Food Crisis, Climate, Flu Are Main Health Threats

Food Crisis, Climate Change And Influenza Are Main Threats To Health, Says UN

19 May 2008 - The global food crisis, climate change and pandemic influenza are the main threats to human health, according to the United Nations World Health Organization (WHO).

"These three critical events, these clear threats to international security, have the potential to undo much hard-won progress in public health," WHO Director-General Margaret Chan said today in Geneva.

Speaking at the opening of the 61st session of the World Health Assembly, which is WHO's supreme decision-making body, Ms. Chan said the organization had identified 21 "hot spots" around the world which are already experiencing high levels of acute and chronic malnutrition. As part of the international task force on the global crisis caused by soaring food prices, WHO is aiming to guide priority action, she said.

Ms. Chan added that an estimated 3.5 million deaths a year are caused by undernutrition, and that poor households spend on average between 50 and 75 per cent of their income on food. "More money spent on food means less money available for health care, especially for the many millions of poor households who rely on out-of-pocket payments when they fall ill."

On climate change, she said that more droughts, floods and tropical storms would add to the demands for humanitarian assistance and would result in a growing number of environmental refugees. "Again, the poor will be the first and hardest hit. Climate change is already adding an additional set of stresses in areas that are already fragile, with marginal livelihoods and thin margins of survival when shocks occur."

Ms. Chan described pandemic influenza, potentially set off by the spread of bird flu to humans, as the "third global crisis looming on the horizon." She said that "the threat has by no means receded, and we would be very unwise to let down our guard, or slacken our preparedness measures."

"As with climate change, all countries will be affected, though in a far more rapid and sweeping way," she added.

The week-long session of the World Health Assembly will also discuss female genital mutilation (FGM) and the harmful use of alcohol.

ENDS

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