Global Human Flu Preparedness and Response Work Committee held a coordination meeting at the meeting hall of the National Health Committee under the Ministry of Health in Nay Pyi Taw on 27 April.

In 2003, an epidemic, widely known as SARS, broke out in the world and, at that time, Myanmar managed to prevent the spread of the disease into the nation and to protect the people against it.

Myanmar attended international ministerial meetings on prevention of global human flu six times and is taking international preventive measures.

Now again, a swine flu epidemic has broken out in Mexico, US, New Zeland and Canada, claiming the lives of over 100 people. It is found that the new epidemic spreads from infected pigs and it can transmit from human to human. It is also said that the swine flu virus is a new strain and four types of genes have mutated into this new virus.

The Ministry of Health is now taking preventive measures in cooperation with other related ministries and the WHO. Steps are also being taken to prevent the virus from spreading to Myanmar through airports, seaports and borders. Arrangements have also been made to keep watching suspected patients at hospitals and to provide medicines and medical equipment. Moreover, laboratories have been upgraded to detect the virus and warnings about the disease issued to the public.

At such a time like this, it is necessary for the entire people to take an active part in preventive measures against the swine flu as a national task hand in hand with the government.