WHO: Premature to say H1N1 has peaked

GENEVA, Switzerland, Feb. 24 (UPI) -- It is premature to conclude that all parts of the world have experienced peak transmission of H1N1, World Health Organization officials in Switzerland say.

The emergency committee, which makes recommendations to Dr. Margaret Chan, director general of WHO, held its seventh meeting on the determination of the pandemic status.

The committee was provided a detailed analysis of the pandemic worldwide and after asking additional questions and reviewing the evidence and holding extensive discussion, the committee said there was mixed evidence showing declining or low pandemic activity in many countries.

WHO officials say there is new community level transmission activity in West Africa and the committee expressed concern that the winter months of the Southern Hemisphere had not yet started and there was uncertainty whether additional generalized waves of H1N1 activity might occur. Therefore, there is a need not to undermine preparations, the officials say.

The committee advised that it was premature to conclude that all parts of the world have experienced peak transmission of the H1N1 pandemic influenza and that additional time and information was needed to provide expert advice on the status of the pandemic.