The next update will be on Thursday, April 27th, 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 April 4, 2010
International News
After a quiet start to the year, Bangladesh is reporting rapid spread of pandemic flu this month and has placed health officials across the country on alert. “The virus sustained at a lower level in Bangladesh during January-March period, but it showed rising trend since the beginning of this month,” a health official said, adding that April through September is typically the busiest season for flu. He did not specify case numbers. Balita
Nigeria has yet to receive any H1N1 pandemic vaccine and is concerned that cases may grow as nearby Ghana is reporting an outbreak. Nigeria has confirmed 11 cases and 2 pandemic deaths. The story quoted unnamed experts as saying global demand for the vaccine has outpaced supply, making it difficult for developing countries to obtain doses. Nigeria Bulletin
In the biggest and most detailed look yet at pandemic flu infections in pregnant women, researchers from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have reported that early antiviral treatment was linked to fewer intensive care unit (ICU) admissions and that severe illnesses and deaths are more likely to occur during the third trimester. The CDC researchers, along with a Pandemic H1N1 Influenza in Pregnancy Working Group made up of health officials from several U.S. states, based their findings on reports of pregnant women who were sick with pandemic H1N1 infections through August plus more recent reports of women who were admitted to ICUs. The findings appear in the Apr 21 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA). CIDRAP
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