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Influenza
A (H1N1)
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Chronology
of Influenza A (H1N1)
May 2009
May 1
_5.jpg) SEARO holds Video Conference with all WHO representatives
in 11 Member States of the Region.
Mexico
begins a five-day shutdown at the start of a May Day weekend to try to
contain a flu epidemic which the government now says appeared to be "not
so aggressive" as initially feared.
The first
confirmed case of swine flu in Asia is recorded in Hong Kong after a Mexican
man who arrived via Shanghai
tested positive. Guests and staff at the hotel where he had stayed are placed
under quarantine for a week.
WHO says
it has "no doubt" that a successful vaccine against the swine flu
virus could be developed within the next six months.
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May 2
Mexico
says the flu epidemic appears to be "in a stabilization phase", but
the toll in the country rises to 19 dead and 454 confirmed infections. WHO
says 16 countries have officially reported 658 confirmed cases of influenza
A(H1N1), but that there is no indication that it has begun to spread in a
sustained manner anywhere outside of
North America.
Canada on 2 May reported the identification of
the A(H1N1) virus in a swine herd in Alberta. It is highly
probable that the pigs were exposed to the virus from a Canadian farm worker
recently returned from Mexico,
who had exhibited flu-like symptoms and had contact with the pigs. Three new
countries (Costa Rica, France and Republic of Korea)
have reported cases (one, two and one respectively).
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May 3
_6.jpg) WHO says 18 countries have officially reported
898 cases of influenza A(H1N1) infection. WHO’s
Director-General informs Regional Directors of decision to deploy Oseltamivir
to 72 least developed countries.
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| May 4
WHO says
21 countries have officially reported 1085 cases of influenza A (H1N1) infection,
26 deaths.
Three new
countries (Colombia, El Salvador, and Italy) have reported cases (one,
two and two respectively).
WHO
Director-general addresses the UN General Assembly: stresses uncertainty,
lessons from past pandemics, limited amount of antivirals and vaccines, and
the need for solidarity
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May 5
WHO
reports 1490 cases from 21 countries and 30 deaths.
WHO
dispatches 2.4 million courses of antivirals to 72 countries most in need,
including Mexico. These were dispatched from Geneva
and Basel in Switzerland,
Maryland in the US
and Dubai in the United Arab Emirates.
Scientific
Committee meets to discuss a range of issues including the development of the
Influenza A (H1N1) virus and issues around its severity.
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May 6
WHO
reports 1893 cases from 23 countries and 31 deaths.
Two new countries (Guatemala
and Sweden)
have reported cases (one each).
WHO SEARO
distributed about 60,000 doses of Oseltamivir and Personal Protection
Equipment to its Member States.
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May 7
_7.jpg) WHO reports 2371 cases from 24 countries with
44 deaths.
One new
country (Poland)
confirms one case of A/H1N1.
Dr Keiji
Fukuda, Assistant Director General ai, Health Security and Environment,
briefs Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) members at Special
Health Ministers meeting in Bangkok on WHO's pandemic response and the
implications of moving from phase 5 to phase 6.
Editorial
in Nature praises WHO's communications efforts in
the A/H1N1 response.
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May 8
WHO
reports 2500 cases from 25 countries and 46 deaths.
One new
country (Brazil)
confirms four cases of A/H1N1.
WHO
Director-General addresses the ASEAN+3 Health Ministers' Special Meeting on
A/H1N1 via video link.
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May 9
WHO
reports 3453 cases from 29 countries and 48 deaths.
Four new
countries (Argentina, Australia, Japan
and Panama)
confirm cases of A/H1N1.
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May 10
WHO
reports 4393 cases from 30 countries 42 deaths.
One new
country (Norway)
confirms two cases.
Number of
news stories on the topic down to about 25% of peak.
Teleconference
held with the International Federation of Pharmaceutical.
Manufacturers
and Associations (IFPMA), the Developing Countries Vaccine Manufacturers' Network,
and other influenza vaccine manufacturers to review the latest information
about biosecurity and conditions for working with vaccine viruses, and the
availability of these strains.
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| May 11
WHO
reports 4789 cases from 30 countries and 53 deaths.
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May 12
WHO
reports 5269 cases from 30 countries and 61 deaths.
Thailand
confirms its first two cases of H1N1 at a press conference at 1400 hours BKK
time. The two teenagers had recently returned from Mexico. Eighteen passengers on
the same flight who sat close to the two teenagers were contacted and given
oseltamivir.
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May 13
WHO
reports 6302 cases from 33 countries.
Three new
countries (Cuba (1), Finland (2) and Thailand (2) )
confirm cases.
The
"Gibbs article" hypothesizing on the origin of the new H1N1 virus
suggests that the virus might have grown in eggs and released in an accident.
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May 14
WHO
reports 7457 cases from 34 countries, and 65 deaths.
One new
country (Belgium)
confirms one case.
Indian
Drug manufacturer, Cipla, receives pre-qualification by WHO
for production of oseltamivir. Prequalification means that Cipla's product
meets WHO standards for quality.
A vaccine
advisory group meeting held at WHO HQ. The objective is to ascertain whether enough
evidence exists to recommend large-scale A(H1N1)
vaccine production.
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May 15
_8.jpg) 34 countries have officially reported 7520
cases of influenza A(H1N1) infection and 65 deaths.
Of the 72
countries and six WHO regional offices where WHO sent
a total of 3 million antiviral doses from its global stockpile on 5 May, all
deliveries have been made except for seven countries (Burkina Faso, Niger,
Cuba, Pakistan, DPRK, Honduras
and Indonesia).
Start of
Inter-government meeting on Virus Sharing held to address novel influenza
virus sharing and benefits like vaccines and anti-virals.
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May
16
India’s first
confirmed case of H1N1 reported. The 23-year-old male passenger from New York, USA
arrived in Hyderabad
on Wednesday 13 May. His laboratory sample was confirmed. He was shifted to
an isolation facility and treated with oseltamivir and has since recovered.
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May 17
39
countries have officially reported 8480 cases of influenza A(H1N1)
infection and 72 deaths to WHO.
Japan reports 21 new confirmed cases from
students at three high schools in Kobe and
nine students at a high school in Osaka.
All the new cases appear to have acquired the virus independently and have
not traveled recently to countries affected by influenza A(H1N1).
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| May 18
Japan reports
118 new cases over the last 24 hours.
Sixty
second World Health Assembly begins in Geneva.
At the start of the session, several Member States ask that WHO reflect and
consider before moving to Phase 6.
All 72
countries receive their consignments of oseltamivir antiviral courses that
WHO started sending on 5 May. WHO sent 3 million courses of the drug.
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May 19
Health
Ministers from 11 Member States of the South East Asia Region adopt a joint statement
during the sixty second session of the WHA towards concerted policy action to
minimize the impact of the potential influenza pandemic in the Region.
UN
Secretary General Ban Ki-moon and WHO Director General Dr Margaret Chan meet
with around 30 pharmaceutical manufacturers and discuss the need for equity
and fairness in access to vaccines for developing countries.
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May 21
_9.jpg) High profile meetings – WHA: Agenda item 12.1
on Pandemic influenza preparedness: sharing of influenza viruses and access
to vaccines and other benefits." Member States call on WHO Director
General to consider giving "extra flexibility" for deciding on
Phase levels under IHR.
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May 22
Sixty
second World Heath Assembly concludes with the Director General emphasizing that
–“the decision to declare an influenza pandemic is a responsibility, and a
duty, that she takes seriously”.
Weekly
Epidemiological Record issued today has particular focus on Clinical
observations on H1N1 patients.
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