EUROPE/SWITZERLAND - World Health Organization opens 62nd Annual Assembly with first-time delegation from Taiwan

Geneva (Agenzia Fides) – This year, the agenda for the Annual Assembly of the World Health Organization (WHO), which has recently begun in Geneva, will focus its discussions on the risks of the new influenza A (H1N1), which has infected 8,500 people worldwide thus far.
According to the recent update, there are 39 countries affected and 72 people have died from the disease. In Mexico, where the first cases were discovered, there have been 2,895 confirmed cases, of which 66 proved to be mortal. The United States was the most affected, with 4,714 cases, of which 4 led to death.
Precisely as a result of the spread of the flu virus, the 62nd Assembly of the WHO has been shortened and will conclude on May 22, instead of May 27 as had been previously scheduled. This has occurred in order to allow health officials from the 193 WHO countries to return to their countries to continue taking preventative measures in case of an eventual pandemic.
On May 19, they have scheduled an encounter with representatives from pharmaceutical companies on creating a vaccine.
Among the themes for the Assembly are basic health care, the fight against diseases like malaria and polio. Following an agreement with China, the first delegation from Taiwan will participate in the Assembly. (AP) (18/5/2009 Agenzia Fides)