Representatives from Tokyo, Beijing and Seoul are also present at the meeting. Japan donates anti-virus pills; Thailand invests 2.5 million euro in prevention. ASEAN summit to resume in June.

Bangkok (AsiaNews/Agencies) – The nations of South-East Asia are meeting in Bangkok to discuss how cooperation on prevention of a possible A/H1N1 virus in the region.  In front of representatives from the 13 member states ( 10 members of ASEAN plus China, Japan and South Korea) Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva underlined that the region is experienced in this field having in the past dealt with both SARS and Bird Flu, but that this should not lead to false calm.

So far there have been no registered cases of H1N1 in South-East Asia, but the governments are on the alert.   Japan has donated 500 thousand doses of Tamiflu and 750 thousand prevention kits to neighbouring nations, but reserves of the anti-viral vaccine are few.

Thailand has set up medical check points for all passengers arriving from International airports and has set aside 100 million Baht (circa 2.15 million Euros) for a swine flu prevention campaign.

Abhisit  also made a point of saying Thailand is ready to host the resumed Asian summits in Phuket in June. The previous summit was called off because of opposition protests (by the so-called “red-shorts) who seek the return of the deposed prime minister Thaksin.

• ASEAN
• thaliand
• china
• japan
• swine
• flu
• vaccine
• anti-virus
• medicines