H1N1 Spreads to 33 Countries; WHO To Discuss Flu Vaccine Production

The WHO on Wednesday said that the H1N1 (swine flu) virus has reached 33 countries, the New York Times reports (McNeil, New York Times, 5/14). Worldwide the WHO on Thursday said there are now 6,497 confirmed cases of H1N1 infection. Laboratory tests have confirmed: 2,446 swine flu cases in Mexico, including 60 deaths; 3,352 cases in the U.S., including three deaths; 389 cases in Canada, including one death; and eight cases in Costa Rica, including one death.

The WHO writes, "The following countries have reported laboratory confirmed cases with no deaths - Argentina (1), Australia (1), Austria (1), Brazil (8), China (4), Colombia (7), Cuba (1), Denmark (1), El Salvador (4), Finland (2), France (14), Germany (12), Guatemala (3), Ireland (1), Israel (7), Italy (9), Japan (4), Netherlands (3), New Zealand (7), Norway (2), Panama (29), Poland (1), Portugal (1), Republic of Korea (3), Spain (100), Sweden (2), Switzerland (1), Thailand (2), and the United Kingdom (71)" (WHO Influenza A(H1N1) - update 28, 5/14).

Critics of the WHO's response to the H1N1 virus have suggested the organization reevaluate its pandemic alert system, which goes "up as a new virus spreads even if it is relatively mild," the New York Times writes. But, changing the pandemic system will be challenging because the severity of a virus "varies from country to country, depending on the population's previous immunity, average age, the level of readiness of the health care system and the prevalence of diseases that could make people more vulnerable," according to WHO representative Sylvie Briand (New York Times, 5/14).

Reuters reports that the WHO will hold a teleconference with vaccine and health experts today to decide whether to recommend drug manufacturers switch from seasonal flu vaccine production to a vaccine that would protect against the H1N1 virus once it is developed (MacInnis, Reuters, 5/14).