Last year sparked the awareness of what we all know as the H1N1 flu virus.
Novel Influenza A (H1N1) virus, the “pandemic (H1N1) 2009 virus” or “swine flu”, is a type of influenza virus that causes respiratory disease. It can spread between people, and as of August 25th, 2009, there have been 1528 hospitalizations, ICU cases, and deaths. On June 11, 2009, the World Health Organization (WHO) raised the worldwide pandemic alert level to Phase 6.  It was raised to this level in response to the ongoing global spread of the swine flu.
What does it mean to have a pandemic alert level of Phase 6? According to WHO, “Phase 6, the pandemic phase, is characterized by community level outbreaks in at least one other country in a different WHO region in addition to the criteria defined in Phase 5. Designation of this phase will indicate that a global pandemic is under way.”
Let us take a step by step look at the various phases this virus has gone through in order to get to this extremely serious phase.
In Phase 1 we know that the virus exists naturally among animals, especially birds. In this phases there are no reported cases of humans being infected by this virus that exists among the animals. A virus is proclaimed to be Phase 2 when it is known to have infected humans. At this point officials start to consider this virus as a potential pandemic threat. Phase 3 indicates that there are sporadic or clusters of diseases in people, which means that it seems as though this virus is spread via human to human contact. However, in reality, during this stage the disease is still not spread through humans.
Phase 4 means that human to human transmission of an animal or human-animal influenza virus has occurred. The influenza virus may or may not yet be proclaimed a pandemic. Phase 5 means that human to human spread of the virus exists in at least two countries in one WHO region. This means that a pandemic is imminent.
The N1N1 virus has now passed Phase 5 and is in Phase 6. The most important idea to remember is to stay healthy and to take precautionary measures this upcoming season rather than panic about this pandemic.
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