>>Does WHO need to declare flu a full pandemic?

With most people breathing easier about H1N1 flu, the World Health Organisation finds itself in a bind about how to respond to the continuing spread of the virus whose effects have proved mainly mild.

The United Nations agency’s guidelines state that as soon as the virus starts spreading freely in two regions of the world, its six-point pandemic alert should be raised to the top notch.

With infection numbers rising in Europe, public health experts are struggling to decide whether it is worth sounding the full alarm over H1N1, which is treatable with existing drugs and appears less severe than seasonal flu in most cases.

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“Level 6 does not mean, in any way, that we are facing the end of the world,” [WHO Director General Margaret Chan] told the Spanish daily El Pais this week. She stressed that the alert ladder indicates how likely the virus is to spread around the world, not how dangerous it is.

Full Article: here.

>>Flu spat cools budding Mexico-China relationship

China’s decision to quarantine dozens of Mexicans to guard against the spread of a deadly new flu has soured the relationship between the two exporters, which compete for access to the U.S. market.

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Mexico accused China of discrimination after Beijing, worried about the H1N1 flu strain, ordered some 70 Mexicans, including a honeymooning couple, into seclusion, even though none had symptoms.

Foreign Minister Patricia Espinosa called the isolation measures “unacceptable” and “without foundation” and advised Mexicans against traveling to China.

Full Article: here

This morning’s Globe & Mail features a profile on Infonaut, and the relevance of our Infection Watch Live solution to the H1N1 outbreak:

In 1854, Dr. John Snow plotted cholera cases on a map of London, England, to find the source of a serious outbreak that was killing hundreds of people. It became apparent that the biggest clusters of the disease were near a public water pump on Broad Street, and Dr. Snow was able to stop the spread by shutting down that source.

Fast-forward one-and-a-half centuries to Toronto, where a small firm is using 21st-century software to create maps with similar goals — the containment of disease — by showing infection patterns that can be understood at a glance.

Full Article:  Charting the right course through an outbreak

World Health Organization (WHO) raises pandemic alert to second highest level:

“Ladies and gentlemen,

Based on assessment of all available information, and following several expert consultations, I have decided to raise the current level of influenza pandemic alert from phase 4 to phase 5.

Influenza pandemics must be taken seriously precisely because of their capacity to spread rapidly to every country in the world.

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The biggest question, right now, is this: how severe will the pandemic be, especially now at the start?

It is possible that the full clinical spectrum of this disease goes from mild illness to severe disease. We need to continue to monitor the evolution of the situation to get the specific information and data we need to answer this question.

From past experience, we also know that influenza may cause mild disease in affluent countries, but more severe disease, with higher mortality, in developing countries.

No matter what the situation is, the international community should treat this as a window of opportunity to ramp up preparedness and response.

Above all, this is an opportunity for global solidarity as we look for responses and solutions that benefit all countries, all of humanity. After all, it really is all of humanity that is under threat during a pandemic.

As I have said, we do not have all the answers right now, but we will get them.”

Read the complete WHO statement here.

WHO’s definition of Phase 5:

Phase 5 is characterized by human-to-human spread of the virus into at least two countries in one WHO region. While most countries will not be affected at this stage, the declaration of Phase 5 is a strong signal that a pandemic is imminent and that the time to finalize the organization, communication, and implementation of the planned mitigation measures is short.

Find out more about the current WHO phase (and what it means) here.

Medical authorities in Ontario are investigating a number of cases of suspected swine flu that has caused more than 100 deaths in Mexico and spread to at least two other Canadian provinces, the United States and Europe.

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“We’re in a unique opportunity in history that we’re watching, I think, a pandemic unfold,” said Low, who provided regular updates to the public during the SARS crisis six years ago.

Donald Low, medical director of the Ontario’s public health laboratories, says he believes the 1,600 reported swine flu cases in Mexico is ‘just the tip of the iceberg.’ (CBC)

“I don’t think anybody’s thinking that this is not across Canada.”

Full Article:  Ontario probes suspected swine flu cases amid pandemic fears