WHO Raises Swine Flu Alert Level To 6
The World Health Organization, or WHO, has officially raised the pandemic level to 6, its highest level, as the H1N1 virus has now spread to 74 countries. This marks the first global flu epidemic in 41 years.
The announcement reflects the global spread of the disease, not the mortality rate of those that get the new flu strain. The WHO said as of today, nearly 30,000 confirmed cases have been reported in 74 countries. The WHO said they have good reason to believe that this pandemic, at least in its early days, will be of moderate severity.
A recent outbreak in Australia, which recently reported 1,263 case, the spread in Britain, Japan, Chile and elsewhere triggered the move. Mexico and the United States had been the main hot spots for the outbreak.
In Hong Kong, authorities have ordered all kindergartens, primary schools and day care centers to close for at least two weeks after an outbreak at a secondary school.
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