Sally Furniss
Well-known member
Six Asian countries test preparedness for possible flu pandemic
http://english.people.com.cn/200703/14/eng20070314_357286.html
Cambodia and five other Asian countries tested their preparedness Tuesday for a possible flu pandemic caused by a long-feared mutation of the bird flu virus in Siem Reap province, local radio reported.
Officials representing a variety of agencies in the countries, from tourism to defense, practiced responding to a scenario in which the H5N1 bird flu virus became easier for people to catch, it said.
Two of the biggest challenges the officials discussed were detecting suspected cases and then communicating that information rapidly to each other and the public, it added.
In a real situation, decisions made by the officials, and the time it took to carry out their plans, could determine whether a pandemic would spread wildly across the region or die down after quick action.
The six nations, including Cambodia, China, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand and Vietnam, which share borders and a history of transmigration, face the possibility of encountering an emerging pandemic virus that could spread rapidly and kill many people.
The H5N1 bird flu virus remains hard for people to catch, but experts fear it may mutate into a form that spreads easily among people, potentially sparking a pandemic.
Source: Xinhua
http://english.people.com.cn/200703/14/eng20070314_357286.html
Cambodia and five other Asian countries tested their preparedness Tuesday for a possible flu pandemic caused by a long-feared mutation of the bird flu virus in Siem Reap province, local radio reported.
Officials representing a variety of agencies in the countries, from tourism to defense, practiced responding to a scenario in which the H5N1 bird flu virus became easier for people to catch, it said.
Two of the biggest challenges the officials discussed were detecting suspected cases and then communicating that information rapidly to each other and the public, it added.
In a real situation, decisions made by the officials, and the time it took to carry out their plans, could determine whether a pandemic would spread wildly across the region or die down after quick action.
The six nations, including Cambodia, China, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand and Vietnam, which share borders and a history of transmigration, face the possibility of encountering an emerging pandemic virus that could spread rapidly and kill many people.
The H5N1 bird flu virus remains hard for people to catch, but experts fear it may mutate into a form that spreads easily among people, potentially sparking a pandemic.
Source: Xinhua