In a report released on August 28, WHO said evidence from multiple outbreak sites demonstrates that the A/H1N1 pandemic virus has rapidly established itself and is now the dominant influenza strain in most parts of the world. The pandemic will persist in the coming months as the virus continues to move through susceptible populations.
WHO said clinicians from around the world are reporting a very severe form of the disease, even in young and otherwise healthy people, which is rarely seen during seasonal influenza infections.
In these patients, the virus directly infects their lungs, causing severe respiratory failure. Saving these lives depends on highly specialized and demanding care in intensive care units, usually with long and costly stays.
According to WHO, a number of countries report that nearly 15 percent of hospitalized cases have required intensive care. During the winter season in the southern hemisphere, several countries have seen the need for intensive care become the greatest burden on their health services.
Preparatory measures need to anticipate this increased demand on intensive care units, which could be overwhelmed by a sudden surge in the number of severe cases.
WHO’s statistics show that since the deadly virus was first found last April, it has infected 209,438 people, killing at least 2,185 of them.
VNA