"We expect the next great influenza pandemic to come at any time now," David Nabarro, a senior public health expert in the UN World Health Organization (WHO), told a news briefing, recalling that the 1918 flu pandemic had killed over 40 million people.

Subsequent epidemics in 1957 and 1968 caused fewer deaths but greater social disruption, he told reporters at UN Headquarters.

WHO has warned that the outbreaks of the highly-pathogenic avian flu virus known as H5N1 could mutate into a form which spreads easily from person to person. As humans would have no natural immunity, such a new virus could cause widespread death, illness, as well as social and economic disruption.

Dr. Nabarro will be responsible for ensuring that the UN system makes an effective and coordinated contribution to the global effort to control the illness, also known as bird flu, a spokesman for Mr. Annan said today.

"He will also ensure that the UN system supports effective local, national, regional and global preparations for a potential human influenza pandemic – so as to reduce the human toll, as well as the economic and social disruption, that this pandemic could cause," the spokesman added.

At the press conference, Dr. Nabarro said the UN had already been working with governments, private organizations and scientists around the world, preparing to minimize the toll for a potential human epidemic. In particular, beside WHO, the UN Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) had been working to control the spread of the flu among poultry.

In the past two weeks, the entire UN system had been brought in to step up efforts, through a "virtual network" that involves the technical specialties of each organization.

Time is critical in the effort to contain the disease, he said, because there will only a window of a few weeks between the time the human flu is detected and the point where it becomes an epidemic. An early warning system to detect the mutated flu, a means of treating the flu, and strategies for response are all critical, he said.

"Prevention, preparedness, response: that's what we've all got to do," he said.

Video of the press conference - Real Media Format

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hewitt.mobi Posted at 1:39 pm | 4 comments

4 Comments:

Wow! I certainly hope they won't try to sweep it under the carpet like they did last year. That was a huge bungle that hurt way more people than I suspect would have been affected.

I don't remember how many cases England contracted last year. Until you brouth it to my attention, I didn't make the connection as to the possible ramifications of the flu crossing over the humans. It's a far reaching worry then.

I sincerely hope exposure never comes within a 200 kilometer radius of you!!!!
Take care!

By  Michele, at 5:58 pm  

Thank's Michele,

It's a concern obviously, but no one knows when & if it will cross over. I just keep up with the news on it & hope for the best really.

Charlie xxx

By  hewitt.mobi, at 8:44 pm  

Where does this junk come from anyway?
I swear, bio-terrorism is a bad idea no matter who does it. All it takes is one little mistake and WHAM! the world pays. I hope it never come to light that many of these "new" strains come from something we humans did.
I'd rather be a cat.

By  Michele, at 11:36 pm  

I don't know where it comes from, like most virus strains it's a combination of pre-existing virus types, I think. It's just that this one HN51 is very virulent & has the potential to cross over to humans.

Charlie xxx

By  hewitt.mobi, at 1:56 pm  

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