Swine influenza

	Tweet

The Emergency Committee, established in compliance with the International Health Regulations (2005), held its second meeting on 27 April 2009.

The Committee considered available data on confirmed outbreaks of A/H1N1 swine influenza in the United States of America, Mexico, and Canada. The Committee also considered reports of possible spread to additional countries.

On the advice of the Committee, the WHO Director-General decided on the following.

• The Director-General has raised the level of influenza pandemic alert from the current phase 3 to phase 4.
  
  The change to a higher phase of pandemic alert indicates that the likelihood of a pandemic has increased, but not that a pandemic is inevitable.
  
  As further information becomes available, WHO may decide to either revert to phase 3 or raise the level of alert to another phase.
  
  This decision was based primarily on epidemiological data demonstrating human-to-human transmission and the ability of the virus to cause community-level outbreaks.


• Given the widespread presence of the virus, the Director-General considered that containment of the outbreak is not feasible. The current focus should be on mitigation measures.
  
• The Director-General recommended not to close borders and not to restrict international travel. It was considered prudent for people who are ill to delay international travel and for people developing symptoms following international travel to seek medical attention.
  
• The Director-General considered that production of seasonal influenza vaccine should continue at this time, subject to re-evaluation as the situation evolves. WHO will facilitate the process needed to develop a vaccine effective against A(H1N1) virus.
  
• The Director-General stressed that all measures should conform with the purpose and scope of the International Health Regulations.

Statement by WHO Director-General, Dr Margaret Chan
27 April 2009

RELATED STORIES:
Swine flu death rate similar to seasonal flu: expert   WHO backs findings on Tamiflu for seasonal flu   Vietnam detects 3 cases of drug-resistant swine flu   Mexican boy first U.S. flu death, more cases reported   Swine Flu Experts   New US swine flu death estimates will be guess   U.S. CDC sees “encouraging signs” on H1N1 virus   USDA confirms H1N1 flu in first U.S. hog   US flu study confirms H1N1 more serious in youth   H1N1 flu spreads to Taiwan, Kuwait, Iceland - WHO   Canada pig flu case shows need for surveillance   Swine flu survivors developed super flu antibodies

Comments

[ + Post Your Own ]

Now you're in the public comment zone. What follows is not Armenian Medical Network's stuff; it comes from other people and we don't vouch for it. A reminder: By using this Web site you agree to accept our Terms of Service. Click here to read the Rules of Engagement.

There are no comments for this entry yet. [ + Comment here + ]