H1N1 NEWS SCAN: WHO may declare pandemic end, more cases in India

H1N1 2009 Pandemic Influenza

Aug 9, 2010

WHO may soon declare pandemic's end
The World Health Organization (WHO) may sound the global "all clear" for pandemic H1N1 shortly, says Director-General Dr. Margaret Chan. In a Canadian Press interview, Chan said the decision could be made soon after a WHO meeting that is likely to occur this week. H1N1 has lost its dominance, now behaving more like seasonal flu viruses, and the population has gained some immunity. Any delay in the decision would likely be due to continuing cases in a few areas, such as New Zealand and India.
http://ottawa.ctv.ca/servlet/an/local/CTVNews/20100808/h1n1-pandemic-over-100808/20100808/?hub=OttawaHome
Aug 8 Canadian Press article

Cases, deaths continue in India
The H1N1 pandemic may be abating in much of the world, but India reports 942 new cases in the past week (Aug 2-8), with 83 deaths. An article in the Times of India says two patients in the city of Pune died from pandemic H1N1 Aug 6, bringing the number of H1N1 deaths there to 99 since April. The state health department reported that 29 people are in critical condition and on ventilator support in city hospitals; 38 people tested positive for the infection Aug 6.
http://pib.nic.in/release/release.asp?relid=64425
Indian government's case count

This week's top reads

  1. FDA significantly limits COVID-19 vaccine recommendations

    Critics said today’s announcement is more evidence of the current administration’s willingness to undermine public trust in vaccines.

    Stephanie Soucheray
    FDA building

  2. USDA suspends southern border livestock imports over New World screwworm threat

    As cattle detections track northward, Mexico recently reported its first human case.

    Lisa Schnirring
    screwworm larva

  3. Meta-analysis: Zika-infected pregnant moms 4 times more likely to have babies with microcephaly

    Five of 22 studies noted that over 50% of newborns had microcephaly, and the same number of studies observed that over 5% had congenital Zika syndrome. 

    Mary Van Beusekom

  4. Woman dies of Creutzfeldt-Jakob almost 50 years after taking prion-contaminated growth hormone

    The patient, who presented with gait imbalance and tremors, wasn't diagnosed until she was in a coma, shortly before she died.

    Mary Van Beusekom
    Woman in hospital bed

  5. HHS expected to discontinue COVID vaccine recommendations for some groups

    When CDC advisers widened their recommendation in 2023, most members were swayed by data, including those for long COVID, showing that no group is at low risk for the virus.

    Lisa Schnirring

  6. Data suggest COVID-19 reinfections less likely to cause long COVID

    The risk of long COVID was two to three times higher after the initial infection (14.8%) than after first (5.8%) or second (5.3%) reinfections.

    Stephanie Soucheray
    LONG COID

  7. WHO advisers say current strains OK for COVID vaccine production

    Current vaccine strains show high neutralization against the latest variants, but the LP.8.1 antigen may provide similar or moderately higher cross-reactive antibody response.

    Lisa Schnirring
    senior vaccination

  8. Texas announces more measles cases, including first in Dallas area

    Two cases near the Dallas area are now included in the large outbreak, which now totals 717 cases.

    Lisa Schnirring

  9. US measles outbreak grows to 1,024 cases

    Texas remains the country's hot spot, with 718 cases. 

    Chris Dall
    Doctor treating child with measles

  10. Saudi Arabia confirms 9 MERS cases, including hospital cluster

    Since 2023, the country has ramped up MERS-CoV testing as part of sentinel surveillance.

    Lisa Schnirring
    hospital isolation

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