A World Health Organization official has called on Japan to boost production of vaccines for the new influenza.
WHO flu expert Nahoko Shindo spoke to NHK in Geneva on Monday.
She urged the Japanese government to upgrade its production facilities so that it could provide vaccines to developing Asian countries.
Developed countries are speeding up production of vaccines for the new H1N1 virus, but global shortages are expected.
Japan is considering making up for shortfalls by importing vaccines from other countries.
Shindo also called on Japan to step up preparations for a domestic flu outbreak. In countries where the virus is spreading, hospitals have experienced serious shortages of equipment and staff.
2009/08/25 07:36(JST)
(JST: UTC+9hrs.)
http://www.nhk.or.jp/daily/english/25_06.html