Influenza A(H1N1) : Signs of Diminishing

As of 18:00 GMT, 4 May 2009, 21 countries have officially reported 1085 cases of influenza A (H1N1) infection. Mexico has reported 590 laboratory confirmed human cases of infection, including 25 deaths. The United States has reported 286 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).

Mexico’s nightmare due to influenza A H1N1 outbreak (Mexican flu) for the last week seems like it is about to end. Disease spread is reported to have diminished even though there are still 590 people infected with the flu.
The Mexican government admits that mitigation efforts are “almost” finished. Mexican President Felipe Calderon said the government has stopped or at least reduced further spread of the disease. If conditions keep on improving, the government will lift the “national holiday” policy by Wednesday.
According to Mexican Health Minister, Jose Angel Cordova, peak of the flu epidemic was from 23 to 28 April (for Mexico). He also emphasized that less and less people are coming to hospitals with Mexican flu symptoms. Current Mexican flu cases are also “no longer dangerous and severe”. Even though the “national holiday” policy will be lifted, the government still advices the public to maintain their health and still be cautious.
Cordova added they were able to suppress H1N1 thanks to antiviral drugs, the use of face masks, and good hand washing habits. “Now what’s important is that everybody should take care of their own selves to stay healthy,” said Cordova.
Even though the Mexican government has announced that flu cases in Mexico are diminishing, the World Health Organization (WHO) reminds that in the near future, WHO could increase the global pandemic alert from phase 5 to phase 6. This is because WHO sees the risk of possible sustained transmission of H1N1 after a case of human infecting a swine herd was found in Canada. This is the first case of a human infecting swine with influenza A (H1N1).
Keiji Fukuda, the WHO's assistant director-general for health security, emphasized that the rationale for any future move to pandemic alert phase 6 wouldn't be based on disease severity, but rather on sustained outbreaks in more than one WHO region.
Source : WHO, Kompas, CIDRAP