Swine flu pandemic 'unstoppable': WHO
THE swine flu pandemic has become "unstoppable" and all nations will need access to vaccines, a WHO official said today.Britain, Thailand and the Philippines all reported deaths today, while Saudi Arabia shut an international school after 20 students were diagnosed with the A(H1N1) virus.
As the death toll increased, the World Health Organisation official said a swine flu vaccine should be available as early as September and all countries would need to be able to protect themselves.
A group of vaccination experts concluded after a recent meeting that "the H1N1 pandemic is unstoppable and therefore all countries would need to have access to vaccines,'' said Marie-Paul Kieny, WHO director on vaccine research.Health workers should be at the top of the list for vaccination since they will be in high demand as people continue to fall sick, she said.
Countries would be free to decide on their national priorities, but other groups should include pregnant women and anyone over six months old who has chronic health problems, the WHO official said.
Its all just a fuss over nothing? Yeh? WHO knows (pardon the pun!). Today we learn that a toddler and a Doctor from the UK both succumbed to the illness. This is tragic and sad. The issue, however, both had no underlying illness or susceptibility that made them at risk patients.
If A(H1N1) - aka Swine Flu continues to spread, it is likely to evolve. All influenza viruses adapt to the environment in which they exist. This one will be no different. Will antiviral drugs like Tamiflu continue to provide protection? Will this disease develop a more deadly strain?
More and more people are dying. Its not too worrying knowing that more people die every minute from much more mundane things (lookout for that bus!!!!!!). But how long before it grows to much larger numbers? Will the spread of the A(H1N1) see the spread of much more deadly variants just as swift?
We shall wait and see!
Sylvestor
www.twitter.com/Sylvestor
