Tuesday, April 6, 2010

Swine flu scare was unnecessarily exaggerated: WHO

STAFF WRITER 17:30 HRS IST New Delhi, Apr 6 (PTI) A top official of the World Health Organization today admitted that the global swine flu scare was unnecessarily exaggerated, an allegation the international body faced when the killer disease claimed thousands of lives in several countries including India.

"Yes, yes," said Dr Samlee Pilanbangchang, regional director, South-East Asia, WHO, when asked whether the swine flu scare was unnecessarily exaggerated.

He was addressing an function here on the eve of World Health Day.

When the WHO official made the candid admission his colleagues in the organisation intervened and he did not speak further on the matter.

WHO was criticised last year for its handling of the swine flu pandemic and was accused of exaggerating the danger of the virus under pressure from different countries and drug manufacturers.

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