It has spread to the United States and around the world and there is a risk that it will develop into a world wide pandemic.  However, over the last several years the ability of the world community to respond to a pandemic has greatly increased, because of concern about the possibility of an avian flu epidemic.  A focused partnership with the range of United Nations agencies, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies and a coalition of non-governmental organizations, has significantly improved in 30 countries across Africa, Asia and Latin America.

Whereas coordinated efforts to respond to disasters usually begin only after the disaster has occurred, the concerns of a global pandemic caused by the avian influenza virus created an unprecedented opportunity to develop the planning and coordination for a pandemic in advance of the event. Because of this work, developing countries’ ability to respond to a pandemic, while still far from perfect, will be both better and faster than what would otherwise have been possible.

So, while the current situation regarding the possible spread of H1N1 flu into a worldwide pandemic is of a concern, it is important to note that due to the work over the last three years, pandemic preparedness measures are in place at the international level to help control the spread of H1N1 and hopefully limit the loss of life from the disease.

“Swine flu” was the name originally given to a new strain of the flu that first appeared in Mexico in the Spring of 2009, but is now more accurately described as H1N1 flu, because it is now understood that the H1N1 virus is a mix of swine, human, and avian strains of the flu virus.

It has spread to the United States and around the world and there is a risk that it will develop into a worldwide pandemic.

The purpose of this web site is to track the spread of H1N1 around the world, so that you have the best information available in terms of travel plans or simply the seriousness of the situation.

In the world we live in where it is possible for travelers from even the most remote locations to be in any major city in the world in less than seventy-two hours the spread of H1N1 in the Congo or India or Germany, which a hundred years ago could not have effected most Americans for weeks or months, is now something that you should be aware of to help protect yourself and your loved ones from the potentially deadly effects of H1N1.

So, we will try to keep track of the spread of the H1N1 virus around the world on the blog, so that you can be prepared for whatever the future holds.  Though the spread of H1N1 is a very real concern there are ways to protect yourself and your loved ones from the worst results, and the first step is to be as informed as possible on the spread, symptoms, and treatments for H1N1.

June 9, 2009

The following article is the United States Centers for Disease Control’s tally of the current and confirmed and suspected cases of  H1N1 as of June 3, 2009.  It’s an excellent sources if you happen to be traveling outside of the United States. 

If you are interested in cases of H1N1 in the United States click the highlighted text.

Influenza A (H1N1) Facts

At 06:00 GMT, June 3, 2009, sixty-six countries have officially reported 19,273 cases of influenza A(H1N1) infection, including 117 deaths.

The laboratory-confirmed cases by country are given in the following table and map.  Remember, this will tend to be a conservative estimate, because it is only counting laboratory confirmed cases.

As of 06:00 GMT, 3 June 2009

Laboratory-confirmed cases of new influenza A(H1N1) as officially reported to WHO by States Parties to the International Health Regulations (2005)

*Chinese Taipei has reported 14 confirmed case of influenza A (H1N1) with 0 deaths. Cases from Chinese Taipei are included in the cumulative totals provided in the table above.

*Cumulative and new figures are subject to revision