H1N1 isolates tested showed resistance to neuraminidase inhibitors,
- The proportion of deaths from pneumonia and flu was below the epidemic threshold, and
- Outpatient visits for flu-like symptoms were below the national baseline.
- The source of exposure is unknown in about 45% of US H1N1 flu cases so far, according to findings presented yesterday by Michael W. Shaw, PhD, of the CDC's Influenza Division. Speaking at a webinar, Shaw said that 25% of patients contracted the virus from a family member, 12% had traveled to Mexico, 12% had contact with a known or suspected case, and 5% were health care workers who were exposed on the job. NYAS H1N1 webinar information
- Australian authorities will let 2,000 passengers and crew on Carnival’s Pacific Dawn cruise ship disembark in Sydney after they were cleared of the disease (after two voyages on the vessel, 53 people had tested positive for the H1N1 virus). Twenty-five health officials who boarded the ship at the weekend cleared the occupants after swab testing. Carnival has reimbursed the passengers. Bloomberg
- Australia's health department has confirmed 401 novel flu cases, including 306 in the southwestern state of Victoria. The number is doubling every 2 days, with evidence of community spread that might prompt the World Health Organization (WHO) to raise the pandemic alert level to 6. Bloomberg
- Chile's health ministry said on Sunday that it had confirmed 276 novel H1N1 flu cases, the most in South America. Officials said most of the illnesses have been mild, though three patients have been hospitalized. Meanwhile, Argentina reported 115 cases, the second-highest in South America. Influenza experts are closely watching developments in the southern hemisphere, which is just starting its annual flu season. AFP story
Vaccine News
- MedImmune, Inc., based in Gaithersburg, Md., said Monday that US officials have awarded the company an initial $90 million contract to produce a live attenuated nasal-spray vaccine to protect priority groups identified in the nation's pandemic flu plan against the novel H1N1 virus. The US is the only country that has licensed MedImmune's intranasal vaccine technology, though the company said it would make vaccine for countries that offer regulatory approval if it has enough production capacity. MedImmune press release
Latest Guidance from the US CDC, WHO, PHAC and BCCDC
- Recently, the US Center for Disease Control and Prevention released General Business and Workplace Guidance for the Prevention of Novel Influenza A (H1N1) Flu in Workers. This guidance is to help employers with employees in OSHA's Lower Risk (Caution) assessment tool: employees who have minimal occupational contact with the general public and other coworkers (for example, office employees).
What are some of the steps employers can take to protect employees from the novel H1N1 virus?
This exert from the recently released General Business and Workplace Guidance from the US CDC, provides an excellent overview of some of the steps companies can take to protect their employees from both the novel H1N1 virus and the seasonal flu.
- Encourage sick workers to stay home and away from the workplace, and provide flexible leave policies.
- Encourage infection control practices in the workplace by displaying posters that address and remind workers about proper hand washing, respiratory hygiene, and cough etiquette. These posters can be found on the Germ Stopper: Posters and Other Materials page.
- Provide written guidance (such as email, memos, etc.) on novel influenza A (H1N1) flu appropriate for the language and literacy levels of everyone in the workplace. Employers should work closely with local and state public health officials to ensure they are providing the most appropriate and up-to-date information (e.g., the CDC H1N1 Flu website, the GMS update).
- Provide sufficient facilities for hand washing and alcohol-based (at least 60%) hand sanitizers (or wipes) in common workplace areas such as lobbies, corridors, and restrooms.
- Provide tissues, disinfectants, and disposable towels for employees to clean their work surfaces, as well as appropriate disposal receptacles for use by employees.
- To reduce the chance of spread of the novel influenza A (H1N1) virus, disinfect commonly touched hard surfaces in the workplace, such as work stations, counter tops, door knobs, and bathroom surfaces by wiping them down with a household disinfectant according to directions on the product label. One study has shown that influenza virus can survive on environmental surfaces and can infect a person for up to 2-8 hours after being deposited on the surface.
Posts
