GMS Pandemic (H1N1) 2009 Update as of August 4th, 2009
(0830 HRS PST)
The next update will be on Thursday August 6th, at 08:30 PST.
The WHO Pandemic Alert level remains at Phase 6
- The head of the Federation of Canadian Cities has charged that Canada has no national plan for protecting critical frontline workers such as police, firefighters, and transit workers. In an open letter to federal Health Minister Leona Aglukkaq, Basil Stewart said Canada's pandemic plan does not say who will have priority access to vaccines and antivirals. A spokesman for Aglukkaq said ongoing epidemiologic studies will guide vaccine allocation. Globe and Mail
International News
- The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said on Friday it is aware of a total of 5,514 H1N1 flu hospitalizations and 353 deaths from 47 states and territories. Meanwhile, the CDC's flu surveillance report for last week says that Pandemic H1N1 activity continued to drop for the fifth consecutive week, with only four states and Puerto Rico reporting widespread activity, down from seven states the week before. CDC H1N1 flu hospitalization and death count
- The World Health Organization (WHO) today issued a list of warning signs of possible severe disease in H1N1 flu patients, while adding its voice to the recent warnings about the virus's threat to pregnant women. The WHO said signs that can signal a progression to severe disease include shortness of breath, difficulty breathing, turning blue, bloody or colored sputum, chest pain, altered mental status, high fever lasting more than 3 days, and low blood pressure. In addition, particular danger signs in children include fast or difficult breathing, lack of alertness, difficulty in waking up, and little or no desire to play. CIDRAP
- Britain's Health Protection Agency estimated late last week that the country had about 110,000 new cases of H1N1 flu the week prior, as compared with about 100,000 the week before that. But the agency said overall indications are that the number of cases is "no longer rising rapidly, and may have plateaued." Cases appear to have decreased in 5- to 14-year-olds but were still rising in other age-groups, officials said. UK weekly pandemic flu update
- The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the US Department of Education have set up a system for monitoring school dismissals related to the H1N1 pandemic. School districts have the option of filling out and submitting the report online or printing out a form that can be submitted by e-mail or fax. CDC/DOE school dismissal monitoring portal
- Argentina's pandemic H1N1 cases have peaked, and so far the death rate from the disease seems to be less than for seasonal flu, said public health experts. However, one official said the disease has had its greatest impact on young people. With more than a month left of the country's flu season, scientists report that viruses isolated in Argentina are nearly identical to those circulating in North America. AP
Vaccine News
- Canadian health officials said last week that they would wait until at least September to finalize pandemic H1N1 vaccine priorities. Dr David Butler-Jones, chief public health officer, said authorities still have time to assess developments, such as the southern hemisphere's evolving flu season. Jul 30 Canwest News Service
Antiviral News
- Two survey studies in the Jul 30 issue of Eurosurveillance report side effects in British schoolchildren who received prophylactic oseltamivir treatment. In an online survey of three London schools, 53% of the children reported side effects, including gastrointestinal (40%) and mild neuropsychiatric (18%) problems. In the other study, 51% of students from one school reported symptoms such as feeling sick, headache, or stomachache. Compliance was higher in the single-school study. Eurosurveillance
- Britain has seen a spurt in reported negative side effects from oseltamivir (Tamiflu) use since the National Pandemic Flu Service was launched Jul 23. The service allows people to get the drug over the phone without seeing a doctor. 293 reports have come in since early April, of which 143 were in the past week. The reported effects include vomiting, diarrhea, and psychiatric and nervous system problems. Daily Mail
Guidance and Recommendations
- The Government of Canada has released three guidance documents for health care workers and emergency responders to prevent and control infections of H1N1 influenza, Minister of Health Leona Aglukkaq and Canada’s Chief Public Health Officer, Dr. David Butler-Jones, stated. The guidance documents are for workers in acute care facilities, long term facilities, and for emergency response workers including paramedics, ambulance attendants, police officers and firefighters.
- The CDC recently issued a tool to help communities develop and manage call centers as a way of relieving pressure on 911 systems and healthcare systems during the H1N1 flu pandemic. The guidance, developed by a Department of Energy facility, acknowledges that each community's needs and capabilities vary. Communities are urged to identify key partners and build on systems that are already in place. CDC call center guidance
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