# 3116
This is the second update for today, issued at 1800 hrs Geneva Time . The first update (#9) was issued at 0600hrs.
For now, at least, the WHO (World Health Organization) appears to be going to this twice-a-day update pattern.
Influenza A(H1N1) - update 10
2 May 2009 -- The situation continues to evolve. As of 18:00 GMT+1, 2 May 2009, 16 countries have officially reported 658 cases of influenza A(H1N1) infection.
Mexico has reported 397 confirmed human cases of infection, including 16 deaths. The higher number of cases from Mexico in the past 48 hours reflects ongoing testing of previously collected specimens. The United States Government has reported 160 laboratory confirmed human cases, including one death.
The following countries have reported laboratory confirmed cases with no deaths - Austria (1), Canada (51), China, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (1), Costa Rica (1), Denmark (1), France (2), Germany (6), Israel (3), Netherlands (1), New Zealand (4), Republic of Korea (1), Spain (13), Switzerland (1) and the United Kingdom (15).
Further information on the situation will be available on the WHO website on a regular basis.
WHO advises no restriction of regular travel or closure of borders. It is considered prudent for people who are ill to delay international travel and for people developing symptoms following international travel to seek medical attention, in line with guidance from national authorities.
There is also no risk of infection from this virus from consumption of well-cooked pork and pork products. Individuals are advised to wash hands thoroughly with soap and water on a regular basis and should seek medical attention if they develop any symptoms of influenza-like illness.
Earlier today, a WHO official stated that while we weren’t yet at the point of a Pandemic Phase Level 6, we were moving in that direction.
WHO official expects to raise flu alert to highest level
The pace of H1N1 infections appears to have slowed, with the number of cases reaching 180 in the U.S. and 705 worldwide. The infectious disease alert stands at Phase 5.
By Thomas H. Maugh II
11:16 AM PDT, May 2, 2009Although the pace of new H1N1 infections seemingly slowed this morning, with a total of 180 cases in the United States and 705 worldwide, a World Health Organization official said he thinks that the agency's infectious disease alert level will ultimately be raised to its highest point.
"At the present time, I would still propose that a pandemic is imminent because we are seeing the disease spread," Michael Ryan, the agency's director of global alert and response, said in a Geneva news conference.
While the reporting of new cases (and fatalities) has slowed, that is not necessarily the same thing as a slowing in the transmission of the virus.
The CDC has indicated that we shouldn’t focus too heavily on the numbers being reported, as testing isn’t being done in every case . . .and as time progresses, a smaller percentage of probable cases would be tested.
