The World Health Organization,a UN agency headed by Hong Kong native Dr.Margaret Chen,has declared the H1N1 flu pandemic to be officially over.In total,about 18,500 people worldwide have died from the disease.Although safe vaccines were developed,they arrived in adequate quantities rather late on the scene in the U.S.,when it had become apparent that the pandemic was not going as badly as had initially been feared.In consequence,many decided not to bother with the inoculation.Others abstained because they were suspicious of its safety.Nonetheless,the pandemic served as a wake-up call and training exercise for public health workers and the pharmaceutical industry alike.The next time there is a flu pandemic,things should go much more smoothly based on the lessons learned.
The H1N1 virus will most likely continue to circulate for many years along the lines of the more familiar seasonal influenza.
A new infectious disease concern that has arisen in recent months is a so-called superbug that apparently originated in South Asia and has now been discovered in several other regions,including North America.This drug-resistant germ is mainly seen as a urinary tract infection.While in the lower urinary tract,it isn't lethal.If it isn't treated correctly there,however,the infection can spread to the upper urinary tract,where it can reach the kidneys and cause death.
Some 37 British patients contracted the superbug,called NDM-1,while having discount surgery in India.NDM-1 galvanizes some bacteria against antibiotics,especially E.coli,which causes the urinary tract infections.There are no antibiotics specifically for NDM-1,but few people have died from it to this point.NDM-I has been detected in Canada,the U.S.,Australia,the Netherlands and Sweden.The fear is that,as medical tourism grows,so will the prevalence of this drug-resistant organism.
The medical authorities are calling for more surveillance of this emerging danger.
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