m (Category/ies etc) |
m (correcting header levels) |
||
| Line 2: | Line 2: | ||
The '''World Health Organization''' ('''WHO''') is a specialized agency of the [[wikipedia:United Nations|United Nations]] (UN) that acts as a coordinating authority on international public health. |
The '''World Health Organization''' ('''WHO''') is a specialized agency of the [[wikipedia:United Nations|United Nations]] (UN) that acts as a coordinating authority on international public health. |
||
| − | + | ==Public Health Emergency== |
|
On Saturday, 25 April, upon the advice of the Emergency Committee called under the rules of the International Health Regulations, the Director-General declared this event a [http://www.who.int/csr/don/2009_04_26/en/index.html Public Health Emergency of International Concern]. This is a fairly "routine" measure, which frees up money and government agencies for specific health purposes. However, the WHO is not recommending any travel restrictions. |
On Saturday, 25 April, upon the advice of the Emergency Committee called under the rules of the International Health Regulations, the Director-General declared this event a [http://www.who.int/csr/don/2009_04_26/en/index.html Public Health Emergency of International Concern]. This is a fairly "routine" measure, which frees up money and government agencies for specific health purposes. However, the WHO is not recommending any travel restrictions. |
||
| − | + | ==Alert Scheme== |
|
The WHO runs a [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:FedFluPandemicResponse.gif Pandemic Alert Level] service. It is currently at Phase 3 on the six-point scale, which means that a new virus has been confirmed but there is no or limited evidence of human-to-human transmission (or insufficient to sustain community-level outbreaks). However, the WHO advised that ''"all countries intensify surveillance for unusual outbreaks of influenza-like illness and severe pneumonia"''. |
The WHO runs a [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:FedFluPandemicResponse.gif Pandemic Alert Level] service. It is currently at Phase 3 on the six-point scale, which means that a new virus has been confirmed but there is no or limited evidence of human-to-human transmission (or insufficient to sustain community-level outbreaks). However, the WHO advised that ''"all countries intensify surveillance for unusual outbreaks of influenza-like illness and severe pneumonia"''. |
||
The Phase 3 alert was initially set due to [[Avian flu]]. Phase 4 (Sustained Human to Human Transmission) requires community-wide outbreaks. Phase 5 (Widespread Human Infection) requires human-to-human transmission in at least two nearby countries. Phase 6 is a global pandemic proper. |
The Phase 3 alert was initially set due to [[Avian flu]]. Phase 4 (Sustained Human to Human Transmission) requires community-wide outbreaks. Phase 5 (Widespread Human Infection) requires human-to-human transmission in at least two nearby countries. Phase 6 is a global pandemic proper. |
||
| − | + | ==Medicinal Reserves== |
|
According to [http://www.jornada.unam.mx/ultimas/2009/04/26/laboratorios-cuentan-con-reservas-de-farmacos-para-brote-de-gripe-porcina La Journada] ([http://translate.google.com/translate?prev=hp&hl=en&js=n&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.jornada.unam.mx%2Fultimas%2F2009%2F04%2F26%2Flaboratorios-cuentan-con-reservas-de-farmacos-para-brote-de-gripe-porcina&sl=auto&tl=en translation]), the WHO has access to 3 million packs of [[Tamiflu]], currently stored in the [[United States]] and [[Switzerland]], should they prove to be effective and the WHO chooses to distribute the reserves. The WHO has apparently not yet sent viral samples to labs to begin the lengthy process of developing a new vaccine. |
According to [http://www.jornada.unam.mx/ultimas/2009/04/26/laboratorios-cuentan-con-reservas-de-farmacos-para-brote-de-gripe-porcina La Journada] ([http://translate.google.com/translate?prev=hp&hl=en&js=n&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.jornada.unam.mx%2Fultimas%2F2009%2F04%2F26%2Flaboratorios-cuentan-con-reservas-de-farmacos-para-brote-de-gripe-porcina&sl=auto&tl=en translation]), the WHO has access to 3 million packs of [[Tamiflu]], currently stored in the [[United States]] and [[Switzerland]], should they prove to be effective and the WHO chooses to distribute the reserves. The WHO has apparently not yet sent viral samples to labs to begin the lengthy process of developing a new vaccine. |
||
| Line 20: | Line 20: | ||
*[http://www.who.int/csr/don/en/ WHO Disease Outbreak News] |
*[http://www.who.int/csr/don/en/ WHO Disease Outbreak News] |
||
*[http://twitter.com/whonews WHO Twitter] |
*[http://twitter.com/whonews WHO Twitter] |
||
| − | |||
[[Category:World Health Organization| ]] |
[[Category:World Health Organization| ]] |
||
[[Category:Organizations]] |
[[Category:Organizations]] |
||
Revision as of 21:42, 27 April 2009
WHO Flag
The World Health Organization (WHO) is a specialized agency of the United Nations (UN) that acts as a coordinating authority on international public health.
Public Health Emergency
On Saturday, 25 April, upon the advice of the Emergency Committee called under the rules of the International Health Regulations, the Director-General declared this event a Public Health Emergency of International Concern. This is a fairly "routine" measure, which frees up money and government agencies for specific health purposes. However, the WHO is not recommending any travel restrictions.
Alert Scheme
The WHO runs a Pandemic Alert Level service. It is currently at Phase 3 on the six-point scale, which means that a new virus has been confirmed but there is no or limited evidence of human-to-human transmission (or insufficient to sustain community-level outbreaks). However, the WHO advised that "all countries intensify surveillance for unusual outbreaks of influenza-like illness and severe pneumonia".
The Phase 3 alert was initially set due to Avian flu. Phase 4 (Sustained Human to Human Transmission) requires community-wide outbreaks. Phase 5 (Widespread Human Infection) requires human-to-human transmission in at least two nearby countries. Phase 6 is a global pandemic proper.
Medicinal Reserves
According to La Journada (translation), the WHO has access to 3 million packs of Tamiflu, currently stored in the United States and Switzerland, should they prove to be effective and the WHO chooses to distribute the reserves. The WHO has apparently not yet sent viral samples to labs to begin the lengthy process of developing a new vaccine.
WHO news feeds