WHO raises swine flu pandemic alert to level four

by Rich Bowden - Apr 28 2009, 02:12

The World Health Organisation (WHO) has raised the pandemic alert for the recent outbreak of swine flu (A/H1N1 virus) to level four, just two stages short of announcing a full pandemic.

The swine flu, which is believed to be spreading from its original source in Mexico, has already claimed an estimated 150 lives and has seen various nations, including Great Britain, issuing travel warnings for the region.

Dr. Margaret Chan, director general of WHO, said the raised alert level was in response to recent developments; though she also said the heightened alert did not necessarily mean a pandemic was looming on the horizon.

"The change to a higher phase of pandemic alert indicates that the likelihood of a pandemic has increased, but not that a pandemic is inevitable," said Dr. Chan in a WHO statement.

"As further information becomes available, WHO may decide to either revert to phase 3 or raise the level of alert to another phase," she added.

The health organisation also noted that the widespread presence of the virus suggests containment of the outbreak is not feasible and therefore current focus should be placed on mitigation measures.

However, the director general has recommended that international travel not be restricted and borders should be left open despite the outbreak.

Dr. Chan added that WHO is presently immersed in working to, "facilitate the process needed to develop a vaccine effective against [the] A/H1N1 virus."

Meanwhile, U.S. President Barack Obama has said the outbreak is a cause for concern but not panic.

"We are closely monitoring the emerging cases of swine flu in the United States," Obama said. "And this is, obviously, a cause for concern and requires a heightened state of alert. But it's not a cause for alarm."

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