Gambia, 4 June 2009 -- The WHO Representative, Dr Thomas Sukwa, this afternoon briefed staff of the United Nations System in the Gambia on the current Influenza A H1N1 epidemic. The second in a series organized by the WHO Country Office for UN staff since the outbreak of the Influenza A H1N1 was reported in April this year, the objective of the exercise was to provide regular updates on the epidemic to UN Staff and to arm them with the necessary information needed for the prevention and control of the disease.

Heads of the UN Agencies and their staff attended the briefing which was held at the UN Common premises at Cape Point in Bakau.

Globally as at 03 June 2009, Dr Sukwa said that more than 20000 cases of the disease with 124 deaths were reported from 71 countries, the bulk of which occurred in the United States of America and Mexico. Even though the mortality rate, pegged at 1%, was considered still relatively low compared with other influenza outbreaks in the past, Dr. Sukwa warned against complacency as the disease was spreading and could continue to spread very fast among the countries in light today’s globalized world.

He said that no case was so far reported in the 46 countries of WHO in the African Region although Egypt had reported a case early this week. This, he said, administratively, belonged to the EMRO region of WHO.

He informed the team that a suspected case was reported in the Gambia recently, but laboratory analysis confirmed it to be negative.

He said that in its quest to prevent the rapid spread of the disease, WHO had already commissioned the process of manufacturing a vaccine, but this would take between 4 and 6 months to accomplish.

In conclusion, Dr Sukwa also informed the team about some of the ongoing efforts being undertaken in the Gambia in response to the influenza epidemic. This included but not restricted to the following:

• Activation of the National Avian Flu Task Force on 27 April 2009;
• The ministry of health issued a press release to inform the general public on 29 April 2009;
• Strengthening of the surveillance system through active screening at various points of entry ;
• Development of a national contingency plan, which is being finalized;
• Community sensitization using various media.

In addition to these efforts, Dr Sukwa said that WHO provided an emergency stock of 2200 doses of Tamiflu((oseltamivir), laboratory supplies and an assortment of Personal Protective Equipment to the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare.

He said that the WHO also provided and continues to provide technical support in developing and finalizing the national contingency plan.