“World now at the start of 2009 influenza pandemic”, according to Dr Margaret Chan, WHO Director-General.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) has officially declared the outbreak of influenza A(H1N1) infection, or as it is more commonly known – swine flu – as a pandemic.

In a statement released yesterday following an emergency meeting, Dr Margaret Chan, WHO Director-General said: “On the basis of available evidence, and these expert assessments of the evidence, the scientific criteria for an influenza pandemic have been met.” She added that the alert level had been increased from a phase 5 to a phase 6.

Reassuringly, Dr Chan said that the pandemic was under a very watchful eye, and at no other time had the world been so prepared, which puts it in a strong position to tackle the virus.

However, she did add that viruses such as this strain of flu can change at any time, and with varying severity. This particular strain had not circulated previously in humans, and yet now it is spreading easily from human to human.

Unlike many other types of flu, which target the elderly, the majority of cases of this infection have occurred in people under the age of 25 years, with most of the severe and fatal infections attacking those between the ages of 30 and 50 years.

Today (12 June) official figures report that there have been 29,669 cases of swine flu in 74 countries, including 145 deaths. However, Dr Chan said that this may “only be part of the picture. With few exceptions, countries with large numbers of cases are those with good surveillance and testing procedures in place.”

In the UK, the figures have soared past 800, with confirmation of a further 51 cases, the majority of which are in England. According to the Health Protection Agency, laboratory staff are currently investigating a further 866 suspected cases.

Mexico and the US have experienced the highest number of cases with 6,241 and 13,217 respectively, and a combined death figure of 135.

ICM news has been following the outbreak of swine flu since its inception. Click here for the original news item.