Influenza A kills 4 in North Korea: Red Cross

[tetano]

SEOUL, Jan. 29 (Yonhap) -- Four people have died and more than 81,000 have been infected with Influenza A (H1N1) virus in North Korea since last month, according to a report from the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC).
The North Korean vice minister of public health informed the World Health Organization (WHO) office in Pyongyang of the outbreak of the flu on Jan. 19, the group said in an information bulletin issued last Friday.
Between Dec. 1 and Jan. 16, there were 126,574 suspected influenza cases, and of those 81,640 cases were confirmed as Influenza A. The ministry reported four deaths -- three children and one adult, the IFRC said.
Among the suspected influenza cases, 24.5 percent were people aged 0-7 years, and 22.8 percent aged from eight to 16, and the remaining 52.7 percent were among those who were older than 17.
North Korea has requested support for influenza vaccination for high-risk individuals, the IFRC said.
The WHO has so far dispatched 5,000 tablets, with 30,000 in the pipeline, for distribution to frontline healthcare workers and vulnerable groups, it added.

http://english.yonhapnews.co.kr/news/2018/01/29/0200000000AEN20180129003000315.html

[Pathfinder]

Information bulletin

DPR Korea: Influenza A Outbreak

Glide n? EP-2018-000012-PRK Date of issue: 26 January 2018

Date of disaster: Ongoing from 1 December 2017 Point of contact: Ri Ho Rim, Secretary General
DPRK Red Cross Society

Host National Society: Democratic People?s Republic of Korea (DPRK) Red Cross Society
Number of people affected: 200,000 approximately Categorization of disaster: Yellow1

This bulletin is being issued for information only and reflects the current situation and details
available at this time. The Democratic People?s Republic of Korea Red Cross Society (DPRK
RCS), with the support of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent
Societies (IFRC), has determined that available information points toward significant
humanitarian needs that may require support from the IFRC Disaster Relief Emergency Fund.


The situation

On 19 January 2018 the Vice Minister of Public Health (MoPH) officially informed the World Health
Organization (WHO) Country Office in Pyongyang of an outbreak of Influenza A (H1N1) stating that
between 1 December 2017 and 16 January 2018 there was a total of 126,574 suspected influenza
cases ? individuals presenting with influenza-like illness. Of these, 81,640 cases were confirmed as
Influenza A (H1N1) and as per the Ministry communication there had been four deaths ? three
children and one adult. According to the Ministry, 24.5 per cent of suspected influenza cases
(numbering 31,010) were among children aged 0-7 years, 22.8 per cent (n= 28,858) were among
children 8-16 years and the rest 52.7 per cent (n= 66,706), were among those who were above 17
years. The outbreak has become generalized throughout the country with 28.7 per cent of cases in
the capital city ? Pyongyang. The government has requested support for influenza vaccination
targeting high-risk individuals with the MoPH specifically requesting 30,000 Oseltamivir tablets for
healthcare workers. WHO has so far dispatched 5,000 tablets with 30,000 in the pipeline to distribute
to frontline healthcare workers and vulnerable groups. There is a request to strengthen the nonpharmaceutical
aspect of the operation with an emphasis on public health including surveillance and
preventive activities with all agencies (WHO, UNICEF) requested to support with conducting an
effective communication programme. So far, the outbreak has not been graded as WHO is awaiting
further epidemiological information from the MoPH including the age break down of suspected and
confirmed cases, number of pregnant women affected and confirmation of the type of influenza.
...

http://www.ifrc.org/docs/Appeals/18/IBDPRKep260118.pdf

http://www.ifrc.org/en/publications-and-reports/appeals/

[tetano]

No. of swine flu-infected N. Koreans rose to 110,000 last month: report

SEOUL, Feb. 2 (Yonhap) -- The number of patients infected with H1N1 influenza, also known as swine flu, in North Korea rose to 110,000 last month, Voice of America reported Friday.
Citing Gwendolyn Pang, who heads the Asian regional office of the International Federation of Red Cross, VOA's Korean Service said 110,015 out of 179,259 North Korean people who contracted an influenza virus had tested positive for the H1N1 virus as of Jan. 23. Pang obtained the figures from the North's health ministry.
The number of North Korean people infected with H1N1 influenza increased by about 30,000 from 81,640 a week ago.
Pang said H1N1 infections have been observed across the country, with 29 percent of cases in Pyongyang and about half of those infected aged less than 17.
The death toll from the influenza -- three children and one man -- has shown no change, the report said.
According to Pang, the Red Cross plans to inject an emergency relief fund of US$350,000 into the North to prevent the H1N1 influenza from spreading in the country.

http://english.yonhapnews.co.kr/news/2018/02/02/0200000000AEN20180202002800315.html