H1N1 Pandemic

It’s finally official.

World Health Organization (WHO) has declared the H1N1 as pandemic.

The H1N1 flu virus has officially become the world’s first flu pandemic in more than 40 years.

A partial extract from WHO, “As of today, nearly 30,000 confirmed cases have been reported in 74 countries. Further spread is considered inevitable. On the basis of available evidence, and these expert assessments of the evidence, the scientific criteria for an influenza pandemic have been met. I have therefore decided to raise the level of influenza pandemic alert from phase 5 to phase 6. The world is now at the start of the 2009 influenza pandemic.”

And what does Phase 6 means?

• Phase 6 is a pandemic, according to the WHO definition.
• The pandemic is early in its evolution and many countries have not yet been substantially affected.
• WHO’s support to countries takes three main forms: technical guidance, materials support, and training of health care system personnel.
• WHO is also working to make stocks of medicines (such as antivirals and antibiotics) and an eventual pandemic vaccine more accessible and affordable to developing countries.
• Both antivirals and vaccines have important roles in treatment and prevention respectively.
• However, existing stocks of antivirals are unlikely to meet the demand. And vaccines may be developed, but it will some months.
• Therefore, rational use of the limited resources will be essential.
• A pandemic sets national authorities in motion to implement preparedness plans, identify cases as efficiently as possible, and minimize serious illness and deaths with proper treatment.
• The goal is to reduce the impact of the pandemic on society.

This is pretty scary stuff and time to be at eh.

So people try to stay health, start eating right, do some workout, minimize as much contacts in public places if possible and just pray for the best.

Expect the start of more containment and migitation measures in Singapore.