Considering the rapidly increasing number of confirmed swine flu cases, WHO officials have decided to raise the pandemic alert level to phase 5.
Swine Influenza (swine flu) caused by type A influenza, regularly leads to influenza outbreaks among pigs. The virus does not normally infect humans.
Confirmed sufferers in the United States and Mexico, however, are believed to have spread the disease to their families and others in close contact.
The alert level was increased to 4 on Monday, and WHO officials now say they will be forced to declare a phase 5 alert soon.
"We're still awaiting for a final confirmation from the US authorities, but it appears that there's a number of cases in New York which appear to be human-to-human transmission," WHO spokesman Gregory Hartl told a news briefing.
The United Nations agency also raised its alert level to 4 on Monday as the virus was detected in several European countries.
Mexican authorities say the new strain has killed up to 149 people in Mexico. About 64 confirmed cases have been reported in five US states.
http://www.presstv.ir/detail.aspx?id=92842§ionid=3510212
Also Confirmed by the LA TIMES !!
http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-sci-swine-flu29-2...
Phase-1
None of the virus circulating among animals has caused infections in humans.
Phase-2:
A circulating animal virus that has caused infections in humans, thus having a potential pandemic threat.
Phase-3:
Sporadic cases or small outbreaks of disease in humans, but does not have enough transmission capacity from person to person.
-Phase 4:
Transmission from person to person capable of causing outbreaks at the community level. Significant increase in the risk of a pandemic.
-Stage 5:
The virus is transmitted from person to person in at least two countries in a WHO region.
The pandemic is imminent.
-Stage 6:
A global epidemic is in progress.
Bloomberg- "A pandemic, rated 6 on the WHO’s alert system, is an unexpected outbreak of a new contagious disease that spreads from person-to-person across borders. In such cases, almost no one has natural immunity."
From:
http://wcbstv.com/ Bloomberg also said health officials are looking for cases of swine flu outbreak in other parts of the City. He stressed that the cases in New York were mild and many are recovering, but also said that parents of the students also had flu symptoms, "suggesting it is spreading person to person."
"We're looking at this minute-to-minute, hour-to-hour, day-to-day," said Dr. Thomas Frieden, New York Health Commissioner.
More than 100 students at St. Francis Preparatory School in Queens were suddenly hit with fever, sore throat and other aches and pains. Preliminary lab results came back positive for swine flu in eight tests, and the CDC confirmed the results.
"What's concerning about this, is that it is likely swine flu. Second, at this time, it is spreading from person to person," Frieden said.
And students at the school are taking notice. "So many kids getting sick all in one day its something unexpected," said student Philip Pantoja.