Influenza A (H1N1) Cases and Deaths
*Cases reported by The World Health Organization (WHO) are as of January 31, 2010
National News
There was an increase in the number of influenza-like-illness (ILI) outbreaks reported to doctors in Canada this week: 11 in schools and 1 in a residential institution. However, most ILI school outbreaks are not laboratory-confirmed and based on symptoms only. School outbreaks can be due to any respiratory pathogen such as influenza or the respiratory syncytial virus. Public Health Agency of Canada
International News
In the United Kingdom, the National Pandemic Flu Service is closing due to a sharp decline in the number of reported cases of H1N1 infection. At its busiest, the service provided antiviral medications to 40,000 people per week. Recently, that number has dropped to fewer then 5,000. The Chief Medical Officer for England continued to urge parents, even though there are few H1N1 cases at the moment, to have children six months to five years of age immunized. “Some young children have died,” he said, warning that the virus could return, “and if that happens it will be from a vaccine-preventable illness.” BBC News
The American Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) held a telephone press conference to brief the media on H1N1 activity. The CDC’s Director of the National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases told reporters the main point of the interview was that “H1N1 vaccination remains a good idea for this very preventable and sometimes serious disease.” She noted that, “H1N1 flu activity seems to have leveled off,” but, with regards to whether or not the pandemic were over, warned, “I think it's too soon for us to have that type of complacency.“ CDC
Vaccine News
Ontario public health officials say their province may avoid a third H1N1 pandemic wave entirely. Immunization programs, along with the number of people who have been exposed to H1N1, has boosted the population’s immunity level to a point where the virus may find it difficult to move amongst the public. Since the virus surfaced, 128 people have died in Ontario from H1N1-related illness. Ontario Public Health will be monitoring the number of cases closely in the coming weeks to see if there is any increase. CBC News
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