MANILA, 27 May 2009, 1600 hrs—Australia reported a further eight new laboratory-confirmed cases of influenza A(H1N1), taking its count to 50 cases and the Western Pacific Region's total to 474. Japan and China also confirmed new cases. So far no deaths from influenza A(H1N1) have been reported in the Western Pacific Region
Most of Australia's cases are in the more populous states of Victoria and New South Wales, which have 23 and 16 cases respectively. Several of the new cases were confirmed after passengers and crew members aboard the Pacific Dawn cruise ship were tested for the virus after the vessel docked in Sydney, Australia, on 25 May.
The Western Pacific Region has reported a total 474 laboratory confirmed cases of influenza A(H1N1):
- 50 in Australia
- 30 in China
- 360 in Japan
- 2 in Malaysia
- 9 in New Zealand
- 2 in the Philippines
- 21 in the Republic of Korea
Japan's additional 10 cases take its total to 360. It now has 184 cases in Hyogo Prefecture and 153 at Osaka Prefecture, the two prefectures where the majority of infections have occurred. Chiba has reported eight cases, with three in Tokyo, two each in Shiga, Saitama, Kyoto, Shizuoka and Kanagawa, and one each in Fukuoka and Wakayama.
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.
China's two new cases included a 56-year-old woman resident of Hong Kong (China) who had recently returned from a trip to the United States of America. China now has a total of 30 confirmed cases.
Global case count
As of 06:00 GMT, 27 May 2009, 46 countries have officially reported 13 451 cases of influenza A(H1N1) infection, with 96 deaths. Mexico has reported 4 541 laboratory-confirmed human cases of infection, including 83 deaths. The United States of America has reported 6 764 laboratory-confirmed human cases, including 10 deaths. Canada has reported 921 laboratory confirmed human cases, including two death. Costa Rica has reported 33 laboratory-confirmed human cases, including one death.
The following countries have reported laboratory confirmed cases with no deaths: Argentina (19), Australia (50), Austria (1), Belgium (7), Brazil (9), Chile (82), China (30), Colombia (16), Cuba (4), Czech Republic (1), Denmark (1), Ecuador (24), El Salvador (6), Finland (2), France (19), Germany (17), Greece (1), Guatemala (4), Iceland (1), India (1), Ireland (2), Israel (8), Italy (23), Japan (360), Kuwait (18), Malaysia (2), Netherlands (3), New Zealand (9), Norway (4), Panama (76), Peru (27), Philippines (2), Poland (3), Portugal (1), Republic of Korea (21), Russia (2), Spain (138), Sweden (3), Switzerland (3), Thailand (2), Turkey (2), and the United Kingdom (184).
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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