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In early June 2009, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the outbreak of the swine flu (influenza A - type H1N1 virus) to be a pandemic.
On july 17 the World Health Organization (WHO) reported that new swine flu cases had grown so rapidly that governments no longer were required counting the number of swine flu patients nationally - and they were adviced to change their focuss on: H1N1 prevention & isolation in order to halt the pandemic.
(NOTE: Developments below were last updated on january 11: swine flu table - last update: december 28)
NOTICE: Some websites had started reporting 'swine flu death rates', but since far most countries no longer monitor the lab verified number of infections (which is no longer a WHO requirement since july 17), these statistics are no longer informative. The official statistics indicate that the 'swine flu death rate' is actually LOWER than seasonal flu, however ... while seasonal flu is known for having a high death toll among the elderly (about 90% ABOVE the age of 65), a growing number of reports indicates that the H1N1 virus is especially dangerous for young people (about 90% BELOW the age of 65) + pregnant women!!! More details available at this SWINE FLU Q&A RECENT REPORTS ABOUT HOW THE SWINE FLU VIRUS SPREADS: Hands on hand hygiene: swine flu prevention starts with proper hand hygiene!! 'Hand-to-face touch' is a crucial link to catching swine flu! Hand washing is a defence against the H1N1 virus, but washing hands may not be enough to prevent swine flu infection! Infected Air Force cadets were still "shedding" the H1N1 virus after their fever & symptoms disappeared! Pregnant women are most vulnerable for swine flu: 28+ US deaths were 'young mothers' in early pregnancy! 
"SWINE FLU STATISTICS IN A NUT-SHELL" All weekly updates have been reported from week 23 (2009) to week 2 (2010) in the table below. The reports indicate that the 'lab confirmed H1N1 death toll' has peaked early in december (week 50). Week 52 showed a trend of a DIMINISHED 'momentum' of H1N1 activity in all regions of the world. However, it is unclear weather the decline was (partly) related to a diminished efforts of monitoring health centers during Christmas. In week 52 both China & India showed considerable H1N1 activity with in respective a H1N1 lab confirmed death toll of +67 and +103 fatal cases. In (only) 2 countries the 'lab-verified H1N1 influenza flu death toll' has become a 4-digit number, including: US (2.848) and Brazil (1.632). The official global 'swine flu death toll' on december 28 was: 12.682 cases as reported by the ECDC (unofficially: 14,119 deaths reported by Wikipedia on december 29). The 2 countries (US & Brazil) that reported a 'swine flu death toll' of 1000 or higher, account for almost 30.0% of the global swine flu death toll. WEEK 2: According the statistics of the ECDC the global 'momentum' of the H1N1 virus continued to DECLINE slightly: only +560 new lab confirmed H1N1 fatalities. But especially Europe the death toll momentum became higher again compared to week 53/1 and week 52. WEEK 53/1: According the statistics of the ECDC the global 'momentum' of the H1N1 virus continued to DECLINE slightly: only +595 new lab confirmed H1N1 fatalities. But in the Meditteranean & the Middle-East + North-East & South Asia the death toll momentum was higher compared to week 52. WEEK 52: According the statistics of the ECDC the global 'momentum' of the H1N1 virus DECLINED to only +642 new lab confirmed H1N1 fatalities - the DECLINING trend is observed in ALL regions of the world, including: East Europe, the Middle-East and Asia!! WEEK 51: According the statistics of the ECDC the global 'momentum' of the H1N1 virus STABILIZED with +1,177 new lab confirmed H1N1 fatalities: in many countries the 'momentum' has peaked in november, but in East Europe, the Middle-East and Asia (including China) the 'death toll' momentum is still gaining in strength; in Europe the H1N1 death toll reached a week-record for the 7th time in a row: +319 new European lab confirmed H1N1 fatalities. WEEK 50: According the statistics of the ECDC the global 'momentum' of the H1N1 virus STABILIZED with +1,066 new lab confirmed H1N1 fatalities: in many countries the 'momentum' has peaked in november, but especially in East Europe and Asia (including China) the 'death toll' momentum is still gaining in strength; in Europe the H1N1 death toll reached a week-record for the 6th time in a row: +267 new European lab confirmed H1N1 fatalities. WEEK 49: According the statistics of the ECDC the global 'momentum' of the H1N1 virus RISED slightly: the global 'death toll' momentum reached a 6 week high + a new week-peak: +1231 H1N1 global fatalities; in Europe the H1N1 death toll reached also a week-record: +208 new European lab confirmed H1N1 fatalities. WEEK 48: According the statistics of the ECDC the global 'momentum' of the H1N1 virus stabilized, but the global 'death toll' reached a sharp rise compared to week 47: +936 H1N1 global fatalities; in Europe the H1N1 death toll reached a weekly record: +188 new European lab confirmed H1N1 fatalities. WEEK 47: According the statistics of the ECDC the global 'momentum' of the H1N1 virus stabilized, though the global 'death toll' reached a weekly record of +581 H1N1 fatalities; in Europe the H1N1 death toll surged faster than in the weeks before: +169 new European lab confirmed H1N1 fatalities (+33%, a 13 week high). WEEK 46: According the statistics of the ECDC the global death toll continued to grow faster than in the previous weeks; in Europe the H1N1 death toll jumped from 401 to 501 (+100 new European lab confirmed H1N1 fatalities) while the 'momentum' in Europe stabilised when compared with week 45. WEEK 45: According the statistics of the ECDC the global death toll continued to grow faster than in week 44; Europe reported by far the highest weekly death toll so far (84 European lab confirmed H1N1 fatalities) and the 'momentum' showed the higest weekly growth since week 35 (in that week: 21 European lab confirmed H1N1 fatalities). WEEK 44: According the statistics of the ECDC the global death toll continued to grow faster than in week 39 to 42 (week 43 showed a 'peak' due to a delayed update report from Brazil - which concerned a summary of the preceeding 5 weeks); in Europe the situation stabilized when compared with week 43. WEEK 43: According the statistics of the ECDC the global death toll reached the highest weekly rise reported so far in 1 week: ... +1046 new confirmed swine flu related death reports (including new 'official' figures from Brazil: +469) - which implicates a 'weekly growth percentage' of 21.77% - a 9-week record HIGH! Europe also reported the highest weekly rise so far (+49 deadly victims), which implicates a 'weekly growth percentage' of 21.17% - a 8-week record HIGH! WEEK 42: According the statistics of the ECDC the global death toll reached a 14-week record LOW of: +129 new confirmed swine flu related death reports ... however, according Flucount.org various sources from Brazil reported last week that the swine flu death toll rised with 196 which would implicate a much higher global death toll for week 42 (+325 cases) - than reported by the ECDC ... a 4-week record HIGH! WEEK 41: According the statistics of the ECDC the global death toll reached a 13-week record LOW of: +181 new confirmed swine flu related death reports ... however, according Flucount.org various sources from Brazil reported last week that the swine flu death toll rised with 47 which would implicate a much higher global death toll for week 41 (+226 cases) - than reported by the ECDC. WEEK 40: According the statistics of the ECDC the global death toll included: +212 new confirmed swine flu related death reports ... however, according Flucount.org various sources from Brazil reported last week that the swine flu death toll rised with 48 which would implicate a much higher global death toll for week 40 (+260 cases) - than reported by the ECDC. WEEK 39: According the statistics of the ECDC the global death toll reached a 11-week record LOW of: +190 new confirmed swine flu related death reports ... however, according Flucount.org various sources from Brazil reported last week that the swine flu death toll rised from 899 to 1070... which would implicate a much higher global death (+261 cases) toll for week 39 than reported by the ECDC. WEEK 38: The global death toll reached a record high of: +485 new confirmed swine flu related death reports. WEEK 37: The global swine flu 'momentum' diminished to a growth of below +50% compared to week 34!!! (Though, the details showed that in Europe & Asia the diminished swine flu death toll 'momentum' was still above 50%; and in Africa the 'momentum' was actually speeding up during the past 3 weeks: +200%!) NOTICE: The percentages in the table below illustrate that the 'first swine flu wave' PEAKED in the first weeks of august (week 32 to week 34). Then the 'momentum' of the global swine flu death reports went on retreat. But reports between week 43 and week 49 pointed out the arrival of the 'second global swine flu wave'. During week 50 the 'second global H1N1 flu wave' has peaked, and week 52 showed a pattern which indicates that in ALL regions of the world the H1N1 virus has been losing strenght. But week 53/1 showed a stronger 'momentum' in the region reaching out from the Mediterranean to almost the complete main land of Asia!! NOTICE: On january 8, 2010 the World Healht Organization warned that the H1N1 virus remains active and widespread: "Situation update: The most active areas of pandemic influenza transmission currently are in parts of central, eastern and southeastern Europe, North Africa, and South Asia."
What do governments recommend for swine flu prevention today? Some quotes from the national websites:  The UK Government recommends:
"To reduce the risk of catching or spreading the virus you should: Cover your mouth and nose when coughing and sneezing, using a tissue; Throw the tissue away quickly and carefully; Wash your hands regularly with soap and water; Clean hard surfaces (like door handles and remote controls) frequently with a normal cleaning product."  The US Government recommends:
"There are everyday actions people can take to stay healthy, such as frequent hand washing, covering your nose and mouth when you cough or sneeze, and avoiding close contact with sick people." 
On wednesday september 8, Barack Obama told students at Wakefield High School in Arlington, Virginia: “ I hope you’ll all wash your hands a lot, and stay home from school when you don’t feel well, so we can keep people from getting the flu this fall and winter.” On wednesday july 29, Barack Obama told the Americans that swine flu prevention is not only an issue of the governement, individuals must also do their part. Obama said: “Keep your hands washed, cover your mouth when you cough, stay home from work if you are sick, keep your children home from school if they are sick.” Other reports about governmental actions on hand hygiene:  Japan: politicians ban handshakes over swine flu fear
 Mauritius: ministery of health announces 'national wash day'
 Hand washing for swine flu prevention leads to a 10% to 15% drop of diseases in children from Bolivia
- 1 - "Wash your hands regularly with soap and water water, do not forget to scrub between your fingers and the back of your hands!" - 2 - "Use paper wipes for drying your hands, no warm air dryers!" - 3 - "Do not touch food before washing your hands!" - 4 - "When sneezing use a tissue, and throw the tissue away quickly and carefully!" - 5 - "When coughing use a tissue, not your hands!" - 6 - "Do not put your fingers in your mouth, do not bite your fingernails!" - 7 - "Do not shake hands, and avoid the fist bump!" - 8 - "After shaking hands or other skin contact, wash your hands as soon as possible!" - 9 - "Avoid touching objects in public spaces!" - 10 - "When using antimicrobial/antiseptic soap, combine with using hand oil/lotion, to avoid dry hand injuries!"
HANDY GUIDELINES FOR IF YOU JUST DISCOVERED THAT YOU MIGHT HAVE THE SWINE FLU: • 1 - Stay at home and ask for more advice! • 2 - Do you really need antiviral drugs?: - Antiviral drugs may reduce symptoms & duration of the illness, just as they do for the 'normal' flu or seasonal influenza); • 3 - Call your doctor/general practitioner directly if: - you are pregnant; - you have a serious underlying illness, - you have a sick child under one year old, - your condition suddenly gets much worse, or your condition is still getting worse after 7 days (5 days for a child). |
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COPYRIGHT © 2002-2013: Martijn van Mensvoort (Dutch version:  Hand Analyse)
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