Athens News Agency: News in English, 09-07-28

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From: The Athens News Agency at <http://www.ana.gr/>

CONTENTS

[01] Karamanlis briefed on A/H1N1 pandemic

[01] Karamanlis briefed on A/H1N1 pandemic

Avramopoulos told reporters after the meeting that the issue was being stringently monitored, in cooperation also with the relevant Scientific Council that advises the State on the measures that need to be taken.

The minister explained that there was scientific uncertainty over how the virus will develop, but stressed that the State was planning ahead for the worst case scenario.

He further assured that the Greek state will continue to treat the matter with seriousness, a plan and a strategy, stressing that the national plan will be updated in accordance with the development of the virus.

Avramopoulos said that the updated national plan "activates the state mechanism", in continuation of the two preceding plans, while, with respect to innoculation, he said that Greece will be among the first countries to acquire the vaccines, which will cover the needs of the country's entire population.

The minister urged that "we must carry on normally with our lives, without worry", noting that in the next two days the Scientific Council will submit its observations on the updated national plan, which in turn will be submitted to the prime minister on Friday as well as to the political party leaders.

A standing order has been given to the Scientific Council to update the national plan every two weeks, in accordance with the development of the new flu and all available data.

Asked whether a second serious case of the new flu A/H1N1 has been recorded in Greece, Avramopoulos noted that if a serious incident occurs, this is announced by the Centre for the Control and Prevention of Diseases (KEELPNO), and added that the number of cases were no longer being counted, since 95 percent of all the cases have completely recovered.

Asked to comment on criticism by main opposition PASOK over the government's handling of the new flu pandemic, Avranopoulos accused PASOK of lacking seriousness, and noted that Greece has received international praise over its handling of the problem.

Caption: ANA-MPA file photo of Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis(R) and Health Minister Dimitris Avramopoulos(L).

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