GENEVA: The world is unprepared for a massive virus outbreak, the deputy chief of the World Health Organization (WHO) warned on Tuesday, amid fears that H7N9 bird flu striking China could morph into a form that spreads easily among people.

Keiji Fukuda told delegates at a WHO meeting that despite efforts since an outbreak of another form of avian influenza, H1N1, in 2009-10, far more contingency planning was essential.

“Even though work has been done since that time, the world is not ready for a large, severe outbreak,” Fukuda said.

Rapid-reaction systems were crucial, given that health authorities’ efforts are already hampered by lack of knowledge about such diseases, he insisted.

“When people get hit with an emerging disease, you can’t just go to a book and know what to do,” he said.

According to the latest official data, H7N9 avian influenza has infected 130 people in China, and killed 35, since it was found in humans for first time in March.

It is one of a vast array of flu viruses carried by birds, the overwhelming majority of which pose little or no risk to humans.

Experts are struggling to understand how it spread to people, amid fears that it could adapt into a form that can be transmitted easily from human to human.

“Any new influenza virus that infects humans has the potential to become a global health threat,” WHO chief Margaret Chan told the meeting.

“This is a puzzling virus, surrounded by mystery,” she added.

China’s swift reaction to the outbreak, including shutting down poultry markets, has been widely praised.

Critics found fault with its handling of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS)—which triggered a global scare in 2003 when it erupted in east Asia, leaping to humans from animal hosts and eventually killing some 800 people.

“After the SARS virus experience 10 years ago, the Chinese government invested heavily to upgrade capacity. We are reaping the benefit of that investment today,” said Chan.

China’s health minister, Li Bin, underlined that Beijing was coming to terms with the current outbreak but said concerns remained.

“Since May, the number of new cases has decreased significantly,” Li said in Geneva.
Prevention and control have been proven to be effective. However, due to our limited understanding of the virus and the disease, it is imperative to be vigilant, with contingency plans,” she added.

AFP