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UN director: $1 billion needed to help poor nations fight flu

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Wed, 2009-07-08 05:59 — admin

United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki Moon today estimated that $1 billion is needed by the end of the year to help developing countries respond to pandemic influenza, the Associated Press (AP) reported. Speaking at a press conference in Geneva after a donor's conference, Moon said funding isn't coming in as expected. Margaret Chan, the WHO's director-general, said donor assistance is needed to help 49 developing countries stockpile antivirals and other drugs. [Jul 6 AP story]

For more information:
http://www.thestate.com/world/story/853690.html

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Wed, 2009-07-08 06:13 — admin

If a moderate to severe strain of SO-H1N1 spreads rapidly in the fall of 2009 in the northern hemisphere, what is feasible in terms of stemming the tide of infection in the southern hemisphere?

The UN's plea for $1 billion in aid for the 49 poorest nations is critical now, but efforts must be made to provide a vaccine strategy for potentially over four billion susceptible individuals in the Spring and Summer of 2010. The technical challenges alone are substantial. However, proposals are emerging to address the gaps from the scientific and technical perspective. What is the strategy to pay for the production of this many units of vaccine? How can it be administered? These are challenges that could save over a million lives, even if the virus does not become any more lethal than it is today.

howdy folks