In less 6 weeks, Dr Margaret Chan, Director-General of the World Health Organization, announced that she elevated the pandemic alert from Phase 5 to Phase 6. It means that the Influenza A H1N1 virus have sustained community outbreak in many countries and in 2 different WHO regions.

“Moving to pandemic phase six level does not imply we will see increase in number of deaths or very severe cases,” said Chan.

However, WHO cleared that the the overall severity of the influenza pandemic is moderate.  Moderate assessment connotes that most people recover from infection without the need of hospital care, hospitals can cope with the number of people seeking care and levels of influenza infection doesn’t differ to the local seasonal influenza season. There are still no recommendation on travel restrictions and border closures .