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Swine Flu Ebbs, But Challenges Remain
Global health officials' response to the swine-flu pandemic reflects major improvements in flu-fighting capabilities in recent years, but limited vaccine supplies, crowded emergency rooms, and other challenges show they still aren't fully equipped to combat a deadlier scourge, the World Health Organization's chief said.
While a second wave of infections caused by the H1N1 virus has ebbed in North America and Western Europe, transmission of flu remains intense in Central and Eastern Europe and parts of southern Asia, and health authorities must monitor its spread for another year or more, WHO Director-General Margaret Chan said in an interview this week.
'It is premature to say the pandemic has peaked world-wide,' she said. 'The situation needs to be watched and monitored at least another six to 12 months.' The virus could still mutate to become more severe, she warned.
Cases of H1N1 flu confirmed by laboratory testing have been reported in more than 208 countries and overseas territories, the WHO said Wednesday, and at least 12,220 people have died. A third wave is possible, Dr. Chan said, noting that the southern hemisphere could experience another one when its flu season returns in a few months.
Global health officials have far better tools for battling emerging infections than they did 'in 2003 when the world was really scrambling to deal with SARS,' said Dr. Chan, who was director of health in Hong Kong during the outbreak of severe acute respiratory syndrome. She credited countries with 'generous and timely sharing' of information, virus samples, diagnostic capabilities and research expertise in the eight months since the H1N1 virus was identified.
But the world isn't ready for a deadly pandemic like one that officials have feared could be sparked by the H5N1 avian-flu virus, which, though rare, has killed about 60% of the people it has infected, she said. Against a backdrop in which more people suffering from chronic diseases, HIV, and other diseases, and a global recession that has pushed many further into poverty, 'the occurrence of a moderate pandemic will probably rank as the best health news of the decade,' Dr. Chan said.
世界卫生组织总干事说，全球卫生官员对甲型H1N1流感的反应表明近年来全球应对流感的能力显著提高，但从疫苗供应有限、急症病房人满为患等挑战来看，他们仍然没有完全准备好应对一场更加致命的疫病。
世卫组织总干事陈冯富珍本周接受采访时说，尽管甲型H1N1流感病毒在北美和西欧的第二次传播高峰已经过去，但在中欧、东欧以及南亚部分地区，流感传播情况仍然严重，卫生部门必须继续监控疫情扩散一年或更长的时间。
陈冯富珍说，现在说这一疫病在全球高峰已过仍然为之过早；需要继续观察和监控疫情至少6到12个月。她警告说，病毒仍有可能变异，变得更厉害。
世卫组织周三说，已有超过208个国家和地区报告了经实验室检测证实的甲型H1N1流感病例。陈冯富珍说，至少有12,220人死于这一疾病。她说，可能还会出现第三个传播高峰期，南半球数月内将再次迎来流感季节，届时可能会再次经历一次传播高峰。
陈冯富珍说，与2003年全球匆忙应对非典型性肺炎的情况相比，如今全球卫生官员拥有明显更好的手段来应对新出现的传染病。在非典爆发时，陈冯富珍是香港卫生部门负责人。她称赞说，在甲型H1N1病毒确认的8个月来，各个国家充分和及时地共享病情、病毒样本、诊断能力以及研究专家力量。
但陈冯富珍说，世界还没有准备好应对一场致命性疫病，例如官员们所担心可能由H5N1禽流感病毒引发的传染病。这种病毒虽然罕见，但导致了约60%的感染患者死亡。陈冯富珍说，如今全球更多的人承受着慢性疾病、艾滋病以及其他疾病，全球经济衰退把很多人进一步推向贫困，一场中度流行病的爆发可能会成为这个十年最好的卫生新闻。
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发表于 2016-8-12 16:29:25