We are at the pre-pandemic level for influenza A H1N1

The detection of two students returning by air from the US last week with H1N1 in Malaysia has somewhat alarmed the people. Conflicting reports were confusing.I read in one of the local newspapers that the virus was fatal and a lecturer from a local university commented that the virus was mild. We must have the correct facts before statements are issued. Even CDC Atlanta (a respected world authority on communicable diseases) refrains from being definite on anything related to this influenza A virus, as the situation is still fluid and evolving. Their guidelines are marked as "interim" as things will change as data comes in and certain aspects of the guidelines will need to be re-written.

Where are we as far as this virus is concerned? Let's look at the alert levels formulated by WHO:

* Phase 1: A virus in animals has caused no known infections in humans.
* Phase 2: An animal flu virus has caused infection in humans.
* Phase 3: Sporadic cases or small clusters of disease occur in humans.
Human to-human transmission, if any, is insufficient to cause community-level outbreaks.
* Phase 4: The risk for a pandemic is greatly increased but not certain. The disease-causing virus is able to cause community-level outbreaks.
* Phase 5: Still not a pandemic, but spread of disease between humans is occurring in more than one country of one WHO region.
* Phase 6: This is the pandemic level. Community-level outbreaks are in at least one additional country in a different WHO region from phase 5. A global pandemic is under way.

As at the time of writing, we are at Phase 5 that is one phase before reaching the pandemic level. That is we are at the pre-pandemic level. Community-level outbreak means people not in direct contact with H1N1 suffers, get infected and are transmitting the virus through person to person contact.

Pandemic, theoretically, may not occur if we are able to successfully stop the virus transmission through preventive public health strategies i.e increasing surveillance,screening and quarantine and public health education. Some countries like Mexico and Japan are taking drastic actions by closing down school, public areas etc.

To date,thirty-nine (39)countries have been affected.These are the countries accessible by air travels. While respective governments stop short of banning air travels, the individual can make his/her own decision bearing in mind, this is a novel virus, whilst so far H1N1 does not appear as deadly as the SARS virus of 2005, we can never be sure of its capability in the medium to long term. It is worth noting that existing influenza vaccines do not guarantee protection as specific vaccine is yet to be produced... if indeed ever to be produced, it would not take less than six months.