WHO raises swine flu pandemic alert to Level Five

WHO could even go for the highest alert level – Level Six – if the virus shows no sign of abating, it is feared.

The World Health Organisation has raised the swine flu pandemic alert to level 5 -the second highest level indicating human to human outbreak of the disease – even as swine flu continue to spread across the continents. 

Pandemic Influenza Phases - Levels 1 to 6

WHO’s alert level indicates nation-wise preparedness and response plans to fight when a pandemic-like situation breaks out. The former phase of alert in the WHO global influenza preparedness plan was 4, and has now just been raised to 5.

A phase 6 is the highest in the scale and is for a full-scale pandemic.

WHO has raised the alert level to Level Five following a third emergency meeting in response to a spike in swine flu cases world wide.

Phase 5: A pandemic is officially under way.

There is also widespread fear that WHO might even raise the alert level to the highest 6 in a couple of days as the virus spread shows no sign of abating.

“It’s clear that the virus is spreading and we don’t see any evidence of this slowing down at this point,” said Dr. Keiji Fukuda, in Geneva, Switzerland.

The H1N1 virus has quickly spread throughout the world due to a combination of international travel and person-to-person transmission, he said.

The virus -H1N1 strain of influenza virus -has been largely mild in nature outside of Mexico. In Mexico the virus is the suspected cause of more than 150 deaths.

The latest update from the WHO came on the same day that U.S. officials confirmed the first swine flu death outside of Mexico. The victim was a 2-year old child in Texas, US.

Authorities are still trying to determine why the majority of swine flu cases outside of Mexico have been much milder than where the virus was first identified.

No swine flu cases have been identified in Egypt, though two cases have been reported in neighbouring Israel.

WHO’s 6 Level Alert Mechanism

WHO follows the use of a six-phased approach for existing national preparedness and response plans. Phases 1–3 correlate with preparedness, including capacity development and response planning activities, while Phases 4–6 clearly signal the need for response and mitigation efforts.

Phase 1: No animal influenza viruses circulating among animals have been reported to cause infection in animals.

Phase 2: An animal influenza virus circulating in domesticated or wild animals is known to have caused infection in humans and is therefore considered a specific potential pandemic threat.

Phase 3: An animal or human-animal influenza virus has caused sporadic cases or small clusters of disease in people, but has not resulted in human-to-human transmission sufficient to sustain community-level outbreaks.

During the first three phases, the WHO advises countries to “prepare the health system to scale up”.

Phase 4: Human-to-human transmission of an animal or human-animal influenza virus able to sustain community-level outbreaks has been verified. Countries are advised to “activate contingency plans”.

Phase 5: The same identified virus has caused sustained community-level outbreaks in two or more countries in one WHO region. A pandemic is officially under way.

Phase 6: In addition to the criteria defined in Phase 5, the same virus has caused sustained community level outbreaks in at least one other country in another WHO region.

During phases five and six, countries are advised to “implement contingency plans for health systems at all levels”.

Post-peak period: Levels of pandemic influenza in most countries with adequate surveillance have dropped below peak levels. Countries are advised to “rest, restock resources, revise plans and rebuild essential services”.

Post-pandemic period: Levels of influenza activity have returned to the levels seen for seasonal influenza in most countries with adequate surveillance. Countries are advised to “evaluate the response of the health system to the pandemic and share the lessons learned.”