On June 11, 2009, the WHO raised the level of pandemic alert from phase 5 to phase 6, indicating a global pandemic is under way. According to WHO’s pandemic criteria, a global outbreak is declared when a new flu virus begins spreading in two world regions. The WHO has reported 28,774 confirmed cases of H1N1 flu across 74 countries, with 144 confirmed deaths. 13,217 of these cases are in the United States, including 27 deaths. The last pandemic was the Hong Kong flu of 1968, which killed about 1 million people. The seasonal flu kills between 250,000 and 500,000 each year.
The WHO stressed that most H1N1 cases are mild and require no treatment, but there is a concern that a rash of new infections could overwhelm hospitals and health authorities, especially in poorer countries. The majority of cases have occurred in people under the age of 25 years. It is expected that globally this pandemic will be of moderate severity, but severity can vary from one country to another. H1N1 is continuing to spread during the start of summer in the northern hemisphere. Flu viruses normally disappear with warm weather but this flu is proving to be resilient. Countries should prepare to see cases, or further spread of cases, in the near feature. Countries where outbreaks appear to have peaked should prepare for a second wave of infection.
The WHO is recommending drug manufactures begin production of the H1N1 flu vaccine. GlaxoSmithKline PLC reported they could start large-scale production of pandemic vaccine in July, but it would take several months before large quantities are available. The pandemic declaration will also likely prompt governments to allocate more money towards efforts to contain the virus.
No previous pandemic has been detected so early or watched so closely in real-time, from the beginning of the first reports. This is a result of the investments the world has made over the past five years in pandemic preparedness.
AllOne Health will continue to keep you updated on this situation at its website, http://www.allonehealth.com. As experts in pandemic flu preparedness, AllOne Health can assist you with any questions you have about preparing your organization for a pandemic.