What’s the latest in health care, May 22

The long weekend on our side (most of Europe) started last Thursday. The US long weekend goes on till Monday. Enjoy the extra free time.  But first, your health care updates for this weekend…

What’s the latest update on the H1N1 (swine) flu?

PCR test kit for H1N1 flu
The Centers for Disease Prevention and Control (CDC) has developed a PCR diagnostic test kit to detect this novel H1N1 virus in patients suspected to have the flu. The test kit has been distributed test kits to all American states and territories. According to the CDC

The test kits are being shipped internationally as well. This will allow states and other countries to test for this new virus. This increase in testing will likely result in an increase in the number of confirmed cases of illness reported. This, combined with ongoing monitoring through Flu View should provide a fuller picture of the burden of disease in the United States over time.

Where to get your updates

Useful resources to get and access information of the H1N1 flu – fast!

• Access CDC information about H1N1 flu on the go by visiting m.cdc.gov/h1n1flu on your mobile phone.
• Flu View is CDC’s surveillance report on the H1N1 flu. Current update reports 6,552 cases in 48 states or territories and 9 deaths.
• HealthMap offers real-time view, Twitter updates about swine flu outbreak. This group has developed this easy-to-use, easy-to-understand map that provides up-to-date info on the H1N1 flu. HealthMap, an online global disease-tracking and mapping tool, is tracking the outbreak of the swine flu in real-time at its freely available Web site.
• What about this outbreak map from the BBC? It gives you a great picture as to how the epidemic started at Day 1 up to today.

What’s the latest updates from the World Health Organization (WHO)

Power of public health lies in strong health systems
Today was the 62^nd World Health Assembly and Director-General Dr Margaret Chan emphasized to the delegates of the Assembly that

“The strength of a country’s health system will make the biggest difference in sickness and survival during an influenza pandemic.”

Current novel H1N1 count globally

• 11,168 confirmed cases in 42 countries around the world,
• 86 deaths in only four countries – Mexico, the United States, Canada and Costa Rica.

Photo credit: stock.xchng