The University of Western Ontario has launched an extensive pandemic planning effort over the past two weeks in response to an outbreak of the A/H1N1 virus, otherwise known as the human swine flu.
As of May 5, 23 countries had officially reported 1,490 cases of the infection, of which all but one of the 30 deaths had occurred in Mexico. Canada had 140 lab-confirmed cases at the time, behind only Mexico (822) and the United States (403).
Last week, the World Health Organization increased its pandemic alert level to phase five, which means there is human-to-human spread of the virus in at least two countries, as the virus spread around the world.
As of Wednesday, May 6, there are 5 new confirmed cases of H1N1 flu virus (human swine flu), bringing the total number in Ontario to 36. The reported cases are in Toronto, York, Durham, Peel, Windsor-Essex, Oxford, Simcoe-Muskoka, and Sudbury and District, all of which are mild and the people are recovering at home.
Although there were no reported cased in the London-Middlesex area, Student Health Services at Western continues to screen each patient for the virus. The university is also encouraging the community to reduce its risk by frequent hand washing, using hand sanitizers with at least 70 per cent alcohol, washing surfaces, and covering coughs and sneezes.
Members of the university community who have recently returned from Mexico and are experiencing symptoms, such as fever, cough, sore throat, headache, fatigue, sore muscles, joint pains or diarrhea and vomiting, should contact their doctor. Those who are well can return to work or school.
Student Health Services, the pandemic planning committee and the university administration continue to monitor the situation and will enact its pandemic plan if necessary. A fact sheet was also forwarded to deans and unit heads for distribution within faculties and departments.
Watch the Daily News Service for updates or visit the newly created micro-website dedicated to following the outbreak, which can be viewed at
https://communications.uwo.ca/influenza-microsite/.
FAQ How do people become infected?
Outbreaks in humans are now occurring from human-to-human transmission. When infected people cough or sneeze, infected droplets get on their hands, drop onto surfaces, or are dispersed into the air. Another person can breathe in contaminated air, or touch infected hands or surfaces, and be exposed. To prevent spread, people should cover their mouth and nose with a tissue when coughing, and wash their hands regularly.
Are some people more at risk?
More study is needed to determine if some populations (i.e. younger or older people, or people with other medical conditions) could be affected by the outbreak, of if they are at higher risk for severe illness. WHO recommends that everyone take precautions to prevent the spread of infection.
Is an effective vaccine available?
No, but work is under way to develop such a vaccine. Influenza vaccines generally contain a dead or weakened form of a circulating virus. The vaccine prepares the body’s immune system to defend against a true infection. For the vaccine to protect as well as possible, the virus in it should match the circulating “wild-type” virus relatively closely. Since this H1N1 virus is new, there is no vaccine available made with this particular virus. Making a completely new influenza vaccine can take five to six months.
Why is WHO not asking vaccine manufacturers to switch production from seasonal vaccine to a influenza A(H1N1) vaccine?
WHO has not recommended stopping production of seasonal influenza vaccine because this seasonal influenza causes three million to five million cases of severe illness each year, and kills from 250,000 to 500,000 people. Continued immunization against seasonal influenza is therefore important. Moreover, stopping seasonal vaccine production immediately would not allow a pandemic vaccine to be made quicker. At this time, WHO is liaising closely with vaccine manufacturers so large-scale vaccine production can start as soon as indicated.
If the virus causes a mild pandemic in the warmer months and changes into something much more severe in, say, six months, will vaccines being developed now be effective?
It is too early to be able to predict changes in the influenza A(H1N1) virus as it continues to circulate in humans or how similar a mutated virus might be to the current virus. Careful surveillance for changes in the influenza A(H1N1) virus is ongoing. This close and constant monitoring will support a quick response should important changes in the virus be detected.
Why are we so worried when thousands die every year from seasonal epidemics?
Seasonal epidemics occur every year and we are able to treat the virus with seasonal vaccines. A pandemic is a worldwide epidemic. It is a new virus and one to which the populations will have no immunity.
Source: World Health Organization