Complain about a product or service

Swine Flu Officially a Pandemic

WHO raises status of outbreak to highest level

June 11, 2009

• Three More Cases Of Swine Flu In Pets • FDA Expands Approved Use Of Swine Flu Vaccines To Include Infants And Children • CDC Ups Swine Flu Death Estimate To 4,000 • Iowa Cat Diagnosed with Swine Flu • Swine Flu Vaccine Not Keeping Pace With Demand • Word Is Out On Unapproved Swine Flu Products • Swine Flu Virus Found In Pig Sample • FDA Warns Of Internet Sales Of Swine Flu Drug Products • Gauge Swine Flu Symptoms With Online Tool • H1N1 Flu Spreading Rapidly Through U.S. • Preparing For Flu Season • FDA Approves Vaccines For Swine Flu • Video: Swine Flu Vaccine Running Behind Schedule • New iPhone App Locates Swine Flu, Infectious Diseases • CDC Makes Recommendations For Use Of Swine Flu Vaccine • FDA Authorizes Emergency Use Of Another Test For Swine Flu Virus • Experts Worry About Return Of Swine Flu • CDC Finds Swine Flu Still Hanging Around • Swine Flu Officially a Pandemic • CDC: Swine Flu May Have Peaked • Older People Appear More Resistant To Swine Flu • Swine Flu Claims Sixth U.S. Victim • Poll Finds Americans Concerned About Swine Flu • CDC Sees 'Encouraging' Swine Flu Signs • Swine Flu Spreads, But Relatively Few Deaths Reported • What to Do If You Get Flu-Like Symptoms • Swine Flu a Potential Problem for Cruise Ships • Swine Flu Spreads, As Do Scams • Swine Flu Tips for Child Care Providers • More Warnings Against Swine Flu Scams • Can the Right Mask Prevent Swine Flu? • No Reason To Panic Over Swine Flu • Watch Out For Swine Flu Scams • Swine Flu: What You Need to Know • HHS Declares Public Health Emergency for Swine Flu

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.

Find out everything you need to know about swine flu.

Report Your Experience
If you've had a bad experience -- or a good one -- with a consumer product or service, we'd like to hear about it. All complaints are reviewed by class action attorneys and are considered for publication on our site. Knowledge is power! Help spread the word. File your consumer report now.

Share		Follow us on Twitter.