Graphics shows the World Health
Organization (WHO) raised its pandemic alert level from Phase 3 to Phase 4
on April 27, 2009, amid the rapid spread of swine flu in some countries.
(Xinhua/Meng Lijing) Photo
Gallery>>>
GENEVA, April 27 (Xinhua) -- Amid the rapid spread of
swine flu in some countries, the World Health Organization (WHO) on Monday
raised its pandemic alert level from Phase 3 to Phase 4, warning of a
significant increase in the risk of a pandemic.
Following the advice and guidance of an emergency
committee, WHO Director-general Margaret Chan decided to raise the alert level
from the current Phase 3 to Phase 4, a WHO official told the media on a
teleconference.
A raise to Phase 4 means the swine flu virus can
cause sustained human-to-human transmission and "community-level outbreaks,"
indicating a significant increase in the pandemic risk, according to the WHO's
six-phase alert system for a possible pandemic.
But raising the alert level does not necessarily mean
a pandemic is considered inevitable, Keiji Fukuda, the WHO's temporary assistant
director-general for Health Security and the Environment told reporters via a
web press conference.
The new virus strain, a subtype of A/H1N1, has not
been detected in swine or humans before. With little or no resistance from the
human immune system, the strain has the ability to aggressively attack the body
and become deadly.
WHO Director-general Margaret Chan has said
containment is not feasible at this time and instead efforts should be focused
on mitigation.
"Either closing borders or restricting trade would
have very little effect of stopping the movement of the influenza strain but it
would cause a great deal of disruption for countries," said Fukuda.
However, Fukuda urged people experiencing flu-like
symptoms to delay travel and seek immediate medical attention.
In its third and last recommendation, the WHO chief
considered that production of seasonal influenza vaccine should continue at this
time, subject to re-evaluation as the situation evolves. As there are a number
of parties involved, the WHO will facilitate the process needed to develop a
vaccine effective against the A/H1N1 virus.
In Mexico, there have been 1,614 suspected cases of
swine flu, including as many as 149 deaths. UN Secretary-general Ban Ki-moon on
Monday noted that the deaths in Mexico were of particular concern because those
who died were "young and healthy adults."
On Monday, the WHO said there were 40 confirmed cases
of the swine flu across several states in the U.S. -- California 7 cases, Kansas
2 cases, New York 28 cases, Ohio 1 case, and Texas 2 cases. No deaths have been
reported.
Suspected or confirmed cases of swine flu were also
reported in Scotland, Canada, New Zealand, Israel, France, Spain and Brazil.
According to a Monday statement from Margaret Chan,
the WHO chief, "The decision (to raise the alert level) was based primarily on
epidemiological data demonstrating human-to-human transmission and the ability
of the virus to cause community-level outbreaks."
As further information becomes available, the WHO may
decide to either revert to phase 3 or raise the level of alert to another phase,
she said.
A raise to Phase 5 would indicate that a pandemic is
imminent.
WASHINGTON, April 27 (Xinhua) -- U.S. health officials
said Monday that there are now up to 40 cases of swine flu in five U.S. States
and they had released 25 percent of a federal drugs stockpile to states fighting
swine flu.
Briefing reporters at a news conference in Atlanta on
Monday, Richard Besser, acting director of the CDC, said 20 new cases were
confirmed due entirely to further testing in New York at a school in Queens,
bringing the New York total to 28. Full story
GENEVA, April 27 (Xinhua) -- Amid the rapid spread of
swine flu in some countries, the World Health Organization (WHO) on Monday
raised its pandemic alert level from Phase 3 to Phase 4, warning of a
significant increase in the risk of a pandemic.
Following the advice and guidance of an emergency
committee, WHO Director-general Margaret Chan decided to raise the alert level
from the current Phase 3 to Phase 4, a WHO official told the media on a
teleconference. Full story
UNITED NATIONS, April 27 (Xinhua) -- The unique strain of
swine influenza suspected of killing nearly 150 people in Mexico and spreading
rapidly to other countries is of "the most serious concern" to the international
community, including the United Nations, UN Secretary-General Ban-Ki moon told
reporters here on Monday.
"We are concerned that this virus could cause a new
influenza pandemic," he said in a statement read to the press here. "It could be
mild, in its effects, or potentially severe." Full story
SEOUL, April 28 (Xinhua) -- The Republic of Korea (ROK)
confirmed on Tuesday the first case of human infection of swine influenza, the
Yonhap news agency reported. Full story
BEIJING, April 27 (Xinhua) -- China's Ministry of Health
(MOH) is developing a diagnostic reagent for use in testing for swine flu, which
has killed more than 100 people in Mexico, an MOH spokesman said Monday.
Research on a possible vaccine and medication to combat
the deadly virus was also underway, MOH spokesman Mao Qun'an told Xinhua. Full story
