Influenza is a world problem

EDITORIAL

The slow and uncoordinated response to the alarming outbreak of swine flu in North America has been an unpleasant surprise. Government authorities from the prime minister to senior civil servants issued conflicting statements on the influenza problem believed to have originated in Mexico. For several days, the public has been in an official information limbo.

Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva now says that relevant agencies have completed the first of a three-day meeting to discuss the dangers and response. Let us hope this produces a more credible result than the obviously off-handed weekend statements that "there is no reason for alarm".

There is not just reason for alarm, but an actual alarm. The World Health Organisation last week elevated its International Pandemic Alert to Phase 3 of six. The WHO said their experts and colleagues believe the world is closer to a deadly worldwide killer flu than at any time since 1968, the latest of three such pandemics. These WHO alerts are meant to inform the world of the seriousness of a threat, in order to urge governments everywhere to step up their preparedness.

It is unclear how Thailand has responded to these alerts. Across Asia, many countries stepped up high-profile monitoring of arrivals at airports and land borders, but such measures were not obvious at Thai airports. There has been no mention of Mexico, a growing trade partner and source of tourists. In that country, dozens of flu victims have already died and hundreds are suspected of carrying the disease. Travellers from Mexico, and from North and Central America in general, should have been receiving careful vetting at border crossings for many days.

One should not think, as Disease Control Department director-general Somchai Jakkraphan said on Sunday, that a flu outbreak can be contained inside one country. The Mexican swine flu has already sickened people in the US. The bird flu and Sars outbreaks proved they have no borders.

The lack of information and spread of misinformation has been most troubling. Mr Abhisit spoke of deaths in Mexico, the US and China, although swine flu had not been detected in China or elsewhere in Asia. On Sunday, the premier advised against eating semi-cooked pork - perfectly good advice, but not relevant to the flu outbreak. As Permanent Secretary for Public Health, Prat Boonyawongvirot, contradicted the premier hours later on Sunday, eating pork can neither cause nor contribute to swine flu.

When both the WHO and the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention raise the alarm about an outbreak, so should all the world. Medical workers nationwide must now be put on alert and provided with up-to-date information about the symptoms and treatment of swine flu. Fortunately, like bird flu, it responds to Tamiflu.

Entry points to the country must screen arrivals, and all hospitals should step up preparations to receive infected patients. There has been bad advice from the Public Health Ministry, calling on people with high fever, body aches, coughing, and runny nose to wear protective masks. They should seek medical attention, and on the double if they have been in North America.

Full and fast disclosure of information to the public is the best guard against a worldwide pandemic. Misinformation or, worse, withholding important news, is the enemy of public health. The government and medical authorities must bring themselves up to speed and act swiftly to protect the nation from swine flu.