WHO concedes shortcomings in handling of H1N1 pandemic
Source: Agencies |
April 13, 2010, Tuesday
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Print Edition
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THE World Health Organization yesterday conceded shortcomings in its handling of the H1N1 swine flu pandemic, including a failure to communicate uncertainties about the new virus as it swept around the globe.
Keiji Fukuda, the WHO's top influenza expert, said the United Nations agency's six-phase system for declaring a pandemic had sown confusion about the flu bug which was ultimately not as deadly as the widely feared avian influenza.
"The reality is there is a huge amount of uncertainty (in a pandemic). I think we did not convey the uncertainty. That was interpreted by many as a non-transparent process," Fukuda said.
He was addressing a three-day meeting in Geneva of 29 external flu experts called to review WHO's handling of the first influenza pandemic in 40 years.
Critics have said the WHO created panic about the swine flu virus, which turned out to be moderate in its effect, and caused governments to stockpile vaccines which went unused.
Some questioned its links to the pharmaceutical industry after companies like GlaxoSmithKline and Sanofi-Aventis made big profits from producing H1N1 vaccine.
H1N1, which emerged in Mexico and the United States almost exactly a year ago, has killed 17,770 people in more than 210 countries, according to WHO, which declared a pandemic under way in June. Most victims were young, with an average age of 37, versus 75 for seasonal flu.
The WHO will need another year or two after the pandemic is declared over to determine a final toll from the virus. The pandemic is still officially on.
The separate but highly lethal H5N1 bird flu virus - which has killed 60 percent of those infected since 2003 - "injected a high level of fear about the next pandemic," Fukuda said.
It had been difficult to meet public demands for advice as the H1N1 virus spread quickly across borders, and blogs and other new media generated speculation and criticism, according to the WHO official.
"Populations around the world have very high expectations for immediate information," Fukuda said. "In many ways it is unforgiving out there."
WHO Director-General Margaret Chan said her agency welcomed a frank, critical review of its handling of the pandemic to help it prepare for future public health emergencies.
"We want to know what worked well. We want to know what went wrong and, ideally, why," she told the session.
Keiji Fukuda, the WHO's top influenza expert, said the United Nations agency's six-phase system for declaring a pandemic had sown confusion about the flu bug which was ultimately not as deadly as the widely feared avian influenza.
"The reality is there is a huge amount of uncertainty (in a pandemic). I think we did not convey the uncertainty. That was interpreted by many as a non-transparent process," Fukuda said.
He was addressing a three-day meeting in Geneva of 29 external flu experts called to review WHO's handling of the first influenza pandemic in 40 years.
Critics have said the WHO created panic about the swine flu virus, which turned out to be moderate in its effect, and caused governments to stockpile vaccines which went unused.
Some questioned its links to the pharmaceutical industry after companies like GlaxoSmithKline and Sanofi-Aventis made big profits from producing H1N1 vaccine.
H1N1, which emerged in Mexico and the United States almost exactly a year ago, has killed 17,770 people in more than 210 countries, according to WHO, which declared a pandemic under way in June. Most victims were young, with an average age of 37, versus 75 for seasonal flu.
The WHO will need another year or two after the pandemic is declared over to determine a final toll from the virus. The pandemic is still officially on.
The separate but highly lethal H5N1 bird flu virus - which has killed 60 percent of those infected since 2003 - "injected a high level of fear about the next pandemic," Fukuda said.
It had been difficult to meet public demands for advice as the H1N1 virus spread quickly across borders, and blogs and other new media generated speculation and criticism, according to the WHO official.
"Populations around the world have very high expectations for immediate information," Fukuda said. "In many ways it is unforgiving out there."
WHO Director-General Margaret Chan said her agency welcomed a frank, critical review of its handling of the pandemic to help it prepare for future public health emergencies.
"We want to know what worked well. We want to know what went wrong and, ideally, why," she told the session.
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