WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION OFFICIALLY RECOGNIZES PANDEMIC ALERT OF SWINE FLU
On the basis of available evidence and expert assessments of the evidence, the scientific criteria for an influenza pandemic have been met. The Director-General of WHO has therefore decided to raise the level of influenza pandemic alert from phase 5 to phase 6.
"The world is now at the start of the 2009 influenza pandemic," Dr. Margaret Chan said at a press conference today.
“The virus is contagious, spreading easily from one person to another and from one country to another. As of today, nearly 30,000 confirmed cases have been reported in 74 countries,” she said.
It’s worth mentioning that this is the first officially recognized pandemic alert in the last 40 years.