It Seems Like an Anticlimax

PANDEMIC NOW???

The World Health Organization (WHO) has declared a global flu pandemic after holding an emergency meeting.
It means the swine flu virus is spreading in at least two regions of the world with rising cases being seen in the UK, Australia, Japan and Chile.
WHO chief Dr Margaret Chan said the move did not mean the virus was causing more severe illness or more deaths.
The swine flu (H1N1) virus first emerged in Mexico in April and has since spread to 74 countries. "We have evidence to suggest we are seeing the first pandemic of the 21st century,"according to
Dr Margaret Chan, WHO director-general.

Official reports say there have been nearly 30,000 cases globally and 141 deaths, with figures rising daily.
Hong Kong said it was closing all its nurseries and primary schools for two weeks following 12 school cases.
It is the first flu pandemic in 40 years - the last in 1968 killed about one million people.
However, the current pandemic seems to be moderate and causing mild illness in most people.
Most cases are occurring in young working age adults and a third to a half of complications are presenting in otherwise healthy people.

Dr. Chan said,"Moving to pandemic phase six does not imply we will see increased in deaths or serious cases."
She added it was important to get the right balance between complacency and vigilance and that pandemic strategies would vary between countries depending on their specific situation.
It is global and fulfilling the requirements of a pandemic

And the WHO does not recommend closure of borders or any restrictions on the movement of people, goods or services.
But the picture could change very quickly.
"No other pandemic has been detected so early or watched so closely," Dr Chan said.
UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon called for calm.
"Let me stress: this is a formal statement about the geographical spread of the disease ... It is not in itself a cause for alarm," he said.
He warned that in the developing world the consequences of the virus could be more serious, and that the southern hemisphere was now entering the flu season.
One factor which has prompted the move to a level six pandemic was that in the southern hemisphere, the virus seems to be crowding out normal seasonal influenza.

One of the greatest fears is that the swine flu virus will combine with the bird flus prevalent in Asia but now found all over the globe. The new virus to come out of this marriage may be a more dangerous strain with more serious even deadly consequences.

Experts have warned that poorer nations, especially those in the southern hemisphere now heading into their winter season, face the greatest risk from the flu pandemic.