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Wednesday, May 12, 2010

South Africa : 'Serious mistake' to dismiss swine flu, warn experts

Via the Mail & Guardian :

" Infectious disease experts on Tuesday warned health professionals that it would be a "serious mistake" to dismiss swine flu because of the relatively low impact the virus had last year.

Professor John Oxford, virologist and chair of the Global Hygiene Council, said the H1N1 virus has "a sting its tail".

"It will not go away. The question is, what will it do next?" he said.

Oxford was speaking at the fifth annual meeting of the Global Hygiene Council, being held in Johannesburg this week. The Global Hygiene Council was formed in 2006 to monitor infection threats and is made up of experts in hygiene-related fields such as virology, infectious disease and public health.

The British specialist, who has authored well-known virology texts, predicted another outbreak of swine flu this year. "I think this virus will come back this year in your country as it will in mine, and it will go for the young people first," he said. "

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