May 15, 2009. Experts Decide on Vaccine Production for H1N1 Flu in Switzerland
| SOURCE: | Air Security International |
Vaccine experts at the World Health Organization (WHO) met in Geneva on 14 May 2009 to discuss whether to shift vaccine production from a seasonal flu vaccine to an A/H1N1 (swine flu) vaccine. WHO Director-General Margaret Chan is expected to make a decision on the issue next week after the expert group submits its recommendations. Chan has stated that there is a need for both vaccines. It could take up to six months for pharmaceutical companies to develop and manufacture a new vaccine.
The WHO has confirmed 7,520 cases of swine flu in 34 countries and 65 deaths. Malaysian officials have confirmed the country's first case of swine flu. The infected individual had recently arrived in the country from the United States. Officials have urged passengers who were on Malaysian Airlines Flight MH091 - which flew from Newark, New Jersey, to Kuala Lumpur, on 13 May to contact the Malaysian Health Ministry.
On 14 May Peruvian health authorities confirmed the first case of the A/H1N1 virus in a Peruvian citizen who returned from the United States on 10 May. The patient traveled on a flight from New York; the flight's final destination was Santiago, Chile. Chilean health officials have crewmembers from the LAN flight under medical surveillance, but have yet to report any suspicious symptoms.
Peruvian authorities stated that the patient's case did not warrant hospitalization, but she remains under quarantine and medical surveillance at home. Health officials are now testing other passengers from the same flight as well as the patient's family, but stated that no other individual in Peru has displayed flu-like symptoms. Medical officials called for calm and reassured the public that the government has enough antiviral drugs and testing facilities to control an outbreak of the virus. The discovery of the A/H1N1 case came one day after Peru lifted a ban on flights to and from Mexico.
On 15 May 2009 Argentine authorities reinstated direct flights between Buenos Aires and Mexico City. Argentina was one of several countries that suspended flights after the outbreak of the A/H1N1 virus. Mexico called the suspension premature and discriminatory, while Argentine authorities stated that the ban was a temporary action designed to give medical authorities time to implement appropriate screening, testing and treatment measures.
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