Statement by WHO Director-General, Dr Margaret Chan
29 April 2009
(WHO)
Swine influenza
Ladies and gentlemen,
Based on assessment of all available information, and following several expert consultations, I have decided to raise the current level of influenza pandemic alert from phase 4 to phase 5.
Influenza pandemics must be taken seriously precisely because of their capacity to spread rapidly to every country in the world
On the positive side, the world is better prepared for an influenza pandemic than at any time in history.
Preparedness measures undertaken because of the threat from H5N1 avian influenza were an investment, and we are now benefitting from this investment.
Wednesday, April 29, 2009
Tuesday, April 28, 2009
HEALTH-ASIA: Swine Flu Threatens To Be Deadlier than Bird Flu, SARS
HEALTH-ASIA: Swine Flu Threatens To Be Deadlier than Bird Flu, SARS
(IPS)
BANGKOK, Apr 29 (IPS) - When the World Health Organisation (WHO) raised the influenza pandemic alert from phase three to an ominous phase four warning this week, it went beyond the alarm associated with the killer avian influenza virus in Asia.
The global health body’s warning came as the outbreak of a lethal strain of swine flu has killed more than 150 people in Mexico - the epicentre of the virus - and has also been detected in parts of the United States, Canada, Europe, the Middle East and Asia.
(IPS)
BANGKOK, Apr 29 (IPS) - When the World Health Organisation (WHO) raised the influenza pandemic alert from phase three to an ominous phase four warning this week, it went beyond the alarm associated with the killer avian influenza virus in Asia.
The global health body’s warning came as the outbreak of a lethal strain of swine flu has killed more than 150 people in Mexico - the epicentre of the virus - and has also been detected in parts of the United States, Canada, Europe, the Middle East and Asia.
Monday, April 27, 2009
WHO raises pandemic alert to phase 4 [update 7:15 p.m.CST]
WHO raises pandemic alert to phase 4 [updated 7:15 p.m.CST]
(CIDRAP News)
Robert Roos * News Editor
Editor's note: Includes two new sections, on phase change considerations and on possible impact.
Apr 27, 2009 (CIDRAP News) – The World Health Organization (WHO) today raised its official pandemic alert level from the current phase 3 to phase 4 on its 6-phase scale, saying the newly identified swine influenza virus has made a pandemic more likely but not inevitable.
"We think we have taken a step in that [pandemic] direction, but a pandemic is not considered inevitable at this time," said Dr. Keiji Fukuda, the WHO's assistant director-general for health security and environment, at a press conference from Geneva.
(CIDRAP News)
Robert Roos * News Editor
Editor's note: Includes two new sections, on phase change considerations and on possible impact.
Apr 27, 2009 (CIDRAP News) – The World Health Organization (WHO) today raised its official pandemic alert level from the current phase 3 to phase 4 on its 6-phase scale, saying the newly identified swine influenza virus has made a pandemic more likely but not inevitable.
"We think we have taken a step in that [pandemic] direction, but a pandemic is not considered inevitable at this time," said Dr. Keiji Fukuda, the WHO's assistant director-general for health security and environment, at a press conference from Geneva.
Sunday, April 26, 2009
BBC: Mexico flu: Your experiences
BBC: Mexico flu:Your experiences
(Pandemic Information News)
Readers in Mexico have been emailing the BBC describing the sense of fear gripping the country as a result of a flu virus outbreak, which has so far claimed more than 80 lives.
The World Health Organization says the virus has the potential to become a pandemic.
Read a selection of BBC readers' comments below.
(Pandemic Information News)
Readers in Mexico have been emailing the BBC describing the sense of fear gripping the country as a result of a flu virus outbreak, which has so far claimed more than 80 lives.
The World Health Organization says the virus has the potential to become a pandemic.
Read a selection of BBC readers' comments below.
Saturday, April 25, 2009
Indonesia government hopes MTA of bird flu virus specimen will be established soon.
(Bird Flu Information Corner)
Government hopes MTA of bird flu virus specimen will be established soon.
Makassar, South Sulawesi – Government hopes the Material Transfer Agreement (MTA) of bird flu virus specimen will be established on inter-government meeting of WHO member countries in Geneva, Switzerland next May.
“We will do our maximum effort to achieve agreement. Up to the present moment the dialogue is still tough”, said Public Health Division Special Staff of Health Minister, Widjaja Lukito while the Simulation of Bird Flu Pandemic Epicenter was ongoing in Kelurahan Kassi Kassi, Makassar, South Sulawesi, Saturday (25/4).
Government hopes MTA of bird flu virus specimen will be established soon.
Makassar, South Sulawesi – Government hopes the Material Transfer Agreement (MTA) of bird flu virus specimen will be established on inter-government meeting of WHO member countries in Geneva, Switzerland next May.
“We will do our maximum effort to achieve agreement. Up to the present moment the dialogue is still tough”, said Public Health Division Special Staff of Health Minister, Widjaja Lukito while the Simulation of Bird Flu Pandemic Epicenter was ongoing in Kelurahan Kassi Kassi, Makassar, South Sulawesi, Saturday (25/4).
Friday, April 24, 2009
Egypt Reports 25th Death from Bird Flu
( The Poultry Site )
EGYPT - A 25 year-old Egyptian woman has died of the H5N1 bird flu virus on Wednesday, bringing the number of such deaths to 25 in the populous country, said the Health Ministry.
Health Ministry spokesman Abdel-Rahman Shahine said that HadiyaSalah Ragab, who comes from Al-Murg neighborhood in Cairo, was admitted to the hospital earlier this month and treated with the drug Tamiflu but remained in critical condition until she died Wednesday.
EGYPT - A 25 year-old Egyptian woman has died of the H5N1 bird flu virus on Wednesday, bringing the number of such deaths to 25 in the populous country, said the Health Ministry.
Health Ministry spokesman Abdel-Rahman Shahine said that HadiyaSalah Ragab, who comes from Al-Murg neighborhood in Cairo, was admitted to the hospital earlier this month and treated with the drug Tamiflu but remained in critical condition until she died Wednesday.
Monday, April 20, 2009
Toddler gets bird flu
( IOL )
Cairo - An Egyptian toddler has contracted bird flu in the country's third reported case in a week, state media reported on Monday.
The 18-month-old girl from Kafr el-Sheikh province was in stable condition after being treated with the antiviral drug Tamiflu, the Al-Ahram daily quoted a health ministry official as saying.
It was the 66th recorded case since the outbreak of the disease in Egypt in 2006
Cairo - An Egyptian toddler has contracted bird flu in the country's third reported case in a week, state media reported on Monday.
The 18-month-old girl from Kafr el-Sheikh province was in stable condition after being treated with the antiviral drug Tamiflu, the Al-Ahram daily quoted a health ministry official as saying.
It was the 66th recorded case since the outbreak of the disease in Egypt in 2006
Thursday, April 16, 2009
Padang, West Sumatra ::: Male,Kabupaten Sijunjung,bird flu suspected
(Bird Flu Information Corner)
Padang, West Sumatera – A resident of Kabupaten Sijunjung, bird flu suspected victim, is treated at M. Djamil hospital, Wednesday (15/4) after developing high fever and breathing disturbance. Patient, who’s identity remained confidential, had contact history with suddenly died birds around his house.
Padang, West Sumatera – A resident of Kabupaten Sijunjung, bird flu suspected victim, is treated at M. Djamil hospital, Wednesday (15/4) after developing high fever and breathing disturbance. Patient, who’s identity remained confidential, had contact history with suddenly died birds around his house.
Sunday, April 12, 2009
Bird flu virus spreads in Riau after boy's death
( The Jakarta Post )
The bird flu virus has spread within Sungai Apit district in Siak regency, Riau, following the death of a child infected with the virus at the end of March, says a local official, adding prevention measures were being hampered by residents' reluctance to cull their poultry.
District chief Indra Atmaja said the spread of the virus was only discovered following reports of poultry dying abruptly on April 4.
( The Jakarta Post )
The bird flu virus has spread within Sungai Apit district in Siak regency, Riau, following the death of a child infected with the virus at the end of March, says a local official, adding prevention measures were being hampered by residents' reluctance to cull their poultry.
District chief Indra Atmaja said the spread of the virus was only discovered following reports of poultry dying abruptly on April 4.
Friday, April 10, 2009
US contributes $7.3 million to Vietnam’s fight against bird flu
(Thanhnien News)
Documents relating to the projects were signed by Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Diep Kinh Tan and FAO representative Andrew Speedy in Hanoi Wednesday.
The two projects will cover the provision of technical assistance to improve preparedness against the deadly avian flu and will help shift the country’s vaccination strategy for the H5N1 virus.
(Thanhnien News)
Documents relating to the projects were signed by Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Diep Kinh Tan and FAO representative Andrew Speedy in Hanoi Wednesday.
The two projects will cover the provision of technical assistance to improve preparedness against the deadly avian flu and will help shift the country’s vaccination strategy for the H5N1 virus.
Monday, April 6, 2009
10 raccoons discovered with bird flu antibodies
( Daily Yomiuri )
UTSUNOMIYA--Ten wild raccoons have been found with signs of previous H5N1 bird flu infections, according to a joint study by Tokyo University and Yamaguchi University.
This is the first time mammals in this country have been found with bird flu virus antibodies, which develop as a result of infection
( Daily Yomiuri )
UTSUNOMIYA--Ten wild raccoons have been found with signs of previous H5N1 bird flu infections, according to a joint study by Tokyo University and Yamaguchi University.
This is the first time mammals in this country have been found with bird flu virus antibodies, which develop as a result of infection
Saturday, April 4, 2009
H5N1 Avian Virus Adapting to Pigs,Closer to Human Variation
( Digital Journal )
The deadly H5N1 virus, a scourge among avian species in Asia, appears to have adapted to operate in swine populations, a report in the Archives of Virology finds.
The H5N1 virus - a headline-producing species that regularly ravages avian populations throughout Asia - appears to have successfully mutated toward residence in pigs
( Digital Journal )
The deadly H5N1 virus, a scourge among avian species in Asia, appears to have adapted to operate in swine populations, a report in the Archives of Virology finds.
The H5N1 virus - a headline-producing species that regularly ravages avian populations throughout Asia - appears to have successfully mutated toward residence in pigs
It is feared bird flu could become more frightening
( THE JAKARTA POST )
There is a need to raise awareness of bird flu because of a real threat: It could turn into something much more frightening than the H5N1 virus.
The frightening thing would be if the virus caused a pandemic if and when it became able to spread among humans, Coordinator of Surveillance and Monitoring at the National Commission on Bird Flu Control and Awareness on Influenza Pandemic (Komnas FBPI) Heru Setijanto said Friday.
( THE JAKARTA POST )
There is a need to raise awareness of bird flu because of a real threat: It could turn into something much more frightening than the H5N1 virus.
The frightening thing would be if the virus caused a pandemic if and when it became able to spread among humans, Coordinator of Surveillance and Monitoring at the National Commission on Bird Flu Control and Awareness on Influenza Pandemic (Komnas FBPI) Heru Setijanto said Friday.
Wednesday, April 1, 2009
Pekanbaru, Riau ::: Test result has been officially announced (revised due to missing text)
(Bird Flu Information Corner)
Another confirmation of bird flu suspect boy from Pekanbaru, Riau.
Pekanbaru — WIS, 2-year-old baby who died in Arifin Ahmad hospital, Pekanbaru has been announced to contract bird flu virus. This confirmation was made according to throat swab sample by Research and Development Department (Balitbangkes) of Health Ministry Indonesia.
Indramayu, West Java ::: New bird flu suspect
(Bird Flu Information Corner)
Indramayu, West Java – Indramayu regional hospital received new bird flu suspect, Tarlam (60), resident of RT 04/02 Desa Telukagung, Kecamatan/Kabupaten Indramayu.
Widiana, doctor of Indramayu regional hospital said that Tarlam was introduced to emergency room because of having breathing difficulty and high fever.
(Bird Flu Information Corner)
Another confirmation of bird flu suspect boy from Pekanbaru, Riau.
Pekanbaru — WIS, 2-year-old baby who died in Arifin Ahmad hospital, Pekanbaru has been announced to contract bird flu virus. This confirmation was made according to throat swab sample by Research and Development Department (Balitbangkes) of Health Ministry Indonesia.
Indramayu, West Java ::: New bird flu suspect
(Bird Flu Information Corner)
Indramayu, West Java – Indramayu regional hospital received new bird flu suspect, Tarlam (60), resident of RT 04/02 Desa Telukagung, Kecamatan/Kabupaten Indramayu.
Widiana, doctor of Indramayu regional hospital said that Tarlam was introduced to emergency room because of having breathing difficulty and high fever.
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