WHO to consider if H1N1 has peaked

The World Health Organization's expert committee will meet later this month to determine whether the H1N1 flu pandemic has peaked.

"What we are hoping for is that the worst is behind us," the agency's influenza chief, Keiji Fukuda, told a news conference in Geneva on Thursday.

The committee will make recommendations to WHO Director-General Margaret Chan on whether the H1N1 pandemic has entered a "transition period."

"This is a period in which we consider that the pandemic is still continuing," but the overall trend reflects seasonal patterns for influenza, he said.

The experts' advice will help guide national authorities to plan for the future while continuing to take precautionsin case there are local upsurges.

When experts drafted the pandemic plan, they said a pandemic can't simply be declared over because patterns of flu activity would differ depending on the country.

For example, WHO said it is still receiving reports of new outbreaks, including most recently in West Africa. Senegal reported its first evidence of community transmission, meaning random cases occurredthat can't be traced back to the first infected person.

There have been more than 15,000 laboratory confirmed deaths since the outbreak began in North America last spring. The real death toll is likely higher but won't be known for a year or two, Fukuda said.

No date has been set for the meeting, but it would probably be in the last week of February.

A separate group of influenza experts will meet next week to advise governments and drug companies on whether to include the pandemic strain in the northern hemisphere's next seasonal flu vaccine.

Since H1N1 continues to be the main influenza virus circulating, it may be included, Fukuda said. The recommendations will be published on Feb. 18.