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Volume 7, Issue 11S
June 12, 2009 |
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Novel H1N1 Influenza
The World Health Organization (WHO) reports that, as of June 12th, 74 countries have officially
reported 29,669 cases of influenza A (H1N1) infection, including 145 deaths. The level of
influenza pandemic alert remains at phase 6.
 On June 11th, Dr Margaret Chan, Director-General of the World Health
Organization announced the decision to move the Pandemic Alert Phase
to 6. The decision came after a conference call on June 10th with
member nations reporting high rates of Novel H1N1 influenza followed by a meeting in Geneva with WHO staff influenza experts. A Phase 6 alert indicates that community level outbreaks of the virus are continually spreading among the population and to at least one other country in a second WHO region indicating a global pandemic is under way. This change does not speak to severity but the agency continued to voice concern with the virus' preference for younger age groups noting that cases of severe andfatal infection continue to occur in primarily young adults between the ages of 30 and 50, and not in the frail elderly, as is usually seen during epidemics of seasonal flu. The risk of severe illness is also greater during pregnancy and when certain underlying chronic conditions exist. For complete coverage of the Novel H1N1 influenza pandemic from WHO, please visit: http://www.who.int/mediacentre/news/statements/2009/h1n1_pandemic_phase6_20090611/
en/index.html.
 The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is reporting, as of
June 5th, 13,217 confirmed/probable cases in 50 states the District of
Columbia and Puerto Rico. Twenty-seven deaths have occurred. Currently,
the level of transmission is primarily community-based.
The Connecticut Department of Public Health reports, as of June 11th, 637 confirmed cases and
two deaths among state residents. Laboratory-confirmed cases represent only a fraction of the
likely number of cases in the state because many persons with mild symptoms do not seek care
from a doctor or hospital but recover at home.
 If the new H1N1 flu comes back in force this fall, it might be better
to vaccinate children first, experts said at a news conference
yesterday. In the early stages of the epidemic this spring, the new
flu strain caused "explosive outbreaks" among schoolchildren who
had no immunity to it, said David Fleming, public health director for
Seattle and King County, Wash., which reported 430 confirmed cases
through May. While the impact of the H1N1 flu, or swine flu, is still
evolving, "a critical target group for vaccinations is going to be younger children and particularly those with underlying health problems," said Dr. Fleming, who
spoke at a news conference sponsored by the Trust for America's Health, a national public health
advocacy group. For more information on this recommendation, please visit:
http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/09156/975227-84.stm#ixzz0HvimHWMc&C
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Novel H1N1 Links
We are providing an updated list of internet links to assist you
in staying accurately informed and up-to date on this dynamic event. We hope
you will find these useful:
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