'WHO is assisting member states in strengthening surveillance, laboratory capacity, antiviral and vaccine production and distribution, and information for the public. We continue to monitor the severity of this virus closely,' he added.

The world health watchdog has transferred technology and development funds to vaccine manufacturers in the region, such as the Serum Institute of India, Biopharma (Indonesia) and GPO (Thailand). These manufacturers will have a collective capacity of about 220 million doses annually, with a surge capacity that could reach 420 million pandemic (H1N1) 2009 vaccine doses annually.

The UN agency said the national Tamiflu stockpiling varies - for instance, India has virtual stocks and agreements with producers. Indonesia, Myanmar and Thailand share a common stockpile as well as their national stockpiles. Other countries in the region maintain a stock that is procured or donated through WHO.

WHO said once community transmission is established, it does not recommend laboratory testing of all suspected cases. 'Laboratory testing priorities in such communities should shift to testing severe cases only. Also laboratory services should be utilised to monitor resistance of the virus to Tamiflu and any genetic changes.'