Another flu pandemic coming

2007-04-03 07:09

Singapore - The director-general of the World Health Organisation urged governments on Monday to prepare for another flu pandemic.

"The next pandemic will certainly happen," Margaret Chan told reporters following a forum on the need to improve international health security, noting it was impossible to guess when it might happen or how severe it might be.

Since late 2003, the H5N1 strain of bird flu has prompted the slaughter of millions of birds across Asia and caused the deaths of more than 170 people worldwide, about one-third of them in Indonesia, according to WHO.

The virus has been identified in Europe, Africa and the Middle East, in what Chan called an unprecedented spread.

"We cannot let our guard down," Chan said. "My advice for all member states is to maintain vigilance, to prepare for the pandemic. One thing we know for certain is that any country that is prepared will see less damage."

Chan was in Singapore ahead of World Health Day, on April 7, for a forum with international politicians and opinion leaders about how to deal with the challenges of worldwide health threats.

- AP