ECDC SITUATION REPORT: New influenza A(H1N1) infection - Update 22 May 2009, 17:00 hours CEST

Latest Updated Case Count (WHO Data)

ECDC SITUATION REPORT




Main developments since previous update

• 9% increase in reported confirmed cases in EU/EFTA countries totalling 316 confirmed cases;
• Sentinel surveillance in the EU picks one case of A(H1N1) influenza;
• Japan scaling back measures for handling A(H1N1) influenza.

This report is based on official information provided by the national public health websites, or through other official communication channels. In addition, outside of the EU and EFTA countries, media reports from credible sources are included when quoting national authorities. An update on the number of confirmed cases as of 22 May, 17:00 hours CEST, is presented in Table 1 and Table 2.


Epidemiological update

Since the previous update, 26 new cases were confirmed in the EU and EFTA countries, reaching a total of 316 confirmed cases reported from 17 countries (Table 1). Eleven of the 13 newly confirmed cases in Spain are students of a military academy.

Recent data from EU influenza surveillance system shows that from calendar week 18 to 19 in 2009, the number of virological specimens submitted under the sentinel system slightly increased from 224 to 238 (Figure 2). The proportion of specimens that were found positive for influenza A(H1N1) virus slightly decreased at around 5%. During this week, 1 samples of new influenza A(H1N1) was identified in the United Kingdom through this surveillance system. By genetic analysis, the new A(H1N1) viruses have been assessed as being sensitive to oseltamivir and zanamivir and resistant to adamantanes.

Outside of the EU and EFTA countries, a total of 11,783 cases are currently reported, including 85 deaths (Table 2). Philippines reported its first confirmed case today. As of today, 43 countries worldwide have reported confirmed cases.


Assessment and response in the EU and EFTA countries

The assessment for the EU and EFTA countries does not change: no sustained community transmission is currently reported.

Today ECDC published two descriptions and comment on two of the more important papers that have come out on the behaviour of the novel A(H1N1) influenza virus. Firstly a complex study of data from Mexico in Science that estimated the likely transmissibility and case fatality ratio (read more). Secondly, the first description of the infection and disease in the USA that appeared in the New England Journal of Medicine (read more). In the coming months ECDC will be paying special attention to the infection in the USA because it started ahead of that in Europe and is well described by articles like this.

ECDC, in collaboration with the Member States, the European Commission and the World Health Organisation, continues to closely monitor this rapidly evolving situation, and provide daily updates on its website.


Assessment outside the EU

Media are reporting that Japan is scaling back measures for handling A(H1N1) influenza infections because of the mildness of the disease and the absence of major impact on the country’s economy (read more). Similarly, Mexico City lowered alert level from yellow to green (read more).


Table 1: Reported cumulative number of confirmed cases and of in-country transmission of new influenza A(H1N1) as of 22 May 2009, 17:00 hours (CEST) in EU and EFTA countries

[Country - Confirmed cases reported in the last 24h - Cumulative number of confirmed cases - Cumulative number of in-country transmission]

1. Austria ... - 1 - ...
2. Belgium 2 - 7 - 3
3. Denmark ... - 1 - ...
4. Finland ... - 2 - ...
5. France ... - 16 - ...
6. Germany 2 - 17 - 4
7. Greece ... - 1 - ...
8. Ireland ... - 1 - ...
9. Italy 4 - 14 - 1
10. Netherlands ... - 3 - ...
11. Norway ... - 3 - ...
12. Poland ... - 2 - ...
13. Portugal ... - 1 - ...
14. Spain 13 - 126 - 30
15. Sweden ... - 3 - ...
16. Switzerland ... - 1 - ...
17. United Kingdom 5 - 117 - 73

• Total 26 - 316 - 111

Note: cases reported in the EU and EFTA countries correspond to the EWRS notifications by Member States or Ministry of Health websites.


Table 2: Reported cumulative number of confirmed cases and deaths of new influenza A(H1N1) as of 22 May 2009, 17:00 hours (CEST) outside of the EU and EFTA area

[Country - Confirmed cases reported in the last 24h - Cumulative number of confirmed cases - Deaths among confirmed cases*]

• WHO EURO REGION

1. Israel ... - 7 - ...
2. Turkey ... - 2 - ...

• WHO AMRO REGION

1. Argentina ... - 1 - ...
2. Brazil ... - 8 - ...
3. Canada ... - 719 - 1
4. Chile ... - 24 - ...
5. Colombia ... - 12 - ...
6. Costa Rica ... - 20 - 1
7. Cuba ... - 4 - ...
8. El Salvador ... - 6 - ...
9. Ecuador 7 - 8 - ...
10. Guatemala ... - 4 - ...
11. Mexico 116 - 4008 - 75
12. Panama 4 - 73 - ...
13. Peru 2 - 5 - 0
14. USA 842 - 6552** - 8

• WHO SEARO REGION

1. India ... - 1 - ...
2. Thailand ... - 2 - ...

• WHO WPRO REGION

1. Australia ... - 7 - ...
2. China 1 - 9 - ...
3. Japan 18 - 294 - ...
4. Malaysia ... - 2 - ...
5. New Zealand ... - 9 - ...
6. Philippines 1 - 1
7. Republic of Korea ... - 3 - ...
8. Taiwan 1 - 2 - ...

• Total 992 - 11783 - 85

Note: cases reported in non-EU and EFTA countries correspond to cases published on Ministry of Health websites, or through WHO, or through credible media source quoting national authorities. Therefore, some of these cases may be taken out at a later stage if not validated.

*Deaths are included in the cumulative number of confirmed cases
**Cases in the US include both probable and confirmed cases.
hat-tip Ironorehopper