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WHO declares swine flu pandemic( A( B) m5 E3 a) c; }3 _3 f- H
Last Updated: Thursday, June 11, 2009 | 10:17 AM ET Comments129Recommend71CBC News ( \& J7 _" y5 U0 X) B) J
The World Health Organization has declared a pandemic of H1N1 flu, Director General Margaret Chan announced Thursday./ H! L' U+ ]/ t! B9 S I+ o4 [( L
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"The world is now at the start of the 2009 pandemic," Chan said. The scientific criteria for declaring a pandemic have been met, she said.! T" u0 I, B' P8 J7 V9 b" X' h
8 E( } ] @2 G- l% N! n- nThe announcement means the H1N1 swine flu virus is spreading from person to person in a sustained manner outside of North America, as cases mount in Australia, the U.K., Japan and Chile.
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Declaring a pandemic signals governments to spend more on containing the virus and for drugmakers to speed up development of a swine flu vaccine, but does not necessarily mean the virus is causing more severe illnesses or deaths.
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The geographic spread fulfils WHO's criteria for declaring a pandemic and moving its alert to Phase 6 — the highest level.
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"At this early stage, the pandemic can be characterized globally as being moderate in severity," WHO said in the statement, again urging nations not to close borders or restrict travel and trade. "[We] remain in close dialogue with influenza vaccine manufacturers."
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The declaration would mark the first pandemic call since 1968, when Hong Kong flu killed about one million people.
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Chan held an emergency conference call with leading flu experts to discuss the outbreak of the virus, which has caused nearly 27,737 cases of swine flu, including 141 deaths. |
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