For global developments
MANILA, 10 May 2009, 1600 hrs—Australia and Japan have reported their first confirmed cases of influenza A(H1N1). The new cases took the total for the Western Pacific Region from nine to 13. Apart from Australia and Japan, Hong Kong (China) (1), New Zealand (5) and the Republic of Korea (3) have also reported cases, most of them since WHO raised its alert level from Phase 4 to Phase 5 on 29 April. No deaths from influenza A(H1N1) have been reported in the Region.
As of 06:00 GMT, 9 May 2009, 29 countries in the world have officially reported 3440 cases of influenza A(H1N1) infection, with 48 deaths.
Australia’s first confirmed case, reported May 9, was a person from Queensland who arrived in Brisbane on 7 May from Los Angeles. Australian authorities believe the person contracted the disease while traveling in the United States of America. The person first became sick while overseas, and did not return to Australia until most of the symptoms had abated. The person is said to have fully recovered.
A Japanese teacher and two students became Japan's first confirmed cases when they tested positive for the virus after a school trip to Canada. The three returned to Tokyo, via Detroit, on Friday 8 May. A total of 49 passengers from the Northwest Airlines flight, mostly schoolchildren seated close to the three on the aircraft, were isolated in a hotel near the airport.
WHO is not recommending travel restrictions related to the outbreak of the influenza A(H1N1) virus.
Individuals who are ill should delay travel plans and returning travelers who fall ill should seek appropriate medical care. These recommendations are prudent measures which can limit the spread of many communicable diseases, including influenza.
What’s new in the Western Pacific Region
There are now 13 confirmed cases of influenza A(H1N1) in the Western Pacific Region:
- 1 in Australia, reported 9 May
- 1 in Hong Kong (China), reported 1 May
- 3 in Japan, reported 9 May
- 5 in New Zealand, 3 reported April 28, 1 reported 1 May and 1 reported 4 May.
- 3 in the Republic of Korea, reported 2 May, 5 May and 7 May
Global case count
As of 06:00 GMT, 9 May 2009, 29 countries have officially reported 3 440 cases of influenza A(H1N1) infection. The Mexico has reported 1 364 laboratory confirmed human cases of infection, including 45 deaths.
The United States has reported 1 639 laboratory confirmed human cases, including two deaths. Canada has reported 242 laboratory confirmed human cases, including one death.
The following countries have reported laboratory confirmed cases with no deaths - Argentina (1), Australia (1), Austria (1), Brazil (6), China, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (1), Colombia (1), Costa Rica (1), Denmark (1), El Salvador (2), France (12), Germany (11), Guatemala (1), Ireland (1), Israel (7), Italy (6), Japan (3), Netherlands (3), New Zealand (5), Panama (2), Poland (1), Portugal (1), Republic of Korea (3), Spain (88), Sweden (1), Switzerland (1) and the United Kingdom (34).
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