44 countries have reported pandemic (H1N1) 2009: cases in Europe rise

Since the update of 17 July, Albania, Georgia, Kazakhstan and Monaco have reported new laboratory-confirmed cases of pandemic (H1N1) 2009 virus infection. As of 24 July 2009, 44 of the 53 countries in the WHO European Region had reported confirmed cases. Three countries had confirmed fatal cases: Hungary (1), Spain (4) and the United Kingdom (30).

WHO/Europe produces a weekly influenza surveillance report that summarizes activity in the Region according to information provided by Member States in compliance with their obligations under the International Health Regulations. These require the monitoring of public health emergencies of international concern, which the WHO Director-General determined the pandemic to be.

WHO/Europe is organizing a meeting to support countries in south-eastern and eastern Europe. On 25–26 August, decision-makers and senior staff from ministries and national institutes leading these countries’’ response to the pandemic will meet in Copenhagen, Denmark: 

• to receive an overview of current knowledge of the pandemic at the global and regional levels, and WHO recommendations and technical guidance; 
• learn from the experience of affected countries; and 
• define appropriate response measures, based on risk assessment and to be implemented in the short term.