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| |  Community Transmission of Influenza A(H1N1) Remains Confined to North America WASHINGTON, DC -- May 7, 2009 -- According to the World Health Organization (WHO), 24 countries have reported more than 2,300 cases of influenza A(H1N1) infection. Forty-four deaths are reported in total: 42 from Mexico and 2 from the United States. The United States has confirmed 254 new influenza A(H1N1) cases, bringing the total confirmed case count to 896, with 41 states affected (see below for detailed list). More than 30% of the new US cases were reported in Illinois. Another 925 probable cases are under investigation, according to Richard Besser, MD, Acting Director, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). At today's press briefing, Dr. Besser reported that the median age of infection in the United States remains 15 years (range: 1 mo - 87 y); 58% of confirmed cases are younger than 18 years. He also reported that only 10% of confirmed US cases have a history of travel to Mexico. According to WHO, Mexico has 1,112 laboratory-confirmed human cases of infection, and Canada has 201 cases. A more recent update from the Public Health Agency of Canada reports 13 new cases, bringing the total of Canadian cases to 214 (see below for detailed list). Poland and Sweden each reported their first cases of influenza A(H1N1); travel history to the United States was confirmed for both cases. No new cases of in-country transmission in the European Union were reported over the last 24 hours. WHO reports laboratory-confirmed cases from 19 other countries: Austria (1), China, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (1), Colombia (1), Costa Rica (1), Denmark (1), El Salvador (2), France (5), Germany (10), Guatemala (1), Ireland (1), Israel (6), Italy (5), Netherlands (2), New Zealand (5), Portugal (1), Republic of Korea (3), Spain (81), Switzerland (1), and the United Kingdom (32). According to the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC), France has confirmed 7 cases of influenza A(H1N1). The May 8 issue of Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR), released today, provides an update on the clinical signs and symptoms of influenza A(H1N1) infection based on available data from cases in Mexico and the United States. Among Mexican cases for whom information was available, 98% reported fever, 94% reported cough, 79% reported dyspnoea, 80% reported headache, and 83% reported rhinorrhoea. Among US cases for whom data were available, fever was reported in 90% of cases, cough in 84%, sore throat in 61%, diarrhoea in 26%, and vomiting in 24%. MMWR reports that early surveillance data from Mexico and the United States suggest that several characteristics of the influenza A(H1N1) outbreak are "unusual compared with a typical influenza seasonal outbreak": (2) Age distribution of hospitalised patients with A(H1N1) infection is different from what is seen with seasonal influenza; typically children aged <2 years, adults aged >/=65 years, and persons with chronic health conditions are hospitalized during season influenza outbreaks. (3) The percentage of patients aged 30-44 years requiring hospitalisation is particularly high. The 41 US states affected include: The 9 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, Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, Public Health Agency of Canada, World Health Organization
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