Originally published by the Voice of America (www.voanews.com).
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May 7, 2009

WHO Still Struggling to Get a Handle on Flu
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http://enews.voanews.com/t?ctl=241B127:A6F02AD83191E16081A53A549A184D9970AD7039DCD7B7E4&
 
World Health Organization official says it is critical countries
maintain alertness and monitor evolution of disease as closely as
possible 
A top World Health Organization official says the global health body is
still working to understand the influenza A H1N1 virus and called for
continued vigilance to fight the spread of the disease. WHO Assistant
Director-General Keiji Fukuda (file photo)Speaking by videolink to Asian
officials gathered in Bangkok Thursday for a meeting on the disease,
acting WHO director-general Keiji Fukuda said it is critical countries
maintain their alertness and monitor the evolution of the disease,
commonly known as swine flu, as closely as possible. Fukuda said WHO
officials still do not believe they have gotten a handle on the severity
of the disease. He also warned officials that it could become more
virulent later in the year with the onset of the northern hemisphere's
flu season. Mexico ends business shutdown Fukuda's warning comes as
Mexico, the epicenter of the epidemic, ended a five-day business
shutdown and began to get back to normal life. Other countries also
began easing measures to control the disease. China on Thursday lifted a
seven-day quarantine for passengers who arrived in Shanghai on a flight
with a Mexican man who was later found to be infected with the disease.
Also Thursday, Russia announced it was lifting a ban on imports from
five U.S. states, but added another - Illinois - to its list. Asian
leaders plan meeting to discuss flu Although more than 1,700 cases of
the disease have been confirmed in 22 countries across the globe, almost
all of the 44 deaths from the disease worldwide have occurred in Mexico.
And so far, the only two deaths reported outside the country occurred in
the U.S. state of Texas, which borders Mexico. Until Wednesday, the
disease had shutdown Mexico, grinding its economy to a halt. Mexican
officials estimate the five-day shutdown cost the country's economy at
least $2.2 billion. Asian leaders are meeting in Bangkok Thursday to
discuss how they might control the disease without damaging their
economies.

 Some information for this report was provided by AFP, AP and Reuters.


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