H1N1 Swine Flu – The Swine Flu H1N1 Is First flu pandemic declared in 41 years

It’s official, the Swine Flu H1N1 Virus has been declared a global pandemic. The reach of the deadly H1N1 Swine flu now extends to over 70 countries, with over 27000 people infected worldwide. The H1N1 Swine Flu mortality rate is thankfully low, though experts are warning of much more severe cases of H1N1 Swine Flu during the second wave.

The second weave of H1N1 Swine Flu is expected in North America in the fall, especially as the CDC and WHO are not advocating travel restrictions or border crossings.

The World Health Organization says the spread of swine flu has created the first global flu epidemic in 41 years.

The announcement by WHO Director-General Dr. Margaret Chan came Thursday as infections climbed in the United States, Europe, Australia, South America and elsewhere to near 30,000 cases.

Chan said she decided to raise the pandemic alert level from phase 5 to 6, meaning that a global outbreak of swine flu has begun, after an emergency meeting on swine flu with top experts.

Despite this bad news, WHO is cautioning countries that the response to the Pandemic threat level reaching 6 should not be overboard:

“At this early stage, the pandemic can be characterized globally as being moderate in severity,” WHO said in the statement, urging nations not to close borders or restrict travel and trade.