The World Health Organization says the highest level of Swine Flu pandemic is "imminent."
Dr. Margaret Chan, the director general of the organization, said that the “phase 5” alert out of a possible 6 levels signified that at least two countries have spread the virus by human to human contact, and that the highest phase 6 was probably imminent.Wasn't it only a couple of days ago that we even heard about this?
“It is really all of humanity that is under threat during a pandemic,” Dr. Chan said. “We do not have all the answers right now. But we will get them.”
By Wednesday afternoon, nine countries had confirmed cases of swine flu, the strain known as the H1N1 virus. Several European nations were making plans to regulate travel involving Mexico, where more than 150 people are suspected to have died and at least 2,400 are suspected to have been infected as a result of the swine flu.
In the United States, Janet Napolitano, the secretary of homeland security, said at an afternoon news conference: “We have been preparing all along as if this is going to be Stage 6. Our efforts have been to stay ahead of the number.”
She added: “We are preparing for the worst, hoping for the best.”
Earlier on Wednesday, President Obama recommended that schools in the United States with confirmed or suspected cases of the disease “strongly consider temporarily closing.”
And now, "all of humanity... is under threat."
This is very alarming.
