(0830 HRS PST)
The next update will be on Tuesday August 25th, at 08:30am PST.
The WHO Pandemic Alert level remains at Phase 6
Local/National
A new study shows the H1N1 virus spreads at the same relatively slow rate as SARS and other influenza viruses, offering some reassurance to scientists about the potential of preventing a widespread outbreak. The transmissibility of the virus was determined by looking at data from the spread of the virus in Mexico City, said Babak Pourbohloul of the University of B.C. Centre for Disease Control. The study says the 2009 pandemic virus also appears to be less transmissible than the fall wave of the 1918 Spanish flu pandemic. Canada.com
International News
The British Department of Health has confirmed another 10 swine flu deaths in the past week, bringing the total death toll in the U.K. during the pandemic to 59. But the estimated number of new weekly cases has fallen again. In England, there were thought to be 11,000 infections, down from over 100,000 at the beginning of the month. Experts still said a second, and perhaps worse, peak could happen during the winter. BBC
Vaccine News
The World Health Organization recently stated that northern hemisphere countries have so far ordered more than one billion doses of swine flu vaccine, sparking warnings over potential shortages. Some countries, notably Greece, The Netherlands, Canada and Israel, have ordered enough double doses to inoculate their entire populations. Others, such as Germany, the United States, Britain, and France, have put in orders that would cover between 30 and 78 percent of people. A shortfall in supply would essentially oblige national health authorities to ration the vaccine. AFP
Adelaide Advertiser reported that the Australian government expects to receive its first 2 million doses of H1N1 vaccine by the end of next week. Pregnant women, health workers, and chronically ill people will be first in line for the vaccine. It is expected that immunizations could begin September 7, pending approval from national health authorities. They are awaiting safety data from the vaccine manufacturer, CSL, which is also making vaccine for the U.S. government. Adelaide Advertiser
Guidance and Recommendations
Federal officials in the United States have released new guidance to help businesses prepare for an expected resurgence of novel H1N1 activity during the upcoming influenza season, a document that clarifies how long sick workers should stay home and suggests ways to keep employees safe and business disruptions at a minimum. The recommendations were released at a news conference at US Department of Commerce headquarters in Washington, DC, and streamed live on the government's flu Web site, where the guidance document is posted, along with a communication toolkit for businesses and employers. CIDRAP
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