UK and France Reassure Citizens
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After the avian influenza virus strain was officially confirmed in Turkey and Romania, the World Health Organization (WHO) has called on people to remain calm, as the risk of human infection is currently very low.
Mr. Dick Thompson, a spokesman for WHO, stated that many people confuse avian influenza with pandemic flu; in reality, these two diseases are entirely different. If individuals focus solely on the potential risk of a human pandemic caused by bird infections, they must understand that this risk is very low.
In another announcement, WHO noted: “The spread of the H5N1 virus to another area means that humans will have a higher risk of infection. However, so far, evidence shows that transmission from birds to humans is very difficult.”
Currently, health experts are monitoring whether the avian influenza virus has mutated into a form that can be easily transmitted between humans.
Alongside WHO, French Prime Minister Dominique de Villepin and UK authorities have also reassured the public, urging citizens of both countries not to panic, as the avian influenza outbreak in Eastern Europe has not affected them at this time. Mr. Villepin stated that France has a detailed response plan in place, along with a team ready to intervene promptly should a pandemic occur.
Meanwhile, health officials in the UK continue to emphasize the importance of vaccination for high-risk groups. The government has also ordered 14 million doses of vaccine for the annual vaccination campaign. Similar to France, the UK has reported that they also have a very specific plan to respond in case avian influenza can be transmitted from person to person.
KINH LUÂN (According to AP, AFP & BBC NEWS)
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