Pandemic Influenza (H1N1) 09 Swine Flu - Update 144

Swine flu' vaccine:

The Ministry of Health has been advised by Baxters Healthcare Ltd that the first shipment of the pandemic influenza vaccine will not arrive in New Zealand until early next month.

The Government also has an option arrangement in place with CSL for their pandemic vaccine, but is yet to consider whether it is necessary to purchase any supplies of this vaccine.

Both vaccines will undergo clinical trials and would only be used once licensed by Medsafe. If a vaccination campaign were to proceed, frontline health workers would likely begin to be vaccinated early in 2010.

In late September, the WHO will also consider whether to include the pandemic strain in next year’s seasonal influenza vaccine for the Southern Hemisphere, and this will have an impact on Ministry considerations.

Latest Numbers

The number of deaths from Pandemic Influenza (H1N1) 09 swine flu is 16.
Please note these 16 deaths reported by the Ministry are deaths from swine flu, where swine flu was a primary cause of death. Other deaths are being investigated by the Coroner's office.

There are a total of 3127 confirmed cases of Pandemic Influenza (H1N1) 09 swine flu, up from 3114 on 26 August. These are people who have returned a positive laboratory test for pandemic influenza (H1N1) 09. The actual number of cases of Pandemic Influenza (H1N1) 09 will be significantly higher, as only a small proportion of people with symptoms are being tested. This is because for most people, it's a mild illness and they will recover readily at home without needing medical treatment.

Australian Situation

For the number of confirmed cases in Australia, go to the Australian Government's Department of Health and Ageing website at:
http://www.healthemergency.gov.au/internet/healthemergency/publishing.nsf/Content/updates

International Update from the World Health Organization

The WHO reports that transmission of the pandemic influenza (H1N1) 09 virus is declining globally, especially in temperate regions of the southern hemisphere (with the exception of South Africa). The virus continues to spread in the northern hemisphere, although areas first affected by the virus are seeing less activity. Tropical areas are seeing a peak in pandemic influenza cases at a time when the usual seasonal influenza peaks would occur. The WHO warns of the risk of further spread in highly populated areas as community spread begins in Asia and Africa.

The H1N1 virus is now the dominant influenza strain is most parts of the world, and is expected to remain so during the coming northern hemisphere influenza season.