The World Health Organization (WHO) is providing five sets of intensive care equipment for the treatment of pandemic influenza A/H1N1 flu to Nepal within the next 15 days, WHO Representative Dr. Nirmal Kandel has said.

Kandel was quoted by Monday's The Himalayan Times daily as saying that the WHO headquarters in Geneva had already shipped the equipment. The hand over, he said, would take place as soon as the equipment arrives in Nepal.

The equipment will be first handed over to the Ministry of Health and Population for onward distribution to five hospitals, he added.

The shipment of equipment is for strengthening the hospital capacity and to treat the patients in full-fledged condition, Kandel said.

"The headquarters is also due to dispatch swine flu vaccine by January end," he said, adding that they would be sending vaccine to around 10 percent of the total population.

According to the Avian Influenza Control Project, a total of 171 cases of pandemic influenza were recorded in the country. Out of the total number of recorded cases, two persons have succumbed to the disease thus far.

(Xinhua News Agency January 11, 2010)