Health experts prepare for Influenza pandemic

摘要

On April 30, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared a Phase 5 worldwide pandemic alert relative to the novel H1N1 flu virus (previously referred to as the "swine flu"). Phase 5 indicates "a strong signal that a pandemic is imminent and that the time to finalize the organization, communication, and implementation of the planned mitigation measures is short," according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).rnThe H1N1 virus is a respiratory disease of pigs caused by type A influenza. The virus does not normally infect humans; however, human infections do occur and cases of human-to-human spread of the flu virus have been documented.