The World Health Organization (WHO) has officially recognized Influenza H1N1 (more commonly known as swine flu) as having reached the global pandemic stage. Officials at the Center for Disease Control have announced in an update that:
In the United States, most people who have become ill with the newly declared pandemic virus have recovered without requiring medical treatment, however, CDC anticipates that there will be more cases, more hospitalizations and more deaths associated with this pandemic in the coming days and weeks. In addition, this virus could cause significant illness with associated hospitalizations and deaths in the fall and winter during the U.S. influenza season.
In a press briefing on June 11, 2009 the Director-General of WHO, Dr. Margret Chan, stated that:
The virus is contagious, spreading easily from one person to another, and from one country to another. As of today, nearly 30,000 confirmed cases have been reported in 74 countries. This is only part of the picture. With few exceptions, countries with large numbers of cases are those with good surveillance and testing procedures in place.
She went on to say that currently the virus is in its earliest stages and that it will continue to spread. The majority of people infected by the new virus have not required medical treatment and many of the deaths attributed to the virus have also had some form of previous chronic condition that contributed to the death.
Posted: 6/12/2009
