WHO Statement to the Council of Europe on Pandemic 2009 H1N1

On January 26th, Dr Keiji Fukuda - Special Adviser on Pandemic Influenza to the Director-

General- released a statement to the Council of Europe on behalf of WHO. Topics addressed included:

a) The role of WHO in improving global and national preparedness through the capacity strengthening of laboratories, epidemiological investigations, clinical care and communications, as well as the building of new capacities such as the International Health Regulations.

b) The current global situation regarding the incidence of 2009 H1N1

c) The importance of the International Health Regulations and the Emergency Committee in the actions taken with respect to 2009 H1N1

d) Accusations against WHO about conflicts of interest with respect to the pharmaceutical industry.

View the statement at http://www.who.int/csr/disease/swineflu/coe_hearing/en/index.html