Developing countries could need about one billion dollars by the end of the year to fund measures against the swine flu pandemic, especially vaccines, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon said Monday.
Developing countries could need about one billion dollars by the end of the year to fund measures against the swine flu pandemic, especially vaccines, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon said Monday.
Asked about his estimate of their needs ahead of a meeting with donor nations on funding for influenza A (H1N1), Ban said: "For the remainder of this year our estimate is that we may need a little over one billion dollars."
Swine Flu | Swine Influenza | Hog Flu | Pig Flu
Swine flu, a type of influenza caused by a new strain of the H1N1 Type A influenza virus has originated from the pigs. Winter always brings along the chills and the flu, make sure you're safe this season.
Swine flu, a type of influenza caused by a new strain of the H1N1 Type A influenza virus has originated from the pigs. Winter always brings along the chills and the flu, make sure you're safe this season.
More resources were needed especially to fund swine flu vaccines for developing nations that could not afford them, he added.
"This pandemic flu is also a sort of a global crisis which needs global response through global partnership and solidarity," said Ban.
WHO Director General Margaret Chan was due to take part in the meeting with representatives of main potential donor nations in Geneva.
Chan said last week that access to a swine flu vaccine remained a "critical question."
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WHO Consults Emergency Committee To Discuss Severity Of Swine Flu
The World Health Organisation on began consulting its emergency committee of flu experts on the severity of the swine flu virus and possible travel recommendations.
The World Health Organisation on began consulting its emergency committee of flu experts on the severity of the swine flu virus and possible travel recommendations.
Ban noted that a swine flu vaccine was in the pipeline for August and that pharmaceutical companies had made commitments on supply.
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Swine Flu Could Cripple Health Services in Poor Countries: UN
World Health Organization (WHO) chief Margaret Chan warned Monday that the current swine flu pandemic could cripple fragile health services in poor countries.
World Health Organization (WHO) chief Margaret Chan warned Monday that the current swine flu pandemic could cripple fragile health services in poor countries.
Some 94,512 people have been infected in more than 130 countries and territories, as the virus continues to make inroads in the southern hemisphere during the main flu season.
However, countries such as the United States believe they have had far more untested cases because of its relatively mild symptoms.
US officials have estimated that there have been a million cases in the country.
Source-AFP
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