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INTERNATIONAL. The World Health Organization (WHO) yesterday raised the alert over the outbreak of swine flu from level four to level five. This indicates human-to-human transmission in at least two countries and underlines the growing threat posed by the virus.
WHO Director-General Dr Margaret Chan said that all countries should immediately activate their pandemic preparedness plans. At this stage, effective and essential measures include heightened surveillance, early detection and treatment of cases, and infection control in all health facilities.
In a statement she said: “Influenza pandemics must be taken seriously precisely because of their 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 any time in history. [Click here to read Dr Chan’s whole statement.]
“Preparedness measures undertaken because of the threat from H5N1 avian influenza were an investment, and we are now benefitting from this investment. For the first time in history, we can track the evolution of a pandemic in real-time.”
She added: “WHO will be tracking the pandemic at the epidemiological, clinical, and virological levels. The results of these ongoing assessments will be issued as public health advice, and made publicly available.”
She noted: “The biggest question, right now, is this: how severe will the pandemic be, especially now at the start?”
Chan added: “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 of humanity that is under threat during a pandemic.”
MORE COVERAGE OF THE SWINE FLU OUTBREAK
Swine flu outbreak raises pandemic fears and tourism concerns – 26/04/09
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