Swine flu spread 'unstoppable' says WHO

• Print
• Email

Updated July 15, 2009 09:26:49

Fiji health authorities on Tuesday confirmed eight new cases of swine flu, taking the number of affected people to 73. Fiji's Ministry of Health has launched a nationwide campaign in an effort to stop the spread of the H1N1 flu virus, and say they are expecting the numbers to increase in the coming weeks.

Presenter: Geraldine Coutts and Simon Lauder
Speaker: Iliesa Tora, Fiji's Ministry of Health spokesman; Professor Lou Irving, Influenza Specialist Group

TORA: We believe that the virus or flu is going to increase in numbers because of the current cold season and the fact that this is the season for the normal flu and we also have a lot of travellers who come in daily through Nadi airport.

COUTTS: Fiji's Ministry of Health spokesman, Iliesa Tora.

Well, the World Health Organisation says swine flu is proving unstoppable and, when it's ready, the vaccine should be distributed in every country. But that is still months away and the virus is having a significant impact. More than 20 Australians have died and several otherwise fit and healthy people have been struck down.

• Listen:
• Windows Media

• Export orders roll in for Fiji bamboo clothes company
• Rudd wants real change in Fiji before easing sanctions
• Growing concern in Fiji over Public Order Decree
• UN monitoring promised new freedoms in Fiji
• Encouraging sign of new gold and copper find in PNG
• Transparency calls for naming of Vanuatu diplomats "on commission"
• PM says good PNG-Indonesian relations in national interest
• Queensland remembers last year's floods