Via Scoop :
" Nadi, Fiji Islands, Tuesday 25 May 2010 : The 2009 Influenza A (H1N1) pandemic showed how important it is for Pacific Island countries and territories (PICTs) to have preparedness and response plans in place along with resources to implement them.
A three-day meeting of the Pacific Avian and Pandemic Influenza Taskforce (PAPITaF) just started today in Nadi, Fiji Islands, to examine the region’s responses to H1N1 and identify how pandemic preparedness and response plans can be improved.
Almost all PICTs were affected by the H1N1 pandemic influenza last year. Only Niue, Tokelau and Pitcairn Islands had no cases recorded.
‘Fortunately the disease was moderate in severity,’ says Mrs Jennie Fischer, coordinator of the Pacific Regional Influenza Pandemic Preparedness Project (PRIPPP) at the Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC). ‘Its impact in the region was mitigated by the plans that PICTs have been preparing in recent years with support from PRIPPP and other partners, but the pandemic also revealed some weak points.’
At this major regional forum, PICTs will be able to make."
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