Emergency Operations Center Update on Influenza A(H1N1) June 11

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Emergency Operations Center Update on Influenza A(H1N1) June 11

EOC Situation Report #21
Influenza A(H1N1)
Thursday, 11 June 2009
6:00 pm, EDT

Summary

The World Health Organization raised its global pandemic alert level to Phase 6 today. This means that sustained community transmission of a new influenza virus has now been confirmed in more than one WHO region, and that a global pandemic is now officially declared. Read the Director General's statement to the press.
It is important to note that the change in phase reflects geographical spread of the new influenza A (H1N1) virus, and not the severity of illness that it causes.
At this time, WHO considers the overall severity of the influenza pandemic to be moderate. This assessment is based on scientific evidence available to WHO, as well as input from its Member States on the pandemic's impact on their health systems, and their social and economic functioning.

Countries should prepare to see cases, or the further spread of cases, in the near future. Countries where outbreaks appear to have peaked should prepare for a second wave of infection.
Guidance on specific protective and precautionary measures has been sent to ministries of health in all countries. Countries with no or only a few cases should remain vigilant.
Countries with widespread transmission should focus on the appropriate management of patients. The testing and investigation of patients should be limited, as such measures are resource intensive and can very quickly strain capacities.

WHO continues to recommend no restrictions on travel and no border closures.
PAHO will be hosting a press conference by Dr. Jon K. Andrus on the influenza pandemic on Friday, June 12, at 2pm (Washington DC time). Questions can be sent through e-mail: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . For more information please check PAHO’s website.
For the latest reports on the status of Influenza A(H1N1) in the Americas please check the daily epidemiological alerts available in the PAHO website.

Resources

The PAHO/WHO Emergency Operations Center Situation Report will issue situation reports as the situation requires.

Situation Reports

Report: Evaluation of the Evidence Informed Policy Networks (EVIPNet). August 2010 -July 2012
EVIPNet Americas consists of national multidisciplinary teams, with different structures, and different knowledge translation processes, either because of the political subjects they approach or the time devoted to addressing said problems. Some teams work independently while others still need to grow stronger. Taking into account that the overall objective of EVIPNet is to bridge the gap between the use of research in the decision making process regarding programs, policies and laws and that it has been launched in the Americas in 2007, its impact and some results should already be available for their review. From August 2010 to June 2012, eight (8) EVIPNet workshops were developed, and they involved 16 countries and 277 subjects; and eight (8) evidence informed briefs for policies were finished. Other 16 are being developed. Report in English