Influenza Pandemic Level 5 – H1N1 swine flu
World Health Organization (WHO) yesterday raised its influenza pandemic threat level to five out of six. The three new cases double the total number of sick in B.C. to six. In all instances, Patrick added, symptoms of the H1N1 swine flu have been mild, although one person did spend a night in hospital.
“Based on assessments of all available information and following several expert consultations, I have decided to raise the current level of influenza pandemic alert from Phase 4 to Phase 5,” WHO director general Margaret Chan said during a briefing from the organization’s headquarters in Geneva.
“All countries should immediately activate their pandemic preparedness plans,” she said. “Countries should remain on high alert for unusual outbreaks of influenza-like illness & severe pneumonia.”
Chan said the spread of the virus must be taken “very seriously” but emphasized that people should not panic.
“It is important that we should not overkill, and we need to maintain a level of calm” The human-to-human transmission appeared to be occurring all over the world, which prompted the WHO to raise the alert level to 5 and warn that the world is at the brink of a pandemic.
Video Desc: The World Health Organization is worried about the rapid spread of an outbreak of swine flu. Within hours, the United Nations organization could decide to raise its pandemic alert level.
Info: As three new cases of swine flu are confirmed in the UK, the World Health Organization raises the alert to level five - one short of a full pandemic..
Info: The World Health Organization is worried about the rapid spread of an outbreak of swine flu. Within hours, the United Nations organization could decide to raise its pandemic alert level.
sources: http://www.cbc.ca/… , http://www.metronews.ca…
