WHO raises alert level over swine flu

[sabra]

Source: CNN

The World Health Organization has raised its pandemic alert level in response to the outbreak of swine flu that originated in Mexico, U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano said today. The move means the world body has found the virus is capable of significant human-to-human transmission. WHO earlier said 73 cases have been confirmed worldwide. Forty of those are in the U.S

Read more: http://www.cnn.com/

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http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/LR672732.htm


WHO to raise pandemic alert level for swine flu
27 Apr 2009 20:32:18 GMT
Source: Reuters
LONDON, April 27 (Reuters) - The World Health Organisation will raise its pandemic alert level to phase 4 over the deadly swine flu virus, indicating the infection can spread between humans to cause community-level outbreaks, a source familiar with the decision said on Monday. The decision came after experts held hours of emergency talks on whether to to raise the alert level from phase 3 due to the outbreak, which has killed up to 149 people in Mexico and spread to the United States, Canada and Europe.

Phase 4 is characterised by human-to-human spread of a new virus able to cause community-level outbreaks, according to the six-point scale the WHO revised earlier in the day. The level also indicates there is a significant increased risk of a pandemic but not that this is a foregone conclusion.

[pkdu]

1. I know its not funny but I thought that was a question when I read the tag-line

:O)

P

[Seeking Serenity]

4. My first thought was, "Wow, Roger Daltrey and Pete Townshend are really branching out."

Who knew?

[Baby Snooks]

5. It really isn't...

The problem is no one knows what this might lead to - it could be nothing or it could be a repeat of 1918.

.

[Robb]

2. WHO link:

http://www.who.int/mediacentre/news/statements/2009/h1n1_20090427/en/index.html

[uppityperson]

6. Info about the stages...

http://www.who.int/csr/disease/avian_influenza/phase/en/index.html

In nature, influenza viruses circulate continuously among animals, especially birds. Even though such viruses might theoretically develop into pandemic viruses, in Phase 1 no viruses circulating among animals have been reported to cause infections in humans.

In Phase 2 an animal influenza virus circulating among domesticated or wild animals is known to have caused infection in humans, and is therefore considered a potential pandemic threat.

In Phase 3, an animal or human-animal influenza reassortant virus has caused sporadic cases or small clusters of disease in people, but has not resulted in human-to-human transmission sufficient to sustain community-level outbreaks. Limited human-to-human transmission may occur under some circumstances, for example, when there is close contact between an infected person and an unprotected caregiver. However, limited transmission under such restricted circumstances does not indicate that the virus has gained the level of transmissibility among humans necessary to cause a pandemic.

Phase 4 is characterized by verified human-to-human transmission of an animal or human-animal influenza reassortant virus able to cause “community-level outbreaks.” The ability to cause sustained disease outbreaks in a community marks a significant upwards shift in the risk for a pandemic. Any country that suspects or has verified such an event should urgently consult with WHO so that the situation can be jointly assessed and a decision made by the affected country if implementation of a rapid pandemic containment operation is warranted. Phase 4 indicates a significant increase in risk of a pandemic but does not necessarily mean that a pandemic is a forgone conclusion.

Phase 5 is characterized by human-to-human spread of the virus into at least two countries in one WHO region. While most countries will not be affected at this stage, the declaration of Phase 5 is a strong signal that a pandemic is imminent and that the time to finalize the organization, communication, and implementation of the planned mitigation measures is short.

Phase 6, the pandemic phase, is characterized by community level outbreaks in at least one other country in a different WHO region in addition to the criteria defined in Phase 5. Designation of this phase will indicate that a global pandemic is under way.

[luvspeas]

3. OMFG!