The World Health Organisation has released a pressing statement at a recent press conference. It is claiming that it is too early to declare that the global swine flu pandemic has peaked.
The spread of swine flu has certainly slowed or declined in some areas, including much of Western Europe and the USA. However, the virus is becoming more common in parts of West Africa, including Senegal and Mauritius. With the onset of winter in the Southern Hemisphere, these levels are surely set to rise. Health experts argue that there have been a number of recent cases in Eastern Europe and parts of Central Asia.
The WHO will maintain its highest epidemic level alert, and is focusing much of its advice on the affected countries. They have suggested that they “maintain” rather than “intensify” their surveillance of the virus.
Around 300 million people have now been vaccinated against the H1N1 virus. Another useful weapon in the fight against swine flu has been Tamiflu, which has helped huge numbers of people alleviate flu symptoms.
The World Health Organisation recommends that people remain vigilant. In total they reported that 16,226 people have now died from swine flu.
Despite the severity of the outbreak, Keji Fukuda did have some reassuring words for onlookers at another press conference last week, telling reporters" this pandemic is on the less severe end of severity." In comparison with other 20th century pandemics, he said, swine flu is on the less severe end of the spectrum.
In the UK, the government has begun to scale down its response to swine flu, as cases dwindle. It has even shut down the national swine flu hotline. Meanwhile as the latest WHO report reminds us, the pandemic still presents a serious threat on the global scale.
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