New flu cases decrease sharply

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A recent statement sent to Gulf News by Dr Jamal Al Mutawa, Section Head, Communicable Diseases at Health Authority-Abu DhabiHealth Authority-Abu Dhabi (HAADHAAD), said: "The H1N1 influenza continues to have evidence of being active, but with declining transmission or remain low in Abu Dhabi."

"The spread of H1N1 awareness campaigns in the past few months, especially among school children, who were encouraged to use alcohol scrubs and hand sanitisers, can be a factor that contributed to the decline," Stanford said.

Less patients complaining of influenza-like symptoms does not necessarily mean that the virus has disappeared, added the hospital director. "It just means that people are handling the disease themselves, by simply taking paracetamol, drinking lot of fluids and resting."

Dr Ravi Arora, internist at the NMC Specialty Hospital, reported more than 400 patient visits with influenza-like symptoms, during August and September, which he claims were the peak months for H1N1 cases. In January, NMC reported 21 such cases to the HAADHAAD, and only two cases in the past two weeks. "The virus is not spreading anymore. It could be because people are now taking adequate precautions," he said.

A statement sent to Gulf News exclusively, from Dr. Jamal Al Mutawa, Section Head, Communicable Diseases at HAADHAAD, said:

"The Health Authority Abu DhabiHealth Authority Abu Dhabi (HAADHAAD) encourages all residents, especially those among the priority groups, to take the H1N1 vaccine in the pre-allocated medical centers and clinics, to protect themselves from catching the H1N1 influenza and further limit its spread in the community."

For more information on H1N1 influenza and the vaccine, please contact HAADHAAD customer service centre on 800800 or visit www.haad.ae/h1n1

Statement of the World Health Organization (WHO) on allegations of conflict of interest and ‘fake' pandemic

"WHO takes allegations of conflict of interest seriously and is confident of its decision-making independence regarding the pandemic influenza. The world is going through a real pandemic. The description of it as a fake is wrong and irresponsible."

Additional allegations that WHO created a ‘fake' pandemic to bring economic benefit to the pharmaceutical industry are scientifically wrong and historically incorrect.

Lab analyses showed that this influenza virus was genetically and antigenically very different from other influenza viruses circulating among people

Epidemiological information provided by Mexico, the US and Canada demonstrated person-to-person transmission.

Clinical information, especially from Mexico, indicated this virus also could cause severe disease and death. At the time, those reports did not indicate a pandemic situation, but taken together sent a very strong warning to WHO and other public health authorities to be ready for one.

As the pandemic evolved, clinicians identified a very severe form of primary viral pneumonia, which was rapidly progressive and frequently fatal, that is not part of the disease pattern seen during seasonal influenza. While these cases were relatively rare, they imposed a heavy burden on intensive care units.

Geographical spread was exceptionally rapid.

On 29 April 2009, WHO reported lab confirmed cases in 9 countries.

About 6 weeks later, on 11 June, WHO reported cases in 74 countries and territories in more than two WHO regions. It is this global spread which led WHO to call for increasing phases and finally, to announce that a pandemic was underway.

By 1 July, infections had been confirmed in 120 countries and territories.

By Dina El Shammaa

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