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Season change could spread swine flu in Asia-Pacific: WHO
By KD_suarez
Created 05/22/2009 - 20:35
Season change could spread swine flu in Asia-Pacific: WHO [1]
<hr> Agence France-Presse | 05/22/2009 8:35 PM
MANILA - The change of seasons in the Asia-Pacific region could make it easier for swine flu to spread, World Health Organisation (WHO) officials warned Friday.
"The southern hemisphere is about to enter its influenza season," officials at the WHO Western Pacific office said, warning that the "factors that contribute toward the spread of (ordinary seasonal) influenza will also enable the spread of A(H1N1)."
The greater prevalence of ordinary flu will also make it harder to detect swine flu, said the officials in a briefing at the WHO regional office in the Philippines.
WHO infectious diseases expert Julie Hall warned that vaccines against seasonal influenza did not appear to protect people from A(H1N1).
Some Asian countries are better equipped to deal with an outbreak of swine flu, thanks to precautions taken during SARS and bird flu alerts over the last few years, Hall said.
"The health systems are a lot stronger than before. The investment that went into preparing for bird flu and SARS are starting to yield the benefits," she said.
However she warned that SARS and bird flu were different from influenza A(H1N1) as bird flu was less likely to infect humans while SARS was spread mainly by people who were already showing symptoms.
In contrast, A(H1N1) can be spread by people who do not appear to be infected, she said.
She also cautioned that the new virus was infecting mainly young people, the largest demographic in some Asian countries.
"Countries with a more robust health system will be able to cope with the (increased) demand" created by an outbreak, but other countries may not do so well, Hall said. She declined to identify any country.
She warned that any vaccine to the new virus would not be available until August, at the earliest.
The WHO said Friday there have been 11,168 cases of influenza A(H1N1) worldwide with 86 confirmed deaths.
as of 05/22/2009 8:35 PM
By KD_suarez
Created 05/22/2009 - 20:35
Season change could spread swine flu in Asia-Pacific: WHO [1]
<hr> Agence France-Presse | 05/22/2009 8:35 PM
MANILA - The change of seasons in the Asia-Pacific region could make it easier for swine flu to spread, World Health Organisation (WHO) officials warned Friday.
"The southern hemisphere is about to enter its influenza season," officials at the WHO Western Pacific office said, warning that the "factors that contribute toward the spread of (ordinary seasonal) influenza will also enable the spread of A(H1N1)."
The greater prevalence of ordinary flu will also make it harder to detect swine flu, said the officials in a briefing at the WHO regional office in the Philippines.
WHO infectious diseases expert Julie Hall warned that vaccines against seasonal influenza did not appear to protect people from A(H1N1).
Some Asian countries are better equipped to deal with an outbreak of swine flu, thanks to precautions taken during SARS and bird flu alerts over the last few years, Hall said.
"The health systems are a lot stronger than before. The investment that went into preparing for bird flu and SARS are starting to yield the benefits," she said.
However she warned that SARS and bird flu were different from influenza A(H1N1) as bird flu was less likely to infect humans while SARS was spread mainly by people who were already showing symptoms.
In contrast, A(H1N1) can be spread by people who do not appear to be infected, she said.
She also cautioned that the new virus was infecting mainly young people, the largest demographic in some Asian countries.
"Countries with a more robust health system will be able to cope with the (increased) demand" created by an outbreak, but other countries may not do so well, Hall said. She declined to identify any country.
She warned that any vaccine to the new virus would not be available until August, at the earliest.
The WHO said Friday there have been 11,168 cases of influenza A(H1N1) worldwide with 86 confirmed deaths.
as of 05/22/2009 8:35 PM