Continued swine flu spread inevitable.

Dr. Marie-Paule Kieny, World Health Organization (WHO) Director of the Initiative for Vaccine Research, stated that a group of experts have concluded the threat of swine flu is so pervasive that all nations will need access to vaccines. During a news conference, she said: “The Committee recognized that the H1N1 pandemic is unstoppable and therefore that all countries will need to have access to vaccines.”

In the United States, the Health and Human Services Department has announced plans to spend US$1 billion to secure materials for the bulk ingredients needed for the swine flu vaccine, with both US President Barack Obama and lawmakers agreeing that it is a top priority for the nation. However, WHO also just indicated that it may take until the year’s end to develop a fully licensed swine flu vaccine. Meanwhile, across the globe, swine flu illnesses continue to grow.

The Marshall Islands and Tonga in the Pacific, and Saint Kitts and Nevis in the West Indies, have confirmed their first-ever swine flu cases, raising the number of affected nations to 137, with the European Center for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) reporting 125,993 cases and 667 fatalities worldwide.

In Australia, where swine flu cases officially number more than 10,000, six people under the age of 40 who had been healthy prior to contracting the swine flu are now requiring last-resort life support systems. Dr. Jim Bishop, Commonwealth Chief Medical Officer, said, “Almost all of those swine flu deaths have been in people with prior medical conditions which have been exacerbated but as I said, there will be now some experience with unfortunately people who have been previously well.” In the United Kingdom, two persons have succumbed to swine flu after previously being in good health.

We join in sorrow with those who have lost loved ones to this virus, and pray for the quick recovery of all suffering from the disease. With Heaven’s grace, may humanity quickly eliminate animal factory farm-based illness and welcome an age of vibrant health through the embrace the life-promoting plant-based diet.

Reference:
http://www.who.int/mediacentre/pandemic_h1n1_presstranscript_2009_07_13.pdf http://terrance.who.int/mediacentre/audio/press_briefings/VPC_13JUL2009_Influenza_A_H1N1.mp3 http://news.smh.com.au/breaking-news-world/swine-flu-spreads-in-pacific-20090715-dlab1036
http://www.14wfie.com/Global/story.asp?S=10725634 http://www.reuters.com/article/GCA-HealthcareReform/idUSTRE56669020090713 http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/07/14/2625279.htm?site=news  http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/health-and-families/health-news/swine-flu-girl-and-gp-die-in-uk-1744351.html
http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601081&sid=aUb2jxRYHFEg.html
http://www.14wfie.com/Global/story.asp?S=10725634 http://www.reuters.com/article/GCA-HealthcareReform/idUSTRE56669020090713 http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/07/14/2625279.htm?site=news  http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/health-and-families/health-news/swine-flu-girl-and-gp-die-in-uk-1744351.html
http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601081&sid=aUb2jxRYHFEg