Infectious disease specialists from Australia, Japan and Vietnam areaddressing an international seminar in Sydney. Doctors are sharingtheir experience of caring for patients with the H1N1 virus.
TheH1N1 virus, which is commonly known as swine flu, has spread rapidlyaround the world since emerging in North America earlier this year, yetstill much of what makes it so potent a threat remains a mystery.
Sharing expertise will help scientists build up a more comprehensive picture of this contagious respiratory condition.
InAustralia more than 130 people have died of swine flu and the number ofinfections is in excess of 32,000 as the country approaches the end ofthe southern hemisphere winter.
At Sydney's Royal North Shorehospital a video linkup has allowed doctors from Vietnam and Japan topresent case studies and to share their experiences in dealing with apotentially fatal illness.
Professor Chris Dennis, a respiratoryphysician, who is chairing the seminar, says international cooperationis a vital ingredient in the fight to conquer swine flu.
"Oh, Ithink it is very important. Obviously this is going to be a diseasethat affects the entire globe, if it has not already. So, that I thinkit is extremely important that we have a global strategy, as much aspossible, to deal with it," said Dennis.
Vietnam has reported more than 2,000 cases of swine flu and so far two patients have died.
Recentdeaths in Japan prompted the government to warn that a "full-fledgedepidemic" of swine flu may have started. It is estimated that there areabout 110,000 confirmed H1N1 cases in Japan.
Australia'sdefenses against the outbreak of the H1N1 virus will be boosted whenmass flu vaccinations start next month after officials fast-tracked ascheme capable of covering it's entire population of 21 million people.
Theprocess has been speeded up after promising results were recorded inhuman trials that began in late July. Health officials say trials havegone smoothly and Australia could be the first country anywhere tostart a mass immunization program.