Xinhua Geneva, April 29 Xinhua World Health Organization announced in Geneva on the evening of 29 will be a global influenza pandemic warning level from the current 4 to 5.
WHO Director-General Margaret Chan calls on the night news conference held to announce: "I have decided that a global influenza pandemic will be a warning level raised to four from five."
WHO warns flu pandemic is divided into six levels, the first 5 means that the same type of influenza virus has been in the same area for at least two countries, interpersonal communication, and result in persistent disease.
This is the beginning of the spread of swine flu epidemic, the WHO's the second time in three days to raise a warning-level influenza pandemic. 27 evening, Margaret Chan, WHO emergency in accordance with the recommendations of the Committee, decided to influenza pandemic-level to 3 from 4.
According to the latest WHO data, the world has nine national reports have been infected with swine flu confirmed cases, of which Mexico and the United States reported deaths.
Background information: influenza pandemic of the six-level warning
In accordance with the provisions of the WHO, warned that an influenza pandemic a total of six levels:
Level: influenza virus spread among animals, but there was no case of human infection.
2: influenza virus spread among animals, this type of virus has caused human infection, is seen as the potential threat of an influenza pandemic.
Three levels: influenza virus in animals or between man and animal the spread of this virus has caused sporadic or localized infections of the people, but there was no spread of the interpersonal situation.
4: influenza viruses spread among people and trigger a continuing epidemic. In this level, the risk of the spread of influenza in the last level of "significant increase."
5: the same type of influenza virus in the same area (eg North America) at least two countries, interpersonal communication, and result in persistent disease. While most countries are still under this level will not be affected by a significant effect, but the five-level warning means that large-scale influenza epidemic is approaching, take measures to cope with the disease have little time.
6: the same type of influenza viruses spread among people took place in two or more areas. This level means that the global epidemic is spreading.