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Freeway Medical Company

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  "Being awarded a 3M contract is an important step for us," said Marcuson, (Managing Director). We hereby look forward in the support of both 3M and our loyal customers/supporters.

  "Being chosen by 3M as the distributor is a great honor for us, because it provides validation of our strategy to be a true partner to our customers when building solutions for the health care industry."

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• Avian Influenza

Avian influenza WHO is coordinating the global response to human cases of H5N1 avian influenza and monitoring the corresponding threat of an influenza pandemic. Information on this page tracks the evolving situation and provides access to both technical guidelines and information useful for the general public. Latest information Avian Influenza Outbreaks in South-East Asia Four SEAR countries namely; Indonesia, India, Myanmar and Thailand have reported avian influenza. While India and Myanmar have not reported any human cases, Indonesia and Thailand together have accounted for 106 human cases with 80 deaths. In Indonesia, there have been 81 confirmed human cases of avian influenza, with 63 deaths, between July 2005 and 29 January 2007.  Since December 2003, Thailand has reported 25 confirmed human cases and 17 deaths, including 3 cases that were reported between July and September 2006. (updated on 29 January 2007)   6 February 2007 Cumulative Number of Confirmed Human Cases of Avian Influenza A/(H5N1) Reported to WHO Full text 1 February 2007 Early release of influenza viruses for pandemic influenza vaccine development Full text

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• What You Need To Know

  • Avian Influenza - What You Need to know and Do Bird flu (avian influenza) is caused by a virus. It is present in droppings, respiratory, secretions and blood of the infected birds. Human beings get accidentally infected. In adults, most infections have occurred among those who have removed feathers or slaughtered infected chickens, or children playing around sick or dying chickens. More Information

    Preventing Bird Flu: Questions and Answers I don’t have soap or water, how can I make my hands free of bird flu virus? - Use a 70% alcohol – based hand rub solution. Use sufficient quantity to completely cover your hands. Wash your hands using running water and soap as soon as these become available. Please note that alcohol rub only destroys germs. It does not clean the hands. Hand washing does both. How can I protect myself from a patient of bird flu? Stay away from the patient while coughing/sneezing. If possible, cover your nose with tissue paper or a piece of cloth. More Information

    Preventing Bird Flu: Precautions poultry farm workers should take Always keep chickens “roofed in” so that they do not come in contact with wild or migratory birds. Do not allow ANY chickens or eggs to be taken out from poultry farm. Destroy all eggs. Do not carry chickens from an infected poultry farm to your home for cooking. Disinfect boots or shoes before entering or leaving a poultry farm.   More Information

    A Manual for Improving Biosecurity in the Food Supply Chain: Focus on Live Animal Markets More Information

    WHO guidelines for the global surveillance of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS). Updated recommendations, October 2004 WHO/CDS/CSR/ARO/2004.1 English - [pdf 439kb] Summary This document sets out revised guidelines for the global surveillance and reporting of SARS as an ongoing strategy for rapidly detecting cases and preventing further national or international spread. Addressed to national health authorities, the guidelines respond to the need for a sustainable long-term approach to SARS surveillance that maintains an adequate level of sensitivity yet does not overburden health system capacity. With this objective in mind, the document adopts a phased approach to surveillance and preparedness, with different levels of activity recommended for each of four phases. These phases move from the absence of evidence that the SARS coronavirus (SARS-CoV) is circulating in human populations, to the detection of human chains of transmission, to evidence of international spread, to the post-epidemic period. The revised guidelines, which replace a previous document issued in August 2003, draw on experiences during four recent incidents in which cases of SARS occurred following breaches in laboratory biosafety, or human exposure to an animal reservoir or other environmental source. Apart from demonstrating the importance of continued vigilance, these incidents revealed the need for more precise guidance on laboratory testing and on the requirements for official reporting to WHO. Throughout the document, specific recommendations take into account the high demands of a disease with non-specific symptoms and a diagnosis that requires multiple test results and rigorous procedures for quality assurance. Particular emphasis is given to the prevention of secondary transmission from sporadic cases and common source outbreaks as a strategy for reducing the risk of another international outbreak.   Contents - Executive summary - 1. Introduction - 2. Clinical and laboratory criteria for the global surveillance of SARS - 3. The inter-epidemic period – The SARS Alert - 4. The global surveillance of SARS during an outbreak - 5. International reporting of SARS - Annex 1. Summary of the essential aspects of the SARS Risk Assessment and Preparedness Framework - Annex 2. Clinical case description of SARS - Annex 3. Guidance regarding the diagnosis of SARS in the inter-epidemic period - Annex 4. WHO focal points for SARS - References

    WHO SARS Risk Assessment and Preparedness Framework October 2004 WHO/CDS/CSR/ARO/2004.2 English - [pdf 574kb] Executive Summary This document sets out a framework of activities, at national and international levels, that can be used to assess the risk that SARS might recur and to prepare appropriate contingency plans. Modelled on WHO’s influenza pandemic preparedness plan, the framework adopts a phased approach in which recommended activities escalate in line with the evolving epidemiological situation. Phases are defined by distinct epidemiological criteria, such as the detection of sporadic cases with no secondary spread, the establishment of human-to-human transmission, and evidence of international spread. The possibility that the SARS coronavirus might behave differently than during the 2002–2003 international outbreak is also taken into account. WHO strongly recommends that all countries undertake a risk assessment as the basis for contingency plans, as SARS-related risks will vary considerably both within and between countries. In issuing the framework, WHO aims to help countries match the level of risk with appropriate activities and thus avoid introducing costly and demanding measures that are not justified by the epidemiological situation. The framework is organized according to six phases, moving from the inter-epidemic period, when preparedness planning and routine surveillance for cases are stressed, through the establishment of chains of transmission and subsequent international spread, to global interruption of transmission. For each phase, activities are listed separately for countries/areas reporting SARS cases and countries/areas free of SARS. Examples of activities range from a review of the legal framework to ensure its compatibility with control measures, through an inventory of laboratories working with SARS or storing clinical specimens, to factors to consider when deciding whether to close a health care facility. Also indicated are the activities, at each phase, that will be undertaken by WHO and the types of assistance that WHO can provide to countries. Taken together, these lists of activities should serve as a useful tool for formulating contingency plans that are adequately protective and appropriate to the level of risk. Contents - Executive summary - 1. Introduction - 2. Phases of the SARS preparedness framework - 3. Phase 0 – Inter-epidemic period: No evidence of SARS - CoV transmission to humans worldwide - 4. Phase 1 – Inter-epidemic period: Sporadic case(s) of SARS - 5. Phase 2 – Confirmed human-to-human transmission - 6. Phase 3 – International spread of SARS - 7. Phase 4 – Slowing down of the outbreak - 8. Phase 5 – Global interruption of SARS-CoV transmission (epidemic halted) - References

     

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