WHO: Mexico Can Handle a New H1N1 Outbreak
 The News
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October 29, 2009
The World Health Organization (WHO) said yesterday that it believes Mexico will be capable of controlling a second wave of the H1N1 human influenza virus. They also commended the Mexican authorities and the population's ability to handle the surge of the pandemic.
"I am convinced that with the experience the country has acquired through dealing with the first wave of the virus in April 2009, Mexico will be perfectly able to cope with this second wave of H1N1 virus outbreaks," said the General Director of the WHO, Margaret Chan, who concluded her first trip to Cuba Wednesday.
"The leaders of Mexico have demonstrated that they are very capable of taking clear and concise action against the virus and the people in general have reacted appropriately, as well," said Chan in a press conference.
To date, the national Secretariat of Health (SSA) has confirmed 50,234 cases of the H1N1 virus in Mexico, 328 of which have been fatal.
Chan, in a meeting with former Cuban president Fidel Castro, said that the pandemic influenza illustrates the importance of globaliza
tion because it goes to show that what happens in one country can easily affect the rest of the world.
"Mexico was the first country to report this virus to the WHO in April 2009. They did everything in their power to reach a diagnosis," she said, "however, because it was a new disease, it proved very hard to diagnose. But international help was offered from the governments of the United States and Canada."
Experts from the WHO have met in order to write a guidebook on how to combat the H1N1 influenza virus, which is expected to be published in the next few days.
On Wednesday afternoon the Group of Experts on Strategic Immunization Advisory (SAGE) began a series of talks about vaccinations, including the vaccination against the H1N1 virus, reported the agency's spokeswoman, Fadela Chaib.
The SAGE, made up of 15 members and led by the British immunization expert, David Salisbury, will give a series of recommendations to Chan concerning who should be vaccinated against the H1N1 influenza virus and how many doses would be necessary.
According to the specialists, the WHO guidelines on vaccinations will be essential to allocate budgets and form state policies on the purchase and distribution of vaccinations against the pandemic influenza. It will also help develop investment decisions in the pharmaceutical industry, they said.
The Sage is comprised of experts from the UK, the U.S., Syria, Pakistan, Thailand, Australia, Finland, Jamaica, China, Hong Kong, among others.
The H1N1 human influenza virus has caused the deaths of at least 5,000 people and has infected over 414,945 people worldwide. |
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Health & Beauty | October 2009 
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