Vatican health director warns against swine-flu panic
July 21, 2009
Dr. Giovanni Rocchi, director of the Vatican City State’s health office since his appointment by Pope Benedict in 2005, has warned against panic over the H1N1 virus, more commonly known as swine flu.
Noting that under 5,000 have died of the disease, Dr. Rocchi said that “the specific mortality is low, or rather, it is considered very low.” Because vaccines “will not be available until they are ready and the efficacy and safeness is verified … it is useless to run off in search of a vaccine that doesn't exist,” said Dr. Rocchi, a former Tor Vergata University professor whose specialty is infectious diseases.
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Further information:
- Nuova influenza. Il direttore sanitario del Vaticano: niente allarmismi (Vatican Radio)
- Vatican Health Director on H1N1: Stay Calm (Zenit)
- Pope chooses cardiologist as new personal physician (CNS)
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