WHO raises swine flu pandemic alert level to 5

By EMS1 Staff

GENEVA — The World Health Organization has officially raised the swine influenza’s current level of pandemic alert to phase 5 Wednesday, the second highest alert level of preparedness.

According to a statement from WHO director Dr. Margaret Chan, the higher level is a “signal to governments, to ministries of health and other ministries, to the pharmaceutical industry and the business community that certain actions should now be undertaken with increased urgency, and at an accelerated pace.”

Phase 5, according to the WHO Web site, is characterized by human-to-human spread of the virus into at least two countries in one WHO region and is a signal to countries that a pandemic is imminent.

WHO recently reported that 11 countries have officially reported 257 cases of the flu infection. 

Chan informed all countries to activate their pandemic preparedness plans and remain on high alert for unusual outbreaks of flu-like illnesses, according to a statement.

Chan went on to pose this question, “how severe will the pandemic be, especially now at the start?”

“It is possible that the full clinical spectrum of this disease goes from mild illness to severe disease,” Chan said. “We need to continue to monitor the evolution of the situation to get the specific information and data we need to answer this question.”

According to the report, Chan said influenza-related death tends to occur in developing countries, and the global community should aim for solidarity as they look for solutions.

For more information on the World Health Organization, visit http://www.who.int/en/.