As of May 27, 2009, the WHO reported 13,398 confirmed cases and 95 confirmed deaths of H1N1 flu worldwide.  The United States, Mexico, Canada, Japan, Spain, and the United Kingdom report the highest number of confirmed cases.  Together these countries account for 96.0% of the total number of confirmed cases.  It continues to remain uncertain how quickly the H1N1 virus will spread throughout the world and if it will become widely established.  It also remains unknown whether the infectivity and virulence of the H1N1 virus will change over time.  Last week the WHO came out with a report that shared the results of a meeting that occurred amongst all Member States to kick-off the 62^nd World Health Assembly.  Lessons learned included:

• Being prepared has made a major difference in how the world has addressed this outbreak.
• Success depends on a multi-stakeholder approach that entails the government, the private sector, volunteers, international agencies and neighboring countries.
• Effective communication is crucial, including finding the balance between keeping the public informed and avoiding complacency.
• Access to health care, and having strong primary care, is critical.

The report also cited ongoing challenges, such as:

• Ongoing development of seasonal and new influenza (H1N1) vaccines. Being able to meet the production demands with the existing manufacturing capacity will continue to be a challenge.
• Containment may or may not be short-lived. Some countries appear to have contained the spread of the H1N1 virus. However, the sustainability of containment strategies may be limited, and countries may need to modify their approach.
• World needs to guard against complacency. While current cases have been mild for the most part, this situation could continue to evolve. Keeping the public appropriately engaged may be a challenge for some countries.
• Sustaining worldwide solidarity will be necessary in the event of a more serious outbreak. Many countries with the resources to address H1N1 cases within their borders have shared their resources with countries that don’t have as many resources. If an outbreak becomes more serious, this solidarity will be even more important.

EGA will continue to keep you updated on this situation at its website, http://www.ega-inc.com.  As experts in pandemic flu preparedness, EGA can assist you with any questions you have about preparing your organization for a pandemic.