While stressing that most A(H1N1) cases so far have been mild, World Health Organization Director-General Margaret Chan warned that the new influenza strain colloquially referred to as “swine flu” is “unstoppable“. Chan issued the warning during her opening remarks of the two-day global A(H1N1) summit that started Thursday in Cancun, Mexico.

Here’s a link to Chan’s speech which I got from the WHO News Twitter account.

The Philippines, which thankfully still has no cases of influenza A(H1N1) a.k.a. swine flu after a baby suspected of being infected with the virus tested negative, is batting for greater regional cooperation to combat the potential pandemic.

Philippine health secretary Francisco Duque III chaired the Asean+3 summit on May 8 in Bangkok. This saw a turnout of health ministers from the 10 members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations and their counterparts from China, Japan and South Korea.