While cases of the A(H1N1) “swine” influenza virus are on the decline in the Northern and Southern Hemisphere, Senior World Health Organization (WHO) official, Keiji Fukuda said that it is too early to declare the pandemic “over” – as it does continue in parts of Europe and Central Asia at “high-levels”.
The flu is probably peaking because the estimated number of new patients has fallen for a second consecutive week, according to the National Institute of Infectious Diseases.
New cases fell to 1.32 million last week, after 131,972 patients were reported to have visited the roughly 5,000 medical institutions covered by the National Institute of Infectious Diseases’ survey. The drop brought the average number of new patients per institution to 27.39 from 31.82 the previous week.
However, according to the WHO, there is a chance that there could be another wave, late in the winter season or early in the spring season.
The World Health Organization has pledged to continue support for the most vulnerable countries, the poorer ones, by providing them with limited vaccine supplies.
Thus far, 6 vaccine makers and 12 countries have responded to a WHO appeal for assistance, earlier this year, with pledges of about 180 million doses of vaccine to be distributed to roughly 95 countries.
The underlining message is that it is not too late to distribute vaccinations before things get even more out of hand.
The global death toll since the swine flu pandemic first emerged in April is approaching the 10,000 mark, with at least 9,596 deaths recorded as late as December 6.
New swine flu cases fell to 1.32 million in the week to Sunday after 131,972 patients were reported to have visited the roughly 5,000 medical institutions covered by the survey. The drop brought the average number of new patients per institution to 27.39 from 31.82 the previous week, the institute said.
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