WHO sounds swine flu all clear

Many countries launched major public health information campaigns to help combat the pandemic's threat

The world is no longer in the grips of an H1N1 pandemic and the virus has run its course according to the World Health Organization.

World Health Organization (WHO) director-general Dr Margaret Chan said H1N1 is now in a post-pandemic period and that the agency expects the virus to be more like seasonal influenza.

“This time around, we have been aided by pure good luck. The virus did not mutate during the pandemic to a more lethal form.”

She added that widespread resistance to antiviral drug oseltamivir did not develop.

“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.”

But this does not mean the H1N1 virus has gone away as it will continue to circulate for several years, she added.

During the pandemic, the H1N1 virus crowded out other influenza viruses to become the dominant virus, but this is no longer the case.

The virus will continue to cause serious cases of flu in younger age groups – though the WHO is hopeful the number of these will diminish – but globally the patterns of H1N1 transmission now being seen differ significantly from those observed during the pandemic.

WHO is issuing advice on recommended surveillance, vaccination, and clinical management during the post-pandemic period and thanked the international community for their ongoing support.

Influenza A/H1N1 virus is a subtype of influenza A virus and was the most common cause of human influenza (flu) in 2009.

Brett Wells