The World Health Organisation on Wednesday said it was asking countries that took "significantly different" measures to combat swine flu, such as restricting international travel, to justify their actions.
"Countries adopting measures which are significantly different or which interfere with international traffic must provide WHO with the public health rationale and relevant scientific information for these measures," said Gregory Hartl, spokesman for the WHO.
Canada Completes Genetic Sequencing of H1N1 Virus
Canadian scientists have completed the full genetic sequencing of the H1N1 swine flu virus, vital to understanding the outbreak and developing a vaccine, officials said Wednesday.
Canadian scientists have completed the full genetic sequencing of the H1N1 swine flu virus, vital to understanding the outbreak and developing a vaccine, officials said Wednesday.
Amid the influenza A(H1N1) scare, some countries, including Argentina, Cuba, Ecuador, Peru and China, have suspended flights from Mexico, the epicentre of the outbreak.
China's decision to quarantine Mexicans and suspend flights to and from Mexico has sparked a diplomatic uproar, with a chartered Mexican jet arriving in Beijing Wednesday to fly scores of its nationals home.
Airline Passengers Screened For Swine Flu Across India
Over 17,000 airline passengers have been screened at various airports around the country for swine flu in the wake of the Indian Government ordering a health screening of all passengers.
Over 17,000 airline passengers have been screened at various airports around the country for swine flu in the wake of the Indian Government ordering a health screening of all passengers.
The WHO has reiterated that it advises no travel restrictions or border closures. It has also said that there is no risk of infection from the consumption of well-cooked pork and pork products.
Advertisement
WHO Warns Global Swine Flu Pandemic Imminent
The World Health Organization warned a global swine flu pandemic was imminent, as more nations confirmed cases of a deadly disease that has spread round the world in a matter of days.
The World Health Organization warned a global swine flu pandemic was imminent, as more nations confirmed cases of a deadly disease that has spread round the world in a matter of days.
Marie-Paule Kieny, WHO director of the initiative for vaccine research said vaccine manufacturers and experts will meet on May 14 to decide whether to ask the WHO to give the go ahead for the large-scale manufacturing of a vaccine against the influenza A(H1N1) virus.
Advertisement
Hong Kong Launches Campaign to Fight Swine Flu
Hong Kong's government said Thursday it had allocated 10 million dollars (1.3 million US) to a city-wide hygiene campaign to help prevent the spread of swine flu.
Hong Kong's government said Thursday it had allocated 10 million dollars (1.3 million US) to a city-wide hygiene campaign to help prevent the spread of swine flu.
Addressing concerns that poor countries could be hit hardest by any pandemic due to their lack of infrastructure and resources to obtain necessary drugs, Kieny said the WHO is talking to manufacturers about procuring vaccines for developing countries.
"We hope that we'll be able in a few days, maximum a week, to announce that some agreement has been reached," she said.
She added that UN chief Ban Ki-moon, WHO Director-General Margaret Chan will meet drug manufacturers on May 19 to discuss "avenues to ensure more equitable access for developing countries to this vaccine when it is available".
Source-AFP
LIN
