WHO says pandemic gaining speed, sees winter risks

Laura MacInnis and Stephanie Nebehay
Reuters
Friday, July 24, 2009

The H1N1 flu virus is starting to infect older people, and pregnant women and the obese are at highest risk, the World Health Organisation said on Friday.

In a statement, the United Nations agency said school-age children remain most affected by the newly discovered virus that has been spreading fast in schools and is gaining momentum in broad communities alongside seasonal flu.

“It remains a top priority to determine which groups of people are at highest risk of serious disease so steps to best protect them can be taken,” it said, estimating that vaccine manufacturers should have H1N1 shots ready soon.

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“Manufacturers are expected to have vaccines for use around September. A number of companies are working on the pandemic vaccine production and have different timelines,” the statement on the WHO website read.

About 800 people have died from the new virus whose fast international transmission caused the WHO to declare in June that a flu pandemic is under way. But for most patients, H1N1 is causing mild and manageable symptoms.

Full story here.

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