2009 flu pandemic in Asia

The 2009 flu pandemic in Asia, part of an epidemic in 2009 of a new strain of influenza A virus subtype H1N1 causing what has been commonly called swine flu, afflicted at least 394,133 people in Asia with 2,137 confirmed deaths: there were 1,035 deaths confirmed in India, 737 deaths in China, 415 deaths in Turkey, 192 deaths in Thailand, and 170 deaths in South Korea. Among the Asian countries, South Korea had the most confirmed cases, followed by China, Hong Kong, and Thailand.

 Azerbaijan

On 27 April 2009 Azerbaijan imposed a ban on import of animal husbandry products from the Americas.^[11] According to the Chief of the State Veterinary Service under the Agriculture Ministry Ismayil Hasanov, products brought to the country on that day received certificates and it was confirmed that those products were safe.^[12] AZAL took additional safety measures and a sanitary quarantine unit of the Health Ministry started to operate in Heydar Aliyev International Airport with all aircraft and passengers being checked.^[13]

Azeri Minister of Health Ogtay Shiraliyev said the order prepared by him considers implementation of necessary measures in the epidemiological and various medical centers. "Azerbaijan is ready for this issue", he said.^[14] According to the Agriculture Minister Ismat Abbasov, the State Veterinary Service is holding monitoring in the regions and pigs are kept in closed places in farms.^[11] Abbasov also said: "I can say with full responsibility that the situation on prevention against swine flu virus is stable in Azerbaijan".^[11] On 31 July, First Case of Influenza A(H1N1) was confirmed.

On 2 May all checkpoints on borders with Russia passed to the medium security and disinfection barriers for both cars and pedestrians were installed at the Samur, Shirvanovka and Khan Oba checkpoints in Qusar and Khachmaz Raions.^[15] The veterinary services at checkpoints intensified their activities while hog farms in the northern regions passed to the closed farming regime.^[15]

Bahrain

On 27 April, Bahrain's health ministry declared the country to be free from the flu, citing that pig farms do not exist in the country and that live pork is not imported into the country.^[16] On 28 April, Bahraini MPs from the Al Asalah Salafi party called for the prohibition of pork products in the country.^[17] On 30 April, Bahrain banned pork imports from the United States and Mexico where the bulk of its imports originate from, with the Ministry of Health stating that the country is taking extra precautions despite the World Health Organisation stating that the flu cannot be contracted via the consumption of pork.^[18] The Ministry announced the creation of isolation wards in the country's main hospitals and also recommended that people should avoid hugging and kissing, so as to avoid contact with infected individuals.^[19][20] Also on the same day, it was announced that passengers arriving through the Bahrain International Airport would be screened and would also send suspicious flu patients to isolation wards.^[19] It was also announced that pharmacies in the country were stockpiled with enough Tamiflu to cover 20% of the population.^[21] A special hotline was also set up.^[22]

Concerns began to emerge in the country about whether or not the health care sector could handle the influx of flu patients.^[23] The Ministry of Health set up screening facilities on the King Fahd Causeway to screen travelers entering the country.^[23] On 1 May, it was announced that a 41-year-old male American traveler and a female passenger from Paris were quarantined at Salmaniya Medical Complex after displaying flu-like symptoms. However, both passengers tested negative to H1N1 tests.^[24] On 26 May, a Bahraini student who had recently arrived from New York was confirmed as having contracted the flu; he was the first confirmed case of swine flu to hit the island country.^[25] It is also the first case involving a Gulf national contracting the disease.^[25] Health officials have stated the boy had suffered a mild form of the disease and was discharged from the hospital after spending five days in quarantine.^[25] On 15 June, seven Bahraini students, all age 17, tested positive for the H1N1 virus.^[26] The students were among a group of students who had recently returned from a student exchange program in the United States.^[26] On 17 June, three more Bahrainis tested positive for the flu, all of whom were in contact with the previous seven students.^[27]

In July, the Ministry of Health launched an awareness campaign ahead of the start of the academic year, with many fearing the reopening of schools would lead to a much greater outbreak of the flu.^[28] By early August, 18 confirmed cases of the flu were reported.^[29] Haj travel agencies have reported that thousands of Bahraini pilgrims have cancelled their trips to Mecca over fears of contracting swine flu.^[30] Over 180 confirmed cases of the flu were reported in late August, all of whom had returned from traveling abroad.^[30]

On 31 August, a 30-year-old Filipino housemaid died after contracting the H1N1 virus, becoming Bahrain's first confirmed death as a result of the virus.^[31] On 3 September, it was reported that a 24-year-old Bahraini man died after succumbing to the H1N1 virus, being the first Bahraini to die of the disease.^[32] He was pronounced dead at BDF Hospital and there were allegations that he had been earlier misdiagnosed by a private hospital.^[32] On 8 September, it was announced that patients with flu-like symptoms would be treated with Tamiflu nationwide, regardless of having a fever or not. It was also announced that a million doses of the swine flu vaccine were ordered.^[33] The Bahraini Ministry of Education had decided to postpone the opening of schools until October as a precaution, a decision that drew criticism from the World Health Organisation.^[34] In November 2009, the government stated that up to 1,346 cases of the H1N1 virus were confirmed in the country, along with 15,000 suspected cases of the virus.^[35]

 Bangladesh

It was announced on 29 April 2009 by Bangladesh's Health Minister AFM Ruhal Haque that screening of inbound international travelers for swine flu would start at the country's main international airport. After an inter-ministerial meeting on swine flu, Haque told reporters that particularly those travelers who come from the affected countries will be screened at the Shahjalal International Airport in capital Dhaka. A Bangladeshi national who recently returned from US has been detected with swine flu on 18 June, making him the first patient to be tested positive of A(H1N1) viral infection in the country.^[36]

As of 22 August 98 cases of the A(H1N1) virus has been confirmed in Bangladesh.^[37]

 Burma (Myanmar)

On 1 May 2009 Chairman of Global Human Flu Prevention and Response Work Committee Deputy Minister for Health Dr Mya Oo inspected preventive measures against the human flu at Yangon International Airport, Burma (also known as Myanmar). On 27 June, Burmese state-run Radio Myanmar confirmed the first case of influenza A/H1N1 - a girl aged 13 who just return from a trip from Singapore.^[38][39]

 Cambodia

Cambodia's health authorities remain alert but confident that the country is prepared for a swine flu pandemic. In terms of ensuring that infected pigs do not spread the disease to Cambodia, the Cambodian Pig Raiser Association said it has told the government it should ban live pig imports. But Khlauk Chuon, the deputy director of Camcontrol at the Ministry of Commerce, said they would only ban live pig imports from a country that has been hit with swine flu.
"We are very worried about this new disease because it can transfer from pig to human, from human to human and from human to pig," Khlauk Chuon added. 6 cases has been confirmed in Cambodia, including one domestic case.^[40][41]

 China (People's Republic of China)

The first suspected case found on mainland China was reported on 10 May 2009.^[42] As of 29 July 2009, the number of confirmed A/H1N1 cases on the Chinese mainland topped 2,000, with no deaths or serious cases reported, according to the Ministry of Health (MOH). Of the total 2,003 confirmed cases, 1,853 had recovered, said a statement on the MOH website.

The General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine (AQSIQ) of China issued an emergency notice on the evening of 26 April that visitors returning from flu-affected areas who experienced flu-like symptoms within two weeks would be quarantined.^[43] The Ministry of Health has started prevention measures, and initiated cooperation with the WHO and the relevant departments of the Mexican and U.S. governments to help contain the outbreak. According to Wang Jing of the China Inspection and Quarantine Science Research Institute, the measures already in place in China against bird flu are sufficient for this new disease, also certain lessons were learned from the 2003 SARS outbreak including that the state-controlled media doesn't cover up such events.^[44]

2 May, the Chinese government has decided to suspend flights from Mexico to Shanghai, the Foreign Ministry said.^[45] Meanwhile, the Civil Aviation Administration of China also assigned a charter to transport stranded Chinese visitors back home. Among all carriers, China Eastern Airlines was the first choice as it is based in Shanghai, where the original and the only Sino-Mexican flight disembarks, but later the job has fallen onto the Guangzhou based China Southern Airlines, as China Eastern's aircraft don't fit the facility at Tijuana Airport. The replacing China Southern flight would leave Guangzhou at 21:00 on 3 May as a normal flight until it reaches the stop-over at Los Angeles, and then fly empty toward Mexico City to pick up the 120 stranded tourists. The charter flight estimates to be back in Shanghai 11:00 in the morning on 5 May, and all passengers on board will then go through health to see if further action is needed. 1,089 cases were confirmed in China by early May.^[46]

China's Ministry of Health has gathered experts to draft the Influenza A(H1N1) vaccine and immunity strategy which would include, 'when, how and against whom' the vaccine should be used.^[47] The ministry's Contingency Office deputy director, Liang Wannian, said the optimum objective of the flu vaccine was for the protection of high-risk population, especially people with basic illness and pregnant women. The first batch of China's A (H1N1) flu vaccine is expected to be ready by July, and would undergo a two-month clinical test before it is available in the market. China's flu vaccine strategy is to stockpile enough vaccine for one per cent of her population by 1 October, as a preventive measure to encounter any vast outbreak of the flu. Liang said China would take more severe and effective preventive measures at its many gateways and educate the people on the H1N1, also known as swine flu.

In early September 2009, China's State Food and Drug Administration granted approval to a homegrown swine flu vaccine, which producer Sinovac Biotech claims is effective after only one dose.^[48][49]

On 4 January 2010, the Chinese Health Ministry announced that 659 deaths from swine flu have been recorded in 2009, with 120,940 confirmed detected cases throughout the year.^[50]

Taiwan (Republic of China)

On 20 May 2009, the first case of the influenza has been confirmed in Taiwan.^[51]

The government had previously taken several steps to prevent the possible outbreak of Swine Flu, including a command center set up, travel alerts for infected nations,^[52] and more severe health check been conducted at international ports. Taiwan said visitors who came back from affected areas with fever would be quarantined.^[53] According to The Department of Health (DOH), Taiwan has a sufficient supply of surgical masks and vaccine to deal with the flu. The DOH also stated that they have 50 million to 60 million masks in stock and local manufacturers have the capability of producing 200,000 doses of the flu vaccine a month.^[54] In an effort to prevent the entry of the swine influenza, the Centers for Disease Control has announced on 28 April that every flight from the Americas, specifically Canada and the United States, that arrives in Taiwan from 29 April and onward will be subject to a strict on-board screening procedure. There are 5,474 confirmed cases of H1N1 in Taiwan so far.^[55]

 Cyprus

Cyprus identified its first case of H1N1 on 30 May in a 39-year-old woman from Moldova, living in Cyprus, who returned from the United States on 28 May. As of 11 July 250 cases have been confirmed in Cyprus.^[56]

 Hong Kong

The Food and Health Bureau of Hong Kong^[57] issued travel advice for Mexico on 26 April 2009, which advised Hong Kong residents not to travel to Mexico unless absolutely necessary. The first case reported was a Mexican who flew in from Shanghai. The most recent case (the tenth) was found in a 56-year-old American who had flown in from San Francisco.^[58] The Bureau also escalated the alert level from "alert" to "serious" on the same day,^[59] which activated health protection measures in all ports of entry of Hong Kong. As such, temperature screening machines are used at all checkpoints to identify passengers with fever and respiratory symptoms. Any passenger who fails the temperature test and confirmed having a fever will be quarantined and sent to public hospital for further investigation.^[58] Hong Kong also became one of the first jurisdictions to declare swine flu as a notifiable disease, and much of the procedures against the spread of the swine flu were learned from the 2003 SARS outbreak, of which Hong Kong was the epicenter of the outbreak.^[60][61]

The Secretary for Food and Health York Chow stated that special attention will be paid to passengers who come from countries where human infection of swine influenza cases have been reported.^[59]

On 1 May, one case became the first confirmed case of swine flu in Hong Kong and also the first in Asia after being tested positive by the University of Hong Kong and the Department of Health of Hong Kong. The Mexican patient, who travelled with two companions from Mexico to Hong Kong with a stopover in Shanghai Pudong Airport, arrived in Hong Kong on 30 April. Metropark Hotel Wanchai, where the patient stayed, was cordoned off by the police and health officials from the Centre for Health Protection.^{[62][63][64][65]} All 350 guests and hotel staff have to remain inside the hotel for seven days. After the first swine flu case was confirmed by laboratory, Chief Executive Sir Donald Tsang raised Hong Kong's response level from "serious" to "emergency".^[66]

On 2 May, a total of 12 Metropark Hotel guests who were not willing to stay in the hotel were moved to Lady MacLehose Holiday Village in Sai Kung for quarantine.^[67]

On 11 June, the Educational Bureau issued a letter ordering all kindergartens, primary and special schools to suspend all class and examinations for a 14-day period. As of 21, 20 June secondary schools have been ordered to suspend classes and examinations for another 14 days after a confirmed case of human swine flu was found in each school.On 23 June,the Educational Bureau issued a letter to order all kindergartens,primary schools and special schools to have their summer holiday immediately. As of 27 August 2009, there have been 10,468 confirmed cases of swine flu in the city.^[68]

On 3 July, a case of Tamiflu-resistant virus was discovered in a woman suffering from the flu. The woman had not previously taken Tamiflu, so concern has been expressed that she may have contracted an already resistant virus from someone else.^[69]

 India

The Government of India has decided to screen all people entering India via the main airport hubs of Mumbai, New Delhi, Goa, Jaipur, Kochi, Kolkata, Chennai, Bangalore and Hyderabad. It said the primary focus will be on passengers entering from the United States of America, United Kingdom, Canada, Mexico, France, and New Zealand. A team of 32 medical professionals have been posted at these airports. The Ministry of Health is also trying to track down people who have entered India from Mexico in the last 10 days.^[70] It has been reported that one person recently traveled from Texas to Hyderabad with flu symptoms and was quarantined, but authorities refused to divulge his identity.^[71] Government health officials & WHO subsequently stated that there is no Swine flu in India and the said patient recovered from a common cold.^[72] Three other suspected cases of swine flu have been noticed.^[73] Two of them were flying from Chicago and the other one, who is UK citizen, aged 35, arrived from London. All of whom have been kept under observation in a hospital.^[74] As of 21 August 2009, 2401 cases have been confirmed in India with 63 deaths.^[75] As of 4 October 2009, 10375 cases have been confirmed in India with 329 deaths. The maximum deaths are found from Pune. As of 13 August 13 people have been succumbed to the deadly virus in Pune. Pune has been declared onto a state of semi-emergency of pandemic.^[76] The Government has declared of the closure of Schools and Colleges in Mumbai for at least a week. All the shopping malls and theaters have been closed down up to Monday.

 Indonesia

After a coordination meeting about the flu on 27 April 2009, the Indonesian government halted the importation of pigs and initiated the examination of 9 million pigs in Indonesia.^[77] Thermal scanners which can detect human body temperature have been installed at Indonesian ports of entry. Temperatures above 38 degrees Celsius (100.4 Fahrenheit) cause the devices to beep, indicating fever. The devices have been installed in Soekarno-Hatta International Airport and Halim Perdana Kusuma Airport in Jakarta, Juanda Airport in Surabaya, Hang Nadim Airport in Batam, Hasanudin Airport in Makassar, Ngurah Rai Airport in Denpasar, Sultan Aji Muhammad Sulaiman Airport in Balikpapan, and Tanjung Priok Seaport, gates one and two in Jakarta and taking action right now. Indonesia confirms first case of H1N1. 416 cases and one death has been confirmed in Indonesia.^[78] Cases have increased to over 1,005 people and 4 deaths, but three of these deaths were reported negative.

Any person with temperatures above 38 degrees Celsius will be taken to a specialized hospital and would undertake intensive test to determine if the patient is positive of swine flu.

As of 18 August 2009, 4 deaths due to the virus have been reported in the country. This is not the case, as only one fatality was reported positive to the virus. The other three were signaled negative.

 Israel and the West Bank

over 4000 cases have been confirmed in Israel, and over 60 people have died so far.^[79] In response to the outbreak, the Israeli Deputy Minister of Health, Yaakov Litzman, has said that because swine are unclean, the outbreak needs to be renamed, and so in Israel, out of respect for the religious sensibilities of Jews and Muslims, it should be called "Mexican Flu". This was done so as to not confuse the population into thinking that they could not acquire the virus if they did not eat pork.^[80][81] The Israeli government retracted this proposal following Mexican complaints.^[82]

The flu came close to many Israeli politicians. Prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu^[83] was checked for fear of flu, and the flu reached the presidential residence^[84] and the Knesset.^[85]

 Japan

The Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries of Japan instructed animal quarantine offices across Japan to examine any live pigs being brought into Japan to make sure they are not infected with the influenza.^[86] Japanese Agriculture Minister Shigeru Ishiba appeared on television to reassure customers that it is safe to eat pork.^[52] The Japanese farm ministry said that it would not ask for restrictions on pork imports because the virus was unlikely to turn up in pork, and would be killed by cooking.^[87]

On 30 April 2009, the first suspected case was detected at Narita Airport. However, the case turned out to be a conventional strain of influenza A subtype H3N2 (Hong Kong A strain).^[88] On 1 May 2009, the second suspected case was detected in Yokohama.^[89] This case also turned out to be a conventional strain of influenza A subtype H1N1 (Russian A strain).^[90] Meanwhile, Japan has not stopped any flights or means of travelling between Japan and Mexico.

On 8 May, the first three cases were confirmed. The infected patients had spent time in Oakville, Canada and returned to Japan via Detroit.^[91][92] On 10 May, another case was confirmed from a student who came from a school trip to Canada, making it the fourth case of Japan.^[93]

On 16 May, the first domestic infection was confirmed in Kobe. The male high school student did not have a history of travel abroad and thought it was a seasonal flu, and PCR test was not done in timely manner. Two other students are suspected, and 17 other students are claiming influenza-like symptoms. The route of the infection was not traceable.^[94]

On 18 May, 130 cases had been confirmed, including employees of a railway kiosk and a bank. Several railway kiosks in Kobe were closed, and 70 other bank workers who had worked with the infected person were told to stand by at home. All schools in the Osaka and Hyogo Prefectures were suspended. There have been 944 case confirmed in Japan as of 24 June 2009.^[95]

On 2 July, the first case of oseltamivir-resistant virus in Asia was announced in Japan, in a woman who had been taking Tamiflu prophylactically.^[96]

 Kazakhstan

The first cases of A(H1N1) virus were discovered in 3 students from the capital Astana according to Natalia Buenko, an advisor to the Ministry of Health of Kazakhstan.^[97]

 Kuwait

About 18 people on U.S. military bases in Kuwait have tested positive for swine flu, a U.S. Central Command spokeswoman said on 24 May 2009. They are the first cases reported in Kuwait. It remains unclear whether the virus has spread to the civilian population. The names and units of the infected people were not immediately available. Maj. Kristi Beckman, speaking from Central Command headquarters in Tampa, said everyone who tested positive for the virus was quarantined in military health facilities approved by officials from the Kuwaiti Ministry of Health. The World Kuwait is used as a staging area for soldiers heading to or from the war in Iraq. The World Health Organization reported that they had not included Kuwait on its list of countries where the virus is present.

On 16 June, the Kuwait Times newspaper reported confirmed the country's first cases of swine flu in four Kuwaitis who returned from the United States.^[98]

 Laos

The Lao government agreed to buy 10 thermal imaging machines and install them at the country's major immigration border checkpoints. The machines would help officials identify anyone entering the country with a high temperature and create confidence among Lao people, foreigners living in Laos and people traveling to Laos. Health officials would be on hand at international border checkpoints to ensure anyone found to be infected could be treated immediately. Each machine could cost about US$25,000. The decision to buy them was made after the government found visitors to Laos included people coming from the United States, Spain and other affected countries.

The Prime Minister Bouasone Bouphavanh said masks should be made available and health officials would be assigned to work at border checkpoints. The machines would help officials identify anyone entering the country with a high temperature and create confidence among Lao people, foreigners living in Laos and people travelling to Laos. Health officials would be on hand at international border checkpoints to ensure anyone found to be infected could be treated immediately. On 18 June, the first case in Laos was confirmed. ^[99]

 Lebanon

A Lebanese man suffering from a serious illness died from the H1N1 swine flu strain on Thursday 30 July 2009, which makes the first death in Lebanon, Health Minister Mohammad Khalifeh told Reuters. The 30-year-old victim had been receiving treatment for leukemia when he contracted the virus, possibly from relatives who had just traveled from Australia to Lebanon, the minister said.Lebanon has recorded more than 100 cases of H1N1.^[100]

The first three cases of swine flu were discovered in Lebanon on 1 July 2009 according to the Health Minister Mohammad Jawad Khalifeh.^[101] "One Lebanese man who was in Spain and two Canadians who arrived in Lebanon a week ago are suffering from swine flu," Khalifeh told AFP. "We put them in quarantine and the blood samples we have taken every day have proven to be positive. "The Lebanese man and the two visiting Canadians were given the proper medical treatment in time and they are well now." He told a press conference said the man was part of a group of 22 Lebanese who had been attending a training seminar in Spain at an institute where the disease was later detected. He said health authorities may use thermal scanners at the airport to detect passengers with fever. "The situation is under control," he said.

The Lebanese Health Minister Mohammad Jawad Khalifeh asked citizens to stop the social habit of greeting with kissing, as it is a Lebanese habit to greet each other with three kisses on the cheek. He also requested that affected schoolchildren be kept at home and that travel to countries in which cases have been confirmed be avoided.^[102] Beirut also banned the import of pork.^[103]

On 30 May, Lebanon confirms three cases of swine flu.^[104]

 Macau

On 18 June, the first case was confirmed. The victim was a Filipino arriving Macau the day before.^[105] The first local case was confirmed on 23 June. On that day there were 8 confirmed cases.^[106]

 Malaysia

Malaysia detected the first case of influenza A(H1N1) on 15 May 2009 in a 21-year-old student who returned from the United States.^[107] Malaysia first case of Influenza A (H1N1) which was locally transmitted was confirmed on 17 June 2009 and identified as 17-year-old girl who was admitted to the Kuala Lumpur Hospital.^[108] As of 11 August 2009 there has been 2,253 confirmed cases in Malaysia.^[109] The Health Ministry has announced that from 12 August 2009 they had discontinued the counting of the total number of H1N1 cases in line with guidelines issued by the World Health Organisation.^[110] As of 20 August 2009 the total number of A(H1N1) related deaths in Malaysia stands at 68.

 Maldives

A ministerial committee has been established to supervise swine flu preventive measures to avoid an outbreak. All visitors arriving at the Malé International Airport on Hulhule Island and the country’s three commercial seaports are being screened.^[111]

First death from H1N1 flu virus was confirmed on 19 November.^[112]

 Mongolia

Mongolian authorities quarantined 103 plane passengers on last 7 May who may have been exposed to swine flu.

The passengers were aboard a flight in which two passengers who had performed in a Mongolian band in Mexico developed a fever. When the plane stopped for a scheduled landing in Moscow, the ill passengers were hospitalized.

Landing later in Ulaanbaatar, the Mongolian Health Ministry announced it had quarantined all passengers as well as the crew of six. The people will remain under medical surveillance for seven days, according to officials of the General Authority for Emergency Management.

The Mongolian Health Ministry has sought to prevent the spread of swine flu in Mongolia by urging people to avoid public places.^[113]

As of 22 October 126 cases were confirmed in Mongolia. Just after seven days, the number increased to 394 with five deaths.

 North Korea

Most defectors with backgrounds in health care agree that, considering the isolation of North Korean society and its highly inadequate health care system, incidents of swine flu are likely to be either suppressed or merely misdiagnosed.

Following the confirmation of the first case of the disease in Mongolia, heightened concerns arose. the very high cases in China would make the spread of the disease to North Korea only a matter of time. If swine flu would come to North Korea, there is a possibility of rapid spreading of the disease through the jangmadang (market), which has become the primary means of survival for the people.

The plans of the WHO to distribute swine flu vaccines, contributed by developed countries, to a selected 100 developing countries in November; North Korea is included in the priority list.^[114]

On 16 November, the first known case was confirmed by the Ministry of Unification, released in a report by Korea Times. The first case was confirmed in a South Korean worker in Gaeseong Industrial Complex.^[115]

On 1 December, the Ministry of Public Health called on a meeting to discuss how to prevent H1N1 influenza from spreading. Importing of vaccines and isolation of people in their respective homes were considered. The Ministry of Education has also decided to call on all schools nationwide to have a winter break a month earlier in an approach to stop the spread of the disease due to the fact that the majority of fatalities caused by the disease are people younger than 23 years of age.^[116]

However, on 9 December for the first time, North Korea officially confirmed foreign reports that an outbreak has occurred in the country,^[117] and has accepted aid from South Korea.^[118]

However, there is propaganda that the United States and Western governments created the H1N1 virus, and that the disease is man-made by the Westerners.^[116]

 Oman

As of 13 August 2009, 337 cases have been confirmed by the National Pandemic Influenza Committee in Oman. There have also been unconfirmed reports of a death although this has been denied by the Health Ministry.

on 21 August 2009, the Ministry of Health reported the first 2 death cases one in Muscat and the other in Salalah plus the increase in the number of cases to 513.^[119]

 Pakistan

Pakistan has taken precautionary measures at the international airports to check passengers coming from swine flu affected countries.^[120] Doctors are checking the incoming passengers and allow entry only to those with no flu symptoms. The major hospitals in all the big cities are on high alert. There are 90 confirmed case as of 26 January 2010.^[121]

 Philippines

Health Secretary Francisco T. Duque III ordered the Bureau of Quarantine to use thermal imaging equipment at airports to screen passengers coming from the US for flu symptoms.^[122][123] The Philippines may quarantine travelers arriving from Mexico with fevers.^[124] Also, the Secretary of the Department of Agriculture issued an order banning the importation of hogs from the U.S. and Mexico, and the retraction of the restriction of swine influenza vaccine use.^[125] The medical alert phase is already Code White, the lowest.^[126]

On 18 May 2009, a Filipina girl who arrived from Houston, Texas, United States was the first confirmed case of H1N1 virus in the Philippines. Health Secretary Duque advised that the girl is in stable condition and is in quarantine.^[127]

On 3 June 2009, a foreign exchange student in De La Salle University-Manila was confirmed with H1N1 virus and the school was closed for ten days starting 4 June.^[128]

As of 5 June 2009, the Total of confirmed cases of A(H1N1) virus rose from 29 cases last 4 June to 33 confirmed cases as of 5 June. Philippine Health Secretary Francisco Duque III said the new cases are two siblings and another student of De La Salle University.^[129]

Because of the said incident, on 6 June 2009, the Commission in Higher Education [CHED] moved the opening of classes in all colleges and universities in Metro Manila from 8 June 2009 to 15 June 2009.

First fatality was reported, a 49-year-old female from Metro Manila on 22 June, the first fatality in Asia of this disease.^[130][131] The death was not caused by the virus directly. The person has lung and health problems that worsen it. The person died of a heart attack.

The highest confirmed in one day was on 24 June 2009 with 131 cases,^[132] the next day, the confirmed cases added is 123. Because of that, the Department of Health ordered the people that should get swab tests are the only people with very complicated cases (e.g. with lung disorders, hearth disorders, babies etc.). The government said that the very fast spreading of the disease is caused by the population density of the country.

 Russia

 Saudi Arabia

The Health Ministry has announced the detection of a case of swine flu which infected a Filipino nurse working at King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Center. Dr Abdullah al-Rabee'a, the Health Minister, said that the detection of the case has come within the framework of the efforts being exerted by the Health Ministry to follow up developments in this respect. In a statement to the Saudi Press Agency, he said that the nurse, who had spent her holidays in Philippines, returned to Riyadh on 29 May 2009, aboard one of the flights of the Gulf Air. "Symptoms of the disease appeared in the case of the nurse on June 1, 2009, and she was admitted to the KFSHRC for conducting the required medical examinations pertaining to Swine Flu, he said, noting that the results of the medical examinations were disclosed on Tuesday evening, confirming the case as 'Positive'".

In the light of the measures of the World Health Organization (WHO), the medical examinations were conducted for the second time on Tuesday evening, he said, adding that the examinations proved the infection of the nurse for A/H1N1 on Wednesday morning. Dr Al-Rabee'a said the Health Ministry in cooperation with King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Center has applied the national plan for the prevention of swine flu in a manner that matches with the recommendations of WHO. Accordingly, the patient was isolated and provided with the required medical treatment. Arrangements are underway to examine those who were in contact with the patient to get sure that they are not infected.^[133] As of 17 August 2009 the number of A(H1N1) cases in Saudi Arabia have increased to above 700 and 14 people have died.^[134]

By 17 August, There had been about 2000 cases of the flu resulting in 14 deaths.

 Singapore

The 2009 flu pandemic in Singapore was an influenza pandemic involving the influenza A virus subtype H1N1.^[135][136] It was part of an epidemic that occurred in 2009 of the H1N1 virus, causing what was commonly known as swine flu.^[137] On 30 April 2009, the Singapore Ministry of Health raised its Disease Outbreak Response System to "Alert Orange". At this time, there were no confirmed cases in Singapore.The first case of the H1N1 virus in Singapore was confirmed on 27 May 2009, in which a then 22-year-old woman picked up the virus after visiting New York City, United States.^[138] As of 7 July 2009, there were 1,217 confirmed cases.^[139] As of 17 October 2009, there were 18 confirmed deaths from the H1N1 virus in Singapore.^[140] On 12 February 2010, the Singapore Ministry of Health moved its alert level to Green.

 Sri Lanka

The first case of Influenza A (H1N1-2009) was confirmed on 16 June, 2009 in Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka said on Tuesday that a 12-year-old girl returning home from Singapore was diagnosed with A(H1N1) influenza, the island's first swine flu case. The student was moved to the Infectious Diseases Hospital on the outskirts of the capital, a health ministry official said.

As of 25 June there were 10 confirmed cases. According to Geetani Wickremasinghe of Medical Research Institute in Colombo another two people suffering from swine flu have been detected on Wednesday 24 June. Both patients who were from Australia, including a ten-year-old boy have reached the country on last Sunday. With these two patients added to the total number of Swine Flu patients detected in Sri Lanka has risen to 10. Four of the patients have been discharged, but six patients are still receiving treatments at the Infectious Disease Hospital in Angoda.^[141]

 South Korea

South Korea warned against travel to Mexico City and three Mexican states.^[52] The government has also stepped up quarantine and safety checks on travelers arriving from the United States and Mexico, and pork imports from those countries. An emergency quarantine system is also in place, with simple tests conducted on people arriving with flu symptoms at airports.^[43] On 28 April, South Korea reported its first probable case of swine flu after positive preliminary tests on a nun who had recently returned from a trip to Mexico.^[142] Several sources have informed that one case has been confirmed by lab in South Korea, on 30 April.^[143][144] On 2 May, the first suspected woman turned out to be infected with the influenza A subtype H1N1. South Korea became the third infected nation in Asia, after Israel and Hong Kong. There have been approx. 2100 cases in S.Korea as of 16 August 2009.^[145] On 15 August, the first Korean death by the new influenza was confirmed publicly and a second death was announced on 16 August. Around 15000 cases and 14 deaths have been reported as of 12 October 2009.

 Thailand

The 2009 flu pandemic in Thailand, part of an epidemic in 2009 of a new strain of influenza A virus subtype H1N1 causing what has been commonly called swine flu, made its first confirmed appearance in Thailand on 13 May 2009, when Thailand confirmed two cases of swine flu. Both of the individuals confirmed as having swine flu had recently traveled to Mexico. The Thai Public Health Ministry announced on 16 July that it had ended daily updates on the type A(H1N1) influenza pandemic, saying it wanted to avoid public confusion and would give weekly updates.^[146] There were 4,469 confirmed cases in Thailand and 44 confirmed deaths as of 22 July 2009.

 Turkey

The first case of A(H1N1) in Turkey was reported on 16 May 2009.^[147] A U.S. citizen, flying from the United States via Amsterdam was found to be suffering from the swine flu after arriving Istanbul's Atatürk International Airport.^[148] Turkey is the 36th country in the world to report an incident of swine flu. The Turkish Government has taken measures at the international airports, using thermal imaging cameras to check passengers coming from international destinations.^[149] As of 11 August, there were 312 confirmed cases in Turkey.^[150] As of 24 October, there is 1 confirmed death in Turkey. It is reported by Ministry of Health that one person died in Ankara. In addition, there are 958 confirmed cases in Turkey.^[151]

 United Arab Emirates

An Indian old man who was already suffering from severe respiratory and lung infections and A(H1N1) - swine flu- has died to become the first person in the United Arab Emirates to succumb to the disease, announced the Health Ministry on 20 August 2009. The 63-year-old victim had gone too late to a hospital where he was diagnosed with the infections along with the A(H1N1) symptoms and was treated but died because of the progression of the disease, it said.^[152]

The Ministry of Health has confirmed the death of a 28-year-old Syrian from Sharjah on 1 September 2009 due to the H1N1 infection, along with another pregnant woman, bringing the toll of H1N1 influenza deaths in the country to four.^[153]

 Uzbekistan

Uzbekistan has taken measures to prevent the entry and spread of the swine flu on the country’s territory, chief state sanitary doctor Bahtiyor Niyazmatov told UzA.

According to the official, the measures the country has taken to prevent dangerous infections has proved its efficiency in the past. Thus, the threat of the bird flu and other infectious diseases was prevented. Today Uzbekistan has direct air and land links with many countries and imports thousands of products from other states.

The Health Ministry of Uzbekistan has worked out a special plan to prevent the new respiratory infection. High-quality specialists are participating in the monitoring of the situation and special trainings are being held for medical workers in all regions.

The virus laboratories across Tashkent, and the country's regions have diagnostic means to timely identify the swine flu. In case of swine flu symptoms the patient will be isolated in the specially reserved rooms of infection clinics.

Sanitary control points are functioning in the border crossing places, including airports and railway stations. They have been provided with additional special equipment and disinfection means, he added.

Besides, the Health Ministry has issued posters and brochures explaining precaution measures and organized meetings with specialists at residence areas, educational establishments, enterprises and organizations, the chief state sanitary doctor of Uzbekistan said.^[154]

As of 6 October, No case was confirmed in Uzbekistan

 Vietnam

Vietnam's Ministry of Health released an emergency dispatch and urged agencies to take precautionary measures against swine flu. In addition, the Preventive Health and Environment Bureau requested all health facilities to carefully monitor any suspected H1N1 case and Bureau head Nguyen Huy Nga also warned that the pandemic could enter Vietnam through imported swine or border gates.^[155] Thermal imaging devices were dispatched to airports and border gates to screen passengers.^[156] In response to WHO's warnings, Vietnam on 30 April 2009 raised its swine flu alert level to 4 which indicated a "threat of community level outbreaks" while local authorities have been executing precautionary measures.^[157]

On 1 May 2009 a Vietnam's Ministry of Industry and Trade official said that Ministry was considering a ban on pork import "under certain situations" to prevent swine flu from entering Vietnam.^[158]

As of 31 May 2009. The Government of Vietnam announced its First new case of A(H1N1) virus in the Country. A 23 years old Vietnamese student who recently returned from the Houston, Texas, United States has tested positive for swine flu.^[159]

 Yemen

As of 4 July 2009 there have been reported 7 cases of A(H1N1) flu in Yemen.^[160]

Timeline

2009	A(H1N1) Outbreak and Pandemic Milestones in Asia
28 April	First case confirmed in Israel.
1 May	First case confirmed in Hong Kong.
2 May	First case confirmed in South Korea.
8 May	First case confirmed in Japan.
10 May	First case confirmed in China.
12 May	First case confirmed in Thailand.
15 May	First case confirmed in Malaysia.
16 May	First case confirmed in India.
16 May	First case confirmed in Turkey.
17 May	Community outbreaks confirmed in Japan.
19 May	First case confirmed in Taiwan.
21 May	First case confirmed in the Philippines.
22 May	First case confirmed in Russia.
24 May	First case confirmed in Kuwait.
	First case confirmed in the United Arab Emirates.
25 May	First case confirmed in Bahrain.
27 May	First case confirmed in Singapore.
30 May	First case confirmed in Cyprus.
	First case confirmed in Lebanon.
31 May	First case confirmed in Vietnam.
3 June	First case confirmed in Saudi Arabia.
11 June	First case confirmed in the Palestinian Territories.
	Community outbreaks confirmed in Hong Kong.
14 June	Community outbreaks confirmed in Philippines.
16 June	First confirmed case in Jordan.
	First confirmed case in Qatar.
	First confirmed case in Sri Lanka.
	Community outbreaks confirmed in Thailand.
	First confirmed case in Yemen.
17 June	First case confirmed in Oman.
	Community outbreaks confirmed in Malaysia.
18 June	First case confirmed in Macau, China.
	First case confirmed in Laos.
19 June	First case confirmed in Bangladesh.
22 June	First death confirmed in the Philippines.
	First case confirmed in Iran.
23 June	Community outbreaks confirmed in Macao.
24 June	First case confirmed in Indonesia.
	First case confirmed in Cambodia.
	First case confirmed in Iraq.
26 June	Community outbreaks confirmed in China.
27 June	First death confirmed in Thailand.
	First case confirmed in Myanmar.
29 June	First case confirmed in Nepal.
	Community outbreaks confirmed in Singapore.
1 July	Community outbreaks confirmed in South Korea.
2 July	First death confirmed in Brunei.
	First case of Oseltamivir (Tamiflu) resistance found in Japan.
3 July	First case of Oseltamivir (Tamiflu) resistance found in Hong Kong.
4 July	First case confirmed in Syria.
8 July	First case confirmed in Afghanistan.
10 July	First death confirmed in Hong Kong.
13 July	Community outbreaks confirmed in Saudi Arabia.
16 July	First death confirmed in Singapore.
19 July	First case confirmed in Georgia.
	Community outbreaks confirmed in Israel.
21 July	Community outbreaks confirmed in Indonesia.
22 July	Community outbreaks confirmed in India.
	Community outbreaks confirmed in Vietnam.
	First death confirmed in Laos.
23 July	First death confirmed in Malaysia.
	First case confirmed in Bhutan.
	First case confirmed in Kazakhstan.
24 July	First case confirmed in Maldives.
25 July	Community outbreaks confirmed in Brunei.
	Community outbreaks confirmed in Taiwan.
26 July	Community outbreaks confirmed in Cyprus.
	Community outbreaks confirmed in Turkey.
	First death confirmed in Indonesia.
27 July	First death confirmed in Israel.
	First death confirmed in Saudi Arabia.
	Community outbreaks confirmed in United Arab Emirates.
30 July	First case confirmed in Azerbaijan.
	First death confirmed in Taiwan.
	First death confirmed in Lebanon.
31 July	First death confirmed in Qatar.
2 August	First death confirmed in India.
3 August	First case confirmed in Pakistan.
4 August	First death confirmed in Vietnam.
5 August	First death confirmed in Iran.
7 August	First death confirmed in Palestine.
8 August	First case of Oseltamivir (Tamiflu) resistance found in Thailand.
9 August	First death confirmed in Iraq.
12 August	First case confirmed in East Timor.
14 August	First case of Oseltamivir (Tamiflu) resistance found in Singapore.
	First case of Oseltamivir (Tamiflu) resistance found in China.
15 August	First death confirmed in South Korea.
	First death confirmed in Japan.
18 August	First death confirmed in Yemen.
20 August	First death confirmed in Kuwait.
	First death confirmed in United Arab Emirates.
21 August	First death confirmed in Oman.
24 August	First case confirmed in Kyrgyzstan.
26 August	First death confirmed in Syria.
29 August	First death confirmed in Bangladesh.
31 August	First death confirmed in Bahrain.
2 September	First death confirmed in Macau.
10 September	First case of Oseltamivir (Tamiflu) resistance found in Israel.
21 September	Mass vaccinations in China, which is the first one in the world, begins.
28 September	First death confirmed in Cambodia.
30 September	First completed clinical trials by a company for 2009/H1N1 vaccine in the world.
4 October	First case confirmed in Tajikistan.
6 October	First death confirmed in China.
12 October	First case of Oseltamivir (Tamiflu) resistance found in Vietnam.
	First death confirmed in Jordan.
13 October	First case confirmed in Mongolia.
19 October	Mass vaccinations in Japan begins.
23 October	First death confirmed in Mongolia.
24 October	First death confirmed in Turkey.
26 October	Mass vaccinations in Oman begins
27 October	First death confirmed in Russia.
	Mass vaccinations in South Korea begins.
29 October	First death confirmed in Afghanistan.
1 November	Mass vaccinations in Kuwait begins
3 November	Mass vaccinations in Singapore begins.
Mass vaccinations in Qatar begins
7 November	First death confirmed in Pakistan.
	First death confirmed in Sri Lanka.
Mass vaccinations in Saudi Arabia begins
Mass Vaccinations in Bahrain begins
8 November	First case confirmed in Armenia.
13 November	First death confirmed in Cyprus.
16 November	First case confirmed in North Korea.
18 November	First death confirmed in Maldives.
20 November	Mass vaccinations in Jordan begins
7 December	First death confirmed in North Korea.
13 December	First death confirmed in Armenia.
14 December	First death confirmed in Georgia.
27 December	First death confirmed in Nepal.

Top 5 countries

Top 5 cases	Top 5 deaths
China	India
Hong Kong	Thailand
Thailand	Turkey
India	South Korea
South Korea	China

References