MANILA, 25 May 2009, 1600 hrs—The Western Pacific Region reported a total 414 laboratory confirmed cases of influenza A(H1N1) after 79 new cases were announced over 23-25 May. Australia, China, Japan, the Philippines and South Korea all reported new cases of the virus. So far no deaths from influenza A(H1N1) have been reported in the Western Pacific Region.
There are now 414 laboratory-confirmed cases of influenza A(H1N1) in the Western Pacific Region:
- 16 in Australia
- 19 in China
- 345 in Japan
- 2 in Malaysia
- 9 in New Zealand
- 2 in the Philippines
- 21 in the Republic of Korea
The number of cases in South Korea climbed by 18 over May 23-24, comprising 14 private tutors in the country for a workshop, three children who arrived from New York City and one Vietnamese person in transit through Seoul to Viet Nam. Australia's count was lifted by four cases to 16, including a 15-year-old male student in the state of Victoria who tested positive on 23 May. He is a friend of another student who became ill last week. A 27-year old man also from Victoria was confirmed as infected with influenza A(H1N1) and is in quarantine. On 22 May, Australia's government updated its pandemic alert level to "contain", the third highest level.
In Japan, where infections are spread over eight prefectures, 51 new confirmed cases of the virus were reported over 23-25 May. Hyogo Prefecture reported an additional 26 cases from 22 May, taking its total count to 178. Osaka Prefecture reported 20 additional cases to take its total to 151. Six confirmed cases have been reported in Chiba, three in Tokyo, two each in Kyoto, Shiga and Saitama, and one case in Kanagawa.
Schools in Hyogo and Osaka have started to reopen after Japan's national authorities relaxed their school closure policy. The new cases in Japan are mainly associated with schools and, at this stage, there is no clear sign of the virus transmitting into local communities. Although the majority of cases are related to the initial school outbreaks around Kobe and Osaka, there are a small number of cases where public health authorities are finding it difficult to make a clear link to an affected school. Further information on those cases is expected in the near future as investigations continue.
In China, five new confirmed cases of influenza A(H1N1) were reported over the May 23-24 weekend. A 21-month-old girl was confirmed with influenza A(H1N1) after travelling with her parents on 19 May from New York City to Fujian Province via Hong Kong (China). She developed symptoms on 21 May and was checked by a local health station before being transferred to a local hospital for treatment in isolation.
On 23 May, a 53-year-old man was detected by temperature scanners at Hong Kong airport after travelling from Atlanta via San Francisco. The same day a 20-year-old female student from Hong Kong (China) returning from New York City was also detected by the scanners and immediately hospitalized. On 24 May a Hong Kong female student living in the United States of America tested positive after taking a flight from Atlanta to Hong Kong (China) via Seoul. A 30-year-old woman tested positive for the virus after returning to Taipei from the Philippines and developing influenza-like symptoms on 21 May.
The Philippines reported its second confirmed case of influenza A(H1N1) after a 50-year-old woman arrived in the country on 20 May. The patient was isolated and put on medication. Philippine national authorities said there was no evidence of community-level transmission in the country.
Global case count
As of 06:00 GMT, 25 May 2009, 42 countries have officially reported 12 522 cases of influenza A(H1N1) infection, with 91 deaths. Mexico has reported 4 174 laboratory-confirmed human cases of infection, including 80 deaths. The United States of America has reported 6 552 laboratory-confirmed human cases, including nine deaths. Canada has reported 805 laboratory confirmed human cases, including one death. Costa Rica has reported 28 laboratory-confirmed human cases, including one death.
The following countries have reported laboratory confirmed cases with no deaths: Argentina (2), Australia (16), Austria (1), Belgium (7), Brazil (9), Chile (44), China (19), Colombia (12), Cuba (4), Denmark (1), Ecuador (10), El Salvador (10), Finland (2), France (16), Germany (17), Greece (1), Guatemala (4), India (1), Ireland (1), Israel (8), Italy (19), Japan (345), Malaysia (2), Netherlands (3), New Zealand (9), Norway (4), Panama (76), Peru (17), Philippines (2), Poland (3), Portugal (1), Republic of Korea (21), Spain (133), Sweden (3), Switzerland (3), Thailand (2), Turkey (2), and the United Kingdom (133).
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 travellers who fall ill should seek appropriate medical care. These recommendations are prudent measures which can limit the spread of many communicable diseases, including influenza.
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