WHO Mulls Raising Pandemic Alert Level

 

 

# 3090

 

 

The worst kept secret in cyberspace this morning was that the WHO (World Health Organization) was meeting in Geneva to discuss whether or not to raise the current Pandemic Alert Level from 4 (pre-pandemic) to 5 (Pandemic Emergency Declaration).

 

Pandemic Level 5 is described as:

 

Phase 5 is characterized by human-to-human spread of the virus into at least two countries in one WHO region. While most countries will not be affected at this stage, the declaration of Phase 5 is a strong signal that a pandemic is imminent and that the time to finalize the organization, communication, and implementation of the planned mitigation measures is short.

 

As this AP article tells us, the WHO is moving closer to making that decision.

 

 

WHO considers raising alert level

LAURAN NEERGAARD AND MIKE STOBBE

Associated Press

April 29, 2009 at 12:01 PM EDT

GENEVA — The World Health Organization says the swine flu outbreak is moving closer to becoming a pandemic.

 

WHO flu chief Dr. Keiji Fukuda told reporters in Geneva today that developments in the disease are moving the agency closer to raising its pandemic alert to phase 5, indicating widespread human-to-human transmission.

 

He said the health body was monitoring the situation but was not yet ready to move the pandemic alert level up from its current 4, which means it is being passed among people. Phase 6 is the highest on the scale and is for a full-scale pandemic.

 

Mr. Fukuda said there was no evidence the virus was slowing down.

 

(Continue . . .)

 

 

The fact that Phase 5 is `on the table’ should be enough to convince anybody that now is the time to make sure you, your family, and your business are prepared to deal with a pandemic.

 

If you have a pandemic plan, now is the time to review it.  If you don’t have one, get cracking.  Much can be accomplished even on short notice.

 

I’ll be discussing specific preparations later today (and in the future), but for now, please visit www.pandemicflu.gov and check out the government’s advice on preparing for a pandemic.