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10 August 2010
WHO Director-General Dr Margaret Chan has announced that the swine flu pandemic is now over. However, localized outbreaks of various magnitudes are likely to continue. On 10th August, the members of the WHO’s Emergency Committee convened by teleconference and concluded that the H1N1 virus has now largely run its course. In an official statement, Dr Margaret Chan said, “We are now moving into the post-pandemic period… The Committee based its assessment on the global situation, as well as reports from several countries that are now experiencing influenza. I fully agree with the Committee’s advice. “As we enter the post-pandemic period, this does not mean that the H1N1 virus has gone away. Based on experience with past pandemics, we expect the H1N1 virus to take on the behaviour of a seasonal influenza virus and continue to circulate for some years to come. “In the post-pandemic period, localized outbreaks of different magnitude may show significant levels of H1N1 transmission.” She concluded by saying, “Pandemics are unpredictable and prone to deliver surprises. No two pandemics are ever alike. This pandemic has turned out to be much more fortunate than what we feared a little over a year ago. “This time around, we have been aided by pure good luck. The virus did not mutate during the pandemic to a more lethal form. Widespread resistance to oseltamivir did not develop. The vaccine proved to be a good match with circulating viruses and showed an excellent safety profile. “Thanks to extensive preparedness and support from the international community, even countries with very weak health systems were able to detect cases and report them promptly. Had things gone wrong in any of these areas, we would be in a very different situation today.”