Chan hits back at WHO critics

The head of the World Health Organisation hit back at critics who have accused it of over-reaction to the swine flu crisis, warning it may comeback “with a vengeance” in the months ahead.

In her first extensive media interview since alerting the world to a possible flu epidemic 9 days ago, Margaret Chan, the agency’s director-general, told the Financial Times that the end of the flu season in the northern hemisphere meant an initial outbreak could be milder but then a second wave more lethal, as happened in 1918.

New information from Mexico indicated the affect of the flu could be less than at first believed. José Angel Cordova, health minister said the flu virus epidemic had passed its peak and was waning. “The evolution of the epidemic is now in its phase of decline,” he said.

The Mexican government, which had already scaled back its first count of 176 deaths, said 19 of the suspected 100 deaths from the H1N1 virus had been confirmed.

But Ms Chan warned that an apparent decline in mortality rates outside and within Mexico didn't intend the pandemic was ending.

“We hope the virus fizzles out, because if it doesn’t we are heading for a big outbreak.” But she said: “I’m not anticipating the pandemic will amplify, but if I miss it and we don’t prepare, I fail. I’d rather over-prepare than not prepare.”

She emphasized that a likely increase to the agency’s maximum “level 6” pandemic alert didn't needfully mean “every country and all humans will be affected” with many more deaths.

Instead “it is a sign to public health agencies to take suitable steps” such as intensified disease surveillance.

Ms Chan admitted frustration with slow release of information on the threat posed by the virus. But she defended Mexico as very co-operative but overwhelmed by extending treatment and limiting the spread of infection as well as analyzing cases. She added: “The data is starting to roll in.”

“These countries are so overwhelmed. Other countries may anticipate a lot of information now. But people need to allow time for the epidemiology, laboratory and clinical data. ”

She repeated the WHO’s perspective based on “the evidence and science available to us” that travel limitations were counterproductive. Although countries had the right under international health regulations to take different measures, they would need to justify them publicly.

But she supported recent decisions such as that of Hong Kong and New Zealand to quarantine travellers arriving with suspected flu.

Ms Chan called on pharmaceutical companies to increase their contributions, praising their efforts so far but asking for fresh donations and for larger numbers of drugs and vaccines at lower costs to help care for and protect the poor.

She had released most of the WHO’s stockpile of the antiviral medicine Tamiflu provided by Roche, its manufacturer, which had already agreed to provide more and to propose lower costs.

She suggested new methods to encourage generic companies to develop inexpensive variations of Tamiflu to expand capacity.

Human Swine Flu

What’s The Situation In Mexico?

No matter where you look at…may it be on your TV, internet, newspaper, etc it’s easy to see that the human swine flu virus is causing a lot of states and countries to panic and causing a lot of chaos.

But what’s the real situation concerning the human swine flu virus?

Let’s take a look at Mexico – where the human swine flu virus was suspected to originate from. About 3000 citizens of La Gloria, Mexico strongly think and believe that their hometown is ground zero for the human swine flu epidemic. Now, government and health officials of the country are insisting that La Gloria, Mexico isn’t ground zero for the said epidemic…at least for the time being.

However, more than 450 citizens are saying other ways. Many believe that they’re suffering from respiratory problems and believe it to be caused by contaminated pig waste coming from US-owned farms nearby.

The answer to that, though, health officials are saying that there are no signs or strong evidence that people are suffering from symptoms that a victim of the human swine flu virus would experience.

See Human Swine Flu Virus:

Over 150 deaths in Mexico alone are attributed to the human swine flu virus. And to make the matters worse, it is believed that the disease and virus have found their way to at least 4 more countries including the United States.

**Update**
(A 23-month-old toddler passed away in Texas from the swine flu virus)

The swine flu strain is suspected in more than 150 deaths in Mexico and cases have been confirmed in at least four other countries.

A 34-year old resident of La Gloria, Mexico – Jose Luis Martinez said that right after he heard about the outbreak and heard about its symptoms (which are fever, coughing, joint aches, and vomiting along with the diarrhea when the illness intensifies); he knew that it all came from their town.




And what caused them to believe this?

Think about it – according to Martinez and other La Gloria residents, more than half of the town’s population travel all the way to Mexico City to work almost every single day of the week. Looking at it, it’s possible that it could’ve easily spread to La Gloria, Mexico – where most of the reports and cases of human swine flu infection came from.

Mind you – were looking at just one town and one country. At this rate, one can safely assume that there will be reports from other countries where the human swine flu virus spread appearing in the headlines any time of the week.

Much is still in the air though. The antidote is still to be found, the real cause is still to be determined, etc. One thing is for sure though, you along with your whole family must do everything you can to protect yourselves from the disease.

If you have to cancel that vacation to Mexico, if you need to avert eating pork to feel safe, then do so. Being safe is better than being sorry.

Learn how you can protect yourself right now from Swine Flu by going here.