National pandemic preparedness plans are being activated in Latin American and Caribbean states to combat the spread of swine flu, says PAHO (Pan American Health Organization). Disease surveillance throughout the continent has been stepped up for possible outbreaks of A/H1N1 swine influenza. Some countries are currently checking out a small number of potential cases of swine flu.
PAHO convened 26 health ministers and high level officials from throughout the continent via teleconference to exchange data, address questions, and to brief the participants on actions that PAHO and WHO (World Health Organization) have taken.
According to Dr. Jarbas Barbosa, PAHO Area Manager, Health Surveillance, Disease Prevention and Control, PAHO has mobilized experts in epidemiology, laboratory analysis, infection control and communication to help Mexican health authorities in investigations of confirmed and suspected cases and other aspects of the outbreaks. Additional experts have been sent by WHO’s central office in Geneva, by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and by the Public Health Agency of Canada.
Barbosa said Latin American and Caribbean nations are better prepared for a possible swine flu pandemic after previous concerns about a potential H5N1 bird flu pandemic had triggered the preparation of national contingency plans. “We have all been working on pandemic preparedness for several years, and all this work and experience will pay off in helping us to respond to and mitigate limited outbreaks or even a possible pandemic,” said Barbosa.
Mexico first informed PAHO/WHO on April 16 of an abnormal increase in human cases of acute respiratory infections in the states of Oaxaca and Veracruz. On 18th April the first cases of A/H1N1 swine influenza were confirmed in the USA, in California. On 21st April Mexico informed PAHO/WHO of outbreaks of severe respiratory illness in other states. On 23rd April Mexico reported its first laboratory-confirmed cases of A/H1N1 swine influenza. Also on 23rd April cases were confirmed in Texas, USA. On 25th April WHO’s director-general declared a Public Health Emergency of International Concern and convened a meeting of the Emergency Committee of the International Health Regulations. Also on that same day, a team of PAHO experts arrived in Mexico to help health authorities with the outbreaks. On 26th April cases were confirmed in New York and Ohio. On 27th April WHO raised the pandemic alert level to phase 4. On the same day, Canada notified its first confirmed cases. Yesterday, from Geneva, the director-general of WHO announced that the level of pandemic alert was being raised to phase 5.
Barbosa said that PAHO/WHO is also providing guidelines for its member countries on case definition, the use and procurement of antiviral drugs, infection control, and the transportation of samples for laboratory testing. PAHO/WHO as well as other international experts are working to develop specific guidelines for clinical management of swine flu cases.
Source
PAHO (Pan American Health Organization)