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ECDC agrees with WHO?s announcement of raising pandemic alert level to phase 6 (6/11/09, edited)
ECDC agrees with WHO?s announcement of raising pandemic alert level to phase 6 (6/11/09, edited)
ECDC agrees with WHO?s announcement of raising pandemic alert level to phase 6
11 June 2009
Director?s statement:
?Given the number of cases of the new influenza A(H1N1)v virus infection being reported around the world, it was inevitable that the World Health Organization would have to raise to alert level 6. The declaration of phase 6 means that we now have a worldwide outbreak of this virus.The situation we face is challenging, but manageable. Life goes on as normal across Europe and national public health authorities are preparing for the influenza season this autumn to be potentially more complex than usual.?
?We are likely to continue seeing continuous reporting of new cases across Europe this summer. ECDC?s working assumption is that an increase in the number of infections may take place from next autumn onwards, during the normal influenza season in Europe.?
Zsuzsanna Jakab, ECDC Director
ECDC agrees with the World Health Organization (WHO) that raising the pandemic alert level to phase 6 is an appropriate decision due to the evolution of the influenza A(H1N1)v situation. Phase 6, the highest pandemic alert level, is characterised by community level outbreaks in at least one other country in a different WHO Region in addition to the initial outbreaks in North America (Mexico and the United States).
Sustained community transmission has been declared in countries located in other WHO regions of the world in addition to North America, and WHO?s decision addresses the importance of affected countries reinforcing their actions to mitigate the effects of the disease in their populations.
Designation of phase 6 indicates that a global pandemic is under way and that every country can expect to be affected with time, though it is not clear how quickly that will happen. This declaration of phase 6 does not necessarily mean that effects of this virus are severe.
ECDC has been preparing for the expected raise to alert level phase 6 since the announcement of the raise to phase 5 on 29 April 2009.
The Centre has been working with the European Union Member States, the Commission, WHO and other partners to further strengthen pandemic preparedness and support implementation of national plans. It is very important that the reaction of Europe and its citizens to this announcement is proportionate to the threat. Already with the declaration of phase 5, the appropriate public health actions were taken to respond to the spread of the disease.
To date, most people who have been infected with the influenza A(H1N1)v virus are under 65 years old and have had mild symptoms. A small proportion of those infected have been affected severely and the most severe cases have occurred in ?risk groups?, such as those with chronic diseases, that are typically more susceptible to worse infection and death from influenza infection. Given the experience from past pandemics, it is too early to say whether this pattern will continue throughout the pandemic.
Also in phase 6, not all countries will be affected immediately, and it may be the case that large epidemics in Europe will only take place in the autumn. Meanwhile, it is important that all countries are vigilant to the possibility of transmission within their borders, and take necessary actions based on the local situation.
ECDC keeps monitoring the situation closely and provide scientific advice to the Commission and the Member States and will provide regular updates on its website about the situation in Europe.
For further information please visit the ECDC website:
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<cite cite="http://www.ecdc.europa.eu/en/health_content/Articles/article_20090611.aspx">ECDC agrees with WHO?s announcement of raising pandemic alert level to phase 6</cite>
11 June 2009
Director?s statement:
?Given the number of cases of the new influenza A(H1N1)v virus infection being reported around the world, it was inevitable that the World Health Organization would have to raise to alert level 6. The declaration of phase 6 means that we now have a worldwide outbreak of this virus.The situation we face is challenging, but manageable. Life goes on as normal across Europe and national public health authorities are preparing for the influenza season this autumn to be potentially more complex than usual.?
?We are likely to continue seeing continuous reporting of new cases across Europe this summer. ECDC?s working assumption is that an increase in the number of infections may take place from next autumn onwards, during the normal influenza season in Europe.?
Zsuzsanna Jakab, ECDC Director
ECDC agrees with the World Health Organization (WHO) that raising the pandemic alert level to phase 6 is an appropriate decision due to the evolution of the influenza A(H1N1)v situation. Phase 6, the highest pandemic alert level, is characterised by community level outbreaks in at least one other country in a different WHO Region in addition to the initial outbreaks in North America (Mexico and the United States).
Sustained community transmission has been declared in countries located in other WHO regions of the world in addition to North America, and WHO?s decision addresses the importance of affected countries reinforcing their actions to mitigate the effects of the disease in their populations.
Designation of phase 6 indicates that a global pandemic is under way and that every country can expect to be affected with time, though it is not clear how quickly that will happen. This declaration of phase 6 does not necessarily mean that effects of this virus are severe.
ECDC has been preparing for the expected raise to alert level phase 6 since the announcement of the raise to phase 5 on 29 April 2009.
The Centre has been working with the European Union Member States, the Commission, WHO and other partners to further strengthen pandemic preparedness and support implementation of national plans. It is very important that the reaction of Europe and its citizens to this announcement is proportionate to the threat. Already with the declaration of phase 5, the appropriate public health actions were taken to respond to the spread of the disease.
To date, most people who have been infected with the influenza A(H1N1)v virus are under 65 years old and have had mild symptoms. A small proportion of those infected have been affected severely and the most severe cases have occurred in ?risk groups?, such as those with chronic diseases, that are typically more susceptible to worse infection and death from influenza infection. Given the experience from past pandemics, it is too early to say whether this pattern will continue throughout the pandemic.
Also in phase 6, not all countries will be affected immediately, and it may be the case that large epidemics in Europe will only take place in the autumn. Meanwhile, it is important that all countries are vigilant to the possibility of transmission within their borders, and take necessary actions based on the local situation.
ECDC keeps monitoring the situation closely and provide scientific advice to the Commission and the Member States and will provide regular updates on its website about the situation in Europe.
For further information please visit the ECDC website:
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