Swine Flu: WHO change to alert 5

The World Health Organization raised the level of alert of the epidemic of swine flu from four to five after the last information that indicate an increase of the cases in several countries and that indicate that the virus is spreading now with more facility among human beings, that would indicate that we are before an “eminent” flu pandemic.

The threat of the swine flu “must be taken seriously”, said Margaret Chan, director of the organism, in a press conference.

After the first death in Mexico, two confirmed cases of transmission of the second level, one in Spain and other in the USA (people who did not travel to Mexico and whom have been infected by tourists infected in that country), and the increase of countries affected by the infection, have been the explosives so that the WHO took that step.

“We do not have all the answers, but we are going to”, affirmed Chan, who stressed “this is an opportunity for international solidarity”.

On the other hand, Momento24, consulted Dr. José Maria Labourt, epidemiologist (Mat. Pcia. 26236) who described the types of phases in which the WHO is qualifying the situation of this virus that affects, today, to several countries of the world.

Types of alerts:

Level 4: Infection in only one country from person to person.

Level 5 (current one): Infection between communities.

Level 6: Pandemic, in the world.