June 11, 2009
As the worldwide toll of cases of swine flu (aka the H1N1 influenza virus) approaches 30,000, the World Health Organization (WHO) has officially declared the outbreak a global pandemic — the first in 41 years.
"On the basis of available evidence...the scientific criteria for an influenza pandemic have been met," said WHO Director-General Margaret Chan. "I have 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."
Chan stated that the virus is not conforming to known patterns of outbreaks. H1N1 is unusual in that it is appearing frequently in people under the age of 25, rather than the elderly. But she also emphasized that many severe cases also had underlying health conditions, such as obesity, asthma, and cardiovascular disease.
Chan also emphasized that the worldwide total of cases so far have been mild and most patients have made full recoveries.
"The virus writes the rules and this one, like all influenza viruses, can change the rules, without rhyme or reason, at any time," she added.
WHO reported 28,774 confirmed cases of swine flu, including 144 deaths. The United States has reported 13,000 confirmed cases and 27 deaths.
"Today's decision by the WHO was expected and doesn't change what we have been doing here in the United States to prepare for and respond to this public health challenge," said Health & Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius. "Once we saw how fast this virus was spreading, we activated our pandemic plans and started doing all the things we needed to do to keep the public as safe and secure as possible."
"We are reaching out to our partners in state and local government, in school districts and the private sector to urge them to modify and update their pandemic plans," said Homeland Security secretary Janet Napolitano. "We are working with our scientists to test and prepare a possible vaccine."
WHO has recommended to the pharmaceutical industry that companies begin or accelerate production of swine flu vaccines. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said it would not change its current approach to the pandemic, such as recommending greater restrictions on travel in and out of the U.S.
