World closer to swine flu pandemic, says WHO
May 29th, 2009 - 5:25 am ICT by IANSGeneva, May 29 (Xinhua) World Health Organisation (WHO) chief Margaret Chan said Thursday the world is inching closer to a full A(H1N1) or swine flu pandemic.
“Now we are not in phase six yet, but we are closer to phase six today (Thursday) than we were last week,” WHO Director-General Chan said referring to the highest level of pandemic alert.
She said the global health organisation is following very closely the development of the A(H1N1) influenza situation in Europe, Asia and South America.
“We need to look at whether or not the criteria for phase six is met,” she said.
According to the WHO’s current pandemic alert system, phase six will mean the H1N1 flu causes sustained and community-level human-to-human transmission of the virus. So far, North America is the only region where community-level outbreak has occurred.
But a number of countries have suggested that the WHO should consider not only the geographic spread of the disease but also its severity before declaring a full pandemic.
Chan said the WHO “is receptive” to countries’ concerns, but it needs to consult with experts to see how the criteria for declaring a pandemic might be adjusted.
“We need to consult with experts and see in what way we can indicate the nature and the severity of the illness without compromising, without forgetting the importance of geographical spread,” she added.
- WHO close to announcing swine flu pandemic, says official - Jun 10, 2009
- WHO Declares Swine Flu Pandemic Officially Over - Aug 11, 2010
- WHO declares swine flu pandemic over - Aug 11, 2010
- Mexican swine flu outbreak kills 29, infects nearly 1,500 - Jan 28, 2012
- Not influenced by pharma companies on H1N1 pandemic: WHO - Jun 09, 2010
- Young child among eleven H1N1 flu deaths in Jordan - Jan 23, 2011
- WHO raises pandemic alert level - Apr 28, 2009
- Two die of swine flu in Orissa, toll seven - Aug 11, 2010
- WHO raises swine flu alert to phase 5 - pandemic imminent (Lead) - Apr 30, 2009
- Swine flu rising in Russia, Europe - Jan 17, 2011
- WHO warns of second wave of swine flu pandemic - Aug 23, 2009
- Man dies of bird flu in China - Jan 23, 2012
- 16th swine flu case; India says no need to worry (Roundup) - Jun 12, 2009
- WHO concludes emergency meeting; pandemic declaration expected - Jun 11, 2009
- WHO raises swine flu alert to highest pandemic level (Lead) - Jun 12, 2009
Tags: director general, europe asia, flu, geneva, global health, h1n1, human transmission, influenza, margaret chan, north america, number of countries, outbreak, severity, south america, swine flu pandemic, system phase, virus, world health organisation, xinhua
