# 4560
A month shy of 1 year since the WHO (World Health Organization) raised the world’s pandemic alert level to phase 6, experts are waiting to see if the virus has peaked and the pandemic can be declared over, or is perhaps in a `post-peak’ phase.
The most recent numbers from the WHO continue to indicate a steep drop-off of flu cases around the world, with the peak activity recorded last October.
Although flu activity has remained low in the Southern Hemisphere, officials would like a little more time to see if that begins to rise before changing the alert phase.
None of this means that we are done with novel H1N1.
It appears to have largely (but not completely) replaced the existing seasonal A strains, and will likely circulate as our new `seasonal’ flu for years to come.
Over time, it may drift antigenically, and could become either more or less virulent or perhaps change its host preferences and begin to affect the elderly more.
Influenza viruses are notoriously unpredictable.
This from Reuters.
WHO panel to review H1N1 pandemic status in coming weeks
GENEVA
Tue May 11, 2010 7:14am EDT
GENEVA (Reuters) - An expert panel advising the World Health Organization on pandemics will review the status of the H1N1 virus later this month or in early June to decide whether the swine flu pandemic is over.
The Emergency Committee is waiting for the onset of winter in the southern hemisphere before making its recommendation, spokesman Gregory Hartl said.
That meant the 15-member independent panel would probably meet at the end of May or in early June, after the WHO's governing World Health Assembly next week, he told a briefing.
