NZ urged to 'prepare for the worst' over pandemic

The World Health Organisation has urged New Zealand and other western Pacific countries to prepare for the worst - a large-scale infectious disease pandemic.

Many western Pacific nations lack the capacity for rapid response and containment which would lessen the blow of a serious health threat, such as an avian influenza pandemic, WHO said in a statement yesterday.

The organisation is holding its annual regional meeting in Auckland this week.

Dr Richard Nesbit, acting director for WHO in the western Pacific, said the threat of severe acute respiratory syndrome (Sars) illustrated the need for swift action in the event of a pandemic.

"Many health systems were under-manned and under-resourced when Sars struck, causing great human suffering, enormous fear and staggering economic losses."

A few months after WHO declared the containment of Sars in July 2003, an outbreak of avian influenza (bird flu) hit Asia and has since spread to Africa, Europe and the Middle East.

A quick response could stop or delay the spread of disease during the early stages of a potential bird flu pandemic, Dr Nesbit said.

"If rapid interventions are successful, the severe adverse health, social and economic consequences expected to result from a pandemic might be prevented."

- NZPA