Flu experts to gather in Malta

Influenza experts will tomorrow meet in Malta for the second European Influenza Conference, being organised by an international scientific influenza working group.

The conference is taking place as the world braces itself for the next influenza pandemic, which could kill between one and seven million people around the globe.

The aim of the conference is to attempt to reduce the impact of influenza in Europe by bringing together the medical and scientific worlds, policy makers and opinion leaders in health care to exchange information about new developments and opportunities in the field of influenza.

Earlier this week, the World Health Organisation warned that the world is going to face a pandemic caused by a strain of bird flu which is lethal to humans.

Thailand, WHO said, was the only nation in the south and southeast of Asia that was ready to deal with the pandemic.

The greatest fear is that the bird flu virus, which has currently affected mainly birds and poultry, will mutate in a way that it is easily transmittable between humans.

WHO communicable diseases department director Jai P. Narain said that it is no longer a question of whether the avian influenza pandemic will occur. The question is when will it happen.

"We may be at almost the last stage before the pandemic virus may emerge," he said earlier this week.

Tanya Melillo, the chairman of the local National Influenza Pandemic Standing Committee, said the conference was important because it was bringing together experts from different countries who will discuss and air their different views.

She said the fact that the conference was being held here was beneficial to Malta because a number of experts, including Klaus Stohr, WHO's scientist in charge of influenza control, were giving lectures to doctors.

A number of other experts attending the conference would be helping the committee with its influenza preparedness plan.

The conference will address various issues revolving around influenza, including the economic and social impact of epidemic and pandemic influenza, the development of diagnostic methods, virus structure and replication, recommendations and guidelines on influenza vaccination and treatment, and how to reduce the impact of influenza. There will also be a round table discussion about the need of antiviral stocks and availability of vaccines.

The avian flu has already killed 63 people in Asia.