‘H1N1 flu outbreak far from over’

Although most of the H1N1 flu infections continue to cause only mild illnesses and that patients recover quickly and fully, the Centers for Disease and Control and Prevention is warning that the current outbreak is far from over.

As of yesterday morning, the CNMI Department of Public Health still placed the CNMI at pandemic alert level Phase 5, as declared by the World Health Organization and CDC.

The number of H1N1 flu cases continue to increase in the U.S. mainland, with 2,532 in 44 states and three confirmed deaths.

DPH assured the public that there is no confirmed case yet in the CNMI.

No type A flu cases have been reported by its six sentinel sites, which include all Commonwealth Health Center clinics, Marianas Medical Center, Medical Associates of the Pacific, Tinian Health Center, and Rota Health Center.

As of May 10, WHO reported 29 countries with 4,379 cases of H1N1, including the first persons positive with the virus in Japan and Australia.

Both countries have reported their first cases of H1N1 flu on May 9.

CDC report said an unidentified man in his 30s from Washington State is the third person in the U.S. to die from H1N1 flu. The man’s death comes after two prior fatal U.S. cases of H1N1 flu: a 33-year old woman in Texas and a Mexican toddler who had been treated in a Texas hospital.

CDC said that all three individuals had underlying medical conditions.

According to Dr. Anne Schuchat, interim Deputy Director for Science & Public Health Programs at CDC, the jump in confirmed cases is partly due to the reduction in the backlog of testing for infections.

But the number of confirmed cases is probably an underestimation of the total number of actual cases as the virus continues to spread, Schuchat said.

CDC’s acting director, Dr. Richard Besser, said that, while the H1N1 flu is similar to seasonal flu, there are some important differences.

He explained that unlike seasonal flu, a high percentage of confirmed H1N1 cases seem to exhibit vomiting and diarrhea.

CDC noted that because this is a new flu virus, most people will not have immunity to it and so illness may be more severe and widespread as a result.

There is no vaccine available for the H1N1 flu virus at this time.

However, the DPH has already received enough supply of antiviral medicines and other protective items for the CNMI.

In its daily health update, DPH says children under the age of 5 and over 65, those who are pregnant and people with chronic conditions are at high risk for serious seasonal flu-related complications.