Swine Flu Alert Boosted To Near Pandemic

Dr. Margaret Chan, the World Health Organization's director-general, just minutes ago announced that the organization has raised its pandemic influenza threat alert to phase 5 from phase 4, indicating its determination that a flu pandemic is now imminent.

Here are excerpts from her statement:

"Based on assessment on 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.

Influenza epidemic must be taken seriously because of capacity to spread rapidly to every country in the world.

On the positive side the world is better prepared for an influenza pandemic than at anytime in history. Preparedness measures undertaken because of the spread of H5N1 avian influenza were an investment and we are now benefiting from this investment. For the first time in history we can track the evolution of a pandemic in real time...

Let me remind you. New diseases by definition are poorly understood. Influenza viruses are notorious for their rapid mutation and unpredictable behavior... WHO and public health authorities in affected countries will not have all the answers immediately. But we will get them...

 

All countries should immediately now activate their pandemic surveillance plan. Countries should remain on high alert for unusual outbreaks of influenza like illness and severe pneumonia. At this stage, effective and essential measures include heightened surveillance, early detection and treatment of cases and infection control in all health facilities.

This change of a higher phase of alert is a signal to governments, to ministries of health and other ministries, to the pharmaceutical industry and the business community that certain actions now should be undertaken with increased urgency and at accelerated pace...

The biggest problem the biggest question is this: How severe will the pandemic be?... It is possible the full spectrum of this disease goes from mild illness to severe disease. But we need to continue to monitor its evolution....

But we know from past experience that influenza may cause mild disease in affluent societies, in affluent countries but more severe disease in developing countries.

No matter what the situation is the international community should treat this as a window of opportunity to ramp up preparedness and response. Above all, this is an opportunity for global solidarity as we look for responses and solutions that benefit all countries, all of humanity. After all it really is all humanity that is under threat during a pandemic."