Today the United Nations will receive software designed by TM Software, a subsidiary of Icelandic IT company Nýherji, to coordinate the work of physicians and emergency teams who are involved with actions taken against the swine flu epidemic in Mexico.
The photo is unrelated to the story. By Páll Stefánsson.
“We are working at full speed on establishing the portal,” TM Software project leader Magnús Ingi Stefánsson told Fréttabladid. His team is working on the design and development of an information and communication portal for the UN, which will be used to coordinate the work at disaster zones all over the world.
Stefánsson said it had been decided during a telephone meeting with the office manager of the Mexican health ministry yesterday that the equipment be delivered today. “Work is going very well and now we estimate that those who control the actions in Mexico can start using the equipment [tomorrow].”
Two Icelanders, who had recently returned from the United States where the swine flu has been detected, displayed certain symptoms yesterday, although it is considered unlikely that they were infected. They are waiting to undergo a medical examination.
The alert status in Iceland was upgraded yesterday and is now at the danger level. The World Health Organization (WHO) has increased the alert level from three to four, which means actions against mass infections.
“We suggest that tourists who are coming to Iceland from the United States or Mexico be informed that they should contact a doctor if they experience any flu symptoms,” said Haraldur Briem, Chief Epidemiologist at Iceland’s Directorate of Health.
Briem added that the country’s ports will not be closed. “However, we advise people not to travel to Mexico unless it’s absolutely necessary.”
By yesterday the swine flu had spread to the US, Canada, Scotland, New Zealand, Spain and Israel, in addition to Mexico, and people in France, Sweden, Denmark and Norway may also have been infected.
Yesterday, 150 people had died from pneumonia in Mexico and all of them may have been infected by the swine flu. However, only 20 of these deaths have been confirmed as swine flu cases.
Click here to read more about the Icelandic software that is being used in actions undertaken against the spread of the swine flu epidemic.
