MANILA, 26 May 2009, 1600 hrs—Australia reported several new laboratory confirmed cases of influenza A(H1N1), including passengers and a crew member aboard a visiting cruise ship. Japan and China also reported new cases, lifting the Western Pacific Region's total count by 16 to 436 cases. So far no deaths from influenza A(H1N1) have been reported in the Western Pacific Region
Two children and a crew member aboard the Pacific Dawn cruise ship, which docked in Sydney, Australia, on 25 May were confirmed as infected with the influenza A(H1N1) virus. Five new cases were reported in Japan, where infections are spread over eight prefectures but are confined mainly at schools. Five new cases were also announced in China, two of them in Hong Kong (China).
The Western Pacific Region reported a total 436 laboratory confirmed cases of influenza A(H1N1):
- 23 in Australia
- 29 in China
- 350 in Japan
- 2 in Malaysia
- 9 in New Zealand
- 2 in the Philippines
- 21 in the Republic of Korea
Japan now has 179 cases in Hyogo Prefecture and 152 at Osaka Prefecture, the two prefectures where the majority of infections have occurred. Eight cases have been confirmed in Chiba, three in Tokyo, two each in Shiga, Saitama and Kyoto, and one each in Kanagawa and Fukuoka. China has 29 confirmed cases of the virus, while Australia has 23 cases.
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.
Global case count
As of 06:00 GMT, 26 May 2009, 46 countries have officially reported 12 581 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 (23), Austria (1), Belgium (7), Brazil (9), Chile (44), China (29), Colombia (13), Cuba (4), Denmark (1), Ecuador (10), El Salvador (10), Finland (2), France (16), Germany (17), Greece (1), Guatemala (4), Iceland (1), India (1), Ireland (1), Israel (8), Italy (19), Japan (350), Kuwait (18), Malaysia (2), Netherlands (3), New Zealand (9), Norway (4), Panama (76), Peru (25), Philippines (2), Poland (3), Portugal (1), Republic of Korea (21), Russia (2), Spain (136), Sweden (3), Switzerland (3), Thailand (2), Turkey (2), and the United Kingdom (137).
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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