Passengers wearing surgical masks as precautionary measure queue up at departure counter at Narita International Airport, east of Tokyo. Asia, so far, has escaped swine flu infection though Hong Kong and South Korea said they were testing people with flu symptoms that could be the new illness. (Photo: AP)
Graphic detailing the World Health Organisation six-phase pandemic alert system. The World Health Organization has warned that a global swine flu pandemic is imminent, as more nations confirmed cases of the deadly disease that has spread round the world in a matter of days. (Graphic: AFP)Thursday, April 30, 2009
By GRANT PECK / AP WRITER
BANGKOK — Health ministers from Southeast Asian countries will meet, probably in early May in the Thai capital, to discuss how to deal with the swine flu crisis, the head of area's regional grouping said Wednesday.
Surin Pitsuwan, the secretary-general of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, or Asean, said the ministers "should get together at the earliest time possible," according to a press release from the group.
None of Asean's 10 member countries have yet confirmed any cases of swine flu, but scores of tests were being carried out on anyone reporting flu symptoms. South Korea was awaiting final test results in a "probable" case, and New Zealand has confirmed 14 infections—the first in the Asia-Pacific region—all in people recently returned from Mexico.
"The Thai Ministry of Public Health has expressed its readiness to host the meeting in Bangkok most probably in early May," Surin was quoted saying after he held consultations with Thailand and the Philippines. The announcement said the Philippines would chair the meeting.
Thailand's reputation as a suitable venue for regional meetings was cast into doubt earlier this month when a mob of anti-government demonstrators broke into a popular resort hotel hosting a summit of Asean and other Asian leaders, forcing its cancellation. Surin is a former Thai foreign minister and was a senior member of the Democrat Party of current Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva.
Cambodia's prime minister earlier Wednesday had called for an emergency meeting of Asean members to discuss how to tackle the outbreak.
"We need common measures to prevent and fight against the fast spread of swine flu," Prime Minister Hun Sen said. "Southeast Asian leaders should have an emergency meeting right now."
Governments in Asia have potent memories of the 2003 SARS crisis and bird flu. Bird flu first began ravaging poultry stocks across Asia in 2003 and has caused 257 human fatalities, mostly in Southeast Asia.
Surin said in an earlier statement that officials have "the necessary experience" from past outbreaks to coordinate as "swine flu threatens to spread to the region."
Regional health experts who took part in an Asean-organized teleconference discussed the importance of harmonizing measures and initiatives, the group said.
They also discussed specific actions being taken by the individual member states, such as "screening of arrivals from effected countries using thermal scanners and health declaration forms and health advisory to passengers."
Meanwhile global health authorities warned Wednesday that swine flu was threatening to bloom into a pandemic, and the virus spread farther in Europe even as the outbreak appeared to stabilize at its epicenter. A toddler who succumbed in Texas became the first death outside Mexico.
Mexico, taking a drastic step as confirmed swine flu cases doubled to 99, including eight dead, announced it would temporarily suspend all nonessential activity of the federal government and private business from May 1-5.
Surin Pitsuwan, the secretary-general of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, or Asean, said the ministers "should get together at the earliest time possible," according to a press release from the group.
None of Asean's 10 member countries have yet confirmed any cases of swine flu, but scores of tests were being carried out on anyone reporting flu symptoms. South Korea was awaiting final test results in a "probable" case, and New Zealand has confirmed 14 infections—the first in the Asia-Pacific region—all in people recently returned from Mexico.
"The Thai Ministry of Public Health has expressed its readiness to host the meeting in Bangkok most probably in early May," Surin was quoted saying after he held consultations with Thailand and the Philippines. The announcement said the Philippines would chair the meeting.
Thailand's reputation as a suitable venue for regional meetings was cast into doubt earlier this month when a mob of anti-government demonstrators broke into a popular resort hotel hosting a summit of Asean and other Asian leaders, forcing its cancellation. Surin is a former Thai foreign minister and was a senior member of the Democrat Party of current Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva.
Cambodia's prime minister earlier Wednesday had called for an emergency meeting of Asean members to discuss how to tackle the outbreak.
"We need common measures to prevent and fight against the fast spread of swine flu," Prime Minister Hun Sen said. "Southeast Asian leaders should have an emergency meeting right now."
Governments in Asia have potent memories of the 2003 SARS crisis and bird flu. Bird flu first began ravaging poultry stocks across Asia in 2003 and has caused 257 human fatalities, mostly in Southeast Asia.
Surin said in an earlier statement that officials have "the necessary experience" from past outbreaks to coordinate as "swine flu threatens to spread to the region."
Regional health experts who took part in an Asean-organized teleconference discussed the importance of harmonizing measures and initiatives, the group said.
They also discussed specific actions being taken by the individual member states, such as "screening of arrivals from effected countries using thermal scanners and health declaration forms and health advisory to passengers."
Meanwhile global health authorities warned Wednesday that swine flu was threatening to bloom into a pandemic, and the virus spread farther in Europe even as the outbreak appeared to stabilize at its epicenter. A toddler who succumbed in Texas became the first death outside Mexico.
Mexico, taking a drastic step as confirmed swine flu cases doubled to 99, including eight dead, announced it would temporarily suspend all nonessential activity of the federal government and private business from May 1-5.
5 comments:
Puok Ah Jkuot Jruok Khmer-overseas escapees must be quarantined and examined before permitting into OUR country.
PPU
The government of Cambodia must propose draconian measures to ensure that Puok Ah Jkuot Jruok Khmer-overseas escapees DO NOT further spread the swine flu in Cambodia.
PPU
measure my ass , PPU = Pussy Pimper Unit ?
come on guy , We come here for news and when something like this happen we should post your own vision or strategy to avoid it or better solution , Don't you think that better than you guy try to discrimination each other ?
I think the KI must have enough of "PPU."
It's too bad that this pseudo-journalists unable to handle the freedom of speech.
KI, fuck you, and the rest of your fucking clans.
Yes, FUCK YOU, KI, AND FUCK YOU AGAIN.
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