by Det Caraig (Technical Communications)
The World Health Organization (WHO) raised the H1N1 global pandemic alert level to phase 6 on June 11. More than 70 countries have now reported cases of human infection. Many of the cases reportedly had links to travel or were localized outbreaks. The WHO designation of a phase 6 pandemic alert reflects the fact that there are now ongoing community-level outbreaks in multiple parts of world. It should be noted, however, that the WHO’s decision to raise the pandemic alert level to phase 6 is a reflection of the spread of the virus and not of the severity of illness caused by the virus.
