The Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR) has posted two dispatches that offer the most detailed looks yet at two outbreaks of what's now being called swine-associated H1N1 influenza. One report focuses on Mexico and the other on a school in New York City. The Mexico report says there is a confirmed case that had an onset of symptoms on 17 March, making it the earliest yet found anywhere in the world. Although the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention publishes MMWR, CDC officials at a press conference today said they had no information about this apparent "index" case of the outbreak. Index cases can play a critical role in understanding an outbreak's origins.
—Jon Cohen
Dateline: Nigeria, Abuja, May 04 2009 3:15PM.
Press Release:
IPHF warns against politicizing and sensationalizing of the H1N1 Virus
Dr. Francis Ohanyido the President of the International Public Health Forum (IPHF) has warned the media and public officials to be careful about the way they portray the H1N1 virus aka ‘swine flu’. Answering questions on the evolving pandemic in Abuja yesterday, the IPHF boss admonished against unnecessary sensationalism of the issue by the media and advised journalists to give the public accurate information that can assist in mitigating the spread. He also reacted to statements by public officers like US Vice-President Joe Biden that was credited to have advised Americans against some forms of transportation. He advised that whenever possible notable figures should endeavour to have a perspective of WHO’s global and public health posture on such issues before making categorical statements.
The Forum is wholly in support of the direction, drive and leadership of the WHO, and agrees with Keiji Fukuda, Assistant Director-General of the UN Health body the epidemiological picture is still evolving and heightened vigilance and improved reporting structure is critical, especially in view of the sustained human transmission that has so far been seen particularly in Mexico and other countries. He further advised that the term H1N1 should be used rather than the ‘swine flu’ which is to some extent misleading a lot of people into the impression that the flu is actively being spread by pigs or circulating amongst them. In this sense, he reiterated that the case is not exactly the same as experienced with the H5N1 (‘Bird flu’).
Ohanyido further called upon countries challenged by resources to make great effort to ensure that a pandemic response system in line with WHO recommendation is in place, so as to reduce possible cost profile in the case of a wider pandemic escalating to Level 6.
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