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WHO unites the globe to fight flu pandemic
22 May 2007
| Key facts |
- There are three different groups of influenza virus, A, B and C. Bird flu is caused by the type A virus. There are 16 H subtypes and nine N subtypes of type A influenza virus. The H5N1 type, which has affected poultry flocks and other birds in several countries since 2003, is highly pathogenic (disease-causing).
- Bird flu is mainly a disease of poultry and not of humans. However, the World Health Organization has confirmed 306 human cases of bird flu and 185 deaths. These have mostly been in Asia and Africa in countries including China, Indonesia and Egypt. All of the people who died had been in close contact with infected birds.
- It's very rare for the virus to be passed from one human to another. There have been a few limited cases of bird flu occurring in members of the same family who have been in very close contact. However, it is impossible to confirm if the virus actually passed between them.
- Experts are concerned that the H5N1 virus may change into a form that could be easily pass between humans, as this could cause a pandemic.
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The World Health Organisation has agreed a resolution to help countries better prepare for a flu pandemic by sharing emerging influenza viruses and access to potential pandemic vaccines. The agreement will enable new vaccines to be produced, at affordable prices for affected countries.
One of the countries most affected by bird flu, Indonesia, has only recently agreed to share virus strains. Indonesia's Minister of Health, Siti Fadilah Supari, had voiced her concerns of the "unfair" system of developing countries supplying H5N1 virus to WHO Collaborating Centres for analysis and vaccine production. Supari believed the resulting vaccines produced by commercial companies would be unaffordable to developing countries such as Indonesia.
Under the terms of the new resolution, WHO will establish an international stockpile of vaccines for influenza viruses including H5N1. It will also produce guidelines for distributing pandemic-influenza vaccines at affordable prices in the event of a pandemic.
Speaking at the latest World Health Assembly meeting, WHO Director-General, Dr Margaret Chan, explained that all countries need to be aware of their obligations under the revised International Health Regulations. "We must make a tremendous effort. We know our incentive: the prevention of large numbers of needless deaths and suffering."
Experimental vaccines based on the H5N1 virus have been produced. But until researchers know the exact strain of flu virus that would cause a pandemic, it's impossible to know if these experimental vaccines will work. Only by sharing the latest strains can the vaccine be tailored to the virus.
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