GMS Pandemic (H1N1) 2009 Update as of August 6th, 2009
(0830 HRS PST)
The next update will be on Tuesday August 11th, at 08:30 PST.
The WHO Pandemic Alert level remains at Phase 6
- Earlier this week the Public Health Agency of Canada reported that 62 deaths have occurred in Canada that were related to the H1N1 Pandemic. PHAC
- In the wake of recent swine flu outbreaks at summer camps in B.C. and elsewhere, BC’s top health officer is advising camps to be on alert for children who show symptoms of the virus. We expect to see the virus spread," health officer Dr. Perry Kendall said Friday. "Children's camps are likely to be hot spots." Kendall issued a set of guidelines Friday for the prevention and management of the H1N1 flu after he confirmed outbreaks at two camps in the B.C. Interior last week. Vancouver Sun
- Aboriginal leaders are looking to Canada's premiers for more help as First Nations' communities struggle with the H1N1 Pandemic. Beverley Jacobs, president of the Native Women's Association, says the H1N1 pandemic will be on the agenda when the aboriginal leaders and premiers meet Wednesday in Regina. CP
- In an update on H1N1 influenza activity, the World Health Organization (WHO) said earlier this week that 168 countries and territories on all continents have now had cases and that the new virus increasingly dominates the flu landscape. The new virus accounted for an average of 71% of all flu viruses identified in those countries, including 66% in the northern hemisphere and 89% in the southern hemisphere. CIDRAP
- Federal officials are considering plans to recommend fewer school closures, according to anonymous sources. Early in the H1N1 flu outbreak, officials recommended closures when student illnesses were confirmed, but later recommended closing only when large numbers were ill. The new guidance might recommend closure only under "extenuating circumstances," such as schools that have large numbers of children with chronic medical conditions Washington Post
- India's announcement of its first novel flu death 2 days ago sparked panic at a hospital in the town where the 14-year-old girl died. Hundreds of people gathered outside a hospital in Pune hoping to be tested for the virus. Several fights broke out while people were waiting in long lines. Local authorities are testing all students who attended the girl's school, the Press Trust of India reported. AP
- Frequent handwashing and the wearing of face masks at home can help reduce the transmission of influenza viruses within the household if the measures are implemented in good time, a study in Hong Kong has found. The findings, published in the Annals of Internal Medicine, are seen as important as patients may need to be quarantined at home in a pandemic if hospitals run short of isolation facilities. Reuters
- The California Nurses Association plans to protest Wednesday in San Francisco in the wake of a Sacramento nurse's swine flu death last month. The union wants hospitals to provide better masks, equipment and protocol to protect nurses from further sickness. The union says nurses across the state are reporting difficulties getting the masks recommended by the US CDC, and having them properly fitted to be airtight. AP
- More than 1,100 people worldwide have died from H1N1 Pandemic virus since it emerged in Mexico and the U.S. in April, according to the latest figures from the World Health Organization. CNN
- Novartis has launched human trials of its novel H1N1 vaccine, according to a company spokesman. The company, like other vaccine makers, is seeing antigen yields that are only 30% to 50% of seasonal flu vaccine, but is still working with the original seed strains. The spokesman said Novartis is testing an unadjuvanted vaccine for the US market and an adjuvanted version for use in Europe and expects to begin shipping in the last quarter of 2009. AP
- A British laboratory may have found a fix for the low yield problem that has been plaguing companies making Pandemic flu vaccine. The National Institute for Biological Standards and Control says it is ready to ship new versions of its vaccine seed strain to manufacturers. CP
- The BC Centers for Disease Control has released guidelines for the prevention and management of H1N1 Pandemic Influenza in Summer Camps.
- The US CDC has issued Recommendations for the Amount of Time Persons with Influenza-Like Illness Should be Away from Others. CDC recommends that people with influenza-like illness remain at home until at least 24 hours after they are free of fever (100 degrees F or 37.8 degrees C), or signs of a fever without the use of fever-reducing medications. This is a change from the previous recommendation that ill persons stay home for 7 days after illness onset or until 24 hours after the resolution of symptoms, whichever was longer. The new recommendation applies to camps, schools, businesses, mass gatherings, and other community settings where the majority of people are not at increased risk for influenza complications. This guidance does not apply to health care settings where the exclusion period should be continued for 7 days from symptom onset or until the resolution of symptoms, whichever is longer
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