H1N1 Flu Cases Top 1,085 in 21 Countries

Keiji Fukuda, the UN health agency's acting assistant director general, told reporters that the largest number of cases are still in North America - Mexico, the United States and Canada. Infections related to travel have occurred in Asia, Europe and Latin America.

The United Nations has no plans to raise the global alert level on the influenza A/H1N1 virus to Phase 6 at this time, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said today, while stressing the need for vigilance and preparedness as the outbreak continues to evolve.

"There is still much that is not known about this new strain and the dangers it poses. We should not allow intense media coverage to alarm us. At the same time, we should avoid a false sense of security if such coverage declines," Ban told UN member states today as he briefed them on the current situation.

"In the face of uncertainty, we must be vigilant," he added. "We must pay close attention to the advice of the World Health Organization." WHO advises no restriction of regular travel or closure of borders.

This strain of influenza virus is unique because it is a combination of genes from swine, bird, and human influenza viruses. Sick people report flu-like symptoms of fever, aches and pains, sore throats, coughing, and trouble breathing. Some people have also reported diarrhea and vomiting.

Mexico has reported 590 laboratory confirmed human cases of infection, including 25 deaths, while the United States has reported 226 laboratory confirmed human cases, including one death.

The following countries have reported laboratory confirmed cases with no deaths - Austria (1), Canada (101), China, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (1), Costa Rica (1), Colombia (1), Denmark (1), El Salvador (2), France (4), Germany (8), Ireland (1), Israel (4), Italy (2), Netherlands (1), New Zealand (6), Portugal (1), Republic of Korea (1), Spain (54), Switzerland (1) and the United Kingdom (18).

"We need to respond with a vigorous new multilateralism," said Ban. "We need to help those countries, especially in the developing world, which may find it hard to respond to this threat. That is only way to secure global public health."

"The bottom line is this," said Ban, "if and when the world faces a severe influenza pandemic, the UN system is ready."

Mexican President Felipe Calderon, far right, visits a naval hospital in Mexico City. (Photo courtesy Office of the President)

In Mexico City today, President Felipe Calderon visited the Navy's Top Specialty General Naval Hospital in the southern part of the city. "I wish to thank all the doctors, nurses, workers and cleaners for their heroism, which I have personally witnessed," he said.

Meanwhile, Mexico's Health Secretary Jose Cordova says most economic activity in Mexico will resume Wednesday, and said the outbreak there is waning, after reaching a nationwide peak between April 23 and 28. He said the anti-viral drugs in the strategic reserve are efficient against this new virus, while the preventive measures taken served to prevent the virus from being transmitted.

In a press conference today, Calderon defended his government against allegations that it responded late, ignored the health alert and did not act as quickly as it should have done.

"I think that the fact that preventive measures can now be taken not only in Mexico but in the rest of the world to reduce the spread of this new virus is due to the responsibility with which Mexico behaved," Calderon said.

"What our country is doing is fighting a battle against this new virus for humanity and this battle is being fought by Mexicans," he said.

"If Mexico had not acted as it did, the virus would not be known, or else many cases of influenza A/H1N1 would be being treated as though they were another type of illness and more deaths would have been caused perhaps even worldwide, because they would not be being treated as they should, because until recently, this virus was unknown," the President said.

"I think the fact that there are fewer cases every day shows we have done the right thing," said President Calderon, who then warned people not to let their guard down.

"People must not stop washing their hands. Sorry for any offense I may have caused but if someone with a virus or a cold, for example, rubs his nose and then shakes hands with his relatives or neighbors or workmates, or goes on the Metro or in a collective taxi or hangs onto the tubes in the microbuses, then he'll spread the disease," Calderon said.

"Having people wash their hands, abstain from shaking hands, use face masks on public transport has stopped the virus from being spread through this type of contact. If we lower our guard, the virus, which is still out there, could return."

The A/H1N1 virus (Photo courtesy CDC)

In the United States, the virus has spread to 30 states, now 226 cases, still one death - 1 in Alabama, 18 in Arizona, 26 in California, 4 in Colorado, 2 in Connecticut, 10 in Delaware, 3 in Florida, 3 in Illinois, 3 in Indiana, 1 in Iowa, 2 in Kansas, 1 in Kentucky, 7 in Massachusetts, 2 in Michigan, 1 in Minnesota, 1 in Missouri, 1 in Nebraska, 1 in Nevada, 1 in New Hampshire, 7 in New Jersey, 1 in New Mexico, 63 in New York, 1 in Ohio, 1 in Rhode Island, 15 in South Carolina, 1 in Tennessee, 40 in Texas, 1 in Utah, 3 in Virginia and 3 in Wisconsin.

Suspected cases in other states are being investigated.

In his weekly address on Saturday, President Barack Obama discussed the government's response to the 2009 H1N1 flu virus, from school closings to activating online social networks. He urges Americans to be calm but cautious.

"This H1N1 flu has had its biggest impact in Mexico, where it has claimed a number of lives and infected hundreds more," said the President. "Thus far, the strain in this country that has infected people in at least 19 states has not been as potent or as deadly. We cannot know for certain why that is, which is why we are taking all necessary precautions in the event that the virus does turn into something worse."

"This is also why the Centers for Disease Control has recommended that schools and child care facilities with confirmed cases of the virus close for up to 14 days," Obama said. "It is why we urge employers to allow infected employees to take as many sick days as necessary."

The White House has launched pages in Facebook, MySpace and Twitter to support the ongoing efforts by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to update the public as quickly and effectively as possible.

President Obama has asked Congress for $1.5 billion if it is needed to purchase additional antiviral drugs, emergency equipment, and to pay for the development of a vaccine that can prevent this virus as we prepare for the next flu season in the fall.

The Recovery Act that Congress enacted in February included expansions of community health centers, an increase in the training of health care workers and nurses, and $300 million for the development and deployment of vaccines, "all of which will help us meet this threat," the President said.

"The good news is that the current strain of H1N1 can be defeated by a course of antiviral treatment that we already have on hand," Obama said.

At the beginning of last week the country had 50 million courses of this treatment in the Strategic National Stockpile. During the past week, one-quarter of that stockpile was delivered to states so they are prepared to treat anyone who is infected with the H1N1 virus. The Obama administration then purchased an additional 13 million treatments to refill the strategic stockpile.

Hogs on a factory farm (Photo credit unknown)

In Canada, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency indicates that it has found H1N1 flu virus in a swine herd in Alberta. The safety of the food supply is not affected and Canadian pork continues to be safe to eat, the agency says.

Dr. Brian Evans, of the Canadian Food Inspection Agency, said a Canadian returned from Mexico on April 12, and began work at an Alberta swine farm on April 14.

"This person was exhibiting flu-like symptoms following the return, and may have exposed swine on the farm to an influenza virus," said Evans. "I can tell you that the traveler has recovered."

All of the pigs are recovering or have recovered but the herd has been placed under quarantine. "The chance that these pigs could transfer virus to a person is remote," the agency said.

The World Health Organization's Fukuda said today that there have been no further outbreaks of influenza in pigs. "Pigs are not the danger to people right now, it's people transmitting infection to other people."

Prime Minister Gordon Brown said the UK is well prepared for further cases of swine flu as he urged anyone displaying symptoms to seek advice quickly. During a visit to an National Health Service Direct call center in southeast London this morning, the Prime Minister said the UK has been preparing for this type of scenario for years.

"We are finding with NHS Direct that they can both reassure people and give people advice about where to go," he said. "This is a system that's working, it's calm, it's ordered, it is giving people the right information."

Copyright Environment News Service (ENS) 2009. All rights reserved.