Influenza A (H1N1) Cases and Deaths*
*Cases reported by The World Health Organization (WHO) are as of May 23, 2010
International News
Taiwanese researchers highlight the need for veracity and calm in a pandemic
Taiwanese Health officials have published a study outlining the importance of strong surveillance and communication strategies as a part of public vaccination campaigns. During the H1N1 outbreak, the Taiwanese government began a nation-wide, in-school vaccination campaign using an inactive vaccine that had no adjuvant. Within two hours of vaccination, 46 children from a 692-student school were sent to hospital with symptoms of dizziness, nausea and weakness.
Physical and laboratory examinations uncovered no organic cause for the symptoms in any of the patients. One student was hospitalized overnight and discharged the next day; the other 45 recovered spontaneously in the emergency department. Doctors concluded it was a case of Mass Psychogenic Illness (MPI) resulting from public hysteria over vaccine safety, but the episodes received intense media coverage, which drove even greater suspicion over the safety of the vaccine. By the end, health officials had documented 22 more clusters of mass psychogenic illness affecting a total of 350 children. Eurosurveillance Journal
WHO expects to review its Pandemic Alert Phases
With the southern hemisphere’s winter solstice this month comes the height of the annual flu season for many countries in that part of the planet. The World Health Organization’s Emergency Committee is expected to meet by teleconference at 12:00(GMT) today to review the spread and proliferation of H1N1 and determine whether or not the pandemic should be declared ongoing, declining, or over. The declaration serves as a signal to the 193 member nations of the UN for the measures they take against the virus with regards to stockpiling and distributing antiviral drugs and vaccines. Currently H1N1 is the most active in the Caribbean, Southeast Asia and parts of Chile. Reuters
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