The World Health Organization (WHO) has formally declared a pandemic in the growing outbreak of H1N1 influenza. This is the type widely known as "swine flu."
WHO told its member nations June 11 that it is raising its pandemic warning level from phase 5 to 6. This is the highest alert level.
The declaration means that a new flu virus is spreading quickly around the world. Calling H1N1 a pandemic does not mean that WHO thinks it is severe. Most cases have been mild. As of June 10, WHO said the disease was in at least 74 countries. They had reported 27,737 cases of swine flu. These included 141 deaths.
Deciding when to call an epidemic a pandemic is a very important distinction. Once a pandemic is declared, the World Health Organization (WHO) and national health agencies set in motion some drastic and very costly programs.
In addition, it's important to make sure not to declare a pandemic before it is really under way. Otherwise, the term itself can strike unnecessary fear. WHO now has formally declared the new H1N1 virus (swine flu) a pandemic. But that does not mean that the situation is any scarier than it was yesterday. One reason the WHO has delayed giving the infection this label is that it has caused relatively mild illness in most people. That still is true.
The MSN article goes on to say that basically... what defines a pandemic is the opinion (albeit educated) of those who manage the pandemic...
WHO wants to prevent widespread panic. So it strongly suggests that countries do NOT:
Close borders
Perform a general disinfection
Have people who are well wear masks
Limit travel within a nation, except as part of a global response to contain the infection to specific places
The WHO can only suggest these principles. Countries can ignore them.
Some already have done so because their leaders feel it is in the best interest
of their citizens.
Count me in that last group...
