GENEVA, May 22 (Xinhua) -- The head of the World Health Organization (WHO) on Friday again warned governments of the danger and unpredictability of the A/H1N1 influenza virus, and called on them to adjust their countermeasures according to the changing patterns of the disease.
World Health Organisation (WHO) Director-General Margaret Chan of China addresses the 60th World Health Assembly at the United Nations headquarters in Geneva May 15, 2007.(Xinhua/Reuters File Photo) Photo Gallery>>>
"This is a very contagious virus. We expect it to
continue to spread to new countries and continue to spread within countries
already affected," said Dr. Margaret Chan in closing remarks to the 62nd World
Health Assembly (WHA).
"In cases where the H1N1 virus is widespread and
circulating within the general community, countries must expect to see more
cases of severe and fatal infections," she said.
She also urged the international community to watch
carefully the behavior of the H1N1 virus as it encounters other influenza
viruses circulating during the winter season in the southern hemisphere.
The current winter season in the southern hemisphere
gives influenza viruses an opportunity to inter-mingle and possibly exchange
their genetic material in unpredictable ways, she said.
The WHO director-general noted that measures on
multiple levels have been launched, and the world "cannot go any higher" on
this.
"For the first time in history, we are watching the
conditions conducive for the start of a pandemic unfold before our eyes," she
told delegates to the annual WHO meeting.
But given the highly unpredictability of the future
evolution of the disease, the world faces such a tough issue as to how long
their preparedness and surveillance measures can sustain.
"The answer depends on the situation, the capacities,
and the risks in each individual country, and even in different areas within a
country," Chan said.
"WHO cannot, at this point, solve the dilemma through
universal guidance. Countries should adjust their responses in line with the
changing patterns of the disease," she said.
The WHA is the supreme decision-making body of the
WHO. The assembly is usually held in Geneva in May and participated by health
ministers of the organization's members.
Major topics discussed at this year's assembly
included the world's preparedness for a possible A/H1N1 pandemic and the equal
sharing of virus samples and access to vaccines.
OTTAWA, May 22 (Xinhua) -- The total of confirmed
A/H1N1 flu cases in Canada has risen to 805, including one death, according to
the latest figures from the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) Friday
afternoon.
Since Wednesday, 86 new cases have been reported.
Quebec reported 37 new cases during the past two days, followed by Saskatchewan
with 28, Ontario with 10, Alberta with 8, Nova Scotia with 2 and British
Columbia with 1. Full story
NEW YORK, May 22 (Xinhua) -- New York City has so far
closed 40 schools in an attempt to slow the spread of A/H1N1 flu within the
school community, according to a press release issued by the city's Health
Department on Friday.
The Health Commissioner Thomas R. Frieden and Schools
Chancellor Joel I. Klein on Friday discussed the rationale behind closing
individual New York City schools in response to the presence of the A/H1N1 virus
in New York City. Full story
GENEVA, May 22 (Xinhua) -- The 62nd World Health
Assembly (WHA)closed on Friday with the adoption of resolutions on a variety of
global health issues.
Those resolutions cover pandemic influenza
preparedness, primary health care, the prevention and control of multi
drug-resistant and extensively drug-resistant tuberculosis, innovation and
intellectual property, health conditions in the occupied Palestinian territory,
etc. Full story
NEW YORK, May 22 (Xinhua) -- Coughing, sneezing and
nose running, an increasing number of primary and middle school students in New
York City are suffering from flu-like symptoms and missing classes, which made
parents concerned and the city officials close schools with high absentee rates.
The A/H1N1 flu, which was first detected in New York
City in late April, has so far sickened 240 people with confirmed infection of
the flu virus, 56 of whom have been hospitalized. Full story
