News on influenza A(H1N1)
07.05.2009
Most confirmed cases of influenza A(H1N1) in Europe reported in Spain
On 6 May 2009, confirmed cases of influenza A(H1N1) totalled 1.652 in 22 countries, an increase of 380 from the day before, according to information from ECDC. As before, the biggest increase in confirmed cases was reported in Mexico, USA and Canada, with deaths from the disease believed to be 30, 29 of which were reported in Mexico.
Spain stands out on a list of reported cases of influenza A(H1N1) in the EU with the largest number of confirmed cases as well as the greatest increase in the number of confirmed cases.
On the whole, the epidemic is mild except in Mexico. Not one case of influenza A(H1N1) has been reported in Iceland nor has anyone with influenza-like illness been admitted to the Landspitali University Hospital in Reykjavik. There are no indications of any outbreak in a European country.
Since the epidemic is mild the preparedness plans for Iceland remain unchanged. There is no reason for individuals or businesses to stockpile antiviral drugs since the preparedness plan assumes that everyone in need of such drugs will be given drugs from the national emergency stockpile of antiviral drugs, should an epidemic breaks out. It is vitally important that doctors prescribe these drugs and give instructions on their proper use. Should these drugs be used incorrectly there is greater likelihood that the influenza virus becomes resistant to those drugs, thus making them useless in an emergency. It is therefore of utmost importance that everyone adheres to instructions on the correct use of the influenza drugs.
The Council for Civil Protection and National Security will soon be summoned to discuss responses and preparedness measures in relation to a possible influenza pandemic. The function of the Council is to form government policy on issues concerning civil protection, defence and national security. The Council was established according to the Civil Protection Act, No. 82/2008, but it has not been summoned since the new law took effect last year.
NB! For more information on influenza A(H1N1), influenza measures, and up-to-date tables and charts in English showing the transmission of influenza A(H1N1), please visit the website of the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control, ECDC, http://www.ecdc.europa.eu/ .
Other useful websites: WHO, http://www.who.int/en/ or the Icelandic websites www.influensa.is, www.landlaeknir.is and www.almannavarnir.is.
Chief Epidemiologist for Iceland
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