Beijing, swine flu: in autumn tens of millions of infected, deaths "unavoidable"
Beijing (AsiaNews / Agencies) - In autumn the cases of swine flu in China could be "several tens of millions", declared a senior health official today, who added that deaths are "inevitable." Yesterday, two separate studies have shown that a dose of the vaccine – rather than two originally believed - may be enough to prevent infection.
Liang Wannian, deputy director of the Department for Emergencies in the Ministry for Health, explains that "according to estimates by experts, in autumn our country will register tens of millions of people infected with H1N1”, of which half may need hospitalization. The official added that "serious cases and deaths will be inevitable."
China is the most populous nation in the world, with its 1.3 billion inhabitants. Hospitals are efficient in large urban centres, but many in rural areas are devoid of functional centres and a large portion of the population, especially in poor rural areas, have no access to health care. In recent days Beijing has announced a vaccination campaign - starting with government leaders and party officials - by the end of the year, about 65 million people will have been vaccinated, only 5% of the total Chinese population.
Yesterday, two studies were published by authoritative medical journals showing that "a single dose of vaccine" can protect people from the pandemic. Previously, health authorities warned of the possibility of the need for a double dose to prevent the infection. Experts from the World Health Organization (WHO), however, continue to maintain a high alert, according to estimates about a third of the world's population - equivalent to two billion people - could be hit by the virus.
To prevent infection, the Japanese Ministry for Health has announced mass vaccination for 50 million people. The government stresses it can produce up to 18 million vaccines, but the goal is to immunize 70 million people, thanks to imports from foreign companies.
In Israel, the Department for Epidemiology has identified a new strain of influenza that has shown signs of resistance to treatment with Tamiflu, the main drug available today to treat the virus. The sample was isolated in a patient with swine flu included in the group of patients at high risk. However health officials concluded that the man has completely recovered.
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