WHO Moves To Phase 4 Pandemic Alert
The World Health Organization is now at Phase 4 alert in its global influenza preparedness plan, after Director-General Margaret Chan accepted her Emergency Committee's recommendation Monday to move up from Phase 3. Countries around the world are intensifying their surveillance for unusual outbreaks of flu-like illness and severe pneumonia, and the U.S. count of confirmed cases rose to 40 on Monday.
There are six phases. At Phase 4, a virus is considered able to cause sustained community-level outbreaks and a pandemic risk is significantly higher. WHO posted this statement: "The change to a higher phase of pandemic alert indicates that the likelihood of a pandemic has increased, but not that a pandemic is inevitable. As further information becomes available, WHO may decide to either revert to phase 3 or raise the level of alert to another phase.
"This decision was based primarily on epidemiological data demonstrating human-to-human transmission and the ability of the virus to cause community-level outbreaks. Given the widespread presence of the virus, the Director-General considered that containment of the outbreak is not feasible. The current focus should be on mitigation measures.
"The Director-General recommended not to close borders and not to restrict international travel. It was considered prudent for people who are ill to delay international travel and for people developing symptoms following international travel to seek medical attention. The Director-General considered that production of seasonal influenza vaccine should continue at this time, subject to re-evaluation as the situation evolves. WHO will facilitate the process needed to develop a vaccine effective against A/H1N1 virus.
"The Director-General stressed that all measures should conform with the purpose and scope of the International Health Regulations."