The next update will be on Tuesday, November 3rd, at 0830 hrs 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 October 18th, 2009
National News
The Public Health Agency of Canada has released new infection control guidelines for passengers of planes, trains, ferries and intercity buses. The guidelines include advice on how to deal with sick passengers and crew, availability of hand-washing for passengers and regular cleaning of public areas in stations and vehicles. Since April, there have been 1,600 hospitalizations for H1N1 infections in Canada, including 300 people admitted to intensive care units. Health Minister Leona Aglukkaq suggested Canadians who feel ill should defer their travel plans until they're better. The federal government encouraged travel companies to easily allow Canadians to rebook if they are ill.CBC
International News
Hospitals in the United States are experiencing waves of flu patients arriving at their doors, doubling their emergency room volume and putting pressure on intensive care units. If the numbers continue to rise, some doctors predict such an influx of intensive care patients eventually could force some hospitals to cancel services such as elective surgery. Thomas Frieden, director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, reported Friday that H1N1, has killed more than 1,000 people nationwide and prompted 20,000 to be hospitalized. One scenario by the President's Council of Advisors on Science and Technology forecasts that if 30% of the U.S. population contracts H1N1 flu, 90 million could get sick, 1.8 million would be hospitalized and 30,000 or more would die. USA Today
The top public health official in Los Angeles County stood at an H1N1 vaccination site in Compton, Calif. and gently told elderly residents that they really ought to go home. People have lined up in Southern California and across the country in recent days in the hope of getting a prick in the arm, but a dearth of the H1N1 vaccine has created an unexpected dynamic: local government officials, hospital workers and doctors in private practice are being conscripted as 'ad hoc swine flu police'. The goal is to make sure that those Americans with the highest risk for contracting the virus — and experiencing the more dangerous complications that can ensue — get injected first. New York Times
English soccer players were warned Tuesday that spitting could increase the risk of catching H1N1 as Bolton joined Premier League rivals Blackburn in saying squad members had contracted the virus. England's Health Protection Agency said the "disgusting" habit -- a common sight at soccer matches -- could see the infection passed on". Bolton manager Gary Megson said Tuesday several players were suffering with H1N1 flu. His comments came a day after Blackburn boss Sam Allardyce said the virus had struck at his club. Vancouver Sun
Gennady Onishchenko, chief sanitary office of Russia, confirmed 1,819 cases of the H1N1 virus with four deaths. Onishchenko said the cases began growing considerably in October, traditionally the time for a seasonal flu outbreak. He said Russia's worst-hit regions are in the Far East and east Siberia bordering on Mongolia and China. Russia plans to start an H1N1 vaccination program in December. Ten million people - medical staff, employees at electric power and water treatment plants and other facilities - will be initially inoculated against the flu. Another 30 million will be vaccinated if the virus spreads. Ria Novosti
Antiviral News
Work in the British Medical Journal shows Tamiflu and Relenza rarely prevent complications in children with seasonal flu, yet carry side effects. Although they did not test this in the current H1N1 pandemic, the authors say these drugs are unlikely to help children who catch the virus. While the latest study shows that antivirals can shorten the duration of normal seasonal flu in children by up to a day and a half, it also shows that the drugs can cause unpleasant side effects, such as vomiting with Tamiflu. There is also the risk that widespread use of the drugs will mean the virus will develop resistance to them. BBC
Vaccine News
Production yields for H1N1 swine flu vaccine are now increasing and output should reach full throttle in around a month's time according to the chief executive of GlaxoSmithKline, Andrew Witty. Major vaccine producers have been struggling with low yields, leading to lower than expected shipments and a scramble for supplies in some markets -- notably the United States. Worldwide, Glaxo has taken orders for more than 440 million doses of Pandemrix, its adjuvant containing H1N1 vaccine. BBC
Provinces in Canada are scrambling to accelerate their H1N1 vaccination programs and some hospitals are redirecting doctors from clinics to emergency rooms as the second wave of the pandemic virus grips the country. Toronto Public Health said it will fast-track its vaccination clinics for high-risk groups, and make the vaccine available on October 28th rather than next week. Alberta, meanwhile, will open 11 new clinics to meet public demand for the vaccine. With doses slowly rolling in from GlaxoSmithKline, Canada's vaccine supplier, jurisdictions have opted for a phased-in approach: First in line are health-care workers and groups that are more likely to develop complications, such as adults with chronic health conditions, young children, pregnant women and those living in remote communities. Healthy Canadians are being asked to hold off, until priority groups receive their shots. Globe and Mail
Some Ontario residents at high risk of complications from H1N1 are unable to get the vaccine because they are allergic to eggs. Eggs are used as incubators for the H1N1 vaccine, so those with egg allergies have been advised to only get vaccinated under the supervision of their allergists. However, so far the vaccine is not available to Ontario allergists. Allergists can determine what precautions must be taken for each patient depending on medical history. They can use methods to help desensitize some patients to the vaccine if necessary. They are also trained to recognize and treat any dangerous adverse reactions that might occur. CBC
With Canadians clamouring for the H1N1 vaccine, several public health authorities have cancelled or deferred programs in order to focus on flu vaccination. Earlier this month, two Saskatchewan health units said they were temporarily cutting programs such as breastfeeding support centres, prenatal classes, travel health clinics and parenting support groups. Public health services in other provinces have also cut back some programs. In Newfoundland and Labrador, the Eastern Regional Health Authority said it was suspending several campaigns. Health education in schools, such as physical fitness and smoking-cessation campaigns, are delayed. A dental program in low-income schools has been set back. IFP Press
Weekly Feature
Get all the H1N1 virus infection rates, vaccine schedules, and antiviral availability in Canada on the Public Health Agency of Canada’s interactive nation-wide map. PHAC
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