WHO raises swine flu alert to highest level, "pandemic" (3rd Lead)

Jun 11, 2009, 17:33 GMT

Geneva - In light of the spread of A(H1N1) influenza, commonly known as swine flu, World Health Organization Director General Margaret Chan raised the pandemic influenza alert to its highest level, Phase 6, Thursday evening in Geneva.

Phase 6, the WHO said, means the virus, A(H1N1) influenza, has spread globally and was a 'pandemic.'

'The scientific criteria for an influenza pandemic have been met,' Chan said, adding 'I have decided, therefore, to raise the influenza pandemic alert form phase 5 to phase 6.'

Marie-Paul Kieny, the agency's expert on vaccines, said she expected a vaccine against the swine flu to be ready in September.

'When enough evidence is available in the coming weeks, we will make policy recommendations for which groups should receive' the first doses, she noted.

After the virus continued to spread for several months, Fukuda said, people would begin to develop immunity and it would 'become much more like regular season virus.'

For the time being though, Chan said, 'further spread is considered inevitable.'

But she said there should be 'no restrictions on travel and no border closures.' Chan also said governments should not impose trade bans.

Keiji Fukuda, the WHO's chief of health security, said it was important for people 'not to get overly anxious.'

'This is one of those things that it is good for people to know about. But it is really good for the average person to take it in perspective,' he added.

Regarding severity, Chan said the 'overwhelming majority of patients experience mild symptoms and make a rapid recovery.'

The WHO's scientific evidence, gathered from affected countries, indicated that the virus was not changing in any way from when it was first detected.