A (H1N1) Deadly swine flu pandemic-Part 2

My dear listeners, I believe everybody is aware that the H1N1 fatality list in Malaysia is soaring by each day. And in our hearts we are asking is it enough just to know the numbers of dying each day? Is the government doing enough? Where is the national contingency plan ? Do we need to declare an emergency?

We know that in Malaysia the government is not imposing travel ban as it is a global pandemic and has no intention of closing schools but leave it to the wisdom of headmasters and the local health authority to decide!

And we know too , for now each individual should self-regulate themselves- practice good personal hygiene , abstain from going out if unwell, social distancing yourself from crowded / confined environmental activities, avoid travelling to infected countries if possible…and bla.bla..bla

So while waiting for a contingency plan to unveil, let us see what other countries are doing in curbing their respective pandemic and perhaps learn a thing or two from their experience how to manage it.

World lays its swine flu defences
As of 28 July 2009, here is a selection of the major efforts underway to halt its spread.

UNITED STATES: A neighbour of Mexico, where the A(H1N1) strain of swine flu was first detected, the United States had by mid-July the world’s highest number of confirmed cases — 40,617 — and 263 people had died.

Behind the confirmed cases, authorities believe the true number of flu carriers to be closer to a million. Health officials held an emergency meeting on July 29 to draw up an action plan, and orders have been placed for 10 million doses of flu vaccine for distribution by mid-October.
Vaccines, which are now being developed for the new flu strain, will be tested in August. Federal and state governments have stockpiled 61 million doses of Tamiflu and Relenza flu remedies between them.

VFF Comment: Developing new flu strain vaccines is wise and timely looking at the rate the H1N1 virus had throttled the world and mutated.


BRITAIN: The worst hit country in Europe with more than 100,000 new cases recorded last week alone, almost twice as many as the week before. 31 victims have died.

London has ordered a total of 132 doses of flu vaccine, with 60 million (enough for half the population at two doses per head) to be ready by the end of the year.

A dedicated flu telephone line and website has been set up allowing patients to be diagnosed at a distance and issued a coupon to collect flu remedies. Officials are expecting 200,000 calls per day.

VFF Comment: Diagnosing online and speedy access to flu remedies would help to reduce the congestion of infected people in the hospital and save lives fast. A good move to emulate as our fatality rate is fast at par with them now.


SPAIN: Spain is the next worst hit country in Europe, with by 1,806 confirmed cases by Monday and six deaths. No national strategy has yet been drawn up.

The government has ordered 37 million doses of vaccine for its 46 million strong population, with a plan to inoculate 40 percent of the population

VFF Comment: FYI to date , getting the anti-viral drug is still the treatment and way out as there is no vaccines available yet. Hopefully the test for those new flu strain vaccine runs well and can resolve the pandemic.

JAPAN: Japan, one of the Asian countries worst hit by swine flu, had reported 4,462 cases by Wednesday, but no one has so far died.

Tokyo has said it could repeat measures taken earlier this year, when it implemented strict airport health controls, including checks aboard landing aircraft. Suspected cases were quarantined in hotels near airports.

Some 4,800 schools and kindergartens were closed for a week.

Japan has Tamiflu and Relenza supplies for 38 million patients or about one third of its population and plans to produce 17 million doses of its own swine flu vaccine this year.

VFF Comment: Having the ability to produce own flu vaccine is a plus point in curbing the pandemic. Furthermore, hopefully such local-made vaccines are more suitable to their genetic type/setting. Turning nearby hotels into airport quarantine bay is a salute.At least the virus is contained and prevented from spreading beyond their shores.

CHINA: The world’s most populous nation has yet to see a proportionally large flu outbreak, with only 1,668 confirmed cases, but after the SARS and bird flu scares it is taking the threat seriously.

Hospitals are on a virtual war footing, with many setting up makeshift swine flu reception desks staffed by masked nurses under orders to promptly report any suspected cases to the government and isolate those affected.

China has also imposed seven-day quarantine periods on arriving foreigners who show swine flu symptoms.

Authorities in Hong Kong have reported one death certainly due to the virus in the administrative region, where 2,855 cases have been reported.
VFF Comment: China has learned its lesson well from SARS and thus is not complacent. The government take charge fully with no interfering policy from any sector.

AFRICA: Africa has not recorded as many cases of swine flu as other continents, but health experts there warn that the disease could be especially dangerous among populations with high levels of HIV/AIDS.

South Africa has 48 million people, of which nearly six million have HIV, and as of July 17 it had 119 cases of swine flu. Botswana had four and Namibia three.

VFF Comment: A Wise government to acknowledge the fact that they are the high –risk country


MIDDLE EAST: Israel reported its first death from swine flu on Monday, as did Saudi Arabia, which is set to welcome vast numbers of Muslim pilgrims in the coming months, raising the risk of the spread of the disease.

Arab health ministers have recommended that children under 12 and people over 65 be banned from the hajj pilgrimage to Saudi Arabia this year to reduce the risk.

One other swine flu death has been reported in the Middle East: a woman in Egypt returning from a pilgrimage to Mecca. It was not clear where she contracted the virus.

VFF Comment: Making pilgrimage is one`s dire wish. However do remember God did not promise us freedom from trials but he promises His presence through it all.


CENTRAL AND EASTERN EUROPE: Germany has been relatively lightly affected for a country of its size, with 1,469 cases by July 20 and no deaths. German officials plan to buy enough vaccines to immunise the most vulnerable quarter of their population.

Poland has enough flu remedy on stock but has complained of a lack of European coordination on procuring vaccines, which many countries fear they will miss out on if rich nations corner the world’s limited production.

The Czech Republic had at least 63 swine flu cases as of Monday evening.
VFF Comment: Procurement of vaccines should not hold any discrimination between rich and poor countries because we do not play god when dealing with lifes please.

Once again the basic prevention comes form you as an individual:-


# Wash your hands regularly with soap and water, especially after coughing or sneezing. Or, use an alcohol-based hand cleaner.

# Avoid close contact with sick people.

# Avoid touching your mouth, nose, or eyes.


#Got flu symptoms? Stay home, and when you cough or sneeze, cover your mouth and nose with a tissue. Afterward, throw the tissue in the trash and wash your hands.