Thirty-two countries* will participate in a full-scale tsunami alert exercise in the Caribbean on 20 March 2013. The goal is to test the reaction capacity in countries of the Caribbean and adjacent regions, including the East Coast of Canada and the United States, the Gulf of Mexico and Bermuda. The exercise was organized under the auspices of UNESCO’s Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC).

h PERU: New cases of pneumonia and bubonic plague reported.

h CUBA: Accumulated reservoir water resources are below 50 percent.

h LAC: Atlantic French territories are on alert due the increase in cases of dengue.

h COLOMBIA: Some 200,000 new affected by the rainy season.

I- Evolution of the pandemic

North America

In Canada, the national influenza-like illness (ILI) consultation rate slightly decreased compared to last week but remained above average for the sixth consecutive week. The number of influenza outbreaks remained high and these outbreaks were mostly reported

I- Evolution of the pandemic

North America

Widespread influenza activity and increased trends in acute respiratory disease continued this week.

In Canada, the national influenza-like illness (ILI) consultation rate increased again relative to the last week and remained above average for the fourth consecutive week. There was a

- 8,869 new confirmed cases (146,016 cumulative cases in 35 countries).

- 158 new confirmed deaths (3,292 confirmed deaths in 25 countries).

- 98.9% of the influenza A viruses that were subtyped were pandemic (H1N1) 2009.

- South America experienced low intensity and a decrease or unchanged trend

- North America experienced an increasing trend despite low intensity of acute respiratory disease everywhere except for Mexico

- Central America experienced low or moderate intensity and a decreasing trend.

The qualitative indicators for surveillance of the Pandemic (H1N1) 2009 are described in Table 3 of this report. The information presented herein has been obtained through the official sites

The qualitative indicators for surveillance of the Pandemic (H1N1) 2009 are described in Table 3 of this report. The information presented herein has been obtained through the official sites

The qualitative indicators for surveillance of the Pandemic (H1N1) 2009 are described in Table 3 of this report. The information presented herein has been obtained through the official sites