Last week, the Nepal government said it was taking "stringent" action to prevent a Swine Flu outbreak following an announcement by WHO about a global pandemic.

But public health experts say the government doesn't have a mechanism to detect, let alone respond, to a future epidemic in Nepal. The current outbreak is caused by a new strain of Influenza A virus subtype H1N1, and there are now almost 30,000 confirmed cases in 74 countries. The US has more than 13,000 and Australia 1,300 infections.

The government says there are no cases of H1N1 detected, and has a medical team checking every arriving passenger at the airport, leading to long delays at immigration. But India has nine confirmed cases and China 188. Countries which source tourists to Nepal also have cases: Japan (549), Germany (95), Korea (53), Israel (68).
Experts say the absence of cases in Nepal may not be because there aren't infected people, but because of the lack of detection facilities. Currently, samples are sent overseas to confirm the identity of the virus, but there are privately-owned laboratories that can carry out confirmatory tests for H1N1.

Says Sameer Dixit of Center for Molecular Dynamics Nepal: "It is time Nepal got serious about meeting the challenge of this and future epidemics. Nepal must develop its own network of laboratories and hospitals to deal with a viral outbreak as soon as it is detected."

He says these facilities must not only be able to detect prevalent strains but also identify a new strain of the virus when it appears in the population.

Recession hits MDG goals
The global economic crisis is threatening to have a devastating impact on the health of women and children, and may prevent countries from meeting the UN's Millennium Development Goals of halving poverty and disease by 2015.

A new study released this week says eight of the MDGs, reducing child mortality, improving maternal health and combating HIV/AIDS, malaria and other diseases will be most affected.

The Global Campaign for the Health Millennium Development Goals focusses on the health of mothers and children, and highlights practical ways to reduce the continuing and unnecessary death toll in developing countries.

The proposal calls for increased political mobilisation; adequate financing and effective delivery, streamlined and harmonised aid operations, free services for women and children at the point of use and the removal of access barriers, skilled and motivated health workers at the right place at the right time and accountability for results with robust monitoring and evaluation. (IPS)

Maoists target media
The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) this week called on the Maoists and all political groups in Nepal to end attacks on media personnel reporting on street protests.

On Tuesday, Maoists attacked a vehicle carrying FNJ secretary Ram Dahal, Himal Khabarpatrika editor Kiran Nepal, Himal Khabarpatrika managing editor Indra Shrestha and journalist Rameswor Bohara in Nepalganj even after they showed their press pass. They stoned the vehicle and looted the key.

On 15 June, Maoist YCL cadre physically and verbally abused reporters as they tried to cover their enforcement of a banda. In Chahabil a Kantipur Publications van was vandalised. In Gairegaun in Makwanpur Kantipur TV host Basudev Krishna was verbally abused.

In Sinamangal a vehicle transporting Nepal Samacharpatra editor Badri Tiwari was forced to turn back after activists blocked its path.

In Sitapaila Avenues TV correspondent Krishna Neupane was harassed by protesters who damaged his motorcycle. In Dhumbarahai FNJ staff member Bhojraj Ghimire's motorcycle was nearly set on fire.