WHO defends its swine flu warning
The World Health Organization (WHO) has defended its handling of the swine flu pandemic last year, after the Council of Europe cast doubt on its actions.
Countries rushed to order thousands of vaccine doses when the pandemic was declared in June, but the virus proved to be relatively mild.
The WHO’s links to drug companies were questioned at a hearing by the Council of Europe’s health committee.
A WHO flu expert denied there had been improper influence from drug firms.
The WHO’s Keiji Fukuda told a hearing in Strasbourg: “Let me state clearly for the record – the influenza pandemic policies and responses recommended and taken by WHO were not improperly influenced by the pharmaceutical industry.”
When a pandemic was declared last June most European countries changed their health priorities to accommodate thousands of expected patients, including spending millions of euros on vaccines for H1N1.
