WHO raises flu pandemic alert level from phase 4 to phase 5

[B o d i]

Source: CNN

Live, breaking now.

No link yet.

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edit: copy-pasted some info from down thread:



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.




http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/8025931.stm

The UN's World Health Organization has raised the alert over the spread of swine flu to level five - one short of a full-blown pandemic.

A phase five alert means human-to-human transmission in at least two countries.

The move comes after a 23-month-old Mexican child died in Texas - the first death from swine flu outside Mexico, where the outbreak originated.

In Spain, officials confirmed the first case of swine flu in a person who has not travelled to Mexico.

Announcing the increased alert level, WHO Director General Margaret Chan urged all countries to activate their pandemic plans - including heightened surveillance and infection control measures.

She said action should be undertaken with "increased urgency".

[vaberella]

1. Yeah...watching it now. The WHO head is talking. n/t

[Dappleganger]

12. So far I'm impressed...

and am wondering how the pharma companies will handle themselves with the need for 'social conscience' on a world-wide basis.

[Ilsa]

2. Also on MSNBC. Pharmaceuticals, healthcare providers, governments

should be on alert. A pandemic is imminent; Here's a definition from WHO site:

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.

[valerief]

3. What color is 5? nt

[NYC_SKP]

7. Brown?

I know I shouldn't have done that.

[smirkymonkey]

18. Does that mean we should buy duct tape and plastic sheeting?

:scared:

[NYC_SKP]

21. I got all that on Monday after the NYC flyover!

Didn't everyone? :P

[tocqueville]

19. forget red

Cat: Forget Red — let's go all the way up to Brown Alert!
Kryten: There's no such thing as a Brown Alert, sir.
Cat: You won't be saying that in a minute! And don't say I didn't alert you!

[valerief]

24. Sounds apropos. nt

[uppityperson]

4. Thank you. Have an Official topic going in GD now, cross posting everything there

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=389&topic_id=5561804&mesg_id=5561804

[florida08]

5. oh chit

here's a map http://healthmap.org/swineflu

[Justyce]

10. That's a good map, thanks for posting it. nt

[florida08]

11. sure thing

just found it today..

[mikelgb]

16. From you map it looks like Kazakhstan is the safest place to be

[marshall]

22. It looks like it bottle-necked in Panama

South America has very few cases, whereas the US has almost as many as Mexico.

[shanti]

20. WOW!

just two days ago, there were NO flags in africa...:(

[nadinbrzezinski]

23. Thanks, the best I have seen so far

[emilyg]

6. TY

kick

[nickinSTL]

8. Here's a link to the BBC notice

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/8025931.stm

[CountAllVotes]

9. oh *hit is right

:dem: :kick:

[izzybeans]

13. I'm not sureWHO, but WHAT's been sharting in the bathroom all day.

I know this is serious stuff, but...I'm in need of a smile.

[namelessone]

14. freaked out

Don't understand why everyone seems to be so freaked out about Mexico, we have almost as many cases here.
Mexico 487
U.S. 403.


Knew I needed spell check!!

[mrs_p]

17. where are you getting your US figure?

[Baby Snooks]

15. The first but not the last....

"In Spain, officials confirmed the first case of swine flu in a person who has not travelled to Mexico."

But someone did travel to Mexico who then transmitted it to this person. Not alarming in itself but indicative that it has mutated into an easily transmissible virus.

And it's no longer a danger just to healthy adults. The first death in the United States was a 23 month old.

These two are the first cases indicative of a pandemic. But not the last. It is a virus no one knows anything about. Because they've never seen it before. Which is what happened in 1917. And then came 1918.

We are in 1917. Hopefully we can avoid 1918.

[Akoto]

25. WHO raises swine flu alert level as virus spreads

Source: Associated Press

WASHINGTON (AP) -- The Geneva-based World Health Organization on Wednesday raised its alert level for the fast-spreading swine flu to its next-to-highest notch, signaling a global pandemic could be imminent.

The move came after the virus spread to at least 10 U.S. states from coast to coast and swept deeper into Europe.

"It really is all of humanity that is under threat during a pandemic," said WHO Director General Margaret Chan. "We do not have all the answers right now but we will get them."

In the United States, President Barack Obama mourned the first U.S. death, a Mexican toddler who had traveled with his family to Texas. Total American cases surged to nearly 100, and Obama said wider school closings might be necessary.

Read more: http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/M/MED_SWINE_FLU?SITE=WDUN&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT

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Alert level is now 5. WHO considers level 6 to be a global pandemic.

[phantom power]

26. If I read correctly, level 5 = "We're about to have a pandemic."

So everybody deploy your pandemic response plan.

If I understand that correctly, getting to level 5 just about guarantees we're going to see level 6. Anybody else interpret it that way?

[Ian David]

27. Why are you worried about a deadly flu virus? Gays are getting married in Iowa!

:sarcasm: