The 62nd World Health Assembly (WHA)closed on Friday with the adoption of resolutions on a variety of global health issues.

Those resolutions cover pandemic influenza preparedness, primary health care, the prevention and control of multi drug-resistant and extensively drug-resistant tuberculosis, innovation and intellectual property, health conditions in the occupied Palestinian territory, etc.

In her closing remarks, WHO Director-General Dr Margaret Chan again warned governments of the danger and unpredicability of the A/H1N1 influenza virus.

"This is a very contagious virus. We expect it to continue to spread to new countries and continue to spread within countries already affected," she said.

"In cases where the H1N1 virus is widespread and circulating within the general community, countries must expect to see more cases of severe and fatal infections," she added.

The WHO chief stressed that she would take the responsibility to declare a pandemic "very, very seriously."

She said her decision would consider the scientific information available, and would be supported by advice from the WHO's Emergency Committee, a body of international experts established in compliance with the International Health Regulations.

The WHA is the supreme decision-making body of the WHO. It is usually held in May in Geneva and participated by health ministers of members states.

WHO member states had earlier agreed to shorten this year's assembly from nine to five days in order to allow senior officials to return to their home countries to help oversee preparedness for a possible A/H1N1 influenza pandemic.

(Source: Xinhua)