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SINGAPORE : The World Health Organisation has said the number of countries prepared to face a pandemic has increased more than threefold in just two years.
Speaking in an interview with reporters on Monday, WHO Director-General Dr Margaret Chan said she was confident that countries would be able to face a bird flu pandemic, if they prepare for such an eventuality, like what they are doing now.
She stressed that a pandemic cannot be handled by any single country or organisation, but required international collaboration and cooperation.
This is so that they can work with the international community to nip the problem in the bud, before it spreads to the other parts of the world.
Dr Chan said, "Two years ago less than 50 countries were prepared for the pandemic and it took sometime, as long as weeks, for countries to report cases to WHO. Two years down the road, as we are talking today, we have about 170 countries, with pandemic preparedness plans.
"The awareness has improved and countries are reporting cases much earlier to WHO. So to that extent, I think, you know, we are seeing some positive development."
Meanwhile, earlier Monday, Dr Chan met PM Lee at the Istana.
While in Singapore, Dr Chan is also expected to tour the Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine Museum.
She will also give a lecture on "Diagnosis of Global Public Health" at the National University of Singapore - where she is an alumnus.
She will also make a stop at Jurong Polyclinic as part of her visit. - CNA/ms
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