BREAKING: W.H.O. about to raise flu alert to Level 5: Global pandemic

By GottaLaff

The World Health Organization is about to give an update on the Tee Vee Machine. They are expected to raise the phase level to 5.

Via a Tweet from NPR:

declaration of Phase 5 is a strong signal that a pandemic is imminent and that the time to finalize [responses] is short." -WHO

This allows for more preparation and prevention. Cover your sneezes and coughs, wash your hands, and stay away from those with flu symptoms.

Here's more:

The World Health Organization has decided to raise its pandemic alert level to a phase 5, declaring swine flu a global pandemic, BNO News has exclusively learned. [...]

It will be the first time the World Health Organization used phase 5 since they introduced the 6-phase system several years ago. According to BNO News sources at the World Health Organization in Geneva, they do not know if they are dealing with "a very mild or a very severe pandemic." A number of actions to be taken will also be announced.

It will be the first influenza pandemic since the Hong Kong Flu in 1968 which killed up to 1 million people.

UPDATE, from the presser, live:

For the first time in history, we can track the evolution of a pandemic in real time.

New diseases by definition are poorly understood. ... No immediate answers, but we will get them...

This phase is a signal to governments, the pharmaceutical industries, etc. that actions should be undertaken with increased urgency...

Ramping up production... Trying to get a pandemic vaccine going.

The question: How severe will the pandemic be? It's possible that the full clinical spectrum goes from mild to severe, but we need to continue to monitor, get better information.... We know from past experience, flu can cause mild disease in AFFLUENT COUNTRIES, more severe IN DEVELOPING COUNTRIES.

The international community should treat this as opportunity to ramp up preparedness, response.

It's all of humanity that is under threat during a pandemic. We don't have all the answers, but we will get them... with the support of our partners.