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May take a year more to surmount H1N1: WHO
by Jamie Anderson - December 30, 2009 - comments
Such sights will remain a common feature next year as well, as WHO predicts swine flu pandemic may last another year
Geneva, December 30 -- If the predictions of Margaret Chan, director-general of the World Health Organization (WHO), are anything to go by, the world will not see the end of the lethal swine flu virus anytime soon.
In fact, Chan envisages that the Influenza A (H1N1) virus will probably last for another year.
"I think it is too premature and too early for us to say we have come to an end of the pandemic influenza worldwide," Chan said.
"It would be prudent and appropriate for WHO, together with our member States to continue to monitor the evolution of this pandemic for the next six to 12 months," urged the director-general.
No room for complacency
The current swine flu pandemic has spread to over 200 countries. Thousands of lives have been lost due to the H1N1 and millions of people have contracted infections.
Fortunately, majority of people who were infected with the influenza recovered without special treatment.
"The fact that the long overdue influenza pandemic is so moderate in its impact is probably the best health news in a decade," she said of the placid nature of the virus.
However, countries have been warned not to become complacent because of the, as of now, reasonably mild nature of the pandemic.
Nations have been advised by the WHO to remain on the guard as the virus could mutate into a more aggressive and dangerous form.
Not fully equipped
The pandemic has already peaked in United States, Canada and parts of Europe. In fact, these countries have witnessed and passed peaks of a second wave of H1N1.
Now the virus is spreading at an alarming rate and in a vicious form in other parts of the world as well.
Countries such as Egypt and India have seen a spurt in swine flu infections as well as fatalities in the recent past.
Chan claimed that the medical fraternity today is not equipped to handle a pandemic as dangerous as the H5N1 Avian Flu.
"I say it without hesitation: we are not at all ready. I really hope that the world doesn't ever have to confront a bird flu pandemic," she said.
Distribution of Vaccine
Chan disclosed that the demand for swine flu vaccine in some of the European countries has been lower than expected.
The drug makers have pledged to donate close to 190 million vaccine doses to the WHO, which in turn will be distributed to the developing countries.
WHO intends to distribute these donated vaccines to Azerbaijan, Mongolia and Afghanistan beginning next month.