Swine Flu: H1N1 Virus More Dangerous Than Suspected, Except To Survivors Of The 1918 Pandemic Flu Virus

ScienceDaily (2009-07-13) -- Researchers also noted that those people exposed to the 1918 virus, all of whom are now in advanced old age, have antibodies that neutralize the H1N1 virus. ... > read full article

First Wave Of Swine Flu Hit Young People Harder Than Expected

ScienceDaily (2009-07-05) -- A mathematical epidemiologist is researching the A(H1N1) influenza pandemic strain circulating around the world. The new study's findings reveal an age shift in the proportion of cases toward a younger population when compared with historical patterns of seasonal influenza in Mexico. "For the 1918 ("Spanish flu") influenza pandemic, this was the pattern -- first a mild wave, and then a severe one with higher case fatality rates," notes one of the researchers. ... > read full article

First Wave Of Swine Flu Hit Young People Harder Than Expected

ScienceDaily (2009-06-29) -- A mathematical epidemiologist is researching the A(H1N1) influenza pandemic strain circulating around the world. The new study's findings reveal an age shift in the proportion of cases toward a younger population when compared with historical patterns of seasonal influenza in Mexico. "For the 1918 ("Spanish flu") influenza pandemic, this was the pattern – first a mild wave, and then a severe one with higher case fatality rates," notes one of the researchers. ... > read full article

Indonesia Health Minister ennounces two positive pandemic flu cases

Bird Flu Information Corner

Jakarta – Two novel H1N1 suspect patients in Indonesia have been stated positive infection. This is announced by Health Minister, Siti Fadilah Supari in a press conference at Ministry of Health Office, HR Rasuna Said, South Jakarta, Wednesday (24/6).

Vaccinating Children May Be Effective At Helping Control Spread Of Influenza

ScienceDaily (2009-06-19) -- Targeting children may be an effective use of limited supplies of flu vaccine, according to new research. The study suggests that, used to support other control measures, this could help control the spread of pandemics such as the current swine flu. ... > read full article

UK Tops The List Of 213 Countries At Extreme Risk To The Spread Of Swine Flu

UK Tops The List Of 213 Countries At Extreme Risk To The Spread Of Swine Flu

ScienceDaily (2009-06-17) -- A Warwick Business School professor and one of the founders of global risks specialist, Maplecroft, has released maps and indices revealing the countries most at risk from an influenza pandemic. The map of Risk of Spread shows the UK most at risk to the spread of an influenza pandemic. ... > read full article

WHO declares pandemic of novel H1N1 virus

(CIDRAP News)

After delaying action for weeks as the novel H1N1 influenza virus took hold in far-flung parts of the globe, the World Health Organization (WHO) today declared a full-fledged pandemic, formally recognizing that the virus is becoming a global contagion.
WHO Director-General Dr. Margaret Chan announced the long-expected move to pandemic alert phase 6, meaning that the virus has caused sustained community outbreaks in more than one global region. The move comes amid growing signs of community transmission in Australia, Chile, and the United Kingdom—far from the epidemic's birthplace in Mexico and the United States.

WHO may redefine pandemic alert phases

(CIDRAP)

In response to concerns from various governments about the possible effects of declaring a full-scale influenza pandemic, the World Health Organization (WHO) will call on outside experts to consider whether to revise the agency's definitions of pandemic alert phases, a WHO official announced today.
The spread of the novel H1N1 flu virus in Mexico, the United States, and Canada prompted the WHO to raise its pandemic alert from phase 4 to phase 5 on Apr 29. Despite signs of possible community-level transmission in other parts of the world, such as Japan and Spain, the WHO has not raised the alert to phase 6, defined as sustained community transmission in more than one global region.

WHO raises pandemic alert to phase 4 [update 7:15 p.m.CST]

WHO raises pandemic alert to phase 4 [updated 7:15 p.m.CST]
(CIDRAP News)
Robert Roos * News Editor

Editor's note: Includes two new sections, on phase change considerations and on possible impact.

Apr 27, 2009 (CIDRAP News) – The World Health Organization (WHO) today raised its official pandemic alert level from the current phase 3 to phase 4 on its 6-phase scale, saying the newly identified swine influenza virus has made a pandemic more likely but not inevitable.
"We think we have taken a step in that [pandemic] direction, but a pandemic is not considered inevitable at this time," said Dr. Keiji Fukuda, the WHO's assistant director-general for health security and environment, at a press conference from Geneva.