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As H1N1 Influenza (Swine Flu) Cases Rise, WHO Takes Action

2,427 views · Published 28 April 2009 · 2:28 · Indexed 22 September 2026

Channel: United Nations · 2009 · News & Politics

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United Nations, New York, 28 April 2009 - Daily Briefing by the Office of the Spokesperson for the Secretary-General. The World Health Organization (WHO) just wrapped up a telephone press conference moments ago on the H1N1 Influenza (swine flu). 
The agency confirmed that there has been an increase in lab-confirmed cases -- from 73 yesterday to 79 today. Forty of those cases are from five states across the United States. Twenty-six cases have been confirmed across four states in Mexico. And Canada has reported six cases in two provinces. There have also been 2 cases in Spain, 2 in the United Kingdom, and 3 in New Zealand. The 79 lab-confirmed cases include 7 deaths in Mexico.
WHO also said it is starting to focus on the anticipated needs that developing countries may have if they are affected by the swine flu virus. The agency noted that poorer countries are usually hit the hardest by such health developments.
Last night, WHO's Emergency Committee met for a second time to discuss the global response to swine flu. After the meeting, WHO Director-General Margaret Chan decided to raise the influenza pandemic alert level from phase 3 to phase 4. In other words, the likelihood of a pandemic has increased, but at the same time, a pandemic is not inevitable. 
Given the widespread presence of the virus, the Director-General considered that containment of the outbreak is not feasible. Rather, the current focus should be on mitigation measures, she said.
The Director-General also recommended not to close borders and not to restrict international travel. 
For its part, WHO is working to facilitate the process needed to develop a vaccine effective against the swine flu virus. In a press conference last night, a WHO official noted that developing such a vaccine would take around 4 to 6 months. In addition, several more months would be needed to produce a suitably large amount of the vaccine.
Meanwhile, the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) reports that it is sending experts to Mexico, along with staff from the World Organization for Animal Health, to help the Mexican Government assess the situation in the pig production sector.

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