ID :
15654
Tue, 08/12/2008 - 15:22
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://oananews.org//node/15654
The shortlink copeid
GOVERNMENTS MUST NOT BE COMPLACENT IN FACE OF PANDEMIC INFLUENZA
KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 12 (Bernama) - Governments should not be complacent in combating and preparing for pandemic breakouts of influenza, US Ambassador to Malaysia James Keith said, here Tuesday.
He said that it was human fallacy to believe that if an incident had never happened to a particular person, that person would believe it would never happen at all.
"We should not be complacent about this. Governments must work together and prepare a standardised system in case of an outbreak," Keith told a news conference at a three-day Pandemic Influenza Symposium here.
He said the workshop was an instalment of the capacity-building efforts to improve detection and surveillance of pandemic virus and further enhance current surveillance systems prior to an outbreak of a pandemic.
"Essentially, we must know what the problem is before we can fix it," he said.
Keith also said that the system in place, which would involve local armed forces, had an across the board effect to manage other disasters be it medical or of natural causes.
He said it would be better to deal with tough judgement calls now rather than waiting for an outbreak to happen and then deal with it.
"It would be a very tough call for governments to handle such outbreaks.
It's not easy. Which level of society do we have to save first. How are we going to rapidly contain this... it will not be easy and we must find out now," he added.
Meanwhile, Malaysian Armed Forces Health Service Director Lt Gen Dr Sulaiman Abdullah, when opening the symposium, also stated that the highly virulent H5N1 virus could someday mutate or reassort to the point of sustained and efficient human to human transmission.
"Avian influenza virus can gradually acquire an ability to spread efficiently from one human to another. This is why the world needs a system to ensure that every chain of human transmission, however limited, must be thoroughly investigated including the genetic studies of viruses.
"According to the World Health Organisation, so far there is no clear evidence of human to human transmission. However, should the virus mutate or reassort, the world could be faced with a potentially devastating influenza pandemic," he said.
Dr Sulaiman also said that the Malaysian government was adopting an integrated national effort involving all relevant government agencies for a response and readiness plan such as the Health Ministry, Defence Ministry, Home Affairs Ministry, National Security Council, Prime Minister's Department and others.
"Preparedness for pandemic influenza needs to extend beyond the health sector. There is a huge difference between having a plan (National Influenza Pandemic Preparedness Plan - NIPPP) and being prepared.
"Being prepared means the plan must be implemented through drills and exercise and it must be regularly reviewed for improvement. It is hoped this symposium will deliberate in improving any weaknesses identified. We will be well prepared to meet the threat of a pandemic," he added.
He said that it was human fallacy to believe that if an incident had never happened to a particular person, that person would believe it would never happen at all.
"We should not be complacent about this. Governments must work together and prepare a standardised system in case of an outbreak," Keith told a news conference at a three-day Pandemic Influenza Symposium here.
He said the workshop was an instalment of the capacity-building efforts to improve detection and surveillance of pandemic virus and further enhance current surveillance systems prior to an outbreak of a pandemic.
"Essentially, we must know what the problem is before we can fix it," he said.
Keith also said that the system in place, which would involve local armed forces, had an across the board effect to manage other disasters be it medical or of natural causes.
He said it would be better to deal with tough judgement calls now rather than waiting for an outbreak to happen and then deal with it.
"It would be a very tough call for governments to handle such outbreaks.
It's not easy. Which level of society do we have to save first. How are we going to rapidly contain this... it will not be easy and we must find out now," he added.
Meanwhile, Malaysian Armed Forces Health Service Director Lt Gen Dr Sulaiman Abdullah, when opening the symposium, also stated that the highly virulent H5N1 virus could someday mutate or reassort to the point of sustained and efficient human to human transmission.
"Avian influenza virus can gradually acquire an ability to spread efficiently from one human to another. This is why the world needs a system to ensure that every chain of human transmission, however limited, must be thoroughly investigated including the genetic studies of viruses.
"According to the World Health Organisation, so far there is no clear evidence of human to human transmission. However, should the virus mutate or reassort, the world could be faced with a potentially devastating influenza pandemic," he said.
Dr Sulaiman also said that the Malaysian government was adopting an integrated national effort involving all relevant government agencies for a response and readiness plan such as the Health Ministry, Defence Ministry, Home Affairs Ministry, National Security Council, Prime Minister's Department and others.
"Preparedness for pandemic influenza needs to extend beyond the health sector. There is a huge difference between having a plan (National Influenza Pandemic Preparedness Plan - NIPPP) and being prepared.
"Being prepared means the plan must be implemented through drills and exercise and it must be regularly reviewed for improvement. It is hoped this symposium will deliberate in improving any weaknesses identified. We will be well prepared to meet the threat of a pandemic," he added.
