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2009 H1N1 Flu: International Situation Update

April 9, 2010, 4:00 PM ET

Selected Highlights

• According to WHO, the majority of 2009 H1N1 virus isolates tested worldwide remain sensitive to oseltamivir, an antiviral medicine used to treat flu. Among 2009 H1N1 isolates tested worldwide, 278 have been found to be resistant to oseltamivir – 64 of these isolates were detected in the United States. Approximately 1% of U.S. 2009 H1N1 viruses tested by CDC since September 30, 2009, have been resistant to oseltamivir.
• Influenza B remains the predominant influenza virus subtype in some Asian countries, accounting for 64.8% of all influenza detections in China, 65.1% in the Russian Federation, 93.2% in the Republic of Korea, and 100% in Mongolia. Increased influenza B activity also continues to be observed in some European countries.
• In Chile, there is evidence of early 2009 H1N1 flu activity in advance of the usual start of the Southern Hemisphere winter flu season. New detections of 2009 H1N1 virus have been reported in at least three regions over the past two weeks, including small numbers of severe cases.
• On February 18, 2010, WHO published recommendations for the following viruses to be used for influenza vaccines in the 2010-2011 influenza season of the Northern Hemisphere:

• an A/California/7/2009 (H1N1)-like virus;
• an A/Perth/16/2009 (H3N2)-like virus*;
• a B/Brisbane/60/2008-like virus.

* A/Wisconsin/15/2009 is an A/Perth/16/2009 (H3N2)-like virus and is a 2010 Southern Hemisphere vaccine virus.

International Resources for 2009 H1N1 Information

Health Organizations

• World Health Organization (WHO)
• ECDC (European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control)
• H2P (Humanitarian Pandemic Preparedness)
• Public Health Agency of Canada

World Health Organization (WHO) Regional Offices

• AFRO (WHO Regional Office for Africa)
• AMRO (WHO Regional Office for the Americas) / PAHO (Pan American Health Organization)
• EMRO (WHO Regional Office for the Eastern Mediterranean)
• EURO (WHO Regional Office for Europe)
• SEARO (WHO Regional Office for South-East Asia)
• WPRO (WHO Regional Office for the Western Pacific)

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

• White House Report on 2009 H1N1 in the Southern Hemisphere
  Issued August 2009 – This White House report was prepared by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) in coordination with the Office of the Director for National Intelligence (ODNI) and the Department of State (Dos) and describes the characteristics and impact of 2009 H1N1 influenza A virus in the Southern Hemisphere.
• ECDC Interim Risk Assessment Influenza A (H1N1) 2009 Pandemic
  Issued July 30, 2009 - This document provides an interim risk assessment of novel H1N1 flu in Europe prepared by ECDC.
• World Health Organization Weekly Epidemiological record – Issued July 24, 2009
  This document by WHO provides updates on the international novel H1N1 flu situation.
• MMWR – Update: Novel Influenza A (H1N1) Virus Infection – Mexico, March-May, 2009 – Issued June 5, 2009 / Vol. 58 / No. 21.
  This Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report describes the novel influenza A (H1N1) outbreak in Mexico from March-May, 2009.
• MMWR – Update: Novel Influenza A (H1N1) Virus Infections – Worldwide, May 6, 2009 – Issued May 8, 2009 / Vol. 58 / No. 17.
  This Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report describes worldwide novel influenza A (H1N1) infections as of May 6, 2009.