WHO declares alert Phase 5 - Pandemic imminent
Submitted by pandemic2009 on Wednesday, 29 April 2009 – 10:42 pm UK
As predicted on this site, the World Health Organisation has been forced to raise its influenza pandemic alert level to Phase 5.
Phase 5 is characterized by human-to-human spread of the virus into at least two countries in one WHO region. The declaration of Phase 5 is a strong signal that a pandemic (Phase 6) is imminent and unavoidable.
The change in alert level was inevitable after officials in Spain confirmed the first case of Swine Flu in a person who has not travelled to Mexico.
Announcing the change in alert level, Dr Margaret Chan, Director General of the World Health Organisation said “It really is the whole of humanity that is under threat in a pandemic.”
