theforeigner
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http://www.news.com.au/story/0,27574,25425960-23109,00.html
WHO warns of 'even stronger' swine flu outbreak
From correspondents in Hong Kong
Agence France-Presse
May 04, 2009 01:52pm
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+ - Print Email Share Add to MySpace Add to Digg Add to del.icio.us Add to Fark Post to Facebook Add to Kwoff What are these? THE head of the World Health Organisation has warned that swine flu may re-emerge stronger than ever, even if the current outbreak appears to be declining.
Margaret Chan told Britain's Financial Times that an apparent decline in mortality rates did not mean the pandemic was coming to an end and a second wave may strike "with a vengeance''.
"If it's going to happen, it would be the biggest of all outbreaks the world has faced in the 21st century,'' she said.
"We hope the virus fizzles out, because if it doesn't we are heading for a big outbreak.
"I'm not predicting the pandemic will blow up, but if I miss it and we don't prepare, I fail.
"I'd rather over-prepare than not prepare.''
She said the end of the flu season in the Northern Hemisphere meant any initial outbreak could be milder, but a second wave more lethal.
A total of 18 countries around the world have reported cases of human swine flu, with hardest-hit Mexico confirming 22 deaths in all.
But authorities in Mexico said the epidemic appeared to be levelling off, while in the United States an official at the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention spoke of "encouraging'' signs.
Ms Chan insisted the WHO was basing its assessment on scientific risk and was not scare-mongering, and defended its global pandemic alert assessment, which officials have said could soon be raised to the maximum level of six.
"All governments are concerned and taking it extremely seriously. It's a tough call,'' she added.
WHO warns of 'even stronger' swine flu outbreak
From correspondents in Hong Kong
Agence France-Presse
May 04, 2009 01:52pm
Text size
+ - Print Email Share Add to MySpace Add to Digg Add to del.icio.us Add to Fark Post to Facebook Add to Kwoff What are these? THE head of the World Health Organisation has warned that swine flu may re-emerge stronger than ever, even if the current outbreak appears to be declining.
Margaret Chan told Britain's Financial Times that an apparent decline in mortality rates did not mean the pandemic was coming to an end and a second wave may strike "with a vengeance''.
"If it's going to happen, it would be the biggest of all outbreaks the world has faced in the 21st century,'' she said.
"We hope the virus fizzles out, because if it doesn't we are heading for a big outbreak.
"I'm not predicting the pandemic will blow up, but if I miss it and we don't prepare, I fail.
"I'd rather over-prepare than not prepare.''
She said the end of the flu season in the Northern Hemisphere meant any initial outbreak could be milder, but a second wave more lethal.
A total of 18 countries around the world have reported cases of human swine flu, with hardest-hit Mexico confirming 22 deaths in all.
But authorities in Mexico said the epidemic appeared to be levelling off, while in the United States an official at the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention spoke of "encouraging'' signs.
Ms Chan insisted the WHO was basing its assessment on scientific risk and was not scare-mongering, and defended its global pandemic alert assessment, which officials have said could soon be raised to the maximum level of six.
"All governments are concerned and taking it extremely seriously. It's a tough call,'' she added.
em I didn?t notise, thanks for pointing that out.