Phase 5 alert prompts swine flu meet
1-May-2009 11:41 AM
THE national taskforce appointed to steer Fiji?s preparation for a possible swine flu pandemic met yesterday following the international alert being raised to phase 5.
Health Ministry?s spokesman Iliesa Tora said the meeting would allow representatives of the various departments and sectors to update the
taskforce on how far preparations had proceeded.
The World Health Organisation raised its pandemic alert for swine flu to the second highest level, meaning that it believes a global outbreak of the disease is imminent.
WHO says the phase 5 alert means there is sustained human to human spread in at least two countries. It also signals that efforts to produce a vaccine will be ramped up.
Phase 6, the highest in the scale is for a full-scale pandemic.
Authorities are urging everyone with flu symptoms to seek medical treatment as soon as possible.
Based on past experience, WHO says developing countries are likely to experience the more severe diseases as a result of an influenza pandemic.
1-May-2009 11:41 AM
THE national taskforce appointed to steer Fiji?s preparation for a possible swine flu pandemic met yesterday following the international alert being raised to phase 5.
Health Ministry?s spokesman Iliesa Tora said the meeting would allow representatives of the various departments and sectors to update the
taskforce on how far preparations had proceeded.
The World Health Organisation raised its pandemic alert for swine flu to the second highest level, meaning that it believes a global outbreak of the disease is imminent.
WHO says the phase 5 alert means there is sustained human to human spread in at least two countries. It also signals that efforts to produce a vaccine will be ramped up.
Phase 6, the highest in the scale is for a full-scale pandemic.
Authorities are urging everyone with flu symptoms to seek medical treatment as soon as possible.
Based on past experience, WHO says developing countries are likely to experience the more severe diseases as a result of an influenza pandemic.
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