Global's H1N1 Update - (0830 HRS PST)

The next update will be on Tuesday September 15th, at 08:30 PST.

The WHO Pandemic Alert level remains at Phase 6

Influenza A (H1N1) Cases and Deaths

*Cases reported by The World Health Organization (WHO) are as of August 30, 2009

Local/National News

Provincial Health Minister Theresa Oswald released Manitoba's plan to deal with a potential H1N1 outbreak this coming flu season. Oswald's plan involves buying almost $22-million worth of a vaccine developed earlier this summer. It also boosts spending to buy extra anti-virals for patients who have already contracted the H1N1 bug, as well as more masks, gowns, gloves and other protective gear for health-care workers. The province will add 10 intensive care beds -- all in Winnipeg -- to its existing network of 183, hire more staff, and send a flu guide to every household in Manitoba outlining what people can do to help fight the flu. WINNEPEG SUN

Vancouver Coastal Health confirmed Tuesday that swine flu has been detected in one student at St. George's School in Vancouver, a boys' school, and other pupils are showing flu-like symptoms. Dr. Patricia Daly, the health authority's chief medical officer, said it was inevitable that the H1N1 strain of influenza would show up in schools. In an email sent to parents, St. George's said all staff remained on duty and the school has a large supply of Tamiflu antiviral tablets. Vaccines will be used when available. CBC

Health officials in the Yukon are putting pandemic flu plans in place, in part by creating a separate facility in time for the possible second wave of swine flu. The triage-type facility would serve as a first stop for Yukoners who have the flu or need immunization, Provincial Health Minister Glenn Hart said Tuesday. In the Northwest Territories, Stanton Territorial Hospital in Yellowknife is stockpiling everything from anti-viral drugs and face masks to new ventilators. Hospital CEO Kay Lewis anticipates that 15 to 30 per cent of the population could get swine flu, with half of those cases requiring treatment and one per cent potentially needing hospitalization. CBC

New Brunswick’s daycares’ preparation for the second wave could include buying insurance in case an outbreak forces a facility to close. The Oromocto Day Care Centre has already had to deal with a swine flu scare. A child who normally attends the centre was out of province and contracted the virus. The illness did not spread to any other kids at the daycare but when the flu season hits this fall the centre's owners may not be so fortunate. That is why Jean Robinson, vice-president with Early Childhood Care and Education New Brunswick, said the organization is working to offer daycares insurance against closure. CBC

International News

Fear of H1N1 flu will stop devout Neapolitans from performing a time-honored ritual when the city's annual festival begins in September. The decision to forbid kissing of the glass vial containing the blood of their patron Saint Gennaro was taken by ecclesiastical and city authorities. Marco Di Lello, national coordinator of the Socialist Party, said the ban would "fuel the psychosis (over flu) which risks becoming unstoppable," and appealed to the archbishop of Naples to try to have the ban revoked. On 4th September, a 51-year-old man became Italy's first fatal victim of the H1N1 virus when he died in a Naples hospital. REUTERS

Antiviral News

People who have had close contact with someone suspected of having swine flu should no longer be automatically prescribed antiviral medications, U.S. health officials have recently advised. The updated guidelines now recommend that doctors hold off on giving the antivirals for prevention unless someone develops a fever or respiratory symptoms. Dr. Anne Schuchat, director of the CDC's National Center for Immunization & Respiratory Diseases, said the antivirals should be reserved for people hospitalized for influenza and those suspected of having swine flu that are at higher risk of complications from flu. CBC

Vaccine News

China is to become the first country in the world to start a mass swine flu vaccination programme for its population. The first people to be vaccinated will be those attending celebrations for the 60th anniversary of the founding of the PRC, Health Minister Chen Zhu said. Other critical groups are top government officials, students aged five to 19, patients, especially with chronic respiratory and coronary diseases, pregnant women, medical staff, and finally, police officers, soldiers, quarantine officials and railway, airline and border-control workers. Altogether Beijing plans to vaccinate 65 million people, or 5 per cent of the total population, before the end of the year. All 31 provinces on the Chinese mainland had reported A/H1N1 flu cases, bringing the total to 5,592. So far, nearly 70 percent have recovered and no deaths have been reported. BBC and ASIA NEWS

Results from the first swine-flu vaccine trials taking place in Leicester reveal a strong immune response after just one dose. The pilot study, run by of Leicester and Leicester Hospitals, was trialled with 100 healthy volunteers, aged between 18 and 50. Dr Iain Stephenson, who led the trial at the Leicester Royal Infirmary, said: “The clinical trial of Novartis MF59-adjuvanted cell-based A (H1N1) vaccine indicates that the “swine flu” vaccine elicits a strong immune response and is well-tolerated. ETHIOPIAN REVIEW

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