.gif)
The World Health Organisation (WHO) says it is not clear whether Fiji will see a second wave of H1N1 infections but has advised countries to prepare for a second wave of the pandemic influenza virus.
WHO South Pacific representative Doctor Chen Ken told FijiLive that tourists and travelers from countries in the northern hemisphere including the United States, Europe and Asia were likely to bring the virus back into the country.
“Previous experience tells us that there is often a second and even third wave of infections during pandemics. This second wave often causes more illness than the initial wave. The USA is currently seeing a sharp increase in cases of flu,” he said.
However, Ken said many people in Fiji may already have developed resistance towards the virus after the previous wave in the first half of the year.
“It is not clear at this time whether Fiji will see a second wave of infections but we need to prepare for the possibility of an increase in cases of H1N1,” he said.
He added that the northern hemisphere countries that were hit by the pandemic earlier this year were now reporting new cases which meant they were experiencing a second wave but Pacific island were not reporting a new wave of infections at this time.
Representatives from the Ministry of Health attended a workshop in Nadi last week to develop a plan for the deployment of the H1N1 vaccine once it is available.
National Adviser for Family Health, Doctor Josaia Samuela said his team was on the alert and that a national taskforce had been set up to counter a next wave of the pandemic should it hit Fiji.
