Jean-Luc Martinage, IFRC, Geneva
Red Cross Red Crescent societies throughout the world are stepping up activities to help prevent the spread of the so-called swine flu that started in Mexico as more cases are confirmed in other parts of the world.
This follows the decision made by the World Health Organization on Monday 28th of April to raise its global pandemic flu alert level to 4 (on a scale of 6).
In Mexico, the Red Cross has mobilized volunteers and staff in its 486 local branches throughout the country. The Mexican Red Cross operates 45 hospitals and its health services are provided as usual. So far, no Red Cross volunteers or staff have been affected by the H1N1 virus, and safety measures have been reinforced to prevent them from catching the disease. Prevention activities are also being stepped up and a detailed plan of action should be announced shortly.
Getting ready
As the virus spreads, the IFRC and its member national Red Cross and Red Crescent societies are getting ready in case a large-scale human pandemic occurs. In the United States, the American Red Cross is providing health information and basic advice on its website. It advises regular hand washing, covering your nose and mouth with a tissue or sleeve when you cough or sneeze, and avoid touching the eyes, nose or mouth as germs spread that way.
“This is a good time for families, businesses and organizations to review and update their preparedness plans,” says the American Red Cross.
Many Red Cross societies in the Americas are also increasing preparedness. In Costa Rica, the Red Cross health service has been placed on high alert, and is working closely with the national pandemic prevention commission. Similar activities are taking place in many countries with Red Cross Red Crescent societies playing their role as auxiliary to their governments; right now this particularly applies to national societies in Canada, Brazil, New Zealand, Australia, Spain, France, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland, Italy, United Kingdom and Israel among others.
Task forces activated
Preparedness activities are also being stepped up in Europe. For instance in Italy, the Italian Red Cross has activated two task forces specialized in the triage of passengers arriving at Italian airports.
The task forces, established two years ago in cooperation with the Italian Ministry of Health, are composed of staff and volunteers of the Italian Red Cross, and perform medical surveillance of passengers and crews on inbound flights, in order to guarantee a first isolation barrier, the screening of suspect cases, sanitary isolation and the triage of the passengers to be taken to hospital.
The Red Cross Red Crescent has been massively investing in influenza preparedness since the avian influenza crisis started three years ago. A lot of experience has been drawn on how to prepare for a possible human pandemic and contingency plans have been developed.
The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) is closely monitoring the situation in Geneva and in all of its zonal offices throughout the world. Emergency task forces have been activated both in Geneva and in Panama, where the IFRC regional head office is based. The IFRC is also closely liaising with UN agencies especially the World Health Organization, as coordination is considered as key to limit the scale of the possible pandemic.