ID :
57829
Tue, 04/28/2009 - 07:10
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://www.oananews.org//node/57829
The shortlink copeid
(EDITORIAL from the Korea Times on April 28) - Swine flu scare: Urgent action needed to stop spread of deadly virus
Fears are growing that a new strain of swine flu could rapidly spread around the world from its epicenter in Mexico. The United States, Canada and other countries across the globe are racing to contain the outbreak of the influenza.
More than 100 people have reportedly died of the disease in Mexico since April 13. The United States has declared a health emergency, although 20 people confirmed to
have been infected there were said to be recovering.
It is important to actively take preventive measures in the initial stages of an
outbreak of highly contagious viral diseases including avian influenza and severe
acute respiratory syndrome (SARS). However, Mexico seems to have failed to take
quick and decisive action in detecting the deadly strain of swine flu and
preventing its spread. The new strain is a combination of pig, bird and human
viruses that humans may not have natural immunity to.
It is urgent to step up international cooperation to take timely and necessary
action to bring the outbreak under control. At stake is whether or not the
influenza will emerge as a global pandemic. On Saturday, the World Health
Organization (WHO) asked all countries to step up reporting and surveillance of
the disease. WHO Director-General Margaret Chan warned of the possibility of the
flu becoming a pandemic.
South Korea is on high alert to avoid another nightmare resembling the bird flu
outbreak that hit farming villages throughout the country and raised consumer
fears in recent years. Against this backdrop, the health authorities are
tightening quarantine inspections of all travelers coming from Mexico, the United
States and Canada. The Korea Center for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC)
issued emergency alerts against swine flu Saturday.
The Korean National Veterinarian Research and Quarantine Service is stepping up
inspections on American and Mexican pork. South Korea imported 28,700 tons of
American and 200 tons of Mexican pork during the first quarter of this year. Per
capita pork consumption amounted to 19.6 kilograms last year. But, consumers do
not necessarily need to panic about imported pork because the swine flu virus is
killed when cooked at temperatures of 70 degrees Celsius or higher.
The best way of ensuring food safety and public health is to prevent the
influenza from finding its way into the country. Therefore, the government must
do its best to firmly set up a tighter quarantine procedure and smoothly operate
an emergency health care system. Additionally, it needs to closely monitor pig
farms for the early detection of swine flu. However, these efforts should be done
without causing too much public hysteria over the disease.
Another concern is that swine influenza might aggravate economic conditions at
home and abroad as it has broken out amid the global financial and economic
crisis. Thus, it is necessary to minimize the impact of the disease on pig
farmers and pork-related industries. No one can overemphasize the importance of
preventive efforts against the deadly virus.
(END)
More than 100 people have reportedly died of the disease in Mexico since April 13. The United States has declared a health emergency, although 20 people confirmed to
have been infected there were said to be recovering.
It is important to actively take preventive measures in the initial stages of an
outbreak of highly contagious viral diseases including avian influenza and severe
acute respiratory syndrome (SARS). However, Mexico seems to have failed to take
quick and decisive action in detecting the deadly strain of swine flu and
preventing its spread. The new strain is a combination of pig, bird and human
viruses that humans may not have natural immunity to.
It is urgent to step up international cooperation to take timely and necessary
action to bring the outbreak under control. At stake is whether or not the
influenza will emerge as a global pandemic. On Saturday, the World Health
Organization (WHO) asked all countries to step up reporting and surveillance of
the disease. WHO Director-General Margaret Chan warned of the possibility of the
flu becoming a pandemic.
South Korea is on high alert to avoid another nightmare resembling the bird flu
outbreak that hit farming villages throughout the country and raised consumer
fears in recent years. Against this backdrop, the health authorities are
tightening quarantine inspections of all travelers coming from Mexico, the United
States and Canada. The Korea Center for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC)
issued emergency alerts against swine flu Saturday.
The Korean National Veterinarian Research and Quarantine Service is stepping up
inspections on American and Mexican pork. South Korea imported 28,700 tons of
American and 200 tons of Mexican pork during the first quarter of this year. Per
capita pork consumption amounted to 19.6 kilograms last year. But, consumers do
not necessarily need to panic about imported pork because the swine flu virus is
killed when cooked at temperatures of 70 degrees Celsius or higher.
The best way of ensuring food safety and public health is to prevent the
influenza from finding its way into the country. Therefore, the government must
do its best to firmly set up a tighter quarantine procedure and smoothly operate
an emergency health care system. Additionally, it needs to closely monitor pig
farms for the early detection of swine flu. However, these efforts should be done
without causing too much public hysteria over the disease.
Another concern is that swine influenza might aggravate economic conditions at
home and abroad as it has broken out amid the global financial and economic
crisis. Thus, it is necessary to minimize the impact of the disease on pig
farmers and pork-related industries. No one can overemphasize the importance of
preventive efforts against the deadly virus.
(END)
