WHO seeks flu vaccine donations for poorer nations
By GILLIAN WONG (AP) – 2 hours ago
BEIJING — The World Health Organization's flu chief urged drug makers on Saturday to donate swine flu vaccines to the world's poorest countries, which are more vulnerable in the fight against the pandemic.
Dr. Keiji Fukuda said the agency is working hard to lobby the world's rich nations and flu vaccine makers for donations.
"It is clear that the poorest countries in general are just the most vulnerable to any number of diseases, and so it is a big concern," Fukuda said on the sidelines of a symposium of health officials and experts in Beijing. "We're continually hoping that more of the companies will step up and agree to donate more of the vaccine."
WHO says the swine flu virus — also known as H1N1 — has killed almost 1,800 people worldwide as of Aug. 13.
For the moment, swine flu is generally mild and most people recover without needing treatment. But it could have a more devastating impact in countries where populations are also fighting AIDS, malaria, tuberculosis and other diseases.
Many rich countries like Britain, Canada and France have orders for flu vaccines to cover their entire populations. But most developing countries have no such plans.
Health officials and drug makers are considering how to speed up vaccine production before the northern hemisphere enters its flu season in coming months. Estimates for when a vaccine will be available range from September to December.
Fukuda said WHO chief Margaret Chan has met with drug makers to appeal directly, but so far only two companies, GlaxoSmithKline PLC of Britain and Sanofi-Aventis of France, have pledged to donate 150 million doses to developing countries.
Novartis AG of Switzerland has said it is looking at selling vaccines to those countries at discounted prices.
Fukuda said WHO is also exploring other options such as negotiating for the vaccines to be sold at lower prices to poorer countries and helping them set up their own production facilities.
WHO Western Pacific director Shin Young-soo said Friday he hoped China, where 10 drug makers are conducting clinical trials of flu vaccines expected to be completed by mid-September, could play a part in helping poorer countries.
Once cold weather returns to the northern hemisphere, many countries could see swine flu cases double every three to four days for several months until peak transmission is reached, Shin said.
Copyright © 2009 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.
Saturday, August 22, 2009
Swine flu: Why shutting schools, malls is not necessary
Saturday, August 22, 2009 8:40:00 AM
Manjula Pooja Shroff / DNA
Many more people die in road accidents and from malaria and even childbirth than from swine flu. Yet, the scare of swine flu is gripping India a little more each day. A lack of complete information is adding to our fears. Quick communication and travel across continents is causing panic and spread of the virus. Today, we have more information about swine flu than was known about previous pandemics.
There are many reasons not to press the panic button on the H1N1 virus. The primary reason is due to its inherent nature of low fatality. Out the two lakh or more cases reported across the world, deaths are less than 1 per cent. Swine flu is not a killer virus like tuberculosis, the death rate of which is 3.5 per cent. The symptoms are moderate. The flu causes aches and pains that painkillers, under doctors’ guidance, can be taken care of.
Once the flu is gone, there are no lingering pains like in chikungunia, nor is there a slow recovery. It’s a short-duration illness, lasting from two to three days up to a week. There is no need for intravenous injections or saline drips if there is ample bed rest and lots of fluid. There is complete recovery, though there may be general weakness connected to the fever, but there is the advantage of the fever strengthening the immunity to the virus.
It is the panic that creates the complications. This widespread panic is causing places of congregation such as schools, movie theatres and malls to close for a few days. If the reports stating that pandemics last for about two years, that they occur in waves and that each wave lasts for six to eight years and may be separated by three to six months are true, closing schools for a week or two is neither here nor there.
However, creating awareness and guiding documents to keep students and parents informed of strategies to reduce occurrences is completely in order, since kids are more susceptible because of their relatively low immunity and the likelihood of them passing the virus on to others. It is being quoted in the World Health Organisation that in India the flu panic spreads faster than the virus. It is also being said that the frenzy and hysteria are disproportionate to the reality, since it is a low-fatality virus.
Boosting immunity and taking precautionary measures seem like the best way out. Proper food, proper sleep, supplements for immunity booster are being recommended. Organisations and school awareness camps are spreading information on protective measures that include social distances like reducing handshakes or hugs as a way of greeting.
Surgical masks or respirators maybe useful when directly exposed to the virus like when caring for a sick member of the family, but can we visualise a world where everyone wears masks for the next two odd years?
Hygiene and hand sanitising are a global movement. Keeping hands clean at all times by routine washes with alcohol-based products saves us from the millions of freewheeling bacteria whether air- or waterborne. Swine flu or not, it’s a good habit.
Previous global outbreaks of serious illnesses or pandemics have been reported in the years 1918, 1975 and 1968. Most experts agree that the next pandemic was expected in the first decade of 2000. Since it occurs three or four times in a century, we were long overdue! The WHO’s Influenza Centre does not know precisely how the pandemic will unfold. For the moment, India is in a more neutral zone since the flu strain is more rampant in Argentine, Australia, Brazil, Chile and New Zealand.
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© 2005-2009 Diligent Media Corporation Ltd. All rights reserved.
Manjula Pooja Shroff / DNA
Many more people die in road accidents and from malaria and even childbirth than from swine flu. Yet, the scare of swine flu is gripping India a little more each day. A lack of complete information is adding to our fears. Quick communication and travel across continents is causing panic and spread of the virus. Today, we have more information about swine flu than was known about previous pandemics.
There are many reasons not to press the panic button on the H1N1 virus. The primary reason is due to its inherent nature of low fatality. Out the two lakh or more cases reported across the world, deaths are less than 1 per cent. Swine flu is not a killer virus like tuberculosis, the death rate of which is 3.5 per cent. The symptoms are moderate. The flu causes aches and pains that painkillers, under doctors’ guidance, can be taken care of.
Once the flu is gone, there are no lingering pains like in chikungunia, nor is there a slow recovery. It’s a short-duration illness, lasting from two to three days up to a week. There is no need for intravenous injections or saline drips if there is ample bed rest and lots of fluid. There is complete recovery, though there may be general weakness connected to the fever, but there is the advantage of the fever strengthening the immunity to the virus.
It is the panic that creates the complications. This widespread panic is causing places of congregation such as schools, movie theatres and malls to close for a few days. If the reports stating that pandemics last for about two years, that they occur in waves and that each wave lasts for six to eight years and may be separated by three to six months are true, closing schools for a week or two is neither here nor there.
However, creating awareness and guiding documents to keep students and parents informed of strategies to reduce occurrences is completely in order, since kids are more susceptible because of their relatively low immunity and the likelihood of them passing the virus on to others. It is being quoted in the World Health Organisation that in India the flu panic spreads faster than the virus. It is also being said that the frenzy and hysteria are disproportionate to the reality, since it is a low-fatality virus.
Boosting immunity and taking precautionary measures seem like the best way out. Proper food, proper sleep, supplements for immunity booster are being recommended. Organisations and school awareness camps are spreading information on protective measures that include social distances like reducing handshakes or hugs as a way of greeting.
Surgical masks or respirators maybe useful when directly exposed to the virus like when caring for a sick member of the family, but can we visualise a world where everyone wears masks for the next two odd years?
Hygiene and hand sanitising are a global movement. Keeping hands clean at all times by routine washes with alcohol-based products saves us from the millions of freewheeling bacteria whether air- or waterborne. Swine flu or not, it’s a good habit.
Previous global outbreaks of serious illnesses or pandemics have been reported in the years 1918, 1975 and 1968. Most experts agree that the next pandemic was expected in the first decade of 2000. Since it occurs three or four times in a century, we were long overdue! The WHO’s Influenza Centre does not know precisely how the pandemic will unfold. For the moment, India is in a more neutral zone since the flu strain is more rampant in Argentine, Australia, Brazil, Chile and New Zealand.
About us
Contact us
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© 2005-2009 Diligent Media Corporation Ltd. All rights reserved.
Swine flu vaccine shows no adverse effects
Swine flu vaccine shows no adverse effects
By Tom Corwin
Staff Writer
Saturday, August 22, 2009
While testing continues on a vaccine against the novel influenza A H1N1 vaccine, the vaccine has not produced any significant adverse events in adults, federal health officials said Friday.
"There are no red flags regarding safety," said Anthony Fauci, the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases.
The clinical trials began in older adults Aug. 7 and because there were no significant events, testing began in children ages 6 months to 17 years old this week. First dose results are expected in mid-September and second dose results are expected in mid-October from the older adults, Dr. Fauci said.
Between 45 and 52 million doses of the novel H1N1 vaccine will be available by mid-October and will be distributed to states based on population, said Jay Butler, the director of H1N1 Vaccine Task Force at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
More of the vaccine is expected to come in on a weekly basis and the federal government expects to get 195 million doses by the end of the year, Dr. Butler said.
The novel H1N1 vaccine is being distributed through the Vaccine For Children program by the states and is targeting vaccination in five primary groups:
- Pregnant women
- Those who live with an infant younger than 6 months (which is too young to vaccinate)
- Health care workers and emergency medical services personnel
- Those 6 months to 24 years old
- Adults with underlying health problems that put them at greater risk for complications from flu, such as diabetes or lung disease
To date, 7,963 people have been hospitalized and 522 have died from lab-confirmed cases of the new virus, Dr. Butler said.About 75 percent of the hospitalizations and 60 percent of the deaths have been in people younger than 49, he said.
"It's important to keep in mind that these numbers radically underestimate the number of cases that actually occur, because many cases go without testing, and in many areas, there is not routine testing of people who are not sick enough to require hospitalization," Dr. Butler said. He did not offer a new estimate but said the cases likely exceed the 1 million estimated earlier this year.
The vaccine against the new virus is important but so are other preventive measures, such as frequent hand washing, cough and sneeze etiquette and staying home if sick, Dr. Butler said."We can't stop the tide of flu any more than we can turn a hurricane in its course or stop the earth shaking during an earthquake, but we can mitigate the effects and help prevent people from becoming severely ill by preparing well and acting effectively," he said.
Reach Tom Corwin at (706) 823-3213 (706) 823-3213 or tom.corwin@augustachronicle.com.
CLINICAL TRIALS
There is a still a chance for infants and the elderly to participate in clinical trials at Emory University of the novel influenza A H1N1 vaccine. Emory is one of eight centers in the country helping to test the vaccine against the new virus and is looking at the optimal way to give the new vaccine in conjunction with the seasonal flu vaccine, either before, with or after the seasonal flu shot. Emory is still looking for volunteers ages 6 months to 36 months and those 65 and older.For more information about the H1N1 vaccine trials at Emory, call (877) 424-HOPE (877) 424-HOPE (4673) for the senior studies.
Or call (404) 727-4044 (404) 727-4044 for the pediatric studies, or e-mail vaccinestudy@emory.edu
By Tom Corwin
Staff Writer
Saturday, August 22, 2009
While testing continues on a vaccine against the novel influenza A H1N1 vaccine, the vaccine has not produced any significant adverse events in adults, federal health officials said Friday.
"There are no red flags regarding safety," said Anthony Fauci, the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases.
The clinical trials began in older adults Aug. 7 and because there were no significant events, testing began in children ages 6 months to 17 years old this week. First dose results are expected in mid-September and second dose results are expected in mid-October from the older adults, Dr. Fauci said.
Between 45 and 52 million doses of the novel H1N1 vaccine will be available by mid-October and will be distributed to states based on population, said Jay Butler, the director of H1N1 Vaccine Task Force at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
More of the vaccine is expected to come in on a weekly basis and the federal government expects to get 195 million doses by the end of the year, Dr. Butler said.
The novel H1N1 vaccine is being distributed through the Vaccine For Children program by the states and is targeting vaccination in five primary groups:
- Pregnant women
- Those who live with an infant younger than 6 months (which is too young to vaccinate)
- Health care workers and emergency medical services personnel
- Those 6 months to 24 years old
- Adults with underlying health problems that put them at greater risk for complications from flu, such as diabetes or lung disease
To date, 7,963 people have been hospitalized and 522 have died from lab-confirmed cases of the new virus, Dr. Butler said.About 75 percent of the hospitalizations and 60 percent of the deaths have been in people younger than 49, he said.
"It's important to keep in mind that these numbers radically underestimate the number of cases that actually occur, because many cases go without testing, and in many areas, there is not routine testing of people who are not sick enough to require hospitalization," Dr. Butler said. He did not offer a new estimate but said the cases likely exceed the 1 million estimated earlier this year.
The vaccine against the new virus is important but so are other preventive measures, such as frequent hand washing, cough and sneeze etiquette and staying home if sick, Dr. Butler said."We can't stop the tide of flu any more than we can turn a hurricane in its course or stop the earth shaking during an earthquake, but we can mitigate the effects and help prevent people from becoming severely ill by preparing well and acting effectively," he said.
Reach Tom Corwin at (706) 823-3213 (706) 823-3213 or tom.corwin@augustachronicle.com.
CLINICAL TRIALS
There is a still a chance for infants and the elderly to participate in clinical trials at Emory University of the novel influenza A H1N1 vaccine. Emory is one of eight centers in the country helping to test the vaccine against the new virus and is looking at the optimal way to give the new vaccine in conjunction with the seasonal flu vaccine, either before, with or after the seasonal flu shot. Emory is still looking for volunteers ages 6 months to 36 months and those 65 and older.For more information about the H1N1 vaccine trials at Emory, call (877) 424-HOPE (877) 424-HOPE (4673) for the senior studies.
Or call (404) 727-4044 (404) 727-4044 for the pediatric studies, or e-mail vaccinestudy@emory.edu
INTERVIEW-Sanofi says on target to honor H1N1 vaccine orders
INTERVIEW-Sanofi says on target to honor H1N1 vaccine orders
Friday August 21, 2009 05:02:18 PM GMT
SANOFI-VACCINES/(INTERVIEW)
* Expects to send U.S. H1N1 vaccine in Oct-flu specialist
* Says will fill French contract on time
* U.S. vaccine to be sent in bulk
* Says virus strength stable
By Noelle Mennella
PARIS, Aug 21 (Reuters) - Sanofi-Aventis, the world leader in flu immunisation, said on Friday it was reasonably comfortable it would be able honour its contract to supply H1N1 swine flu vaccines to the United States in October.
Albert Garcia, an epidemiologist and flu vaccine specialist who acts as the company's spokesman, told Reuters in an interview that the company would also fill France's order of doses between November and early December, as planned.
The French drug maker's vaccine unit Sanofi Pasteur has a $250 million contract to provide the U.S. with the swine flu antigen in bulk.
The number of doses the U.S. will get will depend on the vaccine's formula, which will be determined by clinical trials expected to end in October.
"The United States wanted doses as of September. We are reasonably expecting to deliver in October doses in bulk, not in ready-to-use form," Garcia said in a telephone interview.
"At that time (in October), we will be able to determine the formula and obtain the necessary authorisations to sell on the market."
Governments have been putting pressure on drugs groups to come up with effective vaccines against swine flu in months, rather than years.
Sales of vaccines to contain the swine flu pandemic are expected to provide a windfall for the global drugs industry, generating billions of dollars of extra revenues at the end of this year and next, analysts have predicted.
Sanofi-Aventuis and other drugs groups, including U.S.-based Baxter, Britain's GSK and Switzerland's Novartis have been racing since June to meet orders from various countries.
GOVERNMENT PRESSURE
The World Health Organisation gave pharmaceutical groups the virus strain at the end of May. Since then, they have been using chicken eggs to cultivate the vaccine's active agents, the antigen that will enable patients to develop antibodies.
"Governments are putting pressure on us so that we deliver the doses as early as possible but cannot go faster than the wind," Garcia said.
Last week, U.S. authorities cut the amount of swine flu vaccines they expected to use as part of an immunisation campaign scheduled for this autumn.
Sanofi Pasteur's renewable contract with France is for 28 million doses.
Asked if the swine flu virus could mutate, which would render ineffective the vaccines currently being prepared, Garcia said:
"All flu viruses mutate and this happens very slowly. The H1N1 virus is being monitored. For the moment, it is continuing to progress but its virulence is still what it was a few weeks ago."
France is the world's leading producer of vaccines. The global vaccine market is estimated to be worth 10 billion euros in annual revenues, of which France makes up 570 million euros. (Writing by Astrid Wendlandt; editing by Karen Foster)
Friday August 21, 2009 05:02:18 PM GMT
SANOFI-VACCINES/(INTERVIEW)
* Expects to send U.S. H1N1 vaccine in Oct-flu specialist
* Says will fill French contract on time
* U.S. vaccine to be sent in bulk
* Says virus strength stable
By Noelle Mennella
PARIS, Aug 21 (Reuters) - Sanofi-Aventis, the world leader in flu immunisation, said on Friday it was reasonably comfortable it would be able honour its contract to supply H1N1 swine flu vaccines to the United States in October.
Albert Garcia, an epidemiologist and flu vaccine specialist who acts as the company's spokesman, told Reuters in an interview that the company would also fill France's order of doses between November and early December, as planned.
The French drug maker's vaccine unit Sanofi Pasteur has a $250 million contract to provide the U.S. with the swine flu antigen in bulk.
The number of doses the U.S. will get will depend on the vaccine's formula, which will be determined by clinical trials expected to end in October.
"The United States wanted doses as of September. We are reasonably expecting to deliver in October doses in bulk, not in ready-to-use form," Garcia said in a telephone interview.
"At that time (in October), we will be able to determine the formula and obtain the necessary authorisations to sell on the market."
Governments have been putting pressure on drugs groups to come up with effective vaccines against swine flu in months, rather than years.
Sales of vaccines to contain the swine flu pandemic are expected to provide a windfall for the global drugs industry, generating billions of dollars of extra revenues at the end of this year and next, analysts have predicted.
Sanofi-Aventuis and other drugs groups, including U.S.-based Baxter, Britain's GSK and Switzerland's Novartis have been racing since June to meet orders from various countries.
GOVERNMENT PRESSURE
The World Health Organisation gave pharmaceutical groups the virus strain at the end of May. Since then, they have been using chicken eggs to cultivate the vaccine's active agents, the antigen that will enable patients to develop antibodies.
"Governments are putting pressure on us so that we deliver the doses as early as possible but cannot go faster than the wind," Garcia said.
Last week, U.S. authorities cut the amount of swine flu vaccines they expected to use as part of an immunisation campaign scheduled for this autumn.
Sanofi Pasteur's renewable contract with France is for 28 million doses.
Asked if the swine flu virus could mutate, which would render ineffective the vaccines currently being prepared, Garcia said:
"All flu viruses mutate and this happens very slowly. The H1N1 virus is being monitored. For the moment, it is continuing to progress but its virulence is still what it was a few weeks ago."
France is the world's leading producer of vaccines. The global vaccine market is estimated to be worth 10 billion euros in annual revenues, of which France makes up 570 million euros. (Writing by Astrid Wendlandt; editing by Karen Foster)
Friday, August 21, 2009
The Associated Press: WHO: No Tamiflu for healthy people with swine flu
The Associated Press: WHO: No Tamiflu for healthy people with swine flu: "WHO: No Tamiflu for healthy people with swine flu
(AP) – 1 hour ago
LONDON — The World Health Organization says healthy people who catch swine flu don't need antiviral drugs like Tamiflu.
In new advice issued to health officials on Friday, the U.N. agency said doctors don't need to give Tamiflu to healthy people who have mild to moderate cases of swine flu.
WHO said the drug should definitely be used to treat people in risk groups who get the virus. That includes children less than five years old, pregnant women, people over age 65 and those with other health problems like heart disease, HIV or diabetes.
The new advice contradicts government policies such as those in Britain, which has been giving out Tamiflu to all people suspected of having swine flu.
Copyright © 2009 The Associated Press. All rights reserved."
(AP) – 1 hour ago
LONDON — The World Health Organization says healthy people who catch swine flu don't need antiviral drugs like Tamiflu.
In new advice issued to health officials on Friday, the U.N. agency said doctors don't need to give Tamiflu to healthy people who have mild to moderate cases of swine flu.
WHO said the drug should definitely be used to treat people in risk groups who get the virus. That includes children less than five years old, pregnant women, people over age 65 and those with other health problems like heart disease, HIV or diabetes.
The new advice contradicts government policies such as those in Britain, which has been giving out Tamiflu to all people suspected of having swine flu.
Copyright © 2009 The Associated Press. All rights reserved."
NST Online MMA explains why some hospitals turn away H1N1 patients
NST Online MMA explains why some hospitals turn away H1N1 patients
MMA explains why some hospitals turn away H1N1 patients
2009/08/21
KUALA LUMPUR, Fri: Private clinics and hospitals are ever ready to treat people suspected to be suffering from Influenza A(H1N1) and will only turn away such patients if they lack adequate medical facilities, the Malaysian Medical Association (MMA) said today.
MMA president Dr David Quek Kwang Leng said he did not believe that private clinics or hospitals would turn away suspected Influenza A(H1N1) patients for any other reason.
He made this clarification to Bernama when commenting on a statement by Health Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai yesterday that some private clinics and hospitals were reluctant to treat such patients and had referred them to government clinics or hospitals instead.
Dr Quek said H1N1 patients who sought treatment in private clinics or hospitals would have been referred to government hospitals later for a number of reasons.
"The private clinics or hospitals may not have adequate facilities, they may not be skilled in treating such cases or the patients may have serious complications. In some cases, the patients themselves may have asked to be transferred to government hospitals due to the higher cost of treatment at private hospitals," he said.
Earlier, in an e-mailed statement, Dr Quek said smaller private medical centres might not be adequately staffed or equipped to handle more seriously ill respiratory failure patients.
"But this is also the situation in some smaller district hospitals of the public sector. Furthermore, some of these gravely ill patients would not survive despite the most aggressive treatment strategies, under any circumstances," he said.
Dr Quek also said that private doctors were currently working hard with the Health Ministry to curb the disease although some of them and their clinic staff have become infected.
"But, thankfully, so far we have not received any news of more serious consequences such as death. So, private doctors are also exposed to this threat but continue to look after their patients, including those with flu-like illnesses," he added.
Commenting on claims by some private clinics that they did not receive any guidelines on how to deal with H1N1, Dr Quek said they could check the Health Ministry and MMA websites for updates.
"We have been disseminating information to all our doctor members the best way we can so that collectively we can help ameliorate the more serious consequences of this pandemic," he said.
The MMA is to organise a National Influenza A (H1N1) Pandemic Influenza Conference on Sept 12 to help disseminate and share more scientific and practical up-to-date information on H1N1.
On the antiviral drug to treat H1N1 which can be obtained at all clinic or hospital networks participating in the Influenza A(H1N1) preventive and treatment clinic, Dr Quek asked for adequate supply to be provided.
"The supply (of the antiviral drug) is not adequate. If you order 20 packets, you may only get 10 because the government has to distribute the drug to various places," he said. -- BERNAMA
MMA explains why some hospitals turn away H1N1 patients
2009/08/21
KUALA LUMPUR, Fri: Private clinics and hospitals are ever ready to treat people suspected to be suffering from Influenza A(H1N1) and will only turn away such patients if they lack adequate medical facilities, the Malaysian Medical Association (MMA) said today.
MMA president Dr David Quek Kwang Leng said he did not believe that private clinics or hospitals would turn away suspected Influenza A(H1N1) patients for any other reason.
He made this clarification to Bernama when commenting on a statement by Health Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai yesterday that some private clinics and hospitals were reluctant to treat such patients and had referred them to government clinics or hospitals instead.
Dr Quek said H1N1 patients who sought treatment in private clinics or hospitals would have been referred to government hospitals later for a number of reasons.
"The private clinics or hospitals may not have adequate facilities, they may not be skilled in treating such cases or the patients may have serious complications. In some cases, the patients themselves may have asked to be transferred to government hospitals due to the higher cost of treatment at private hospitals," he said.
Earlier, in an e-mailed statement, Dr Quek said smaller private medical centres might not be adequately staffed or equipped to handle more seriously ill respiratory failure patients.
"But this is also the situation in some smaller district hospitals of the public sector. Furthermore, some of these gravely ill patients would not survive despite the most aggressive treatment strategies, under any circumstances," he said.
Dr Quek also said that private doctors were currently working hard with the Health Ministry to curb the disease although some of them and their clinic staff have become infected.
"But, thankfully, so far we have not received any news of more serious consequences such as death. So, private doctors are also exposed to this threat but continue to look after their patients, including those with flu-like illnesses," he added.
Commenting on claims by some private clinics that they did not receive any guidelines on how to deal with H1N1, Dr Quek said they could check the Health Ministry and MMA websites for updates.
"We have been disseminating information to all our doctor members the best way we can so that collectively we can help ameliorate the more serious consequences of this pandemic," he said.
The MMA is to organise a National Influenza A (H1N1) Pandemic Influenza Conference on Sept 12 to help disseminate and share more scientific and practical up-to-date information on H1N1.
On the antiviral drug to treat H1N1 which can be obtained at all clinic or hospital networks participating in the Influenza A(H1N1) preventive and treatment clinic, Dr Quek asked for adequate supply to be provided.
"The supply (of the antiviral drug) is not adequate. If you order 20 packets, you may only get 10 because the government has to distribute the drug to various places," he said. -- BERNAMA
WHO Predicts 'Explosion' of Swine Flu Case
WHO Predicts 'Explosion' of Swine Flu Case: "WHO Predicts 'Explosion'
of Swine Flu
Updated: Friday, 21 Aug 2009, 5:36 AM MDT
Published : Friday, 21 Aug 2009, 5:32 AM MDT
By The Associated Press
BEIJING - The World Health Organization is urging nations to speed up their preparations for swine flu.
A WHO official warns there may soon be 'an explosion' in cases until peak transmission of the flu is reached. He says that means most countries may see swine flu cases double every three to four days -- for several months.
He says governments must act quickly to educate the public and prepare their health systems to care for severe cases. He says the swine flu strain poses the greatest threat in developing nations, with underequipped and underfunded health systems.
The swine flu strain has killed almost 1,800 people worldwide. WHO predicts that as many as 2 billion people could become infected in the next two years — nearly one-third of the world's population. The world health group has declared the situation a pandemic.
The last pandemic — the Hong Kong flu of 1968 — killed about 1 million people. Ordinary flu kills about 250,000 to 500,000 people each year."
of Swine Flu
Updated: Friday, 21 Aug 2009, 5:36 AM MDT
Published : Friday, 21 Aug 2009, 5:32 AM MDT
By The Associated Press
BEIJING - The World Health Organization is urging nations to speed up their preparations for swine flu.
A WHO official warns there may soon be 'an explosion' in cases until peak transmission of the flu is reached. He says that means most countries may see swine flu cases double every three to four days -- for several months.
He says governments must act quickly to educate the public and prepare their health systems to care for severe cases. He says the swine flu strain poses the greatest threat in developing nations, with underequipped and underfunded health systems.
The swine flu strain has killed almost 1,800 people worldwide. WHO predicts that as many as 2 billion people could become infected in the next two years — nearly one-third of the world's population. The world health group has declared the situation a pandemic.
The last pandemic — the Hong Kong flu of 1968 — killed about 1 million people. Ordinary flu kills about 250,000 to 500,000 people each year."
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