World Health Organization Warns H1N1 Virus Could Mutate
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- 01 / 05 / 2010
Dr. Chan said it was important to "guard against complacency," despite signs the disease had peaked in North America and parts of Europe.
The head of the WHO said the virus was still active in countries including India and Egypt. More than 11,500 people are believed to have died in more than 200 countries and territories because of swine flu.
Dr. Chan pointed out that it would take at least two years before a true death toll could be established. The WHO's director general said the United States, Canada and the UK were among those countries where the worst of the swine flu outbreak had appeared to have passed.
She said experts needed to continue monitoring the pandemic for another six to 12 months as it could mutate into a more dangerous strain.
Millions of people are believed to have recovered after contracting the virus and displaying few symptoms. Dr. Chan said the demand for swine flu vaccinations in some European countries had been lower than expected and WHO was investigating whether more vaccines could be sent to developing countries.
Dr. Chan said drug makers and countries promised to donate nearly 190 million vaccine doses to WHO, with the first doses of the donated vaccines to be distributed in Azerbaijan, Mongolia and Afghanistan in January.
Source: RHC
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