WHO on the verge of declaring H1N1 flu pandemic

The World Health Organization (WHO) is on the verge of declaring the first influenza pandemic in more than 40 years, according to a report by Stephanie Nebehay on the Reuters website. They however want to ensure countries are well prepared to prevent a panic, its top flu expert said on Tuesday.



Keiji Fukuda, acting WHO assistant director-general, voiced concern at the sustained spread of the new H1N1 strain; including more than 1,000 cases in Australia, following major outbreaks in North America, where it emerged in April.



Confirmed community spread in a second region beyond North America would trigger moving to phase 6; signifying a full blown pandemic.



\"The situation has really evolved a lot over the past several days. We are getting really close to knowing that we are in a pandemic situation, or I think, declaring that we are in a pandemic situation,\" Fuluka told a teleconference.



A decision to declare a pandemic involved more than simply making an announcement, he said. The United Nations agency had to ensure that countries were able to deal with the new situation and also handle any public reaction.



The disease, which has infected over 26, 500 people in 73 countries, with 140 deaths, has been most severe in Mexico, which has reported the highest number of fatalities, more than 100. These include infections in otherwise healthy young people.



A very real danger after declaring a pandemic was that hospitals could be overwhelmed by people seeking help when they did not really need it, while other patients requiring emergency treatment risked being neglected, according to Fukuda.



\"In earlier pandemics, in earlier outbreaks, we have often seen that people who are in the category of being worried but who are not particularly sick, have overrun hospitals,\" he said.



Since the new flu strain first appeared, many people have stopped eating pork, pigs have been killed in some countries, trade bans on meat imposed, travellers quarantined, and some countries have discussed closing borders.



\"These are the kinds of potential adverse effects that you can have if you go out without making sure people understand the situation as well as possible,\" Fukuda said.