While remaining moderate in most

Jan 18, 2010 22:01 GMT  ·  By
The 2009 flu pandemic is holding steady in the northern hemisphere, and even receding in some places
   The 2009 flu pandemic is holding steady in the northern hemisphere, and even receding in some places

According to a new report released today by the World Health Organization (WHO), the AH1N1 influenza pandemic is maintaining itself at moderate levels in all areas of the world. On the bright side of things, it would appear that it is also letting off in some regions, which is nothing but good news. In terms of effects, the WHO has announced, it's more likely that the 2009/2010 pandemic will have effects that are more similar to the ones caused by the 1957 and 1968 outbreaks. This is excellent news, as officials were at first worried that this year's flu would have effects comparable to the ones of the devastating 1918 strain, which killed millions, Reuters reports.

Throughout the northern hemisphere, experts say, the pandemic is maintaining itself at a constant level, with some areas even showing signs of regression. However, there is still a great potential for infection until winter ends in April, the WHO stresses, so people who have yet to come in contact with the virus and sick people should get their vaccines. The issue now is the fact that the southern hemisphere will go into the winter season soon, which means that the virus will become more infectious in southern latitudes. The UN organization is keeping an eye on the region, so as to ensure that it finds any possible mutations in the strain in time.

“An event similar to the 1918 pandemic was feared when what happened was probably closer to the 1957 or 1968 pandemics,” the WHO Director-General, Margaret Chan, said in a press conference. “Though the burden on emergency rooms and intensive care units has been heavy, nearly all health systems have coped well,” the official said at the beginning of a week-long WHO meeting. She added that one of the main reasons why the flu did not cause as much victims as first thought was the quick response that governments gave to the common threat. In 1918, things were different, so the viral strain from that year killed between 40 and 50 million people.

Chan also again underlined the importance of vaccination for everyone. With more than 14,000 confirmed people killed by the flu, it is more appropriate and better to “err on the side of caution. I believe we would all rather see a moderate pandemic with ample supplies of vaccine than a severe pandemic with inadequate vaccine.” “We are concerned that some countries in the western part of the continent remain susceptible to intense waves of transmission,” the official concluded, saying that at least one to two years will be needed before the final death toll of the 2009 pandemic is established.