H1N1 Influenza Pandemic of 2009 Declared Officially
Over by WHO; U.S. Did It in June
Bug expected to continue hanging around but will
behave more like seasonal flu; U.S. gears up for seasonal flu shots that
will also stop H1N1 and more
Aug. 11, 2010 The 2009 H1N1 influenza pandemic is
officially over. It was declared so yesterday by the World Health
Organization (WHO) International Health Regulations (IHR) Emergency
Committee and the WHO Director-General, Dr. Margaret Chan. The decision
was based on strong indications that influenza, worldwide, is
transitioning toward seasonal patterns of transmission.
Implications for United States
The U.S. Public Health Emergency for 2009 H1N1
Influenza actually expired on June 23, 2010.
The only impact on the United States resulting from
the WHO declaration will be an end to weekly reporting under the
International Health Regulations (IHR) to the Pan American Health
Organization and the World Health Organization. CDC has reported weekly
to IHR since early in the pandemic.
There are no changes for the United States in terms
of CDCs recommendations for the upcoming influenza season and the
United States is already proceeding with the understanding that the 2009
H1N1 virus is now part of seasonal influenza virus circulation.
As is customary, beginning in October, 2010, CDC
will provide weekly reports of influenza surveillance information
throughout the season with the publication of FluView available at
www.cdc.gov/flu/weekly .
Americans Protecting Yourself and Others from
Influenza
CDC recommends a three-step approach to fighting
flu: vaccination, everyday preventive actions and the correct use of
antiviral drugs if your doctor recommends them. The first and most
important step in protecting against the flu is to get a flu vaccine
each season.
The U.S. 2010-2011 influenza vaccine will protect
against an H3N2 virus, an influenza B virus, and the 2009 H1N1 influenza
virus that caused the first global pandemic in more than 40 years and
resulted in substantial illness, hospitalizations and deaths.
In the United States, the CDCs Advisory Committee
on Immunization Practices recently recommended that everyone 6 months of
age and older be vaccinated against influenza each season. Pregnant
women, young children, and anyone with underlying health conditions like
asthma, diabetes and neuromuscular diseases are at especially high risk
for influenza-related complications and, therefore, should be vaccinated
as soon as vaccine becomes available. Vaccine manufacturers are
predicting an ample supply of influenza vaccine for the upcoming
2010-2011 U.S. influenza season.
Influenza (the flu) is a serious disease that can
lead to hospitalization and sometimes even death. Anyone can get sick
from the flu. For more information about influenza and how to protect
yourself and your family, visit
www.flu.gov.
HINI Around the World
In the majority of countries, out-of-season 2009
H1N1 outbreaks are no longer being observed, and the intensity of 2009
H1N1 influenza virus transmission is lower than that reported during
2009 and early 2010.
Members of the Emergency Committee further noted
that the 2009 H1N1 viruses will likely continue to circulate for some
years to come, taking on the behavior of a seasonal influenza virus.
This does not mean that the H1N1 virus has
disappeared. Rather, it means current influenza outbreaks including
those primarily caused by the 2009 H1N1 virus, show an intensity similar
to that seen during seasonal epidemics.
Pandemics, like the viruses that cause them, are
unpredictable. WHO noted that continued vigilance is extremely
important, and it is likely that the virus will continue to cause
serious disease in younger age groups and pregnant women, at least in
the immediate post-pandemic period.
Aug. 11, 2010 The 2009 H1N1 influenza pandemic is
officially over. It was declared so yesterday by the World Health
Organization (WHO) International Health Regulations (IHR) Emergency
Committee and the WHO Director-General, Dr. Margaret Chan. The decision
was based on strong indications that influenza, worldwide, is
transitioning toward seasonal patterns of transmission.
