WHO: Swine Flu 'Unstoppable' and Access to Vaccine Needs to be Global

The head of the World Health Organization today called the global spread of the H5N1, 'swine flu', virus "unstoppable", noting that over 100 countries have are now reporting instances of the virus. Margaret Chan, the United Nation's highest health official, spoke about the state of the pandemic at a summit in Mexico, where it is widely believed to have first infected humans and which has been hard hit by the virus. While the WHO stresses that most cases are mild, Chan declared that "As we see today, with well over 100 countries reporting cases, once a fully fit pandemic virus emerges, its further international spread is unstoppable." Her statements came one day after she and developing countries urged global access to a swine flu vaccine. There are widespread worries that vaccines for H5N1 will be hoarded by richer, developed... [read full story]                    

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