H1N1 Influenza Update - 3 May 2009

Dear friends,

Hope you are doing well.

Here is an update on the H1N1 virus outbreak from Mexico City, along with some links to other resources dealing with this topic. I hope you will find this information useful for your projects in Mexico and elsewhere.

Current Status as of 3 May 2009
- 18 countries have officially reported 898 cases of influenza A(H1N1) infection.

- Mexico has reported 506 confirmed human cases of infection, including 19 deaths. The following countries have reported laboratory confirmed cases with no deaths - Austria (1), Canada (85), China, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (1), Costa Rica (1), Denmark (1), France (2), Germany (8), Ireland (1), Israel (3), Italy (1), Netherlands (1), New Zealand (4), Republic of Korea (1), Spain (40), Switzerland (1) and the United Kingdom (15). The only other death outside Mexico was at a 2 year-old Mexican boy at a clinic in Houston, Texas.

- Mexico's health secretary has said that the H1N1 influenza epidemic in Mexico "is now in its declining phase". He said data suggest the epidemic peaked sometime between April 23 and April 28, and that drastic measures — closing the nation's schools, shuttering most of its businesses and banning mass public gatherings — apparently have helped curb the influenza's spread.

- Nestlé, the world’s biggest food group, has banned all non-essential travel by its global executives to the US, as well as to Mexico, reflecting growing concerns among international business at the threat of H1N1 influenza.

- The World Health Organization (WHO) advises no restriction of regular travel or closure of borders. It is considered prudent for people who are ill to delay international travel and for people developing symptoms following international travel to seek medical attention, in line with guidance from national authorities. The WHO considers that limiting travel and imposing travel restrictions would have very little effect on stopping the virus from spreading, but would be highly disruptive to the global community. Scientific research based on mathematical modeling indicates that restricting travel will be of limited or no benefit in stopping the spread of disease. Historical records of previous influenza pandemics, as well as experience with SARS, have validated this point.

- There is no risk of infection from this virus from consumption of well-cooked pork and pork products.

- Smithfield Foods, a Virginia-based producer, denied claims in Mexico that a joint venture it runs in Veracruz was the source of the virus. Its chief executive said in a letter to employees that Mexican authorities had found no evidence of the virus at their farm and that the results of further independent tests would be available and released by the company in a few days.

- President Barack Obama asked Congress for $1.5bn to combat H1N1 influenza. His request came after a Senate committee heard that the disease was expected to spread and that cases might become more severe than the mild ones so far identified in the US.

- According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the strain of human H1N1 influenza reported in North America is a new virus, "unique because it is a combination of genes from swine, bird, and human influenza viruses. Infected individuals report flu-like symptoms of fever, aches and pains, sore throats, coughing, and trouble breathing. Some people have also reported diarrhea and vomiting."

- The WHO noted, "There are no vaccines that contain the current H1N1 influenza virus causing illness in humans. It is not known whether current human seasonal influenza vaccines can provide any protection."

- But the WHO site also pointed out, "Most of the previously reported H1N1 influenza cases recovered fully from the disease without requiring medical attention and without antiviral medicines."

Other resources
Key Facts About Swine Influenza
US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/key_facts.htm

Things you can do to stay healthy
US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/#stay_healthy

H1N1 Outbreak in US & Mexico: Potential for a Pandemic.
University of Pittsburgh.
http://www.pitt.edu/~super1/lecture/lec34601/index.htm

Five Things You Should Not Do During the H1N1 Outbreak
Time Magazine
http://www.time.com/time/health/article/0,8599,1895216,00.html


Please keep well and let me know if there is anything I can do to help minimize the impact of this crisis on your business operations in Mexico.