Current Situation
The World Health Organization’s (WHO) Director General has raised the Pandemic Alert from Phase 4 to Phase 5. This was triggered due to the community level outbreaks of swine flu in both the US and Mexico.
Phase 5 does not mean that a “global” pandemic is underway, but rather there is a regional outbreak underway and that it is highly likely that a “global” pandemic will occur.
This change to a higher alert is a signal to the world’s stakeholders (governments, health agencies, and the business community) that planning and preparatory actions should be taken with greater urgency and speed. Effective measures now include heightened surveillance, early detection, and treatment of cases, and increased infection control in all health facilities.
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