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| |  United States Confirms Second Influenza A(H1N1)-Related Death WASHINGTON, DC -- May 6, 2009 -- A Texas woman is the second confirmed influenza A(H1N1)-related death reported in the United States. The confirmed case count in the United States is now 642, with 41 states affected (detailed list provided below). Another 850 probable cases are under investigation, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The median age of those infected in the United States is 16 years (range: 3 mo - 81 y); 35 hospitalisations in 14 states have been confirmed. Of these hospitalisations, 7 patients had a condition known to increase the risk for severe influenza infection. Mexico has now reported 942 laboratory-confirmed human cases of infection, including 29 deaths. According to a report from the Mexican Secretary of Health, cases have been confirmed in 26 of the 33 states in Mexico. Of the currently reported cases, 51.6% are under the age of 19 years. Seventeen of the deceased cases for which age information was available were aged 21-40 years. Guatemala reported their first case of influenza A(H1N1). Nineteen other countries have reported laboratory-confirmed cases with no deaths: Austria (1), Canada (201), China, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (1), Colombia (1), Costa Rica (1), Denmark (1), El Salvador (2), France (5), Germany (9), Ireland (1), Israel (4), Italy (5), Netherlands (1), New Zealand (5), Portugal (1), Republic of Korea (2), Spain (73), Switzerland (1), and the United Kingdom (28). In-country transmission of influenza A(H1N1) has been reported in 17 confirmed cases in the European Union and European Free Trade Association countries, according to the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC). The development of these in-country transmissions is being carefully monitored in order to rapidly identify the occurrence of sustained transmission with community outbreaks. The first signs of community outbreaks would come from confirmed cases for whom no epidemiological link (e.g., travel to affected areas or close contact with a confirmed case) could be established. The 41 US states affected include: The 8 Canadian provinces/territories affected include: WHO advises no restriction of regular travel or closure of borders. Nonetheless, the agency recommends that people who are ill delay international travel and people who develop symptoms following international travel seek medical attention. Individuals are advised to wash hands thoroughly with soap and water on a regular basis and should seek medical attention if they develop any symptoms of influenza-like illness.
SOURCES: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control, Health Canada, Texas Department of State Health Services, World Health Organization
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