The next update will be on Thursday, December 31st, 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 December 20th, 2009
National News
A Manitoban under age 18 has become the first patient with H1N1 to show resistance to antiviral drugs, provincial health officials said on Wednesday. The youth, who was only identified as living in Manitoba and having underlying health conditions, was being treated with Tamiflu. "A public health investigation continues, but it appears this is an isolated case with no evidence to date that a resistant strain of H1N1 has been transmitted to others," Manitoba Health said in a statement. The province said antiviral resistance has been previously found with other strains of seasonal flu. CBC
International News
The H1N1 flu pandemic may not be conquered until 2011, the head of the World Health Organization (WHO) said on Tuesday. "I think we must remain prudent and observe the evolution of the pandemic in the course of the next six to 12 months before crying victory,” said WHO Director-General Margaret Chan. "It is too soon to say that we have passed the peak of the (H1N1) flu pandemic on a worldwide scale... Winter is still long.” Reuters
Vaccine News
WHO Director-General Margaret Chan has called for international solidarity to provide equitable access to pandemic influenza vaccine for all countries. Final preparations are underway to distribute donated pandemic influenza vaccines to 95 low- and middle-income countries to help prevent severe disease. On Friday, the WHO reported so far six countries have completed national deployment plans, and another 190 million doses of vaccines, 75 million syringes and US$70 million have been pledged for vaccine deployment. WHO
Posts
