As announced in the news on 24 April 2009, the Governments of Mexico and the USA reported human cases of swine influenza, a new subtype of Influenza Type A(H1N1) not previously detected in bovine or humans.  Since then, other cases have been reported in other countries.  On 25 April, the Director-General of the World Health Organisation (WHO) convened a meeting of its Emergency Committee to assess the situation.  While the Emergency Committee identified gaps in knowledge, it agreed that this situation constitutes a public health emergency of international concern. WHO is closely monitoring the situation and is keeping UN organizations abreast of new developments.

Below you will find the most recent message from the Director of the UN Medical Office; yesterday late afternoon.

The UNESCO Chief Medical Officer, a.i., recommends that all staff and their dependents having recently returned (1 week or less) from areas concerned by this infection and who present fever with body ache, coughing and sore throat to stay home.  Staff at HQ should contact the HQ Medical Office (01.456.80858) or your regular medical practitioner.  While in the Field you should contact the UN Designated Medical Officer, inform the UNESCO-HQ Medical Office if necessary, and follow instructions as determined by the UN Management Country Team.

Also, UNESCO staff are asked to postpone all non-essential mission to affected areas.

 

We will keep you informed, however, you are also invited to access the WHO site for additional pertinent information on this infection and basic advice on prevention.   -  http://www.who.int/csr/disease/swineflu/en/index.html

 

Thank you for your attention.

D. Dufresne-Klaus

Director, HRM

 

 

MESSAGE TO ALL UN STAFF GLOBALLY

27 April 2009

We would like to inform all staff of a significant development this afternoon.  The WHO has raised the global influenza pandemic alert level from the current Phase 3 to Phase 4. Phase 4 is characterized by verified human-to-human transmission of an animal or human-animal influenza reassortant virus able to cause "community-level outbreaks".  The ability to cause sustained disease outbreaks in a community marks a significant upwards shift in the risk for a pandemic.  Phase 4 indicates a significant increase in risk of a pandemic, but it does not necessarily mean that a pandemic is a foregone conclusion.

WHO recommends that international travel not be restricted.  However, staff should delay international travel if ill, and those who develop flu-like symptoms (e.g. fever, sore throat, cough, stuffy nose, chills, headaches, body aches, fatigue, diarrhea, vomiting) following international travel should seek medical attention immediately.

Staff are further reminded that one of the most effective ways to reduce the risk of infection is to practice effective personal hygiene and to avoid close contact with sick people. If you do get sick with flu-like symptoms, you should stay home from work, limit contact with others to keep from infecting them, and contact your private physician.

At this time, healthy staff should report to work as usual. Should this situation change, staff will be informed accordingly.

More information on personal hygiene and infection control measures can be found in a pandemic booklet available on the UN Staff Pandemic Information Portal, (http://www.un.org/staff/pandemic/)  While this booklet was originally prepared for a possible avian origin for pandemic 'flu, the practical advice it contains is equally relevant for the current situation.

Staff should also review the following websites for the latest news:

·        http://www.who.int/csr/disease/swineflu/en/index.html (WHO)
·        http://www.cdc.gov/swineflu/investigation.htm (CDC)
·        http://www.nyc.gov/html/doh/html/home/home.shtml (NYCDHMH)
·        http://new.paho.org/hq/index.php?option=com_content&task=blogcategory&id=805&Itemid=569 (PAHO)

We will keep all staff updated as new information becomes available.