On October 31, in Brisbane, Australia, health officials and experts from 21 member economies of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum commenced a two-day meeting aimed at enhancing coordination in the event of an avian influenza pandemic.
In relation to treatment medications, on the same day, the Director-General of the World Trade Organization (WTO), Pascal Lamy, stated that adjustments to intellectual property rights are necessary so that poorer countries can produce influenza medications in the event of a pandemic outbreak.
In Thailand, health experts have strongly criticized the Department of Livestock Development (DLD), which is under the Ministry of Agriculture, arguing that the avian influenza outbreak in the country may not have escalated to its current severity if the DLD had implemented effective preventive measures earlier.
Meanwhile, the Thai Ministry of Health has officially announced that a female patient suspected of being infected with the H5N1 virus in Phichit province was actually suffering from a common cold.
HIEU TRUNG (According to TTX, Bangkok Post, Reuters)
