The World Health Organisation has raised its pandemic alert following an outbreak of swine flu
The World Health Organisation has raised the level of influenza pandemic alert following confirmed outbreaks of swine flu in the United States, Mexico and Canada. But at the same time it recommended against international travel restrictions.
The WHO raised the level of influenza pandemic alert from the current phase 3 to phase 4.
The change to a higher phase of pandemic alert indicates that the likelihood of a pandemic has increased, but not that a pandemic is inevitable.
Phase 4 is just a step away from the WHO designating that a global pandemic is underway.
Given the widespread presence of the virus, the WHO said that containment of the outbreak is not feasible. It said the current focus should be on mitigation measures.
“The WHO recommended not to close borders and not to restrict international travel.
The decision was based on evidence of human-to-human transmission and the ability of the virus to cause community-level outbreaks.
The WHO recommended not to close borders and not to restrict international travel. It did say that people who are ill should delay international travel and for people developing symptoms following international travel to seek medical attention.
The organisation also recommended vaccine manufacturers continue making the seasonal flu vaccine rather than switching over to a new one that matches the swine flu strain.
In a statement the WHO said it may decide to either revert to phase 3 or raise the level of alert to another phase.
For more information on the outbreak go to the WHO swine flu website
