The 2009 Influenza A(H1N1) 'Swine Flu' Outbreak: U.S. Responses to Global Human Cases

• Main Author: Salaam-Blyther, Tiaji
• Other Authors: LIBRARY OF CONGRESS WASHINGTON DC CONGRESSIONAL RESEARCH SERVICE
• Format: Text
• Language: English
• Published: 2009
• Subjects: Administration and Management; Government and Political Science; Medicine and Medical Research; Microbiology; *GLOBAL; *FOREIGN AID; *INFLUENZA; *SURVEILLANCE; *RESPONSE; *PREPARATION; *UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT; *EPIDEMICS; UNITED NATIONS; ANTIVIRAL AGENTS; PUBLIC HEALTH; VACCINES; LEGISLATION; PROTECTION; DEVELOPING NATIONS; MONITORING; FEDERAL BUDGETS; DETECTION; EPIDEMIOLOGY; LATIN AMERICA; INFLUENZA VIRUS; *INFLUENZA A(H1N1); *PANDEMICS; *GLOBAL RESPONSE; SWINE FLU; WHO(WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION); CDC(CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL AND PREVENTION); WHO PANDEMIC INFLUENZA PHASES; USAID(US AGENCY FOR INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT); H5N1 AVIAN FLU; PPE(PERSONAL PROTECTION EQUIPMENT); FAO(UNITED NATIONS FOOD AND AGRICULTURAL ORGANIZATION); Avian flu
• Online Access: http://www.dtic.mil/docs/citations/ADA501731; http://oai.dtic.mil/oai/oai?&verb=getRecord&metadataPrefix=html&identifier=ADA501731

In April 2009, a novel influenza virus began to spread around the world. The World Health Organization (WHO) refers to the virus as Influenza A(H1N1). Researchers are not yet clear to what extent H1N1 transmission will continue to spread or how virulent the virus will be ultimately. As of May 26, 2009, WHO confirmed that nearly 13,000 human cases of H1N1 had occurred in more than 40 countries, including 92 deaths. The strain of H1N1 circulating the globe is treatable with two antiviral drugs, oseltamivir (brand name "Tamiflu") and zanamivir (brand name "Relenza"), though there is no available vaccine. WHO has been maintaining a global stockpile of approximately 5 million adult treatment courses of oseltamivir. As of May 18, 2009, the United States had provided more than $16 million to assist countries to respond to H1N1 outbreaks. Global responses by U.S. agencies to H1N1 are conducted primarily by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). CDC has sent experts to Latin America and the Caribbean to help those countries strengthen laboratory capacity and train health experts. HHS has already sent 400,000 treatment courses to Mexico. In total, the Administration aims to provide 2 million courses to Mexico. USAID announced on April 28, 2009, that it would provide an additional $5 million to WHO and the Pan American Health Organization for interventions against H1N1 in Mexico and Central America. To date, USAID has provided $6.2 million for international H1N1 assistance. The assistance includes support to the United Nations Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) for animal surveillance efforts in Mexico and other parts of Central America, and the provision of personal protection equipment (PPE) kits from its avian and pandemic influenza stockpile. In May 2009, it distributed more than 100,000 PPE kits in Mexico City and announced that it had already prepositioned 400,000 PPE kits in 82 countries. CRS Report for Congress.