Over 52 000 cases of pandemic (H1N1) 2009 in Europe
As of 22 September 2009, 48 of the 53 Member States in the WHO European Region had reported over 52 000 laboratory-confirmed cases of pandemic (H1N1) 2009 virus infection. At present, influenza activity in the WHO European Region is low or moderate. The number of infections detected weekly continues to decrease; this is likely to be attributable to the changes in testing practices introduced in many countries as the pandemic evolves.
To date, there have been at least 156 deaths in 14 countries in the Region: Belgium, France, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Norway, Spain, Sweden and the United Kingdom. (1)
Measures in schools
WHO has issued advice on measures that can be taken in schools to reduce the impact of the pandemic. WHO continues to recommend that students, teachers and other staff who feel unwell stay home. Plans should be in place and space made available to isolate students and staff who become ill while at school.
Schools should promote hand washing and respiratory etiquette and be stocked with appropriate supplies. Proper cleaning and ventilation, and measures to reduce crowding are also advised.
Although WHO cannot provide specific recommendations for or against school closure that are applicable to all settings, closure can operate as a proactive measure to reduce transmission in the school and spread into the wider community. When making decisions, health officials and school authorities need to be aware of the economic and social costs, which can be disproportionately high in relation to the potential benefits.
Vaccine donations for the developing world
WHO applauds and welcomes the announcement of donations of pandemic vaccine made on 18 September 2009 by the United States of America, in concert with Australia, Brazil, France, Italy, New Zealand, Norway, Switzerland and the United Kingdom.
(1) Text was amended on 24 September 2009. On the basis of information published on 21 September 2009 on the web site of the Federal Service for Surveillance on Consumer Rights Protection and Well-being, a death in the Russian Federation was mistakenly reported to be associated with pandemic (H1N1) 2009 virus infection.
