H1N1 (swine flu) weekly highlights: September 2-8, 2009

• Italy, Macau, Namibia, Norway, and the US Virgin Islands reported their first H1N1 fatalities.

• WHO puts the global total of confirmed deaths at 2,837.

• The CDC reported an increase in the number of cases in areas where school has resumed, particularly among children in the US Southeast. Colleges and universities were also reporting large numbers of cases. Washington State University reported over 2,000 students with flu-like symptoms.

• The CDC reported that more H1N1 deaths have been seen in older children than the very young, and that two-thirds of fatal pediatric cases had underlying medical issues.

• The debate over one versus two doses of H1N1 vaccine continues as companies report encouraging results for a single dose protocol.

• Doctors in London successfully treated a gravely ill H1N1 infected cancer patient by treating her intravenously with a batch of Relenza (zanamivir) specially prepared by the drug's manufacturers.

• Authorities have corrected an earlier media report of an Umrah pilgrim infected with both avian and swine (H5N1 and H1N1) influenza. The man had seasonal and swine influenza coinfection.

Photo taken from: http://abcnews.go.com/Health/SwineFlu/