Shortage of H1N1 Vaccines; Natural Disasters and Infectious Diseases in Asia

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), nearly 5,000 lives have been claimed by the novel influenza virus (H1N1). The US has now declared H1N1 as a national emergency. With the start of the second wave of infections, cases have been reported in France, Morocco, Iceland, Turkey, Mongolia and Rwanda. Amid these, there has been a shortfall in H1N1 vaccines, due to manufacturing delays as well as continued debate on the safety of H1N1 and other flu vaccines.At the same time, the onslaught of natural disasters in Asia has shown to be a breeding ground for infectious diseases. After the recent devastating typhoon in the Philippines, 35,000 persons are still living in evacuation shelters and more than half are suffering from diseases. The most dangerous infection has been leptospirosis, a life-threatening infection that one could get by swallowing or absorbing contaminated water through cuts in the skin. International and local infectious disease experts of the WHO and the Global Outbreak Alert are currently trying to identify the strain of this bacteria and its animal source.