2009 swine flu pandemic timeline

H1N1 map by confirmed community outbreaks

2009 Swine Flu Pandemic Timeline

The 2009 Swine Flu Pandemic was a global outbreak of a new strain of H1N1 influenza virus, often referred to as "swine flu". Originating in Mexico in early 2009, it quickly spread worldwide, leading to widespread illness and a significant number of deaths. This article outlines the timeline of key events during the pandemic.

Early Outbreak

The first cases of the novel H1N1 virus were reported in Mexico in March 2009, with the virus rapidly spreading to neighboring countries. By April, the United States had reported its first cases of the virus, which were linked to travel to Mexico.

April 2009

• Early April: The first confirmed cases of the novel H1N1 influenza were identified in California and Texas.
• April 25: The World Health Organization (WHO) declared the outbreak a "public health emergency of international concern".
• April 29: The WHO raised its pandemic alert level to Phase 5, indicating human-to-human spread in at least two countries in one WHO region.

May 2009

• May 2: The first death from H1N1 outside of Mexico was reported in the United States.
• Throughout May: Cases and deaths continued to rise globally, with the virus spreading to Europe, Asia, and South America.
• May 11: The WHO reported that the virus had spread to 30 countries, with over 5,000 confirmed cases.

Pandemic Phase

In June 2009, the WHO declared the H1N1 outbreak a pandemic, the first global flu pandemic in 41 years.

June 2009

• June 11: The WHO raised the pandemic alert to Phase 6, indicating widespread human infection.
• Following the declaration, countries around the world intensified their efforts to combat the spread of the virus, including accelerating vaccine production and implementing public health measures.

July to December 2009

• The following months saw the peak of the pandemic, with millions of cases and thousands of deaths reported worldwide.
• Many countries launched vaccination campaigns in an attempt to control the spread of the virus.
• By the end of 2009, the pandemic began to wane, although cases continued to be reported.

Post-Pandemic Phase

• August 2010: The WHO declared the pandemic over, stating that worldwide flu activity had returned to typical seasonal patterns.
• However, the H1N1 virus continued to circulate as a seasonal flu virus, causing illness and deaths in subsequent flu seasons.

Impact

The 2009 Swine Flu Pandemic had a significant impact on global health, economies, and societies. It highlighted the challenges of responding to fast-moving pandemics and the importance of international cooperation in public health emergencies.

See Also

• Influenza pandemic
• H1N1 Influenza Virus
• World Health Organization
• Pandemic prevention