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WHO Revising Pandemic Standards

New criteria will focus on actual risk, not just geographic spread

By Sam Biddle,  Newser Staff

Posted May 23, 2009 11:45 AM CDT
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(Newser) – The WHO will revise its policy for announcing the global threat of diseases in response to discontent with their alerts regarding the swine flu outbreak, the New York Times reports. The WHO’s deputy director says the new criteria will include an assessment of actual harm to people, as opposed to the prior emphasis on geographic spread. The changes mean that swine flu will probably not be declared a pandemic.

“We’re trying to walk a fine line between not raising panic and not being complacent,” the WHO official said. Some countries were displeased with the WHO’s response to swine flu, accusing it of creating a panic not in line with the strain’s deadliness. “There’s nothing like reality for telling you whether something is working or not," said the deputy director general. "Rigidly adhering to something that is not working would not be very helpful.”

A women wears a protective face mask as she walks out of a hospital in Manila.
A women wears a protective face mask as she walks out of a hospital in Manila.   (AP Photo/ Pat Roque)
A man and his son wears protective face masks in Manila today.
A man and his son wears protective face masks in Manila today.   (AP Photo/ Pat Roque)
Japanese junior high school students wear masks as precaution against swine flu this week.
Japanese junior high school students wear masks as precaution against swine flu this week.   (AP Photo/Itsuo Inouye)
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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 3 comments
Robert_Dada
May 25, 2009 12:43 PM CDT
Dude, you really need to give up on this newser point stuff.
Robert_Dada
May 25, 2009 12:42 PM CDT
Good. I'm tired of these non-event health scares.
kokuaguy
May 23, 2009 10:44 AM CDT
Since no one seems to care about this thread (so far) I just want to point out that I'm number one in Newser points (go to bottom of home page) and I'm getting into creating threads now (click on my name in the points display.) Have a great day. I'm gonna add some content to my Supremes= Obtuse thread.

WHO chief warns of swine flu spread
Reuters

WHO describes flu strain as 'sneaky'
Associated Press

 
swine flu • WHO

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