UP Ibalon Bicol

In spite of close monitoring and containment, the H1N1 virus has spread to sicken render about 20,000 individuals in 66 countries. The World Health Organization (WHO) is weighing in if it’s the right time that the viral infection be called a pandemic, the highest level of threat for a highly transmissible disease.

At present, the spread of the disease is mostly among travelers, in schools, and close contacts, but not much within the community. However, with the start of winter in the Southern Hemisphere, health authorities worry if the swine flu will infect more people than last year’s similar strain (H1N1 flu) which is resistant to the anti-viral medication Tamiflu.

The WHO is now "getting closer" to declaring the outbreak had reached phase six, the highest level on their alert scale.---said WHO’s flu chief Keiji Fukuda. Guardian.co.uk (06/03/09 Carrell, S.)

The same consideration has been reported in New York Times (06/03/09, A9, McNeil)

To declare the flu as a pandemic requires many considerations. People who don’t fully understand the disease may panic so the logistics to inform and prepare them must be put in place. In a pandemic, there may be trade and travel restrictions that my impact the economy of a country. A bigger budget and personnel to fight the illness must be readied.

The WHO is preparing an additional $500 million to aid poor countries. Pres. Barack Obama has asked the US legislature for $2 billion in anticipation of a full blown pandemic.

The virus which behaves like a mild seasonal flu at this time may mutate, grow in virulence and cause more deaths than generally expected as it moves along. With all these considerations, WHO calls on its experts---public health officials and academics to think what is best in the fight against the infection. They’re trying to figure if raising the level of disease threat to 6 is warranted and will be for the benefit of the people. (Photo Credit: Healthcare without Harm) =0=

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