Tulsa World: Add H1N1 flu to Afghan problems

MAKE US YOUR HOMEPAGE | Saturday, November 21, 2009 | WIRELESS

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Add H1N1 flu to Afghan problems

By McCLATCHY NEWS SERVICE
Published: 11/9/2009 2:27 AM
Last Modified: 11/9/2009 5:22 AM

KABUL, Afghanistan — As if the Taliban, car bombs, roadside bombs, leftover Soviet land mines, political unrest and errant NATO air attacks weren't enough, Afghans are facing a new killer: the H1N1 flu pandemic.

The government has declared a state of emergency, and closed schools, universities and even wedding halls and public bathrooms for three weeks to slow the spread of the virus, which has killed 10 people in the capital in less than two weeks. Cases are popping up in provinces spanning the country, with new outbreaks reported in two more provinces during the weekend.

"There is no doubt that we have an epidemic in our country now, and we are moving into the fall season when the conditions make it more likely to spread," said Ahmad Farid Raaid, the spokesman for the Ministry of Public Health.

In the past few days, surgical face masks have bloomed like poppies on the faces of worried pedestrians along crowded streets and markets of the capital as more cases were reported.

The effectiveness of such masks in preventing a wearer from contracting flu is uncertain, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, but they are selling quickly in Kabul. Many vendors are boys who would be in school except for the emergency closing.

In the past few days, the government has ramped up its response to the epidemic, Raaid said. Most of the 456 cases among Afghans — and all the fatalities — have occurred in Kabul. Friday, his ministry distributed flu medicine and 10

tons of related medical supplies to 34 hospitals and clinics in the capital.

The Afghan government has enough anti-viral medicine to treat about 50,000 flu patients, with another 30,000 doses on the way, Raaid said. But there is no H1N1 vaccine on hand, although the government expects to receive 550,000 doses through the World Health Organization and is asking for 11 million doses of vaccine.

The initial round of vaccinations will go to a prioritized list of people, starting with health care workers, then pregnant women, young children, the national army and police, then students. By McCLATCHY NEWS SERVICE

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reckless abandon, Tulsa (11/9/2009 6:19:44 AM)

So all the folks that are complaining that we don't have enough flu vaccine--remember that the pharmaceutical companies are producing vaccine for the world, not just Ok or USA.

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