No place in the world escapes influenza A / H1N1

Influenza A / H1N1 has spread to the most remote areas of the planet. According to the latest figures from the World Health Organization (WHO), it seems that there is no place in the world to escape the pandemic A / H1N1 flu.

In a short notice released yesterday (July 27), the WHO said more than 20 overseas countries and territories have confirmed the first cases of flu. Those are tourist places like Seychelles, Turks & Caicos, St. Kitts and Nevis, the Antilles region of the Netherlands, Belize and the French island of Reunion. In addition, isolated points such as Tonga and American Samoa in the Pacific, Solomons island in the Indian Ocean are also not out of control of A / H1N1 flu.

A / H1N1 flu - a combination of human, bird and pig flu viruses, has also found its way to Buhtan in the Himalayas and Andorra, an independent country stuck between Spain and France. The devastated conflict country of Afghanistan and Sudan has also reported the first cases of flu in recent days.

Patients with influenza A / H1N1 in a makeshift hospital (Photo: Reuters)

The emergence of a virus that has never been seen in Mexico and the US as well as its strong spread has prompted WHO to publish a pandemic in June. The UN agency said it could not prevent influenza A / H1N1 and they can only closely monitor the signs of changes or combinations of influenza A / H1N1 virus with other influenza viruses.

While most patients show signs of mild flu, fever and vomiting, pregnant women, people with diabetes and other diseases will be more susceptible to the effects. According to the latest WHO data, to date, 816 people have died from influenza A / H1N1.

The total number of people infected with the flu is not clear and countries have not continued testing and announcing each case of infection.

WHO said that more attention should be paid to preventing influenza infection as well as treating severe cases to avoid unnecessary deaths.

Pharmaceutical companies such as Roche, Gilead Sciences and GlaxoSmithKline now benefit when the world rushes to find ways to ensure the supply of anti-flu drugs to fight a pandemic is spreading. Vaccine manufacturing companies, including Sanofi-Aventis, Novartis, Baxter and Solvay are also working hard to research and produce drugs to keep up with the upcoming flu season.