Interview: Rapid Support Needed to Contain a Possible Pandemic.

In an interview with Kyodo News about Influenza A, World Bank Development Committee Executive Secretary Kiyoshi Kodera said, "... 'There are sufficient amounts of therapeutic medication of Tamiflu worldwide, but they are mostly in developed countries. The World Bank can play an important role to provide rapid support in case of outbreak in developing countries... [In the case of the $200 million fast-disbursing assistance to Mexico,] the Bank promptly made a decision and coordinated with the Government of Mexico. The Bank has accumulated the experiences of the response to SARS and Avian Flu. We would like to provide rapid support tailored to each recipient country....

It is hard to estimate the magnitude of [the impact of Influenza A] on the global economy. I am afraid winter is approaching in the southern hemisphere, home to many developing countries in South America, because they will become prone to outbreak in winter. To recover the global economy, we should stay alert to the spread of the influenza to developing countries.'..." [Kyodo News/Factiva]