The Pan American Health Organization / World Health Organization (PAHO/WHO) recommends that Member States maintain the capacity to detect any unusual health event, including those that might be associated with a new subtype of influenza virus. Member States are encouraged to update and implement the relevant components of multi-hazard plans for preparedness and response to public health events.

The Organization does neither advise health screening at points of entry in relation to this event, nor that any travel or trade restrictions be applied.

The Pan American Health Organization / World Health Organization (PAHO/WHO) would like to stress to its Member States the recommendations to maintain and strengthen routine surveillance activities, and to promote and disseminate influenza case management and prevention information to the public. The Organization encourages Member States to update and implement plans to respond to public health emergencies.

Influenza outbreaks occur annually, which affect public health and can have social and economic impacts. The weekly influenza in the Americas situation reports produced by PAHO/WHO demonstrate that influenza viruses A and B are currently circulating. Among the influenza A subtype viruses circulating are influenza A(H3N2) and A(H1N)pdm09.

To reduce the impact caused by outbreaks of seasonal influenza PAHO/WHO reminds Member States facing intense circulation of influenza viruses to maintain their routine surveillance activities, promote appropriate clinical management and disseminate information to the public on preventative measures. Member States of the Southern Hemisphere are also called upon to begin prevention and control preparations prior to the start of the season with the greatest circulation of influenza viruses.

Given the early start of the influenza season in some countries from the southern hemisphere, and the possibility that the maximum seasonal activity peak could be reached in the coming weeks, the Pan American Health Organization/World Health Organization (PAHO / WHO) ) urges all Member States to take the necessary measures to ensure proper clinical management, ensure strict adherence to infection prevention control measures in health care services, provide adequate supplies of antivirals and prevention, and provide timely treatment of complications.

The Pan American Health Organization / World Health Organization (PAHO/WHO) recommends that Member States should be prepared and maintain the capacity to detect any unusual health event, including those that might be associated with a new subtype of influenza virus. Member States are encouraged to update and implement the relevant components of multi-hazard plans for preparedness and response to public health events.

The Organization does neither advise health screening at points of entry in relation to this event, nor that any travel or trade restrictions be applied.

The 2013-2014 circulation of seasonal influenza in the northern hemisphere began officially in epidemiological week (EW) 40 of 2013, with an increase in the number of influenza-like illness (ILI) and hospitalizations reported starting in EW 50 of 2013. This is within expected levels for this time of year.

Every year, an increase in influenza is reported primarily during the autumn and winter months in the northern hemisphere. Currently, the predominant virus is influenza A(H1N1)pdm09, which is considered a seasonal virus, signifying that it will continue to circulate like other influenza viruses. Clinical management and outbreak response is the same as for other seasonal influenza viruses.

The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) / World Health Organization (WHO) recommends that Member States continue their surveillance efforts to detect any unusual behavior of the influenza virus and to identify if any new subtypes emerge. In addition, Member States are encouraged to continue activities of seasonal vaccination to avert influenza hospitalizations and deaths.

Since the beginning of 2011, in the region of the Americas, there have been significant outbreaks of influenza A (H1N1) 2009, that while geographically limited, have generated a significant demand on health services. This situation is not unexpected. Since the end of the pandemic (2009-2010), the influenza A (H1N1) 2009 virus, continues to circulate on a global level like a seasonal strain, periodically causing important outbreaks in various continents. Considering the possibility of outbreaks occurring on account of the influenza A (H1N1) 2009 virus in the countries of the Region, national authorities should be prepared to mitigate the resulting impact.

In 2003-2004 season an increased influenza activity has been detected earlier than in previous seasons. The predominant virus circulating in North America is similar to A/ Fujian/411/2002.

4 December 2003

The Pan American Health Organization / World Health Organization (PAHO/WHO) recommends that Member States continue efforts to prepare and maintain the capacity to detect any unusual health event, including those that might be associated with a new subtype of influenza virus.

PAHO/WHO encourages Member States to consider developing diagnostic capabilities for detecting infection by avian influenza A(H7N9). The Organization does not advise health screening at points of entry in relation to this event, nor that any travel or trade restrictions be applied.

Influenza activity in the United States of America and Canada has continued in intensity during the second and third epidemiological weeks (EW) of 2013. Outpatient visits for influenza like illness (ILI) has in both countries been above the expected average, likely due the co-circulation of other respiratory viruses. In the United States of America hospitalizations associated to influenza and deaths caused by pneumonia and influenza have continued to increase.

The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) / World Health Organization (WHO) reiterates the series of recommendations to Member States preparing for an upcoming influenza season in order to face the possible increased circulation of the influenza virus.

On 22 November, the United States of America - International Health Regulation National Focal Point (USA IHR-NFP) reported a cluster of influenza like illness cases among three children. All children visited the same health care provider where rapid influenza diagnostic tests were positive for influenza A. Molecular testing confirmed an influenza triple reassortant (influenza A (H3N2) (SOtrH3N2)) virus. The specimens were forwarded to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) where genomic sequencing confirmed they were S-OtrH3N2 viruses with the M segment gene from the pH1N1 virus. In this regard, the Pan American Health Organization/World Health Organization (PAHO/WHO) would like to stress to its Member States the importance of the recommendations specified in the PAHO-CDC Generic Protocol for Influenza Surveillance.

As the Southern Hemisphere influenza season in the Caribbean and South America is approaching, the Pan American Health Organization / World Health Organization (PAHO/WHO) recommends Member States start preparing for influenza season that might be similar to the one seen in the Northern Hemisphere. Actions should include provision of seasonal influenza vaccination to reach the most at risk populations, increasing public awareness of influenza prevention methods, strengthening influenza surveillance, and strengthening of health services.

The Pan American Health Organization / World Health Organization (PAHO/WHO) recommends that Member States maintain the capacity to detect any unusual health event, including those that may be associated with a new subtype of influenza A. encourages Member States to update and implement the relevant components of multi-risk plans for preparedness and response to public health events.

The organization does not advise special screening at points of entry with regard to this event, nor does it recommend that any travel or trade restrictions be applied.

With the start of the influenza season in the southern hemisphere, several countries are experiencing an increase in patient visits for Influenza-like Illness (ILI), as well as hospitalizations associated with influenza, a situation that is expected for this time of year.

At the beginning of the flu season in the southern hemisphere, the Pan American Health Organization /World Health Organization (PAHO/WHO) recommend Member States to ensure the adequate clinical management of the patients, the strict implementation of prevention and control measures in health care settings, while at the same time strengthen preparedness of their health services to cope with a potential influx of patients and reinforce communication to the public on the preventative measures.

The Pan American Health Organization / World Health Organization (PAHO/WHO) recommends that Member States maintain the capacity to detect any unusual health event, including those that might be associated with a new subtype of influenza A. Member States are encouraged to update and implement the relevant components of multi-hazard plans for preparedness and response to public health events.

The Organization does not advise special screening at points of entry with regard to this event, nor does it recommend that any travel or trade restrictions be applied.

With the beginning of the influenza season in the Northern Hemisphere, the Pan American Health Organization /World Health Organization (PAHO/WHO) recommends Member States ensure appropriate clinical management of patients, strict implementation of infection prevention and control measures in health care services and access to adequate supplies of antivirals. Member States should continue vaccinations against influenza to reduce hospitalizations and avoid deaths.

The Pan American Health Organization / World Health Organization (PAHO/WHO) recommends that Member States continue efforts to prepare and maintain the capacity to detect any unusual health event, including those that might be associated with a new subtype of influenza virus. PAHO/WHO encourages Member States to consider developing diagnostic capabilities for detecting infection caused by avian influenza A(H7N9).

The Organization does not advise health screening at points of entry in relation to this event, nor that any travel or trade restrictions be applied.

The Pan American Health Organization / World Health Organization (PAHO/WHO) recommends that Member States adopt necessary measures for ensuring appropriate clinical management, strict compliance with infection prevention control measures in health care services, and adequate supplies of antivirals. PAHO/WHO also urges Member States to continue conducting seasonal influenza vaccination to prevent serious influenza cases as well as deaths from influenza.

Laboratory results received on Sunday, 11 January 2004, confirmed the presence of avian influenza virus strain A (H5N1) in samples taken from 2 children and 1 adult admitted to hospital in Hanoi with a severe respiratory illness.

The National Influenza Center (NIC) in Egypt and the WHO Influenza Collaborating Centre in the UK reported the isolation of Avian Influenza A (H10N7) from two human specimens.

This past February, a workshop on the Epidemiology and Diagnostics of Influenza was held in Lima, Peru. Participants included staff in charge of epidemiological surveillance from the influenza laboratory and clinicians from each of the Andean countries...

Several conclusions and recommendations were made during this consultation to strengthen WHO recommendations for protecting humans due to the consequences of widespread outbreaks of highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza in poultry in several Asian countries.

5 February 2004

On 26 January 2004, the WHO Regional Office for the Western Pacific (WHO/WPRO) published a document with recommendations for the protection of personnel involved in the culling and slaughtering of animals potentially infected with avian flu...

On 9 December, WHO was informed that tests carried out by the Department of Health Public Health Laboratory Centre, Hong Kong SAR identified influenza A(H9N2) virus (avian influenza virus) in a 5-year old boy in Hong Kong SAR.

The modality of sentinel surveillance of influenza morbidity is implemented in Chile since 2002; currently there are 31 sentinel centers, located primary health care center in 27 Health Regions (Servicios de Salud), with one million people under surveillance.

Influenza cases by a new sub-type:
Regional Report (30 April 2009)
Vol. 6, No. 16

Since 18 April, cases of swine influenza (swine flu) have been reported in the United States, Mexico, and Canada. Read on for more information on the outbreak and laboratory results, as well as surveillance and outbreak investigation underway and how this outbreak is defined in terms of the International Health Regulations (IHR).

This two-page report is an update of the information released earlier today on swine flu cases in the United States, Mexico, and Canada. It includes number of cases, affected areas, and laboratory results, as well as laboratory results, surveillance and outbreak control measures, and how this epidemic relates to the criteria established by the International Health Regulations (IHR).

This two-page report is an update of the information published yesterday on swine influenza/flu activity in the United States, Mexico, and Canada. It provides information on the number of cases, areas affected, and laboratory results, as well as on surveillance and outbreak control measures and how this outbreak meets IHR criteria for a public health emergency of international concern.

On November 17th, 2003 Tocantins State Health Department (SES/TO) reported to Brazil's Health Surveillance Secretariat (Secretaria de Vigilância em Saúde, SVS) the occurrence of cases of an illness with respiratory manifestations in the Araguacena municipality.

Activities have been carried out to comply with the recommendations from the document PAHO/DPC/CDC/32/03, Guidelines for the Preparation of a Subregional Plan of Southern Cone Countries for an Influenza Pandemic.

3-24 July 2003

K.G Nicholson, J.M. Wood & M. Zambon (2003) Influenza. Lancet 362: 1733-1745: In its last issue, Lancet published an article on influenza that emphasizes the progress made in human and animal surveillance...

According to a communiqué dated 21 December 2007 from the Secretary of Public Health and Social Assistance (Secretaría de Salud Pública y Asistencia Social / SESPAS) of the Domininican Republic to the World Organization of Animal Health (OIE) and to the PAHO/WHO Office in that country...