Posts Tagged ‘WHO’

According to the World Health Organization the number of reported cases of H1N1 influenza has increased by at least 24,000 in just the past two weeks. And with the new H1N1 vaccine just recently being distributed to the public the CDC is reaffirming the current vaccination guidelines. The groups most at risk, and therefore should be vaccinated are:

Please note that the  H1N1 vaccine is not intended to replace the seasonal flu vaccine. The seasonal flu and H1N1 vaccines may be administered on the same day.  [via CDC]

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As the start of another school year is upon us, parents are asking what to do should their children come down with symptoms of influenza. The World Health Organization just released updated guidelines with regards to children and the H1N1 (swine) flu. The current recommendation is prompt treatment for children who show severe or deteriorating illness, and those at risk of more severe or complicated disease. This includes all children under 5 years of age because this age group is at an increased risk of severe H1N1 infection. Children who are otherwise healthy and older than the age of 5 do not need to be given antiviral medication unless their illness persists or worsen. Most patients, including children, who are infected with the pandemic H1N1 virus will experience typical influenza symptoms and fully recover within a week, even without any form of medical treatment. The two antivirals currently used are oseltamivir and zanamivir. They can help to reduce disease severity and reduce the need for hospitalization. [via WHO]

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Two Saskatchewan farm workers have contracted a new flu virus strain, which Canadian officials have reported to the World Health Organization. The new strain contains genes from a seasonal human flu strain and a flu virus common in the swine population. The current H1N1 pandemic strain contains human, swine and avian genes. The new strain is not related to the current H1N1 strain that has killed over 400 people worldwide, and is believed to be only of low public health risk. Those who have already received the flu vaccine should have some immunity against this strain.

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As a part of their medium-term strategic plan the World Health Organization is calling for low-cost interventions that can help bolster the world’s economies. Such interventions include the distribution of vision corrective glasses to those who live in poverty. Studies have shown that blindness can contribute to poverty and those who are visually impaired have an increased risk of falling into lower socioeconomic classes and have higher rates of unemployment.

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The World Health Organization (WHO) is urging pharmaceutical companies for assistance in helping poorer countries prepare for the H1N1 flu. This comes in the midst of the 62nd World Health Assembly in Geneva where health ministers from around the world are meeting. Less wealthy countries don’t have the necessary pharmaceutical resources needed to effectively combat the virus. More importantly, the opportunity to prevent further spread of the epidemic is ripe since the H1N1 flu has not reached most developing countries. Currently, only 6 out of 30 major drug companies have agreed to donate and/or reduce vaccine costs to poorer countries. This has prompted UN Secretary General, Ban Ki-moon, to call for solidarity among the world’s countries. Solidarity, said Ban, “must mean that all have access to drugs and vaccines.”

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The American Veterinary Medical Association has released a statement saying that human exposure to pigs and consumption of pork products will not increase your risk of infection with swine flu. Thus far, the swine flu has only been identified and transmitted among humans. There have been no reports of outbreaks among swine herds. In fact, the term “swine flu” is a misnomer since this strain is actually composed of a combination of viruses that include swine, poultry and human influenza viruses. And today, the World Health Organization announced that they will no longer be using the term “swine flu” to avoid confusion over the danger posed by pigs. Instead the proper, scientific name H1N1 influenza A will be used. With that being said, the AVMA is also reminding us to follow proper cooking guidelines for all meat products to reduce the incidence of food borne illnesses such as salmonella.

Learn about swine flu symptoms.

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The World Health Organization and the Multiple Sclerosis International Federation unveiled the results of the most comprehensive survey of multiple sclerosis (MS) undertaken to date that involved more than 100 countries. Results of the survey are available to the public in the form of the Atlas of MS. The exact cause of multiple sclerosis is unknown, nor is there a cure. The results of the study show that more than 1.3 million worldwide are affected with the neurological disorder, and at least twice as many women than men have it. There is also a higher risk of MS the further North or South of the equator you live. Read more.

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