Global Flu Epidemic Declared (Frank Jordans)

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  World Health Organization raising swine flu alert to highest level.  Its First Global Flu Epidemic In 41 Years.

 

  June 11, 2009 -- GENEVA (AP) -- The World Health Organization has told its member nations it is declaring a swine flu pandemic -- the first global flu epidemic in 41 years.

  The move came Thursday as infections climbed in the United States, Europe, Australia, South America and elsewhere.

  In a statement sent to member countries, WHO said it decided to raise the pandemic alert level from phase 5 to 6, meaning that a global outbreak of swine flu has begun.

  The decision was made after the U.N. health agency held an emergency meeting on swine flu with its experts.Phase 6 is WHO's highest alert level and means that a swine flu pandemic is under way. The last pandemic -- the Hong Kong flu of 1968 -- killed about 1 million people. Ordinary flu kills about 250,000 to 500,000 people each year.

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