WHO: Influenza Pandemic Remains Global Threat

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Exercise 1

Vocabulary

influenza

Noun

ˌɪnfluˈenzə

(or flu) an infectious disease like a very bad cold, that causes fever, pains and weakness

You should see a doctor at the first signs of influenza.

pandemic

Noun

pænˈdemɪk

a disease that spreads over a whole country or the whole world

The World Health Organization is doing its best to stop any pandemics from happening.

tackle

Verb

ˈtækəl

to make a determined effort to deal with a difficult problem or situation

How are we going to tackle this problem?

He's tackling a problem with the machinery.

We need to tackle this problem soon.

We still have to tackle the problem of arranging the seating so that nobody feels uncomfortable.

Now, such risks as obesity, teen smoking, poverty, and a lack of access to health care must be tackled.

The government will tackle the problem.

The government will tackle such problems as unemployment.

The government hasn't been able to come up with effective measures to tackle the severe economic slump.

We need to tackle this problem together as a group.

momentum

Noun

moʊˈmentəm

the ability to keep increasing or developing

The environmental party seems to be gaining momentum in the build-up to the election.

forensic

Adjective

fəˈrɛnsɪk

relating to the use of scientific knowledge or methods in solving crimes or issues

Forensic evidence usually is needed to prove such a crime.

Exercise 2

Article

AI Generated Audio––:–– / ––:––

WHO: Influenza Pandemic Remains Global Threat

The World Health Organization has warned that a global influenza pandemic remains a real threat despite progress made over the past 10 years in increasing the worldwide supply of flu vaccines.

In 2006, the World Health Organization acknowledged that countries around the world were ill-prepared to tackle an influenza pandemic. At the time, there were concerns about an H5N1 bird flu pandemic spreading globally.

In response, the WHO launched the Global Action Plan (GAP) for influenza vaccines with three main objectives. It aimed to increase evidence-based seasonal vaccine use; increase vaccine production as a protection against pandemics and improve regulatory capacity in developing countries; and promote research and development for better vaccines.

That initiative has now ended, but Marie-Paule Kieny, WHO assistant-director general for health systems and innovation, observed that global preparation for an influenza pandemic had vastly improved over the past decade.

“We are certainly better prepared for an influenza pandemic than we were 10 years ago,” Kieny said, “but, we must not lose the momentum and we are still facing the threat of an influenza pandemic in 2016.”

AI Generated Audio––:–– / ––:––

Flu season

The flu season in the Northern Hemisphere is set to start in December, peak in late January or early February and run its course by April or May. The WHO estimates every year there are between 3 million and 5 million forensic cases of influenza, resulting in 150,000 to 500,000 deaths.

During the 1920s, scientists estimated that 21.5 million people had died as a result of the 1918-19 influenza pandemic. More recent estimates have put the death toll at between 50 million and 100 million.

Exercise 3

Questions

What problem did the WHO identify in 2006?

What was the purpose of the GAP?

What did Marie-Paule Kieny observe when the initiative ended?

How many people are now believed to have died because of the 1918-19 influenza pandemic?

Exercise 4

Discussion

What do you know about the flu (or influenza)?

Do you know of any recent pandemics that occurred in the world?

What is your general opinion on vaccines?

Advanced Exercises

The following exercises are for an additional lesson.

Exercise 5

Summary

Please make a short summary of the article that you have just read. (1-2 minutes)

Exercise 6

For and Against

Bring arguments first in favor of, and then against the idea that because of advancements in medical research, the likelihood of a worldwide pandemic happening is very low. (2-3 minutes each)

Exercise 7

Discussion

Does your country have a good vaccination program?

What can you do to boost your immune system?

Do you think that in the future we will be immune to all diseases? Why or why not?

Do you think that the rate at which new diseases appear is going to increase or not? Why?

What would the world look like if there were no vaccines?

What precautions can governments take to prevent pandemics from occurring?

How important is personal hygiene in the context of public health?

Do you have a stock of medicine at home or do you only buy medicine when you are ill? Why?

Diseases can rarely be eliminated through early diagnosis or good treatment, but prevention can eliminate disease. Denis Burkitt. Do you agree with this statement? Why or why not?

10.

The human body has been designed to resist an infinite number of changes and attacks brought about by its environment. The secret of good health lies in successful adjustment to changing stresses on the body. Harry J. Johnson. Do you agree with this statement? Why or why not?

Parts of this lesson are based on:

An article by Voice of America.