Indonesia Ready to Cope with Pandemic
Jakarta, June 12, 2009 - The World Health Organization has
declared that the global outbreak of the H1N1 influenza virus is now at Phase 6
- a full scale pandemic.
The director general of the WHO said this is the
first time in 41 years that the level has risen from phase 5 to 6 . This is
because the virus has spread to 74 countries. WHO also stressed that this
development does not mean that the virus is more deadly, rather the virus is of
moderate severity.
In Indonesia,
the Ministry of Health is in front responding to the flu pandemic. The National
Committee for Avian Influenza Control and Pandemic Preparedness, KOMNAS FBPI
will support coordination of the non health sector as needed.
The public should remain calm. Until now, no cases
of H1N1 have been detected in Indonesia.
Families should stay informed and practice good hygiene practices.
"World experts are watching the situation closely
and urging countries to begin initiating their pandemic plans"", said Bayu
Krisnamurthi, Chief Executive of KOMNAS FBPI who just concluded a
conference on global pandemic coordination held in the United Kingdom.
"Indonesia is quite advanced in its
preparations, however no country can fully prepared for such an event, so we
must remain vigilant".
