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Home › News Centre › National Press Releases ›2009 Press Releases ›  World Health Organization (WHO) raises pandemic alert phase
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World Health Organization (WHO) raises pandemic alert phase

12 June 2009

The World Health Organization (WHO) has raised its influenza pandemic alert level to Phase 6.


This reflects the fact that there are now ongoing community level outbreaks in many parts of world.

The WHO's decision to raise the pandemic alert level is a reflection of the level and extent of the spread of swine flu.

The Health Protection Agency alongside the Department of Health and other national and international organisations has been preparing for the possibility of a pandemic for a number of years and the UK is widely regarded as one of the best prepared countries in the world.

The United Kingdom's approach so far has been to delay, by all reasonable measures available, the spread of the infection for as long as possible, to minimise the impact of the disease and to give us time to prepare.  It has also allowed scientists time to find out more about the characteristics of the virus through gathering crucial virological, clinical and epidemiological information.

Reports of swine flu cases are increasing globally and the HPA anticipates there will be more cases in the UK in the coming weeks. We now have good evidence that for the majority of swine flu patients the disease is generally mild so far, but is proving severe in a small minority of cases. This increases our options in terms of how to respond in the next phase of managing this outbreak.

The HPA is continually reviewing its response arrangements, as our understanding of the epidemiology of the disease improves and as the situation in the UK develops.

Professor Maria Zambon, Director of the HPA's Centre for Infections said,
"Around the world we are seeing an increase in cases. There is an uneven patchwork of disease activity in the UK at the moment with illness predominantly in the younger age group. This being a new virus, many people may have little or no immunity against it. Yet, so far swine flu pandemic is considerably less severe than had been expected with H5N1."

"There is good evidence that for most people so far the disease has been generally mild."

Flu viruses are well known to be unpredictable. We are keeping a very close watch on the situation worldwide and within the UK to ensure that our responses are balanced and proportionate."

General infection control practices and good respiratory hand hygiene can help to reduce transmission of all viruses, including swine flu. This includes:

  • Maintaining good basic hygiene, for example washing hands frequently with soap and water to reduce the spread of virus from your hands to face or to other people.
  • Cleaning hard surfaces (e.g. door handles) frequently using a normal cleaning product.
  • Covering your nose and mouth when coughing or sneezing, using a tissue when possible.
  • Disposing of dirty tissues promptly and carefully.
  • Making sure your children follow this advice.

Ends

Notes to editors

1) A full transcript of the WHO pandemic influenza Phase 6 announcement can be found here http://www.who.int/en/

2) Further information on swine flu is available on the Health Protection Agency's website at www.hpa.org.uk/swineflu

3) The Department of Health has set up a swine flu information line for the public on 0800 1 513 513.

4) The Health Protection Agency is providing expert advice and support to the UK government, NHS and other organisations.

5) To help us identify cases of swine flu in the community, the Health Protection Agency's Centre for Infections will be continuing its regular surveillance work throughout the summer, at the same pace that is applied during the normal "flu season" (October to May).

6) In England this surveillance work includes the collection of data from 3,300 GP surgeries across the country, and the testing of patient samples from over 100 surgeries. Information on flu activity is also provided by a network of boarding schools and NHS Direct.

7) To further enhance our ability to detect cases of swine flu, the HPA is issuing regular guidance to GPs on the testing of possible cases. Plans to increase the number of surgeries participating in surveillance schemes, and to facilitate more widespread testing in communities where cases of swine flu have been identified, are currently being implemented.

This guidance can be found at:
http://www.hpa.org.uk/web/HPAweb&HPAwebStandard/HPAweb_C/1242949546976

For media enquiries only please contact the Health Protection Agency's Centre for Infections press office on
020 8327 7080  
020 8327 6647
020 8327 7098  
020 8327 7097
020 8327 6690

Last reviewed: 12 June 2009