Countries throughout Asia and the Pacific are taking steps to prevent a strain of swine flu infecting humans from spreading to the region after more than 100 deaths were reported in Mexico and at least 20 cases in the United States and six in Canada. Recent outbreaks of disease have made Asia better prepared for potential pandemics.
Quarantine officer monitors travelers with thermographic device at arrival gate in Narita International Airport, Japan, 27 Apr 2009
Asian and Pacific countries are taking temperature scans of passengers arriving from North America and quarantining those with flu-like symptoms.
The World Health Organization is warning the outbreak of swine flu has pandemic potential and is urging nations to take precautions.
Peter Cordingley is the spokesman for the WHO's Western Pacific office, based in Manila. He says although the virus has not appeared in Asia it has great potential to spread internationally.
"Our advice to governments is to do their best to make sure they're aware of incoming travelers that might have come from infected regions," Cordingley said. "To advise all their physicians to report any unusual symptoms of influenza."
No restrictions
The WHO is not recommending any travel or trade restrictions.
Nonetheless, many Asian nations are warning against travel to Mexico, where the swine flu has hit hardest and is believed to have originated.
At least one Asian nation, China, has banned pork from Mexico and parts of the United States, despite the lack of evidence the virus is being spread directly to humans by pork or pigs.
Asia prepared for disease outbreaks
Cordingley says, since the SARS virus spread from Asia in 2003, killing hundreds worldwide, Asian countries have become better prepared for outbreaks of disease.
"Public health systems learnt a lesson form SARS. They're much stronger," he noted. "Governments have stockpiles of Tamiflu. Infection-control measures have been stepped up. Many, many hospitals now have isolation wards. So, Asia is better prepared. But, we don't know what this virus is going to do and we don't know whether it will overwhelm health systems."
Strains of swine flu that affect pigs are common in Asia, but cases that spread to humans are rare.
Cordingley says the strain of swine flu affecting people in North America has spread quickly.
There are suspected cases being tested as far away as New Zealand with many health officials concerned the virus could mutate, making it more difficult to control.
------------------------------------------------
comment:
There was a new swine flu outbroke in Mexico and United State. And The World Health Organization has declared swine flu is "a public health emergency of international concern". Therefore,Asian and Pacific countries are taking some steps such as temperature scans of passengers arriving from infected regions to prevent a strain of swine flu infecting humans.
But we can understand that the public health systems of Asia countries are much stronger because they learn a lesson form SARS. Many hospitals now have isolation wards. So, Asia is better prepared.
By the way,the good thing is that the international community is far better equipped today than in previous years to combat infectious disease in a coordinated way.
2009年4月27日 星期一
Quate of the week
"The imperium will bring the person many luxurious ， but can hardly bring a pair of clean hands" by Robert Harris -A novel of ancient Rome.
2009年4月6日 星期一
2009年4月5日 星期日
Obama Hails Result of NATO Summit
US Pres. Obama gestures during a media conference at the NATO summit in Strasbourg, 04 Apr 2009
U.S. President Barack Obama has hailed the results of the just ended NATO summit on the French-German border. Both the president and his proposals for Afghanistan received a warm welcome from the alliance.
President Obama says he is pleased his new strategy for Afghanistan and Pakistan received solid support from the NATO allies.
"You had NATO putting its stamp of approval on what I believe is a well thought out and hard-headed strategy and approach to Afghanistan, but also the need to deal with the interaction between Afghanistan and Pakistan," he said.
NATO agreed to commit more manpower and money. It will get heavily involved in training the Afghan military and police. More troops will be sent in to help with security in the run up to Afghanistan's national elections in August. And there will be increased funding and personnel for development.
"We will need more resources and a sustained effort to achieve our ultimate goals. But these commitments of troops, trainers and civilians represent a strong downpayment on the future of our mission in Afghanistan and on the future of NATO," he said.
Participants attend North Atlantic Council Summit meeting during second day of the NATO summit in Strasbourg, 04 Apr 2009
The president was asked if participants in the summit sought some kind of linkage between their help and the repeal of a new Afghan law that human rights groups say restricts the rights of women in the Shi'ite community.
Mr. Obama said concerns were raised during the summit. And he stressed that he personally finds the law abhorrent.
"Certainly the views of the administration have been and will be communicated to the Karzai government. And we think that it is very important for us to be sensitive to local culture but we also think there are certain basic principles that all nations should uphold," he said.
But the president also emphasized the importance of the mission to destroy al-Qaida, and prevent terrorists from establishing safe havens in the region.
"We want to do everything we can to encourage and promote rule of law, human rights, the education of women and girls in Afghanistan, economic development, infrastructure development. But I also want people to understand the first reason we are there is to root out al-Qaida so that they cannot attack members of the alliance," he said.
This was Mr. Obama's first NATO summit, and he made clear he was heartened by the reception he received from the other leaders at the table. Mr. Obama said he was constantly reminded that what the allies have in common vastly exceeds any differences they might have.
From:VOA news,04 April 2009
-------------------------------------------
(comment)
NATO Leaders gathered along the French-German border Saturday for the summit to mark the alliance's 60th anniversary and discussed Afghanistan's problem and NATO's future.They supported Obama's new strategy for Afghanistan and Pakistan.
As we know,NATO constitutes a system of collective defense whereby its member states agree to mutual defense in response to an attack by any external party.
From the beginning,it's an military operation to against a prospective Soviet invasion. Since the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, NATO has attempted to refocus itself to new challenges and has deployed troops to Afghanistan as well as trainers to Iraq.
So,NATO agreed to commit more manpower and money to root out al-Qaida to protect members of the alliance. By the way,this was Mr. Obama's first trip to Europe. I think,this summit is a good beginning for America-Europe relationship.
U.S. President Barack Obama has hailed the results of the just ended NATO summit on the French-German border. Both the president and his proposals for Afghanistan received a warm welcome from the alliance.
President Obama says he is pleased his new strategy for Afghanistan and Pakistan received solid support from the NATO allies.
"You had NATO putting its stamp of approval on what I believe is a well thought out and hard-headed strategy and approach to Afghanistan, but also the need to deal with the interaction between Afghanistan and Pakistan," he said.
NATO agreed to commit more manpower and money. It will get heavily involved in training the Afghan military and police. More troops will be sent in to help with security in the run up to Afghanistan's national elections in August. And there will be increased funding and personnel for development.
"We will need more resources and a sustained effort to achieve our ultimate goals. But these commitments of troops, trainers and civilians represent a strong downpayment on the future of our mission in Afghanistan and on the future of NATO," he said.
Participants attend North Atlantic Council Summit meeting during second day of the NATO summit in Strasbourg, 04 Apr 2009
The president was asked if participants in the summit sought some kind of linkage between their help and the repeal of a new Afghan law that human rights groups say restricts the rights of women in the Shi'ite community.
Mr. Obama said concerns were raised during the summit. And he stressed that he personally finds the law abhorrent.
"Certainly the views of the administration have been and will be communicated to the Karzai government. And we think that it is very important for us to be sensitive to local culture but we also think there are certain basic principles that all nations should uphold," he said.
But the president also emphasized the importance of the mission to destroy al-Qaida, and prevent terrorists from establishing safe havens in the region.
"We want to do everything we can to encourage and promote rule of law, human rights, the education of women and girls in Afghanistan, economic development, infrastructure development. But I also want people to understand the first reason we are there is to root out al-Qaida so that they cannot attack members of the alliance," he said.
This was Mr. Obama's first NATO summit, and he made clear he was heartened by the reception he received from the other leaders at the table. Mr. Obama said he was constantly reminded that what the allies have in common vastly exceeds any differences they might have.
From:VOA news,04 April 2009
-------------------------------------------
(comment)
NATO Leaders gathered along the French-German border Saturday for the summit to mark the alliance's 60th anniversary and discussed Afghanistan's problem and NATO's future.They supported Obama's new strategy for Afghanistan and Pakistan.
As we know,NATO constitutes a system of collective defense whereby its member states agree to mutual defense in response to an attack by any external party.
From the beginning,it's an military operation to against a prospective Soviet invasion. Since the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, NATO has attempted to refocus itself to new challenges and has deployed troops to Afghanistan as well as trainers to Iraq.
So,NATO agreed to commit more manpower and money to root out al-Qaida to protect members of the alliance. By the way,this was Mr. Obama's first trip to Europe. I think,this summit is a good beginning for America-Europe relationship.
訂閱：
文章 (Atom)
