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Asean wants H1N1 flu alert level review

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  • Asean wants H1N1 flu alert level review

    SINGAPORE : The Association of Southeast Asian Nations has urged the World Health Organisation to review the pandemic alert levels issued for H1N1 influenza.

    The joint call was made among health ministers of 10 Asean countries plus China, Japan and South Korea.

    The ministers agreed during their biennial meeting that the H1N1 outbreak in the region is on the way to becoming ordinary seasonal flu.

    "An update on the pandemic alert level will enable international communities including Asean to reduce public fears over the severity of the virus while educating the public on good hygiene and seasonal flu vaccination," said Public Health Minister Jurin Laksanavisit.

    WHO is evaluating its response guidelines to the H1N1 pandemic after criticism over its decision to raise the global alert for H1N1 flu to the highest level last year.

    The Review Committee of the International Health Regulations was in charge of the assessment and identifying lessons learned as to what constitutes pandemics and other public health emergencies.

    Asean nations have brought down their alert status as the H1N1 pandemic no longer poses a threat.

    Singapore Health Minister Khaw Boon Wan, the meeting's chairman, said Asean also looked forward to a speedy resolution of the mechanism for viruses and benefit sharing.

    "We welcome the review of the global response to the H1N1 pandemic by the international health regulations review committee and we look forward to the outcome soon."

    The ministers also agreed to designate June 15 as Asean Dengue Day in a bid to raise public awareness on dengue outbreaks in the region.

    The plan will be implemented from 2011 onwards.

    The proposal was made by Indonesia and the Philippines, as those countries face a severe spread of the vector-borne disease.

    Agreements reached on regional dengue collaboration covered strengthening epidemiological networks, information exchanges, and raising money to stamp out the disease in countries in the region.

    In Thailand, health authorities are on high alert over dengue outbreaks this year as the total cases stand at 36,185 including 36 deaths, which is 60% higher than last year.

    Youngsters aged between 15-24 years suffered most from dengue fever, said the Public Health Ministry.

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