Pandemic Influenza H1N1 2009 (swine flu) – Special Update 181

Icelandic volcanic eruption and possibility of short term delays in influenza vaccine supplies from France.

New Zealand has delivered around 772,000 doses of flu vaccine so far this season - more than in the entire 2008 flu season and around 100,000 more than at the same time last year.

However a volcanic eruption in Iceland, which has disrupted air traffic in Europe, may interrupt our supply of vaccine over the next week or so.

The seasonal flu vaccine is produced in (and distributed from) Paris, France - where flights are currently grounded.

The Ministry of Health is currently reviewing the situation, and is working with primary care providers to ensure they are kept up to date as this situation evolves.


International situation

As at 16 April 2010, WHO reports it is continuing to actively monitor the progress of the pandemic. The most active areas of pandemic virus transmission currently are in parts of the tropical zones of the Americas, West Africa, Eastern Africa and South East Asia. Although pandemic influenza continues to be the predominant circulating influenza virus worldwide, seasonal influenza type B virus circulation continues to be predominant in East Asia, and is being detected across other parts of Asia, and Europe at low levels.

Since the pandemic began in April 2009, almost all countries have experienced outbreaks of pandemic influenza and over 17,798 laboratory-confirmed deaths have been reported worldwide.

For the WHO’s latest updates on the global pandemic, check their website: http://www.who.int/csr/disease/swineflu/en/

ENDS

Please attribute this statement to Dr Darren Hunt, Deputy Director of Public Health

Note: A second update containing the latest pandemic influenza surveillance information will be posted to the Ministry of Health website on Thursday, 22 April 2010.

For health information and advice, call Healthline on 0800 611 116
For latest updates on Pandemic (H1N1) 2009, visit http://www.moh.govt.nz
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For media queries related to this update, call the National Health Coordination Centre, Communications Desk at +64 (04) 816 3660 or +64 (21) 243 6805 or email H1N1comms@moh.govt.nz