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| |  As More Influenza A/H1N1 Cases Are Confirmed, Countries Prepare for a Pandemic WASHINGTON, DC -- April 30, 2009 -- In the United States, the total confirmed influenza A/H1N1 cases topped 100, today; however, no additional deaths were reported. Meanwhile, the number of affected countries rose to 11, as Peru and Costa Rica reported their first confirmed cases. Nonetheless, the World Health Organization (WHO) pandemic alert level remains at 5, meaning a full-blow global pandemic is still at bay. The confirmation of human-to-human transmission of infection in the United States and in Mexico led to WHO raising the pandemic alert level to Phase 5. A Phase 5 alert is a "strong signal that a pandemic is imminent and that the time to finalize the organization, communication, and implementation of the planned mitigation measures is short." In the United States, South Carolina joined the list of affected states. According to the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC), 13 confirmed cases of the influenza A/H1N1 have been identified in the state. All confirmed cases are associated with a school. The last update from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) confirmed 109 cases in the United States: New York: 50 (down from 51 reported April 29) The United States Government has declared a national public-health emergency. CDC's response goals are "to reduce transmission and illness severity, and provide information to help healthcare providers, public health officials and the public address the challenges posed by this emergency." CDC continues to issue and update interim guidance daily in response to the rapidly evolving situation. Likewise, CDC's Division of the Strategic National Stockpile continues to send antiviral drugs, personal protective equipment, and respiratory protection devices to all 50 states and US territories to help them respond to the outbreak. The last update from the European Centres for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) confirmed 19 cases of influenza A/H1N1 infection in the European Union: Austria (1), Germany (3), Spain (10), and United Kingdom (5). Two probable cases have been reported by France; laboratory confirmation is pending. All European confirmed cases have a history of travel to Mexico, except 1 case in Spain where there is evidence of transmission within the household. The other affected countries are Canada (19), Costa Rica (2), Israel (2), Mexico (26), New Zealand (14), and Peru (1). Outside Mexico, most cases have a mild clinical course, Prof. Angus Nicoll, head of ECDC's Influenza Programme, reported today at a media briefing in Stockholm, Sweden. The influenza A/H1N1 virus is susceptible to the prescription antiviral drugs oseltamivir and zanamivir. While antivirals are an important part of pandemic preparedness, they "are only a small part of pandemic preparedness," Prof. Nicoll reminded in an effort to warn against over-reliance on these medications. A vaccine for influenza A/H1N1 is under development, but the go-ahead for mass production has not been given. "As yet, the decision hasn't been made as to really produce it because that would involve stopping the seasonal flu vaccine," Prof. Nicoll said.
SOURCES: World Health Organization, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control, South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control
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