Wednesday, August 11, 2010

H1N1 Pandemic Over, But the Bug Lingers On

"UPDATE 6-WHO chief says H1N1 flu pandemic is over"
Stephanie Nebehay, Reuters Africa (August 10, 2010)

"The H1N1 pandemic is over and the global outbreak turned out to be much less severe than was feared just over a year ago, the head of the World Health Organisation (WHO) said on Tuesday.

"WHO director-general Margaret Chan once again rebutted criticism that the United Nations agency had hyped the first pandemic in more than 40 years, whose mildness left some Western governments holding huge stockpiles of unused vaccines.

"The Hong Kong public health expert said the world had been lucky the H1N1 virus had not mutated into a more deadly form and that a safe vaccine developed in record time remained effective against it...."

Note: It's the pandemic that WHO says is over. The H1N1 flu we were dealing with is still around. For individuals affected, it's still nothing to sneeze at. But as a disease sweeping the world? It's history.

More H1N1 flu news:List of posts relating to Swine flu 2009; and list of background resources:

2 comments:

~~Just Me in T~~ said...

Could say 'much ado about nothing'!

Today the World Health Organization announced that the Swine Flu Pandemic that was going to kill zillions of unsuspecting, non- vaccinated people around the world – had fizzled out! But don't be too complacent they are still going to vaccinate you against it! Like it or not!

http://just-me-in-t.blogspot.com/2010/08/seasonal-oink-flu-pandemic-is-over.html

Brian H. Gill said...

~~Just Me in T~~,

I'm not so sure that the people who were killed by H1N1 would agree with the "much ado about nothing" assessment.

On the other hand, this pandemic wasn't nearly as serious as the Black Death, a few centuries back.

About mandatory vaccinations and related issues: I know too much about what's happened over the last few thousand years, to want to go back to 'the good old days.'

More: "Swine Flu: Pandemic H1N1 2009, Common Sense and the Lizard People" (October 14, 2009)

Unique, innovative candles

Visit us online:
Spiral Light CandleFind a Retailer
Spiral Light Candle online store

Pinterest: From the Man Behind the Lemming

Top 10 Most-Viewed Posts

Today's News! Some of it, anyway

Actually, some of yesterday's news may be here. Or maybe last week's.
The software and science stuff might still be interesting, though. Or not.
The Lemming thinks it's interesting: Your experience may vary.
("Following" list moved here, after Blogger changed formats)

Who Follows the Lemming?

WebSTAT

Family Blogs - Blog Catalog Blog Directory