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Tug-of-war over pulled WHO Italy report

A suppressed WHO report on Italy's pandemic response says hospitals were "chaotic," dangers to elderly went unrecognized, and training was haphazard.

WHO officials Francesco Zambon, right, and Piroska Östlin at a 2017 reception in Malta
WHO officials Francesco Zambon, right, and Piroska Östlin at a 2017 reception in Malta (AN/WHO Europe)

A suppressed World Health Organization report critical of Italy's initial pandemic response says hospitals were "improvised, chaotic and creative," dangers to elderly went unrecognized and training was haphazard.

Crucially, the report showed the Italian health ministry had not substantially updated its influenza pandemic preparedness plan since the nation's 2006 bout with acute respiratory syndrome, or SARS.

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