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2009 H1N1 Flu: International Situation Update

February 16, 2010, 3:00 PM ET

This report provides an update to the international situation using data collected through February 7, 2010, and reported by the World Health Organization (WHO) on February 12. WHO continues to report laboratory-confirmed 2009 H1N1 flu cases and deathsExternal Web Site Icon on its Web page. These laboratory-confirmed cases represent a substantial underestimation of total cases in the world, as most countries focus surveillance and laboratory testing only on people with severe illness.
In nearly all countries of the world where influenza infection is reported, the 2009 H1N1 influenza virus continues to predominate among all subtyped influenza A viruses. For the most recent period in which data are available, from January 24, 2010 to January 30, 2010, 45.8% were typed as influenza A and 54.2% as influenza B.  Out of all subtyped influenza A viruses, 94% were 2009 H1N1 positive.
 In temperate regions of the Southern Hemisphere, sporadic cases of 2009 H1N1 continue to be reported but no substantial increases in influenza activity have been observed. In the northern temperate and tropical regions of the Americas, 2009 H1N1 activity continues to decrease or remain low in most places. The most active areas of influenza transmission continue to occur in later peaking areas, particularly Northern Africa, South Asia, and East Asia.

Selected Highlights

  • According to WHO, the majority of 2009 H1N1 influenza isolates tested worldwide remain sensitive to oseltamivir, an antiviral medicine used to treat influenza disease. 245 2009 H1N1 isolates tested worldwide have been found to be resistant to oseltamivir – 60 of these isolates were detected in the United States.
  • Influenza B activity continues to increase in China, accounting for 72.2% of all influenza detections in the reporting week. Intermittent detections of seasonal A (H1N1), A (H3N2) and influenza B viruses were also reported from certain countries in Africa, Europe, and the Middle East region. .

International Resources for 2009 H1N1 Information

Health Organizations

World Health Organization (WHO) Regional Offices

Travel and 2009 H1N1 Flu

Human cases of 2009 H1N1 flu virus infection have been identified in the United States and several countries around the world. For information on 2009 H1N1 flu and travel, see the CDC H1N1 Flu and Travel website.

Reports and Publications

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