ID :
58882
Tue, 05/05/2009 - 04:43
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://oananews.org//node/58882
The shortlink copeid
ASEAN SEEKS US HELP TO ADDRESS FLU THREAT
BANGKOK, May 4 (Bernama) -- Asean is seeking assistance from the United States to address the influenza A (H1N1)threat which has now been detected in 18 countries throughout the world.
Asean health ministers who are scheduled to meet here Friday with their
counterparts from China, Japan and South Korea are likely to discuss the threat
posed to the region with US Secretary of the Department of Health and Human
Services Kathleen Sebelius via video conference.
Asean secretary-general Dr Surin Pitsuwan said the video conference with
Sibelius was expected to involve updates on the H1N1 situation and effective
responses.
"America, the frontline state, with the best of defence mechanisms, is
willing to share with Asean and East Asia its expertise and experience on how to
face this common threat to humanity worldwide", Surin said in a statement
Monday.
Surin has called for an urgent meeting of Asean health ministers this Friday
to dicuss ways to cooperate and strengthen regional cooperation to deal with the
flu which originated from Mexico. No cases have been reported in the 10-member
Asean so far.
According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), 18 countries have
officially
reported 898 cases of influenza A(H1N1) infection as of Sunday.
Mexico has reported 506 confirmed human cases of infection, including 19
deaths, while the US reported 226 laboratory confirmed human cases, including
one death.
The WHO said other countries which had reported laboratory confirmed cases
with no deaths were Austria (1), Canada (85), Hong Kong (1), Costa Rica (1),
Denmark (1), France (2), Germany (8), Ireland (1), Israel (3), Italy (1),
Holland (1), New Zealand (4), Korea (1), Spain (40), Switzerland (1) and Britain
(15).
In Bangkok, seven teachers and seven students who returned Sunday night from
Mexico after a study tour have been quarantined at the Bamrasnaradura Institute
for medical check-up and observation.
Doctors who examined them told the local media that two of the 14 had mild
flu, but further laboratory tests needed to be done. Last week, doctors cleared
a lecturer, who was hospitalised after returning from from Mexico, of the
disease.
-- BERNAMA
Asean health ministers who are scheduled to meet here Friday with their
counterparts from China, Japan and South Korea are likely to discuss the threat
posed to the region with US Secretary of the Department of Health and Human
Services Kathleen Sebelius via video conference.
Asean secretary-general Dr Surin Pitsuwan said the video conference with
Sibelius was expected to involve updates on the H1N1 situation and effective
responses.
"America, the frontline state, with the best of defence mechanisms, is
willing to share with Asean and East Asia its expertise and experience on how to
face this common threat to humanity worldwide", Surin said in a statement
Monday.
Surin has called for an urgent meeting of Asean health ministers this Friday
to dicuss ways to cooperate and strengthen regional cooperation to deal with the
flu which originated from Mexico. No cases have been reported in the 10-member
Asean so far.
According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), 18 countries have
officially
reported 898 cases of influenza A(H1N1) infection as of Sunday.
Mexico has reported 506 confirmed human cases of infection, including 19
deaths, while the US reported 226 laboratory confirmed human cases, including
one death.
The WHO said other countries which had reported laboratory confirmed cases
with no deaths were Austria (1), Canada (85), Hong Kong (1), Costa Rica (1),
Denmark (1), France (2), Germany (8), Ireland (1), Israel (3), Italy (1),
Holland (1), New Zealand (4), Korea (1), Spain (40), Switzerland (1) and Britain
(15).
In Bangkok, seven teachers and seven students who returned Sunday night from
Mexico after a study tour have been quarantined at the Bamrasnaradura Institute
for medical check-up and observation.
Doctors who examined them told the local media that two of the 14 had mild
flu, but further laboratory tests needed to be done. Last week, doctors cleared
a lecturer, who was hospitalised after returning from from Mexico, of the
disease.
-- BERNAMA
