Current WHO phase of pandemic alert raised to level 6

Current WHO phase of pandemic alert raised to level 6

Influenza pandemic alert raised to phase 6
11 June 2009 -- On the basis of available evidence and expert assessments of the evidence, the scientific criteria for an influenza pandemic have been met. The Director-General of WHO has therefore decided to raise the level of influenza pandemic alert from phase 5 to phase 6. "The world is now at the start of the 2009 influenza pandemic," she said at a press conference today.
Read Dr Chan's statement to the press


WHO says H1N1 a pandemic
(00:50) Rough Cut Reuters Video

Jun 11 - Sweden's Ministry of Health says the World Health Organisation has decided to raise the new H1N1 virus threat level to phase six.
The WHO held an emergency meeting of experts to discuss whether or not to declare a global pandemic of H1N1 flu.
There have been 27,737 infections reported in 74 countries to date, including 141 deaths.

Soundbite:
WHO SPOKESMAN GREGORY HARTL

Swine flu cases increase in Europe

Swine flu cases increase in Europe
(01:09) Report Reuters Video

Apr 29 - Germany and Austria confirm their first three cases of swine flu, as the virus arrives in the heart of continental Europe.
The Netherlands had it's first confirmed case of swine flu.
WHO raises alarm level to 5.
In the Netherlands the swine flu is called Mexican Flu (Mexicaanse Griep). In the U.S. it is also callled AH1N1 flu.

Deadly new flu virus in US and Mexico may go pandemic

Deadly new flu virus in US and Mexico may go pandemic

http://www.newscientist.com/article/dn17025-deadly-new-flu-virus-in-us-and-mexico-may-go-pandemic.html

A novel flu virus has struck hundreds of people in Mexico, and at least 18 have died. It has also infected 17 people in the US, and appears able to spread readily from human to human. The World Health Organization is calling an emergency meeting to decide whether to declare the possible onset of a flu pandemic.
Ironically, after years of concern about H5N1 bird flu, the new flu causing concern is a pig virus, of a family known as H1N1.
Flu viruses are named after the two main proteins on their surfaces, abbreviated H and N. They are also differentiated by what animal they usually infect. The H in the new virus comes from pigs, but some of its other genes come from bird and human flu viruses, a mixture that the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention calls "very unusual". http://www.cdc.gov/
On Wednesday, the CDC announced that routine surveillance had uncovered mild flu cases during late March and April, caused by a novel swine flu virus. Those affected, aged 9 to 54, live in and around San Diego, California, and San Antonio, Texas, near the Mexican border. None was severe. Symptoms were normal for flu, with more nausea and diarrhoea than usual.
Mongrelised mix
On Thursday, Canadian public health officials warned Canadians travelling to Mexico of clusters of severe flu-like illness there. Then on Friday the WHO in Geneva said in a statement there have been around 900 suspected cases of swine flu in Mexico City and two other regions of Mexico, with around 60 suspected deaths. Of those, 18 have been confirmed as H1N1 swine flu, says the WHO, and tests so far have shown that 12 of those are "genetically identical" to the California virus.

Swine influenza frequently asked questions, Download PDF (WHO)
http://www.who.int/csr/swine_flu/swineflu_qanda_20090425.pdf

Science (New York Times Permalink)
Dot Earth: Contagion on a Small Planet
By By Andrew C. Revkin Published: April 26, 2009
A spreading outbreak of swine flu is showing the global reach of disease on a small planet.

World gov'ts race to contain swine flu outbreak
US declares health emergency as world officials race to contain worrisome swine flu, panic
http://finance.yahoo.com/news/World-govts-race-to-contain-apf-15036683.html?sec=topStories&pos=main&asset=&ccode=

WASHINGTON (AP) -- Governments are racing to find and contain pockets of swine flu around the globe, seeking to stem both the threat of a pandemic and public panic.
"We're preparing in an environment where we really don't know ultimately what the size or seriousness of this outbreak is going to be," U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano said Sunday.
In Mexico, the outbreak's epicenter, soldiers handed out 6 million face masks to help stop the spread of the novel virus that is suspected in up to 103 deaths. Most other countries are reporting only mild cases so far, with most of the sick already recovering. Cases have been confirmed in Canada -- six -- and the U.S. -- 20 -- and other countries from Spain to New Zealand were investigating whether other people with flulike symptoms really have this new swine flu or something else.
There is not a global pandemic yet, but waiting until scientists know if the new virus is going to spread rapidly and easily would be too late.
The U.S. declared the health emergency amid confusion about whether new numbers really mean ongoing infections -- or just that health officials had missed something simmering for weeks or months. But the move allows the government to ship roughly 12 million doses of flu-fighting medications from a federal stockpile to states in case they eventually need them.

Swine flu outcome 'uncertain' 3:50
The director of the Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy says the swine flu virus outcome is uncertain.

Health amid a financial crisis: a complex diagnosis

Health amid a financial crisis: a complex diagnosis

The global financial crisis could have profound implications for the health spending plans of national governments. Unless countries have safety nets in place, the poor and vulnerable will be the first to suffer. Jane Parry and Gary Humphreys report. “In a recession it is important for governments to protect the poor and vulnerable, but most countries have not yet done this,” Evans says, adding that WHO has long been helping countries develop universal health protection mechanisms that are a vital safety net in times of economic turmoil.
The current financial crisis that started with the collapse of the sub-prime mortgage market in North America and parts of Europe in 2007 has since extended to low- and middle-income countries. Hungary has received emergency financial support from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and other countries are in talks to secure similar IMF packages. But such support could limit governments’ ability to spend on health. And while developing countries are not yet in recession – defined as two consecutive quarters of negative economic growth – economists are concerned about the global downturn. Some fear it could be as bad or even worse than the great depression of the 1930s.

Financial crisis: long-term perspective needed
21 January 2009 -- The health sector needs to take steps to counter the negative consequences of the financial crisis on global health. Countries also need to take a longer term perspective so their health systems are more resilient in the future, said participants in a recent consultation.
Download the consultation report [pdf 87kb]
Listen to our podcast on financial crisis and health

WHO Warns Economic-Motivated Suicide Will Increase in 2009

The World Health Organization (WHO) warned that the number of suicides could increase as millions of people worldwide grapple with the economic crisis.
“There is a clear evidence that suicide is linked to financial disasters,” Director of the Department of Mental Health for the WHO, Benedetto Saraceno, told Reuters. “I am not talking about the millionaire jumping out of the window but about poor people,” he said.